David Bote is in the midst of his 13th year as a professional since being an 18th-round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2012. He signed a Minor League contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason and is making a strong case for himself this spring.
Bote joined the Dodgers in free agency after six seasons in the Majors with the Cubs, most of which came in a limited capacity. He wasn’t able to find consistent playing time while with the Cubs, logging 421 career games over six years.
Now the 31-year-old is attempting to break camp with the Dodgers and has put on a very impressive performance. Bote hasn’t put up great offensive numbers over his Major League Career, though his Minor League numbers are a bit better.
Bote attributes his newfound success to the work he has put in with the Dodgers hitting coaches, and outlined the incremental process that goes into making changes to a swing.
“Working with RVS (Robert Van Scoyoc), (Aaron) Bates and all the hitting guys, they’re the best in the business,” Bote said.
“Seeing it from afar and now being able to come over and access those minds, how they work over here has been awesome. They’re the best in the business for a reason. It’s just been really cool to work on some things and see the results of it.
“It definitely takes a lot of time and work. The first thing they say is you’ll get out what you put into it. They had a couple things to work and feel, and over time you check boxes if it works on flips, works on BP, works off machines, the Trajekt, live BP. You kind of scaffold it, basically. It’s been part of the process.”
The Dodgers have received plenty of attention and praise as a top destination for marquee free agents over the past two years. But for various reasons, they are also a popular choice for MLB journeymen looking to revive their careers.
For Bote, it was the chance to learn from their hitting coaches in the hopes that he could be their latest success story.
“I mean, their hitting department, from top to bottom, they get the best out of players. From Friedman down, Gomes, all those guys, they get the best out of the player,” Bote said.
“It was like, I want you guys to get the best out of me. That was the goal. However it shakes out, I know they’re going to get the best out of me. I’m going to put in the work like I’ve always put in the work, and that’s where it’s at. Where the cards land, they’ll land.”
David Bote competing for spot on Dodgers roster
Although putting down roots in the Majors has been difficult for Bote in his career so far, the level of competition on the Dodgers’ roster did not discourage him from signing with the team.
“You want to win. That’s why I’m here. The culture, the people, from afar all you hear is great things. You want to be the best, you’ve got to play the best. That’s why I’m here, is to make the team and win a World Series,” he said.
Bote has mostly been a third baseman and second baseman throughout his career in the Minors and Majors. Additionally, he has limited Minor League experience in the outfield, with 59 career games across all three positions.
If the Dodgers don’t carry Bote on the Opening Day roster, he could choose to opt out of his contract in order to find Major League playing time with another team. In that instance, it should not be hard for him to find a new home if he continues to play well in Spring Training.
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