Twins handle recovering reliever Guerrier with caution

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Matt Guerrier says his surgically repaired right elbow is feeling good so far in camp, but the Twins are being cautious with him, just in case.

Guerrier, who had surgery in mid-August to repair the flexor mass in his right elbow, threw his first bullpen session Monday, but unlike the other pitchers in camp, he took two days off from throwing. He's also throwing only fastballs, but hopes to mix in breaking balls in his next bullpen session Thursday or possibly Sunday.

"I feel good," Guerrier said. "I have normal soreness. It's kind of one of those things where it's tough to differentiate how I feel now compared to other years. After throwing, it feels typical, like it would throwing a 'pen. Just normal soreness from throwing and it goes away pretty quick."

Guerrier is also expected to be held back from early Grapefruit League action, and he estimated he'll play in his first game on March 9 or 10. Guerrier, who played with the Twins from 2004-10, is a non-roster invitee, but says that keeping his elbow feeling good will be the key to his Spring Training.

"I'm just trying to stay healthy, and that's the biggest thing for me," Guerrier said. "I felt comfortable coming into camp, wherever it may be, that if I were healthy, I'd have a good chance. So the biggest thing was coming in healthy. So hopefully I'll get a couple appearances in games and go from there."