ANGELS : Percival’s Future Brightens on Other Side of the Plate

Two years ago, he was merely another little-known catcher in the Angels’ organization who couldn’t hit his weight.

The Angels adored his arm, but after watching him bat .200 in their short-season Class-A League, they could have cared less if he walked away and never came back.

Now, after spending the last two years in the minors learning how to pitch , he is drawing rave reviews and making a strong bid to be on the opening-day roster.

Say hello to Troy Percival.

“When you see an arm like that, and such a smooth delivery,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said after Sunday’s rain-shortened workout, “you can’t help but love what you see. He’s probably got the best fastball on the ballclub except for (Russ) Springer. I saw him pitch in the Arizona Instructional League, and every fastball he threw was above 92 (m.p.h.) on the gun.

“We want to see whether he can get major league hitters out this spring, and if he does that, we’re going to have a difficult decision on our hands.”

The Angels simply are trying to determine what will be most beneficial to Percival’s career: allowing him to gain more experience by being the bullpen stopper in triple-A Vancouver, or acclimating him quickly to the major leagues by using him in middle relief.

There’s no question, the Angels believe, that one day he will be closing games in the major leagues. The numbers, they say, provide the evidence. In two minor league seasons, Percival has struck out 100 in only 68 innings. He is 6-1 with a 2.25 earned-run average, yielding a .198 batting average with 37 walks.

“I know I have good enough stuff to get people out,” said Percival, 24, “but now I’m going to have to prove it against the major league guys. I’m going to let my ability speak for itself, and then let the Angels decide.”

Despite the Angels’ repeated insistence that they have no interest in trading for veteran starter Bruce Hurst, Rodgers said he would at least like to explore the possibility of acquiring the left-hander.

“I hope there will be some interest,” said Rodgers, “but we’re talking money. If Bruce Hurst is healthy, and can pitch like he did in the past, he’s a bargain at $2.75 million.

“But that’s the thing you have to decide.”

The San Diego Padres have been desperate to trade Hurst all winter, but have received no offers because of Hurst’s rotator-cuff surgery in October. He still is having difficulty, receiving a cortisone shot 10 days ago to relieve inflammation. Padre Manager Jim Riggleman said that Hurst probably will open the season on the disabled list.

Hurst, the only active major league pitcher who has won at least 10 games each of the past 10 seasons, is guaranteed $2.75 million this year with a $3-million option or $400,000 buyout in 1994. He also is one of the few players who must be paid in the event of a lockout.

The Angels, barring injuries, are expected to open the season with Mark Langston, Chuck Finley, Julio Valera, Russ Springer and Scott Sanderson in their rotation.