Time Will Tell if Mathis Is Back on Fast Track

In one sense, it was as if catcher Jeff Mathis picked up where he left off. It was in the visiting clubhouse at Comerica Park on May 3 that Mathis, struggling with a .103 average, was demoted to triple-A Salt Lake, and it was in the same room Friday that Mathis dressed for his first big league game since that fateful day.

“That’s kind of weird,” Mathis said.

Mathis’ career has hardly come full circle. To get to the level Mathis was at before his demotion will require time, performance and probably a break or two.

Mathis entered 2006 as heir apparent to Bengie Molina, and the highly touted rookie was expected to split time with Jose Molina before emerging as the starter later in the season.

Mathis looked overmatched in his first extended big league stint, though. While he was away, Mike Napoli seized the opportunity, mixing power and patience at the plate for two months with solid defense behind it for four months to emerge as a front-line catcher, throwing Mathis’ future in doubt.

Mathis spent four months at Salt Lake, batting .289 with five home runs, 33 doubles and 45 runs batted in, before returning to the Angels as a third catcher Friday, the day teams could expand rosters beyond 25 players.

“It could have changed a bit,” Mathis said, when asked if he felt his stock had slipped, “but I love this organization, and I don’t want to go anywhere. I was just as happy for Mike as I would be for myself, because we came up together.”

Mathis, who played the eighth inning Friday night, said it wasn’t difficult to maintain a positive attitude at Salt Lake, where he worked on “handling the staff, seeing some more pitches and having good at-bats,” he said. The Angels are apparently pleased with Mathis’ progress.

“His role with the organization was enhanced by what he did in Salt Lake, and we’re still very high on what he can bring in the future,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think it’s uncommon for a guy to struggle a bit, but he’ll be better prepared for the opportunity when it comes.... Jeff has so much upside, we’re definitely excited to see where it will lead him.”

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After playing parts of six games at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, first baseman Darin Erstad, who has missed all but five weeks of the season because of a right ankle injury that will require surgery, declared himself fit enough to “give the team everything I’ve got,” he said. “Whatever that is, I’ll find out.”

Erstad, who was activated Friday, can’t run near full speed, and his role -- that of a late-game defensive replacement -- would be more prominent if the Angels were in the thick of a division race.

“But I don’t care if we’re two games out or 7 1/2 games out,” Erstad said. “We still have a chance to catch the A’s, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com