Angels pitchers Scott Kazmir and Fernando Rodney are slowed by minor injuries

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Angels starter Scott Kazmir and new reliever Fernando Rodney were held out of pitchers fielding practice Thursday morning because of minor injuries, as the Angels conducted their first spring training workout.

Kazmir, acquired from Tampa Bay in a trade in July, reported to camp with a slight hamstring strain, and Rodney, who signed a two-year, $11-million deal this winner, has some soreness in his shins. Reliever Scot Shields, who missed most of 2009 because of left-knee surgery, will also be limited early in camp.

‘Some guys, we just want them to work their way in,’ Manager Mike Scioscia said, ‘but there are no huge red flags.’

That is, unless you compare Rodney to Shields last spring. When it became apparent that Shields was injured before the start of the 2009 season, the right-hander initially told reporters he had shin splints. What Shields actually had was a patella tendon tear that required season-ending surgery in June.

-- Mike DiGiovanna