FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Koji Uehara took his first step toward returning to the mound on Friday, when he pitched his first bullpen session since straining his left hamstring nearly two weeks ago. Uehara threw 54 pitches and pronounced himself healthy, but the next test will be how he feels on Saturday.

Uehara, who met with both the American and Japanese media, sounded optimistic about his progress.

"I felt good on the mound. I threw it with good feeling," he said of his progress, via interpreter Jiwon Bang. "I was just trying to feel the mound today. I didn't emphasize any of my pitches."

Uehara threw briskly and without much effort on Friday, concentrating on his fastball for most of the session. The right-hander threw his curveball and split-fingered fastball later, and said that his hamstring didn't pull at him at all. Uehara, who hasn't pitched in a game since March 9, isn't in a rush to throw again.

"I'm mentally not ready," Uehara said. "I'm planning to be on that mound when the regular season starts."

Pitching coach Rick Kranitz said it's important for the right-hander to be comfortable before they move on to the next assignment, and since Uehara is a veteran, the Orioles want him to work on his own timetable. If Uehara feels healthy on Saturday, Baltimore will schedule him for a live batting-practice session on Sunday.

"It was very encouraging because his legs felt real good," said Kranitz. "That's what we were concerned about. I'm not concerned that he's lost the arm strength and that he's not going to be able to throw six and five [innings]. My concern is whether it's going to be good enough to get him out there to pitch. All indications are that he's ready to take the next step, and that's the day after tomorrow, throwing batting practice and facing hitters."

"I didn't see very much because I got out there late," manager Dave Trembley added. "We've got him penciled to throw simulated batting practice Sunday. ... But he looks OK. It's good to have him back."

Uehara has already started three games this spring, but one of them didn't count for Spring Training statistics because it was against the Dominican Republic's national team. Kranitz said that he'd like to see Uehara start one or two more games, but that he'll bring Uehara along slowly with an eye on the long haul.

"He'll be ready," said Kranitz of Uehara's prospects for the regular season. "If he's able to pass these next two tests, he'll be able to start the season without a problem. Where he pitches in the rotation will be determined [by his health]. Obviously, if I can sneak another game in, I will. But if not, I'm happy with three."