The comeback of Ivan De Jesus Jr.: Infielder expected to make Dodgers opening roster
It looked like it just wasn’t going to happen this spring for Ivan De Jesus Jr. After impressing Manager Don Mattingly during the Arizona Fall League, he came to camp and immediately went nowhere.
With Casey Blake injured and another infield spot unexpectedly open, De Jesus started the spring with five hits in his first 23 at-bats (.217).
But then something clicked, because De Jesus has been on a tear ever since, with 11 hits in his last 23 at-bats (.478).
And it has apparently earned him a spot on the Dodgers' opening-day roster.
A Dodgers source said the team was heavily leaning toward keeping De Jesus, who has never appeared in a major league game, and starting him most games at second base until Blake returns from a back injury. Juan Uribe would then move from third back to second.
This is good news, the Dodgers giving a highly regarded prospect an opportunity. It might be a short one -- Blake is showing recent improvement -- but at least it’s an opportunity.
If De Jesus seizes it, who knows? Maybe he stays and the Dodgers turn Blake into a utility player, with starts at first, in left and at third. And maybe De Jesus simply gets his feet wet in the big leagues and is better off for it when a more long-term opportunity presents itself.
He and Jamey Carroll could also bat second, something they’re more equipped to do than Blake.
De Jesus, who has options remaining, broke his leg in 2009 and missed almost the entire season. Last year he was still regaining confidence and was not one of the team’s September call-ups.
Now he’s poised to make a comeback from 2009, after almost being written off this spring.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: Dodgers infielder Ivan De Jesus forces out San Francisco's Travis Ishikawa but is unable to complete the double play during an exhibition game last month. Credit: Roy Dabner / EPA
That would be a good opportunity for DeJesus Jr. to get some experience at the Major League level.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 03/25/2011 at 10:26 PM
Good things are happening. Ivan may be in a groove where he can take 2nd and keep it.
Baseball people underestimate the attraction of the fan to the home-grown rookie, arriving up thru the system, working to keep his job.
Posted by: Native Angeleno | 03/25/2011 at 11:23 PM
Keep it up, Ivan. Your father carved out a very good career, although most of it was not with the Dodgers.
Posted by: Airedale | 03/26/2011 at 05:17 AM
Its sad that injuries are the only thing that forces this [mis]management team into making the right decisions.
Angeleno is right - fans much prefer home grown prospects (as opposed to broken down Ned garbage.)
Posted by: Labeldude | 03/26/2011 at 07:18 AM
What's Uribe up to these days, 420 pounds and a .210 average?
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 03/26/2011 at 01:08 PM
Play the kid, not the broken-down prototypical Dodger.
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | 03/26/2011 at 02:53 PM
He has been everything we could hope for in this situation! How many multi-hit games has the kid had in the week or so since Blake went down? His defense is a little shaky but so are alot of gloves on ML teams. His bat at second combined with Uribe's hr's at third give us 4 plus bats in the infield. Would love for him to break out v. the gnats thu.! If he has a good series to start the season it will be hard for the brainless trust to go back to old-man business as usual. Vaminos DeJesus!
Posted by: N.P.Krohn | 03/26/2011 at 03:01 PM
ORALE!!!!!
Lets see what the kids can bring...hell with the broken, beaten, tired, and never-had-it-to-begin-withs!!!
Posted by: Blue Sangre | 03/26/2011 at 05:54 PM
"What's Uribe up to these days, 420 pounds and a .210 average? "
Actually he's batting .317/.364/.512, but don't let the facts get in the way of you looking like a fool.
Posted by: vtadave | 03/28/2011 at 11:27 AM