Perez's shoulder feels 'really good'

The left-hander threw batting practice for the first time this spring.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Oliver Perez on Saturday cleared the next step in his return from a stiff throwing shoulder when he pitched batting practice for the first time this spring.
After throwing off a practice mound for eight minutes, Perez threw nine more minutes of batting practice.
It was the longest throwing session of the spring for Perez, who developed into one of the game's top young left-handed starters in 2004. If healthy, he will likely be the Pirates' opening day starter.
Perez did not throw for the first 10 days of camp after sleeping awkwardly on his pitching shoulder.
"I felt really good," Perez said. "I was a little tired because it was my first time pitching batting practice. But I'm ready to go when they tell me."
Working on endurance
Pitching coach Spin Williams said Perez will throw one more time off the mound -- with or without facing hitters -- before he is cleared to pitch in a spring training game. Perez will be re-evaluated today before it is determined whether his next throwing session will come Monday or Tuesday.
"Mainly, we're trying to build up his endurance," Williams said. "He seems to be on his way."
Perez threw 34 pitches while facing minor-leaguers Rajai Davis, Carlos Maldonado and Rich Thompson.
"The biggest thing is getting hitters in there, so his focus becomes a little finer," Williams said. "His stuff was OK. For the most part, he threw the ball around the plate. That's a positive sign."
Perez also was encouraged by the way the hitters reacted to his pitches.
"They didn't have a lot of good contact," he said. "It was good for my first experience."
Perez mixed in sliders and change-ups with his fastball. It was the second time this spring that he had used his slider.
"I wanted him to get his arm in shape before he tried to get any finish on his breaking pitches," Williams said.
"All in all, he's fine."
Williams also monitored Perez's pitching mechanics. Last spring, Williams overhauled Perez's delivery after catching some flaws.
"My change-up was good, my fastball had good location and I hit my spots with my slider," Perez said.
Perez is eager to pitch in a game, something that could happen by the end of the week.
"Everybody else is pitching, and I'm the last guy," he said. "I want to be back out there."
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