Along with his promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, Dalton Dashing will now solely play left area, in response to supervisor Travis Babary. This can be a main swap for Dashing, who till just lately has principally been a catcher.
Dashing doesn’t have a ton of expertise within the outfield so his progress in left area might be one thing to watch. It’s clear the Dodgers have been being attentive to Dashing’s progress within the minors, therefore the promotion, so it’s seemingly the group can even be maintaining a detailed eye on this improvement.
“In all my years of taking part in baseball, I performed only one inning within the outfield earlier than this yr,” Dashing instructed The Oklahoman’s Gracie Rawlings earlier than his first sport with OKC. “This has been a fast turnaround and just a little little bit of an adjustment, however that’s simply sort of the approach to life.”
“The transfer has been actually good,” Rushing said. “Once I received right here, they instructed me that the transfer to the outfield wouldn’t solely higher myself, but additionally the groups I’ll play for sooner or later. I’ve accomplished my development on the plate, so now my mindset is to go on the market and assist the staff the place I can proper now.”
Oklahoma Metropolis has various catchers on its roster together with, Diego Cartaya, Chris Okey, and Hunter Feduccia. The Louisville alum confronted an analogous state of affairs in school when he performed behind Henry Davis, the No. 1 total choose in 2021.
Dashing was the Dodgers’ first choose within the 2022 MLB draft and is taken into account the franchise’s prime prospect. There’s a chance that he’ll make his Dodgers debut in late 2024. The temporary main league stint would solely be doable if Dashing continues to carry out effectively on the plate. Not solely will he should proceed placing up numbers, however he’ll now have to regulate to a model new place.
Barbary hopes this place change will make Dashing extra versatile when he will get to the majors. The prospect has a stable bat however lacked expertise defending the plate.
“We have already got three catchers right here, and Dalton makes 4,” Barbary said. “I believe it’s simply a kind of issues the place we’re making an attempt to make him extra versatile. That means when he does go to the massive leagues, every time which may be, it provides him and the supervisor extra choices.”
The swap to left area is a hurdle for Dashing but when he can embrace the change, it might lead to yet one more promotion for the 23-year-old.
Picture Credit score: Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman / USA Right now Community
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