ANGELS NOTEBOOK: JENKS IS STARTING TO GET IT.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - When the Angels' baseball operations staff met to determine which of their minor-league players should play winter ball this offseason, there were split opinions on starting pitcher Bobby Jenks.

Given his history of immature behavior, some were hesitant to send Jenks to play in Puerto Rico. But after recovering from an elbow injury and making big strides in off-the-field behavior, general manager Bill Stoneman thought it worth the risk.

``He made strides in maturity,'' Stoneman said. ``And we thought, let's keep him on a roll.''

It was a move that paid off handsomely. Jenks followed up on a solid 2003 season in Double-A by striking out 47 batters in 52 strong innings in Puerto Rico.

But the most significant step forward taken by Jenks may have occurred off the field. The pitcher with a legendary 100-mph fastball slowly is developing the maturity to match. That combination could put him in Anaheim soon.

``I've showed them I can do what they ask - keep my nose clean off the field, which I did,'' Jenks said. ``I grew up more this one season than I had the three years before, and showed them I can be a big league pitcher. You start having a little success on the mound, you know you're getting closer.''

That success came after Jenks went from Double-A to their Mesa, Ariz., rookie-ball club last spring after an elbow injury, one that was dangerously close to becoming more serious. But while in Mesa, pitching coach Jack Uhey, the scout who signed Jenks in '00, made an adjustment with Jenks' lead elbow, which made for a more consistent follow-through.

Upon returning to Arkansas, Jenks was stellar. He went 7-2 with a 2.17 ERA and struck out 103 batters in 83 innings. And this season, there was no alcohol-related violation of team rules that prompted Stoneman to demote Jenks to Single-A the previous season.

``It's just coming to the realization it does take hard work and dedication extends beyond the ballfield,'' Stoneman said. ``He picked that up to a large degree.''

This spring, Jenks, 23, proudly shows off pictures of his 2-year-old daughter and 8-month-old son to his pitching mates. He reported to camp one year ago at 273 pounds, but he's about 15 pounds lighter now and his once-sloppy 6-foot-3 frame looks chiseled.

He will start the season at Triple-A, and if he can improve his control (51 in walks in 83 innings) and pitch efficiency, he could be in the Angels' rotation by next season. Aaron Sele will be gone, the club holds a 2005 option on Ramon Ortiz and Jarrod Washburn is eligible for free agency after '05.

Jenks emerging to earn a rotation spot would go a long way toward the club clearing payroll space in the next four seasons, and he has the power-pitching profile the Stoneman regime covets.

``He smells it now,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``He can sense he's close to the major leagues. As his ability to command the ball improves, he can be something special.''

--Santana on mend: Ervin Santana, another of the Angels' top pitching prospects, was sent to minor-league camp Monday because of right shoulder inflammation. He will undergo therapy and physical therapy on the shoulder at a Tempe sports clinic. Scioscia said there's still a chance he could return to pitch in big-league camp.

--Radio waves: Every Angels exhibition and regular-season game will be on Spanish-language radio the next two seasons. The club has reached agreement with KTNQ (1020-AM), a 50,000-watt station in Los Angeles. ... Jenks is one of eight minor-leaguers scheduled to pitch in Wednesday's 4 1/2-inning intrasquad game. The club opens Cactus League play Friday at home against San Diego.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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BOBBY JENKS

Angels' minor-league pitcher with a 100-mph fastball is developing the maturity to match.