PEORIA, Ariz. -- Phil Nevin doesn't need directions.

He knows exactly where the offices of the Physiotherapy Associates in Tempe are located. He has been going there since 1993 when he dislocated his ankle in the Arizona Fall League.

Monday, eight days after diving for a ball and straining his surgically repaired left shoulder, Nevin was out of his sling, back in Padres training camp and headed for at least a week of rehab with Ken Kocur's group in Tempe.

"These sessions will be a good gauge," said Nevin, who rehabbed with Kocur last season. "I've been in a sling for eight days, so things have tightened up some. I need to get some range of motion back, then we can work on strength.

"I'm really hoping that by this time next week, I can be back in camp running around. And in two weeks, I hope to be swinging a bat."

In 2003, Nevin dislocated his shoulder diving for a ball while playing against the White Sox in Tucson.

That injury cost him more than half the season.

This time, while playing first base against the Angels on March 7, Nevin dived for a ball and again fell heavily on the shoulder.

The injury isn't nearly as serious as in 2003, though.

Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson said there was movement of the bone in the shoulder socket, but it wasn't dislocated, minimizing the damage.

"I feel a lot better than I thought," Nevin said. "I worked all winter to get the strength back in the shoulder, so I'm starting from a better point than last year."

Nevin wouldn't pinpoint his return to the lineup, but said he hopes to play the last two exhibition games in Arizona -- March 31 against the White Sox and April 1 vs. the Mariners -- and the two exhibition games at Petco Park on April 3-4 against Seattle.

That would put him on track to start at first base on Opening Day, April 5, at Dodger Stadium.

While saying it was great to have Nevin back in camp, and that he hopes all goes well with the rehab, Padres manager Bruce Bochy said he doesn't necessarily share Nevin's optimism.

"He's determined to be out there Opening Day," Bochy said. "But that's our call, not his.

"As much as he wants to be in there, it's more important to have him for the whole season than to have him on Opening Day."

Nevin said that if he hits those target dates, he has a chance to start against the Dodgers.

"That's why it's important for me to be here now," Nevin said. "I don't have that long to get ready, so if things go well, I can see a lot of live pitching on the minor-league side.

"Getting my timing back will be very important."

Staying healthy is also a priority.

Former Padres teammate Archi Cianfrocco passed a message along to Nevin.

"Tell him to stay on his feet," Cianfrocco said.

Nevin said he has had several Cianfrocco-type messages, but it isn't that easy.

"It's tough to change the way you play," Nevin said. "I've played this way since age 8. I give my best effort on everything.

"Obviously, something is wrong with my technique. Now, it's in the back of my mind not to leave my feet, not to dive head-first."

Now, Nevin is anxious to dive into this season.

"Knock on wood," Nevin said, "but if things go smooth, if there are no setbacks -- and I don't anticipate any -- I'll be 100 percent by Opening Day."

Clutch hit

Infielder Rico Washington, who played 111 games at Double-A Mobile and 17 at Triple-A Portland last season, lined a full-count fastball to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday to score pinch-runner Gene Kingsale with the winning run as the Padres beat the Angels, 2-1.

Trailing 1-0, Brian Hunter walked to start the inning, Tagg Bozied beat out an infield single and Ramon Vazquez was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Miguel Ojeda tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Hunter, and Washington won it with a single to right.

Sterling Hitchcock started for the Padres, going four innings and allowing one run.

Edgar Huerta, Mike Bynum, Brandon Puffer, Jason Szuminski and Bart Miadich all threw a shutout inning with Miadich earning the win.

Right fielder Xavier Nady made the defensive play of the day, throwing Vladimir Guerrero out at third as he tried to go from first to third on a single by Troy Glaus.

Hot and cold

Second baseman Mark Loretta is hitting .600 (12-for-20) and would be leading the Cactus League in hitting of he had enough at-bats.

On the flip side, Jeff Cirillo is hitting .045 (1-for-22) and has been caught looking at a third strike five times.

And the winner is …

Pitcher Kevin Walker won $1,000 in a bunting drill Monday morning.

In the drill, participants are awarded prize money based on the accuracy of their bunts.

Walker bunted a ball through the hole in an extension-cord holder, setting off screams from his teammates and earning him the grand prize.

Short hops

Several players were given the afternoon off and pitcher Akinori Otsuka went home with a sore throat. … The morning practice session was devoted to fundamentals, rundowns and bunting. … Former Padres Ed Giovanola and Jerald Clark are both Realtors in San Diego.