Tate homers in debut in Dodgers system

He's still only 25, but Donavan Tate has lived through more twists and turns in his baseball career than most players do in a lifetime. And although it took longer than he wanted to make his debut in a new organization, Tate made it worthwhile on Thursday night.

The third overall pick in the 2009 Draft homered and drove in both runs for his team in his first game in the Dodgers system as Class A Great Lakes edged Lake County, 2-1, at Classic Park.

"I'm just excited to be back on the field, honestly," Tate said after the win. "It's been a rough little start this year. I pulled my oblique in Spring Training. Then, first game back [in extended spring training], I got hit in the hand with a pitch and broke my hand. I've just been really looking forward to this opportunity, wherever it was, to get back out there and compete and have some fun."

Tate was nearing an assignment for his season when the injury to his left hand occurred in the first week of April. Eight weeks of rest and rehab followed, but he said he wasn't discouraged.

"The Dodgers really helped me get on a program to be able to come back and be successful whenever I got healthy," he said. "I just think at this point in my career, the ups and downs that I've been through, I didn't get too invested in it or let it bring me down too much. I just was trying to maintain a good mental state and be ready to go because I knew I was going to get an opportunity at some point."

Tate has dealt with injuries dating back to his rookie season in the Padres system and also has battled substance abuse issues that included a 50-game suspension in 2011. The latest setback was a straightforward one to overcome.

"I think at this point in my career, I'm not saying it was easy to deal with, but it was easier for me to comprehend and deal with because it was out of my control," he said. "There was nothing I could've done different about it. I just had to take it in stride and stay the course and get healthy."

Assigned to the Midwest League, a circuit in which Tate spent parts of the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the outfielder started quickly on Thursday. He ripped an RBI single to center field in the second inning to give the Loons the lead. 

"I was fortunate enough to get some at-bats in Arizona before I left to see some pitches and stuff and test out the hand, see the strength, see what I could do," he said. "Honestly, I can't say that I had nerves or anything like that. I was calm and relaxed just being in a game environment."

Three innings later, Tate padded the advantage with a leadoff homer to left.

"I was just going up there, trying to get a good pitch to hit, being in a good position and seeing something up and trying to let everything take care of itself," he said. "I wasn't really going to put any pressure on: 'Hey, I need to do this or I need to do that. I need to hit the ball here.'"

Tate may be old for the level but could be a short-timer with Great Lakes. The Georgia native spent 95 games with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore last year in his final season with the Padres before signing with the Dodgers in November. Still, he's not looking at where his next step may be in the Los Angeles system.

"That got me in trouble before, looking into the future and trying to think about how things need to play out," he said. "Obviously, I feel like I can be successful at all levels, really. Right now, I'm just trying to stay in the present moment. I know if I can go on to the field and continue to handle my business and go about it the right way, like I've been doing, everything will kind of take care of itself.

"It's good, but I know I've got a long way to go to get to where I want to be. I'm just enjoying right now."

Loons starter Isaac Anderson (5-3) gave up two hits and struck out eight over six scoreless innings to get the win. After Angel German pitched the seventh, Ivan Veitez recorded his second save, despite allowing a run on three hits over the final two frame.