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The Dodgers have been hit by a spate of injuries of late and on Saturday called up a pair of reinforcements from Triple-A Albuquerque before their game against the Giants. Alex Castellanos and Nick Buss were promoted from the Isotopes.
Castellanos was already on the 40-man but Buss had to be added. To make room, relief pitcher Jose Dominguez was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Dominguez, sidelined with a left quad strain, last pitched for the Dodgers on July 22 and was slow to recover in his rehab.
The Dodgers are without Hanley Ramirez through at least the weekend with an irritated nerve in his back, and will likely be without Andre Ethier for a similar amount of time. Ethier had an MRI on his left ankle on Wednesday and is dealing with what manager Don Mattingly described as similar to shin splints, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Mattingly also said Ethier won't be available as a pinch hitter for "at least a few days."
So at the very least, the Dodgers needed warm and able bodies, and Buss and Castellanos will provide that.
Castellanos, who turned 27 on Aug. 4, was 2-for-9 in four games with the Dodgers in June, and hit just .257/.347/.468 with 19 home runs in 105 games in a disappointing season for Triple-A Albuquerque. Castellanos, who wore No. 49 earlier this season (a number now taken by Carlos Marmol), will now wear No. 26.
Buss, 26, was drafted by the Dodgers in the eighth round in 2008 out of USC. He was named to the all-Pacific Coast League All-Star team after hitting .303/.363/.525 with 17 home runs, 29 doubles, 11 triples and 100 RBI in 131 games for the Isotopes. Buss also stole 21 bases in 23 attempts.
He was voted by Isotopes teammates and coaches as the Dodger Pride Award winner, given at each level to players who "play the game with a hustling, smart, aggressive style", on offense in both June and August this season.
Buss will wear No. 48. The Dodgers have 35 players on the active roster, including 18 position players.