LAKELAND, Fla. -- Through four organizations and four big league stints, Denny Bautista has never been able to stick in the Majors. If this is the year he does, he'll credit a long stretch in winter ball for it.

Bautista has the kind of arm that impresses in camp, up to triple-digit velocity that sets up the rest of his game. His problem has usually been control, evidenced in part from his 55 walks over 115 2/3 innings.

So far, though, Bautista believes he has better command of his fastball, a priority he worked on in the Dominican League. And that could give him a chance to win a spot in Detroit's bullpen.

"Right now, I feel very good," he said. "I'm happy to be here. I just have to continue to do the same thing like I did down there in winter ball. I have to bring the same plan here."

This wasn't the first time Bautista pitched over the winter; he has been part of the Estrellas team in the Dominican for several years. However, he had extensive work this season, tossing 22 1/3 innings over 13 relief outings. He held opponents to a .171 batting average in the process.

"That's what I tried to do, just command," he said. "First-pitch strikes, just work with my fastball. Right after that, go with my breaking pitches, slider, curve."

That earned him a trip to the Caribbean Series for the first time in his career. Estrellas didn't make it, but teams that go to the series are allowed to draft players from other clubs in the league as "reinforcements." In some ways, it ends up looking like a league All-Star team.

"I felt so happy when they called me," he said. "You're happy to say, 'Yes.' This was my first time."

Bautista pitched four times in five days for Dominican champion Aguilas Cibaenas. He tossed four scoreless innings with four strikeouts over the first three appearances before giving up two singles and a walk in his fourth outing. All three runners ended up scoring.

Once the Caribbean Series ended, Bautista had just a couple days off before heading here ahead of the start of camp. It isn't much rest, but the flip side is that he began Spring Training in game shape in his effort to try to win a job.

"I feel very good with my arm, my shoulder," he said.

Bautista has spent his side sessions trying to spot his fastball on the corners. He'll face hitters for the first time on Sunday, but the key for him will be how he reacts in game situations once the Spring Training schedule begins next week.

He knows the label placed on him, a gifted arm that has yet to translate into big league results. He hopes this is the time.

"I just want to put everything in God's hands," Bautista said. "I just want to do my job. I just worry right now to throw strikes and get my pitches to locate."

Raburn could catch this spring: Ryan Raburn's versatility last spring made an impression on Tigers manager Jim Leyland, eventually leading him to the Majors. His ability to catch might prove another reason to keep him there.

"Whatever keeps me around," Raburn said Saturday morning.

So far, Raburn's pro catching experience has been limited to some early side sessions this spring and an occasional dash out to the bullpen last season. However, Leyland would like to get him behind the plate for a few innings this spring and see if he can be at least an emergency backup.

Asked where Raburn will play this spring, Leyland said, "All over."

Raburn's early catching work wasn't any sort of special effort. He lives in the Tampa area and drove over once pitchers began reporting early. Among the pitchers he caught were Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman and Preston Larrison.

The Tigers' options for a third catcher are limited. Brandon Inge can do it if he isn't traded, but that's about it. Neifi Perez was an emergency catcher for part of last year, and Dane Sardinha was kept around Detroit down the stretch in case Detroit had an injury and needed to pick up his contract.

The backup catcher situation, too, isn't clear yet. While Vance Wilson will most likely fill the role, he isn't expected to be cleared for full-strength throwing until at least early March. Leyland has said that if the Tigers find a deal for Inge that would give him a chance to play every day somewhere else, they won't keep him just to be a backup catcher for a couple weeks. Sardinha is back in camp and could be called upon if needed.

If it helps Raburn's versatility, he'll do it.

"He gets a little carried away once in a while," Leyland joked. "He wants to know if I want my car washed."

Pitchers vs. hitters: The first of two days of batting practice went off without a hitch, though closer Todd Jones gave Gary Sheffield a brief scare when he lost a pitch high and inside. Sheffield had to dive to the ground to get out of the way, but he was fine.

"I always have a hard time pitching to my teammates," said Jones, who was relieved nothing came of it. "Thankfully, I don't throw hard now and they can get out of the way."

Jones remembered his first Spring Training with the Astros in 1990, when Charley Kerfeld accidentally hit Glenn Davis with a fastball and tensions rose.

"I think I'm about 90 percent sure he's convinced I didn't try to hit him," Jones said of Sheffield.

Quotable: "He's as good of an outfielder as we have in the organization. Could be the best outfielder. But the bat and ball have got to run together more often. I love him. He's got tremendous power. He's got all the things going for him that you look for in a prospect. It's just a matter of getting over the hump. If he does that, he's a surefire big leaguer -- and not only a big leaguer, he's an everyday player." -- Leyland, on outfielder Brent Clevlen