Wilson has best spot, but not spot he really wants
In the shinguard- and chest protector-filled corner of the Angels’ spring training clubhouse, the locker next to the hall to the training room traditionally houses the team’s longesttenured catcher.
Last spring, it belonged to Jeff Mathis, who was traded to Toronto in December. Before that, it belonged to Mike Napoli, who was traded to Toronto in January 2011, and Jose Molina, who was traded to the New York Yankees in 2007.
This spring it belongs to Bobby Wilson, who has played only 116 big league games but has been here two full seasons, more than any other catcher in camp.
“I just hope it’s not the locker where you get shipped out soon,” Wilson, 28, said. “Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve been with Nap and Jeff, and I leaned on them tremendously. Now, guys are leaning on me, which is nice, because I worked hard to get here. It’s nice to earn that respect.”
Chris Iannetta, acquired from Colorado in November, is expected to get the bulk of the starts behind the plate this season, and Wilson will battle Hank Conger for the backup job.
But it is Wilson who is playing Mr. Miyagi to Iannetta’s Karate Kid.
“I follow him around everywhere,” Iannetta said. “He’s helped me with literally everything — how the team runs, the personalities of different guys and pitchers, what guys like to throw in different situations. He’s gone above and beyond what he really needs to do.”
Wilson is tutoring the man who has taken the job he wants, which would seem awkward unless you know Wilson, who is more team player than bitter backup.
“The goal is to win,” Wilson said. “I’m still competing to start, but at the same time, I want to make sure he has all the information he needs to be successful.” Minor setback for Williams
An MRI test confirmed a mild left hamstring strain for Jerome Williams, an injury that will sideline the right-hander for at least two weeks but shouldn’t hurt his chances of winning the fifth rotation spot.
The reason: With an off day scheduled for April 10, the fifth calendar day of the season, the Angels won’t need a fifth starter until April 15 when they play the Yankees in New York.
“I don’t anticipate this affecting his opportunity to make the team and be where he needs to be when we need him in our rotation,” Scioscia said. “There will be a window for him to catch up.”
Williams, who went 4-0 with a 3.68 earned-run average in 10 games last season, injured his leg during a rundown drill Friday.
“It’s feeling a lot better today,” he said Saturday. Done deals
The Angels reached agreement on 2012 contracts with 21players with less than three years big league service time, including Mark Trumbo, Peter Bourjos, Bobby Cassevah and Conger.
But closer Jordan Walden, who made the All-star team as a rookie last season, was unable to come to terms and had his contract renewed at an amount near the major league minimum of $480,000. Short hops
Newly acquired lefthander C.J. Wilson will start the Angels’ Cactus League opener against Oakland on Monday. Many projected starters, including Albert Pujols, will play. . . . The infield of Pujols, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and Alberto Callaspo played a half-inning of a three-inning intrasquad game Saturday. The highlights: Jorge Cantu’s run-scoring single and shortstop prospect Jean Segura’s backhand stop of a one-hop smash. . . . Two days after being cleared to resume all baseball activities, Trumbo, recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot, ran at full speed Friday and felt “normal.” He will run the bases Sunday and could play in games, though not at third base, later this week. mike.digiovanna@latimes.com twitter.com/mikedigiovanna