Top prospect Wood provides a hairy moment

TEMPE, ARIZ. —  The Angels haven’t had much luck with players tumbling into dugouts -- remember the severely sprained ankle Mo Vaughn suffered when he fell into the first-base dugout while chasing a foul pop in his first game as an Angel in 1999?

So, Manager Mike Scioscia and his coaches probably weren’t thrilled when top prospect Brandon Wood, moving from shortstop to third base this spring, fell into the third-base dugout in Tempe Diablo Stadium while throwing the ball back toward the infield during an intrasquad game Tuesday.

Tommy Murphy’s hard grounder had caromed off the third base bag and toward the fence in front of the dugout before popping into the air. Wood rushed over, grabbed the ball, made his throw as he flew through an opening in the fence and disappeared down the dugout steps.

Wood quickly popped up and waved to Scioscia to let him know he was OK.

“I just got caught up in the play,” Wood said after the scrimmage. “Looking back, you don’t want to hurt yourself in an intrasquad game, but at the same time, it’s hard to say in your mind that this play doesn’t count. I guess it’s better to go hard and have them tell you to let up rather than them telling you to push forward a bit.”

Among the other highlights in the game were Mike Napoli’s towering two-run home run to center, Casey Kotchman’s two-run single to right and Robb Quinlan’s double to right-center.

Defensively, play was ragged at times, with Maicer Izturis’ game-opening one-hopper nicking off third baseman Chone Figgins’ glove and minor leaguers committing several errors.

But shortstop Orlando Cabrera turned a difficult double play, ranging deep into the hole for Jose Molina’s grounder, leaping into the air and throwing to second baseman Howie Kendrick, who threw to first.

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Scot Shields had to be scratched from his last scheduled batting-practice session Saturday because of shoulder soreness, a setback that could prevent the set-up man from appearing in an exhibition game until early next week.

Shields played catch Tuesday for the first time in three days, and pitching coach Mike Butcher said the right-hander would need to throw off a mound and then throw batting practice before pitching in a Cactus League game.

“It’s nothing serious,” Shields said. “It’s the same thing I’ve had the last couple of years. In the past I’d try to throw through it. Once I started feeling it this time, I took a step back, so I won’t have to take a week off. It should just be a couple of days.”

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Jered Weaver (biceps tendinitis) and Bartolo Colon (rotator-cuff tear) increased their long-toss distance from 120 feet to 130 feet Tuesday. Colon probably won’t be ready to return until May. Weaver’s chances of opening the season fade with each week he is unable to throw off a mound.

If Weaver is not ready by April, long reliever Hector Carrasco would be the leading candidate to fill his rotation spot.

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Closer Francisco Rodriguez, slowed earlier in camp because of a right groin strain, has thrown three bullpen sessions and Tuesday threw live batting practice for the first time this spring.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com