Surprise, Ariz. ? Rick DeHart had scant time between playing in the Mexican League this winter and arriving at the Kansas City Royals’ camp.

“I got back to Topeka on Feb. 9 and got here Feb. 15,” said DeHart, a Topeka native who went to Washburn University and threw about 100 innings for Obregon in the Mexican League this winter. “I didn’t touch a ball during that time until I got here.”

DeHart went 5-2 with a 2.64 earned run average in 12 games, including nine starts, with Obregon. He allowed just 46 hits in 642¼3 innings, struck out 54 and walked only 15. He threw additional innings in the playoffs.

“I’m going through a little dead arm,” DeHart said. “I was a starter in Mexico, which was pretty much a blessing.”

Now, he’s competing for a job in the Royals’ camp as a left-handed reliever. DeHart, who has not pitched in the majors since 1999 with Montreal, is completely healthy for the first time since having elbow surgery that caused him to miss the 2000 season.

“My velocity is a little better,” DeHart said. “I got up to 93 to 94 (miles per hour), averaging 88 to 89. It is better than before I had surgery. Right now I’m 100 percent. I was working six and seven innings in Mexico.”

DeHart was 1-0 with a 3.90 ERA and one save in 49 relief appearances last year with Omaha, the Royals’ Class AAA farm club.

DeHart, however, almost did not return to the organization.

“Kansas City came out of nowhere,” he said. “I was this close to signing with San Diego. I figured they were going with a youth movement here and had a lot of great arms.

“After my season last year, I didn’t think I was in the mix with them or they were in the mix with me. They called and topped everything San Diego offered and it sounded like a good opportunity.”

DeHart said he has a two-month guaranteed Class AAA contract if he does mot make the major-league club.

“If I’m not up by June 1, I can shop around and go someplace else,” DeHart said.

DeHart, who turns 33 in March, and Scott Mullen are the only left-handed relievers in camp. Jimmy Osting is a non-roster left-hander, but the Royals have been looking at making him a starter. Manager Tony Pena would like to have two left-handers in the bullpen, but that could change.

“I’m not going to speculate much on anything,” DeHart said. “You can’t worry about what they are thinking. It is wear and tear on your mind.”

DeHart was not cut last year until a week before the season started and did not allow a run in five exhibition appearances. Brian Shouse won the left-handed relief specialist job in March, but Mullen was called up in June and kept it for the rest of the season.