SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Noah Lowry plopped in his chair, his left arm encased in an elastic bandage, and smiled.

"What's up guys?" he asked after completing his first full day of conditioning since surgery on his left forearm.

The 27-year-old Lowry walked nine of 12 batters against Texas last week, then was diagnosed with exertional compartmental syndrome — an exercise-induced neuromuscular condition that causes pain, swelling.

He returned to the San Francisco area for a 10-15 minute procedure, and has a 2-3 inch incision that surrounds his left elbow. He could be playing catch in a little more than a week.

"When I'm back throwing again I'll have a better understanding," Lowry said. "I just pray to God this has taken care of the problem I've had."

No muscles were harmed in the incision; the lining around the muscles were sliced.

"Hopefully with the quick turnaround the muscles respond well," Lowry said. "I'm keeping my lower half in shape and doing some basic (arm) movements that should cut down on the swelling. I have a pretty good range of motion."

Lowry said he never felt anything was wrong during his offseason conditioning, and the wildness never popped up in bullpen sessions.

"I didn't feel anything until we started going at game speed," he said. "I just want to get back out there and get going again."

Lowry hopes to be pitching in games by mid-April.

"I don't really know," he said. "What I do know is the work I've put in and the work the training staff will do."