Dreifort Demoted to Minors : Dodgers: Rookie sent down with 0-5 record, 6.21 ERA.

Deciding it was time to let him develop in a less pressured situation, the Dodgers sent rookie relief pitcher Darren Dreifort to their San Antonio farm club Thursday. He will continue to work on his mechanics with Burt Hooton.

The Dodgers had hoped that Dreifort, 22, would progress under the guidance of pitching coach Ron Perranoski, who has been working intently with Dreifort the last two weeks. But another bad outing against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday convinced team officials that Dreifort needed a more relaxed setting.

Dreifort--who is expected to be the Dodgers’ future closer--will join another heralded rookie, Chan Ho Park, at double-A San Antonio. Dreifort leaves with an 0-5 record, 6.21 earned-run average and six saves in 29 innings over 27 games.

Dreifort, who has impressed some of the best hitters in the league with his sinker, pitched well at the start of the season. But when thrust into the closer role after Todd Worrell hurt his ribs on May 4, Dreifort struggled.

He seldom had a chance to work on the mechanical deficiencies that Perranoski had identified during spring training, and hitters began to take note.

In April, Dreifort had a 1.20 ERA and held opponents to a .214 batting average. In May, his ERA swelled to 8.48 and opponents hit .429 against him. During the 17 days Worrell was sidelined, Dreifort was 0-2 with three saves in seven games, one blown save and a 9.45 ERA. He gave up seven earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Even after Worrell returned from the disabled list and Dreifort reverted to his original set-up role, he continued to falter. After a bad outing on June 11 against the Chicago Cubs, Perranoski broke Dreifort’s delivery down and began building it up again. Dreifort made only two appearances afterward and struggled in both. In his last five outings, Dreifort gave up seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

“Dreifort has so much potential and is such a good kid to work with, it’s important to try and keep his confidence level up,” Perranoski said recently. “He was starting to become concerned.”

Dreifort will join San Antonio Saturday for a game in Wichita, Kan., his hometown.