Kyle Snyder has had two elbow operations and two shoulder operations since the Kansas City Royals picked him in the first round of the 1999 draft as a North Carolina junior.

Snyder, a 28-year-old right-hander, pitched just two innings in 2000 before tearing his ulnar collateral elbow ligament and needing “Tommy John” surgery. He sat out the entire 2001 season.

Snyder made his big-league debut in 2003, but in September he had arthroscopic shoulder surgery. In February 2004, Snyder had surgery to repair a torn labrum, causing him to miss another season.

He returned in 2005 with so-so results, but was removed from the Royals’ 40-man big-league roster in January. He was went to Class AAA Omaha after clearing waivers, but the Royals invited him to spring training and are giving him an opportunity to earn a spot in the rotation.

“I was a little bit surprised,” Snyder said Friday of being taken off the roster. “It is not anything personal. I understand it is a business. It doesn’t affect my confidence in myself and knowing what I can do.”

Snyder threw 1202â3 innings last season, including the minors and spring training. His fastball was clocked in the mid-90s before his operations, but it was down to 86 to 89 mph in spring training 2005.

“I know I can pitch,” Snyder said. “Health and arm strength are the most important for me.”

Elsewhere Friday in spring training, Ozzie Guillen opened camp by apologizing to Alex Rodriguez for comments the Chicago White Sox manager made in which he criticized the Yankees star for waffling on his choice of countries for the World Baseball Classic.

“I learned a lesson. I never took a first shot at anybody in my life, and now I feel like I took the first shot,” Guillen said Friday in Tempe, Ariz. “I feel embarrassed, I feel guilty. I wish I had not said it the way it sounds or the way I said it.”

Guillen said he spent a sleepless night Thursday after seeing his quotes on TV and in print. In an article in Sports Illustrated, Guillen said of Rodriguez: “He knew he wasn’t going to play for the Dominicans. He’s not a Dominican. I hate hypocrites.”

In Vero Beach, Fla., Nomar Garciaparra talked about the first baseman’s mitts he has in his first spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I’ve got a stack of them,” Garciaparra said. “I’m trying to get a feel for what I like and don’t like.”

Garciaparra is test driving an assortment of gloves to find the right make and model to use this season as he makes the transition from shortstop to first base. His wife, former U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm, looked on as Garciaparra took the field.

“I need to feel comfortable,” he said, calling the transition “a work in progress.”

“Every position is different, different angles, different movements, everything. It’s not going to be easy and I never thought it would be.”

In Sarasota, Fla., Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron said Ken Griffey Sr. was among four candidates for his first-base coaching job.

In Port St. Lucie, Fla., Tom Glavine said he expects New York Mets to make the playoffs following an offseason in which they added first baseman Carlos Delgado, closer Billy Wagner and catcher Paul Lo Duca.

“We’re as talented as anybody, no question about that,” he said. “We have high expectations, and rightly so.”