JUPITER, Fla. -- Kyle McClellan forced his way into the Cardinals' plans in 2007 when he enjoyed a brilliant season as a reliever at Class A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield. Now it appears he's moving back to starting.

McClellan, 23, put up a 1.81 ERA over 59 2/3 innings in '07, striking out 54 against 10 walks and allowing just two homers. But his wide-ranging repertoire has led St. Louis brass to want to use him as a starter.

That's fine with McClellan, who started for his first three years in the system before giving relieving a shot.

"I told them, whatever they think is the best way for me to get to the big leagues, one," he said. "And two, whatever they think adds the most value for me to this organization. I'm absolutely OK with that. The fact that they've talked about it and they see the positives in it, I'm OK with that."

McClellan has already caught the eye of pitching coach Dave Duncan, who is not always easily impressed by green hurlers.

"As little experience as he has, I watch him and I go, 'Wow,'" Duncan said. "This guy's got really good stuff, and everything he throws is around the strike zone. This guy, he's got my attention right now."

McClellan was selected in the 25th round out of a St. Louis-area high school in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. For three seasons he pitched as a starter, moving slowly and not dazzling anyone. In his fourth season, he sustained an elbow injury that required reconstructive surgery.

After a brief rehab stint at rookie-level Johnson City in 2006, McClellan blitzed two levels in '07. Now the organization believes he's prepared for another run at starting.

"One strength we have in our Minor League system is right-handed relievers," said general manager John Mozeliak. "I think when you look at what he's capable of doing, he has everything it would take to start. I just think the key will be what's his durability, and is he able to maintain his velocity for more than an inning or two? But if he can, I think he becomes more valuable."

Good company: Infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir is getting some good work early in camp. Hoffpauir, who had a breakout year split between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis in 2007, is working with all Major Leaguers in workouts thus far. His group for hitting and drills has included Cesar Izturis, Adam Kennedy and Aaron Miles, all of whom are extremely likely to be on the Opening Day roster.

By contrast, D'Angelo Jimenez has been working with outfield prospects, and youngsters Brendan Ryan, Brian Barden, David Freese and Rico Washington have been in a group together. It doesn't necessarily mean Hoffpauir has the inside track, by any means, but it surely indicates he's not being dismissed out of hand.

On the move: Tyler Herron, who spent the 2007 season at Class A Quad Cities, received a late invitation to camp. The invite came as a result of Herron's proximity -- he hails from Palm Beach County -- and because the Cards felt they needed some extra pitchers in the early games of spring. Stuart Pomeranz also was added to the NRI list.

On the pine
They're No. 1: Both of the Cards' top picks from 2006, first-rounder Adam Ottavino and supplemental first-rounder Chris Perez, have been busy in camp thus far. Both righties attended the club's minicamp for several of its top pitching prospects, and both have already begun throwing to hitters.

Class of '07: Aside from catcher Nick Derba, the only member of the 2007 Draft class in Major League camp is right-hander Clayton Mortensen, and he's received plenty of attention. Mortensen, 22, was a sandwich pick out of Gonzaga, and pitching coach Dave Duncan loves the way the tall, lean hurler goes about things -- and especially loves his sinker.

What they're saying: "I see good arms. Physically, good arms. They need to be a little more polished than they are, but that's part of the game. It's part of the way things go." -- Duncan, on the stable of young pitchers in camp.