Los Angeles Dodgers: Full Scouting Report on Each Newcomer and September Call-Up

September is officially upon us, which not only means that October is only a calendar flip away but also that MLB rosters expand to 40 players.

For their September call-ups from the minors, the Dodgers have selected a few familiar faces, like highly touted shortstop prospect Dee Gordon and the power-hitting Scott Van Slyke, and have also invited a few lesser known players like reliever Peter Moylan and Drew Butera.

In addition to the minor-league call-ups, the Dodgers also acquired two veteran players just before the onset of September: pitcher Edinson Volquez and infielder Michael Young.

As the Dodgers sort out their postseason roster, which will be narrowed back down to the usual 25 designated players in October, let’s take a look at each call-up and newcomer.

Drew Butera

Position: C

HT/WT: 6'1"/200 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 30

College: Central Florida

In a hardly publicized trade-deadline deal, the Dodgers acquired catcher Drew Butera from the Minnesota Twins, eventually in exchange for 19-year-old Venezuelan left-handed pitcher Miguel Sulbaran.

Following his selection in the 2005 draft, Butera spent five consecutive years in the minors, in which his offensive performance never really impressed.

He was called up by the Twins to make his major-league debut in April 2010 and played 49 games that season, hitting .197 with a .237 on-base percentage.

In 186 games in the MLB, Butera's average sits at .182 and his on-base percentage isn't much higher at .230. He's hit five home runs with 41 runs batted in.

In his 16 games since joining the Dodgers' Triple-A team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, Butera has hit .135 with a .196 on-base percentage.

However, Butera was brought up for his defensive competence, not his offensive performance, and he'll serve as third in line to starter A.J. Ellis behind reserve catch Tim Federowicz.

Scott Van Slyke

Position: OF

HT/WT: 6'5"/250 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 27

College: N/A

Scott Van Slyke has had a prolific career in the minors and has proven that he can maintain his power-hitting ways at the big-league level.

Drafted out of high school in 2005, the brawny outfielder has amassed 98 home runs and 476 runs batted in the minors with a .295 batting average and a .371 on-base percentage.

Van Slyke was first called up by the Dodgers in May of last year and while his averages have dropped significantly in the majors (.223/.287), he has displayed impressive power at the big-league level.

In the 14 games (40 AB) in which he played this May, Van Slyke came up clutch with four home runs and nine runs batted in, belting an extra-base hit in all but two of his 11 hits.

As they are a filled to the brim with talent, especially in the outfield, the Dodgers have only used Van Slyke in 40 games this season, but he'll be a big asset for them in the postseason, particularly in pinch-hitting situations.  

Dee Gordon

Position: SS

HT/WT: 5'11"/160 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Age: 25

College: Southeastern

Dee Gordon was hyped as the next exciting Dodgers' phenom, but he has unfortunately fallen very short of that hype.

While his unbelievable speed translated in the majors, his offensive production has yet to follow suit.

Making his big-league debut in 2011 to replace the injured Rafael Furcal, Gordon flashed his lightning speed and even did well at the plate in his first major-league start, but he has yet to find any consistency.

An injury in 2012 stunted his progress, and by the time he was ready to get back on the field, the Dodgers had filled his starting position with All-Star Hanley Ramirez.

Gordon, the son of former reliever Tom "Flash" Gordon, has continued to struggle at the plate, but has shown improvement in the 2013 season despite lackluster numbers (.208 BA .299 OBP).

While he still needs to develop to become an everyday player on any team, the Dodgers will get good use out of Gordon in the latter stages of the 2013 season, when he'll likely replace Ramirez as he occasionally takes games off to rest.

Moreover, the Dodgers will utilize the swift-footed Gordon in key pinch-running situations in the postseason.

Stephen Fife

Position: RHP

HT/WT: 6'3"/220 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 26

College: Utah

If Stephen Fife's recurring shoulder bursitis in his throwing shoulder had not flared up for the second time this season in early July, he'd undoubtedly still be the Dodgers' No. 5 starter.

Despite his unorthodox mechanics, led by his jerky motion for coming set, Fife has thrived in the majors since being called up by the Dodgers for his first-major league start last July.

In 14 big-league starts, Fife has only twice allowed more than two earned runs and has delivered six scoreless outings.

While his 4-5 career record leaves something to be desired, he nevertheless boasts a 2.55 earned-run average.

With the signing of starter Edinson Volquez and Fife struggling in his recent minor league starts, he likely won't start the remainder of the season.

However, he will be a viable reliever in the postseason when needed.

Peter Moylan

Position: RHP

HT/WT: 6'2"/225 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 34

College: N/A

Peter Moylan is the epitome of resilience.

Originally beginning his professional career with the Minnesota Twins organization in 1996, Moylan returned to his native Australia to become a pharmaceutical salesman after being released in 1998.

Eight years later, he impressed the Atlanta Braves in the World Baseball Classic and was invited to spring training. Ten years in the making, he made his major-league debut with the Braves in April 2006.

After a few solid seasons with the Braves, Moylan tore his rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder in 2011 and missed the entire season. He was then re-signed to a minor-league deal by the Braves, but only pitched in a few games in the 2012 season.

In 10 appearances with the Dodgers this season, the sidearm righty didn't look at the top of his game, allowing a 6.35 earned-run average and .348 opponent batting average.

However, after being sent back down to the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, the veteran reliever seems to have found his groove again.

In 38 appearances in the minors this season, Moylan held a 2.74 earned-run average with 45 strikeouts and 20 walks.

As the Dodgers only have two reliable righty relievers, Moylan and starter Stephen Fife will likely get some action from the pen in September and in the postseason.

Michael Young

Position: 3B, 1B

HT/WT: 6'1"/200 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 36

College: UC Santa Barbara

Michael Young brings something to the table that few players on the Dodgers’ roster possess: postseason experience.

Just when everyone thought the Dodgers were done padding their roster, they acquired the 36-year-old veteran infielder on waivers just before rosters expanded in September in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Rob Rasmussen.

While the career .300 hitter will be assuming a bench role for the first time in his career with the Dodgers because first (Adrian Gonzalez) and third (Juan Uribe) base are already filled, he is still a valuable asset to the club.

In addition to the depth that he brings to the corner infield spots, especially in the event of an injury, Young will be a central pinch hitter for the Dodgers in the postseason.

Although his career postseason averages (.248 BA .272 OBP .383 SLG) aren’t quite on par with his regular season averages (.300 BA .346 OBP .441 SLG), Young still has the postseason experience under his belt, having twice trekked to the World Series with the Texas Rangers in back-to-back seasons.

Edinson Volquez

Position: RHP

HT/WT: 6'0"/225 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 30

College: N/A

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti has made many excellent moves in the past two seasons.

Acquiring Edinson Volquez was not one of them.

Although the move gives the Dodgers more depth in the rotation—of which they thought they would have an excess at the beginning of the season—it’s not needed.

If Colletti and the Dodgers were looking to add more depth for the playoffs, it wasn’t necessary, as the team will only use a four-man rotation at maximum in October.

The right-handed starter, who struggled this season with the San Diego Padres, proved on Wednesday that his tribulations will likely continue despite a change in scenery.

In his first start with the Dodgers, Volquez, a former All-Star, was smashed by the Colorado Rockies for four earned runs in four innings and didn’t have command of the strike zone despite displaying his live arm.

Volquez may bounce back and perform better in the pen than in the rotation, but for the moment, this acquisition is shaping up to be the small speckle on Colletti’s pristine record for the past two seasons.