Nick Evans reportedly signs minor league contract with Dodgers

The Dodgers already have Nick Punto and Jerry Hairston Jr. under contract for 2013, but those two will be joined in spring training by another utility man. The Dodgers have reportedly signed Nick Evans to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, per Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

Evans will report to big league camp at Camelback Ranch in the city in which he was born, Glendale, Arizona. Evans went to high school at nearby St. Mary's in Phoenix, the same high school that also produced Andre Ethier.

Evans hit .256/.305/.407 in parts of four seasons with the New York Mets, but signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year. Evans didn't make the Pirates out of spring training, and was hitting just .197/.263/.324 in 19 games with Triple-A Indianapolis. He broke his left (non-throwing) hand while trying to make a diving catch on Apr. 30, and had surgery that limited him to just two games on a rehab assignment for the rest of the year.

Evan's agent, Marc Agar, told Martino that Evans signed as a third baseman and first baseman. Evans, who turns 27 on Jan. 30, has started 44 major league games at first base, 38 games at left field, and five games in right field.