WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has begun throwing as he moves forward with his recovery from reconstructive elbow surgery.

The right-hander, operated on Sept. 3, began a "soft toss" program in San Diego with a physical therapist, the Nationals said Thursday. He will start a more formalized throwing program when he arrives at spring training in Viera, Fla.

Recuperation time from the surgery is usually 12 to 18 months.

Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts as a rookie in 12 starts last year, striking out 14 in his major league debut.

The top pick in the 2009 amateur draft, Strasburg signed for a draft-record $15.1 million.