Hollandsworth Improving His Situation

Gary Sheffield is battling a sore throwing shoulder, an unwelcome position change and personal problems.

The Dodgers hope their all-star outfielder will be ready by opening day, but just in case he isn’t, they’re confident Todd Hollandsworth will be. Hollandsworth, filling in for Sheffield in left field, continued his hot hitting Tuesday in the Florida Marlins’ 7-3 Grapefruit League victory at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.

Hollandsworth extended his hitting streak to seven games, going three for three with a run batted in. He is batting .486 (17 for 35) with three home runs and six RBIs, and his positive attitude has been appreciated in the clubhouse.

“Holly has been great; he’s been hitting the ball as well as I’ve ever seen him,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “He was hitting great during the winter workouts [at Dodger Stadium], and he’s obviously carried that over to spring training.

“He’s played himself into a situation where he’s going to get a lot of at-bats. Even if Sheff is not ready to go, Holly is a viable option. And as far as his maturity, he’s handled himself really well. It’s been like night and day compared to the past two years.”

Hollandsworth has traveled a rocky road since being selected the 1996 National League rookie of the year. But he says he has put the bad times behind him and is determined to get back on track.

“My whole approach down here has been to just leave everything that happened back in the past, where it belongs, and to play whatever role [Manager] Davey [Johnson] wants me to,” Hollandsworth said. “A lot of things have happened, but we’re in the present, and that’s all I’m thinking about.”

In the off-season, Hollandsworth’s agent, Jeff Moorad, requested that his client be traded because Hollandsworth was expected to be the fourth outfielder. Hollandsworth, 25, wants to play every day.

But Hollandsworth has accepted his role, even agreeing to work at first base occasionally. Johnson said Tuesday that Sheffield will not play again until his surgically repaired right shoulder has healed completely, and Johnson did not rule out Sheffield beginning the season on the disabled list.

That means Hollandsworth might be in the starting lineup on opening day and beyond.

“I want Sheff to be healthy and happy, and I hope he can get everything worked out to get out there [on the field],” Hollandsworth said. “Sheff is the man, he’s an all-star and we need him, but I’ll do whatever I have to for as long as I have to.”

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Sheffield returned to Dodgertown on Tuesday after leaving Sunday to attend to personal matters. He addressed a large group of reporters about his situation, saying he remains frustrated and concerned about his future in the Dodger outfield and the game. “It’s one of those things that comes and goes,” Sheffield said, alluding both to his shoulder and his feelings about retiring. “And until I get healthy it will stay on my mind.”

Sheffield said his shoulder felt better after he took batting practice and threw lightly, Johnson said. Sheffield will be monitored closely while he continues to undergo therapy.

The Dodgers also are worried about reliever Antonio Osuna, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow in the off-season. The right-hander, who had been throwing every other day, has experienced pain in his elbow and it is doubtful he will be ready to start the season, stirring more concern about an already shaky bullpen. Johnson said Osuna will stop throwing and continue to undergo therapy. General Manager Kevin Malone might be forced to keep right-hander Dave Mlicki, who was expected to be traded, to work out of the bullpen. . . . Kevin Brown started Tuesday and gave up seven hits and one run in 4 2/3 so-so innings for him. Brown struck out one with a walk. . . . Karros hit a two-run homer, his second, in the third inning against Marlin starter Livan Hernandez. . . . There were no surprises among the 15 players moved from the major league to the minor league camp here to reduce the roster to 39.