Did Andrew Fix the Bench?

The Dodgers’ bench was not really very good last year. Matt Beaty hit .270 with a .363 OB% and was a solid role player (204 ABs). So was Austin Barnes, not so much for his bat, but for his defense and game-calling skills. Zach McKinstry, DJ Peters, Luke Raley. Sheldon Neuse, Billy McKinney, and Zach Reks could not jump out of a boat and hit water. Gavin Lux was simply OK. This year, I expect Gavin Lux to take a step forward. If the Dodgers do not make any big acquisitions, Gavin Lux and Chris Taylor will likely share 2B.

I would not be surprised if Zach McKinstry is traded or DFA’ed. Luke Raley is also a possibility for a 4th outfielder – all he has to do is improve his game (easier said than done). The Dodgers signed 29-yer-old RH batter Hanser Alberto to play everywhere, which he can do. He has played every position in the Majors except C and CF. He doesn’t walk much. In his only full season in 2019, (550 appearances) he walked just 16 times and only struck out 50 times. BTW, he hit .305 that year! He hits LH pitching better than RH pitching. He has .286 BA against LHP.

LH speedster, James Outman, who can play all three outfield positions has a real shot of being the 4th outfielder. He should have a leg up on the competition because of his ability to play all three outfield positions very capably and his speed. Speed kills! But, he needs to hit a little as well. There are other possibilities:

• Stefen Romero – He is a 6-2 RH outfielder and second basemen, who last played in MLB in 2016. He spent 6 seasons in Japan, when he had 4 years of 20+ home runs. In his best season, he hit .307 with a .370 OB% and a .928 OPS. I do not expect him to make the team, but stranger things have happened.
• Edwin Rios – Before he got injured and missedmost of the season last year, the Dodgers were very high on him, The 6′ 3″ LH batter has 174 ABs in the majors and has hit 13 HR. He has “light tower power” and worked very hard to “makeover” his body and transform his defense. He can play 1B, 3B and, of course, DH. He will be 28 in a couple of weeks and will be given every opportunity to earn a spot. You can’t help but root for him. He has worked extremely hard to improve his game. He could be a big asset for the Dodgers’ bench.
• Justin Yurchak – Justin Yurchak is still with the Dodgers probably because the Rule 5 Draft was cancelled due to the lockout. He is a 25-year-old LH hitter with below average power, but who is a stone-cold hitter. He hit .365 in AA last year and has a career minor league average of .321 with a .412 OB%. Originally in the Chicago White Sox organization, Yurchak was dealt to the Dodgers in November of 2018 in exchange for Manny Bañuelos. Once in the Dodgers’ Organization, Justin said this: “The White Sox do it well, but the Dodgers are a little bit more analytical. I’ve had a little more video and technology to help me progress, to go through the progressions needed to improve.” He only plays 1B (or DH) and is a LH version of Alberto. Alberto and Yurchak would make a nice DH platoon with little power!

Right about now, this is what my projection is for the Dodgers’ position players:

• Catcher: Smith
• 1B: Muncy
• 2B: Lux, Taylor
• SS: T. Turner
• 3B: J. Turner, Rios
• LF: Pollock
• CF: Bellinger
• RF: Betts
• Utility: Barnes, Outman, Alberto

That’s thirteen(13) position players, but there are always surprises, trades, or Free Agent signings, which brings me to a player… actually a minor league player, whom I think has an excellent chance of making the Dodgers team THIS SEASON! That is Miguel Vargas and he is our featured minor league player today.

Minor League Profile: Miguel Vargas

I put Miguel Vargas in rare air. I think he can be a major league player for a long period of time and even play at an All-Star Level. Miguel has ultra-quick soft hands and hits with power to all fields. Vargas is from Cuba where his father, Lazaro Vargas, played for the Cuban National team. Miguel signed with the Dodgers in 2017, and flat-out possesses the best hit tool in the entire Dodgers system. He ended 2021 with the third-most hits in all of Minor League Baseball and hi slash line looked like this: .319 AVG / .380 OBP / .526 SLG, 23 HR, and 11 SB.

Like a cobra ready to strike, Miguel stands very still in the box… almost motionless, just waiting to pound the baseball. Then suddenly, he explodes onto the ball with greased lightning in his hands. Almost effortlessly, Miguel hits the ball with authority to all fields. His follow-thru is a thing of beauty and I have watched him get better, much better every year.

He can play first, second, and third base and could probably even play a corner outfield spot… but maybe not great at any spot. Last season between high-A and double-A, Vargas posted a .319/.380/.526 slash line with 23 home runs and 11 stolen bases. Vargas now has his “man body”, which has led to a big power surge. He has also focused on hitting the ball to the opposite field and now is able to see the pull-side home run power play out more. He has a strong arm with good carry and accuracy, and he throws with little effort. He doesn’t have a cannon, but it is a plus arm. Additionally, he speaks English very well:

A few home runs by Vargas last season:

Maybe you can see why I am so high on Miguel Vargas. I think he will make his MLB debut by the All-Star Break… maybe before then, and while I believe he will eventually be an All-Star, he also has the ability to be a superstar if he taps all his potential… and the stars align. I think his best position is like Mike Busch: Hitter!

More Dodger News

• The Sandy Koufax statue will be unveiled in the Centerfield Plaza prior to the club’s June 18 game against the Indians, ‘er… Guardians.
• Adrián González, Eric Karros, Jessica Mendoza, José Mota and Dontrelle Willis have been added to the SportsNet LA broadcast and studio teams, the AM 570 LA Sports radio broadcast and the Spanish broadcast on KTNQ 1020 AM. The five will join the current broadcast lineup of Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrín, Joe Davis, Orel Hershiser, Fernando Valenzuela, Charley Steiner, Rick Monday, Nomar Garciaparra, Pepe Yñiguez, Jerry Hairston Jr., John Hartung, Tim Neverett and Kirsten Watson. Wow, that’s a lot of firepower. I am just not a fan of Jessica Mendoza.

How About a Little Jim Morrison?