LOS ANGELES (AP) -Blake DeWitt capped his unlikely journey to the big leagues Monday by starting at third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their season opener against the San Francisco Giants.
“I’m pretty excited to get out there and play,” the 22-year-old DeWitt said 90 minutes before game time. “This has been a pretty wild spring, starting in the minor league camp and ending up here.”
When asked if he was nervous, DeWitt replied: “Not yet. I’m sure I’ll feel a few pregame jitters. I feel pretty good.”
The Dodgers made DeWitt’s debut official Monday morning by purchasing his contract from Double-A Jacksonville and placing infielder Tony Abreu on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. They also purchased the contract of infielder Angel Chavez from Triple-A Las Vegas, and made room on their 40-man roster by designating right-hander Eric Hull for assignment.
Abreu joined third basemen Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche and right-hander Jason Schmidt on the 15-day DL. They’re on the DL retroactive to March 20.
DeWitt hit .220 in 21 exhibition games with three homers, 10 RBIs and only eight strikeouts in 59 at-bats. He played in 89 games for Class A Inland Empire last year, hitting .298 with eight homers and 46 RBIs, and another 45 with Jacksonville, hitting .381 with six homers and 20 RBIs.
“We’re not asking him to do anything other than play his position,” Joe Torre said before making his managerial debut with the Dodgers. “We’re not asking him to carry us. He’s a quiet kid, not trying to convince any one of anything. He’s very calm. He’s got me tricked if he’s not.”
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