Peter Diana, Post-Gazette photos Pirates catcher Humberto Cota gets an eye exam from Dr. Edward Diamond before workouts for pitchers and catchers at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Click photo for larger image.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- It was not a promising reintroduction to second base for Jose Castillo, but it had a fine finish.

Castillo took 30 ground balls yesterday in his first field action since a left knee ligament was torn Aug. 22 at PNC Park, and he muffed four of the first 11 even though special instructor Bill Virdon was swatting them right at him.

But he soon appeared more comfortable and scooped all but one of the final 19. That included a sensational stop on the final attempt, as he ranged beyond second base and wheeled an underhand bullet to first.

He then trotted off the field with a smile and said to a reporter, "I told you."

Castillo had been saying since minicamp last month that he was healthy, and his workout yesterday provided the most telling test of that. He looked stiff at times, but he gave no indication he was unable to do the job.

"He looked all right after the first few," Virdon said. "He'll be OK."

Castillo also took a round of batting practice for the second day.

Carrara arrives

Reliever Giovanni Carrara made it to camp after missing three workouts because of a delay in getting a visa to leave Venezuela.

He said that, initially, the earliest appointment he could get for his visa was in March. He succeeded in getting that moved up to Feb. 15 but needed to wait three more days to have the documentation mailed to his home.

"You want to be here early and try to impress," Carrara said. "I want to be in the big leagues. When you're not able to get here, it's tough. But I'm ready to go."

	Pirates right-hander Kip Wells threw a 30-minute session yesterday at spring training at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Click photo for larger image.

Carrara is considered the favorite of a long list of minor-league tryouts vying for bullpen work, but he flatly rejects the notion he will have an advantage because he pitched four of the past five years for manager Jim Tracy in Los Angeles.

"It's not like, just because I was with them before, I can come here and do whatever I want," he said. "I have to bust my behind out there. I've got to do everything they ask. If I don't do well, I don't deserve to be here."

Carrara did long-tossing yesterday and will pitch today.

Maholm held back

Starter Paul Maholm missed his scheduled throwing session because of a strained hamstring. Tracy described Maholm's status as day to day.

"He had a little extra jump in his delivery," Tracy said. "This was precautionary."

New look for Wells

The other 13 pitchers expected to throw took their turns, with the highlight being starter Kip Wells' half-hour session, about 20 minutes longer than the norm for this time of year.

With Tracy watching the entire time, Wells and pitching coach Jim Colborn discussed and practiced adjustments to Wells' delivery.

"I saw a lot of signs of improvement," Tracy said. "This isn't the same pitcher I saw last year in Los Angeles."

Buried treasure

Reliever Roberto Hernandez, who has been absent for personal reasons, is due today.

Catcher Ronny Paulino has been told he will make the 30-man roster of the Dominican Republic's entry into the World Baseball Classic, joining relievers Salomon Torres and Damaso Marte. That raises the Pirates' known participants to seven, including outfielder Jason Bay (Canada), starter Oliver Perez and catcher Humberto Cota (Mexico), and utilityman Yurendell DeCaster (Netherlands).

Position players are required to report today. A few more showed up yesterday, including infielder Freddy Sanchez.

One member of the Pirates organization, Maholm, made Baseball Prospectus' list of the top 50 prospects in the game, released yesterday. He ranked 38th. Only players with rookie eligibility were considered.