SARASOTA, Fla. — Scott Williamson says he feels good. But you don't have to take his word for it.

        He has the numbers to prove it. Williamson, like all Reds pitchers, went through strength testing on his pitching arm and shoulder upon arrival at spring training. His scores Friday were better than last year.

        That's significant, if not remarkable, because Williamson had “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow April 12.

        “Of all the guys who have had Tommy John surgery, his rehab has gone the smoothest,” said Lonnie Soloff, the Reds' physical therapist. “Without a doubt, he's stronger than he was before the surgery. He worked really hard in rehab. His rotator cuff tested stronger than it ever was. His core strength — his lower back, abs — is much better.”

        Williamson feels better, too.

        “I feel awesome,” he said. “I've been here a month. I'm throwing 75 percent (speed) off the mound.”

        Williamson probably will remain on his throwing program for the first half of spring training, but it looks as though he could be a factor by Opening Day. That's good news for the Reds, because Williamson probably has the best stuff of anyone on the staff.

        He was the 1999 National League Rookie of the Year, going 12-7 with a 2.41 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings. He was 5-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 2000, going 3-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 10 starts.

        Williamson is one of three pitchers coming off a season-ending injury on whom the Reds are counting this year. Seth Etherton and John Riedling, both of whom had shoulder surgery, are wrapping up long rehab programs, like Williamson. All are under 26 with good arms. They could be a major boost to the Reds — if they are healthy.

        One of the first orders of business as spring training officially opens today will be figuring out how quickly to move with the aforementioned trio.

        “We're going to have them examined and evaluated, then we'll officially determine what the next step is,” Reds trainer Greg Lynn said.

        Etherton thinks he can step right into the regular spring routine.

        “I feel good,” he said. “It's been full-go the last four weeks. I'm ready to throw 70 pitches right now.”

        Williamson and Etherton are, at least for now, candidates for the starting rotation. Riedling probably will be in the back end of the bullpen.

        “Nothing's been predetermined,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We have to see what happened out there (on the field).”

        Williamson has been vocal in the past about his preference for starting.

        But he backed off that, partly because of the success of St.Louis' Matt Morris. Morris had Tommy John surgery in 1999. He pitched exclusively in relief in 2000, then went to the rotation and won 22 games last year and hasn't spent any time on the disabled list the last two years.

        “Matt Morris is the Golden Child, right,” Williamson said. “But it's not that easy to win 22 games. A lot of guys don't do that in their career.”

        “It's not just Matt Morris,” Boone said. “We're learning more and more data about coming back from these injuries. Typically, it's two years before they're all the way back. But after a year, they're functional.”

        Williamson sees the logic in working out of the bullpen.

        “Being a reliever is a lot like your (rehab) throwing program,” he said. “You throw every other day. Whatever is best is fine with me. If it means a pitching a year of relief to get back to where I was, that's OK.”

        Etherton has been a starter throughout his pro career. He was 5-1 for the Anaheim Angels in 2000. He came over to the Reds in a trade for shortstop prospect Wilmy Caceres in December 2000. He appeared in two exhibition games before shoulder surgery last year.

        “The shoulder feels better than it's felt in a long time,” Etherton said. “My delivery is nice and smooth with a good arm whip. I just need to work on arm strength. It should come around. It's a matter of getting on the field and doing it.”

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