BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Hudler: Nomo No Fluke

Rex Hudler wasn’t the least bit surprised that Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo allowed only one hit and struck out seven in his five-inning major league debut Tuesday. Hudler, who played with the Yakult Swallows in 1993, says Nomo is one of a number of Japanese players who could thrive in the major leagues.

“That’s no accident,” Hudler said. “He’s schooled. He’s got good stuff and he knows how to pitch.

“It’s wonderful for baseball too, but it must have been very hard for him. It’s a very closed society and they don’t like to let their athletes go. Maybe this will open things up, because there are at least a couple of other pitchers and position players who could play here.”

Hudler says Japanese players seem to have two things in common: excellent mechanics and an avid interest in American baseball.

“I remember watching the World Series when I was over there and Mitch (Williams) was falling all over the mound,” Hudler said. “They’re all pointing at the screen and saying, ‘Crazy style. Crazy style.’ ”

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Marlin reliever Bryan Harvey, who will undergo ligament surgery today at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, was in the Angel clubhouse Tuesday afternoon chatting with former teammates.

Harvey had 46 saves for the Angels in 1991 and was acquired by Florida in the expansion draft before the 1993 season. He had 45 saves for the Marlins in ‘93, but was hampered by arm problems last season and suffered a season-ending elbow injury after 11 pitches during his first outing this year.

“I pitched five innings in the spring and felt great,” Harvey said. “The forkball was doing good. My arm speed wasn’t where it needed to be on the heater, but I was getting there. Then that one pitch just lit it on fire.”

Harvey said he chose Angel medical director Lewis Yocum to perform the surgery because “he’s been in there before and knows his way around.” He hopes to be throwing again in three months and ready to go full speed in spring training next year.

What if post-surgery full speed is a reduced speed?

“If I can’t pitch the way I pitch, I’ll go home,” he said.

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Manager Marcel Lachemann says the return of major league umpires means another step toward normalcy. “It’s a case of consistency,” he said. “It’s the same as the difference between replacement players and big league players. And it’s another step in getting this industry back to where it should be.” . . . Catcher Greg Myers, who broke a big toe April 21 and was placed on the 15-day disabled list, will be examined by Yocum today and is scheduled to catch batting practice Thursday. . . . Coach Jim Harrick, assistants Lorenzo Romar and Steve Lavin, and Charles O’Bannon, Toby Bailey and Kris Johnson of UCLA’s NCAA champion basketball team threw out the first pitches Tuesday night.