After a week’s worth of Cactus League games:

 Hitters who are raking:

Corey Seager is continuing to hit as he did in the 2020 season, slashing .385/.467/.615/1.082 in Cactus League play. Seager appears to be on his way to justifying a potential $300 million contract as a 2021-22 free agent. If he needed any further motivation beyond money for the upcoming season, he might be playing with the metaphorical chip-on-his-shoulder, with the Shredder rating him behind shortstops Trevor Story (Colorado Rockies), Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres), Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox), Francisco Lindor (New York Mets), and Trea Turner (Washington Nationals) as the best in Major League Baseball.

Gavin Lux (.455/.455/.545/1.000) has firmly inserted himself as the early favorite to be the Dodgers starting second baseman on opening day 2021. Not only is he hitting well, but his fielding has been flawless. While he failed to live up to the team’s and fans’ expectations in 2020, he is hitting and fielding like the player who was the 2019 Minor League Player of the Year for Baseball America.

For most MLB players, a slash line of .333/.429/.417/.845 is excellent, but Mookie Betts plays at a different level than most MLB players. Watching Betts play this Spring, there is a sense that he will exceed those numbers during the season — he’s that good.

While Chris Taylor was penciled in as the Dodgers second baseman for 2021, the play of Gavin Lux may push Chris into a full time, super utility role with the team for the coming season, his free agent walk year. Chris may not have a permanent position, but his bat will be in the lineup often enough to qualify as a regular. To date, he is slashing .300/.364/1.000/1.364 and is tied with DJ Peters for the team lead in home runs with two.

Matt Beaty (.429/.529/.429/.958) has been doing what he does best, hit the baseball. His competition for a spot on the active roster is Zach McKinstry, who has also hit well in Spring Training (.333/.333/.333/.667). McKinstry’s advantage is his ability to play more positions with better defense. It is unlikely that there is room for both players on the Opening Day active roster.

Dodger catcher Will Smith continues to hit, slashing .333/.429/.500/.929 in Cactus League play. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has confidence in the young catcher’s offense, often hitting him in the middle of the lineup. Look for Roberts to find creative ways to keep Smith in the lineup, even when Austin Barnes is catching.

There is an on-going competition this Spring for a right-hand-hitting utility player. So far, the competition has narrowed to three players: outfield prospect DJ Peters, infield prospect Sheldon Neuse (acquired from the Oakland A’s), and NRI Matt Davidson. While the 29-year-old veteran Davidson (.300/.417/.700/1.117) has hit well, he appears limited to first base on defense, and as a NRI opening a spot on the 40-man roster is problematic. DJ Peters appears to be the leader in the competition offensively (.364/.533/.909/1.442), and defensively he can play all three outfield positions, and is learning to play first base. Neuse (.385/.385/.385/.769) has hit well and can play any position on the infield plus the outfield if needed.

Slow starts

Austin Barnes, Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, and Edwin Rios are still looking for their respective hitting strokes as their batting averages are hovering around .200. All four are likely to be on the active roster, although Rios may be pushed by Beaty and McKinstry if they continue to play as well as they have during the first week of the Cactus League.

Luke Raley, with one hit in ten at-bats, is in the precarious position of being designated for assignment (DFA) if the team needs his spot on the 40-man roster for another pitcher (Jimmy Nelson?) or position player (Matt Davidson).

Promising prospects

While Dodgers fans will not see them playing for the team this season, watching infielders Jacob Amaya, Michael Busch, Kody Hoese, Devin Mann, and Sheldon Neuse gives Dodgers fans an optimistic outlook for 2022 and beyond.

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