Alvarez Begins His Return on a Good Note

Wilson Alvarez of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays threw three scoreless innings Monday in an extended spring training game at St. Petersburg, Fla., his first game appearance in more than a year.

The left-hander underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partial tear in his left rotator cuff last May.

He did not pitch in the majors last season. His lone regular-season outing came April 15 during a rehab start for Class-A St. Petersburg.

Alvarez threw 27 of 31 pitches for strikes against Toronto Blue Jay minor leaguers.

“After I threw the first pitch, it was good,” he said. “I’m happy to be back on the pitching mound again.

“I need to get my velocity back. The only way to do that is keep pitching. I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve got to keep building up.”

There is no timetable set for Alvarez’s return to the majors.

*

Milwaukee Brewer pitching ace Jeff D’Amico underwent two medical exams on his right arm, but the extent of his latest injury won’t be known until today.

He left Sunday night’s start at San Francisco in the fifth inning with discomfort in his biceps, which has bothered him since spring training.

D’Amico, hindered by arm injuries in his career, had a bone scan and an MRI performed. He will be replaced in the rotation by Ben Sheets.

*

The World Series ring that once graced the hand of former Kansas City Royal outfielder Willie Wilson is now in the hands of a collector, sold at a Tonganoxie, Kan., auction for more than $16,000.

The 1985 ring, sold to a self-employed man from the Kansas City suburb of Mission, was one of 44 Wilson-related items sold Saturday at a bankruptcy auction. All told, the memorabilia drew $30,570.

The 45-year-old Wilson, who filed for bankruptcy almost a year ago, is a coach in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league organization.

*

New York Met outfielder Benny Agbayani will come off the disabled list today in Milwaukee after missing two weeks because of a broken left wrist, the team said.

Agbayani 29, suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch from the Montreal Expos’ Chris Peters on April 8. He has five hits, including a home run, in 13 at-bats this season.

Agbayani hit .289 with 15 home runs and 60 runs batted in for New York last year. The Mets said they have yet to determine who will come off the 25-man roster to make room for him.

*

New York Yankee outfielder Henry Rodriguez played seven innings in left field during an extended spring training game at Tampa, Fla., and hopes to begin a minor league rehab assignment by next week.

Rodriguez is currently on the 15-day disabled list because of a back strain. He was hurt late in spring training.