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Dodgers: Three Players Facing Make or Break Seasons in 2018
Austin Barnes
The Dodgers will enter the 2018 season with stiff competition for the every day starting catcher role. Yasmani Grandal is in a contract year, and given the history of contract years, Grandal should have a very good season. The issue is that Austin Barnes will be fighting to cut into Grandal’s playing time. Both catchers are above average and have their own set of advantages. For Barnes, he is less injury prone and can mash lefties which is something Grandal cannot do.
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Barnes hit .289 during the regular season but appeared to run out of gas in the playoffs. In the post-season, Barnes hit a measly .217 with an on-base percentage under 300. The Dodgers have a very good assortment of young catchers in the minor leagues so they could move on from both if Barnes does not have a good season in 2018. Barnes needs to prove that he can start a majority of the games in 2018 and stay productive even when the season winds down.
The Dodgers will also look to get some stolen bases out of the catcher position with Barnes starting. Barnes gives the Dodgers one of the more athletic catchers in the league, so they need to use his speed tp get an extra advantage out of the catcher’s spot. Barnes also needs to improve on blocking balls as he ran into issues in 2018 and called a better game. If he can earn Dave Roberts’ trust in calling games, then he will really take control of the pitching staff.
Next: Walker Buehler's 2018 Season Outlook
The 2018 season will be the season that determines if Austin Barnes is ready to be the next starting catcher of the Dodgers. If he fails to last physically or his game struggles then the Dodgers could look to give Kyle Farmer more playing time or take a look at one of the minor leaguers like Will Smith or Kyle Farmer. With Grandal in a contract year the Dodgers will give Barnes every shot to take the starting role but it’s up to Barnes to come through.