Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda evokes memories of Fernandomania

The spring was so magical that it got a nickname that endures 35 years later: Fernandomania.

Kenta Maeda pitches for the Dodgers on Thursday, his fifth start in a debut that evokes the echoes of Valenzuela on and off the field.

Fernandomania forged a lasting bond between the Dodgers and the Latino community in Los Angeles. Valenzuela works for the Dodgers as a broadcaster and a huge roar greets his every appearance, in person or on the video board.

“Kenta has the potential to pass Fernando in popularity,” said Steve Brener, the Dodgers’ publicist then and now.

That is not necessarily a heretical sentiment. Maeda can be popular in North America and his native Japan, and the advent of the Internet and social media have amplified his every move.

Maeda has given up one run in his first four major league starts, the first to do that since Valenzuela in 1981.

Fans flocked to Dodger Stadium to adore Valenzuela, the shy 20-year-old who looked to the sky with each pitch.

In his third home start, on a Thursday against the Montreal Expos, the Dodgers drew 53,906. In his fourth home start, on a Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers drew 52,439. That game marked Valenzuela’s first loss, after pitching nine innings in winning each of his first eight starts.

Brener said the Dodgers project a crowd in the mid-40,000 range Thursday, when Maeda makes his third home start, against the Miami Marlins.

Maeda, 28, is not new to the spotlight. He is a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, and he pitched for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

The Dodgers have scheduled a Maeda bobblehead giveaway in July but otherwise have avoided making him the focus of promotions. Lon Rosen, the chief marketing officer, said the Dodgers are in discussions to expand team sponsorships from Japanese companies and license tour packages for Japanese fans, but he said the team wants Maeda to get more comfortable on the field before approaching him with off-the-field opportunities.

“We don’t want to put an enormous amount of pressure on his shoulders,” Rosen said.

Platoon duty

Center fielder Joc Pederson is expected to start next week against Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Matt Moore, according to Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts. That would be Pederson’s first start against a left-hander this season, although Roberts said it is not about a platoon but about “using the roster.”

Trayce Thompson started in center field Wednesday, against a left-hander. Pederson has 58 at-bats this season, 53 against right-handers.

“It’s not like I’m pinch-hitting [for him] every time there’s a left-hander,” Roberts said. “Trayce has swung the bat well. You’ve got to play him.”

Could Thompson swing the bat well enough to win the everyday job?

“Joc’s swinging the bat well too,” Roberts said.

Dodgers center fielders entered play Wednesday with an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .858, fourth in the major leagues. They trailed Dexter Fowler’s Chicago Cubs (1.147), Mike Trout’s Angels (.896) and Odubel Herrera’s Philadelphia Phillies (.866).

Short hops

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager turned 22. He is two months younger than the first pick in last year’s draft, Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, now playing for the Atlanta Braves’ Class-A Carolina League affiliate. … The Dodgers might send reliever Yimi Garcia for an MRI examination. Roberts said the soreness in the biceps of Garcia’s pitching arm has not dissipated since the Dodgers put him on the disabled list Saturday.