Christensen Waiting in Line

It would seem that third baseman Mike Christensen is killing time as well as baseballs.

Christensen, a third baseman for Class-A Cedar Rapids, is demonstrating power beyond what Angel officials expected when they drafted him in the 36th round last season. He is third in the Midwest League with 25 doubles and second in extra-base hits with 37 through 70 games.

His 11 home runs were one-fourth of Cedar Rapids’ total (44). Christensen’s play earned him a spot in the Midwest League all-star game.

Yet, way out in Anaheim, there is a roadblock on his career path--Troy Glaus.

At 22, Glaus is already the Angel third baseman and is even younger than Christensen, who’s 23.

True, Glaus has yet to tap the potential that led the Angels to make him their first-round pick (third overall) in 1997. But he will get every opportunity, considering the money the team has invested, while Christensen slugs it out through the minor leagues.

“Mike has a ways to go,” said Jeff Parker, the Angels’ director of player development. “He’s tearing it up right now and a lot can happen in three or four years.”

Christensen, though, has been a pleasant surprise for Angel officials.

He had decent numbers at Florida Southern, with a .345 average and 28 home runs. Still, his play at Class-A Boise last season turned a few heads.

Christensen was among the Northwest League leaders with nine home runs and 47 RBIs.

“It was a bit of a surprise, but a nice surprise,” Parker said. “He needs to work on his fielding. Our job is to get them as far along as we can and then we’ll see. If Glaus turns out to be the franchise player he needs to be, then [General Manager] Bill Bavasi will make a decision. It’s called developmental excess.”