Masset aiming to begin throwing in January

CINCINNATI -- Reds reliever Nick Masset, who missed all of the 2012 season with a right shoulder injury, is progressing with his rehabilitation. Masset had surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder on Sept. 7.

"It's been coming along great," Masset said Friday during Redsfest. "My strength has been coming along really good. I really don't know what to expect because it's one of those things I haven't been through."

Masset expects to begin a throwing program around the first of the year. He hoped to be ready to pitch when the season starts but is being cautious with his timetable.

"I'm going to be rehabbing all the way through while I'm throwing," Masset said. "And when I'm throwing, I'm sure it's not going to feel great at the beginning. You're throwing with a new arm, so to speak. They'll probably want to take it slow with me. I know it's a three-month throwing program. So if I start at the beginning of the year, that would put me to the end of March. I guess it all depends on how quick I progress. Hopefully, there are no setbacks."