SARASOTA, Fla. - Jose Rijo is throwing off the mound again and feeling like all his hard work has been worth it. While a comeback still remains in the category of ''miracle,'' his latest effort appears to be going well.
Rijo threw off the mound Friday at about 50 percent speed, the second time he had done so since his fourth major elbow surgery last fall.
It was Step 2 of an 18-step, 55-day rehabilitation program prescribed by his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews. Rijo hopes it will result in him throwing in a major-league game for the first time since July 1995. His arm feels great and so does his mind, now that he's back on the mound.
''I feel much better now,'' Rijo said, comparing his current state of mind to that of a month ago, when he came to spring camp and was only able to throw long tosses. ''Throwing on a flat surface, there's no challenge. It's just tossing. Now, throwing off the mound, I feel like I'm pitching.''
Rijo threw off the mound for Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., Monday and for Reds pitching coach Don Gullett Friday, throwing 25 pitches.
''Gullett told me 'I don't believe it. You haven't lost anything,'' Rijo said. ''Dr. Andrews saw me throw without pain and said 'I can't believe you're going to pitch again.' ''
Reds trainer Greg Lynn said, ''I'm happy to hear about our boy. That's good news. We need some of that around here.''
Rijo said the rehab program, listed on Andrews' stationery ''is the most important piece of paper I've seen in a long time. To see the words 'breaking balls,' (Step 14) that excites me.'' He hasn't thrown a breaking ball for two years, since spring training 1996.
The next step is for Rijo to get his mechanics working again. A comeback would be a longshot - described by Andrews as a miracle - but the latest news has Rijo even more encouraged.
''It's going to be very interesting. It's a challenge, and it's beautiful,'' he said.
Rijo, always in a good mood, cracked a funny line about his doctor. A reporter suggested Andrews has made enough money off him to buy two Mercedes. ''Not Mercedes,'' Rijo said. ''Bentleys.''
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