For Rookie Starter Reyes, Pressure Is All Relative

Dennis Reyes will make his major league debut today against the division-leading San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Pressure? That’s not pressure, insists the 20-year-old Reyes.

Two years ago, pitching in a Mexican League game, Reyes had to face his father, Juan, a veteran first baseman.

Now that’s pressure.

The younger Reyes surrendered one hit to his father in three at-bats.

That was a lot better than the younger Reyes’ first game in the Mexican League two years earlier. Then 16, Reyes gave up his first professional run on an error by his father.

“He had good power, but he was a lousy infielder,” scout Mike Brito said of the senior Reyes.

Brito has known Dennis Reyes since the pitcher was his 7-year-old batboy in the Mexican League. Everybody in Mexico knows Brito as the man who discovered Fernando Valenzuela.

“When I grow up, I want you to sign me,” Reyes told Brito. “I want to be like Fernando. I want to pitch for the L.A. Dodgers.”

Brito decided to have a little fun with the kid, who threw right-handed.

“I’m sorry,” Brito told him. “I only sign left-handers.”

Reyes took him seriously and became a lefty. Reyes was further motivated to do so because he was having problems with his right arm.

Fast forward eight years.

Brito was in Hermosillo, watching a 15-year-old left-hander throw. He was impressed with the kid’s arm and with his mannerisms, which reminded Brito of Valenzuela.

Brito went up to introduce himself and was surprised to learn it was his old batboy, all grown up and still asking to be signed.

Brito signed him a year later and will proudly be watching him today at Dodger Stadium.

*

Relief pitcher Mike Harkey was sent to Albuquerque to make room for Reyes on the roster.

*

Right-hander Ramon Martinez had another successful outing as he tries to recover from a small tear in the rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder.

Martinez threw for seven minutes from flat ground and for seven minutes from the mound in the bullpen Saturday. He says he went at a little over three-quarters speed and reported no pain.

Neither Martinez nor the Dodgers are ready to predict a return date, but things are certainly looking better than they did when the pitcher went on the disabled list June 23. At that point, surgery was not ruled out.

“I was scared,” Martinez admitted.

*

In the annual media game, played Saturday morning at Dodger Stadium, a team of print journalists managed by Joe Resnick of the Associated Press defeated a team representing the electronic media and mismanaged by KTLA sportscaster Stu Nahan, 11-9.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ DENNIS REYES (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. GIANTS’ SHAWN ESTES (12-2, 2.51 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330)

* Update--The 6-foot-3, 246-pound Reyes has been pitching in the Dodger organization since 1994. In his first season, he was selected as one of the top 10 prospects in the Pioneer League. Last season, he was 11-12 with a 4.17 ERA for the San Bernardino Stampede of the California League. He had 176 strikeouts in 166 innings, placing him sixth in strikeouts among class-A pitchers and tied for eighth among all full-season minor leaguers. Reyes had control problems at Albuquerque this year, where he had 22 walks along with 28 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings, but said that pitching coach Claude Osteen helped him work on a tendency to throw too hard at times. Estes beat the Dodgers in his only start against them this season, 5-2. Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax was in the Giant clubhouse before the game and met with several pitchers, including Estes. “I’d like to hang out with him for a night,” Estes said, “and just ask him whatever comes to mind.”