Jackson will start with 51s

Nick Christensen

Monday, April 5, 2004 | 9:30 a.m.

The Las Vegas 51s picked up four new players over the weekend, including pitcher Edwin Jackson, rated by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in baseball.

Joining Jackson will be second baseman Joe Thurston, sent down Sunday afternoon; pitcher Aaron Looper, acquired last week from Seattle for infielder Jolbert Cabrera; and infielder Antonio Perez, for whom the Dodgers traded utilityman Jason Romano.

Jackson started out March expected to be named the Dodgers' fifth starter in their rotation, but had a miserable spring training. He gave up six runs -- four earned -- Saturday in an exhibition loss to Anaheim, pushing his spring ERA at 9.28.

He arrived at the majors direct from Double-A Jacksonville last September, on his 20th birthday, and went 2-1 in four games with a 2.45 ERA. He struck out 19 batters and allowed 17 hits in his 22 major league innings.

Thurston will begin his third season at Triple-A after a decent spring training effort. He hit .308 in 52 at-bats, striking out only four times. But despite Cabrera's trade and an early March injury to regular second baseman Alex Cora, Thurston apparently was not in the Dodgers' immediate plans.

Looper, 27, pitched 75 innings of middle relief for Triple-A Tacoma last season, striking out 67 and earning a 3.11 ERA. In seven innings with the Mariners last year, he allowed seven hits, four runs, and struck out six.

Perez, by contrast, got only one at-bat in spring training but spent most of 2003 at the major leagues.

The Dodgers also designated outfielder Wilkin Ruan for assignment.

The Las Vegas 51s open the 2004 season Thursday night against the Portland Beavers at Cashman Field.