Dodgers call up Joc Pederson, Alex Guerrero, Tim Federowicz, Yimi Garcia

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers made their first wave of September promotions, with four players getting promoted on Monday, the first day of September roster expansion. Getting the call on Monday were outfielder Joc Pederson, catcher Tim Federowicz, relief pitcher Yimi Garcia and utility man Alex Guerrero.

Relief pitcher Chris Perez was also activated from the disabled list

Infielder Carlos Triunfel was designated for assignment to make room for Pederson on the 40-man roster.

Pederson, 22, is the Dodgers' second-best offensive prospect, behind Corey Seager, and headlines the group after winning Pacific Coast League MVP honors and becoming the first 30-30 player in the Pacific Coast League in 80 years.

He said he was ready for the adjustment to the majors.

"Skills play, it's baseball. But the atmosphere is different obviously. There are new teammates, just to get comfortable," Pederson said. "There are adjustments that need to be made, but it comes down to scoring runs or taking away runs to help the team win."

Pederson's father, former Dodgers outfielder Stu Pederson, his mother, and his two brothers were already in Los Angeles this weekend visiting UCLA along with his sister, a soccer recruit who has committed to the Bruins for next year. Joc's family is used to watching him in an everyday role, something that won't happen in September.

"We'll use him to gain some experience during this last month," said manager Don Mattingly. "We'll try to use him any way we can. It's not spring training, it's not tryouts. It's a pennant race."

Mattingly said that Pederson would be available to play all three outfield positions.

"The people in our organization that have seen him the most say he's the best center fielder in our organization," Mattingly said. "I think he's comfortable in all three, and we're comfortable with him in all three, but we have a few outfielders right now."

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Guerrero is back for the first time since the Australia series, and because he was injured with a strained oblique during the spring Freeway Series his next game will be his first at Dodger Stadium.

Like Pederson, Guerrero will play sparingly, and unlike Pederson, Guerrero's glove work was not praised.

"The main thing Alex did was swing the bat down there. That's the one area he has shown he's ready," Mattingly said. "If he gets a chance to play, it will be as an extra bat off the bench. It's a guy that's played some second, some outfield, some short and third. Again, we're in a pennant race and we're not just trying people out and giving them shots at places."

Guerrero is Triple-A Albuquerque this season hit .329/.364/.613 with 15 home runs in 65 games. He played 51 games at second base, four at shortstop, one at third base and nine in left field.

At this time during the pregame session, Mattingly grew increasingly annoyed at questions regarding playing time for the call-ups.

"Right now I'm not comfortable starting him ahead of any of our guys anywhere. I have a second baseman that's an All-Star player," Mattingly said. "Right now we're not looking to try people out, not looking to get extra guys at-bats. We're not trying to be fair to anybody. We're trying to win games."

Notes

Mattingly on Garcia: "He give us another arm out there who has pitched late in games at the Triple-A level, and has also pitched multiple innings. He's protection for us. We aren't necessarily going to throw him in the eighth inning of a close game."

Federowicz hit .328/.383/.555 with 14 home runs and 26 doubles in 78 games. "He found his stroke again in Triple-A," Mattingly said.

Paco Rodriguez is expected to throw a bullpen this week, and is a possibility to return to the Dodgers by mid-September.

Jose Dominguez, sidelined since late July with right shoulder inflammation, is with rookie-level Ogden on a rehab assignment. He is a long shot to potentially help the Dodgers in September and/or October.

"He's on our roster. He's a guy that's been here before. It depends on how he's throwing I guess, and if he's able to bounce back," Mattingly said. "I would think he'd be on our radar, at least as a possibility."

The Dodgers' active roster is now at 30 players.

Erisbel Arreubarrena, Carlos Frias and Miguel Rojas are expected to be called up on Tuesday.