BRADENTON, Fla. -- When the Pirates' minicamp opens this morning, Sean Burnett will be allowed to play with a grapefruit-sized exercise ball. He can roll it up a wall with the side of his forearm, squeeze it, even toss it around a bit.

If he were so compelled, he could venture out into the groves that neighbor the team's Florida training complex and pluck an orange, too.

The only forbidden fruit will be a baseball.

"I haven't touched one in four months, and I still can't," he said yesterday at Pirate City. "I've never looked forward to throwing a ball so much in my life. But it's coming soon. And I can't wait, to be honest with you."

His wait soon will end, but it will not happen at the five-day minicamp. Burnett, a left-handed starter who dazzled the Pirates as a 21-year-old rookie last summer, is scheduled to throw a baseball Monday at PNC Park for the first time since he had reconstructive elbow surgery Sept. 21, 2004.

The plan is for him to make 15-20 soft tosses from 45 feet.

"Just something nice and easy to see how it feels," Burnett said. "Try to start working my way back."

If that occurs without incident, he will be on a timetable that conservatively has him returning to competitive pitching in August. Dr. James Andrews, his surgeon, told him last month that he could return as early as July with an ideal recovery, but team officials unanimously maintain that they will be cautious with Burnett.

The procedure, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, has a general recovery period of 11-18 months, but there are exceptions that run longer and shorter. Right-hander Ryan Vogelsong had the surgery in late 2001 and returned in 10 months.

"You have to consider precedent, but you mostly have to look at what your medical people tell you about the individual because each case is different," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "Obviously, we look forward to having Sean back. What he did for us last year, especially at his age, certainly is a positive sign. But everyone needs to be careful here."

Burnett, a resident of Wellington, Fla., has spent the bulk of this winter rehabilitating at PNC Park under the supervision of the Pirates' trainers. His workouts have included lifting weights with his healthy arm, range-of-motion exercises and riding a stationary bike. Yesterday morning, he spent nearly four hours in the training and exercise rooms at Pirate City.

"It's a lot of work, especially considering I've never been one to do all the little things in the offseason," he said. "If I had done it the first time, maybe I wouldn't have this problem. But I've learned a lot. I've got to take care of myself."

He added that he already is noticing results.

"Feels good. No pain. It definitely feels a lot stronger than before the surgery."

Burnett became the Pirates' youngest pitcher since 1997 to make his major-league debut when he was promoted May 30 from Class AAA Nashville, and he became the youngest to record a shutout in 26 years when he beat Montreal July 9 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After another victory two weeks later against Cincinnati, his record was 5-2, his earned run average 2.84.

Then the tide reversed. He lost his next three decisions, and his ERA bloated to 5.02. On Aug. 21 in St. Louis, he gave up eight earned runs through four innings before leaving with what was described as elbow irritation.

Initial tests revealed no structural damage, and Burnett continued on a prescribed throwing program. But doctors learned in early September that the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow was completely torn, and surgery became the only option.

Burnett said that his greatest challenge has been keeping his cool.

"This all takes such a long time. First thing they told me when I had the surgery was to be patient, don't rush yourself. And I have. I'm trying. I'm taking my time. Monday's going to be the start, and that's exciting. But I know it's still going to be a long process."

Ironically, it is the need to have that surgery that partly provides Burnett with the confidence that he can improve significantly once he returns.

"I don't think I felt healthy the whole time I was in Pittsburgh last year, so it makes me wonder how I can do when I'm really healthy. I know I can pitch at that level, but I'm really looking forward to trying it when I'm feeling good."

NOTES -- Six days remain before the Tuesday deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures, but Littlefield continued to express confidence that none of his five players in that situation -- pitchers Kip Wells, Josh Fogg and Brian Meadows, first baseman Craig Wilson and utilityman Rob Mackowiak -- will reach the hearing stage. "I'm definitely optimistic," Littlefield said. "We've had two guys in 13 years go to hearings, so the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of deals getting done."

The final minicamp roster was set at 29 pitchers, six catchers, three infielders and three outfielders, as players reported yesterday.

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