Make no mistake about it, 24-year-old Dodgers catcher Will Smith is the real deal. I mean, we’re talking about the Dodgers first-round draft pick (32nd overall) in 2016 out of the University of Louisville here.

But there’s something else that you should make no mistake about – 30-year-old Fullerton, CA native and the ninth-round draft pick by the Florida Marlins in 2011 out of Arizona State University Austin Barnes isn’t about to relinquish his role as the Dodgers catcher without a fight. And by the looks of things through the first four weeks of Spring Training (with two weeks to go), Barnes is winning that fight.

In the nine Spring Training games in which Smith has appeared, he is 3-for-21 (.143) with two doubles and three RBI. He has also struck out seven times while walking four.

In the nine Spring Training games in which Barnes has appeared, he is 7-for-21 (.333) with one home run, two doubles, and three RBI. He has struck out six times and walked four.

There is no disputing that the sample size here is ridiculously small and these numbers could flipflop in a matter of a game or two. That being said, it is impossible to ignore that Barnes just plain looks good out there while Smith seems to be struggling a bit.

Although it is very likely that Smith will (probably) get the lion’s share of playing time this season, it is also (probably) safe to say that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts likes what he has seen thus far in Barnes this Spring and undoubtedly puts significant weight on his five MLB seasons and 318 games, compared to Smith’s grand total of 54 games in 2019.

Let the fight continue.

…and may the best man win.

Play Ball!

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