Dodger Pride Awards — May

The Dodger Pride Awards were created in 2008 by Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti, and are given on a monthly basis to the players at each level of the club’s minor league system who play the game with a hustling, smart, aggressive style. The players and staff on each respective club vote for the awards.

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Pitcher – RHP JOHN ELY went 2-2 and ranked fifth in the Pacific Coast League with a 2.52 ERA (11 ER/39.1 IP) in six May starts. The 26-year-old limited opposing hitters to a .236 batting average in the month while striking out 43 and walking only 10 in 39.1 innings. Ely made five quality starts during the month, including an 11-strikeout effort on May 10 at Tacoma and his May 26 start against Oklahoma City in which he allowed only four hits in 8.0 scoreless innings. Overall, Ely leads the PCL with 78 strikeouts in 72.2 innings and ranks seventh among league qualifiers with a 3.22 ERA in 12 starts.

Player – SS LUIS CRUZ batted .317 (32-for-101) with 18 runs scored, four home runs and 20 RBI in 26 May games. Cruz tied for fourth in the Pacific Coast League with 18 extra-base hits in the month, including tying for the league lead with 13 doubles. Overall, the native of Navajoa, Sonora, Mexico leads the PCL with 21 doubles and is batting .309 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 53 games. Cruz is batting .429 (27-for-63) against left-handed pitching and has come through in the clutch with a .389 average (21-for-54) with runners in scoring position. The 28-year-old is in his first season with the Dodger organization after signing with the club as a free agent this past offseason and batted .308 with a home run and eight RBI in 24 Spring Training games with the Dodgers.

*Follow this link for the press release in its entirety: http://atmlb.com/LjWXuL

Herrera’s Burst Onto Scene

For nearly a decade Elian Herrera had played minor league ball. He spent almost ten years slowly advancing through the ranks; the Dodgers’ facility in the Dominican Republic, Rookie Ball, Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A, BACK to Double-A. He’d seen pitches at every level of the game, except the majors.

Why should this season be any different?

“Elian’s been solid,” Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com after Herrera’s 17th game with the Dodgers, where he went 2-for-5 with two RBI. “It’s like you’re getting as close as you can to a grizzled veteran coming up from the Minors. Nine years of polish and learning to play the game. He’s been through a lot.”

But that still doesn’t explain it.

Why should the team with the best record in baseball find a spot for a guy that’s barely played a full season at Double-A? Why should he hit safely in 15 of 19 Major League contests? Why should he have three game-winning RBI already? Why should he, over five other players that were called up, make the cut instead of them?

“It’s (his success) from both sides of the plate,” Mattingly said. “He’s shown power, he’s had good at-bats, he’s shown awareness, he can steal a base, he can try to get a bunt down. He’s got a lot of different things to his game. It’s not like he’s a one-dimensional guy that came up and got hot. He looks like he belongs here.”

He also looked like he belonged with the Isotopes.

Before the call-up on May 14, Herrera was hitting .358 and on a 17-game hitting streak. He was a huge part of the ‘Topes’ winning ways, helping the team climb from the basement of the PCL American Southern Division to sole possession of first.

“It’s a great story,” Isotopes Manager Lorenzo Bundy said of Herrera. “He came here and worked his way into the lineup. He was part of the reason we turned our season around. He’s gone up there (to the Dodgers) and he’s definitely holding his own and doing a great job.”

Another thing that may have separated Herrera is his versatility. In 28 games with Albuquerque, he played six different positions on the diamond, and outside of catching or pitching, saw time everywhere except right field. At the plate, he mostly fit into the leadoff role but also had success batting in the bottom end of the lineup.

He’s the definition of utility player, and with consistent numbers at so many spots on the diamond and in the batting order, finding playing time with the Dodgers wasn’t the point of concern for Herrera or Bundy.

“The main question was could Elian handle the pressure,” Bundy said. “He’s played in pressure type situations before, but was it Dodger Stadium with 45,000 people? No. So I said the only way you find out is to give him a shot.”

In return, Herrera’s been ripping shots off any and all Major League pitching. Last night’s victim was none other than three-time All-Star and Cy-Young award winner Cliff Lee. The lefty held the first-place Dodgers to only two runs on the night. Herrera’s line? A hit with two RBI.

“He’s a baseball guy, he has great instincts,” said Isotopes Hitting Coach John Valentin of Herrera’s smooth transition to the Majors. “It especially shows when you see him have success in the big leagues, when he’s facing the best of the best when it comes to pitching.”

The greatest part of his story is that Herrera came out of nowhere and was picked up for almost nothing. When he signed with the Dodgers in 2003, he was inked with only a $15,000 bonus. As a catcher.

“I’d like to tell you that I studied the minor league system and knew this guy could play, but I can’t say that,” Mattingly said. “It’s a testament to him that he continued to work hard.”

And finally, it’s all paying off.

“In the Dominican they say, ‘Give 100 percent. What happens happens,'” Herrera said. “Even if you don’t reach your goal, you could always tell your children, ‘I gave the most I could give.'”

Here in America, we say, “Welcome to ‘The Show,’ Elian. You’ve earned it.”

Elian Herrera has become a consistent player for the Dodgers (Photo: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

Guest Blogger: James Hilchen

May was a hectic month when it came to changes on the Isotopes roster. The month saw Mike Antonini, Alex Castellanos, Ivan DeJesus Jr., Elian Herrera, Jerry Sands, and Scott Van Slyke all get the call to Los Angeles. Albuquerque native Brian Cavazos-Galvez was called up to the Isotopes, from AA Chattanooga, along with Kyle Russell and Shawn Tolleson. Nine year major league veteran Aaron Miles also joined the Isotopes roster. In addition, Ronald Belisario, Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera, and Justin Sellers all had brief stints with the Isotopes before returning to the Dodgers. With more changes inevitable, here is a current update of players that we could potentially see in Albuquerque.

Chattanooga (AA)

Pedro Baez – (3B) Through 48 games, Baez is hitting .256 with 3 HR and 24 RBI.

Nick Buss – (CF) In 198 AB, has a .247 average with 4 HR and 25 RBI.

Nathan Eovaldi – (RHP) Eovaldi, recently called up to the Dodgers, started 8 games for the Lookouts. He threw 35 innings, giving up 30 hits and 13 walks, while striking out 30.

Matthew Magill – (RHP) Magill has started 10 games for the Lookouts. He is 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 53 innings.

Ethan Martin – (RHP)Martin has been very impressive for the Lookouts. He has started 10 games and has a 5-1 record with a 3.28 ERA. He has given up only 38 hits in 57 2/3 innings pitched.

Kyle Russell – (RF) Russell, who appeared in 7 games for the Topes in May, is hitting .246 with 3 HR and 13 RBI in 31 games.

Allen Webster – (RHP) Webster is the #2 prospect in the organization according to Baseball America. He has pitched 41 2/3 innings, giving up 56 hits, and has an ERA of 6.26.

Chris Withrow – (RHP) Withrow is the #7 prospect according to Baseball America. He is currently 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 41 innings.

Rancho Cucamonga (Hi A)

Garrett Gould – (RHP) The #6 prospect in the Dodgers organization is 1-5 with a 4.94 ERA.

Zach Lee – (RHP) The #1 prospect of the Dodgers according to Baseball America has started 8 games for the Quakes. Lee has thrown 40 1/3 innings and has a 5.13 ERA.

Chris Reed – (LHP) Reed is the #5 ranked Dodgers prospect. He has started 6 games and has a 1-4 record with a 3.09 ERA. Reed has 38 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Here is an update on the whereabouts of some former Isotopes…Shane Lindsay, recently released by the Dodgers, signed a minor league contract with the Cubs and is at AAA Iowa…Lance Zawadzki, who played briefly with the Isotopes this season, signed a minor league contract with the Braves and is playing at AAA Gwinnett…Jon Link, an Isotope in 2010 and 2011, is currently pitching for AAA Norfolk, in the Orioles organization…Fan favorite John Lindsey is inflicting lots of damage to pitchers in the Mexican League. Playing for Vaqueros Laguna, Lindsey is hitting .364 with 18 HR and 53 RBI in only 58 games.

–James Hilchen