Dodgers don’t summon slugger

Mired in the minor leagues for 14 long years, 51s first baseman John Lindsey has been driven by the dream that he one day would make it to the majors.

Unfortunately for the 31-year-old slugger, that day won't be today when big league rosters are expanded.

Lindsey, who has 45 homers and 186 RBIs in 209 games for Las Vegas the last two seasons, apparently has been passed over for a call-up to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"He might be in the wrong place at the wrong time," 51s manager Lorenzo Bundy said of Lindsey, who launched his team-high 26th homer in a 9-6 win over Colorado Springs on Sunday at Cashman Field.

Despite batting .314 with a team-high 98 RBIs this year, Lindsey isn't expected to be promoted with four of his Las Vegas teammates today.

Bundy said the Dodgers will summon pitchers Eric Stults and James McDonald, infielder Chin-lung Hu and outfielder Jason Repko, all of whom are on Los Angeles' 40-man roster.

Stults, a left-hander, was 7-7 with a 3.82 ERA for the 51s and 2-2, 3.18, with the Dodgers this season.

McDonald was promoted from Double-A Jacksonville on Aug. 4 and was 2-1, 3.63, in five games for the 51s, striking out 28 in 22 1/3 innings.

Hu, a stellar defensive shortstop, batted .295 in 41 games for Las Vegas after hitting .159 (17-for-107) in 49 games with the Dodgers.

Repko, who missed all of last season with a torn left hamstring, hit .283 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs for the 51s. He led Las Vegas in runs (89), stolen bases (20), triples (7) and outfield assists (18). He was 0-for-7 in four games this season for the Dodgers.

Bundy said he was disappointed more Las Vegas players weren't promoted.

"I hope there's more. I think we've got quite a few guys who are deserving," he said. "We've got a couple guys hitting (.376) in Luis Maza and Terry Tiffee, Big John (Lindsey) is knocking in (98) RBIs, a guy like Mike Koplove is having a very good year for us, and our catcher, A.J. Ellis, is hitting .321 and has done a great job behind the plate.

"It's tough when those guys' names aren't called. But I understand that only so many people can go. We'll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully we'll hear some more (names), maybe (today), I don't know."

The first player in franchise history to win back-to-back Mayor's Trophies (team Most Valuable Player in fan voting), Lindsey said Saturday, "I've been praying and hoping this is my chance to get my break."

But he was prepared for the worst.

"I've been dealing with it for 14 years," he said. "If it doesn't happen, it wasn't meant to be this year and hopefully I can go to Japan and make some money next season. ... At the end of the day, I've got a little boy at home, and I've got to take care of my family."

Like Lindsey, Tiffee, Maza, Koplove and Ellis are not on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, which couldn't have helped their chance. A PCL All-Star and U.S. Olympian, Tiffee leads the league in batting. Koplove, who also played for the Olympic team, leads Las Vegas with a 3.46 ERA.

• NOTES -- Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt will start the 51s' season finale today at Cashman Field. ... Outfielder Delwyn Young will rejoin the Dodgers after batting .347 for the 51s, with three homers and 10 RBIs in 13 games ... Dodgers center fielder Andruw Jones returned to Los Angeles on Saturday to have his left knee examined.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-03534.