Nicks’ time could be coming soon

TEMPE, Ariz. -- They haven’t reached Angel Stadium yet, but they’re approaching the turnstiles.

They are Nick Adenhart and Nick Green, right-handers who share the same first name, the same Tempe Diablo Stadium locker and the distinction of being the organization’s top pitching prospects.

Neither has played above double A, but both are set to open 2008 at triple-A Salt Lake, putting them on Manager Mike Scioscia’s depth chart and an injury or two away from the big leagues.

“If we need them,” Scioscia said, “we wouldn’t hesitate to use either one.”

Nick and Nick are not quite neck and neck. The 21-year-old Adenhart, who is 6 feet 3, 185 pounds, is slightly more advanced than the 23-year-old Green, who is 6-4, 200.

“He has a live fastball with terrific action,” Scioscia said of Adenhart, who was 10-8 with a 3.65 earned-run average, 116 strikeouts and 65 walks in 26 starts for double-A Arkansas last season.

“His changeup right now is a major league pitch, and he has a good curve. The one thing with Nick is understanding how to put pitches together. As he gets more experience, he’s understanding that more and more.”

Adenhart’s name began popping up in trade rumors during the 2006 season, and he was among the players Florida requested in trade talks for Miguel Cabrera last winter.

“It’s exciting to hear your name brought up; it’s not a bad thing when teams are interested in what you can do,” Adenhart said. “But you really can’t pay attention to it.”

Adenhart was projected as a top-10 pick before undergoing Tommy John surgery as a high school senior in 2004. The Angels took him in the 14th round, paid him second-round money ($710,000) and oversaw his rehabilitation, which went well: Adenhart regularly hits 95 mph with his fastball.

“He’s a tremendous pitcher,” said Green, who spent last season with Adenhart. “All the hype you hear about him is true. He has unbelievable talent. We try to compete against each other. It’s all in fun, but it makes us better.”

Green wasn’t nearly as touted -- he signed for $1,500 as a 35th-round pick from Darton (Ga.) Community College in 2004.

But he ascended quickly, developing a big league changeup to go with his low-90s fastball, and his breakthrough 2007 season at Arkansas -- 10-8, 3.68 ERA, 107 strikeouts, 32 walks in 28 games -- moved him a big step closer to the big leagues.

That next step “is all about consistency, not having one or two good outings but four, five, six good outings,” Green said.

“I’ve given up a lot of home runs [17 last season, 23 in 2006]. I’ve been working on keeping the ball down, and I need to improve on that this year. In the major leagues you have a tremendous defense. I want to give them a chance to do what they’re good at.”

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Scioscia scoffed at any implication that he has been making personnel decisions since Tony Reagins, who had virtually no experience with such matters on the big league level, replaced Bill Stoneman as general manager last October.

“That’s not true,” Scioscia said. “My input is the same as when Bill was GM. Obviously Arte [Moreno, Angels owner] is in tune with everything, Bill is still involved, and Tony and I talk every day. But ultimately, when it comes to the roster, what moves we make, those decisions rest with Tony.”

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Brian Grapes, the Angels’ strength and conditioning specialist for 10 years, has not been in camp because of “non-baseball-related personal issues,” said Tim Mead, vice president of communications. Mead said he did not know when Grapes would return; triple-A strength and conditioning specialist T.J. Harrington is handling Grapes’ duties in Tempe. . . . Pitching coach Mike Butcher is expected back in camp today after missing five days to visit his ailing mother in Illinois.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com