BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT

A $225,000 investment in pitcher Steve Ontiveros will yield no return this season. The right-hander, who has been on the disabled list since March 24, will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery Thursday, ending his season--and, possibly, his career.

The news hardly shocked Angel front-office officials, who knew Ontiveros had four previous elbow operations and nine previous stints on the disabled list when they signed him last winter.

The Angels did not pursue more established, and slightly more expensive, right-handers such as Tim Belcher, Kevin Tapani and Erik Hanson in the free agent market, opting to go the cheaper route . . . but they’re getting even less than what they paid for.

Ontiveros, 35, pitched only one spring training inning and made only two rehabilitation starts for Class-A Lake Elsinore, including a 5 1/3-inning, six-hit, one-run effort last Wednesday that had Manager Marcel Lachemann encouraged.

“It seemed,” Lachemann said, “like there was a real possibility he might play this season.”

But Ontiveros’ elbow began bothering him again over the weekend, and Dr. Lewis Yocum, team physician, determined Tuesday he would need surgery.

Ontiveros, a 1995 all-star with the Oakland Athletics, is signed for 1997 but had to make 20 starts this season for his $225,000 salary to be guaranteed next season.

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Randy Velarde hit lead-off Tuesday night for the first time since May 14 and vowed not to fall into a trap of thinking too much like a lead-off batter. Velarde said he took too many pitches from the lead-off spot in April and early May and the lack of aggression hurt him. “If I get a 2-0 count, I’m going to turn the fan on and whip it,” said Velarde, who had two hits and two runs Tuesday night. “I think the second time around will be better.” . . . . Reliever Bryan Harvey cut short Monday’s simulated game after only seven pitches, but he felt better after throwing long-toss and will attempt another simulated game today.