GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The back injury and bone bruise in his right elbow that has kept Raisel Iglesias sidelined stemmed from a slip in the shower three weeks ago at his home, the right-handed reliever said Thursday.
"I was taking a shower there, and I just like, did a bad move, and tried to hold with my left [arm] but I couldn't get it underneath [the handlebar] with my right. The opposite, you know," Iglesias said through an interpreter. "I couldn't have done anything."
Iglesias, who said he landed on his right elbow and hip, received an anti-inflammatory shot in his back and elbow from the training staff earlier this week. He said he's already feeling better.
He hasn't pitched since March 14, and was held out of a Minor League game Saturday. He will resume throwing Sunday, and shouldn't be at risk to aggravate the injury, manager Bryan Price said.
Iglesias pitched through the injury for nearly two weeks before approaching trainers, hoping the pain would subside. He underwent an MRI earlier this week, which revealed no structural damage. But given how rapidly Opening Day is approaching, April 3 at home against the Phillies, Iglesias' status of being ready by the opener remains in question.
"I was just like, 'Oh, I'm going to say something, because it's kind of bothering me,"' Iglesias said. "But I'm going to be OK. I'm probably going to throw one bullpen, and after that, mentally and physically, I'm going to be ready to [start] the season and compete."
Iglesias is one of four Reds -- Michael Lorenzen, Drew Storen and Tony Cingrani -- who will comprise a closer committee this season. Price has said each will contribute in late, high leverage situations. Iglesias recorded six saves last year, and finished with a team-best 2.53 ERA in 78 1/3 innings.
Three in that quartet have been a primary starter at one point in their career, Storen notwithstanding. Iglesias began his career as a starter, and went 3-7 with a 4.00 ERA in 16 starts in 2015, a year after signing with the Reds after defecting from Cuba.
"The competition has been great, and it's really good for the team to have those kind of guys that are just going to go out there and compete," Iglesias said.