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PITTSBURGH - Pirates outfielder Raul Mondesi is returning home to the Dominican Republic for personal reasons.

"He's going to the Dominican Republic to be with his family, and we support that decision," Pirates' general manager David Littlefield said after Friday's 4-0 loss to Los Angeles.

"He's going to assess the situation when he gets to the Dominican Republic, and we'll talk to him on a daily basis," Littlefield added, saying he did not want to comment further.

Prior to Friday's game, the Pirates announced that Mondesi would not be in the starting lineup as scheduled.

Mondesi, signed as a free agent in February, is hitting .283 with two homers and 14 RBI.

A Dominican court order that caused the Pirates to withhold Mondesi's pay was lifted Wednesday.

Mondesi was playing without pay since April following a Dominican court's ruling that he owed former major leaguer Mario Guerrero about $640,000 for helping him improve his baseball skills.

Mondesi appealed but said the court ordered his bank accounts frozen. His contract this year is for $1.15 million. The Pirates said Wednesday they would release Mondesi's wages from an interest-bearing escrow account.

CUBS: Chicago starting pitcher Mark Prior, who was third in voting for last year's National League Cy Young Award, could return early next month from an inflamed right Achilles' tendon.

Chicago moved Prior to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day list Friday, retroactive to March 26. The right-hander could be activated onto the Cubs' 25-man active roster on June 3.

DODGERS: Los Angeles catcher Todd Hundley, out all season while recovering from a back problem, will have surgery Tuesday to repair torn cartilage in his right hip.

Manager Jim Tracy said the two-time All-Star felt discomfort in his hip while rehabilitating from back surgery, and an MRI exam confirmed the injury.

It was not known when Hundley might be able to play again.

"However, we were told . . . that he can still continue with his rehab for the back," Tracy said.

Hundley, 34, was limited to 21 games in 2003, hitting .182 with two home runs and 11 RBI, after back surgery in June. He had another operation on his back in November.

Hundley hit 41 home runs with 112 RBI in 1996 with the New York Mets.

ROYALS: American League Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa agreed to an $11 million, four-year contract extension. The shortstop, who is making $372,500 this season, gets $500,000 in 2005, $2 million in 2006, $3.25 million in 2007 and $4.75 million in 2008. Kansas City has a $5.5 million option for 2009 with a $500,000 buyout.

In April 2002, the Royals signed another of their young players, Mike Sweeney, to a $55 million, five-year extension.

BRAVES: Chipper Jones had hoped to come off the disabled list Friday, but the Braves decided to give his right hamstring another day of rest.

Jones remained on the 15-day DL as the Braves began a three-game series against Houston, even though he played a rehab game at Class-A Rome on Thursday night.

Jones, who hasn't played for the Braves since April 18, went 0-for-4 during his minor-league stint.

SHORT HOPS: Third baseman Ty Wigginton returned to the New York Mets Friday after spending two weeks on the disabled list because of an ulcer.

• The Chicago White Sox recalled infielder Jose Valentin from a rehabilitation assignment. Valentin was put on the 15-day disabled list April 20 with a strained left hamstring. He was batting .271.

• Indians pitcher Jose Jimenez was activated after missing nearly a month with a strained left side. Jimenez, signed as a free agent this winter, was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in four games before he went on the DL.