Kotchman Turns Corner in Recovery

It wasn’t an absolute clean bill of health, but Casey Kotchman, out since May 9 because of the effects of mononucleosis, was cleared Friday by Dr. Sandra Wallace, a Los Angeles infectious disease specialist, to take his rehabilitation up a notch.

The first baseman, who has been hitting off a tee and doing some agility work, will travel Monday to Arizona to begin what will essentially be a second spring training, with a target return date range of mid- to late July.

“She thinks I turned a corner,” said Kotchman, who will need a lengthy minor league rehabilitation stint. “She was comfortable with how I’ve been progressing for the past month, how I’ve been feeling, and the fact there have been no relapses.

“I’m not over it. I’m still in the recovery stages. But I’m further along than I was a month ago. She said keep progressing, and do whatever I need to do to get ready to play again.”

Though Kotchman hit .421 in spring training, he needed three or four bags of intravenous fluids a week to remain hydrated and was so fatigued that he went back to his apartment and slept after most games.

He tried to play through the symptoms for the first five weeks of the season but hit .152 in 29 games before going on the disabled list.

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Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Bud Black both met with Brendan Donnelly in an effort to soothe the frustrations the reliever has felt over his reduced role. Donnelly, through his agent, requested a trade in late April and says he feels the team has lost confidence in him.

“We talked about the big picture,” Donnelly said. “I needed to vent a little bit. For the most part, the situation is cool.”

Scioscia and Black assured Donnelly that he was still an integral part of the bullpen and that circumstances -- a rash of lopsided wins and losses -- have reduced the number of meaningful appearances for all Angels relievers.

“There are always going to be games, as a pitcher, when you’re thinking, ‘This is my inning,’ but the guy sitting next to you is thinking the same thing,” Scioscia said.

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Friday was a whirlwind day Hank Conger will never forget. The Huntington Beach High catcher, who was a first-round pick in the June 6 draft, signed with the Angels for $1.35 million, took batting practice in Angel Stadium, chatted with Scioscia, had his first news conference as a professional and was a guest for half an inning on the FSN West game telecast.

“It was fun going on the field, almost being like one of the guys,” said Conger, who will go to Tempe, Ariz., for a mini-camp before receiving his summer assignment. “There was a lot of media and press stuff. I’ll be glad to get out and just go play.”