Kendrick in a good position this year

These can be treacherous waters to navigate for a youngster with limited experience, even when a team virtually clears his path to a big league job.

The Dodgers all but handed Joe Thurston their second-base spot going into 2003, but he fumbled it away in spring training, was demoted to triple-A Las Vegas to start the season and sent to the New York Yankees as the player to be named in 2005.

The Angels handed their catching job to Jeff Mathis last spring, and Mathis put too much pressure on himself, struggled defensively and hit .103 before being demoted to triple-A Salt Lake on May 3.

This winter, the Angels let veteran second baseman Adam Kennedy leave as a free agent to make room for Howie Kendrick, but neither Kendrick nor the team expect the infielder, who will participate in the first full-squad workout today, to be overwhelmed.

“I think I got over the pressure thing a bit last year, because for me, playing first base in the major leagues was a lot of pressure,” said Kendrick, who had never played first until he was thrust into the spot in a major league game last May.

“I had no idea what I was doing, and nothing could be as bad as coming in and not knowing how to play a position. I’m more comfortable at second, so I don’t have that pressure of having to learn a new position.”

The Angels have had plenty of rookie success stories, but for each Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver and John Lackey, there is a Mathis, a George Arias and a Dallas McPherson, highly touted players who struggled, for various reasons, in their first extended big league stints.

“You want the player to understand he shouldn’t be trying to become the player he is replacing; he has to play his own game,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “... He’s going to be an eye-opening player if he can get into his game consistently.”

Kendrick, 23, has an advantage over players such as Mathis and McPherson because he has already bounced back from failure. He hit .115 before being demoted to Salt Lake last May, but hit .303 with 21 doubles and 30 runs batted in the rest of the season after returning in July.

A career .362 hitter with excellent gap power in 4 1/2 minor league seasons, Kendrick should be an offensive upgrade over Kennedy, but much of his spring focus will be on defense and working with double-play partner Orlando Cabrera.

“I’m looking to improve my total game,” Kendrick said. “I want to work on my hitting ... and play better defense. I want to try to do what Adam did, maybe even better, who knows? He’s a tough act to follow, but I can only play my game and try to fit in.”

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Weaver, limited to long toss because of tightness in his shoulder, could get on a bullpen mound as early as next week. Scioscia said the right-hander would need to make at least four or five exhibition appearances before being ready to open the season.... Closer Francisco Rodriguez, slowed by a right hamstring strain, participated in fielding practice Monday and should get on a bullpen mound this week.... The Angels agreed to terms on a contract extension through 2010 with Jose Mota to remain the club’s Spanish-language radio color analyst.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com