Defensive back Rhedi Short announced his commitment to UCLA on Thursday afternoon, becoming the third member of the Bruins’ 2017 class.

An unranked recruit, the 6-foot-1 safety had 21 tackles and two interceptions last fall as a sophomore at Los Angeles Cathedral — the same school that produced former UCLA defensive back Anthony Jefferson, an All-Pac-12 second-team selection in 2014.

Short joins linebackers Rahyme Johnson and Jaquan Henderson as the high school juniors who have already committed to UCLA.

Zach Lee is a two-time Branch Rickey minor league player of the year award winner. (Associated Press photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — Zach Lee and Alex Verdugo were named the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey minor league pitcher and player of the year, respectively, on Thursday.

Lee, 24, has appeared in 22 games this season — one with the Dodgers — with the majority coming at Triple-A. He also won the award in 2013.

Verdugo, 19, opened the season at Single-A Great Lakes and ended it at High-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Both players will be at Dodger Stadium on Friday to receive their award prior to the 7:10 p.m. game against the San Diego Padres. Here’s more from a Dodgers press release:

Lee, who turned 24 on September 13, was honored as the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the second time (also: 2013) after ranking among the Pacific Coast League leaders (min. 100 IP) in wins (11, T-3^rd), ERA (2.70, 2^nd), WHIP (1.11, 1^st), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.26, 3^rd) and allowed an average of only 0.40 home runs per nine innings (3^rd).

Lee opened the season very strong, going 5-3 with a 2.38 ERA (15 ER/56.2 IP) and posted an ERA under 3.00 in each of the season’s first two months with a 1.80 ERA (5 ER/25.0 IP) in four April starts and a 2.84 mark (10 ER/31.2 IP) in six May starts. He held opposing batters to a .257 average, while limiting the opposition to a .210 average with runners in scoring position throughout the season.

The Texas native made two stints with Los Angeles this season, including his Major League debut with his first career start against the New York Mets on July 25. Lee was selected with the 28^th overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of McKinney (Texas) High School.

Verdugo opened the season with Single-A Great Lakes in his second professional season, where he ranked among the team leaders in batting average (.295, 5^th), hits (124, 1^st), doubles (23, 2^nd), home runs (5, T-2^nd), RBI (42, 3^rd), total bases (163, 2^nd) and stolen base (13, 2nd) in 101 games. He had a season-high 14-game hitting streak from June 16-July 2 and batted a league-best .349 (66-for-189) with nine doubles, four home runs, 87 total bases, 20 RBI, seven stolen bases and a .832 OPS in 44 second-half games to earn a selection to the Midwest League’s Postseason All-Star Team.

Verdugo, who turned 19 on May 15, was promoted to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on August 14 and helped lead the Quakes to a 2015 California League championship, its first title since 1994. He batted .385 (35-for-91) with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 19 RBI along with a .406 OBP and a .659 SLG in 23 games for the Quakes, while posting a .323 average (10-for-31) with a .400 OBP, a double, a homer and seven RBI in eight postseason games. On August 26, he hit for his first career cycle and finished the season with a seven-game hitting streak (September 1-7), while also being honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the week for the period August 31-September 7, batting .577 (15-for-26) with four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI.

The Arizona native batted .311 (159-for-512) with 32 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 61 RBI along with a .340 OBP and a .441 SLG in 124 combined games for the Loons and the Quakes. He was also exceptional in both levels with runners in scoring position, batting a combined .316 (37-for-117) with eight doubles and a triple. Verdugo was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Sahuaro High School in Arizona.

Branch Rickey Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year: 1989-2015

Year       Player of the Year                                                                             Pitcher of the Year

1989       Mike Huff, Albuquerque (OF)                                                          Jim Poole, Vero Beach (LHP)

1990       Henry Rodriguez, San Antonio (OF)                                                Jamie McAndrew, Bakersfield/San Antonio (RHP)

1991       Eric Karros, Albuquerque (IB)                                                          Pedro Martinez, San Antonio/Albuquerque (RHP)

1992       Mike Piazza, San Antonio/Albuquerque (C)                                  Todd Williams, Bakersfield/San Antonio (RHP)

1993       Billy Ashley, Albuquerque (OF)                                                        Kip Gross, Albuquerque (RHP)

1994       Billy Ashley, Albuquerque (OF)                                                        Greg Hansell, Albuquerque (RHP)

1995       Adam Riggs, San Bernardino (IF)                                                    Gary Rath, San Antonio/Albuquerque (LHP)

1996       Paul Konerko, San Antonio/Albuquerque (IF)                              Billy Neal, Vero Beach (RHP)

1997       Paul Konerko, Albuquerque (IF)                                                      Dennys Reyes, San Antonio/Albuquerque (LHP)

1998       Angel Peña, San Antonio (C)                                                            Luke Prokopec, San Bernardino/San Antonio (RHP)

1999       Chin-Feng Chen, San Bernardino (OF)                                           Eric Gagné , San Antonio (RHP)

2000       Joe Thurston, San Bernardino (IF)                                                   Carlos Garcia, San Bernardino (RHP)

2001       Phil Hiatt, Las Vegas (IF)                                                                   Ricardo Rodriguez, Vero Beach (LHP)

2002       Joe Thurston, Las Vegas (IF)                                                            Edwin Jackson, South Georgia (RHP)

2003       Franklin Gutierrez, VB/Jacksonville (OF)                                       Greg Miller, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (LHP)

2004       Joel Guzman, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (OF)                                 Chad Billingsley, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (RHP)

2005       Andy LaRoche, Vero Beach/Jacksonville (IF)                              Chad Billingsley, Jacksonville (RHP)

2006       James Loney, Las Vegas (1B)                                                          Mark Alexander, Jacksonville/Las Vegas (RHP)

2007       Chin-lung Hu, Jacksonville/Las Vegas (IF)                                    James McDonald, Inland Empire/Jacksonville (RHP)

2008       Ivan De Jesus, Jr., Jacksonville (IF)                                                 James McDonald, Jacksonville/Los Angeles (RHP)

2009       Dee Gordon, Great Lakes (IF)                                                           Scott Elbert, Chattanooga/Albuquerque/Los Angeles (LHP)

2010       Jerry Sands, Great Lakes/Chattanooga (IF/OF)                            Rubby De La Rosa, Great Lakes/Chattanooga (RHP)

2011       Scott Van Slyke, Chattanooga (IF/OF)                                           Shawn Tolleson, Great Lakes/Rancho/Chattanooga (RHP)

2012       Joc Pederson, Rancho Cucamonga (OF)                                        John Ely, Albuquerque (RHP)

2013       Scott Schebler, Rancho Cucamonga (OF)                                      Zach Lee, Chattanooga (RHP)

2014       Joc Pederson, Albuquerque (OF)                                                      Julio Urias, Rancho Cucamonga (LHP)

                Corey Seager, Rancho Cucamonga/Chattanooga (IF)

2015       Alex Verdugo, Great Lakes/Rancho Cucamonga (OF)               Zach Lee, Oklahoma City (RHP)

Photo courtesy SoundersFC.com

The Galaxy have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this Sunday at CenturyLink Field against the Seattle Sounders (6:30 p.m., FOX Sports 1). On Wednesday, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena and defender A.J. DeLaGarza both noted the difficulty of playing on CenturyLink Field’s artificial turf.

As the defending MLS Cup Champions prepare for their first trip to CenturyLink Field this season, understand the science of how turf changes the game in this ESPN Sports Science clip:

The turf vs. grass controversy was a huge topic for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup as player safety and health were called into question for the tournament.

The Galaxy, whose road struggles in the past few years have been well documented, have had a fair amount of success at Seattle. Since the Sounders played their first MLS game in 2009, the Galaxy have a 5-4-2 record in CenturyLink Field (or what used to be called Qwest Field). One of those losses really turned out to be a win though because Juninho’s wonderstrike in the second leg of the 2014 Western Conference finals sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup on the away goals rule, despite the 2-1 loss in the game.

Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) wagered gourmet popcorn from Pauline’s Premier Sweets in Burbank, befitting his district. Israel, who is a Mets fan representing areas surrounding Citi Field, wagered “New York bagels, flown in fresh.”

Additionally, the loser will wear the tie of the winner’s team and deliver a one minute speech on the House floor extolling the virtues of the team moving on to the next playoff round.

Here’s more from a press release today:

“There isn’t any question in my mind that the Boys in Blue will best the Loveable Losers, and I can already taste the delicious New York bagels that will be flown in the day the Mets blow it,” said Schiff. “I’m looking forward to seeing the Dodgers continue in their hunt for Blue October after the Mets are long vanquished. Please make sure the lox is fresh, Steve.”

“I hope that Adam will also consider sending a broom so that I can sweep his fancy L.A. popcorn off my floor in the same way my beloved Mets will sweep the Dodgers,” said Israel. “Let’s face it; once his team left New York, it was all downhill from there. Let’s go Mets!”

The last time the New York Mets met the Dodgers in the playoffs was during the 2006 National League Division Series, a meeting the Mets won 3 – 0, and the time before was during the 1988 National League Championship Series, which the Dodgers won 4 – 3. 1988 was the last year the Dodgers won the World Series. Schiff and Israel are friends in Congress, having both entered the House together in 2001.

35:26: Opponents’ time of possession.

Adoree Jackson said he wasn’t even going full speed during his 80-yard touchdown play against Arizona State.

“I try to make sure I don’t use my speed as much so I can lull you to sleep. When you think you got it, then I turn it on and get gone. That’s how I use it.”

Women’s soccer is more important to the Olympics than men’s soccer with the tournament devoted to U-23 teams, most world powers all but ignore it in favor of the World Cup and media coverage is at best subdued.

While the U.S. anonymously opens its campaign against Canada tonight on a minor TV channel in the Midwest, El Tri will take center stage in the nation”s largest Latino market, Southern California for the next 10 days, a span that will also include the massive Confederations Cup playoff in Pasadena.

For more, read this week’s 100 Percent Soccer Column here.

Ka’imi Fairbairn has quietly become a very effective kickoff specialist. The UCLA senior has landed 23 of 26 of his kicks into the end zone this year — way up from 62.5 percent in 2014, and 50 percent the year before.

Still, the rest of the Bruins’ kickoff coverage team might want him to ease back now and then.

“I think if you ask those 10 guys that are running down there,” said head coach Jim Mora, “they’d like him every once in a while to not kick it through the end zone, so they could take a shot rather than just run a 60-yard dash.”

UCLA is one of the stingiest teams in the FBS when it comes to kickoff returns, helped in part by Fairbairn’s efficiency in forcing opponents to start drives on their own 25-yard line. The Bruins currently rank No. 3 in the FBS, allowing 12.83 yards per return, and was also top-20 in 2013.

“I think it’s scheme,” Mora said. “It’s attention to detail. More than anything, it’s just attitude. Those guys, it’s an honor to be on that team, the kickoff team.”

Everyone moved out of Julius Randle’s way, as the Lakers forward sprinted his way up the court eager to show something he could not for eleven painful months.

The Lakers were nearing the end of a 30-minute full-court scrimmage on Wednesday here at Stan Sheriff Center when a fast-break opportunity emerged. Before the defense had any time to set up, Randle cut into the lane. His teammate, Lou Williams, made eye contact. Then, Williams lofted up an alley-oop that Randle threw down with force.

This only marked the second day of the Lakers’ training camp. But those days have meant everything to Randle, who played only 14 minutes in his NBA rookie year before fracturing his right tibia and sitting out the rest of the season. Even when he healed enough to play in Summer League two months ago, Randle averaged only 20.5 minutes per game and sat out in a back-to-back. This time, the Lakers have released Randle’s handcuffs.

“It’s been good,” Randle said, a smile forming as he said those words. “It’s been a year. It was amazing.”

It remains understandable Randle would feel that way. But it still sounded amusing. After all, Randle had just completed a 2 1/2 hour practice filled with conditioning drills, shooting exercises and scrimmaging. The Lakers would then have a two-hour evening session. Who would have thought Randle would relish such physical torture?

“Yeah, that’s true,” Randle said, “especially after last year.”

Then, Randle looked winded after going through Scott’s conditioning drills. After completing sprints, Randle often hunched over onto the ground with beads of sweat dripping down his face. This time, Randle has completed all of those drills without looking fatigued or experiencing any setbacks with his surgically repaired right leg and right foot.

Lakers coach Byron Scott notices something else, too.

“Confidence,” Scott said. “Now he feels he can definitely play at this level. Last year, he was guessing and wondering if he could.”

The Lakers selected Randle seventh overall after becoming intrigued with his versatility as a bruising power forward and playmaker. But Scott often mentioned during training camp how Randle looked lost on the court. Randle also admittedly struggled with adapting to the game’s pace.

The Lakers never could learn how Randle would handle those hiccups throughout the 2014-15 season, the campaign ending with a 21-61 record partly because of Randle’s absence. But he compensated elsewhere.

Randle lost about 20 pounds of fat and gained 10 pounds of muscle by cutting out sugary sweets, fried foods and anything else heavy on carbohydrates. He watched countless games on film and in person. Randle listened to Kobe Bryant’s advice on staying patient with step he took with rehab. He eagerly took notes during his summer workouts with Metta World Peace about body positioning, moving off-the-ball and defending. Add all that up, and Randle said he “felt the game slowing down for me.”

“He’s playing great right now. I’m really excited,” World Peace said. “He’s playing really, really well right now. I’m looking forward to seeing him make progress.”

But some of that progress has limitations.

Scott may have encouraged Randle to bring the ball up the court anytime he gets a rebound. Scott has said the same thing to Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. But portions of Wednesday’s scrimmage featured veteran power forward Brandon Bass playing in that group. Scott insisted he will try other lineups throughout training camp, but that combination could serve eventually represent the Lakers’ starting unit. Scott also admitted he’s “still not sure” on Randle’s potential.

“That’s kind of not really our decision, but coach’s decision,” Randle said. “It’s out there playing basketball. I’m going to compete regardless. I love the game. So I’m going to compete regardless.”

Randle did that on Wednesday, ending with a painful feeling he once forget and has since relished.

“Pretty much the soreness, I forgot about that,” Randle said. “It’s cool, I guess. I’d rather be sore than on the sideline.”

RELATED:
Julius Randle: from rehab to research to rejuvenated
Julius Randle faces no restrictions entering training camp
Lakers’ Kobe Bryant: ‘We’re being smart’ on maximizing health, practice

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com