Deer Fights to Make Contact at the Plate : Baseball: Former Canyon High player and major leaguer signs minor-league contract with Angels.

The newest Angel is something of a Hell’s Angel--Rob Deer, who signed a minor league contract and worked out with the team Sunday, gets his kicks by riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles with his buddies on the weekends.

It’s not the kind of hobby his new employers will likely embrace, but it did lead to an interesting job offer last week.

A promoter for a cable television event known as “ultimate fighting,” a free-for-all battle in which contestants are limited by two rules--no biting or eye gouging--couldn’t help but notice Deer’s menacing appearance.

Here was this 6-foot-4, 240-pound guy on a Harley, muscles bulging under his leather jacket, with long hair and a goatee. The ultimate fighter, the promoter thought, and he asked Deer if he’d be interested.

The former Canyon High standout, who played 10 years in the major leagues from 1984-93, checked out a show for himself.

“One guy was kneeing the other guy in the head, there was blood flying everywhere. . . . It was pretty gruesome,” said Deer, who lives in nearby Scottsdale. “My wife saw it and said, ‘No way.’ ”

Fortunately for Deer, a better career opportunity arose over the weekend. The Angels need another power hitter and saw that Deer was still in good shape, so they offered a contract.

Deer, who grew up in Anaheim Hills and was a huge Angel fan, jumped at the opportunity.

“A lot of players talk about the mystique of playing in Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park,” said Deer, a 34-year-old outfielder. “That’s what Anaheim Stadium is for me.”

The only way Deer will play in the Big A is if he somehow learns to control his big swing and make consistent contact. Deer can hit the ball a long way, but some of his strikeouts are as exciting as his home runs.

Deer compiled a .220 average with 226 home runs, 591 runs batted in and 1,379 strikeouts with the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox.

He played last season in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers, hitting .151 with eight homers and 21 RBIs. Deer injured his thumb diving for a ball in early August and returned to the United States two months before the season ended.

“The day I hurt my thumb was a real happy day,” Deer said. “I didn’t like the style of baseball they played there. It’s a real finesse game and they’re real unaggressive. They’d throw fork balls on 2-0 and 3-0 counts. I walked five times in one game.”

Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann likes Deer’s work habits and thinks he’ll be a good influence on younger players. While Sunday’s practice was cut short by a half-hour because of high winds at Gene Autry Park, Deer remained in the outdoor cage, getting extra instruction from batting coach Rod Carew.

Deer, who had 33 homers and 86 RBIs for the Brewers in 1986, usually plays right field, but with Tim Salmon there for the Angels, Deer hopes to push Jim Edmonds for the left-field job.

“If he can do things he’s done in the past defensively, he has a chance (to make the team) because he’s an excellent outfielder,” Lachemann said. “Everyone knows his potential for power and strikeouts. We just wanted to bring him in and see where he’s at.”