Welcome to the Blue, Rob Segedin!

Regarded as a minor transaction, the Dodgers traded a couple of players they recently DFA'd.  So, they at least got something for some players who were going to get picked up by somebody.  Via a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league infielder/outfielder Rob Segedin and a player to be named or cash considerations from the Yankees in exchange for infielder Ronald Torreyes and left-handed pitcher Tyler Olson.

Segedin, 27, combined to hit .287 with seven home runs and 34 RBI in 71 games last year with the Yankees’ Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton and has a .272 career batting average in 458 games in six minor league seasons in the New York organization. The New Jersey native has primarily appeared at third base (265 games), but has also seen action in right field (66 games), first base (48 games) and left field (44 games). He was originally selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Tulane.

Los Angeles had previously designated Olson (Jan. 6) and Torreyes (Jan. 7) for assignment.

Not thought of as a top prospect today, he does bring some organization depth to the hot corner.  He has yet to get a cup of coffee, so hopefully he'll find his way to LA.  ON a side note, I just love seeing guys like this (players who've fought through the trenches) get their opportunity to show what they've got.  BTW, a couple of years ago he had hip surgery - FAI (Femoral Acetabular Impingement) - and appears to be doing fine.  Also, he had graduated from Tulane University before going pro with a double major in finance and management in 3 1/2 years.  Per an interview by Steve Popper at North Jersey.com in May 2015:

"Yeah, you’ve got to keep playing," Segedin said. "You can’t be looking forward to anything. You just have got to control what you can control here — put good at-bats together, play well in the field and, hopefully, if the big club needs you, that they’re looking for you and you put a good performance down here so you can get that call."

In celebration of Segedin's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from Pinstripe Pundits and the 1971 Topps Baseball card design.  Check out his career stats via Baseball-Reference below:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Complete Schedule for Autographs and Photo Opps for La Gran Fiesta / Viva Los Dodgers on Saturday

I just received some additional detail regarding the upcoming La Gran Fiesta / Viva Los Dodgers event at the Historic 76 Station on Saturday.  It all begins at 2:00 PM and concludes at 6:00 PM.

Several current Dodger players will be signing there; including Yasmani Grandal, Joel Peralta, Ronald Torreyes, Luis Avilan, Carlos Frias and Alexander Guerrero.  Old-timers signing for fans include Al Ferrera, Rick Monday, Manny Mota, Ron Cey and scout Mike Brito.  Both Jaime and Jorge Jarrin, along with Pepe Yñigue, Fernando Valenzuela, Kiké Hernandez, Yimi Garcia, Pedro Baez and Juan Nicasio will be available for photographs.

Below is a complete schedule of events:

1:30 p.m. All Dodger Stadium auto gates open
2:00 p.m. La Gran Fiesta / Viva Los Dodgers begins
2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Autographs with Grandal, Peralta and Torreyes
2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Photos with Hernandez
2:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.  On stage interview with Gonzalez
2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  On stage interview with the Jarríns
2:35 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.  Sonsoles perform
2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.  Autographs with Ferrara, Monday and Mota
2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.  Photos with the Jarríns
3:20 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.  Sinverguenza performs
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Autographs with Brito, Cey, Ferrara and Mota
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Photos with Yñiguez and Valenzuela
4:05 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.  On stage interviews with Yñiguez and Valenzuela
4:08 p.m. to 4:28 p.m.  Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez performance
4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.  Autographs with Avilan, Frias and Guerrero
4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.  Photos with Garcia, Baez and Nicasio
4:35 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.  Cotto interview on stage
4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.  Los 5 performs
5:35 p.m. Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez performance on field
5:45 p.m. DJ Adam provides entertainment
5:55 p.m. Cotto first pitch
6:10 p.m. Game time

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Welcome to the Blue, Ronald Torreyes!

The Dodgers added another player to their September roster.  Called up from the minors is versatile infielder Ronald Torreyes (pronounced tuh-RAY-us).  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled infielder Ronald Torreyes (#59) from Triple-A Oklahoma City, increasing the number of players on their active roster to 35.

Torreyes, 23, will be making his Major League debut in his sixth professional season after being acquired by Los Angeles on June 12 from Toronto in exchange for cash consideration. Torreyes combined to hit .261 with 18 doubles, four home runs and 36 RBI in 110 minor league games this season with Double-A Tulsa, Triple-A Oklahoma City, Houston’s Triple-A Fresno and Toronto’s Double-A New Hampshire. He has a .298 career batting average with 22 home runs and 253 RBI in 612 minor league games in six professional seasons with the Reds (2010-11), Cubs (2012-13), Astros (2013-15) and Blue Jays (2015) organizations. He’s primarily appeared at second base (367 games) during the course of his career, but has also played shortstop (144 games), third base (62 games) and the outfield (22 games), with a .974 combined fielding percentage. The Venezuela native was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 23, 2010.

As circumstances would have it, Torreyes made his Major League debut yesterday afternoon.  The days starting second baseman, Jose Peraza, left the game at the bottom of the fifth inning due to an apparent injury.  As you know, he has been having trouble with his hamstring the past week.  So, Torreyes came in and made the most of it.  He handled numerous plays on the field and recorded his first Major League hit on a double down the left field line off Diamondbacks pitcher Randall Delgado in the seventh inning.  Watch it below.

Video Link:

Overall, he went 1 for 2, and became the 55th person to play for the Dodgers this season - a franchise record.  Torreyes is also the 100th Venezuelan to appear in a MLB game this season - also a new record.

In celebration of Torreyes' promotion to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph from Diario La Verdad on twitter and the 1971 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career minor league stats, via Baseball-Reference:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 6/13/2015 - Dodger Links - AJ Ellis, Hector Olivera and Andre Ethier

Check out who's on the cover of the summer issue of Sports Spectrum magazine - AJ Ellis, that's who.  More info here.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Hector Olivera promoted to Triple-A."  I suspect that we'll find him in Los Angeles very soon.

In six games with the Drillers, the 30-year-old Olivera went 7 for 22 with a grand slam and three walks, for an .855 OPS. He also had a slick defensive play at third base in Thursday’s game, charging a ball hit down the line.

• Jon also tells us that we have picked up another infielder in a trade: "Dodgers have sight for Torreyes, designate Barney for assignment."  Via a Dodgers press release:

Torreyes, 22, has a .299 career batting average with 18 home runs and 231 RBI in 537 minor league games in six professional seasons with the Reds (2010-11), Cubs (2012-13), Astros (2013-15) and Blue Jays (2015) organizations . He’s primarily appeared at second base (353 games) during the course of his career, but has also played shortstop (91 games), third base (55 games) and the outfield (22 games), with a .975 combined fielding percentage. This year, the native of Venezuela has combined to hit .175 with 14 RBI in 35 games with Houston’s Triple-A Fresno and Toronto’s Double-A New Hampshire. Torreyes was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 23, 2010.

• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, "Best trade the ones you don't make? Dodgers' Andre Ethier proves his value with resurgence."

“No, I don’t think it’s an ‘I told you so’ situation at all. That was never any part of it,” Ethier says now. “It was ‘If you want me to help and help the team win, this is what I’m still able to do. Not the role I was doing last year.’ I could definitely do that role, too, but that’s not where I am at in my game yet. I’m still able to do it on a pretty much everyday basis.”

• This past Thursday was the annual Congressional Baseball game.  Ben Cosman at Cut4 shares some pics.  Clinton Yates at the Washington Post writes about it here: "Terrible baseball and a presidential appearance? Yep, that’s the congressional baseball game."  BTW, the Democrats won for the seventh straight year.  Go donkeys!

And even though the president made an appearance, the most fun moment of the evening came courtesy Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) the only woman on the field. Wearing a Roman numeral IX (for Title IX) on the back of her Norwalk Eagles jersey, a high school in her district, she came up to pinch hit in the sixth. She was playing in her 12th Congressional Baseball Game, having only missed one year in her tenure because she had a baby, who is now 6 years old, and was sitting in the crowd.

“I’ve gotten used to it over the years. I grew up playing softball, and I grew up with four brothers who played baseball, so I’m pretty familiar with it,” Sanchez said. “Watching women’s sports and if you’ve ever seen college softball, anything men can do women can compete on that field. And it’s just a matter of time before those women run for Congress. We’re seeing younger women running for Congress and so, I still hold out that in the next few cycles we’ll get some young talent in that knows how to play and well come out and represent as well.”

• Ha Ha!  Via the Onion, "Report: 87% Of Americans Unaware They Have Been Chosen In Later Rounds Of MLB Draft."
• The Dodgers 30th Round Draft pick in the recent draft, Logan Crouse, has opted to not go pro.  Instead he will attend Florida State University, per the video below.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *