FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Pedro Martinez was pleased after throwing batting practice for the first time in spring training Tuesday.

	Martinez

His fastball was strong, his breaking ball was sharp and his shoulder -- which sidelined him for much of last season -- felt fine.

The only problem was his fielders, six youngsters chosen from the spectators by new owner John Henry to shag fly balls. Six others did it when John Burkett took the mound Tuesday.

Martinez said he enjoyed the activity.

"I was laughing because I could see the kids running and the ball was going the opposite direction," he said. "They just need to continue to practice and stay in school."

After pitching, he signed autographs for the youngsters on T-shirts and baseball given to them by the Red Sox.

"He said, `You almost caught one,' " said Leigh Simons, 17, of Hollis, N.H., who played junior varsity girls softball in high school and patrolled right field in bare feet. "I misjudged it."

Jake Rayner, 8, of Billerica, Mass., caught two grounders served up by the three-time Cy Young award winner.

"It felt wicked good," he said. "I said, `Hi' to him and he signed my shirt."

Martinez might have had trouble doing that late last season because of a shoulder injury that limited him to 18 starts and no wins after May.

Surgery was an option, but he decided on rehabilitation and, so far, it has worked.

"It was surprising to me to see that the breaking ball at this stage of the season was going to be so sharp and the changeup is there," he said. "The best of all is the way I feel right now, probably an hour after. It feels really great."

Martinez felt discomfort in his right shoulder in spring training last year.

The difference between then and now "is from earth to sky. No comparison," he said. "Last year, everything that I did seemed to hurt. This time no matter what I do, it doesn't seem to hurt."

But he said he'll have to be careful and, perhaps, leave a close game when his pitch count gets high. His days of 130-pitch outings may be over.

"If I want to get my career to go a little longer, I'm going to have to be more cautious," he said.

Martinez probably will throw batting practice again Saturday and is tentatively scheduled to make his first exhibition appearance next Tuesday against Atlanta.

Manager Joe Kerrigan was impressed by Martinez's 40 pitches, 20 from a windup and 20 from a stretch position.

"He was free and easy," Kerrigan said. "I liked how he finished his pitches. It seemed like he was concentrating on staying with his followthrough."

But what will happen by July after he's thrown hundreds of pitches?

"I think I'm going to be able to tell before then because your body tells you how you feel," Martinez said.