Angel Roster Just the Spot for Hill

He can hit from either side of the plate, throw with either hand and play second base, shortstop or third. With all of the things that Donnie Hill can do for the Angels, it’s easy to overlook the two he won’t do.

One of them is play first base.

“I’m a little short for that,” said Hill, who is generously listed at 5-foot-11 on the Angels’ roster. “Maybe when I grow up.”

The other thing he isn’t likely to do is discuss the eye ailment that threatened his career. An infection that he developed in 1987, apparently caused by his contact lenses, didn’t disappear until Hill was fitted with disposable lenses, which are discarded before bacteria can build on them.

Free of discomfort and distorted vision, Hill has shown enough eagerness and versatility in spring training to virtually assure himself of a spot on the Angels’ roster.

“The kid can play three infield positions and switch-hit; there’s not too many of those around,” Angel Manager Doug Rader said of Hill, who was signed as a free agent in January and came to camp as a non-roster player. “If he remains healthy, he remains in our plans. The only thing that could get in the way is his eye problem.”

Eye problem? What eye problem?

“I have no eye problem,” said Hill, who was born in Pomona, graduated from Edison High School in Huntington Beach and later played at Orange Coast College. “It’s completely gone now. It affected my vision, but it’s cleared up and my eyes are fine.”

Hill, 29, signed with the Oakland Athletics in 1981 and worked through their farm system as a shortstop. He was supposed to start the 1985 season in double A, but he was moved to second when Tony Phillips was injured during spring training.

Hill batted .285 that season, with three home runs and 48 runs batted in, and hit .283 the following season as the regular second baseman.

Hill was traded to the Chicago White Sox in December, 1986 and opened the 1987 season at second base, but his eye ailment put him on the disabled list early in the season and a hamstring injury put him back on the disabled list in July and August. He platooned at second for most of 1988, when his average fell to a career-low .217.

He was released by the White Sox last March, but the A’s signed him to a triple-A contract with their Tacoma affiliate. He batted .261 in 58 games, but was released by Oakland in August.

Hill, familiar to Rader from Rader’s stint as a coach and interim manager in Chicago, is determined not to waste this unexpected chance with the Angels.

“I came to camp ready to do everything I could to make the club,” said Hill, who played second, short and third in Sunday’s intrasquad game. “I was kind of worried during the lockout, but things have worked out OK so far. I look at this as getting another chance to prove I can play.”

Hill would fit into Rader’s ideal of stockpiling versatile players if he can give second baseman Johnny Ray, shortstop Dick Schofield or third baseman Jack Howell an occasional rest without the Angels losing anything in the field.

Rader has said that he will try second baseman Mark McLemore at third and short. Kent Anderson played at second and third last season, in addition to the 65 games that he started at short. Bobby Rose can also play second or third.

Becoming so versatile wasn’t Hill’s original plan.

“Oakland moved me to second in ‘85, but I really didn’t think much about playing other positions until then,” he said. “As time has gone on, especially if you’re not starting, it helps to be able to play other positions.

“I started at third in Chicago a little bit, so basically, I have quite a bit of time in at all three. Normally, I’d say I prefer second base, but I’m comfortable at all the rest. Wherever he (Rader) sticks me, I’ll just try to do the best I can.”

At first, Hill was uncomfortable moving around the infield because “I didn’t know how the ball comes to you off certain hitters.”

“Now, I’m beyond that,” he said. “It was an adjustment going from being a starter to being a utility player, too, but when Tony La Russa came over to (manage) Oakland, he went big with the ‘Everybody plays’ type of thing.

“Everybody had days off and we had a lot of guys coming in and out, especially as the game progressed. It wasn’t hard for me. It’s worked for the A’s, especially the last couple years. It makes it easier on everybody when you have guys who can play different positions.

“Look at Tony Phillips. You could stick him anywhere, well, maybe anywhere but catcher.”

Hill says he might even try to pitch.

“Yeah, I’ve got to talk to Doug about that left-handed changeup I’ve been working on,” joked Hill, who throws right-handed.

The position he most wants, though, is a spot on the 40-man roster.

“Anywhere they want to put me, I’ll play my hardest,” Hill said. “I know it’s not over yet and I just have to keep doing whatever I can.”