Matz cleared for regular offseason workouts

Steven Matz can officially go back to his normal routine.

The New York Mets' left-hander will be allowed to throw again for the first time since undergoing surgery in October to remove a bone spur from his elbow.

"I got cleared," Matz told WOR radio Thursday, according to Newsday's Marc Carig. "The doctors said you're good to go, progress with your normal offseason."

In his first full big-league season, Matz managed to get through 132 1/3 innings of work, but not without his fair share of injuries.

The 25-year-old pitched through the bone spur, which was revealed in June. While that was happening, he also suffered an impingement that caused inflammation in his left shoulder.

"It had its moments," Matz said of his elbow pain. "Some days were worse than others. Some days it wasn't even there. I think that's why it wasn't a no-brainer to just end the season in June and go get (surgery).

"That's why I was like, I think I can fight through this, it's not causing any damage to any other parts of my elbow."

Matz wasn't able to push through it, pitching on Aug. 14 before shutting it down for the year.

When healthy over his first nine starts of the season, Matz was exceptional, going 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA while striking out 53 batters over 55 1/3 innings.

After that, it all went downhill as he finished the year 2-7 with a 4.21 ERA as batters slashed .279/.329/.443 off him.