The Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League West had a rough 2010 as they finished 12 games behind the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, but made off season moves to improve their 2011 chances. The Dodgers will look much different in 2011 with the addition of Don Mattingly as manager. Former NWL stars Andre Ethier and Jay Gibbons are expected to provide hitting and defense to one of the NL’s best outfield.
Andre Ethier was a member of the Rochester Honkers in 2002 and has been the Dodgers starting right fielder since 2006. In five seasons at the Major League level, Ethier has a .291 batting average with 98 home runs, 384 runs batted in, and 722 hits.
Ethier started his collegiate playing career at Arizona State before transferring to Chandler-Gilbert Community College in 2000 as advised by the ASU coaching staff. The Phoenix native had a successful junior college stint before re-enrolling at Arizona State and ending his career as a two-time Pac 10 All-Conference pick. The lefty was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 2nd round of the 2003 MLB Draft and is the projected starting right fielder for the 2011 Dodgers.
Another former NWL alumnus who is expected to see playing time for the Dodgers is outfielder Jay Gibbons. Gibbons spent time in the NWL in both 1996 and 1997 with the Manitowoc Skunks. The 14th round pick in 1998 spent seven years with the Baltimore Orioles before coming to the Los Angeles in 2010. The lefty has a career .280 batting average in over 3,000 plate appearances. Gibbons had double digit homeruns in his first six Major League seasons and intends to see time behind Ethier in right field and Marcus Thames in left field.
Other former NWL Alumni in the Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training camp – Brian Cavazos-Galvez
Brian Cavazos-Galvez was a 12th round pick of the Dodgers in 2009 and has hit over .300 in two season in Minor League Baseball. The right handed hitter from New Mexico spent 2009 with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League and 2010 with the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. Cavazos-Galvez has shown impressive power numbers in the MiLB with 34 home runs, and 72 doubles in 192 games.
Follow the Dodgers this upcoming season in their 1st season under former New York Yankee star Don Mattingly.
