"The only sign Brandon Webb had seen since April 2009 was shiny, red and eight-sided.

His promising career had been stopped by a shoulder injury. Surgery was performed in August 2009 and a rehab rush job ensued over the next six months.

A series of setbacks, starting in spring training 2010, caused a halt for the second consecutive season. Even when the stop sign was removed, Webb wasn't seeing any signs that he was close to a return.

Then, his arm started to respond to rest the way it should. After his second off-season bullpen session, he saw the light.

And today, as Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers go through their first official workout of spring training, the staff newcomer and former Cy Young winner expects to see signs, signs, everywhere a sign.

Webb wants and expects to be ready by Opening Day. He believes that he can perform at the level that made him one of baseball's best starters from 2006 to 2008, and fill a hole in the Rangers' starting rotation.

"With the time I've had off and the feedback I've got from the throwing I've done so far, it seems like it's going to be pretty good," Webb said Wednesday as pitchers and catchers reported to the Surprise Recreation Campus.

"I'm definitely hoping I can get back there. That's the ultimate goal. It feels fine. It feels totally fine."

Pitchers and catchers will go through their first spring workout today. Webb said that every able-bodied pitcher will have a bullpen session and throw live batting practice either of the first two days, and he expects to be in that group."