Headlining the Los Angeles Dodgers’ non-roster invitees to Spring Training were top prospects Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray. Downs has since been traded to the Boston Red Sox as part of the package that netted Mookie Betts and David Price, while Gray has appeared in two Cactus League games.
Also part of the 21-player group that found their way to Camelback Ranch was outfielder Connor Joe, who made his MLB debut last season for the San Francisco Giants before being returned to the Dodgers.
The 27-year-old’s stay in Arizona was short-lived as he went back home last week to tend to a personal matter. Other notable players in camp with the Dodgers include infield prospect Omar Estevez, who is fresh off an appearance in the 2019 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game.
Estevez had jumped out to an impressive start this spring but now is sidelined after sustaining a shoulder injury, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Non-roster infielder Omar Estevez has been shut down with a sore throwing shoulder.
The Dodgers inked Estevez out of Cuba during the 2015-16 international signing period. In six Cactus League games with the club, he hit an impressive .250/.400/.625 with one home run over eight at-bats.
Estevez is coming off an impressive 2019 season with Double-A Tulsa in which he set career-highs in nearly every category. In 336 plate appearances, he hit a solid .291/.352/.431 (119 wRC+) with six home runs, a 20.8% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate.
Estevez was named Texas League Player of the Month for April 2019 after leading the league in hits (30), doubles (30) and batting average (.385). He additionally ranked third in on-base percentage (.449) and on-base plus slugging (1.014), and fourth in total bases (44) and slugging percentage (.564).
Estevez continued to swing a hot bat as the season progressed, and by the end of the year, was one of eight Dodgers prospects named to the Glendale Desert Dogs roster.
In 20 games, Estevez hit a modest .247/.330/.273 with two doubles and 10 RBI across 88 plate appearances. He entered the Fall Stars Game at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning and grounded out in his only at-bat.
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