JUPITER, Fla. • Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal threw 15 pitches in a live batting practice session, but it was the workout that followed that did just as much to show he was ready for a game.

Rosenthal went through a series of fielding practice drills so show his mobility off of and around the mound.

He fielded grounders and fired to bases to show that the groin strain that slowed his progress this spring had healed and was not a concern. Rosenthal first felt the groin discomfort during a live batting practice session a week ago. Wednesday was the first day he faced hitters since he stopped the planned session short to receive treatment.

"I think that's what that last conditioning stuff was about," Rosenthal said. "I had to get out there and show I wasn't limited."

Rosenthal said the next step will be appearing in a Grapefruit League game. Manager Mike Matheny declined to go that far when asked this morning, saying that he wanted to see how Rosenthal responded first.

As a closer, he won't need many games to be regular-season ready.

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