BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Young Martinez Pitches Beyond Years

There is a Dodger pitcher named Martinez who, after two days of spring training, is causing an avalanche of superlatives.

No, Ramon Martinez hasn’t reported. The star is his younger brother Pedro, who wowed officials during batting practice Friday.

“Awesome fastball, awesome curve,” bullpen coach Mark Cresse said. “We were all very, very impressed.”

Added another club official: “Will Pedro be ready for the major leagues in June? Heck, he is ready now.”

Although the possibility that the younger Martinez will start the season with the Dodgers is remote, they are excited enough to give him a chance this spring against major league hitters.

Officials don’t like to admit it, but the organization believes Pedro will be better than older brother Ramon. Pedro Martinez already has a better curveball.

Pedro, 20, was the Sporting News minor league player of the year last season with a 2.29 earned-run average for three teams and 192 strikeouts in 177 1/3 innings. He is scheduled to start the season at triple-A Albuquerque.

As If They Needed More Enemies Dept: In welcoming Kip Gross from the Cincinnati Reds and Dave Anderson from the San Francisco Giants, several Dodgers stole their Reds and Giants equipment bags and burned them on the field Friday.

Rain kept Dodger workouts short, although a couple of pitchers, notably Jim Gott, continued pitching in a downpour. “I couldn’t figure out where everybody was going,” Gott said.