Dominican Signing Still Up in the Air

The Dodgers’ signing of Dominican pitcher Jonathan Corporan to a $930,000 bonus remains on hold, while the dispute between the 6-foot-2 right-hander and U.S. Embassy officials in Santo Domingo over Corporan’s age extends to a fourth month.

Corporan, who agreed to terms in early April and was believed to have turned 17 on April 21, still hasn’t provided enough documentation to prove his age, and without the required paperwork, he cannot obtain a visa that would allow him to enter the U.S. Embassy officials believe Corporan is two years older than he claims.

Team attorneys are now involved in the case, which could result in DNA tests to determine Corporan’s age. It’s too late for Corporan, whose fastball has been clocked at 93 mph, to join a minor league team this season, so the Dodgers hope to sign him to a 2003 contract and send him to instructional league this fall.

“They’re saying there’s no way we can get a visa based on the information they have now, and he and his agent have given them everything they have,” said Jeff Schugel, the Dodgers’ director of international scouting. “We’re still trying to find answers. We’re exhausting all our resources. We want this kid; that’s the bottom line.”

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Exactly one month from the day he underwent surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back, Kevin Brown played catch Thursday, fueling Dodger hopes that the right-hander will be able to pitch again this season.

Brown, who went on the disabled list because of discomfort in his surgically repaired right elbow on May 27, has not completed the five-step trunk stabilization program he began two weeks after back surgery, but he was cleared to play catch. He is not expected to throw off a mound for at least two weeks.

“I feel like a normal human being again,” Brown said. “Even though I could walk the day after surgery, I didn’t have the stability I would normally have. I’m a lot stronger now, in my legs and back. Everything has been good to this point, but you just can’t get ahead of yourself.”

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Diamondback right-hander Rick Helling, who suffered a sprained right ankle in a June 2 start against the Dodgers, has been scratched from Saturday’s start. Left-hander Brian Anderson, originally scheduled to pitch Sunday night, was moved to Saturday, and right-hander Miguel Batista will start Sunday.

Arizona also activated Matt Williams, and the third baseman is expected to start tonight. Williams, who suffered a fracture and dislocation of his left ankle in spring training, will likely platoon at third with Craig Counsell.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ODALIS PEREZ

(10-4, 2.81 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

CURT SCHILLING

(14-3, 3.08 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 13. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Schilling leads the National League in wins and strikeouts (186), and the right-hander has walked only 13 in 140 1/3 innings. Perez was the Dodgers’ most consistent and effective starter of the first half, but the left-hander was roughed up in his last two starts before the All-Star break, giving up 10 runs and 15 hits in 12 innings against the Angels and Cardinals.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.