Nakamura Joins the Mix at Third With Good Start

Nak, Nak.

Who’s there?

The newest Dodger third baseman.

Norihiro Nakamura hit a ground-rule double in his first spring training at-bat and made a nifty play on the first ball hit his way Saturday against the New York Mets.

His every move was chronicled by nearly two dozen Japanese reporters and photographers, one of whom filmed Nakamura’s glove when he set it on the ground to stretch before the game.

Nakamura, who arrived at Dodgertown only three days ago because of visa problems, was a surprise addition to the lineup. Manager Jim Tracy had said a day earlier that Nakamura would not start, but changed his mind.

The 31-year-old Japanese All-Star had an immediate impact, hitting a pitch by Steve Trachsel over the left-field fence on one hop, giving him a chance to chat with his close friend, second baseman Kazuo Matsui, while standing on second.

“Hopefully, my play appeals to the manager and I make the team,” Nakamura said through a translator.

Nakamura is competing with Antonio Perez to platoon with Jose Valentin at third. Another possibility is to nudge aside Olmedo Saenz as a right-handed pinch-hitter and backup corner infielder.

“He knows how to play the game,” Tracy said. “I talked to him about getting as much playing time as possible to see if there is a fit for him on this ballclub.”

Nakamura, who hit 307 home runs in Japan, worked out with the Dodgers for two weeks last spring but was not particularly impressive because he was overweight and coming off a knee injury.

“He looks like a different guy,” Tracy said.

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Dodger infielder Joel Guzman, who split last season between Class A and double A, is the No. 5 major league prospect on Baseball America’s top 100 list.

The Dodgers have seven players on the list. Pitchers Chad Billingsley and Edwin Jackson were Nos. 19 and 30, respectively, first baseman James Loney was No. 62, third baseman Andy LaRoche was No. 74, catcher Russell Martin was No. 89 and left-handed pitcher Greg Miller was No. 100.

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Milton Bradley and J.D. Drew played in the outfield together for the first time. Bradley was in center field and Drew in right. Drew hit a two-run home run in the third inning.... Former Dodger farmhand Luis Garcia homered in the Mets’ 6-4 victory. Garcia hit 32 home runs at triple-A Las Vegas last season, but was not promoted and the Mets signed him as a minor league free agent.... Dodger pitcher Brad Penny continued his rehabilitation from a biceps nerve injury, throwing 65 pitches at moderate velocity in a bullpen session. He still has not thrown a breaking ball.