Prokopec Unfazed by Talk of Trade

Rookie right-hander Luke Prokopec merely shrugs when he hears his name mentioned with Eric Gagne’s as potential Dodger trade bait if the club is to pick up an established starter for the stretch run.

But that doesn’t mean he’s excited by the prospect.

“I don’t give a [darn] about [the trade talk] particularly and I don’t think Eric does either,” Prokopec said. “It’s not something where I have control over . . . but I guess if he got traded somewhere, or I did, it would be to a place that really wants you and that’s a good spot.

“And obviously if the Dodgers make a trade . . . they’re going to do whatever they can to make the ballclub that much stronger.”

Prokopec has made the Dodgers stronger this year. He struggled a bit after beginning the year 6-1, but in his last five starts he has an earned-run average of 2.65, despite an 0-1 record over that time.

Prokopec was scheduled to start Thursday afternoon’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, but Manager Jim Tracy shuffled the rotation and let knuckleballer Dennis Springer pitch at Dodger Stadium, rather than at Coors Field.

Prokopec, 23, was signed by the Dodgers’ Brian Cakebread in his native Australia as a catcher in 1994, but in 1995 at Great Falls of the rookie Pioneer League, he was moved to the outfield with catchers Angel Pena and Geronimo Gil joining the organization.

Prokopec was converted into a pitcher in 1997 and was the Dodgers’ minor league pitcher of the year in 1998 after going a combined 11-5 at Class-A San Bernardino and double-A San Antonio.

He struggled in 1999, however, and in the midst of an 8-12 season at San Antonio, considered quitting.

Now, after early-season rookie-of-the-year talk, Prokopec is wanted by other teams in trade talks.

“I don’t want to go anywhere for my whole career,” he said. “Ever since my first year, with the route I’ve taken to the big leagues, being a catcher and then an outfielder and now a pitcher, three different stops, I feel a lot more family-orientated here. I’ve grown up with the Dodgers my whole life.”

Picked by the Dodgers in the 21st round of the 1987 free-agent draft, knuckleballer Springer spent seven years in the minors before leaving the organization as a free agent.

He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers on May 11, made his Dodger debut Thursday and was admittedly nervous.

“I felt good and I thought the ball was moving pretty good,” he said. “It’s been a while. It was just normal jitters.”

Springer, 36, did not get a decision in the Dodgers’ 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers after going four innings and giving up four runs on seven hits. He struck out two and did not walk a batter but hit one and had a wild pitch.

With outfielder Marquis Grissom two games into his six-game suspension for bumping an umpire, the Dodgers sent left-handed hitting Chris Donnels to triple-A Las Vegas and recalled outfielder Bruce Aven.

“It gives us another outfielder and a right-handed bat for the time being,” Tracy said.

In 70 games at Las Vegas, Aven was batting .264 with six home runs and 27 runs batted in.

ON DECK

Opponent--Colorado Rockies, three games

Site--Coors Field, Denver.

Today--6 p.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5 today, Channel 11 Saturday, ESPN Sunday.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

Records--Dodgers 54-42, Rockies 40-55.

Record vs. Rockies--3-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ LUKE PROKOPEC

(6-4, 3.96 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’ BRIAN BOHANON

(4-5, 6.88 ERA)

Update--Prokopec beat the Rockies for his first victory, giving up two earned runs on five hits in six innings, in his second start last Sept. 17 at Dodger Stadium. The left-handed Bohanon beat the Dodgers on May 29 at Chavez Ravine, giving up one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.

Saturday, 1 p.m. PDT--Eric Gagne (2-4, 5.23 ERA) vs. Denny Neagle (6-3, 4.50 ERA).

Sunday, 5 p.m. PDT--Terry Adams (5-3, 4.68 ERA) vs. Pedro Astacio (6-11, 5.14 ERA).