PHOENIX -- It was only an inning in a spring intrasquad game. But it was an inning by Jason Schmidt, who has learned to manage expectations after two years of injuries.

"My biggest goal was to get out there and walk off in one piece," said Schmidt, who succeeded, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning Monday at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.

The Dodgers intentionally had no radar gun present, because they aren't concerned with velocity yet and don't want Schmidt to be, either.

They just want to know if Schmidt is healthy after two shoulder operations. The early returns were favorable for the 36-year-old, who hasn't pitched in a Major League game since June 2007. Manager Joe Torre and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt were pleased, but the most pertinent comment came from A.J. Ellis, who caught four of Schmidt's rehab starts at Triple-A Las Vegas and was behind the plate Monday.

"You could kind of tell last year he didn't feel right, he was protecting himself," said Ellis. "You can tell now he has the freedom to let it go. You can see the arm speed and the way it comes out of his hand. Last year, the ball was just barely getting to me. Today it was going through me. It had some carry on it. This is really exciting. I'm happy for him."

It has been two rough years for Schmidt and the Dodgers since they agreed on a three-year, $47 million contract, and Schmidt knows there is no assurance that the shoulder problems are gone. But from his upbeat attitude in the clubhouse to a more comfortable appearance on the mound, this year's Schmidt is different than the one who tried to pitch through injury the last two Spring Trainings.

"I accomplished a small hurdle today," Schmidt said. "I've got to be able to go out there tomorrow and play catch and be OK. Last year, I would pitch in a [rehab] game and have to take the next two weeks off. Tomorrow, playing catch will be the biggest hurdle. But you know when the game is over, I feel pretty good now. It should be no problem."

And that makes the staff feel pretty good, because the hope is that Schmidt emerges from a pack of contenders as the fifth starter because of what Torre said is Schmidt's "experience and success."

"I hadn't seen him pretty much the whole time I've been here, but he's got a great frame of mind and certainly looks comfortable," said Torre. "All spring, he's been pretty consistent feeling fine. He just looks like he's letting it go and it's coming out easy. I'm sure he'll gain velocity. We didn't have a gun today. We were thinking technique more than anything else."

Schmidt faced four batters. Juan Pierre flied to left field, Mark Loretta popped up to second base, Casey Blake lined a single off the glove of third baseman Luis Maza and Matt Kemp grounded out.

"All you can care about the first day is if he's healthy, and you could see it in his demeanor on the mound," said Pierre.

Schmidt made 11 pitches, nine of them strikes, and said he wouldn't have minded throwing more, although the club is being cautious after believing Schmidt overdid things last spring.

"I'm not looking for velocity, I'm looking for command and finish on pitches and it will take a while," Schmidt said. "The guys will tell you about velocity. I may not be the 96 [mph], 98 guy I was before. Being around the plate is my main goal now. Down the road, maybe [velocity] comes back."

Schmidt said that after a shoulder labrum operation in 2000, he gradually increased velocity from the mid-80s to the mid-90s.

"I pitched some of my better games with less velocity," he said. "I know I can do it. It's a matter of getting command. I'm sure there will be bumps in the road, maybe I'll need an extra day. I was glad I got the three outs today. As long as they didn't have to stop the game in the middle of the inning and come out."

Honeycutt said Schmidt will throw a bullpen session Wednesday and pitch in a "B" game against the White Sox on Friday.

In other pitching news, closer Jonathan Broxton retired two of the four batters he faced before he reached a 17-pitch limit.

Of the eight pitchers following Schmidt and Broxton, seven were left-handed relievers, and that was by design because the staff is looking for a Joe Beimel replacement. They were Scott Elbert, Greg Miller, Brent Leach, Jesus Castillo, Victor Garate, Jacobo Meque and Erick Threets.

"We'll take a look at the left-handers here and see if somebody makes sense out of the bullpen," said Torre.

Miller allowed a pair of unearned runs, but drew praise from Torre for throwing strikes, which has been the biggest challenge since two shoulder operations.

Torre also confirmed that Hong-Chih Kuo had his first bullpen session in four days after resting his elbow, but Yhency Brazoban has been shut down with continuing shoulder problems.