Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Santiago Espinal was signed on a minor league contract, agreeing to affix the staff’s massive league Spring Coaching camp for an opportunity at a roster spot.
All through his time with the Cincinnati Reds, the place he spent his final two years, Espinal struggled to make contact and located himself with restricted choices getting into free company this offseason.
Nevertheless, in keeping with Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain, it was veteran Teoscar Hernandez who satisfied Espinal, a former teammate of Hernandez throughout his time on the Blue Jays, to come back to Los Angeles.
Espinal has been on a tear, racking up 9 at-bats and getting 5 hits, one in every of which was a double, and getting two RBIs and three walks.
It’s a small pattern measurement for positive, however Espinal’s good glove will already be getting him far with the staff, and his hitting, if he may be at the very least barely beneath common, makes him a priceless participant.
Santiago Espinal’s position on the Dodgers
Dave Roberts has been impressed with what Espinal has provided the Dodgers to this point.
“He’s a former All-Star. I just like the bat to ball. He’s a heady participant. I’m enjoying him lots as a result of I need to get to, you already know, collect extra data,” Roberts mentioned.
“However I actually like what he’s finished. I believe, you already know, I can belief him in basically any one of many diamonds, you already know, the corners, second, third, and I believe even within the pitch, he can play quick.
“However he takes actually good at bats and, you already know, issues bode effectively for him. Simply obtained to maintain doing what he’s doing.”
He can play third base, second base, and shortstop, providing cowl at a number of positions, which the Dodgers actually worth.
Roberts talked about that Espinal is primed to be the staff’s platoon third baseman, backing up Max Muncy towards left-handed pitchers.
“I believe that, you already know, there’s going to be some occasions that you simply need to give Max [Muncy] a break day at third,” Roberts mentioned.
“And he’s a pleasant, you already know, individual to plug in. And, you already know, so far as second base, if we’d like that alongside Miggy-Ro.
“However he’s going to be enjoying some quick at occasions and likewise at second base. Additionally, a bat off the bench. You understand, I believe that if we’d like a right-handed bat, he’s going to place the ball in play and take an expert at bat.”
Dodgers followers needs to be enthusiastic about how Espinal has performed, because it provides cowl for injured gamers like Tommy Edman and different accidents that will come about.
