Broxton clears hurdle with first mound session

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton took a step forward in his rehab from August forearm surgery on Monday. Broxton worked off of a mound for the first time this spring, throwing 15 pitches in the bullpen to catcher Devin Mesoraco.

Broxton is coming back from an operation that repaired a torn flexor mass tendon in his forearm.

"No problems. I got that step out of the way," Broxton said. "I have to keep going step by step. Today was a big step in the right direction, getting off of the mound. I felt nothing. I felt fine throwing. I felt like I could throw it where I kind of wanted."

Broxton, who had been long tossing daily for more than a week, wasn't expecting to have any arm issues on Tuesday from throwing. He will work from a mound again in three days.

"I'm pretty sure it's going to be fine, Broxton said. "If it wasn't, I would have felt something. I didn't feel anything throwing. During the exercises, I didn't feel anything."

Manager Bryan Price does not expect Broxton to be too far behind the other pitchers.

"We have not resigned ourselves to him not making our Opening Day roster," Price said. "He is still a candidate to be ready for that."