Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Dodgers News: Austin Barnes Feeling ‘Better’ At The Plate After Demotion To Triple-A Oklahoma City
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Austin Barnes Feeling ‘Better’ At The Plate After Demotion To Triple-A Oklahoma City

Austin Green
August 18, 2019
3 Min Read
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes during batting practice at PNC Park
Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

The Los Angeles Dodgers had very few weaknesses on their roster by mid-July. One of the most glaring ones, though, was at catcher. By July 24, Austin Barnes was hitting for just a .196 batting average and .616 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Veteran Russell Martin had been better than Barnes, but not great, either. So the Dodgers decided to send Barnes down to Triple-A Oklahoma City and bring up prospect Will Smith, who had excelled over his first couple of big-league stints.

Not only did Smith and Barnes swap places, the former took on the starting job behind the plate in a change that paid off immediately for the Dodgers. Smith has continued to produce and set multiple records of late, including with his home run against the Atlanta Braves.

Barnes, meanwhile, has made progress in his attempt to rediscover the form that made him the Dodgers’ starting catcher during their first back-to-back World Series runs in over 40 years.

He’s reached a higher level of comfort away from the bright lights of Los Angeles, per Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:

“I feel better at the plate,” Barnes said. “I feel like I’m swinging at better pitches and recognizing the ball better. So, yeah, I think that was just the result of that. I feel more comfortable.”

In 16 games since his demotion, Barnes is hitting .270 with a .984 OPS, signaling a possible turnaround. He additionally had a stretch of five consecutive games with a home run.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already guaranteed that Barnes will return to the Majors once rosters expand on Sept. 1.

Barnes could still contend for a spot on the postseason roster upon his return. Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson received second-half demotions to Triple-A in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and both eventually played in the playoffs. Pederson may have won 2017 World Series MVP had the Dodgers beaten the Houston Astros in Game 7 that year.

Smith has flourished in the starting role and looks like the team’s catcher of the future. He has already passed Cody Bellinger for most home runs and RBI through his first 23 Major League games in Dodgers history.

The Dodgers also count catcher Keibert Ruiz among their top prospects, though Ruiz is likely done for the season due to a broken finger.

Yet, Barnes has a track record of playoff experience and team success not seen by a Dodgers catcher since Mike Scioscia was still playing. He may face an uphill battle to a postseason roster spot between Smith’s excellence and Martin’s veteran clubhouse leadership, but Barnes’ 2019 season may not be over yet.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Austin BarnesLos Angeles DodgersOklahoma City Dodgers
ByAustin Green
Austin Green is a journalism student at Biola University. He grew up in a family of diehard Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers fans, and has been blogging about sports since 2014. He has been at Medium Large since 2018, contributing mainly to DodgerBlue.com. Austin has also worked as a digital production intern at NBC Los Angeles and as sports editor and managing editor of The Chimes, Biola's award-winning student newspaper. When not doing homework or watching and writing about sports, Austin enjoys volunteering at local church and missions organizations, going to the beach or coffee shops, and working on his horribly broken jump shot.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Sandy-koufax-tommy-lasorda-vin-scully-ring-of-honor
Video

Dodgers Video: Vin Scully Inducted Into Ring Of Honor

May 4, 2017
May 3, 2019
Caleb Ferguson
Dodgers NewsFeaturedInjured List

Dodgers Roster: Caleb Ferguson Placed On Injured List, Trayce Thompson Called Up

June 21, 2022
June 21, 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, LADF
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Commits More Than $1 Million In Grants

September 10, 2020
September 9, 2020
James Outman, 2021 Arizona Fall League
Dodgers Minor LeaguesDodgers NewsFeaturedSpring Training

Dodgers Spring Training Roster: Eddys Leonard, Jorbit Vivas, Jacob Amaya & James Outman Optioned

March 23, 2022
March 23, 2022

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어