More good news on the recovery of Tigers' No. 1 prospect, Jacob Turner, came on Sunday, when pitching coach Jeff Jones said that the right hander threw a successful, pain-free bullpen session.

Turner was shut down with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder midway through spring training, but has been trying to get back on track, throwing Friday and again Sunday.

"It went really well," Jones said, indicating that Turner would likely throw again in spring training. "He’ll probably take two days off, then pitch in a game."

Jones could not answer, however, whether or not that would be in a major or minor league game.

For his part, manager Jim Leyland thought it was unlikely Turner was still a candidate for the vacant fifth spot in the starting rotation, given his injury blip.

"One more start? I doubt that. I don’t think we have really the time for that, to be honest with you. Another appearance or maybe two? That could be a possibility," Leyland said Saturday. "I would assume that, if he’s not a candidate — and I think it’s a very slight chance that he is now; I’m not ruling it out totally, but I think it’s a very, very slight chance — then I would assume, when healthy, Dave would want to get him over there pitching."

If Turner does not go north with the Tigers, he'll still need to be ready to join what is rapidly becoming a crowded rotation for Triple-A Toledo.