Nevin Returns to California as an Angel

ANAHEIM — Phil Nevin left Orange County in 1992 as the No. 1 pick in baseball’s draft, college baseball’s Golden Spikes Award winner, an infielder brimming with potential after leading Cal State Fullerton to the 1990 and ’92 College World Series and starring at El Dorado High School.

He returned Thursday with all the fanfare of a morning commute. Nevin was traded by the Detroit Tigers with reserve catcher Matt Walbeck to the Angels for a minor league relief pitcher named Nick Skuse.

Nevin’s professional career, which has included only 527 big league at-bats over five seasons, has been laced with disappointment. The promise that moved the Houston Astros to choose him first in 1992 has gone unfulfilled.

But Nevin is 26 now, hardened by years of frustration and wiser after his many mistakes, and now the utility player has a chance to redeem himself in the county where he enjoyed so much success.

“If you would have told me when I was drafted that I’d be in the situation I’m in now, I’d have said you were crazy,” said Nevin, who can play third base, first, outfield and catcher.

“But I’m not disappointed. I knew I made some mistakes early in my career. It just takes some people longer to grow up than others, and I think I’ve done that. I’ve learned a lot.”

Nevin will be reunited in Anaheim with Manager Terry Collins, whose lasting image of Nevin was of him slamming his office door and kicking a garbage can. Collins, then the manager at Houston, had informed Nevin in 1995 he was being demoted to triple-A.

Later that summer, Nevin was traded to the Tigers along with a parting shot from then-General Manager Bob Watson, who said: “That young man can play, but his attitude left a lot to be desired.”

Nevin apologized to Collins and Watson, and there are no hard feelings. Angel GM Bill Bavasi said Collins “enthusiastically endorsed” Thursday’s trade and that both chalked up that 1995 incident to frustration and immaturity; Nevin hit .117 in 18 games but went three for five on the night he was sent down.

“There’s really no crime,” Bavasi said, “in a guy being young and wanting to play.”

After speaking with Collins on the phone Thursday, Nevin said, “I’m really pumped. I’m ecstatic about this trade. I really couldn’t ask for a better situation. I’m looking forward to busting my butt and helping the Angels win.”

Though Nevin is not a Gold Glove-caliber defensive player, his versatility is an asset. Nevin was Detroit’s top pinch-hitter in 1996, going eight for 16 with two homers and six RBIs. He finished with a .235 average, nine homers and 35 RBIs.

Nevin didn’t figure in the Tigers’ plans after Detroit acquired two third basemen in the deal that sent Travis Fryman to Arizona.

In Anaheim, Nevin will provide bench insurance if the Angels can’t re-sign veteran reserve Jack Howell and help offset the loss of utility player Mike Bell in the expansion draft.

Walbeck, a 28-year-old switch-hitter who has played for the Cubs, Twins and Tigers, may not fit in the Angels’ plans if they re-sign reserve catcher Chad Kreuter.

Skuse, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound right-hander, split 1996 between Class-A Lake Elsinore and double-A Midland, going 0-0 with a 2.03 earned-run average at Lake Elsinore and 0-0 with a 6.27 ERA and 16 saves at Midland.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Phil Nevin’s Record

* An All-Orange County selection at El Dorado High School in 1989, along with fellow future major leaguers Ryan Klesko, Marc Newfield and Greg Hansell.

* Won Golden Spikes award as top college player of 1992, after hitting 22 home runs, driving in 86 runs and batting .402 for Cal State Fullerton.

*--*

Year Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BA 1995 Houston 18 60 4 7 1 0 0 1 .117 Detroit 29 96 9 21 3 1 2 12 .219 1996 Detroit 38 120 15 35 5 0 8 19 .292 1997 Detroit 93 251 32 59 16 1 9 35 .235 Major League totals 178 527 60 122 25 2 19 67 .231

*--*