ANGELS' FULLMER BREAKS THE MOLD DH FORGES HIS CAREER WITH PERSEVERANCE, HARD WORK.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - Brad Fullmer walks through the Angels' clubhouse at Tempe Diablo Stadium without a shirt, leaving no doubt in his teammates' minds that his body is sculpted.

But almost as noticeable is the tattoo on his right shoulder, which, in big, bold letters, proclaims: ``Can't break me.''

``Oh, I have to get that covered up,'' Fullmer said. ``It served its purpose. It doesn't really apply anymore.''

Fullmer, acquired by the Angels from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade for pitcher Brian Cooper on Jan. 17, got the tattoo in 1999 as a message to the Montreal Expos, and inspiration for himself. Fullmer had played the entire 1998 season with the Expos, but when he slumped early in 1999, the club sent him back to the minors.

Fullmer took it personally, believing there were those in the organization trying to bring him down, break him.

``They tried to bury me,'' he said.

Ultimately, the Expos traded him. Fullmer went to the Blue Jays in the spring of 2000 and had the best season of his career, hitting .295 with 32 homers and 104 RBI.

His time with the Expos passed, Fullmer could not be bitter.

``It wasn't ideal (being drafted by the Expos),'' he said. ``But there were both positives and negatives. The good thing is that you get a chance to play in the big leagues at age 22, because they get rid of everybody by the time they become established. In some organizations, you can get buried at Triple-A.''

Fullmer, a native of Chatsworth and a 1993 graduate of Montclair Prep High in Van Nuys, is the Angels' designated hitter. He has spent the past few weeks trying to get to know his new teammates and find his swing. Fullmer knows both will take time, but when it comes to his swing, he'll do whatever he can to speed up the process.

``He's a workaholic,'' Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. ``I've never seen anybody take so many swings. The other day the lights were out (in the batting cage) and I hear somebody hitting. And there he is, in his underwear and T-shirt still hitting.''

Only 27, Fullmer is a rarity in that he not only accepts but enjoys being a DH. But then, Fullmer is anything but common. He got into bodybuilding in the 10th grade, but ``that was more of a beach thing, build up your chest and arms.''

He received a scholarship offer to attend Stanford but, after giving it some thought, turned it down and took $420,000 to sign with Montreal.

``My final decision came down to 'What do I want to do?' '' he said. ``If I was going to be a doctor or a businessman, I'd go to school. But I wanted to play baseball, so I figured I should get started on my career.''

Fullmer was playing in Single-A in the Expos organization when he began to read more about health, nutrition and bodybuilding. It's turned into his passion, right alongside baseball. He's appeared in Muscle & Fitness magazine, only now his reasons for being in shape have nothing to do with the beach.

``When I started reading more and more, I really started getting into it,'' he said. ``Doing it properly. Knowing how to eat. Maybe it helps me hit the ball further, I don't know. But the reason I do it is to stay in the lineup. I don't like getting injured. Being strong helps keep you healthy. Freak stuff, you can't control that, but it helps you stay away from pulls and nagging stuff.''

Fullmer, who has never been on the disabled list, says he has to monitor himself to make sure he doesn't get too big and bulky.

``I need to be careful,'' he said. ``My ideal weight is between 215 and 220 (pounds). If I'm in the 220s, I feel I can't swing.''

Fullmer will hit sixth in the Angels' lineup, right behind Troy Glaus and ahead of Scott Spiezio/Shawn Wooten. He's hoping to return to his 2000 form after last year's dropoff - .274, 18 homers, 83 RBI.

``I'm a perfectionist,'' Fullmer said. ``I can be overly critical of myself at times. Last year I tried to do too much at times, trying to have the same success I had the year before. Now I'm not worried about numbers. All I can do is work hard, be prepared and play hard, and let everything else take care of itself.''

When traded to the Angels, Fullmer said Anaheim was the perfect place for him to play. And the Angels feel equally happy to have him.

``When Fullmer gets going, he's not a guy you want to take out of the lineup,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Because he can hit anybody.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Montclair Prep of Van Nuys graduate Brad Fullmer is the new Angels designated hitter. The 27-year-old will bat in the sixth spot.

(2 -- color) Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher once found Brad Fullmer (20) hitting in the batting cage - and the lights were out.

Mike Fiala/Associated Press