When Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes informed trainers and manager Dave Roberts that he was experiencing what is officially being called “elbow discomfort” – a condition that the 28-year-old Fullerton, California native admitted has been bothering him throughout the entire off-season – it created an unexpected opportunity for third-string catcher Kyle Farmer. It also explains why Roberts told ThinkBlueLA: “Kyle is going to be our third catcher, and being a third catcher is a really good place to be.”

When the Dodgers manager said this on the very first day of camp, it was one of those things that made you say “Hmm…” It was also one of those things that made Kyle Farmer fans – and there are many – say (or at least think) “Here’s your chance, Kyle;” not it a negative or malicious way towards Barnes, who himself is a huge favorite among Dodger fans, but in a legitimate way of saying that the Atlanta native and former University of Georgia Bulldog has been given a golden opportunity to prove himself as a major league catcher – both behind the plate and with the bat.

Through four spring spring training games – of which Farmer has played in three – he has done both. In fact, of the so-called ‘regulars,’ Farmer leads the team with his .625 (5-for-8) batting average behind only back-up third baseman Max Muncy’s .667 (4-for-6).

Among Farmer’s five hits, two have been doubles. He has also driven in five runs, which ties him with Cody Bellinger, Logan Forsythe and Matt Kemp for the team lead in the early goings of spring training 2018.

Farmer has shown his ability to go the other way, including this double to right field against the Giants on Saturday. Although a very small sample size, Farmer is 5-for-8 (.625) after four spring training games thus far, as compared to Grandal’s 0-for-4 and Barnes’ 0-for-7. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA) 

In no way is this to suggest that Barnes, who Roberts has already more or less tabbed as his number two catcher behind 29-year-old Yasmani Grandal, can’t or won’t break camp as such, it is merely to say that the Dodgers only plan to use Barnes in a designated hitter role whenever the Dodgers play an American League team on the road or are not the home team when playing the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.

During Monday’s 9-6 win over the Texas Ranger at Surprise Stadium, Farmer reached base in each of his four plate appearances. He drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the second inning, single in the third and fifth innings, and doubled in the sixth, while collecting three RBI on the day.

Farmer acknowledged that he worked on hip flexibility this past off-season in an effort to help him get lower into a crouch behind the plate … and it appears to be working. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although Roberts said that they currently have Barnes on a throwing program and plan to “slow play” him back to action while using him only as a DH, the Dodger skipper said that if the season started today, Barnes could play. That being said, if Farmer – who is currently on the Dodgers 40-man roster – keeps doing what he’s doing, it’s hard to believe that Roberts, and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi, will not include the extremely likable Farmer on their Opening Day roster – even if that means Barnes starting the season on the 10-day or (Lord forbid) the 60-day DL.

Stay tuned…