DODGERS IN THE MINORS

MARK ALEXANDER, RHP

triple A; Las Vegas 51s

Alexander, recently promoted to Las Vegas from double-A Jacksonville, is the Dodgers’ top closer prospect. He dominated in double A, going 3-1 with 22 saves and an 0.66 earned-run average. In 41 innings, he gave up 22 hits, walked 11 and struck out 62. With stats like those, you might expect Alexander to be a hard thrower, but he’s not. At 5 feet 10, Alexander relies mainly on breaking pitches. He was promoted to Las Vegas last Sunday and was unscored upon in his first two appearances.

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SCOTT ELBERT, LHP

double A; Jacksonville Suns

Elbert was also recently promoted, from Class-A Vero Beach, where in 15 starts he was 5-5 with a 2.37 earned-run average, striking out 97 in 83 2/3 innings while giving up 57 hits. Control is a big issue for Elbert, who averaged almost 4.5 walks every nine innings at Vero Beach. In two starts with Jacksonville, he is 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA, giving up only two hits in 11 innings but walking eight. Elbert, who turns 21 in August, was a first-round pick in the 2004 first-year player draft.