The Dodgers have selected the contract of catching prospect Will Smith, per a club announcement. He’ll take the active roster spot of fellow backstop Austin Barnes, who’s headed to the 10-day injured list with a groin strain.
Smith, a former first-round draft pick, is known as a well-rounded overall performer behind the dish. He entered the season with a consensus grade as one of the ten best players in the Los Angeles farm system.
The 24-year-old Louisville product has generally performed well at the bat in the minors, but has been more impressive than ever thus far in 2019. Through 166 plate appearances at Triple-A, he carries a .290/.404/.551 slash with eight long balls and 25 walks against 35 strikeouts.
That’s quite a bit of offense for a player who is also considered a fine defensive performer. Smith could at some point take over as the regular behind the dish in L.A., though he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Keibert Ruiz — an even more-hyped young catcher who is playing at the Double-A level.
For now, Smith will be tasked with filling in. It doesn’t seem as if Barnes will be down for long with the injury, so a return to Triple-A could take place soon thereafter. That said, it is notable that the Dodgers have placed Smith on the 40-man roster and elected to give him a look at this stage of the season.
Jeff, the link to “Will Smith” is incorrect.
Giants LHP Will Smith would be a massive boost to this team though. He can come too
Yeah no thanks on Will Smith
dont think he can play catcher though.
Just imagine if they trade will smith for will smith
Will Will Smith be traded for Will Smith according to the Dodger’s willingly dealing Will for Will? Well, we’ll see what Will Smith can do against Will Smith in the future.
That would be a Willy billy move.
Gettin’ jiggy with it.
Yeah Jeff this link doesn’t even mention Bad Boys 1 or 2.
Has another Hollywood genie been uncorked?
When the Dodgers traded Farmer it became very likely that we’d get at least a look at either Smith or Ruiz this season. Not surprised that it turned out to be Smith.
I wonder if either Will Smith has ever thought of changing their first name.
To Bill?
Will Smith, actor, catcher, relief pitcher
Well the Dodgers’ Smith has Dills as his middle name so it prooobably won’t be him..
I wonder if Will Smith the actor ever thought about going back to the Fresh Prince?
Yo! Smell you later.
Where there’s a way there’s a will.
Wrong Will Smith link, Jeff.
How about Billy??
I’m surprised the Dodgers can operate without their GM. It’s almost like he was nothing more than a glorified assistant and Andrew Friedman was running the whole thing.
I’m sure glad the Giants got “baseball genius” Fahran Zaidi, he’s really making an impact in SF. Or at least there will be an impact if the bottom ever stops dropping out.
Don’t worry, Bay Area Buddy. It’s an odd year!
Let me be the first to post an actual baseball comment about this. The kid has the glove and the bat (given what he has shown at AAA) to stick as the Dodgers starting catcher for at least the next year and a half. Since the Dodgers are always in ‘win-now’ mode, they would be stupid to send him back to AAA if he produces.
Barnes should be ready to play shortly. A week or so of AAA rehab games to get his hitting on track would beca good thing too. If the kid can prove himself in the meantime, the Barnes has one option left too. Lots of possibilities before those decisions have to be made. We’ll see.
Barnes had been hitting great when he went down. In fact the month of May was by far his best offensively in over a year (.273/.385/.432/.816) with a lot of that in the coming in last couple of weeks. It will be interesting to get a look at one of the top catching prospects but for Barnes and the Dodgers his trip to the IL wasn’t well timed.
If he doesn’t come out to Fresh Prince of Bel-air, I’m gonna be pissed.
He ended up using the Fresh Prince song, and he got a hit!
Well Roberts said last week how he loved having three catchers and last time two weeks ago he brought garbage up. Now the right player is up. When Barnes is back send garlick back down
Well Roberts doesn’t bring players up or send them down. Those are FO decisions. Also, it would have made zero sense to call up Smith to serve as a third string catcher. They are using Barnes’ absent to get Smith his first few starts in the majors including catching Hill in tonight’s game. When Barnes comes back Smith will probably be sent back down.