Euro baseball is all Greek to Theodorou

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, July 2, 2003 | 8:41 a.m.

Las Vegas pinch-hitter Nick Theodorou has only had 20 at-bats this season. He's likely to beat that total later this month, when he represents Greece in the European baseball championships in the Netherlands.

Theodorou's plate appearances have come mostly in pinch-hit situations. He didn't make it into the game Tuesday, which the 51s won against the Fresno Grizzlies, 8-7.

Theodorou, 28, has never been to Greece -- he grew up in San Bernardino, went to UCLA and has been in the Dodgers' system for five years -- but his mother was born there. He got the call last week from Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who is organizing and funding the team, that he'd be needed in this month's tournament.

"There will be five guys (on the team) that will actually be from Greece," Theodorou said. "They're going to be there as observers, because baseball's not played in Greece. They don't know what a baseball looks like."

He said that baseball is spreading in Europe -- there are leagues in Italy -- but it hasn't yet caught on in Greece. Angelos has been organizing a team of Greek-American players, so that Greece will be represented in the 2004 Olympics. Those games will take place in Athens in August.

Theodorou said that his parents are excited about the prospect of going to Greece next year.

"We were talking about it last night," he said. "We're trying to figure it out as quickly as possible so they can make plans as well."

Perhaps Theodorou's most valuable asset to the 51s is his attitude -- he admittedly bleeds Dodger Blue. But should he impress in Europe over the next two years, he said he wouldn't hesitate to take a chance with a different major-league team.

"I want to play in the big leagues, and I love the Dodgers, regardless if I play in the big leagues with LA or not, I'm still going to love the Dodgers," Theodorou said. "But that would be a great opportunity."

Theodorou leaves Saturday and will return July 21.