Cubs Say Prior Reports No Problems in Workout

Chicago Cub pitcher Mark Prior, sidelined by an inflamed right Achilles’ tendon, threw from a mound for the first time in two weeks.

While the rest of his teammates had the day off Tuesday at Mesa, Ariz., Prior threw 25 to 30 pitches, General Manager Jim Hendry said. The session was closed to reporters, but Hendry said Prior had “no discomfort” and that things “went exactly as we had hoped.”

Prior had an 18-6 record with a 2.43 earned-run average last season. He tentatively is scheduled to start Chicago’s third game of the season, April 8 at Cincinnati, but it’s unclear whether he will be ready in time. He is scheduled to play catch today and throw from a mound Thursday.

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New York Met second baseman Jose Reyes might sit out opening day after injuring his right hamstring again.

Reyes was injured while stealing a base during a spring training game Sunday. Tests revealed a mild strain.

It’s the third time in a year Reyes has pulled his right hamstring.

“I’ve had a lot of trouble with that leg,” Reyes said. “I don’t know why, we have to figure it out.”

Considered one of the top prospects in baseball, Reyes was impressive as a rookie last year after getting called up from the minors in midseason. He hit .307 with five home runs, 32 runs batted in and 13 steals in 274 at-bats before his season ended Aug. 31 because of a severely sprained left ankle.

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Bernie Williams could start playing in minor league exhibition games Monday, the first game for the New York Yankee center fielder since his appendectomy Feb. 26.

Williams will sit out the Yankees’ opening two-game series against Tampa Bay on March 30 and 31 at Tokyo.