The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to begin the 2025 season with Will Smith and Austin Barnes as the two catchers on their active roster, but Hunter Feduccia also figures to factor into the equation at some point.
The 27-year-old made his MLB debut last season and impressed in a small sample size, going 4-for-12 with an RBI and two walks across three different stints.
Feduccia continued to swing the bat well in Spring Training and recently drew praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“I do think we see his value,” Roberts said of Feduccia. “Obviously with Will and Austin, I think he’s the third catcher in the organization. If something happens, then he’d be the guy that we’d look to.
“I think the bat translates. It’s a very easy-maintenance swing, low-maintenance swing. He really controls the strike zone. Certainly, with our two right-handed hitting catchers, to complement being on the left side of the box is a good thing.
“He’s starting to get more familiar with the other pitchers, sequencing and things like that. He’s an organizational guy, he’s done a lot of good stuff for us. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him up at some point in time.”
As Roberts noted, Feduccia’s left-handed bat offers a nice contrast to the right-handed hitting of Smith and Barnes. He also provides more in the way of offense compared to Barnes, as evidenced by his career .797 on-plus slugging in the Minors.
Feduccia becoming more comfortable with the Dodgers pitching staff should only help him get some big league opportunities down the road. He figures to be the first man up in the event of an injury, but L.A. has also carried three catchers in the past.
Hunter Feduccia possibly on Dodgers Opening Day roster
Although James Outman might have more of an inside track, there is a chance of Feduccia being with the Dodgers on Opening Day of the Tokyo Series.
Mookie Betts is not going to play against the Chicago Cubs because of illness, which creates an opportunity for a position player to take his spot on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster.
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