Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — It was tough to tell who looked more comfortable Friday: Tom Glavine answering questions about coming home, or Mike Hampton answering them about coming back.

Both seemed at ease when surrounded by reporters at the first workout for Braves pitchers and catchers at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Glavine spent the past five seasons with the New York Mets, and Hampton missed the past two seasons recovering from two left-elbow surgeries.

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Braves pitchers Tyler Yates (from left), Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Mike Hampton warm up during first day of Braves spring training camp in Florida.

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Glavine, who'll be 42 in March, was the first player in the clubhouse Friday, entering just after 7 a.m. Only manager Bobby Cox and coaches Eddie Perez and Frank Fultz were there at that hour.

"All the old guys get here early — we need to make sure we wake up," joked Glavine, a 303-game winner who spent the first 16 seasons of his major-league career with the Braves.

He won two Cy Young Awards, 242 regular-season games and some notable postseason games in his previous life with the Braves, but nevertheless said he felt a bit awkward Friday.

"I had a weird feeling coming here this morning," said Glavine, who totaled 13 wins and 200-1/3 innings for the Mets last season. "I haven't been here for five years; a lot of things have changed."

Some have not. Glavine said having Cox and friends John Smoltz and Chipper Jones around would make the transition easier. But he looks forward to beginning the Grapefruit League schedule and getting past this latest round of interviews focused on his return to the Braves.

"It [seemed] normal when I saw him this morning, like he'd never left," Cox said of Glavine, who completed most of his conditioning work before a 9:30 a.m. team meeting and 10 a.m. practice.

"He and [former Braves pitcher Greg] Maddux were always here early," Cox said. "They'd have their workout in before three-fourths of the other players were here."

Pitchers throw off the mound every other day in early spring training, and Glavine's first session is Saturday. Hampton and Smoltz were among those who threw Friday — first in the bullpen, then in brief sessions against hitters including catchers and early arriving center fielder Mark Kotsay.

Hampton, 35, knows many outside the organization have written him off after numerous trips to the disabled list and two elbow surgeries. But the left-hander said there are no lingering problems with his arm, and he expects to contribute plenty in this final season of his mammoth contract.

"I'm more concerned about what people in the clubhouse think," Hampton said of skeptics. "Long as I'm respected by my peers, I couldn't care what's written in the paper."

He didn't say that with a bitter tone. He understands why people doubt his ability to return, why some have expressed frustration over seeing him on the sidelines for so long.

But no one has been more frustrated than Hampton himself. He believes he could've made a difference last season, when the Braves weren't eliminated from playoff contention until the last week.

After two full years of tedious rehabilitation, he's eager to revive his career. At 35, he believes he has plenty left. He isn't crossing fingers and hoping to make 15 starts. He plans on 30 or more.

"Whether they slot me third or fourth — whatever my place is, my plan is to make my turn every fifth day," he said. "With the things I've done the past two years, I should be able to make that many starts. I feel strong."

The Braves are hopeful, but also have other options in case Hampton doesn't make it back. Unlike last year, they aren't relying on him, though there's a spot for him if he can stay healthy.

He pitched one inning of a planned six-start Mexican winter-ball stint after pulling his left hamstring when he slipped trying to field a grounder. He said the hamstring feels good now, but the Braves are using caution and will have Hampton skip fielding drills in the early part of spring training.