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Reds' Cueto: 'I'll be ready for Opening Day'

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Family comes first for Cincinnati Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto.

The 29-year-old left his club's spring complex in Arizona last week to join his mother, Cristina, in the Dominican Republic before she underwent open-heart surgery.

Though Cueto missed Friday's scheduled Cactus League start to be with his mother, the dutiful son insisted upon returning to camp Thursday he'll be ready to take the mound when the Reds open the regular season April 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"I thank God every day for giving my mom (her) health back and that really helped me," Cueto told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon through teammate and translator Brayan Pena. "That's going to help me with my career. It's something I don't have to worry about anymore, so definitely, I'll be ready for Opening Day."

Cueto, who finished second in National League Cy Young voting last season, was relieved to rejoin his teammates in camp, though manager Bryan Price confirmed that his next start will come against minor-league competition.

"I'm not going to lie to you, it was very tough to leave my mom behind but she understood," Cueto said. "Right now, I'm very happy that I'm back here with my teammates. I need to continue to work and we need to be together for what is coming."

Cueto, a free agent next winter, authored a career-best 2.25 ERA (160 ERA+) over 34 starts last season, but stressed Thursday he still has work to do before April 6.

"Even though I was practicing down in the Dominican, it's not the same as when you're here," Cueto said. "I think I will get it but it takes time for me to feel comfortable. Right now, I feel like I need to get back in my groove."

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