BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Osuna’s Success Is a Huge Relief

Dodger rookie Antonio Osuna unveiled his talent Friday at Vero Beach, Fla., when he stepped to the mound in the ninth inning with the Dodgers’ leading 6-1 over the New York Yankees.

Jason Robertson struck out swinging.

Ruben Rivera, considered the No. 1 prospect in baseball, struck out on three pitches.

Kevin Elster, who has spent eight years in the major leagues, struck out swinging.

The only one who even made contact was Elster, who fouled off one pitch.

“If they give him the chance,” said Dodger center fielder Raul Mondesi, “you’re looking at the rookie of the year. He’s that good.”

Just how good? Take a look:

In 35 games at double-A San Antonio last season, Osuna saved 19 games, yielded a 0.98 ERA, allowed a mere 19 hits and struck out 53 in 46 innings.

In six games at triple-A Albuquerque, he saved four games, yielded a 0.00 ERA, allowed five hits, and struck out eight in six innings.

And then, there was his performance in the Caribbean World Series.

Osuna, facing the Puerto Rican Dream Team, went mano y mano with All-Star outfielder Ruben Sierra. First pitch, swing and miss. Second pitch, swing and miss. The catcher then called for a curveball. Osuna shook him off. He called for a change-up. Again, Osuna shook him off.

Osuna stood on the mound, motioned to the catcher, and let him know a fastball was coming. Sierra dug in, swung away, and missed. Strike 3. The pitch was clocked at 97 m.p.h.

“I’m not scared of anybody,” said Osuna, whose boyhood idol is San Diego Padre pitcher Teddy Higuera. “I feel I’m ready. I want to be the closer.”

The Dodgers already have a closer in Todd Worrell, but considering this is the final year of Worrell’s contract, there’s no question that Osuna is the closer of the future. Osuna is expected to open the season as a setup man.

“He has unusual poise for a young man his age,” scout Mel Didier said, “and he is a great competitor. He is not afraid of anything. If he stays healthy, there’s no telling how far he can go.”

Said scout Mike Brito, who signed Osuna in 1991: “This kid has everything to be a superstar. What Fernando (Valenzuela) did was tremendous, but this kid is going the same way.”

“He’s an exciting guy, and he can be flamboyant,” said Dave Wallace, the Dodger pitching coach, “but he has absolutely no fear of anybody in any situation.”

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The 3,383 fans at Holman Stadium who came to see the New York Yankees on Friday, instead were “treated” to a lineup that featured the likes of Andy Fox, Jalal Leach, Matt Luke, Tate Seefried and Robert Eenhoorn.

While teams are required to have five major league players in their starting lineup during spring training, that rule has been waived this spring.

“If this were a normal spring, I certainly would have had the right to let our feelings be known,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “We have to be realistic. It’s hard to understand why they wouldn’t want their best players here, but they’ve got their game plan, we’ve got ours.”

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Yankee left fielder Matt Luke made the catch of the spring--major league or replacement--when he caught Mondesi’s slicing fly ball while running into the left-field fence, caught the ball, and flipped over the fence while still clutching the ball. . . . Dodger third baseman Tim Wallach experienced no back pains during his full workout Friday, and is scheduled to play Sunday.