Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Monday that Casey Janssen (shoulder) will be ready on Opening Day. Janssen got off to a very late start this spring because he was recovering from shoulder surgery. But all is well now with the opening of the regular season just one week away. Janssen should be an excellent saves man this season on a really good Toronto club.

Casey Janssen pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out two, in his spring debut Friday against the Red Sox. Janssen is coming back from shoulder surgery, and he seems to have turned the corner now after bring brought along slower than expected early in camp. He's still in position to open the season as the Jays' closer if he throws well over the next week.

Casey Janssen (shoulder) will make his Grapefruit League debut Friday. Janssen threw an inning in a minor league game Wednesday and reported no lingering effects with his surgically-repaired shoulder. The right-hander looks to have a shot to be ready for Opening Day, but he'll obviously need to appear in a handful of games first before being cleared. If he's not quite ready, Sergio Santos will be used as the Blue Jays' closer.

Casey Janssen (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Wednesday. If all goes well, the next step could be a Grapefruit League appearance. His status for the start of the season is still up in the air, but Blue Jays coach Pete Walker has said that he would like to see Janssen throw on back-to-back days before the start of the regular season. The 31-year-old is coming off surgery in November to relieve discomfort in his AC joint. Sergio Santos, also coming off shoulder surgery, would be favorite for early save chances if he needs more time.

MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm writes that the "timing will be tight" for Casey Janssen (shoulder) being ready on Opening Day. Janssen threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Thursday, which was the first time this spring that he's faced hitters. "I felt all right," Janssen said. "It was good to get out there, good to compete. Still by no means a finished product, but it's another step in the right direction and it was nice to face some hitters and pick up the intensity again." Janssen remains hopeful of being ready for Opening Day, but he likely will need to pitch in at least one minor league game and several Grapefruit League games first. Sergio Santos (triceps) looks to have a better chance to be ready for the opener and would close if Janssen isn't quite ready.

Casey Janssen (shoulder) will throw another bullpen Saturday and could advance to a live batting practice session soon. Janssen has thrown two pen sessions so far with no issues. It sounds like he's probably at least a week away from game action, but he remains on pace for Opening Day as long as he can avoid a setback.

Casey Janssen (shoulder) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Wednesday. Janssen felt fine after throwing a bullpen session Sunday for the first time since offseason shoulder surgery. He threw mostly fastballs in his first bullpen, but it shouldn't be long before he incorporates his secondary pitches. Janssen originally hoped to make his spring debut in the second week of March, but it's not clear if he'll be ready by then. Sergio Santos would be the alternative at closer if he encounters any setbacks.

Casey Janssen (shoulder) won't be ready to throw off a mound for at least a few more days. Janssen still feels discomfort in his surgically-repaired shoulder. He had been shooting to made his Grapefruit League debut by the second week of March, but it's possible that could be pushed back. "I'll have to get an update (Monday)," said pitching coach Pete Walker, "but we're really taking our time with him. Certainly not rushing him. There's still time to be ready. We're just being cautious and want to make sure that before he goes off a mound again that he's feeling really good. If it takes an extra week or two, that's fine." If Janssen isn't ready by Opening Day, Sergio Santos would serve as the Blue Jays' closer.

Casey Janssen (shoulder) expects to appear in Grapefruit League action by the second week of March. Janssen underwent right shoulder surgery in November in order to relieve discomfort in his AC joint. As long as he doesn't have a setback, he should be fine for Opening Day. "I'm still working through some stuff to build strength but I'm pretty happy with where I'm at," Janssen said. "The doctors said 100% (recovery) is right around four months. Three months is (Feb. 16) so as long as I don't have a setback I'm in a good place."

Casey Janssen (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session on Thursday morning in Blue Jays camp. It was his first mound workout since November shoulder surgery. "I'm happy where I'm at and as long as I don't have a setback, I think I'm in a good spot," Janssen told reporters. "Just stay the course." He is expected to open the 2013 season as Toronto's ninth-inning man.