GILLESPIE PLAYS WAITING GAME WHILE WRIST HEALS.

Byline: PATRICK HIPES Minor-League Baseball

On a given day in Lake Elsinore, Eric Gillespie will wander down to the bullpen just to see what's shaking.

He might, if asked, put on a catcher's mitt and catch a couple of pitches from one of his Single-A teammates.

Of course, he has to have somebody there to throw the ball back. Thanks to a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, a random catch here, maybe a grounder there, is all he can do.

The wrist hurts, but it is nothing compared to the pain of waiting.

Gillespie, an All-American at Cal State Northridge before being drafted in the 10th round by the Angels in 1996, can only watch former college teammates climb the minor-league ladder. The cast on Gillespie's hand is black, his mood is blue.

``I've watched batting practice for 2-1/2 months and I can't stand it,'' he said. ``I've watched 60 games. Who knows what would've happened?''

Before the injury, Gillespie was making a bid to leave the California League. He was hitting .316 with three home runs and 11 RBI while playing three positions (third base, right field, catcher) for the Storm.

Then, with one swing of the bat in May, his season was put on hold.

``I struck out and I felt something in my wrist,'' he said. ``I could barely throw the ball the next inning.''

Doctors told him it was only a sprain. Three weeks of rehabilitation later, he was back on the diamond, but he knew things weren't right.

``I've played through pain before,'' he said. ``But I knew something was wrong.''

Finally, doctors diagnosed the injury to the hamate bone, which lines the outside of the hand. It is an increasingly common injury these days, one that recently cut short the major-league debut of Hart High alumnus Kevin Millar with the Marlins.

If not for the injury, Gillespie might have followed a path similar to former Matadors teammate Adam Kennedy, who began the year in Single-A but has jumped to Triple-A because of injuries within the Cardinals organization and his own performance. Gillespie got a phone call from Kennedy about a month ago after Kennedy had two hits in his debut for Triple-A Memphis.

He's also seen Robby Crabtree, a CSUN alum, tear up the Cal League while at San Jose to earn a June promotion to Double-A Shreveport. And he's happy for former CSUN catcher Robert Fick, who's playing everyday at Double-A Jacksonville.

``I keep in touch with all of those guys,'' Gillespie said. ``I'm happy for the guys.''

Gillespie has spent his unwanted free time watching from the bench and wearing a path between the dugout and bullpen. He stays with the team and cheers it on - the Storm are in the middle of a playoff run, three games behind Rancho Cucamonga in the hunt for a Cal League postseason berth.

He has nearly a month longer to wear the cast. After that, two weeks of rehab and he should return in time for the pennant chase, although he doesn't know how much he will help.

``I haven't seen live pitching for 3-1/2 months,'' he said. ``Sometimes I think this season's pretty much a wash. I just want to get healthy and get ready for next year.''

Maybe then he can follow in the footsteps of his friends. For now, he can only watch and wait, pining on the pine.

CLASS OF '96

Eric Gillespie is one of six players from the 1996 CSUN baseball team to make waves in pro ball.

Hitters

Player Team Avg. HR RBI

Gillespie Lake Elsinore-A .316 3 11

Fick Jacksonville-AA .324 9 68

Kennedy Memphis-AAA .326 3 13

Airoso Lakeland-A .327 11 45

Pitchers

Player Team IP W-L ERA

Crabtree Shreveport-AA 15.0 2-0 3.00

Rice Bakersfield-A 10.2 3-6 6.53

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: CLASS OF '96 (see text)