Injuries Keep Rodriguez Sidetracked

The Angels are still waiting to see what bonus-baby Francisco Rodriguez can do at Class-A Lake Elsinore.

Rodriguez, 18, has pitched little since being assigned to the Storm after an extended spring training. He had made three starts but has not pitched since June 7 because of a sore elbow.

Rodriguez experienced pain while throwing in a simulated game on July 6. But he threw 50 pitches without pain in a simulated game Sunday, and team officials hope he will return to the rotation next week.

But don’t look for the Angels to rush Rodriguez. In 1998, his lively arm caused a bidding war, which the Angels won by shelling out a $900,000 signing bonus to land the free agent.

Rodriguez was 1-1 with a 3.31 earned-run average with Butte, an Angel rookie-league team, last season. He struck out 69 in 51 2/3 innings. He earned a late-season promotion to Boise and was 1-0 in his only start.

He has pitched only 11 1/3 innings for the Storm this season and is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA. He has struck out 16 and walked four.

Right-handed pitcher Felipe Suarez has made a huge jump, moving from Lake Elsinore to triple-A Edmonton this week.

Suarez was 5-5 with five saves and a 2.20 ERA in 31 games with the Storm.