Angels’ Ervin Santana hopes to return to 2008 form

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — 

It was only an eight-minute session of live batting practice with no speed gun, but Ervin Santana’s fastball looked lively and he broke two bats Thursday, fueling optimism that the Angels right-hander can regain his 2008 All-Star form.

“I feel good -- I don’t have to lie about my arm,” said Santana, who was slowed by an elbow sprain much of last season, when he was 8-8 with a 5.10 earned-run average. “I’m letting the ball go.”

When Santana was 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 2008, his fastball hit 96 mph regularly, and his off-speed pitches were sharp. In 2009, his fastball hovered around 91 mph, and his command wavered.

“There were a couple of games toward the end [of the season] when his stuff picked up a bit,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, “but I don’t think he ever showed the electric stuff he showed in 2008.”

The Angels think the lights could be coming back on, but they hope not too soon, Scioscia said.

“It’s important for a pitcher coming back from injury to keep that governor on as he goes through his progression,” Scioscia said. “When you’ve been hurt for a while and you haven’t been able to perform at a level you’re used to, as soon as you feel good, you want to jump right into that level and get after it, and that’s not the right approach for Ervin right now.”

It might be difficult for Santana, 27, to try easier.

“I know what he’s saying, but if I do that, I’m going to be lazy with my mechanics and arm,” Santana said. “I just have to be normal and let the ball go and don’t try to do too much. I’m not going to throw 200% or overthrow.”

Part of probe

The Angels were unaware of an investigation into the disappearance of $300,000 from Kendry Morales’ bank account, a story first reported by ESPN.com Wednesday night, but they said the inquiry is not why the Cuban first baseman isn’t in camp.

“He is in the process of finalizing some [U.S.] immigration paperwork,” General Manager Tony Reagins said of Morales, who has missed three full-squad workouts. “We expect him any day.”

ESPN.com said the Major League Baseball Players Assn. and Coral Springs, Fla., police are questioning Rodney Fernandez, a former employee of Hendricks Sports Management who recruited Morales and Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman to the firm.

Fernandez, who is not a certified agent, has been accused of making unauthorized withdrawals from Morales’ bank account. He has denied the claim but was recently fired by Randy and Alan Hendricks, the brothers who own the firm.

Morales, who hit .306 with 34 home runs and 108 runs batted in last season, left the Hendricks brothers this month and hired Scott Boras as his agent.

Neither Reagins nor Scioscia feels a need to talk to Morales about the investigation, and neither feels it will be a distraction for the switch-hitter.

“A player’s finances and who he chooses to handle them are not something that involves the club,” Reagins said. “He’s savvy enough and understands his priorities, and that’s being on the field for this club.”

Added Scioscia: “This will be handled by professionals, and Kendry is going to play baseball.”

Short hops

Reliever Scot Shields, who missed most of 2009 because of knee surgery, participated in full fielding practice Thursday for the first time this spring and showed no ill effects of his injury.

mike.digiovanna

@latimes.com