"Don't be misled when Joe Nathan and the Twins talk about how well he is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Exactly one year after having the ligament in his right elbow surgically reconstructed, the franchise saves leader is getting a little better all the time. But he's not flipping cartwheels or arm-wrestling grizzly bears.

"When I say I'm feeling good, it doesn't mean I'm feeling great," Nathan said Friday. "It means I'm feeling good enough to go out there and pitch, which is a good feeling."

And right now, it's good enough for the Twins, who are debating whether to return Nathan to the role that has earned him 246 saves and helped the Twins win four American League Central titles. It's either Nathan or fellow right-hander Matt Capps, who earned a career-high 42 saves between Washington and Minnesota last season.

On Friday, Nathan pitched an inning in a minor league game against Durham, recording a strikeout. It marked the first time he pitched on back-to-back days this spring, which seemed to be the final proof to Nathan and the team that's he's ready to pitch. Whether it will be as the closer or a setup man remains to be seen. "