ANGELS : Flora Agrees to Participate in the Arizona Fall League

Second baseman Kevin Flora, in an attempt to revitalize his career, has agreed to play in the Arizona Fall League and will report Sept. 30 to the Tempe Rafters.

“Kevin’s really excited about coming,” said Bill Moore, Flora’s agent. “His attitude is totally different now.”

Flora, projected to be the Angels’ everyday second baseman this season, rejected the club’s invitation to play in the fall league last winter while continuing to mourn his wife, who died April 22, 1993. Flora began this season with triple-A Vancouver, but took a two-month leave of absence in May.

Flora returned to the Angel organization in July, but has been hampered by tendinitis in his left knee. He has played only 12 games at Class A Lake Elsinore, and is batting .227 with three RBIs. He probably will complete the season at Lake Elsinore without returning to Vancouver, according to Ken Forsch, Angel farm director.

“Now we’re trying to make sure he’s back in playing shape again,” Forsch said.

The Angels, according to a league official, also have decided to send at least four other players to the Arizona Fall League: Double-A Midland shortstop Tim Harkrider (.268, no homers, 48 RBIs) and triple-A pitchers Mark Holzemer (4-10, 6.79 earned-run average), Ken Edenfield (9-4, 3.61 ERA) and Jeff Schmidt (1-5, 4.25 ERA).

Notes

The Angels are continuing contract negotiations with designated hitter Chili Davis during the strike, but an agreement is not expected before October. Davis is seeking a three-year contract, according to sources, while the Angels’ preliminary proposal was for one year and an option for the 1996 season. . . . There have been more home runs hit at Anaheim Stadium this season (167) than any other stadium in the major leagues, according to Stats Inc. The 93 homers yielded by the Angel staff at Anaheim Stadium also is the most by any team at their home stadium. . . . The Angels will have at least three, and perhaps four farm teams in the playoffs in September. . . . The Angels rank eighth in the major leagues in games played by first-round draft picks since 1980, trailing only the Chicago White Sox (2,928), Milwaukee Brewers (2,800) and Seattle Mariners (2,294) in the American League.