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Monday, August 08, 2016

Welcome to the Dodgers, Rob Segedin!


With all apologies to Adrian Gonzalez (who recorded his 300th career home run on Sunday), today belongs to Rob Segedin.  After more than six years of working, dreaming and toiling, Segedin finally had the opportunity to step onto a Major League field to prove that he belongs.  Based on yesterdays outcome, he just might find himself wearing "Blue" for longer than a "Cup of Coffee".  And to think, he almost retired from the game last year.  Per JP Hoornstra at the OC Register:
The 27-year-old utility player was contemplating retirement a year ago, when the New York Yankees demoted him from Triple-A to Double-A.

“It was my wife’s and my second anniversary,” he recalled. “I’d just got sent down. … I felt like I was going backward. Maybe the opportunity won’t come here. I was hoping to get my release and the Yankees were adamant about not giving it to me. Do I wait it out another year and a half and hope I get to free agency, or just hope that something happens?”

Rob Segedin's MLB Debut - 2016 Topps Now Card - #332


Rob Segedin has made quite an impression this season as a member of the Dodgers.  He originally came to Los Angeles earlier this year (January 2016) as a part of trade with the Yankees.  New York received two players the Dodgers had recently designated for assignment (Ronald Torreyes and Tyler Olson) and we got the 27-year-old hard-charging never-say-die veteran minor leaguer as compensation.

He started the season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers and proceeded to exceed all expectations.  In Triple-A he is slashing an impressive .319/.392/.598/.989 with 21 home runs, 69 RBI's and 23 doubles.  Naturally, with the Dodger in the midst of one of the worse injury plagued season in recent memory they decided to call him up to the "Bigs" for the first time in his career.

Again, he has exceeded expectations.  Segedin not only record his very first Major League hit in the fourth inning of yesterdays game, it also happened to score two runs to give the Dodgers a lead.  An inning later he came up again, with the bases loaded, to drive in another two runs.

Overall, he recorded two hits and drove in four runners to set a Dodgers franchise record for RBI's as a Dodger during a MLB Debut.  In honor of his fantastic first day Topps has issued a 2016 Topps Now card.  Go here to check it out and order.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 524 cards.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/8/2016 - Dodgers Links - Honeycutt, Segedin and AGon!


Much like the Olympics in Rio, one record after another was set or surpassed this weekend at Dodger Stadium.  First, on Saturday rookie infielder Corey Seager hit his 31st double of the season; thereby setting a new Los Angeles Dodgers record for doubles by rookie.  He jumped over former Dodger first baseman Eric Karros, who established the record in 1992 during his Rookie of the Year season.  Per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA:
“It’s cool. The long history of the Dodgers it’s just cool to get in the books no matter how it is. It’s exciting for sure,” Seager said.
Then on Sunday Adrian Gonzalez become the 140th ballplayer in Major League history to hit 300 hoe runs.  Per Jack Baer at MLB.com:
"I've seen a lot of those homers with me and against me -- 300, that's a big number," manager Dave Roberts said. "He's a guy that is very underrated right now in his career and the stability that he brings to a club. To get that big hit for us, for us to get the extra insurance, but also for him personally, I think that he doesn't really thrive and care much about individual accomplishments, but that's a big number and a lot to be said for his career."
Far more surprising was the performance of longtime minor leaguer Rob Segedin.  After toiling for six years within the Yankees minor league system he finally got into his very first Major League game on Sunday, and he did not disappoint.  Segedin went two for three with a double and set a club record for with four RBI's during a Major League debut.  Per Jack Baer and Quinn Roberts at MLB.com:
"It was great to see him drive in a few runs, a couple big, huge hits," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "When you imagine a debut, 50,000 people, big hits and contributing to a huge win, players going crazy for him, it's something that he'll obviously remember. A non-roster invitee this spring and had a great year in Triple-A, he earned that opportunity and took advantage of it today."
Photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016Go here to check out more pics from the game by Jon.  Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodger History:  In 1957 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley officially announced that the team would be moving to Los Angeles.  In 2000 Dodgers starting pitcher Darren Dreifort hit two home runs in a single game.  Infamously, on this same day a female couple was asked to to leave Dodger Stadium after being seen kissing.  They were told to never "set foot back on the premises" for "lewd behavior".  My, have times changed.