BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ELSEWHERE : Gibson Reports to Royals’ Camp

Kirk Gibson is back. Gibson failed to show up for Saturday’s workout at Haines City, Fla., but returned to Kansas City’s spring training camp after the one-day absence.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Gibson, unhappy with his role as a backup. “It’s not a big deal really. There’s nothing to say about it.”

The Royals have a surplus of outfielders with Keith Miller, Brian McRae and Kevin McReynolds set to start and Jim Eisenreich, Chris Gwynn and Gary Thurman competing with Gibson for the backup positions.

George Brett is expected to be the designated hitter.

Roger Clemens’ teammates were still awaiting his arrival in Winter Haven, Fla. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has said he prefers to practice at home until Wednesday, the mandatory reporting date.

On Saturday, Red Sox players rolled out a makeshift red carpet leading to his clubhouse stall. On Sunday, players added a milk carton with a baseball card of Clemens attached, and the caption: “Have you seen this pitcher?”

Clemens said during an interview last week that he was working out and that if he were at camp he would simply be standing around spitting out sunflower seeds.

San Francisco Giant Manager Roger Craig said at Scottsdale, Ariz., that left-hander Bud Black will be held out of intrasquad games today and Tuesday because of a groin injury. . . . Oakland’s Bob Welch, bothered by a tender left knee, threw off a mound for the third time, and might throw batting practice for the first time Tuesday. . . . Milwaukee left-hander Teddy Higuera, who sat out much of the 1991 season and had rotator cuff surgery in August, threw 50 pitches from the mound at Chandler, Ariz., and then gave a thumbs-up sign. . . . New York Met Manager Jeff Torborg will skip today’s workout because of arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage on his left knee.