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Pederson is first 30/30 player in PCL in 80 years

LOS ANGELES -- With a stolen base on Saturday night, Dodgers' No.  3 prospect Joc Pederson did what no other player has done in the Pacific Coast League since 1934. 

Already leading the league with 32 home runs, Pederson swiped his 30th base of the season to become the first 30-homer, 30-steal player in the PCL since Angels Minor Leaguer Frank Demaree did it 80 years ago. 

Pederson came into the night batting .301/.432/.586 in 114 games with Triple-A Albuquerque and will soon join the Major League team once rosters expand in September. 

However, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Saturday that he's not expecting to throw Pederson into the fire when he comes up.  Mattingly has already seen what Pederson is capable of.  September will be more about acclimating him to the Major League game. 

"We'll use him, but I'll use him like any other guy coming up in September," Mattingly said. " I don't really plan on throwing him out there or anything.  I think it'll be a good experience.  I think it'll be good for him." 

Mattingly remembers when he first came up to the Major Leagues, joining the Yankees for a brief cup of coffee in September 1982.  He only played in seven games, but it was just enough to give him a taste of MLB life, and it made it all the easier for him when he played 91 games the next season. 

Mattingly said he expects the experience to be much the same Pederson. 

"Coming up, seeing pitching, I got 12 at-bats over a month, but it was a huge step for me because it let me know that I could play there," Mattingly said. " It lets you know where you put your luggage.  Seriously, it's the little stuff.  It gets a lot of little stuff out of the way.  It's like coming to Spring Training the first time." 

Michael Lananna is an associate reporter for MLB.com.  This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.