The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Russell Martin from the bereavement list on Tuesday and optioned Austin Barnes to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Martin returns after missing the minimum requirement of three games.
Martin took the brief time away from the club to be with his family after the recent passing of his grandmother. Had he felt it necessary, Martin was permitted to remain on the bereavement list for up to seven games.
The 36-year-old won’t be in the lineup but Tuesday but is expected to start the series finale against the San Diego Padres. Martin is batting .207/.330/.299 with four doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI in 69 games this season.
He recently delivered a two-run, walk-off single to help the Dodgers complete a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. Martin reveled in the moment, joking that veteran players needed to prove to their younger teammates they too are capable of game-winning hits.
Though, Martin added he wasn’t fond of the celebration expanding to include baby powder after being showered in ice water.
In addition to filling the role of backup catcher, he has demonstrated his versatility by spelling Justin Turner at third base and making three relief appearances — the firsts of his career. Martin became the first player in Dodgers franchise history to catch, play third base and pitch in a single season.
Although Barnes is heading to Oklahoma City, he is expected to be back with the Dodgers once active rosters expand Sunday. Barnes appeared in just one game after being recalled, going 1-for-3 with a double in a loss to the New York Yankees.
Overall this season, he’s hitting .198/.288/.333 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 23 RBI in 71 games for the Dodgers. After appearing in at least 100 games in each of the last two seasons, he will far short of that this year.
The 2019 campaign has been another disappointing season for Barnes, who was confident his offseason work on swing mechanics would prove last year was an outlier. Barnes’ ongoing struggles led to his demotion last month and created an opportunity for Will Smith to assume starting duties behind the plate.
Barnes has hit .250/.348/.553 with six doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI through 20 games with Oklahoma City. His joining the affiliate wound up looming large as Rocky Gale was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays and Keibert Ruiz suffered a season-ending broken finger.
