Former Rockies prospect Tsao signs with Dodgers

The Dodgers have reached an agreement with pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao, the top prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization before injuries derailed his progress. A contract is contingent on Tsao’s passing a physical once he obtains a tourist visa and travels from Taiwan to Los Angeles.

The deal will pay Tsao slightly more than $400,000 if he makes the team and considerably less if he begins the season in the minor leagues.

The Rockies signed Tsao for $2.2 million in 1999 and Baseball America rated him as the club’s top prospect three times. His fastball was clocked at 100 mph when he pitched for Taiwan during the 2004 Olympics, and the Rockies hoped he would become their closer.

Tsao, 25, had surgery to repair a torn labrum in May 2005, however, and hasn’t pitched in a game since. He also had elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2001 and has had biceps tendon and hamstring problems.

The Dodgers believe he is worth signing because he is relatively young and appears to have recovered from his shoulder surgery. Tsao hit 94 mph pitching in front of scouts this winter and several teams bid for his services after the Rockies declined to offer him a contract.

During short stints with the Rockies in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Tsao was 4-3 with four saves and a 5.80 earned-run average in 63 2/3 innings. He was 29-20 with a 2.74 ERA in the minors, striking out 431 and walking 93 in 371 innings

Scouts say that in addition to a potentially dominant fastball, Tsao throws an above-average slider and can throw his curveball and changeup for strikes.

steve.henson@latimes.com