Angels’ Bobby Wilson is emotionally tested

It was an extremely emotional week for Bobby Wilson, and not just because the reserve catcher made a big league opening-day roster for the first time and shared the excitement with his father, Bob, who flew in from Florida for Monday night’s game.

While most teammates closed out spring training and traveled to Southern California last Wednesday, Wilson remained in Arizona that night to watch a 16-year-old right-hander from the Chicago area pitch in a high school tournament game in Scottsdale, Ariz.

And it nearly brought Wilson to tears.

The name of the pitcher: Henry Gigeous, the half brother of Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old Angels pitcher who was killed along with two friends in an automobile accident last April 9.

“The similarities between him and Nick . . . oh, man, just watching him warm up was heart-wrenching for me, because I got to see that so often through the minor leagues,” said Wilson, a close friend of Adenhart’s.

“The way they carry themselves, the way Henry holds his glove, his delivery . . . he even throws same pitches, that big breaking ball, the changeup. He’s tall and lean like Nick; he has a little length to him now. It was difficult to watch.”

Wilson also went to dinner in Arizona with Adenhart’s stepfather, Duane Gigeous, Adenhart’s mother, Janet, Henry and Jon Wilhite, the former Cal State Fullerton catcher who was the only survivor of the Adenhart crash. Wilhite was in Arizona visiting Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki.

“As hard as it was, the stories and the smiles and the laughs were awesome,” Wilson said. “It was great to see them all together.”

Rehab report

Pitcher Scott Kazmir, who opened the season on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury, gave up one earned run and seven hits and threw 77 pitches in seven innings of a triple-A game in Arizona on Sunday.

Kazmir is scheduled to throw about 95 pitches for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night, and barring a setback, the left-hander will be folded into the Angels’ rotation during next week’s series against the Yankees in New York.

“I felt like I was ready” to pitch this week, Kazmir said. “But at the same time, I didn’t get many innings this spring. This will give me more time to work on some things. It’s tough not being on the opening-day roster, but I’ll only miss one start.”

Reserve outfielder Reggie Willits, on the DL because of a right hamstring strain, is scheduled to begin a five-game rehab stint with Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday. Barring a setback, Willits will be activated during the Yankees’ series.

Cleaning up

Manager Mike Scioscia said he based his decision to hit Hideki Matsui fourth on the Japanese slugger’s experience, his strong 2009 season with the Yankees (.274, 28 home runs, 90 runs batted in) and his career on-base percentage of .370.

But don’t be surprised if first baseman Kendry Morales, who hit .306 with 34 home runs and 108 RBIs in 2009, his first full big league season, moves into the fourth spot soon.

“If Kendry continues to be the force he can be, we think he’ll hit third or fourth,” Scioscia said. “Hideki will get on base, work counts and take walks, so [hitting fifth] could be a good position for Kendry. Right now, this gives us a deep lineup, but we can adjust if we see a need.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com