Friday, June 28, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.
Shortstop Chris Clapinski didn't play in the 51s' 10-9 victory over the Oklahoma Redhawks at Cashman Field on Thursday night.
Early this season, that might have been a concern for the 30-year-old utility infielder, but not anymore.
Since the Los Angeles Dodgers released ex-51s shortstop Felix Martinez on May 5, Clapinski has become a fixture in manager Brad Mills' lineup.
"He has made our infield much more solid," Mills said. "He's really fit into the lineup very well as a good No. 2 hitter, which has balanced out the lineup. He's always been a pretty good hitter in this league. He can do a lot of things."
Clapinski, who was given Thursday off, enters tonight's game batting .294 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs.
Clapinski signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this year after 10 seasons in the Marlins' organization, mostly at second base. He signed with Florida as a free agent out of California in 1992, the Marlins' first season.
Last year, Clapinski decided it was time to sign with a different team after he partially tore his rotator cuff in the first game of spring training, forcing him to miss the first two months of the season. He batted .251 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 58 games for triple-A Calgary.
"It was 10 great years (with the Marlins)," he said. "It was sort of my family. It was a little disappointing to leave. I had been there so long and I kind of hoped my career would end there, but it didn't happen that way."
Clapinski logged 70 big-league games in his Marlins career, batting .267 while playing second and third. When he showed up at Dodgers camp in March, he was told to get a lot of work at shortstop.
"I've gotten comfortable playing all over the infield," he said. "But originally I signed as a second baseman and I feel very comfortable playing there."
Being a regular in the lineup allows Clapinski to concentrate more and worry less about the future.
"I enjoy playing the game," he said. "If I didn't enjoy it, and if I didn't think I had an opportunity to get back to the big leagues, I wouldn't play anymore."
"I'm really excited," the 25-year-old Ross said of his first call-up. "I never thought this would happen, so I'm just happy. I don't know if it's sunk in or not. I called my family, and they're all excited."
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