SURPRISE, Ariz. -- After waiting for the sun to chase the morning frost off the grass, a groundskeeper freshened up the blue and white paint on the "KC" at the practice field. Inside the clubhouse, manager Trey Hillman addressed the troops. And, at 9:15 a.m. MT, the first pitchers and catchers emerged and gazed across at the White Tank Mountains.

It was official -- Royals Spring Training had begun under blue skies on a fast-warming Saturday morning at the complex near Phoenix.

Not that this was anything new for most of the pitchers and catchers. Voluntary workouts had been under way for several days, and that was a real benefit in Hillman's view.

"I really believe the last six days helps us get ahead of the game where we don't have as much concern about the conditioning levels of the guys that have been here," Hillman said, "simply because they've gotten out here and there's an adrenaline factor that rises a little when you get guys in a group ... it raises your level of intensity."

All 40 players -- 31 pitchers and nine catchers -- began stretching and running at 9:30 a.m. sharp.

"Everybody's in pretty good health," Hillman said. "Some guys are ahead of others depending on their workout regimen, but we don't have any red-flag guys coming out."

One of the primary items of camp will be finalizing the starting rotation, where six pitchers are aiming at five spots. Added to the mix is left-hander Horacio Ramirez, who was signed with the idea that he'd break up an all-right-handed rotation.

"He's going to have to pitch his way out of it," Hillman acknowledged. "Am I fence-riding a little bit? Yeah, I am because he's got to pitch well enough to seize one of those spots. But, at the same time, we have a preference that we'd like to have a left-hander in that rotation."

So behind staff leaders Gil Meche and Zack Greinke, it appears that Kyle Davies, Brian Bannister and Luke Hochevar will be gunning for the other two spots. Davies had a great September, Bannister struggled after a fine rookie season and Hochevar ended last season with a rib-cage injury.

Hochevar seems fully recovered.

"No setbacks," Hillman said. "He looks very healthy and very strong. He's been throwing now for a little over two months. He looks good, he's put some solid weight on and looks stronger."

Meche was one of several pitchers to throw live batting practice on Saturday against the swings of the catchers and some Minor Leaguers like Devery Van De Keere, Ed Lucas and Carlo Testa.

"It went well," Meche said. "Normally every year I battle my elbow a little bit at the start of Spring Training. There's a little banging on the back of my elbow, but I just kind of work through it. Today wasn't as bad as the last two or three years in my first bullpen throwing to hitters."

Meche had his elbow wrapped and was watching Syracuse and Georgetown wage a TV basketball battle in overtime.

"I threw a lot of strikes, some good-quality pitches. It's just a matter of my delivery doesn't feel real smooth. It feels like I'm delayed a little bit. It'll all come in time," he said.

"Just like everybody says. That's what Spring Training's for, just to get a feel for your body. I think the older I get, the smarter I get -- trying not to push through anything right now."

At the moment, the only pitcher with medical concerns is left-handed reliever Ron Mahay. He had a procedure done to relieve pain in his left heel from plantar fasciitis.

"The heel's doing very well," Mahay said. "I think I'm four weeks post-surgery and so far, so good."

He's doing his normal throwing with the only concession being lighter duty in fielding drills. The training staff wants to minimize the pounding on the heel.

Even most of the position players, who don't have to be in uniform until Wednesday, are already in camp and working out. The only regulars who haven't checked in yet are center fielder Coco Crisp and right fielder Jose Guillen.

Like the pitchers and catchers, most of the other players will have a head start on this camp. The first full-squad workout will be somewhat anticlimactic.

"Pretty much everybody's here. We're ready to get going," left fielder David DeJesus said. "It's just like camp's already started. It's just going to be another day for us."

With most players launching early, Hillman won't hesitate to plunge right into game situations. Next Friday and Saturday he plans run-throughs on bunting and hit-and-run plays.

"[We will be] emphasizing the small ball and not being in last place with the fundamentals of the bunting game when we need it this year," he said.

By Feb. 22 and 23, there will be back-to-back intrasquad games. Then, on Feb. 25, the exhibitions begin with a charity game against the Texas Rangers.

Everything is in motion. Spring Training has sprung.