Dodgers: Austin Barnes Placed on Injured List
The Dodgers have placed catcher Austin Barnes on the 10-day Injured List with a strained left groin and have called up top-tier catching prospect Will Smith to take his place on the active roster.
Dodgers call up Will Smith, put Austin Barnes on 10-day injured list with strained left groin.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 27, 2019
Barnes injured his left groin in Sunday’s game with the Pittsburgh Pirates while rounding second base. The true severity of the injury has yet to be determined.
Barnes was enjoying the week prior to the injury as his bat was starting to come alive. He has posted a 100 wRC+ in 40 games this season, accruing 0.8 WAR.
Will Smith, the Dodgers fourth-ranked prospect according to Baseball America, has been tearing the cover off the ball in Oklahoma City. He has posted a 133 wRC+ mark there to along with 8 homers and 28 RBIs. According to President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, the organization believes that Smith can also be a Gold Glove caliber catcher on the defensive side of the ball.
Smith’s arrival has long been awaited and is the first to graduate from an elite catching prospect corps that the Dodgers have in Smith, Keibert Ruiz, and Diego Cartaya.
Dave Roberts spoke on the possible duration of Barnes’ IL stint.
Dave Roberts said he expects Austin Barnes to spend only 10 days on the injured list. Will Smith will start Tueaday night.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 27, 2019
Smith should still see his fair share of at-bats this season and his first stint in the big leagues.
