BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Puckett Scheduled for Laser Surgery

Laser surgery on Kirby Puckett’s right eye is expected to help the Minnesota Twin star regain normal vision, not cure the problem immediately.

Puckett, who has sat out the first two weeks of the season because of an early form of glaucoma, was scheduled for the procedure today at the Retina Institute of Maryland.

Dr. Bert Glaser of the Retina Institute of Maryland said the blurred vision was due to an early form of glaucoma, an elevated pressure in the eye. Glaser is optimistic Puckett will be able to play sometime this season, although the doctor also said there is a chance the vision might never improve.

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Second baseman Bret Boone, who sat out Cincinnati’s first 13 games because of an elbow injury, was re-activated by the Reds. Infielder Eric Owens was sent to triple-A Indianapolis. Boone, 27, underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. . . . Outfielder Stan Javier was placed on the 15-day disabled list, the sixth San Francisco Giant player to be sidelined because of an injury. He sat out six of the last seven games because of a strained right hamstring. . . . The New York Yankees activated outfielder Tim Raines from the disabled list, having recovered from a chip fracture in his left thumb, and replaced him with pitcher Mark Hutton, who has a strained right groin muscle. . . . Darren Daulton, whose knee problems threaten to end his career, started a rehabilitation program at the Philadelphia Phillies’ spring training base in Clearwater, Fla.