Blake Dewitt making most of call up to the Majors

Blake DeWitt has experienced the type of season nobody could have predicted when he headed to Spring Training.

Despite being slated for Double-A Jacksonville, injuries made him the Dodgers' Opening Day third baseman, a position he started at for 76 games.

Then an offensive slump led to Los Angeles' acquisition of third baseman Casey Blake and DeWitt's subsequent demotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he learned to play second base, possibly to become Kent's future replacement. Kent's injury moved up the learning curve, forcing DeWitt into the starting second-base role in the heat of a pennant race.

"I definitely wouldn't have expected it," DeWitt said. "Sometimes it's how this game works, and you've just got to be ready, you never know what's going to happen.

"It's been a great experience. I've learned a ton this year. I really couldn't ask for more, especially as a young guy, to be here [and] get to experience being in a playoff race here in September. It's pretty special."

DeWitt said he enjoys playing second, but he admitted to being "a little shaky out there" his first couple games in the Minors. He's worked hard with Dodgers coaches Larry Bowa and Mariano Duncan on angles, turning double plays and positioning at second.

The rookie infielder has been a different hitter since his callup, hitting .316 (6-for-19) with two homers and four RBIs. He has now homered in consecutive games after going 47 games without a Major League homer since his last long ball on May 29.

DeWitt had hit just .200 with six RBIs in June and July, going 16 straight games without an extra-base hit at one point. To make it worse, the slump came after DeWitt earned National League Rookie of the Month honors in May for hitting .322 with five homers and 18 RBIs.

Now, DeWitt sees himself having better at-bats with a "real good approach" after making that a focus during his time in the Minors.

"He's the kid we saw earlier in the year when he started with us," Torre said. "He did a lot of growing this year. I think if there's a guy who's had an opportunity and made the most of it this year, it's been Blake DeWitt."

Much uncertainty looms around the Dodgers' middle infield the rest of the way because of the health of the injured vets. Kent may return to a pinch-hitting role in a couple weeks, Furcal's comeback to at least a part-time role may come toward the end of the month and Garciaparra may soon join the rotation at short.

But with those veterans still uncertainties, DeWitt and Berroa will likely play a bigger role for the Dodgers up the middle than even they expected a few weeks ago.