In his mind, at least, Junichi Tazawa is ready to be done with his rehab.

But he's not going to get ahead of himself, either.

"I'm still focusing on being able to pitch at 100 percent at this point," he said through interpreter Jeff Cutler. "I'm only thinking of one week at a time. I'd like to do everything I can each week, and, hopefully, I reach the point when I can pitch during the spring season."

Tazawa, who underwent Tommy John surgery to repair elbow ligaments last March, threw briefly off a mound last November and resumed throwing off a mound at the start of spring training. While the rest of the Red Sox moved down Edison Avenue to City of Palms Park on Friday afternoon, Tazawa stayed at the player-development complex -- his home away from home for the last year -- to continue his rehab.

Because of his injury, the start of spring training didn't hold much significance for him. He's still going through his rehab one step at a time just like he has done for last year.

"Injuries do happen in baseball, so it's something you just have to accept," he said. "But, at the same time, I try to take it positively and do everything I can to improve myself in other aspects. That's how I spent the last year."

One of those aspects was the strength in the rest of his body -- particularly his core strength and his lower-body strength. The 24-year-old righty signed with the Red Sox two years ago looking even slighter than his listed 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame would suggest.

He threw 134 2/3 innings in his first season in the United States, climbing from Double-A Portland all the way to the major leagues. He struck out a combined 107 hitters and walked 36, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.97. All of that came after he opened more than a few eyes with several terrific outings in spring training.

Tommy John surgery usually requires close to 18 months for full recovery, meaning Tazawa this season can't be expected to do more than ease himself back into the routine of pitching every five days. But he won't turn 25 until June, so he has time to work himself back into pitching shape -- and to compete for a spot on the Red Sox roster down the stretch.

"It's a fact that I did get injured, so I can't take that away," he said. "I am worried about what awaits me in the future. But I did spend a full year in rehab, and I'd like to turn that into a positive and come back stronger."