Injury Will Sideline Hill

A disappointing season grew even more frustrating Sunday for Glenallen Hill, who was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left oblique muscle, an injury that could sideline the designated hitter from three to seven weeks.

Hill, who was acquired from the New York Yankees on March 28 to replace the banished Jose Canseco, is batting only .135 with one home run, 18 strikeouts and no walks in 52 at-bats. He hurt his rib cage during Friday night’s game against the Mariners.

“I’m pretty good at playing through injuries, but I know I have to let time take care of this or it can be pretty bad,” Hill said. “I have no choice. I can walk around and hate the world or rest and let this get better.”

Because Hill did not compound the injury by trying to play through it, he believes his recovery will be closer to three weeks than seven. Angel pitcher Jarrod Washburn suffered a similar injury last season and missed seven weeks.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Shawn Wooten and Scott Spiezio would get more at-bats in the DH role and that Wally Joyner could DH when he’s not playing first base.

The Angels will make a roster move to fill Hill’s spot today or Tuesday. The leading candidate to replace him is infielder Jose Fernandez, who is batting .385 with six homers and 20 runs batted in for triple-A Salt Lake.

The other triple-A possibilities are first baseman Larry Barnes (.286, three homers, seven RBIs) and outfielder Scott Morgan (.329, three homers, 12 RBIs). Outfielder Jeff DaVanon (.432, two homers, 10 RBIs) would have been a candidate but has a minor hamstring injury.

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Another of the Angels’ top pitching prospects has an arm problem, and there is a concern this one might be serious.

Right-hander Derrick Turnbow, who spent the entire 2000 season in the Angel bullpen, left Thursday’s start for double-A Arkansas after about 50 pitches because of a twinge in his elbow. He returned to Anaheim on Sunday to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum, the Angels’ team physician.

Turnbow, whose fastball was clocked once at 98 mph this spring, had an 0-0 record and 2.57 earned-run average in three starts for Arkansas, striking out 11 and walking five in 14 innings. Scioscia said Turnbow, 22, never has had arm problems.

Turnbow, who had a 4.74 ERA in 24 appearances with the Angels last season, is starting at Arkansas, but with a 94-mph fastball and sharp curve, the Angels believe he could develop into a big league closer. He recently was rated the Angels’ seventh-best prospect by Baseball America.

Left-hander Joe Torres and right-hander Francisco Rodriguez, who are considered the Angels’ top two prospects, remained in extended spring training when the season started in early April, Torres because of fatigue in his throwing shoulder and Rodriguez because of elbow tendinitis.