The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Spring Training with a slew of new players that joined the organization over the offseason.
Among the most notable additions are 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts and five-time All-Star David Price, both of whom were acquired from the Boston Red Sox earlier this month.
The club also reported to Camelback Ranch with plenty of familiar faces on the roster, returning the majority of its 106-win core from a year ago. Over a dozen non-roster invitees are additionally in camp with the Dodgers, ranging from top prospects, veterans and depth players.
Part of the group was outfielder Connor Joe, who made his MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants last season. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Joe has left camp and returned home to tend to a personal matter:
Non-roster utility man Connor Joe has left camp to attend to a personal issue and will be out indefinitely.
Joe, 27, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. After three seasons with the organization, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Sean Rodriguez.
In September 2017, the Dodgers acquired Joe from the Braves in exchange for international bonus slot money. He enjoyed an excellent 2018 season with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting a collective .935 on-base plus slugging in 106 games.
Later that offseason, Joe was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 Draft. The pick cost the Reds $100,000, which the Dodgers received in compensation.
Prior to the start of the 2019 regular season, Joe was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Minor Leaguer Jordan Johnson and cash considerations. He appeared in eight games (five starts) for the organization, recording just one hit in 15 at-bats.
Two of those appearances came against the Dodgers, and he was later returned to the organization after being designated for assignment by the Giants.
Joe spent the remainder of his 2019 campaign with Triple-A Oklahoma, hitting an impressive .300/.426/.503 with 26 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs and 68 RBI over 446 plate appearances (105 games).
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