Jenks Will Get Tests on Elbow

Top pitching prospect Bobby Jenks was pulled from a triple-A game in the second inning Monday night because of an elbow injury, and the Angels are concerned enough about the right-hander that he will travel to Southern California today to undergo a series of medical tests and be examined by team physician Lewis Yocum.

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said Tuesday he was “still gathering information” about the injury, but farm director Tony Reagins said the initial diagnosis by Salt Lake City trainers was tendinitis.

Jenks, whose fastball has been clocked near 100 mph, missed half of the 2003 season because of a stress fracture in the same elbow, but he returned to play winter ball in Puerto Rico -- where his fastball was once clocked at 103 mph -- and was one of the Angels’ most impressive pitching prospects in spring training.

But Jenks’ fastball in the first inning against Fresno on Monday was in the 88- to 90-mph range, 10 mph below his usual velocity, and he struggled with his control. In one inning, Jenks gave up three hits, hit a batter in the helmet and walked three.

“From what we know now, it doesn’t look like a reoccurrence of what happened last year,” Reagins said. “He had a problem getting loose. We want to be as cautious and thorough as possible. But from what we know now, it just doesn’t sound like it’s the same thing he had last year.”

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Reliever Ben Weber’s earned-run average was a bloated 10.29 in five games, so something had to change.

The right-hander emerged from the clubhouse restroom Tuesday with a shaved head and no hair on his chin, the six-month, billy goat-like goatee also falling victim to the razor.

“I’ve got to stop the bleeding, man,” said Weber, a sinker-ball specialist.

Before Tuesday’s game, Weber in seven innings had allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits, walked four and struck out five. After he shaved, he gave up one hit and no runs in the ninth inning against Texas.

His velocity is down slightly, from the 91-mph range to the 88-mph range, but in reviewing tapes, “I actually think I have better stuff now than I had last year,” Weber said. “I’m a contact pitcher. They’re going to hit the ball, and a lot of times, they’re not going to hit the ball at people. I’m getting my ground balls ... I just have to pray they hit them at people.”

Though Weber gave up only one earned run in 16 1/3 innings last April, he said he’s a notoriously slow starter.

“I wouldn’t call this a slow start, I’d call it a bad start,” Weber said. “My arm feels good, my stuff looks good, and it’s not like I’m getting crushed or anything.... Oh, great, now that I said that, I’ll probably get crushed. And I’ve got nothing left to shave.”

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Angel designated hitter Tim Salmon was a late scratch from Tuesday night’s lineup because of a sore left knee, and he is listed as day to day. He was replaced by Shane Halter. Texas first baseman Herbert Perry was scratched because of a sore right calf and replaced by Adrian Gonzalez.... Angel reliever Brendan Donnelly, recovering from complications stemming from a broken nose, has been cleared to increase the intensity of his workouts in Arizona, and the right-hander is expected to start throwing off a mound next week. Barring any setbacks, he could return by early to mid-May.