June 15th, 2018 at 5:37 pm 
by Ron Cervenka The Dodgers have recalled catcher / utility infielder Kyle Farmer from the Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed right-handed pitcher Pedro Baez on the 10-day disabled list with right biceps tendonitis (retroactive to June 12).
This will be Farmer’s second stint with the Dodgers this season after hitting .230 (14-for-61) with three doubles and six RBI in the 30 games in which he appeared thus far. In 14 pinch-hit appearances, the 27-year-old Atlanta, Georgia native and Dodgers 2013 eighth-round draft pick (out of the University of Georgia) is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with a double and two RBI.
Kyle Farmer
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Defensively, Farmer split time at third base with Max Muncy while regular third baseman Justin Turner was on the DL recovering from a fractured left wrist suffered when he was hit by a pitch during the final week of spring training. However, he also appeared in one game at catcher and made one start at first base.
At OKC, Farmer appeared in 22 games hitting .281 (25-for-89) with 15 runs, five doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI, along with a .340 on-base percentage.
Baez made 30 relief appearances for the Dodgers this season, posting a 3-3 record and 3.23 ERA. The 30-year-old Bani, Dominican Republic native struck out 36 while walking 16 walks in 30.2 innings pitched.
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Hopefully, Baez does not come back anytime soon as I’m not swayed by those numbers he’s put up so far this season. Still needs to improve his fastball command as well as rediscover his plus curveball, which he inexplicably junked for a lesser secondary pitch a few years back. As for Farmer, guess they brought him up to give Ginger Jesus more time to rest that still-healing wrist of his. Otherwise, I don’t see how he fits in the Dodgers’ grand scheme of things at this point…
Couldn’t agree more on Baez. If he never comes back it will be too soon. I have long felt that he has compromising photos of someone in the Dodgers brass. For reasons that I will NEVER understand, Doc loves him.
As for Farmer, I indeed think that he will be used to spell JT from time to time, although I think that his primary role will be as a pinch-hitter, at which he has done well.
That said and to be brutally hones, Austin Barnes… well… pretty much sucks. Farmer is a very good catcher, and with a little time behind the plate with the current pitching staff – especially the youngsters – I think he will be better than Barnes – on both sides of the ball.
Yeah, Barnes took a noticeable step back this season compared to last. Matter of fact, I thought him grounding into that walk-off killing DP with 0-out and Puig at 3B in the 9th inning of that Rangers game the other night was the last straw for him. Moment I heard Farmer’s name called up from AAA the other day, I was certain Barnes was on his way out (lol). Dodgers don’t really need either of them long-term, anyway.
Will Smith is the one they should be grooming for long-term duty behind the plate because I sense another JT Realmuto in him (especially his pop time, which is elite-level already). I don’t really buy the Keibert Ruiz hype because I still feel he’s a future bat-first C at the big-league level, plus he’s not versatile enough defensively for this current Dodger management. He might get moved in the next blockbuster deal at some point as a result…