Dodgers News: Will Smith Headed to Injured List, Keibert Ruiz Called Up from USC
On Saturday, the Dodgers announced that catcher Will Smith would be heading to the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation. The move is retroactive to August 13. In a corresponding roster move, catcher Keibert Ruiz was recalled from the alternate site at USC.
The Dodgers have recalled catcher Keibert Ruiz and have placed catcher Will Smith on the injured list with neck inflammation, retroactive to August 13.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 16, 2020
On Wednesday, Smith aggravated a neck injury he first sustained in a collision with San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr at Petco Park on August 3. After Friday night’s victory over the Angels, manager Dave Roberts mentioned that while Smith was improving…
With Will, just sort of mild improvement. He’s still really stiff, not pain, but the stiffness in moving his head side to side.
Smith has been a victim of bad batted ball luck in 2020, batting only .188 on the back of a .154 BABIP. He has 2 home runs and 8 RBI in 14 games. He will hit the 10-day Injured List with inflammation in his neck, and the Dodgers will be backdating it to August 13th.
Ruiz
The 22-year-old Keibert Ruiz is currently third on the Dodgers top prospects list, per MLB. Despite a down 2019 season where he struggled through injuries, he still posted a .261/.331/.347 triple-slash line in 85 games between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Ruiz was a late arrival to summer camp at Dodger Stadium. He appeared in one exhibition game collecting one hit in his lone at-bat.
The Venezuelan native will be making his major league debut when he gets into a game. He is expected to back up a resurgent Austin Barnes behind the dish.
NEXT: Mookie Betts Helps Austin Barnes with the Bat
You never want to see a player on the Injured List. It is exciting that we may get a chance to see Ruiz play. As another article stated Mookie has been helping Barnes and Barnes has improved his average up to 250. With Ruiz and Smith the Dodgers have two young catchers with lots of potential.
Sign Russell Martin.
Martin was one of my favorite Dodgers and I enjoyed seeing him return last year. But you know what – he hit 220 with an OPS+ of 78 and little power. Why would you want to block top prospects (Ruiz and Cartaya) with a lot of upside and a young catcher (Smith) with promise for that?
sign and start Russell Martin.