Puckett Examined For Vision Problem

Spring training

Minnesota Twins slugger Kirby Puckett reported vision problems Thursday and underwent tests, but it was too early to tell whether his problem was serious. Team physician Len Michienzi said he doubted it was related to the beaning Puckett suffered against Cleveland pitcher Dennis Martinez in a game last Sept. 28.

Michienzi said Puckett’s flawed vision, including seeing a black dot in front of his right eye, may be related to a vein or artery behind that eye. Puckett was hit on the other side of his face.

Tests by a specialist revealed Puckett’s peripheral vision was sharply limited, Michienzi said.

The 35-year-old Puckett planned to visit Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to see an ophthalmologist and then return to Minneapolis today. The other Twins left for Denver to wrap up their exhibition season against the Colorado Rockies.

Another Twin with health problems is Rick Aguilera. Slated to be one of the club’s top pitchers, he suffered through his second day of pain in his throwing wrist and is questionable for next week when the season opens.

Gooden rocked

At Bradenton, Fla., in his final start of spring training, Dwight Gooden, one of the projected cornerstones of the New York Yankees pitching staff, continued to look more like a millstone.

The former Mets right-hander was battered for eight runs and 14 hits in five innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, walking one, hitting one and striking out none at wind-blown McKechnie Field. The Pirates won 10-6.

Two of the three home runs Gooden allowed shot out of the stadium like rockets - the second of Orlando Merced’s two and one by Mark Johnson.

“After he threw a good pitch to Merced and what would have been a fly ball went over the fence, I think that blew his mind and he tried to be too perfect with his pitches,” said manager Joe Torre, who noted despite the outing, Gooden did not jeopardize his standing as the likely No. 3 or No. 4 starter in the rotation.

Indians’ Ramirez hits boy

At Winter Haven, Fla., Cleveland Indians star Manny Ramirez struck a 5-year-old boy with his car while slowly driving from the ballpark parking lot, police said.

The boy, Brent Simpson of Garrettsville, Ohio, broke his pelvis. Ramirez was not cited at the scene, but police said they were investigating.

The accident occurred early Wednesday night after the Indians’ exhibition game with Toronto at Chain O’Lakes Park.

Ramirez was leaving the private lot for Indians players. The gate that separates the parking lot from the public is a favorite spot for autograph seekers.

Officer Paul Galloway said Ramirez drove through an opening in the gate, and slowed the car to sign autographs.

“I’d say he was going about 1 mile per hour,” said Galloway. “He was just creeping along.”

The outfielder was signing autographs when a car approached from the other direction trying to get into the parking lot, police said. Ramirez turned his car to the right and struck Simpson.

Clearing the bases

Atlanta’s Fred McGriff hit two homers and Ryan Klesko hit one as Baltimore’s Jimmy Haynes took a tremendous beating in the Braves’ 12-5 exhibition victory. Haynes gave up 12 runs on 11 hits over six innings and finished the exhibition season with an inflated 9.78 ERA, but still is scheduled to make his first 1996 start April 7 in Minnesota. … The Chicago Cubs placed third baseman Dave Magadan on the disabled list because of a hand injury. The move is retroactive to March 22, making him eligible to return in time for the Cubs’ opener on Monday at Chicago against the San Diego Padres.

The Los Angeles Dodgers said they will wait until after batting practice tonight at Anaheim Stadium to decide whether to put 32-home run, 104-RBI first baseman Eric Karros on the disabled list. … Kevin Mitchell and Stan Belinda, two players considered essential to Boston’s chances at winning another A.L. East title, probably will not be on the opening day roster. Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy acknowledged that Mitchell, a late-signing free agent who missed the first month of camp, will probably stay behind in Florida to work on his hitting. It appears that Belinda, who’s recovering from tendinitis, will start the season on the disabled list.

Cincinnati broke camp with five players on the disabled list and another at a hospital getting tests. Reliever Chuck McElroy, the only left-hander in the bullpen, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled hamstring. Johnny Ruffin was called back from the minor-league camp to take McElroy’s place.