Unexpected Bonus

Turns out the Angels did have a catcher in their farm system ready to replace Bengie Molina, a youngster who could handle a diverse pitching staff and provide a little punch to the offense. It just wasn’t the catcher the Angels were considering.

When Jeff Mathis, who was touted all winter as Molina’s heir apparent, fumbled his opportunity out of spring training, his .103 average and defensive struggles resulting in a May 3 demotion to triple-A Salt Lake, Mike Napoli took his opportunity and ran with it.

The 24-year-old Napoli, who played only one month at triple-A, hit a home run in his first big league at-bat May 4 and has spent the last three weeks proving he’s not a one-hit wonder.

Napoli is batting .325 with two home runs, four doubles, five runs scored and four RBIs before tonight’s game against Baltimore and has been so solid behind the plate, he’s beginning to play more than defensive specialist Jose Molina, who is batting .165.

“We need to keep that defensive presence behind the plate, but if [a catcher] has the ability to add offense, we have to consider it -- that’s why Napoli’s playing time has increased,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

“We’re very fortunate to have catching depth in our organization. Where Jeff struggled early, Mike has come up and fit in very well. He’s growing into the position, feeling more comfortable every day, and he certainly hasn’t been intimidated by anything up here.”

That’s probably been the most impressive thing about Napoli, a 17th-round pick from Charles Flanagan High in Pembroke Pines, Fla., in 2000. Since the day he walked into the visiting clubhouse in Detroit’s Comerica Park on May 4, Napoli has carried himself like a player who belongs in the big leagues.

Not that he’s cocky -- Napoli is quiet, respectful of Angels veterans and is constantly seeking advice from teammates. It’s just that he’s shown no fear, none of the self-doubt that may have hindered highly touted prospects such as Mathis, Casey Kotchman and Dallas McPherson.

“There’s no wide-eyed look about him,” Scioscia said. “He’s a tough kid. There’s always an orientation with players coming to the big leagues. The opponents, the clubhouses, the travel, the stadiums

A home run in your first major league at-bat in a win that ends a six-game losing streak can expedite that process.

“That was a load off my chest,” Napoli said of his May 4 shot off Detroit’s Justin Verlander. “I got my first hit, my first home run and first RBI in one swing. After that, I settled in. That helped me feel more comfortable behind the plate, because I was more nervous catching.”

Napoli helped guide pitcher Kevin Gregg through a seven-inning, one-run, three-hit effort that day, and in Napoli’s second start, May 6 in Toronto, Kelvim Escobar threw 6 2/3 shutout innings in a 3-0 Angels victory.

“I like him,” Escobar said of Napoli. “He doesn’t panic, he’s not afraid to throw inside, and he’s a good game caller. You can see his confidence. He’s a good kid, and he can definitely hit, man.”

Napoli has some pop -- he hit .282 with a league-leading 29 homers and 118 RBIs for Class A Rancho Cucamonga in 2004, and .237 with a league-leading 31 homers and 99 RBIs for double-A Arkansas in 2005.

But Napoli can also run. Twice Tuesday night, Napoli went from first to third on singles by Adam Kennedy, scoring both times in a 7-6 Angels victory.

Napoli has also shown patience at the plate, a rarity in an Angels lineup of free swingers. He has six walks, two in each of his last two games.

Kennedy said, “I’m on deck a lot of times when he hits and the pitches he lays off of and the approach he has is pretty impressive.”

Napoli’s discerning eye has led to 88 walks in each of his last two minor league seasons and helped offset his high strikeouts -- 166 in 2004 and 140 in 2005. His combination of walks and power enabled Napoli to score 94 runs in 132 games in 2004 and 96 runs in 131 games in 2005.

“The one column that really jumps out at you is his runs scored,” Scioscia said. “That shows you he can be a dynamic offensive player.”

But when you catch for Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, defense will always be the No. 1 priority.

Though Napoli’s defensive tools “are not off the charts,” Scioscia said, he has been more than capable behind the plate.

Kennedy likes what he has seen.

“It’s not easy being a catcher on this team because Scioscia is so demanding,” he said. “But Mike has come in, he hasn’t been the least bit intimidated, and he hasn’t changed his game. All the pitchers have been impressed with how he receives the ball.

“I was talking with [Darin] Erstad the other day about Napoli, and he said, ‘We’ve got ourselves a ballplayer.’ That’s the ultimate compliment.”