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Saturday, April 26, 1997

Gonzalez aiming to return May 2

By JAIME ARON AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Baseballs are once again zooming off the bat of Texas Rangers slugger Juan Gonzalez as he works his way back from surgery on his left thumb. It's catching them that's a problem.

Gonzalez can swing a bat with little pain, but he winces when squeezing his mitt in the outfield - and that's just while he's shagging flies and picking up grounders. He's staying away from line drives.

Still, last year's AL MVP and his doctors are targeting May 2 - a Friday night home game against Boston - for his 1997 debut. Gonzalez will begin as a designated hitter and eventually work his way back to right field.

"The doctors have told me he has no limitations with the bat," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "He's been told that hitting in batting practice or in a game can't hurt it.

"It's healed. It's just a matter of the pain and dealing with it."

There was some fear that Gonzalez's hitting would come around last. As a right-handed hitter, his left hand is on the bottom of the bat and provides most of his power.

But Oates has seen enough from Gonzalez in practice to believe he can step in against major league pitching. He sees no point in trying a rehabilitation stint in the minors.

"So what if he goes 0-for-12 here," Oates said. "He may bop one, too. I'd rather have him bop one for me than for Port Charlotte."

Added Gonzalez: "Maybe I should go to Florida, but there is no good pitching there. ... I might struggle for a few days, but I'll get my timing."

If Gonzalez returns May 2, he will have missed 24 games. He missed 28 games last year and still hit .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBIs - all career highs - followed by five homers in a four-game playoff series against New York.

"I'm confident he can put up the same numbers as last year," said Luis Mayoral, Gonzalez's longtime confidant and the team's Spanish broadcaster. "Juan is a warrior."

Gonzalez, 27, tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb while diving for a ball Jan. 28 in the final game of the Puerto Rican League Championship Series. Gonzalez returned to winter ball after a one-year layoff because he is considered a hero to his countrymen.

He returned to Arlington for a Feb. 9 operation to reattach the ligament and joined the team in spring training, but he was limited to conditioning drills.

Gonzalez has continued working out in Arlington under the supervision of local hand specialist Dr. Bobby Wroten, and he's joined the team for most road trips, including the six-game, three-city journey that began Friday night in Minnesota.

His return has been targeted for the beginning of May all along, although Oates spoke last week of possibly getting him in the lineup sooner. The date remained May 2 just to be safe. The team is off May 1.

"When the ball impacts his glove is when he feels pain," Mayoral said. "There is slight discomfort swinging the bat, but he can live with that. Dr. Wroten said he'll have that for five, six months."

While Gonzalez's return would be an event in itself, the Rangers have another special event planned for May 2: the unveiling of a statue honoring Nolan Ryan. With Gonzalez in the lineup, the evening could turn into a celebration of the greatest pitcher and hitter in team history. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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