Dodgers Likely to DFA Spring Training Star

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Dodgers Likely to DFA Spring Training Star

A Los Angeles Dodgers player who impressed in spring training is unlikely to keep his spot on the roster, according to Dodgers Nation's Doug McKain.

Dodgers Likely to DFA Spring Training Star

A Los Angeles Dodgers player who impressed in spring training is unlikely to keep his spot on the roster, according to Dodgers Nation's Doug McKain.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches in the infield, and a player who broke out in spring training is likely to be designated for assignment as a result.

Santiago Espinal, who made the Opening Day roster after a stellar spring, hasn’t gotten a ton of chances to show off his skills so far this season, and it could cost him as Dodgers stars return from injury.

He’s played in 10 games, and over 18 at-bats, he’s hitting .222/.222/.278, with a double and two RBIs. He has a bWAR of -0.3.

He’s had moments of success, like on April 5, when he knocked in both of his RBIs on the same hit, but otherwise, he’s been quiet.

With Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez still recovering from offseason surgeries and Mookie Betts temporarily sidelined with an oblique strain, the door was open for Dodgers looking to make an impact in the infield.

With stalwart Miguel Rojas seeing action, though, it’s seems like the race to stay on the roster has largely come down to Hyeseong Kim, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Alex Freeland.

One of the two of them is likely to be demoted or moved when Betts returns, and Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain thinks it will be Freeland.

“I think ultimately I could see Kim staying up when Mookie comes back just to kind of give him an extended run and they’ll probably feel like, ‘Hey, we gave Freeland an extended run, let’s give Kim an extended run,” he said.

The fact that Espinal really hasn’t been part of those discussions doesn’t bode well for his future as a Dodger.

Unfortunately for Espinal, McKain believes there will be no other option for the team but to designate him for assignment.

“They’re going to DFA Santiago Espinal,” he explained. “I mean, there’s just no spot on the roster for him. And he could find a spot with another team, another opportunity somewhere else. But it’s baseball. It’s a tough business, man. It really only [has] 700 of these jobs in the world, man. It’s not an easy sport to make a living at.”

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