Dodgers: Updates on Players Battling for Final Roster Spot

Last week I projected who would make the 25-man roster after the first week of Spring Training. 20 of those spots went to players that seemed like sure-ins based on their performances and names. Four of the last five spots went to pitchers, so there will be a heated battle for the final spot among position players. 

Among those battles is the final positional position for a utility player. Dave Roberts’ loves versatile players. With the amount of depth the Dodgers have, Roberts will likely be utilizing platoon lineups. There is a need for a utility man on the roster these are some players who need to have a good spring to win the competition.

Charlie Culberson, INF

Culberson is at the top of this list because he is the only true shortstop with Major League experience. Corey Seager is still experiencing back pain. If an oblique injury is a culprit it could be six to eight weeks of no baseball activity before the reigning Rookie of the Year can return. However, if Seager is able to return before the season starts, Culberson will be a heavily relied on back up to ease the star 22-year old into the 2017 campaign. Culberson has gotten the most amount of at-bats, with 27, and collected six hits.

Kike Hernandez, UTIL

Kike was once a vital weapon of versatility for the Dodgers. He was a strong right-handed bat that Don Mattingly could’ve slot anywhere on the field. However, Dave Roberts has not had the same luck with Kike. Since the latter half of the 2015 season, Kike has struggled to make contact. So far in Spring Training, he is hitting .263 with five hits in 19 at-bats. It’s getting better, but it may not be enough to earn him the spot. Unless Kike turns it around significantly, it may be a while before the banana suit makes it back into the clubhouse.

Chris Taylor 3B

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Chris Taylor is looking good so far in Spring Training. In 19 at-bats he’s collected eight hits which translates to a .421 average. Taylor finds himself in a similar situation to Culberson’s, with an injured starter ahead of him. Justin Turner returned to the starting lineup on Friday but is still nursing a knee injury. The Dodgers will likely rest Turner more often than not which makes Taylor the most likely choice to claim the final spot.

Darnell Sweeney 2B

The Dodgers’ front office has had its share of odd moves, including one that traded Howie Kendrick to Philadelphia for Darnell Sweeney and Darin Ruf. Well, Ruf is now across the Pacific Ocean, but Darnell Sweeney is looking like a positive that came out of the trade. He is hitting .391 with nine hits in 23 at-bats. He’s also smacked a pair of home runs, one of which was an opposite field shot. If Sweeney can show off his versatility, by playing some short stop, he may snatch the final spot.

Next: 25-Man Roster Predictions After Week 1 of Spring Training

There are going to be some key decisions Roberts will have to make as we get closer to Opening Day. Keep an eye out on these players to see who seperates himself from the competition.