LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have already primarily set their 26-man energetic roster for the season, however with Freeway Collection exhibition video games caught between Opening Day in Seoul and the resumption of the common season on Thursday, the chance they abound for a lot of minor leagues in these video games. towards the Angels.
The Dodgers have began repeatedly in every of the primary two video games of the Freeway Collection at Dodger Stadium, and that may doubtless be the case once more Tuesday night time in Anaheim. However the starters mainly solely hit thrice in these video games, leaving many innings and at-bats for some minor league gamers to ply their commerce in an enormous league ballpark.
“To see lots of the youthful prospects on the market, it was nice,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated Sunday. “You noticed [Josue] De Paula makes an awesome play in proper subject, you see Kendall George and that pace instrument, that working instrument that he has.”
De Paula on Sunday hit a fantastic one down the fitting subject line, and George blasted his option to an simply stolen base. George additionally impressed within the March 16 spring recreation towards the Angels minor leaguers in Tempe, hitting a triple and a double to showcase his pace.
“It was lots of enjoyable, simply taking part in towards a few of the high prospects. I simply went and competed,” George stated. “That's what I like to do. I like that setting and I can't wait to do extra of it this yr.”
The Dodgers drafted George within the first spherical in 2023 out of Atascocita Excessive College in Texas, and he hit .370/.458/.420 with virtually as many walks (17) as strikeouts (20) among the many Arizona Complicated League and Low- Un Rancho Cucamonga, and likewise stole 17 bases in 28 video games in his skilled debut.
He arrived at Dodger Stadium to be launched shortly after he was drafted, and was even on the ballpark with different Quakes gamers for a mock recreation or two later within the season. However the Freeway Collection marked its debut at Dodger Stadium, in precise video games, albeit solely exhibitions.
“It's a possibility. I actually don’t have anything to lose. I'm simply going on the market and competing with the massive boys. On the finish of the day, it's nonetheless the identical recreation,” George stated. “It's so early in my profession. I really feel prefer it's only a imaginative and prescient of what's to return sooner or later.”
It wasn't all roses, as a fly that ought to have been a ball fell between George and De Paula in Monday's recreation. However that is a part of the rising course of.
George and De Paula weren't the one ones watching the sphere at Dodger Stadium. Zyhir Hope, who was acquired by the Cubs on Jan. 11 within the Michael Busch commerce, performed left subject Monday, combining with George and De Paula for an all-teen outfield for a couple of innings. Thayron Liranzo, 20, performed first base on Sunday, and took over on Monday.
Whereas that group represents a considerably distant future, a few others who might make it to the highest this season have additionally entered Freeway Collection video games, although not imminently, as nobody has additionally performed in Triple-A. Trey Sweeney, acquired by the Yankees on Dec. 11, may need the cleanest path contemplating he performs shortstop, relying on how issues shake out on the place. All the things Austin Gauthier has achieved has been hit since he joined the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent, though figuring out his place might take a Muncyan route. Gauthier performed second base the final two nights.
The minor league pitchers showing within the first two video games of the Freeway Collection are Kevin Gowdy, transformed place participant Sauryn Lao, and right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, who missed all of final season after Tommy John surgical procedure.
On the very least, all of those gamers will likely be ones to look at on numerous minor league stories this season. However for a couple of days, they bought a very good style of taking part in in an enormous league park.
