Los Angeles Dodgers
LOS ANGELES (RUSHPRNEWS) JULY 28, 2008– – The Los Angeles Dodgers today optioned third baseman Blake DeWitt to Triple-A Las Vegas. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.
The move was made to create a 25-man roster spot for Casey Blake, who earlier today was acquired from the Cleveland Indians.
DeWitt, the Dodgers’ Opening Day third baseman, batted .257 with five homers and 35 RBI in 88 games. He won National League Rookie of the Month honors for May, when he hit .322 (28-for-87) with five homers and 18 RBI in 26 games. The 22-year-old has batted only .200 (25-for-125) with six RBI in 40 games since.
Blake, 34, was acquired this morning along with cash considerations in exchange for Single-A catcher Carlos Santana and Triple-A right-hander Jon Meloan. Blake led the Indians with a .289 batting average and 58 RBI in 94 games. He is a career .265 hitter with 118 homers and 424 RBI in 859 games during his 10 major league seasons.
Blake, who will wear No. 30, is starting tonight at third base and hitting sixth in the middle game of a three-game series against the Nationals at Dodger Stadium.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, pioneers in sport and world culture, are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2008. In that period, they have won more games, more pennants, and more World Series than any other club in the National League. Since the start of the modern era in baseball, the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles, combined, have a cumulative attendance of more than 177 million, the highest total in the history of baseball or any other sport.Visit the Dodgers on the Internet at www.dodgers.com.
NEWS SOURCE: SPORTS FEATURES COMMUNICATIONS