ANGELS NOTEBOOK: DONNELLY FINALLY RETURNS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH - Brendan Donnelly's odyssey to active status this year began with a spring training auto accident, followed by a batting practice fly ball to the nose and three subsequent nasal surgeries, topped off by a bout of elbow tendinitis that could have been much worse.

It ended Wednesday, when the Angels activated the reliever and optioned left-hander Dusty Bergman to Triple-A Salt Lake. Donnelly's activation came one day after he struck out the side in a Triple-A rehab appearance and several weeks after it dawned on him how miserable his year has been.

``The whole thing is fairly ridiculous,'' he said. ``The first two months were frustrating, but there's a deadline, a light at the end of the tunnel. Frustrating is pitching in Tacoma yesterday.''

Not surprisingly, the notoriously stubborn Donnelly feels his stuff is good enough to slide right into a set-up role, where last year he dominated opponents and earned a win in the All-Star Game. But he also knows, as manager Mike Scioscia confirmed, he will work his way back in a middle relief role. There's plenty of work available as Scot Shields (28 appearances), Kevin Gregg (25) and temporary closer Francisco Rodriguez (30) all could use some quality help.

``We've seen the impact of it at times,'' Scioscia said of Donnelly's absence. ``When guys need nights off, that depth starts to erode a little bit. It will be nice to re-establish that.''

Donnelly said a throwing program instituted after he hurt his elbow in a May 9 rehab appearance worked well, but he took little out of his three-plus months of inactivity other than learning to ``pay attention when I shag (during batting practice).''

``I would've liked to do this two months ago, but it didn't work out that way,'' he said. ``Now, let's move forward from here.''

--Ortiz will get start: As expected, Ramon Ortiz will take Aaron Sele's turn in the rotation Saturday at Houston, against none other than Roger Clemens. Ortiz, Scioscia said, is a different pitcher now than the guy who went 1-3 with a 9.28 ERA, helping him lose his rotation spot to Sele. Sele is on the disabled list with shoulder fatigue.

``The biggest thing was getting off that treadmill, where he was banging his head against the wall as a starter,'' Scioscia said. ``I know it's helped him.''

Ortiz posted a 1.59 ERA in his role as a reluctant reliever, but he insists he won't put extra pressure on himself to perform and prod Scioscia into putting him back in the rotation.

Nor does Ortiz, hitless in 19 career at-bats, expect to give an inch against Clemens.

``He has to face me, too,'' Ortiz said, laughing.

--Another draft pick signs: The Angels have agreed to terms with 18 players chosen in last week's draft, with sixth-round pick Josh LeBlanc, a second baseman from Southern A&M, the highest drafted player to sign. Angels scouting director Eddie Bane was in Alabama on Wednesday, aiming to lure fourth-round pick Patrick White out of accepting a football scholarship to West Virginia.

The Angels did manage to sign 20th-round selection Dontavious McDowell, an outfielder from Georgia who has a scholarship to play football at Troy State after turning down Nebraska.

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- Gabe Lacques