Advertisement
Sports Now

Four Angels regulars to make spring debut; Torii Hunter a no-go

Los Angeles Times staffer Mike DiGiovanna
By Mike DiGiovanna
Staff WriterFollow
Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar, Juan Rivera and Howie Kendrick will make their exhibition debuts in today’s game against the Seattle Mariners, but center fielder Torii Hunter, who was expected to play, did not make the trip to Peoria because of a tight hamstring. Manager Mike Scioscia said Hunter’s injury, suffered in Wednesday’s workout, ‘shouldn’t set him back.’

There was plenty of other news on the injury front this morning, most of it good for the Angels. Vladimir Guerrero, recovering from an October knee surgery, ran in spikes today for the first time this spring. He is yet to sprint but has been ‘running at a good pace,’ Scioscia said. Guerrero is expected to play in games in mid-March.

Catcher Mike Napoli, recovering from shoulder surgery, has extended his long-toss program to 90 feet and has not had any major setbacks. ‘He’s breaking through adhesions, the normal stuff after surgery,’ Scioscia said. ‘Some days he’s going to be sore; some days he’s going to feel great.’

Advertisement

Napoli appears to be a long-shot to catch on opening day. ‘It’s still a possibility,’ Scioscia said, ‘but one thing is for certain --out of the chute -- it would be a stretch to think he’ll be able to catch every day.’

Pitcher Jered Weaver has increased his bullpen work to 50-pitch sessions and should be ready to start a Cactus League game in a week to 10 days. Minor league catcher Hank Conger, who was unable to catch for most of 2008 because of a shoulder injury, has increased his long-toss program to 200 feet.

Pitcher Ervin Santana, however, is experiencing a little tightness in his arm and may have his next Cactus League start pushed back.

The lineup for today’s game against Seattle:

3B Chone Figgins
SS Erick Aybar
LF Juan Rivera
1B Kendry Morales
DH Mike Napoli
2B Howie Kendrick
C Jeff Mathis
RF Terry Evans
CF Reggie Willits
P Shane Loux

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Sports Now
Mike DiGiovanna

Mike DiGiovanna has been covering Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Times since 1995 and spent 19 years as the Angels beat writer and two seasons on the Dodgers. He won Associated Press Sports Editors awards for game-story writing in 2001, feature-story writing in 2017 and breaking news in 2019. A native of East Lyme, Conn., and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, he began writing for The Times in 1981.

Advertisement