FORT MYERS -- After meeting a strength benchmark this afternoon, David Price has been cleared to "throw" a baseball again -- if you consider a game of short catch inside a batting cage to be throwing.
There is still no timetable on when the left-handed starter, who has a strain of his flexor mass muscle near his left elbow that he described today as "a little hiccup," will be cleared to throw flat-ground catch, never mind get back on a mound.
But today's examination represented one step forward, albeit a tiny one.
"There was a series of strength tests done this morning in the training room and (we) felt like he was improved to the point of initiating more throwing,” said manager John Farrell.