Sweet 16: Guzman Is the New Bonus Baby

Irvin Joel Guzman is only 16 and cannot play in the minor leagues for another year, but the newest Dodger millionaire already sounds like a 10-year major leaguer.

Only moments after receiving a record $2.25-million signing bonus, the native of the Dominican Republic spoke confidently about his future in a phone interview.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound shortstop seemed unfazed about redefining the international free-agent market, essentially saying he was prepared for a windfall because other teams also aggressively pursued him.

Guzman believes it’s only a matter of time before he works at Chavez Ravine, and the Dodgers feel similarly.

“My name is Joel, I’m Dominican and you’ll get to know me soon when I get to the U.S. and to the big leagues,� Guzman said in Spanish. “I’m not [nervous] because it’s always been a dream of mine to play in the big leagues.

“I think it will take two or three years, around that time, to get there. I’d work hard to get to that goal.�

The Dodgers are counting on it after establishing a bonus mark for a player 16, the minimum signing age.

“I really wasn’t [surprised] because other teams had seen me play for a long time,� Guzman said. “I’ve trained hard since I was young . . . now I can help my family prosper and help my mom.�

Why did the Dodgers go so high?

“Obviously, it was his tools,� said Ed Creech, the top Dodger scouting executive. “We’re a tools organization and this kid is an athlete.

“We had this guy seen by five different people and it was an amazing display. This guy has got every tool you can think of. He’s a five-tool player and there aren’t many five-tool players around.�

Guzman said he felt comfortable with Dodger officials--especially Pablo Peguero.

Peguero, director of baseball operations in the Dominican Republic, served a one-year suspension for his involvement in the underage signing of third baseman Adrian Beltre.

“I felt comfortable because Pablo is Dominican. He talked to me and explained stuff to me,� said Guzman, who sought Peguero’s counsel in the recruitment process. “The Dodgers are a good team. I’ve always liked them.�

Because he turns 17 in November, Guzman cannot compete in the minors until next season under major league rules.

The Dodgers said Guzman will report to Vero Beach, Fla., and participate in instructional league.

Beltre, who signed for $23,000 in 1994, said times have changed.

“Back then, $20,000 was a lot of money over there,� he said. “It’s a little different now because [Guzman] knows he’s going to have money for a while and maybe he’s going to have a little different thinking [than Beltre did].

“When I first signed, I knew I had to work hard to get up here. I knew that I was going to come over here to help my family, and to try to make the big leagues, that was my big thing to do.

“Sometimes those kids, when they sign for big money, they don’t think the same way because they already have the money. I hope he works hard because it’s not all about the money, it’s about the game.�

Eric Gagne will be recalled from triple-A Las Vegas to start Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, Manager Jim Tracy said. Gagne is 1-4 with a 5.88 earned-run average. . . . X-rays and an MRI of shortstop Tim Bogar’s sprained right foot were negative, Tracy said. . . . Darren Dreifort is scheduled to undergo an MRI today.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ LUKE PROKOPEC

(6-4, 4.11 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’ LIVAN HERNANDEZ

(6-10, 6.31 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Prokopec was winless in six starts (0-3) with a 5.29 ERA in June. Opponents batted .315 against him.