Wooten Likely Out Until July

Shawn Wooten wore a temporary cast on his right hand and a look of despair on his face Thursday as Angel teammates stopped by to offer encouragement.

Wooten, scheduled to share the first-base job with Scott Spiezio, said he will undergo surgery next week to repair damage suffered in the joint of his right thumb and probably will be out until the All-Star break.

The injury occurred Wednesday when Wooten caught a pop fly against the San Diego Padres. Battling the sun, he dropped to his knees on the play and broke his fall with his right hand.

It will be the second surgery in six months for Wooten, who batted .312 with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in as a rookie last year, but sat out most of the final month because of torn cartilage in his left wrist. Dr. Norman Zemel performed surgery last September and will operate again Tuesday in Los Angeles.

“You get tested in life and it depends on how you respond to those tests,” Wooten said. “I didn’t let it bury me last year and I’m not going to let it happen this time either.”

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said Benji Gil would likely get more at-bats in Wooten’s absence. Jose Nieves, Jeff DaVanon and Jamie Burke could also figure in the equation.

Third baseman Troy Glaus left the Angels’ 9-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning because of a strained stomach muscle. He suffered the injury when he leaned back trying to avoid a 3-and-2 pitch from Jason Jennings .... Outfielder Tim Salmon said his bruised right knee appeared to be responding to treatment and that he would be ready to return to the field today.... Designated hitter Brad Fullmer, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in an off-season trade for pitcher Brian Cooper, hit his first home run in the ninth inning against Chris Holt.... Bob Watson, baseball’s dean of discipline, had a scheduled meeting with Angel players and coaches to discuss issues related to speeding up the game, but he did not interview players involved in last Saturday’s brawls with the Padres.