Bartolo Colon makes a delivery during yesterday’s bullpen session, with pitching coach John Farrell looking on prior to the Red Sox’ spring training game yesterday.

AP / Brita Meng Outzen

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bartolo Colon is a former Cy Young Award winner, a pitcher once worthy of a $51-million contract.

Yesterday morning, however, he was just another pitcher trying to impress some people who will determine who makes the Red Sox’ pitching staff.

On a back bullpen mound, watched by more reporters than Red Sox employees, Colon threw for approximately 11 minutes, tossing 42 pitches. Such a session might have once been routine, but this year it signified an important first step.

“For not being on the mound for 3 1/2 weeks,” said pitching coach John Farrell, “I thought he threw the ball to both sides of the plate and followed the glove well. He got through with the front side to allow him to carry the fastball through the zone. I’d say a few of his pitches approached 90 [mph], but I think it was a very good day for him. … He’s making very solid progress.”

Colon, signed 10 days ago to a non-guaranteed $1.2-million deal with incentives, is hoping to make the team as the fifth starter. After pitching in the Caribbean World Series in early February, he hadn’t thrown at all, but from his first day in camp Farrell has been struck by the pitcher’s extraordinary arm strength.

Until yesterday, that was manifest in long-toss, with Colon effortlessly throwing on a line from a distance of 120 feet. He did so again yesterday morning with Farrell before taking to a mound for the first time as a member of the Red Sox.

He was caught by Doug Mirabelli, and, in addition to Farrell, watched by bullpen coach Gary Tuck and assistant general manager Jed Hoyer.

“I think he’s (further along than we expected),” said Farrell. “(When) we get into live situations, we’ll get a much better and more accurate read on his readiness for the regular season. But at this point, the progress he’s made has been very positive. His arm strength looks to be solid at this point. In terms of pure arm strength, he’s in a very good place. I think it’s a matter of repetition. Once we get into the up/down of the innings simulation and really get into games, that will be a very clear indication of where he’s at as far as season readiness.”

Restricted to fastballs and changeups, Colon will throw another bullpen session tomorrow, and after that will start to incorporate some breaking pitches, either in a third bullpen session or in live batting practice to hitters.

Yesterday, the goals were more modest.

“Today,” said Farrell, “was a matter of getting the feel of the mound under his feet, incorporating the angle into the throwing program that the mound provides. It was all very positive.”

Colon, who asked that he forego speaking with reporters until tomorrow, when someone with the ability to interpret will assist him, last week said he hoped to pitch in a game by Sunday, though that timetable is probably unrealistic.

What’s more likely is that Colon will pitch on March 15, which was the Red Sox’ target date all along.

“One thing we have to do is take this session by session before getting too far ahead of ourselves,” said Farrell, “but there’s no reason to think the 15th isn’t a definite possibility at this point. Whether we look to quicken that time frame will probably be decided later this week. ... He’s been very good in following our lead and our direction. He’s been very compliant. … so I think as he feels he’s getting closer to game readiness, he’ll voice that opinion.”

smcadam@projo.com