With Austin Barnes supplanting Yasmani Grandal as the starting catcher down the stretch of last season and throughout the playoffs, there was some uncertainty as to what lied ahead this spring.
Shortly after camp opened, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expected Barnes and Grandal to platoon, just as they did for much of the 2016 season. Seeing that in action this spring has gotten off to a slow start, however.
The Dodgers to this point have limited Barnes to serving as a designated hitter in Cactus League games because of a sore right elbow. He last played Feb. 26 and was among the dozens of players to fall victim to a virus that ravaged the clubhouse.
Barnes was not in Friday’s lineup against the Chicago White Sox, but he’s on track to catch for the first time on Monday, when the Dodgers face the Cleveland Indians, per Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA:
Austin Barnes scheduled to catch his first game on Monday.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 2, 2018
Barnes is a combined 0-for-7 with one run scored, one walk and one strikeout in his two games as DH. He downplayed any concern over his right elbow, and has already been seen throwing the ball back to the mound while catching a live batting practice session.
Barnes finished last season batting .289/.408/.486 with 15 doubles, eight home runs, 38 RBI and a 137 OPS+ while shattering his previous career high (21 games) by playing in 102 games.
No matter how the catching situation ultimately shakes out, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman took comfort in the organization boasting elite options in Barnes and Grandal.
