Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nakamura yearns for Dodgers' attention

By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

51s third baseman Norihiro Nakamura, a former All-Star in Japan, hopes for another opportunity to impress the Dodgers' brass. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

It will take him time to learn to speak English, Norihiro Nakamura explained through a translator. So, next question: Does he plan on sticking around that long?

"I don't think I'll go back to Japan," Nakamura said. "I want to stay here as long as possible and play in the major leagues."

A star for 10 years in Japan, where he was an eight-time All-Star and hit 307 home runs, Nakamura envisioned translating his success to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But almost two months into the season, the 31-year-old infielder is taking his hacks for Triple-A Las Vegas and occasionally stepping out of the clubhouse to take a drag off a cigarette.

"I'm very confident I'll play in the major leagues," he said. "Unfortunately, right now there's nothing I can do. I'm doing my best and just waiting for the call from the Dodgers."

Nakamura showed off his power Monday night, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning to propel the 51s to a 7-4 victory over the Round Rock Express at Cashman Field.

In 12 games with Las Vegas, Nakamura is hitting .357 with six homers. He's playing every day, something he didn't get a chance to do in a brief audition with Los Angeles.

"I told him you can't have a good day in Triple A and think that's good enough," Las Vegas manager Jerry Royster said. "You've got to be exceptional."

Nakamura got only 39 at-bats in 17 games with the Dodgers. He hit .128 and was designated for assignment May 9. Four days later, he cleared waivers and returned to the 51s.

Royster said it's too early to call the Nakamura experiment a failure, and Nakamura said he needs another chance.

"This won't hurt him at all. I think he needs a little more seasoning," Royster said. "He's a Gold Glove third baseman. The only thing that he needs to do is swing the bat.

"There's no doubt that he's a major leaguer. I've heard about this guy forever. We've been trying to get him over here to the majors for 10 years. "

Nakamura turned his back on a two-year, $10 million contract in Japan for a one-year, $550,000 contract with the Dodgers, who were seeking a replacement after losing third baseman Adrian Beltre to free agency in the offseason.

"I used to play every day in Japan. After coming here, being used as a pinch hitter, it's very different. It's very difficult," he said. "I've been playing well in the minor leagues. It depends on how the Dodgers evaluate me."

Nakamura, who won five Gold Glove awards in Japan, has played first base, shortstop and third base for the 51s.

"No one on this team works harder than he does, that's for sure," Royster said. "The guy works 24 hours a day if I let him. He wants to learn and he wants to be good.

"I think he trusts me now to the point where he knows if I tell him something, it's legit. He's comfortable hearing criticism coming from me, and he hears it a lot."

• NOTES -- Left fielder Jayson Werth, on a rehabilitation assignment from the Dodgers, hit a home run in the seventh inning, his first extra-base hit in 12 games for the 51s. ... Infielder Jose Flores, who started serving a 15-day suspension Friday for testing positive for a banned substance, said he did not use steroids. "There's really nothing else to say," Flores said.