Dodgers sign Korean right-hander

Here’s the press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that they have signed Korean right-hander pitcher Ji-Mo Lee, 22, to a minor league contract. Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White made the announcement.

“Ji-Mo has a feel for two types of pitches that are already at a Major League level and he should develop into a good pitcher,” said White. “We are excited to sign him as we continue to put a great deal of effort into signing quality players from Asia.”

The right-handed pitcher was drafted by the Lotte Giants in 2005 and spent the next two years fulfilling his military duty. Lee came back to play for the Giants in 2008 but was released in November. He then began to pursue his dream to play in the Untied States.

“I have been watching him since high school and always liked his fastball and aggressiveness on the mound,” said Byung-Hwan An, the Dodgers’ scouting supervisor in Korea who scouted and signed Lee. “He is a very talented pitcher with a high ceiling. It is great that we can give him a chance to play in the States, which has been his dream.”

“I am honored to be a part of the Dodger organization,” said Lee, who recently changed his first name to Ji-Mo ‘for better luck and fresh start.’ “I often watched Chan Ho Park pitch for the Dodgers on television and it’s been my dream to play in the United States. Being able to play in a Dodger uniform is a dream come true. I will do my best to develop in the minor leagues and contribute to the Dodgers as soon as possible.”

Los Angeles Dodgers also signed another former Lotte Giants pitcher Hyang-nam Choi, 38, to a minor league (Triple-A) contract earlier this week. Choi played for the Kia Tigers (1990-96, 2005) and LG Twins (1997-2004). In 2006, Choi was signed by Cleveland Indians to a minor league contract (Triple A). He then went back to Korea and played on the Lotte Giants (2007-08).

Minor-league report

From the Dodgers’ crack PR staff …

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers’ minor league report is a weekly window into the Dodgers’ farm teams, with updated standings, league leaders, team and individual player stats, and the latest team and player news. .

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Pacific Coast League American South Division

19-19, 1st Place, 1.5 Games Ahead

LUNA-TIC ‘TOPE: INF Hector Luna is second in the Pacific Coast League with a 1.090 OPS…the 29-year-old has hit safely in 12 of his past 14 games, batting .415 (23-for-51) with five homers and 18 RBI during that span…the Dominican Republic native is leading the Isotopes with a .357 batting average and is tied for the team lead with 30 RBI…Luna appeared in 15 Cactus League games for the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee, batting .204 (5-for-24) with a homer and four RBI.

HAEGER-MEISTER: RHP Charlie Haeger has a 1.80 ERA (3 ER/15.0 IP) in his last two starts…the 25-year-old struck out six and allowed two runs (one earned) in 8.0 innings in a no-decision in his last start Sunday at Fresno (Giants)…the Michigan native appeared in four Cactus League games for the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee and allowed one run in 4.1 innings.

DEE-CENT STREAK: OF Dee Brown has hit safely in 11 of his past 12 games, batting .370 (17-for-46) with four homers and 14 RBI during that span…the 31-year-old clubbed two homers with four RBI in the Isotopes’ 6-2 win Saturday at Fresno (Giants)… the New York native spent the 2008 season with the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate Salt Lake, hitting .264 with 12 homers and 74 RBI in 130 games.

Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts

Southern League North Division

18-21, 3rd Place, 1.5 Games Back

CAST-ILLO IN A LEADING ROLE: RHP Jesus Castillo was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 10-17, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) in two starts…the Mexico native allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts and picked up the win Saturday in Chattanooga’s 7-2 triumph vs. Tennessee (Cubs)…the 24-year-old appeared in four Cactus League games for the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA (2 ER/4.2 IP).

TONY AWARDS: INF Tony Abreu is batting .316 (12-for-38) in his first 10 games of the season after returning from a sprained ankle…the 24-year-old has three multi-hit games…the Dominican Republic native was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and did not play in 2008 due to a groin injury.

CATCH THIS: C Lucas May is batting .533 (16-for-30) with two homers and four RBI during a current nine-game hitting streak…the 24-year-old is hitting .298 with four homers and 11 RBI on the season…the Dodgers’ eighth-round selection in 2003 draft spent the 2008 season with Double-A Jacksonville, hitting .230 with 13 homers and 54 RBI in 107 games.

Single-A Inland Empire 66ers

California League South Division

17-23, 3rd Place, 9.0 Games Back

STRIKEOUT STEVE: RHP Steve Johnson is 2-0 with 27 strikeouts and a 1.87 ERA (4 ER/19.2 IP) in his last three starts…the 21-year-old leads the California League with 59 strikeouts in 44.0 innings…the Baltimore native struck out 10, allowing one run in 8.2 innings and picked up the win in Inland Empire’s 2-1 victory last night at San Jose (Giants)…the Dodgers’ 13th-round selection in the 2005 draft started the Single-A Midwest League All-Star Game for Great Lakes in 2008 and led the Dodger chain with a combined 12 wins for the Loons and Inland Empire.

TRAY-RAPIDE: OF Trayvon Robinson ranks second in the California League with 14 stolen bases and tenth with a .327 batting average… the Crenshaw native is batting .347 (8-for-23) with a homer, eight steals, and four RBI over his last six games…the Dodgers’ 10th-round selection in 2005 batted .276 with four homers and 42 RBI with Inland Empire in 2008.

TIM’S SLIM ERA: RHP Timothy Sexton ranks second in the California League with a 2.36 ERA (11 ER/42.0 IP) and is tied for second in the league with a 1.07 WHIP…the 21-year-old has a 0.86 ERA (2 ER/21.0 IP) in his last three starts…the Baltimore native went 5-12 with 6.04 ERA for Inland Empire in 2008.

Single-A Great Lakes Loons

Midwest League Eastern Division

22-18, 3rd Place, 5.0 Games Back

BOBBY’S WORLD: RHP Bobby Blevins is 2-0 and has not allowed an earned run in 12.0 innings in his last two starts…the 24-year-old tossed 7.0 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and picked up the win in the Loons’ 3-2 victory at West Michigan (Tigers)…the 13th-round selection in the 2007 draft went 2-7 with a 2.96 ERA for Great Lakes last season.

DOUBLING DELMONICO: C Tony Delmonico ranks ninth in the Midwest League with both a .417 on-base percentage and 11 doubles…the 22-year-old is batting .333 with five doubles, a homer, and four RBI in his past 10 games…the sixth-round selection in the 2008 draft batted .340 with 11 homers and 39 RBI for Rookie-advanced Ogden last season.

DEE BEST: INF Dee Gordon leads the Midwest League with 23 steals and ranks ninth in the league with a .319 batting average…the 21-year-old entered the season as the Dodgers’ fastest baserunner, best athlete, and best defensive infielder according to Baseball America…the fourth-round selection in the 2008 draft batted .331 with 18 steals and 27 RBI in 60 games for Ogden last season.

What is a Webkinz?

Maybe your kids know … anyway, here’s the release from the Dodgers. Maybe it’d be a good day to take the little ones to the park.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers will provide Webkinz Pets to children 14 and under for each of the team’s next nine Sunday home games, beginning with the 1:10 p.m. game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this Sunday, May 24.

The Dodgers have teamed up with Webkinz, one of today’s hottest toys with its own world on the web, to give away a starting lineup of Lil’kinz pets, more than any other team in the league.

Webkinz pets are plush pets that each come with a unique secret code. The code is used to enter Webkinz World at www.webkinz.com, where children can care for their pet, answer trivia, earn KinzCash, and play games.

This Sunday is also the first day of the Jr. Dodgers pin trading program and the first five pins – Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, The World of Dodgertown, I love Dodgers, and This is my town – will be available for purchase in merchandise locations throughout the stadium. After the game, kids 14 and under can run the bases on the field as part of the Jr. Dodgers Kids Run the Bases program.