Hundley Is Bothered by Elbow Pain

The Dodgers insist catcher Todd Hundley will work behind the plate during spring training--they’re just not sure when.

Hundley is coming back from reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow, and team officials have handled him carefully. Hundley was supposed to catch for the first time Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., but he was held out because of “some muscle irritation” in his elbow, according to physical therapist Pat Screnar.

Screnar said the pain is on the opposite side of the area surgically repaired, and many Dodger officials stressed that Hundley’s setback has nothing to do with the surgery. But the fact is, Hundley’s elbow has the Dodgers concerned enough to hold him out.

It wasn’t a big deal that Hundley was held out of the first few Grapefruit League games. But the ballclub has already played 12 games and opening day is in 21 days.

Team officials held Hundley out of at least one game in which he was scheduled to be the designated hitter because of his elbow. So at what point do the Dodgers acknowledge this seemingly apparent problem?

“I’m not worried about it at all,” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “You’ll know I’m concerned when you see it in my eyes.”

Malone said the switch-hitting Hundley aggravated his elbow because he worked too hard in batting practice [Tuesday], hitting more than 100 balls left-handed. Hundley did work in a bullpen session Sunday, throwing lightly.

Hundley acknowledges he is frustrated.

“The more frustrating thing is the achiness in the joint,” Hundley said. “The whole thing about it is that it’s not like [the pain is] where it was surgically repaired. Right now, it’s the endurance, getting it in playing shape.”

Hundley said he has already learned a lot about the pitching staff through conversations in the clubhouse. He downplayed the time he is missing, saying that it shouldn’t take him long to prepare once he starts catching.

But when will that occur?

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The Dodgers got some good news for a change Sunday after second baseman Eric Young played in his first game.

The speedy leadoff batter had missed the Dodgers’ first 11 games because of recurring back stiffness. But Young said his back felt fine after a wild 9-8 victory in 10 innings over the Cardinals on a windy afternoon.

“I need to get some at-bats to get my timing down,” said Young, who went hitless in two at-bats against the Cardinals. “Veteran guys need a couple of weeks, and about 50 or 60 at-bats, to get ready for the season.

“I also need to get my baserunning down a little bit and get comfortable with the shortstop, whether it’s Viz [Jose Vizcaino] or [Mark] Grudzielanek. But my main thing is to get healthy for April 5 [opening day]. That’s what’s important.”

Young will take today off because the Dodgers are playing the Houston Astros at Kissimmee, about 85 miles Northwest of Vero Beach, and Manager Davey Johnson believes Young might aggravate his back on the two-hour bus trip.

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Outfielder Gary Sheffield has been given permission to leave the team to attend to personal matters. Sheffield is expected to return to Dodgertown on Tuesday. . . . Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire provided a show for a standing-room-only crowd at Holman Stadium. McGwire hit two homers against Dodger starter Carlos Perez, including one off the scoreboard in right-center. McGwire flied out to Todd Hollandsworth at the wall in left field in his final at-bat against Chris Haney in the fifth inning. “I got booed for making the catch,” Hollandsworth said. “I thought the object was to get outs.”