The Los Angeles Dodgers are not only are flush with talent at the catching position in the Majors with Austin Barnes and Will Smith, but their organizational depth includes notable prospects Diego Cartaya and Keibert Ruiz.
Of course, Ruiz made his MLB debut last season and already spent a brief stretch up with the club this year. Cartaya, 19, is still in the early stages of his professional career and this season with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga is his first full campaign.
An injury did delay Cartaya’s 2021 debut until this past week, and he has quickly made up for lost time. The catcher’s latest highlight came in the form of a walk-off grand slam to finish a five-run rally in the ninth inning in front of a sold-out crowd at LoanMart Field.
DIEGO CARTAYA DOES IT!!! AND HE DOES IT IN GRAND FASHION!!!
DOWN 3, BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM!!!
Quakes score FIVE in the ninth to win it, 10-9!!! pic.twitter.com/q7y5ImdmD1
— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) May 30, 2021
The grand slam was Cartaya’s first hit of the night as he had previously gone 0-for-4 with reaching on an error and scoring a run.
Through four games with the Quakes, Cartaya is 7-for-17 with two doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, two walks and five strikeouts.
He’s a ballyhooed member of the Dodgers’ 2018-2019 international signing class and has some believing a Ruiz trade could become inevitable because of Cartaya’s talent and trajectory.
Pollock takes first step to joining Dodgers
Cartaya’s heroics overshadowed the fact that Saturday was AJ Pollock’s first rehab game with the Quakes. He’s expected to play for the affiliate again on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Should all go well, Pollock will travel with the Dodgers and potentially be activated during the Atlanta Braves series.
Pollock played five innings in left field on Saturday and went 0-for-1 with a walk in two plate appearances.
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