Dodgers’ Vicente Padilla to undergo MRI exam on elbow

Reporting from Phoenix —

Vicente Padilla was sent to Los Angeles on Tuesday to undergo an MRI examination on his elbow after experiencing similar symptoms to what he felt when he was sidelined by nerve problems for almost two months early last season.

The Dodgers are expected to have results by Wednesday.

The opening-day starter last season, Padilla was expected to start the year as a long man out of the bullpen. He also was seen as a potential starter or closer.

When Padilla landed on the disabled list last April, he was unable to bend his arm. His condition is nowhere near as severe at this time, but the Dodgers had him examined by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache as a precaution.

Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said Padilla complained of discomfort in his arm after throwing his bullpen session Saturday.

Padilla played catch Monday, but his scheduled bullpen session was scratched.

The Dodgers knew Padilla was a health risk when they re-signed him. He also had a bulging disk in his neck that sidelined him for most of September.

That’s why Padilla’s deal is incentive-based. He will earn a base salary of $2 million and can make another $8 million in bonuses as a starter or $6.8 million as a reliever.

Short hops

Infielder Eugenio Velez and reliever Ronald Belisario were the only players who did not take part in the Dodgers’ first full-squad workout. Velez reported to camp later in the day. Belisario remains in his native Venezuela with visa problems.… Third base coach Tim Wallach was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Wallach was the national player of the year in 1979 and led Cal State Fullerton to the national championship.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com