David Eckstein jump-started his baseball career by entering a situation where no one counted on him and forcing people to take note.

He may be gate-crashing again.

In his first exhibition game since confirmation of a fractured finger that will sideline incumbent second baseman Adam Kennedy for up to three weeks, Eckstein went 3-for-5 Tuesday as the Angels and San Francisco Giants played to a 5-5 tie in 11 innings at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Eckstein's unimposing stature (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) had turned off college recruiters as he was winding up a stellar prep career at Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida.

Undaunted, David enrolled at the University of Florida and walked onto the baseball team. His play quickly earned him that scholarship, and he went on to become a two-time All-SEC selection.

Now, he is a walk-on in the Angels' infield. Tuesday's effort - two singles and a double - left him 7-for-20 (.350). Virtually all of his action has come in the five days since Kennedy was knocked out of the lineup by a Mark Guthrie pitch.

Eckstein possesses none of the power which teams these days like to see from their middle infielders. But he's got the rest of the package.

Good contact hitter: He has a lifetime .293 average in four Minor League seasons with Boston, from whom the Angels claimed him on waivers last Aug. 16.

Glove and range: In 468 games, he has made a low total of 28 errors while averaging 550-plus chances per season.

Guts: From the Ron Hunt School of "No, I ain't getting out of the way," David has been hit by pitches 84 times.

Ironic, then, that this opportunity would come because someone else got hit by a pitch.