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Jerry Sands Had A Rapid Rise To The Big Leagues

By Eric Stephen
Jerry Sands has only 348 PA above Class A. (<em>Jon SooHoo</em>)
Jerry Sands has only 348 PA above Class A. (Jon SooHoo)

At 23 years, 202 days old, Jerry Sands is the youngest Dodgers position player to make his major league debut since Blake DeWitt, who was 22 years, 224 days old on opening day in 2008. There have been eight Dodger position players younger than Sands to make their debut since 2000.

However, with just 348 plate appearances about Class A, Sands is in rarer company. Since 2000, only DeWitt and Matt Kemp had less experience in Double A and Triple A than Sands.

Dodgers Position Players 23 & Younger Making MLB Debut Since 2000
Player Year AA PA AAA PA AA/AAA PA Age of MLB Debut
Jerry Sands 2011 303 45 348 23 yrs, 202 days
Joel Guzman 2006 696 217 913 21 yrs, 189 days
Matt Kemp 2006 221 0 221 21 yrs, 247 days
James Loney 2006 1,014 0 1,014 21 yrs, 332 days
Willy Aybar 2005 537 450 987 22 yrs, 175 days
Tony Abreu 2007 611 188 799 22 yrs, 190 days
Blake DeWitt 2008 299 0 299 22 yrs, 224 days
Joe Thurston 2002 616 631 1,247 22 yrs, 338 days
Russell Martin    
2006 505 91 596 23 yrs, 79 days
Chin-Lung Hu 2007 912 200 1,112 23 yrs, 211 days
Andy LaRoche 2007 541 339 880 23 yrs, 235 days
Wilkin Ruan 2002 478 157 635 23 yrs, 287 days
Ivan DeJesus 2011 560 580 1,140 23 yrs, 335 days
Source: Baseball-Reference.com

Sands, now wearing number 47, will bat seventh and play left field tonight against Tim Hudson and the Braves.

*****

Game Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV: Prime Ticket

MLB Gameday

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