LOCAL WATCH: A BIG YEAR AFTER A ROYAL SCARE ZAUN OVERCOMES A CAREER-THREATENING INJURY.

If he isn't tutoring his pitchers, there's a good chance Gregg Zaun can be found enlightening others in the Kansas City Royals' clubhouse about nonbaseball topics. A recent lesson featured Zaun showing off his laptop computer and demonstrating how to use MP3s.

The Royals catcher loves to teach and figures one day he might do so full-time as a coach. But when Zaun learned instructing might be the only way for him to stay involved in baseball, he realized that wasn't enough.

Ever since Zaun was told this spring his left leg might need to be amputated, the graduate of St. Francis High in La Canada makes sure he contributes as much as he can in every aspect of the game while he is able, an approach that is among the many things he tries to pass on to his teammates.

As a result, Zaun is having one of the best seasons of his seven-year major-league career, and Kansas City coaches are encouraged by the progress of those he is mentoring.

``A lot of people say I should be a coach,'' said Zaun, who entered this weekend's series at Texas batting a career-high .319 since being activated from the disabled list July 23. ``I've thought about it and it's a possibility. I've also thought about being an agent. But I'm not ready for that now. I've been playing for as long as I can remember.''

Zaun's playing career was put in jeopardy this season when he tore his left calf muscle in the final days of spring training. When he tore it again during rehab, there was fear of pressure building up and having to amputate.

``One doctor said it was a possibility of me losing my leg,'' Zaun said. ``Not only was I scared of never playing this year, I was scared of losing my leg and my career. It was real scary.

``Once I got back out here and started playing a little bit, it was a huge sigh of relief. Your mind plays little tricks, always making you think things are worse than they are. I was preparing myself for the worst. I didn't know what I'd do. That's probably why I was so scared, because I had no idea.''

Those who work with Zaun agree coaching would have been the perfect answer.

``He's already like a coach on the field for us,'' Royals manager Tony Muser said. ``He's great with our young pitching staff.''

Much of Kansas City's staff is in its early 20s, so Zaun is a veteran at 29.

``He's been around, so he has a lot of knowledge,'' Royals pitcher Crespi High of Encino alum Jeff Suppan said. ``It's nice having a guy like that, someone you can ask, 'How would you pitch this guy?' He helps a lot and he expects a lot out of us.''

Zaun expects a lot out of himself, too, as is evidenced by his extensive preparation.

On days he starts, Zaun makes sure to watch the opposing team's batting practice, believing he can better gauge the location of pitches that batters hit rather than relying on scouting reports. Zaun, a nephew of former major-league catcher Rick Dempsey, also is well aware of his pitchers' individual strengths and works with them to develop an approach with which they are comfortable.

He also constantly is challenging them to try new things during bullpen sessions to make sure they aren't content with their current level of play.

``For me, that's the most important thing I do all day,'' Zaun said of catching. ``We're trying to develop some young pitchers and they are prone to make mistakes. One of the hardest things to get through to a young pitcher is just because you have success with stuff in the minor leagues doesn't mean it's going to work here. I talk with a lot of them about pitch selection, their approach to the ballgame or how they go about everything.

``I try to remind them that their idea of success isn't my idea of success. I don't think it should be our team's idea of success either. ... ``I'm trying to help our guys set the bar a little higher.

``When you almost have it taken away from you, you want even more for every game to be the best possible.''

ZAUN FILE

Name: Gregg Zaun

Team: Kansas City Royals

Position: Catcher

Age: 29

Local tie: St. Francis High of La Canada

Career highlights: Was first player to homer into the pool at Arizona's Bank One Ballpark, doing so April 19, 1998. ... Started 38 games and batted a career-high .301 for the World Series champion Florida Marlins in 1997. ... Was a Single-A International League all-star in 1991. ... Selected by Baltimore in the 18th round of the 1989 draft.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Catcher Gregg Zaun has turned what could have been his last season into his best for Kansas City.

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Box: ZAUN FILE (see text)