PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- For the first time since March 1, the Pirates have everyone participating in Major League camp actually here to play.

John Grabow returned to Bradenton, Fla., late on Monday after being the Pirates' final World Baseball Classic member to be eliminated from the tournament. Grabow and his Team USA teammates were knocked out of the 16-team tournament after a semifinal loss to Japan on Sunday.

The left-handed reliever was a late addition to the US team after reliever Brian Fuentes had to pull out because of what he cited as a family situation.

"It was awesome, an unbelievable experience," Grabow said of the Classic. "It was a chance in a lifetime to go out there and represent your country. It's something that I'll never forget. I'm glad everything went the way it did for me personally, but it would have been nice for me to come home with some hardware."

For Grabow, 30, this was the first time since 2003 that he had the opportunity to pitch with USA stripped across his jersey. He made six appearances in the Olympic qualifying team trials in the summer of '03.

He made a team-high six appearances in the tournament and logged 4 1/3 innings. He gave up one run on four hits and a walk and struck out five.

The Team USA coaching staff stayed in close contact with the Pirates during Grabow's three-week absence, in order to make sure that he stayed on his normal Spring Training progression. In addition to the six appearances he made in the Classic, Grabow made two one-inning appearances with the Pirates before taking a hiatus from camp.

"I feel like I'm on track," Grabow said. "I would like to get a few more games under my belt before we break camp, but I don't feel like I really need to work on a particular thing right now. Now, it's just a matter of getting out there and getting my reps and just getting into game shape. Health-wise, everything is great."

He threw a relatively effortless inning of relief in the Pirates' 4-2 loss to the Rays. Grabow faced the minimum in the inning and is scheduled to make another appearance on Friday.

"It's just nice to have him back," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He's a big part of our club, not just out on the field, but in the clubhouse. He looked good."

The Pirates will be relying heavily on Grabow in the back end of the bullpen this season, maybe even more so than last year, when they had left-hander Damaso Marte as an option, too.

After forgoing optional surgery to remove some loose bone chips in his pitching elbow before last season, Grabow stayed healthy for all of 2008 and appeared in a career-high 74 games. His 76 innings pitched was also a career high. Grabow finished third among National League left-handed relievers with a 2.84 ERA.

"I think that's why he goes under the radar," Russell said. "He just goes out and does his job. You've got to kind of slow him down, because he'll take the ball every night."

Grabow didn't throw a ball until Dec. 1 this offseason in order to let his body and arm recuperate. He continues to be free of any health concerns.

"They had told me that it was something I could learn to manage, and that if I did learn to manage my arm and learn my body a little bit better, I could be OK," Grabow said. "That's definitely something that I've done better the last two years. I've learned my limitations and what I have to do to be able to pitch every day. As long as I stay on top of that and do what I need to do to make sure that I can pitch on an everyday basis, I should be fine."

Grabow will be the go-to left-hander for Russell this year, at least as much of it as Grabow spends in Pittsburgh. With Grabow eligible for free agency at the end of the season, he could certainly be among the players shopped by the Pirates near the Trade Deadline if the team is out of contention.

The Pirates and Grabow have not engaged in contract talks, which would suggest that Pittsburgh is not looking at the left-hander as a long-term piece in this organization. He is making $2.3 million this season.

In the meantime, though, Grabow will assume a veteran role in a bullpen that he sees as having the potential to be a strong asset on this team.

"I think we have a lot of ammunition down there in the bullpen," he said. "Guys really grew in their confidence last year. The guys like me who have been down there talk to each other so we can build up that growth process."