Indians’ Lofton Tests Shoulder, Has Four Steals

Cleveland Indian center fielder Kenny Lofton tested his surgically repaired shoulder Wednesday, playing catch in practice and running the bases in a minor league intrasquad scrimmage at Winter Haven, Fla.

Lofton, in his first game action of spring training, started at designated hitter in a game involving players from triple-A Buffalo. He doubled to left field in five plate appearances.

Each time Lofton made an out, he was put on first base anyway to allow him to run the bases. He stole four bases, sliding feet first each time.

It was a headfirst slide into first base during Game 5 of Cleveland’s playoff loss to Boston last season that caused the injury to Lofton’s left--throwing--shoulder. He had surgery on a torn rotator cuff in December.

“I’ll just have to keep telling myself, ‘Hey, Kenny, your shoulder is messed up, don’t slide headfirst,’ ” Lofton said. “I’m no dummy.”

If there are no setbacks, he could return as soon as May. Originally, the six-time all-star was scheduled to return in July.

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Even though he spent only two years with them, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are retiring Wade Boggs’ No. 12.

A ceremony is planned for April 7, before the team’s home opener against the Indians.

Boggs, 41, became the 23rd member of the 3,000-hit club when he homered off Cleveland’s Chris Haney Aug. 7 at Tropicana Field. He also hit the first home run in Devil Ray history, a solo shot off Detroit’s Justin Thompson in Tampa Bay’s inaugural game two years ago.

Boggs becomes the 60th American League player to have his uniform number retired and will hold the distinction of being the first in major league history to have No. 12 retired.

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The 70th edition of the All-Star game will return to the site where it originated as baseball awarded the 2003 game to the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox have hosted the All-Star game three times, including the inaugural contest in 1933. They also hosted the 17th and 54th editions.

This will be the first held at the new Comiskey Park but the sixth in Chicago.

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The Houston Astros’ new downtown home, Enron Field, will be ready for its scheduled opener, a March 30 exhibition game against the New York Yankees, but it won’t be finished.

About 2,000 workers are in around-the-clock shifts to complete the $248-million ballpark.

Project manager Steve Smith wouldn’t say what would not be completed by March 30.

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Chicago Cub Manager Don Baylor said there is a 95% chance Kerry Wood will start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox in Mesa, Ariz. It would be Wood’s first appearance since reconstructive elbow surgery last April. Wood, the 1998 National League rookie of the year, has been throwing batting practice for two weeks. . . . Right-hander Tim Drew, Cleveland’s first-round draft choice in 1997, was reassigned to the Indians minor league camp. . . . Left-hander Ramon Tatis was released by the Detroit Tigers. Tatis, 27, compiled a 9.82 earned-run average in three outings this spring.