There is no kind way to put it, the 2018 version of Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes was … not good. Oh sure, he had his moments throughout the season, especially defensively. But with the bat, he was often referred to by Dodger fans as team’s DO (Designated Out), especially during the postseason.

During the regular season, the now 29-year-old Fullerton, California native and 2011 ninth-round draft pick by the Miami Marlins out of Arizona State University posted a dismal .205./329/.290/.619 slash-line.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that during the 2018 World Series he went 0-for-11 with one walk and five strike outs for a slash-line of .000/.083/.000/.083.

Not good indeed.

But as they say, “That was then and this is now,” or “Water under the bridge,” or “Ancient history.” And if what we are seeing from “Sam” (as Barnes is affectionately known) through the first five spring training games in which he has appeared thus far, the real Austin Barnes appears to be back.

Through those first five games, Barnes if 4-for-14 (.286) with one double, a walk, and five RBI, three of which came during Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers at Camelback Ranch. And while his current 286/.333/.357/.690 slash-line through five “meaningless games” – as spring training games are often (and erroneously) referred – isn’t exactly earth-shattering, it is far more representative of his four-year career slash-line of .240/.364/.372/.735.

“I feel pretty confident. I’ve been working with [Dodgers new hitting coach] Rob (Van Scoyoc) a lot, been going up to [Dodger Stadium], hitting with him,” Barnes said, during a recent interview. “I’m confident and happy with where my swing is right now. I think he does a great job.”

Barnes readily admits that he struggled – mightily – last season and knew that he had better do something to prove to the Dodgers (and fans) that he is better than what those awful numbers reflected.

“I needed to reset. It’s hard to make changes in the season. It’s an everyday thing, kind of hard to step back and try to evaluate things,” said Barnes. “I think we identified some things and just tried to chip away at them. It’s a process. It’s been a motivating off-season, for sure.”

And it needed to be motivating. In addition to the Dodgers re-acquiring longtime fan-favorite (but 36-year-old) catcher Russell Martin this past off-season, Dodgers top catching prospects Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith are also in big league camp and gunning for Barnes’ job on the Dodgers Opening Day 25-man roster. In the three spring training games that Martin has appeared in thus far, he is 2-for-8 (.250) with a double and three RBI, while Ruiz and Smith are both 1-for-10 (.100), Ruiz with two RBI and Smith one.

Worth noting, however, is that Martin was shut down last week with lower back soreness, the result of what he called overdoing it in the batting cage.

“There were certain drills I was doing that isolated certain muscles and I just overdid it,” Martin said. “I got excited, was seeing improvements and thought I was 22 again.”

Whereas Martin is not 22 years old, Ruiz is 20 years old and Smith will be 24 years old on Opening Day (March 28). As such, and should the 36-year-old / 13-year veteran catcher land on the Injured List – either to begin the season or during it – Ruiz and/or Smith could see action on the Dodgers 25-man roster in 2019. This also applies to Austin Barnes, should he get hurt or (Heaven forbid) begin the 2019 season like he ended the 2018 season.

“Meaningless games?”

Yeah, right.

Play Ball!

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