BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Esasky Will Play After 2-Year Absence

Nick Esasky, who hasn’t played in the major leagues in more than two years because of vertigo, will report Friday to the Atlanta Braves triple-A farm club in Richmond to begin a 20-game rehabilitation assignment.

Esasky, 32, played in only nine games with the Braves in April, 1990, before his unsteadiness was diagnosed as a form of vertigo.

Nolan Ryan’s status for his next scheduled start, Saturday against Minnesota, remains uncertain, but he said he feels better after a trainer for the Texas Rangers worked out a knot in his left hamstring.

Ryan left Monday night’s game against the New York Yankees after only 10 pitches, complaining of tightness in the hamstring. Trainer Danny Wheat worked out the knot after the game.