Recovery challenges 51s’ Janssen

Casey Janssen took less than two years to make his way from fourth-round draft choice in 2004 to the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation.

Now with the 51s, the 27-year-old right-hander can't wait to get back to the majors.

After finding his niche as a setup man in 2007, Janssen missed the entire 2008 season with a torn labrum.

He worked his way back into Toronto's rotation in May but was placed on the 15-day disabled list in July with a nagging right shoulder injury. He was activated July 24 and optioned to Las Vegas, where he continues to recover.

"A few little setbacks can kind of cost you a lot of time," Janssen said. "The body's weird, and I know they always say the first year after a labrum (injury) is the toughest. I've ridden that roller coaster this year."

Janssen said the stiffness and inflammation in his right shoulder has been unpredictable.

"It's very inconsistent, so every day kind of provides a new challenge for me," he said. "It's holding well, but at the same time, certain areas get sore for no reason, so it's a little frustrating.

"It's tough because you don't really know what's ahead. You just want to be right and get ready and kind of see where that takes you."

Las Vegas pitching coach Dave LaRoche, who also worked with Janssen at Double-A New Hampshire in 2005, called the former UCLA star "very intelligent" about handling the injury.

"He really seeks information and thinks about how his arm is feeling," LaRoche said.

Janssen has pitched out of the bullpen in four games with the 51s. He gave up four earned runs in his first game off the disabled list at Tacoma on July 26 but threw one scoreless inning in each of his next three appearances.

"If he was wanting to pitch every day, I would nudge him back a little bit," LaRoche said. "If he was wanting to take too much time off, I would nudge him forward a little bit. But he's been ready to pitch every second or third day, usually every second day."

Though Janssen wants to return to Toronto "as soon as possible," he's being careful not to rush his recovery.

"I think everybody in this clubhouse wants to go tomorrow," he said. "But it's a situation where it's out of our hands, and you just try to force their hand as much as you can by pitching well down here."

Janssen was 6-10 with a 5.07 ERA with the Blue Jays in 2006. He settled in as the setup man in his first full season in the majors in 2007, posting a 2.35 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings.

Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston has told reporters that he'll probably put Janssen in the bullpen upon his return to Toronto, but the timetable for his return remains unclear.

Janssen said he's open to any scenario.

"I still think I can start in the big leagues, and I also know I can pitch out of the 'pen," he said. "We'll see. You've got to get there first."

• NOTE -- 51s outfielder Travis Snider was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week on Monday. Snider hit .538 with seven doubles, three home runs and 15 RBIs last week, leading Las Vegas to a 7-0 record.