BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Seanez’s Season in Jeopardy

Rudy Seanez may be out for the season after tests Monday revealed a weakened condition of his vertebrae, known as spondylosis.

Doctors have ordered Seanez, one of the Dodgers’ top reliever prospects, to undergo aggressive therapy for two weeks.

If his sore lower back does not improve during that time, he will be put into a back brace for two months and be sidelined for the season.

“If he doesn’t quit pitching for now, this could get progressively worse,” said Frank Jobe, the Dodgers’ medical director. “We’ll give him the two weeks and see what happens.”

Seanez, who was scheduled to join the Dodgers’ major league roster as soon as his back healed, first felt the soreness after throwing his first round of batting practice this spring.

On Saturday, one day after pitching three innings in a simulated game for double-A San Antonio, his back felt the same soreness that sidelined him during spring training.

He was flown to Los Angeles for tests Monday that included a bone scan that revealed the injury, which probably occurred while he was with Cleveland Indians.

Seanez was acquired last winter from the Indians for pitcher Dennis Cook and minor leaguer Mike Christopher. He experienced back problems last season, but the Dodgers, in keeping with baseball tradition, did no medical testing before the deal.

“But I don’t blame (the Indians) for not testing him for the injury because it is so rare,” Jobe said. “In our initial tests, we didn’t use the bone scan either.”

Cook is 0-1 with an 8.22 earned-run average for Cleveland and has given up three homers in 7 2/3 innings.

Brett Butler has been hampered by a pulled left hamstring since hitting a triple Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, but he has insisted on remaining in the lineup. . . . With the impending return of Jay Howell, Eric Karros said: “I check my locker every day to make sure my stuff is still here.” Howell threw 45 pitches for Class-A Vero Beach against Dunedin Monday, allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings. He will attempt to throw again tonight before a decision is made on his return. Karros broke out of a three-for-18 slump Monday with a run-scoring fly and a single in his first two at-bats. He has consistently been the starting first baseman against left-handers, which could mean the Dodgers are serious about keeping him. . . . In his first trip here since being traded to the Cincinnati Reds, Tim Belcher arrived at Dodger Stadium before noon Monday and visited the Dodger clubhouse attendants before quietly returning to the unfamiliar visiting clubhouse before any players arrived. “It feels weird,” said Belcher, who said he wished he was pitching in this series. “With my career record here (32-15), I’d take my chances this park.” . . . Tom Browning will replace injured Jose Rijo as the Reds’ starter Wednesday, meaning three left-handers will face the Dodgers this series and Kal Daniels could miss the entire series. . . . When the Reds discovered they would be missing a bat boy before Monday’s game, they randomly selected one out of the stands. He was Brian Hawks, 18, an 11th grader at La Serna High.