BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates center fielder Chris Duffy, still slowed by the effects of September shoulder surgery, could miss much of spring training and might not be available to resume game activity until shortly before the start of the regular season.

Management had pegged him to start at Class AAA Indianapolis, anyway, largely because it wants to see Nyjer Morgan and Nate McLouth duel for the center-field job in the spring. But this cements that.

"Chris just needs to get game-ready, use the spring to get back into form and be ready to go once the season starts," general manager Neal Huntington said today at Pirate City, where the team opened its voluntary minicamp. "That's the important thing for him right now."

Duffy's 2007 season ended June 27 in Miami because of a sprained left ankle. He was on the verge of rejoining the Pirates in late August when long-standing shoulder pain prompted him to have surgery to address damage in his labrum and rotator cuff.

The ankle is fine, but Duffy has not yet received clearance on the shoulder from Dr. Lewis Yocum, who performed the surgery.

"Other than that, I feel great and really eager to get back out there," Duffy said. "I'm looking forward to it."

The only other position player in minicamp, outfielder Kevin Thompson, also is here to rehabilitate: His right shoulder was injured late last season on a diving catch attempt while with the Oakland Athletics. Huntington projected he should be ready for spring training.

Minicamp began with 16 pitchers reporting, six fewer than the team had expected entering this week. That turnout includes 14 of the 24 pitchers on the 40-man roster, all of whom originally were invited.

"It is voluntary, and we feel it's a great opportunity for those players who did come," Huntington said.

He stressed that, because participation is voluntary, the Pirates would take no issue with those who were unable or unwilling to attend.

In addition to those previously known not to be reporting off the original list of 22 expected participants -- Bryan Bullington, Phil Dumatrait and John Grabow, who has bronchitis -- three others were delayed by visa issues abroad: Luis Munoz, Romulo Sanchez and Ronald Belisario. There still is a chance Grabow could attend some of the four-day event.

All 15 who reported -- Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Paul Maholm, Zach Duke, Matt Capps, Sean Burnett, John Van Benschoten, Jonah Bayliss, Dave Davidson, Jimmy Barthmeier, Ty Taubenheim, Evan Meek, Marino Salas, Olivo Astacio and Yoslan Herrera -- had light pitching work off the bullpen mounds at Pirate City.

The pitchers also took fielding practice and engaged in an hourlong meeting with pitching coach Jeff Andrews.

More details in tomorrow's Post-Gazette.