 In 2001, he had surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow.He returned to the Royals in 2002 and spent the spring in big league camp and the 2002 season in Omaha.After his release from the Astros in 2005, he played with the Independent League team the Camden Riversharks from 2005 until he was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers to provide bullpen depth for their "AAA" team, the Las Vegas 51s in 2007.