ANGELS NOTEBOOK: Scioscia to get look at Escobar's progress.

Byline: John Hickey, Special to the Daily News

SEATTLE - The Angels had a surprise guest in the clubhouse Monday afternoon.

Starter Kelvim Escobar joined the club before the series with Seattle at Safeco Field, and he'll throw for manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher either today or Wednesday.

Assuming all goes well, Escobar will go out on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga late in the week and would be shooting for an early June return to the Angels rotation.

"We want to take a look at him and evaluate how he's doing," Scioscia said. "You can see reports, but you need to see him to make the right evaluation."

Escobar, who missed all of last season with a labrum tear in his shoulder, has been working at the Angels' Tempe, Ariz., spring training site. Over the weekend, he threw in a simulated game, letting loose with four 15-pitch innings to test his arm.

"We want him to be able to throw 90 pitches in the California League," Scioscia said. "Hopefully after that, he'll be ready when his DL time is up."

That would be June 3.

Vlad ready, too

When Escobar is making the California League drive this weekend - Rancho Cucamonga will be playing at Lake Elsinore - he could have a little carpool going.

Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, on the disabled list since mid-April with a torn right pectoral muscle, said he is more than ready to come back, if only as the designated hitter.

"You know, I've got to play," Guerrero said in a brief pregame chat Monday. "The swing is OK. I'm ready."

Scioscia would be more than delighted to pencil Guerrero's name in the lineup right now. But the smart play after a month on the sidelines is to get him some swings. So he, too, is heading to Rancho Cucamonga for at least a few games.