TORONTO - There is some very cautious optimism building around Dustin McGowan and the right-hander's ability to become a factor in the Toronto Blue Jays' pitching plans this season.

McGowan threw off a mound in Dunedin, Fla., this morning, his first such session since last summer. The 27-year-old hasn't pitched in a game since leaving a July 8, 2008 start versus Baltimore with pain in his shoulder, and his career has been in question since.

"Dustin threw off a mound today and looked very good," Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said via email. "He experienced no pain which is a very encouraging sign. This is a positive step in his recovery and we'll continue to evaluate things one step at a time."

McGowan was considered an ace in the making when he suffered the injury to the labrum in his right shoulder, one of the toughest injuries for pitchers to recover from.

Initial projections said he might be ready to pitch last May but they were quickly cast aside when he didn't bounce back as quickly as hoped.

Bad luck followed him into the summer, when he damaged cartilage in his left knee while doing some routine running and needed surgery to repair it.

Anthopoulos refused to put any sort of time frame or expectations on when McGowan might be ready to pitch, pointing out there are still many steps remaining for him.

The Blue Jays will take it slow and steady on that front, even though their starting staff is wide open this spring with Roy Halladay gone.

Shaun Marcum, Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow, Mark Rzepczynksi and Brett Cecil are top candidates for the rotation, although there will be no shortage of candidates once spring training starts.

Jesse Litsch, who is recovering from ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow, is scheduled to start throwing off a mound Wednesday. He's not expected back until June.

If McGowan can regain any of his previous form, it would be a massive boon.

He was 12-10 with a 4.08 ERA during a breakout 2007 -- coming within three outs of a no-hitter against Colorado -- and was building upon that in 2008 before his shoulder problems surfaced.

He was 6-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 19 starts when he pulled the plug on his outing versus Baltimore after four innings.