BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Young Guns Please Lasorda in Opener

It has been a long time since Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda had a team with so much young talent, and he is enjoying it. He throws 100 curveballs to outfielder Raul Mondesi and works with pitcher Greg Hansell on his curveball almost every day. Lasorda can’t begin to count the pitches he has thrown to catcher Mike Piazza and first baseman Eric Karros for extra batting practice.

So Friday, when Karros had two hits, Mondesi hit a towering home run and shortstop Jose Offerman, who agreed to a $2.115-million, two-year contract Thursday, drove in three runs during the Dodgers’ 6-1 exhibition victory over the New York Mets, Lasorda was more than pleased.

“I liked what I saw today,” Lasorda said after the exhibition season opener at Port St. Lucie, Fla. “The players have really worked hard all spring and they are ready to go.”

*

Two days after breaking his left cheekbone, second baseman Delino DeShields went through a full workout without a problem. He is scheduled to have outpatient surgery Monday to pop the bone back into place and said he should be playing in exhibition games in about a week. DeShields was struck by a bat that slipped from Mike Busch’s hands during batting practice Wednesday.

“It looks good now, but when it happened, I looked like a pit bull,” DeShields said. “I blacked out at first, and when I came to, I couldn’t see and that scared me. But then my vision cleared up. I am very fortunate--if it hits me a touch higher, it gets my eye. And if it hits back a bit and hits my temple, well . . . the doctor said I was fortunate.”

*

Pedro Astacio, who signed for $325,000 Thursday, was cleared to play after testing for a heart murmur. He returned to light drills and is expected to pitch Monday. . . . Minor leaguer Roger Cedeno, a top outfield prospect, had arthroscopic surgery in Los Angeles on his left knee, which he injured while sliding during winter ball. . . . Right-hander Todd Williams, the Dodgers’ top reliever in their farm system, will have an MRI examination to determine the cause of elbow pain that has sidelined him since the beginning of winter. . . . Ramon Martinez will start today against the Florida Marlins in the Dodgers’ second exhibition game, at 10 a.m. PST.