BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : No. 1 Draft Pick Janicki Finally Signs

A frustrating summer ended happily Sunday for Pete Janicki, who signed a three-year contract with the Angels worth a minimum of $585,000, including his $90,000 signing bonus.

Janicki was the Angels’ first-round draft pick and eighth overall following a 9-4 junior season at UCLA. A stress fracture on the inside tip of his right elbow forced him out of the U.S. Olympic trials and slowed his talks with the Angels.

“I’m just waiting to go to spring training,” said Janicki, a 21-year-old right-hander who wasn’t assigned to a minor league team. “Everyone’s happy. I’m happy, they’re happy. Everything’s cool. . . . Right from the start, I saw this as a great organization to be in. I don’t know what their timetable for me is, but as far as I’m concerned, I think I can contribute fairly soon.”

Janicki said his elbow has felt fine for a month, although he hasn’t thrown.

Bob Fontaine, the Angels’ scouting director, said rest would benefit Janicki more than pitching in the instructional league. “We know what he can do. There’s more to be gained by him not pitching before January,” Fontaine said. “We’ll probably have to put a rope around him.

“I never predict a timetable for pitchers. All pitchers are different. If it takes him three, four years, that’s fine. If it’s sooner, fine. He will tell us what his timetable is when he goes out to pitch.”

Chad Curtis, who sprained his left ankle Saturday while stealing third base, sat out Sunday’s game. Curtis, who has 32 steals, hadn’t missed a game since Aug. 13. Junior Felix moved to right field, his first start there since Aug. 27, 1991. Rookie Reggie Williams started in center. . . . Tim Salmon (sprained left wrist) and reliever Mike Butcher (weak right shoulder) will make the upcoming trip. . . . Angel players collected $5,000 for three brothers who were orphaned by a car crash last week in Pomona. Several players also visited the youngsters Sunday at Pomona Valley Hospital.