Dodgers' slugging prospect still waiting for shot during Freddie Freeman's emergency leave

The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled catching prospect Hunter Feduccia to the big leagues Saturday to take the place of former MVP Freddie Freeman, who was placed on the family emergency list.

Feduccia was added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft back in November, but the 27-year-old still has yet to play in an MLB game.

Feduccia, the Dodgers’ 12th-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, has worked his way up through the club’s minor-league system but has been stuck in Triple-A Oklahoma City since 2022. He's slashing .295/.420/.451 with a 16.8% walk rate against an 18.6% strikeout rate in 64 games in Triple-A this year.

Feduccia does not appear in MLB.com's ranking of the Dodgers' top 30 prospects, but FanGraphs ranked him as Los Angeles' No. 25 prospect entering this season. FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen described Feduccia as a "fairly well-rounded defensive catcher with above-average bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline," adding that he had a "standard backup catcher's profile" and had a chance to supplant Austin Barnes as the Dodgers' backup in 2024 due to his offensive upside.

Feduccia awaits his MLB debut with Dodgers as Biggio, Hernández man first base in Freeman's absence

With Barnes and starting catcher Will Smith ahead of him on the depth chart, Feduccia does not figure to see significant playing time while he’s in the majors. He could be used primarily as a pinch-hitter, but the Dodgers may also view the opportunity as an audition of sorts to see how Feduccia performs at the major-league level with Barnes currently in the final guaranteed year of his contract.

While Freeman remains away from the Dodgers for an undetermined amount of time, Cavan Biggio has been manning first base, though manager Dave Roberts noted that Kiké Hernández could see time at first as well.

The 29-year-old Biggio, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays last month after he was designated for assignment, has yet to hit his stride as a bench player with Los Angeles. In 59 plate appearances since joining the Dodgers, Biggio has slashed an abysmal .180/.281/.240 with a 30.5% strikeout rate while splitting time between first base, third base, and right field.

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