Dodgers' Troncoso living the dream

Relief pitcher came out of the Dominican Republic and up through the organization with the help of a biting sinker.
By Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 11, 2008
Ramon Troncoso asked his mother for two years. If he didn't see that he had a shot at the big leagues by then, he told her, he would go back to school.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who had never pitched above double A and was invited to his first major league camp this spring, recently laughed as he told the story of that conversation with his mother in the kitchen of their home in the Dominican Republic almost six years ago. He laughed too, recalling how on opening day, he was approached by Dodgers Manager Joe Torre, who told him, "Do you understand English? You made the team."