PEORIA, Ariz. -- Cesar Carrillo got a taste of having a locker in the major-league clubhouse at Peoria Sports Complex in spring training a year ago.

He hobnobbed with the Woody Williamses, Jake Peavys and Trevor Hoffmans of the organization. Carrillo, the Padres' first-round pick in 2005, even had an outside shot at making the 25-man Opening Day roster, according to club officials.

And then in June, the right-handed pitcher strained a ligament in his throwing elbow while making his first start at Triple-A Portland, an injury that would shut down Carrillo's 2006 campaign.

Now, Carrillo finds himself residing on the opposite side of the same building in the minor-league clubhouse. He has been in camp since the beginning of the month. Minor leaguers don't have to report until March 2.

But Carrillo suggested it wasn't a bad move. Instead, he interprets it as a message from management to get himself back to where he was.

"It just puts everything in perspective being over here and knowing I just need to be ready," said Carrillo, 22. "I'm just taking my time. There's no rush. If I'm not fully healthy, I can't perform."

Carrillo threw his third bullpen session on Friday. He previously had completed bullpen sessions Tuesday and Feb. 4. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder said he is feeling fine so far. Grady Fuson, said Carrillo will start the season at Triple-A Portland if he's healthy.

Prior to Feb. 4, Carrillo hadn't thrown off a mound. But he said he was so far ahead during his rehabilitation schedule in the offseason that the team had him leave Peoria and go home to Miami.

"We want to take him along slowly," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "We want to be cautious with him because he's one of our top young pitching prospects we have in our system. We have our fingers crossed that there won't need to be a surgical procedure.

"We want him to get back to where he was at the start of last year."

In other words, the Padres want him on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues.

In 22 starts with the organization, Carrillo is 6-5 with a 4.10 ERA. He also has posted 108 strikeouts against 34 walks in 110 innings. Those numbers came after a stellar college career at the University of Miami, where Carrillo won 24 consecutive starts between 2004 and 2005.

"This will probably be good for him right now to be patient and take the time that's needed to strengthen the arm up," Towers said. "And hopefully, he'll find his way to the big leagues by the end of '07."

That's music to Carrillo's ears. But it's hardly his focus. For the time being, Carrillo's only goal is to get healthy.

"Whatever happens after that, I'm not even thinking about it," Carrillo said. "I just want to go out there and compete."

Padres notes

RHP Trevor Hoffman was one of several players randomly selected to participate in a Major League Baseball drug test on Friday. Hoffman said he's a proponent of the testing because it helps "level the playing field." RHP Jake Peavy and LHP David Wells also were tested. … RHP Mike Adams (knee) said he hopes to throw his first bullpen session by the middle of March and return to game action before spring training ends. Adams appeared in two games with the Milwaukee Brewers last season before injuring himself. "This is my first true injury," Adams said. "It's frustrating."

Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.