The Los Angeles Dodgers had their longest intrasquad scrimmage yet on Sunday evening, with both Clayton Kershaw and Ross Stripling building their pitch counts to five-plus innings in preparation for Opening Day on July 23.
Kershaw and Stripling each looked sharp in their outings, although they gave up one home run apiece. Kershaw served up the first one to Edwin Rios, a no-doubt shot to right field at Dodger Stadium.
Rios has been one of the biggest surprises of Summer Camp to this point, hitting a team-leading three home runs over the last week. The prospect is known to have a ton of power, and that was on display in his at-bat against Kershaw.
Rios had a cup of coffee in the big leagues with the Dodgers to end last season, proving he belongs by hitting .277/.393/.617 with four home runs and eight RBI in 28 games.
THIRD home run of the week, @Edwin_Rios30! 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/541w1THhFk
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 13, 2020
If he continues to swing the bat at that level and the way he has so far this summer, then the addition of the universal designated hitter should get him in the lineup more often.
Rios isn’t the only young Dodger hitter swinging the bat well as Will Smith homered for the second consecutive game, this time taking Stripling deep.
.@will_smith30 goes deep! 😆💣 pic.twitter.com/HVfhJmLNvF
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 13, 2020
Smith burst onto the scene with the Dodgers last season, although he struggled a bit to end the year. He still should get a bulk of the playing time behind the dish this season with Austin Barnes as his backup, and if he continues to swing the bat the way he has the last few days then the Dodgers should have one of the best, deepest lineups in all of baseball in 2020.
Dodgers welcome Kenley Jansen to camp
While he is not yet prepared to appear in an intrasquad game, the Dodgers welcomed Kenley Jansen to Summer Camp. Jansen revealed his absence was related to contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) but he is healthy and confident he will be full-go by Opening Day.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts estimated Jansen would make four appearances prior to the 2020 season beginning.
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