WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The quick ramp-up hasn¡¯t been an issue for Astros closer Ryan Pressly, who threw live batting practice Sunday on the back fields at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for the first time this spring. Pressly normally wouldn¡¯t throw live batting practice until deeper into camp, but the shortened Spring Training has sped up the timetable.

¡°With the lockout and everything, guys try to map it out how they want to,¡± Pressly said. ¡°For me, I just tried to get off the mound a couple of times a week -- nothing too fancy. Just see how my body feels. That¡¯s pretty much what I did.¡±

On Sunday, Pressly faced Astros hitters Mart¨ªn Maldonado and Michael Brantley, both of whom he trusts to give him knowledgeable feedback about his stuff.

¡°I¡¯ve played against Mike for a number of years,¡± Pressly said. ¡°It¡¯s always good to hear their feedback, especially a polished hitter like Mike. There [are] not very many guys like that in the game who are comfortable with two strikes on them and still have the [same] approach as he does. To hear feedback from him is always a huge plus. I¡¯m glad he¡¯s on our side. It was fun facing him live.¡±

Pressly, who has emerged as an elite closer, saved 26 games last year while posting a 2.25 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP while being elected to the All-Star team for the second time in three years. He said he is exactly where he needs to be two weeks shy of the regular season.

¡°I feel good,¡± he said. ¡°Obviously, there¡¯s some things you need to clean up in Spring Training, but for the most part, everything¡¯s been going relatively smooth and everything feels good, and that¡¯s all I care about right now.¡±

Paredes using changeup taught by veteran Rodney
Right-hander Enoli Paredes, who was a breakout performer on the club¡¯s 2020 team, regressed mightily last year, in part due to a right shoulder strain he battled for much of the season. Paredes remained on the 40-man roster in the offseason and played winter ball in the Dominican Republic, where he picked up a changeup from 17-year Major League reliever Fernando Rodney.

¡°We were working on it, and he just got me the confidence to throw the changeup in every count, and [Saturday] in live BP, I was using them,¡± Paredes said. ¡°I feel really good throwing the changeup. I got a couple of swings and misses, and I¡¯ve gotten more confident. I think it¡¯s going to help me a lot.¡±

Paredes posted a 3.05 ERA in 20 2/3 innings in the shortened 2020 season, which was played without fans in the stands. That may have given him a soft landing spot to start his big league career. Last year, he struggled mightily with his control, walking 15 batters in 8 2/3 innings with the Astros, and he spent most of the season in Triple-A Sugar Land.

¡°Last year, the injury was bothering me, but I¡¯m focused on this season to attack the zone and not try to be too perfect,¡± Paredes said. ¡°When I¡¯m in the strike zone, I can get guys out. That¡¯s my focus, throwing in the strike zone and see what happens.¡±