Paulino pleased with how he feels

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Felipe Paulino's Cactus League start Sunday in Surprise marked his first game pitched since Aug. 28, 2013, when he was doing injury rehab work with Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization. The statistics he posted over 1 2/3 innings against the Rangers weren't overly impressive, allowing four runs on eight hits, but then again, it was his first start of Spring Training.

Feeling good was the most important thing for Paulino, followed closely by being able to throw strikes.

"My arm feels OK right now," said Paulino, who threw 31 of his 47 pitches for strikes. "The thing right now is how I wake up tomorrow. I believe I'm going to be OK. I feel confident about it. I feel strong but just wait for tomorrow and try to get ready for the next [start].

"Everybody knows I recovered last year. I'm happy to get back to a real game and show myself that I controlled everything. That's a good thing."

Paulino had ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on July 3, 2012 and then had a cyst removed from his shoulder last September. There has been no soreness through the early stages of Spring Training for Paulino, who topped out at 94 mph on Sunday according to the Surprise Stadium scoreboard.

"I just want to look forward," said Paulino, who joined the White Sox via a one-year, $1.75 million deal with a 2015 club option. "The past is in the past. Right now it's looking forward for me. I want to fight for this, compete and we'll see what happens."

Manager Robin Ventura thought Paulino looked strong but wants his future pitch location to be a little less center-cut over the plate. Paulino jumped ahead on the first four hitters he faced, but all four reached base.

"You got to locate, otherwise you are going to get hit around and that's what happened," Ventura said. "As far as strength and all that stuff, what he looked like was fine.

"He was too much in the middle. He was getting ahead but then he didn't have anything to put anybody away with."