June 3rd, 2019 at 10:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka For as good as 24-year-old catcher Will Smith has been during his first full week in the majors in which he has (thus far) gone 4-for-14 (.286) with one double, one huge home run, one RBI, and two runs scored, he is not going to be with the big league club much longer. If this comes as a surprise to you, it shouldn’t.
It’s not that the extremely popular (by fans and teammates) Louisville, KY native and Dodgers 2016 first-round draft pick out of the University of Louisville hasn’t done well or doesn’t very much deserve to be here, it’s just that the guy he is replacing – 29-year-old Fullerton, CA native Austin Barnes – will soon be activated from the Injured List for a “not serious” left groin strain suffered while running the bases on May 26.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it abundantly clear on Sunday that they will not carry three catchers (including 36-year old / 14-year MLB veteran Russell Martin) on their 25-man roster. Roberts also made it abundantly clear that Smith absolutely positively needs to play on a regular basis, something that simply will not happen with the big league club as a third catcher (think Kyle Farmer).
“I expect [Barnes] to be in the lineup on Friday catching Clayton [Kershaw],” Roberts said. “Probably most important is to get Will regular at-bats. He was a September call-up in Triple-A last year, didn’t perform well. Off to a great start this year, and [he’ll] continue to get to finishing school.
“But for him to get an opportunity this time and to play well and to get his feet wet at the big league level, I think is a great thing,” Roberts added. “So yeah, I don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense to carry three catchers.”
Roberts also told reporters on Sunday that Barnes will begin a two-game rehab assignment with the team’s Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that if all goes well, he will rejoin the team on Friday at AT&T Park in San Francisco when the Dodgers open a three-game weekend series with the Giants.
The good news is that Smith will be but an injury, a phone call, and a three-hour and 10-minute flight away.
The bad news is that the best catcher in the Dodgers system will be catching guys named Santana, Corcino, Zastryzny, Somsen and Holmes instead of guys named Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Maeda and Hill, and their respective bullpens.
Dodger fans interested in watching Barnes rehab with the Cal League South first place Quakes can do so at LoanMart Field on Tuesday and Wednesday, when they take on the third place (and fiercest rivals) Lancaster JetHawks. First pitch will be at 7:05 pm PT for both games.
Play Ball!
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Lol, Roberts just doesn’t want to make Barnes or Martin feel like their jobs are in jeopardy due to what Smith has done since being called up. Typical PR spinning on his part. Everyone who’s already seen Smith play on that homestand knows he’s big-league ready. Not feelin’ this move at all and will pray for him to make a quick return to the parent club for good by the end of the regular season.
Its obvious Smith passed his first test in replacing Barnes full time. With the big lead the Dodgers have in the NL West, Barnes needs to play everyday hopefully increase his trade value by the deadline. Smith reminded of a young Buster Posey…
since martin is in the final year if a mega contract and barnes is first year arb next year, i suspect our catchers will be barnes and smith next year.
…or sooner.
definitely a possibility, but i suspect they’ll want him to get at least, a full year at AAA. he’s still only 20 and not exactly tearing up AA.
I’m assuming you are talking about Ruiz, but you posted Barnes and Smith. Smith was indeed tearing it up at OKC.
I’m sure everyone is happy that Will Smith helped the Dodgers win a ballgame.
“I’m assuming you are talking about Ruiz, but you posted Barnes and Smith. Smith was indeed tearing it up at OKC”.
most definitely. my fault there. thought in my head didnt all get to the keyboard. in response to D&D; i dont see Barnes getting traded this year Martin is essentially free for COT purposes. i suspect barnes and smith next year but maybe smith and ruiz the year after .
I mentioned that very thing to Barnes last night at Rancho. He is extremely respectful of his teammates and when I mentioned that he and Smith will probably be the Dodgers catching tandem next season, out of respect for Russell, he went in a different direction.
Gotta admit, when HE walked up to ME to say hello, I was totally blown away. No Dodger player has EVER done that to me before. Needless to say, his stock quadrupled in my books.