Turnbow Can Heat Things Up

TEMPE, Ariz. —  As the trading deadline approached last July, the Angels searched for a power arm, a reliever who could be trusted when a strikeout was needed. They had closer Troy Percival, of course, but they weren’t sure whom to call when they needed that strikeout in the seventh or eighth inning.

By the end of the regular season, Brendan Donnelly emerged. In October, the world met Francisco Rodriguez. Soon, the Angels could unveil a reliever who throws harder than Donnelly and Rodriguez and as hard as Percival.

He’s Derrick Turnbow, 25, who made his Cactus League debut Thursday by throwing a scoreless inning, with his pitches clocked from 95 to 98 mph. In pitching against major league hitters for the first time in three years, Turnbow completed the journey from prospect to suspect and back again.

“When he stays close,” catcher Wil Nieves said, “he’s unhittable.”

Turnbow first surfaced in Anaheim in 2000, after the Angels claimed him in the Rule 5 draft and stashed him on their major league roster all season in order to keep his lively right arm in the organization. He pitched 38 innings that year, and the Angels sent him to double A in 2001 to pitch every fifth day.

His right elbow did not cooperate. In the last two seasons, he suffered two fractures in the elbow and underwent surgery three times. “So far,” he said, “I’m one of the lucky ones who came back.”

He’s a reliever now, expected to open the season at triple-A Salt Lake. But Manager Mike Scioscia’s eyes twinkle at the thought of a bullpen that includes Percival, Rodriguez, Donnelly and Turnbow.

“That’s a bullpen with some power arms,” Scioscia said. “It’s going to be exciting.”

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General Manager Bill Stoneman said he did not seek approval from Disney’s corporate headquarters before claiming pitcher Eric Cyr off waivers from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

In 2001, Cyr served 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of sexual contact without consent.

“That’s in the past,” Stoneman said. “I’m not aware of all the circumstances. I am aware something happened. The kid seems to have gotten beyond it.”

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Mickey Callaway took another step ahead of Scott Schoeneweis in the competition for the fifth starter’s job. Callaway gave up one run in three innings of an 8-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Tucson; Schoeneweis gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings of an 8-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Tempe.

Schoeneweis, a trusted left-handed reliever last season, has said he expects to open the season in the bullpen. His Cactus League earned-run average is 17.36.

“I really don’t know what my role is,” he said. “Whatever my role is, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”

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Right fielder Tim Salmon, recovering from off-season knee surgery, made his spring debut as the designated hitter. The Angels will restrict him to DH in his next few outings to limit his running.... Center fielder Darin Erstad, recovering from off-season hand surgery, played for the first time in four days, still trying to build strength in the hand. “Encouraged is probably a pretty strong word,” he said. “I just want to get the work in.” ... Donnelly, who reported to camp with a sore right shoulder, made his spring debut.... Shortstop David Eckstein was scratched from Thursday’s lineup because of back stiffness.