C.R.’s Schebler with hit in MLB debut

If Scott Schebler never plays again in the major leagues, at least he'll have Friday night.

The former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep lined a single the other way to left field in his first at-bat for the Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing 1-for-3 in his big-league debut. The 24-year-old outfielder was recalled by the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City because of numerous injuries and promptly sent back down Saturday when Yasiel Puig was activated from the disabled list.

The St. Louis Cardinals beat L.A., 2-1. The Cardinals were Schebler's favorite team growing up.

One of his favorite players was Mark McGwire, who just happens to be the Dodgers hitting coach.

'Unreal,” he told the Los Angeles Times after the game. 'Sometimes you have to pinch yourself a little bit. (McGwire) has been awesome. He comes over to me and talks to me. I'm kind of a shy guy at heart, so for him to do that for me in awesome.”

Schebler was a 26th-round draft pick of the Dodgers in 2010 out of Des Moines Area Community College. He placed himself squarely on the prospect map with huge offensive seasons at high-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

He had 52 combined doubles, 27 triples, 55 home runs and 164 RBIs in 260 games. The adjustment to Triple-A Oklahoma City has not gone as smoothly this season, as he was promoted despite just a .216 batting average in 49 games.

'I hate using excuses, but the ballpark we play in down there is a little different than most,” Schebler told the L.A. Times. 'It's not really hitter friendly. I let that start getting to my confidence. I started tweaking with stuff, and all of a sudden, you're in a slump.”

The Dodgers are stacked in the outfield when everyone is healthy, so the common perception is Schebler will find his major league future in another organization.

'I'm just ecstatic to be here,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

IOWANS IN THE MINORS

Here are how local, area and former University of Iowa players are doing in the minor leagues, through Saturday:

- Chad Christensen (Cedar Rapids Washington): Hitting .264 in 48 games for high-Class A Fort Myers (Twins). Has 10 doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs.

- Jon Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier): Pitcher has 3-3 record, three saves and 3.55 earned run average in 15 games. Has allowed 33 hits and struck out 24 in 33 innings.

- Derrick Loveless (Solon): Outfielder hitting .231 in 48 games for high-A Dunedin (Blue Jays). Has three doubles, two triples, four homers and 15 RBIs.

- Colin Rea (Cascade): Remains on the disabled list for Double-A San Antonio (Padres): Is 1-2 with a 1.38 ERA in 52 innings, eight starts.

- Jake Yacinich (University of Iowa): Shortstop was recently named to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game for Burlington (Angels). Hitting .306 in 34 games, with 13 RBIs.

- Jonathan Zeutenhorst (University of Iowa): Outfielder for low-A Clinton (Mariners) is hitting .200 in 28 games (100 at-bats), with a double, a homer and 11 RBIs.

- Pitcher Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids Xavier) and Sasha Kuebel (Iowa) remain in extended spring training for the Pirates and Cardinals, respectively, and will be assigned to a rookie-league team when those seasons begin in mid-June.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com