The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Austin Wynns and placed Will Smith on the seven-day concussion list prior to the series finale against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Smith’s IL stint is retroactive to April 13, which makes Thursday the first day he is eligible to be activated.
Smith missed the past two games due to what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described as an “illness” that he offered no other specifics on aside from ruling out it as being a “physical” issue or “tissue” injury.
The initial hope was for Smith to return for the second game against the Cubs, then it was pushed back to Sunday. However, following the Dodgers’ walk-off win, Roberts ruled Smith out for the entire series.
“Austin (Barnes) is going to catch again,” Roberts said.
“We’re going to try to run some more tests and try to figure this thing out. Obviously, we’re probably going to make a move. I don’t know what that’s going to be. But just doesn’t look good. We’ll evaluate tomorrow and see where he’s at.”
Smith is batting .333/.417/.641 with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI over 11 games this season.
Why did the Dodgers sign Austin Wynns?
Wynns joins the Dodgers two days after electing free agency upon clearing waivers following the San Francisco Giants designating him for assignment. Wynns took a 6 a.m. flight from Nashville and arrived in the Dodgers clubhouse just before 11 a.m.
Wynns appeared in 66 games for the Giants last season, but only one this year. The 32-year-old made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018 and also played for the club in 2019 and 2021.
Signing Wynns gives the Dodgers a true backup catcher for their four games before Smith can return. They initially played with Max Muncy as the emergency catcher.
Heralded Dodgers prospect Diego Cartaya is on the 40-man roster, but he’s only advanced as far as Double-A Tulsa, and was an unlikely candidate to get recalled.
Alex Reyes was transferred to the 60-day injured list in order to make room for Wynns on the Dodgers 40-man roster.
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