SanFrancisco.Giants.MLB.com

By Rich Draper / MLB.com

The Giants won't know if Robb Nen will come back from shoulder surgery until he pitches in simulated or minor league games. (Dino Vournas/AP)

Barring a major setback.

"Nothing has changed as to Robb's prognosis or his health, and he's continuing his rehab program without incident," said Conte of the Giants' all-time saves leader, who underwent the last of three corrective surgeries May 7 and didn't pitch last season. "He's been throwing off the mound since early January and his arm is getting stronger."

Conte noted, however, as he has since the operation, that there are obviously no guarantees about Nen returning to full duty once the new campaign begins. As with any injury, there are always obstacles to overcome, hence some apprehension on the Giants' part about the 34-year-old's condition.

It's strictly wait and see.

"We won't really know until competition begins," said the trainer, who talked to the San Francisco media in reponse to the misleading article. "I would say he's ahead of last year, and if not, we'd be in big trouble.

Robb Nen   /   P
	Height: 6'5" Weight: 215 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Giants site

"We're being cautious and it wouldn't be appropriate to say we know he'll be ready on April 5 for Houston. We're being honest about that. We don't know how [his shoulder] will respond, and if I implied we did, I didn't mean it."

Nen, who had 43 saves and a 2.20 ERA in 2002, had pain in his shoulder late in the season and during the World Series, but gutted it out. Yet an operation that November and another one April 18 didn't eliminate the problem. The Giants hope the three-time All-Star's surgery last May will be the charm.

Conte said he won't have a prognosis about Nen's comeback until the pitcher's shoulder is tested in simulated or minor league rehab games and he nears 100 percent velocity with his pitches. The Giants are taking a strictly cautious approach, but at this point the team remains optimistic.

Giants team president Peter Magowan said on a radio program Tuesday night the trainer had been "misquoted" in the story and that he had discussed Nen's condition with Conte recently and understood nothing will be definitive until the end of Spring Training.

Jason Schmidt   /   P
	Height: 6'5" Weight: 220 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Giants site

"The bottom line," said Conte, "is that we haven't mapped out a specific [rehab] program in the spring. That hasn't been decided. We have to cross some hurdles to make sure he's ready and we put him out there."

As for starter Jason Schmidt, last year's Cy Young Award runner-up who underwent elbow surgery Oct. 17 to repair a split tendon and remove scar tissue, Conte said the right-hander's prognosis was more predictable.

"He's increasing his rehab intensity and we anticipate him being ready for April," said Conte. "He's doing well and will throw off the mound next week."

Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.