The Los Angeles Dodgers were in the midst of a strong Spring Training before all of Major League Baseball got shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Not only had the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox, but they also returned a number of talented, young players and collectively were enjoying their most healthy spring in years.
Now, there’s no telling when baseball will be able to return in 2020, if at all. If there is a season then it likely will be shortened and will take place in Arizona with no fans at the stadiums.
In the meantime though, all everyone can do is wait and do their part in helping flatten the curve so normal life can resume as quickly as possible. Will Smith spoke about how difficult this time has been, especially because he felt like he was just finding his form at the plate in preparation for the regular season when everything got shut down, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I felt like I was just kind of starting to hit my stride, where you get some timing back and get a little more comfortable in the box. I was kind of right where I wanted to be. I didn’t want to peak too early, I definitely wanted to get going and I was kind of right where I should be and wanted to be.”
Smith got off to a slow start in the spring so even though he began swinging the bat better at the end, he still was only hitting .143/.280/.238 in nine Cactus League games.
The 25-year-old is heading into his first full big league season after bursting onto the scene and winning the job in 2019. In 54 games in his debut season, Smith hit .253/.337/.571 with 15 home runs and 42 RBI while also having a very strong season at the Triple-A level.
While the 2020 season obviously won’t be a conventional one, he and the Dodgers will be ready for whatever obstacles come their way in pursuit of their first World Series since 1988.
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