Los Angeles Dodgers Summer Camp intrasquad scrimmages continued on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium with two top pitching prospects Dustin May and Josiah Gray squaring off on the mound.
While both of the Dodgers’ future starters looked solid in their first outings of Summer Camp, it was the team’s Major League hitters that stole the show.
Mookie Betts got the scoring started when he launched a solo home run into the Dodgers’ bullpen off of Gray. The home run was Betts’ first in a Dodger uniform when counting Spring Training and Summer Camp.
Betts had a solid day at the plate overall, hitting the ball hard three times, including the homer, a single up the middle and a sharp grounder that Kiké Hernandez made a nice play on to rob him.
Mookie moon shot to the pen! 💥 pic.twitter.com/rknKTnSR0K
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 11, 2020
The second home run of the day was a mammoth shot to right field off the bat of Edwin Rios. It was Rios’ second home run of Summer Camp as he continues to make his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
That swing! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/raLb4nzN4f
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 11, 2020
With the addition of the universal designated hitter this season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will have the opportunity to pencil Rios’ named into the lineup more often is he continues to swing the bat at a high level.
To finish out the day on a high note, Justin Turner hit a solo home run to left-center field for his first of Summer Camp.
Bye, ball! 👋 pic.twitter.com/X4a2e5uRRK
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 11, 2020
In addition to Turner, Betts and Rios swinging the bat well, Corey Seager and Joc Pederson are also among those currently locked in at the plate. Seager hit two more doubles on Saturday as he continues to look like his pre-injury self that was named to two All-Star teams.
With less than two weeks until Opening Day, the Dodgers players are just where they need to be in their preparation for the shortened 2020 season.
Chico can play
There has been a groundswell of support to let clubhouse attendant Francisco “Chico” Herrera bat during intrasquad games. It spread across social media and made its way into the Dodgers clubhouse when Turner wore a “#LETCHICOHIT” shirt that was screen-printed by his wife Kourtney.
CHICO! pic.twitter.com/n1Ewj6wHSi
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 11, 2020
“I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Roberts said Friday. “Sorry.”
The legend that his Chico then grew Saturday when he caught a fly ball deep in left field and threw out Chris Taylor on his attempt to tag from first base.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events and more!
