Repko’s game on the rise

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 | 9:04 a.m.

After his first five games at Triple-A, Las Vegas outfielder Jason Repko's batting average sunk to .111.

"When I first got here, I wanted to prove I could play at this level," said Repko, a 23-year-old who five years ago was the Dodgers' first-round draft pick. "You don't want to put too much pressure on yourself, but you can't avoid it once you start feeling it."

The solution was to start talking through the pressure.

"I talked to a few guys; they made me feel confident," he said. "The way things stand, things are working out good now."

Since spending his first few games with the 51s in a freefall, Repko has rebounded to a .333 batting average, including a 1-for-4, one-run performance in Las Vegas' 9-2 loss to the Edmonton Trappers Monday night at Cashman Field.

"It took him a while to get situated," 51s manager Terry Kennedy said. " I think he'll adjust even more."

Not only has Repko turned out three 3-for-5 games since June 15, he also has five extra-base hits and three stolen bases. In his five minor league seasons up to this year, Repko's batting average was only .256, but he has stolen 50 bases in 71 attempts over the past two years.

In 46 games with Jacksonville, he was hitting .280 including a 13-game hitting streak, going 9-for-14 on stolen base attempts. So far with Las Vegas, Repko has flourished.

"He's a gamer," Kennedy said. "We're looking forward to good things. He's the best outfield arm in the league."

Repko was originally drafted as a shortstop, at a time when the Dodgers' options at the six spot were Mark Grudzielanek and Jose Vizcaino.

But after two years at shortstop in Class A, two things happened: Repko committed 64 errors in 137 games, and the Dodgers acquired Cesar Izturis in a trade with Toronto.

The shortstop experiment was over, and Repko moved back to the outfield. He has logged 12 errors over the past two seasons, and has none so far this year with Las Vegas.

"My footwork wasn't too good," he said of playing shortstop. "I think (being an outfielder) suits me better, and it suits my tools better."