Dodgers’ Rookie Pipeline Remains Full

The Dodgers have news for the rest of the National League, which has grown sick and tired of their walking away each year with the rookie-of-the-year award:

They have no plans to release their stranglehold.

“We have a player or two next year that should be strong candidates,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “Hopefully, we will have a player every year that will be a candidate.”

The Dodgers’ best hopes for following outfielder Todd Hollandsworth in 1997 and becoming their sixth consecutive rookie-of-the-year winner are outfielder Karim Garcia and second baseman Wilton Guerrero.

The Dodgers told Garcia that he will be given ample opportunity to win a starting job next spring. Garcia, 21, didn’t progress the way they had hoped this past season at double-A San Antonio and triple-A Albuquerque, but he still is considered their top prospect.

Guerrero, 22, was moved from shortstop to second base this season to help expedite his progress to the majors. The Dodgers already believe he is ready for the big leagues offensively, batting .344 at Albuquerque, but he made 19 errors and may need another year.

The Dodgers say their top candidate to win the award in 1998 is Paul Konerko, considered the best power hitter in the minors. Konerko, who was moved from first base to third in the Arizona Instructional League, batted .300 with 29 homers and 86 runs batted in for San Antonio and is expected to open the season in Albuquerque.