TUCSON, Ariz. -- Last year at this time, Australian Rich Thompson was making waves in Angels camp as a reliever with primetime stuff. But 2008, it developed, was not so great.

"It didn't turn out the way I wanted, that's for sure," Thompson said through a smile. "My shoulder had other ideas."

Thompson's mid-90s fastball and old-school, 12-to-6 curveball bought him a spot on the 25-man Opening Day roster when Scot Shields was forced, against his considerable will, to the disabled list for the first time in his career with a forearm strain.

With remarkable economy of words, Thompson managed to sum up an entire season in one sentence: "I made the club, got sent down [on April 5], my shoulder seized up on me, and three months later, after intensive rehab, I was finally able to do something again.

"Not much of a season, mate."

The right shoulder had begun to bother Thompson during Spring Training, but being 23, with that gung-ho Aussie spirit and sense of adventure, he forged on. There was a roster spot to claim, and claim it he did -- even though he was limited to two appearances with the Angels, 10 games for Triple-A Salt Lake and seven rookie ball rehab assignment outings.

"I spent most of the year right here in Arizona, rehabbing the shoulder," Thompson said.

Tempe in the summer might not have the appeal of Sydney, where he lives, but the extreme heat apparently helped heal his shoulder.

"I feel good, no problems at all with it," Thompson said. "I'm totally normal. I just have to stay on top of it now."

Thompson has appeared in two Cactus League games, yielding two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. It's more about health and stuff than results at this early stage, and he couldn't be any happier with where he is.

"Everything's still there," he said. "My velocity is where I want it, my curveball is good. I'm working on my changeup, trying to bring it more often, give them a different look."

Thompson is getting ready to represent his native land in the second World Baseball Classic, with considerably more knowledge of the craft than he carried into the inaugural event in 2006.

"I was in A ball [having spent 2005 at Rancho Cucamonga] for the first one, and it was an eye-opening experience, to say the least," Thompson said. "I'll bring more experience to it this time, and, hopefully, we can have some fun."

One of 11 native Australians to grace a Major League roster in 2008, Thompson will visit his Classic teammates in their training sessions in nearby Peoria, but plans to remain with the Angels as much as possible.

Australia will compete in Mexico City in the first round, in a pool with Mexico, Cuba and South Africa.

With the Aussies' first game set for March 8 against Mexico, Thompson could find himself facing Halos teammate Freddy Sandoval, a versatile infielder hoping to nail down a spot in Mexico's lineup.

Thompson has joined the Arkansas contingent in the Angels' clubhouse, featuring Torii Hunter and Dustin Moseley. With his bride of one year, Ashley, Thompson has a home in Hot Springs, her hometown.

"This is an important year for me," Thompson said. "I plan on doing everything I can to make it back to the Major Leagues -- and hopefully stick around this time."

Thompson's debut in the big time wasn't something to write home about, not that one needs to in this age of advanced communications.

Facing the Rangers last April 4, he yielded five earned runs on four hits and two walks in one inning, striking out one man. He was Salt Lake-bound the following day with the activation of Shields.

Thompson made it back for one more appearance for the Angels, blanking the Tigers for one inning in Detroit on April 26, striking out one hitter.

Before long, however, the pain was too intense to allow him to continue.

"The ball and locket seized up and my shoulder was locked," Thompson said. "There wasn't much I could do. I couldn't get the range of motion."

He's back now, committed to showing the Angels that the pitcher they saw last spring was the real Rich Thompson, and that he has a future.