INF Maicer Izturis (thumb surgery) returned from August surgery to play during the winter ball season in his native Venezuela.
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Outfielder Vladimir Guerrero had surgery on his right knee last October after having doctors recommend the procedure the previous two winters.
"The reason is last season I had more inflammation, more swelling than previous years," Guerrero said through a translator. "That's why I thought it was the right time to have it (surgery) now."
Guerrero reported to spring training feeling rejuvenated by the surgery, although manager Mike Scioscia said the team will take it "extremely slow" with Guerrero in the spring.
He has already been scratched from the Dominican Republic roster for the World Baseball Classic and probably won't see any action in spring games until mid-March.
"I look forward to playing every day and performing every day," Guerrero said of his hopes for 2009. "I don't want to predict numbers. But the fact that I'm healthy is important and a good feeling. I'm looking forward to the season."
A year ago, Guerrero got off to the worst start of his career. At the end of May, he was batting only .246 with seven home runs and 28 runs batted in -- all the lowest of his career that deep into any season.
He finished strong, however, and reached the .300 and 25 home run levels for the 11th consecutive season, tying Lou Gehrig for the longest such streak in baseball history.
Though he dealt with the knee pain throughout the season, Guerrero is not willing to point to that as an explanation for his early slump.
"I just got off to a bad start," Guerrero said. "You can't always get off to a good start. I can't blame the knee."
The acquisition of Mark Teixeira in midseason didn't hurt Guerrero's surge. In 97 games before the Angels acquired Teixeira, Guerrero hit .276 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs. In 46 games with Teixeira batting in front of him, Guerrero batted .362 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs.
