Mondesi Wants Another Shot to Hit Third

The annual Dodger experiment is again underway.

Raul Mondesi is trying to prove he should bat third, something he has tried many times before. But the right fielder insists things will be different this time.

Mondesi is off to a good start in spring training. He hit his first home run Saturday in a 7-3 loss to the New York Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Mondesi homered to left-center off former Dodger Hideo Nomo. He also had a run-scoring double, going two for three.

In two exhibition games, Mondesi is three for four with two runs batted in and a walk. Although it’s only spring training, Mondesi believes he’s setting a tone.

“Everybody knows I can hit [third], just give me the chance for a whole season,” said Mondesi, who also committed an error Saturday. “I know what I could do. I could put up big numbers.”

Mondesi, 28, acknowledged his lack of discipline at the plate has been a problem in the past, but he believes he will make major strides this season because of his maturity and the people batting around him.

“I know they’re going to have to throw me strikes with [Gary] Sheffield behind me,” Mondesi said in reference to the potential batting order. “If they don’t, I’ll take a walk and steal a base.”

For the first time, Mondesi said he worked hard in the off-season in preparation for this opportunity.

“Before, I only worked hard for the last two weeks [in the off-season],” he said. “This year, I’ve been running for seven weeks, lifting weights. I just need the chance for one season, not one week.”

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Dodger catcher Todd Hundley will be the designated hitter in a B game today. . . . Eric Young sat out Saturday’s game because of lower back stiffness. . . . Left-hander Carlos Perez started Saturday, giving up three hits and two runs in two innings. He struck out two without a walk. . . . Right-hander Darren Dreifort gave up two hits and one unearned run in two innings. . . . Greg Cadaret, competing for a left-handed role in the bullpen, was the victim of a defense that committed five errors (six overall) in the Mets’ four-run seventh. Cadaret gave up two hits and four runs--one earned--in the inning.