Not much going Monday, especially without an intrasquad game. Of course, what’s a week without reports of how COVID-19 is affecting baseball or specifically the Dodgers.
- There was a live look-in at Dodger Stadium via MLB Networks “Ballpark Cam” that showed what appeared to be Pedro Baez throwing off the mound. Although it wasn’t announced by any Dodger official or reported by any of the beat writers, it seems safe to say that Baez has officially reported to camp.
- Dodgers infield prospect, Devin Mann, has been added to the player pool. He’ll be added as soon takes or clears a coronavirus test, according to MLB national beat writer Jim Heyman. Mann, 23, was selected in the 5th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Dodgers. Quickly making an impression, Mann has already put in a full season in Advanced-A ball (Rancho Cucamonga) in only his second year in the minors. He was in the top three in hits, doubles, homeruns, runs, and runs batted in with the RC Quakes finishing the year slashing .278/.358/.496 in 424 plate appearances.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Cody Bellinger changed his swing. Bellinger was unhappy with his performance in the second half of last season and felt an adjustment was necessary. He began working on his swing during the shutdown at Camelback Ranch. Recognizing the success he’s had, Bellinger mostly focused on making minor tweaks to his batting stance/swing.
- Roberts hinted that speedy outfielder Terrance Gore might be added to the pool. Gore, 29, signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers earlier this year. The deal included an invitation to Spring Training as a non-roster player. With active rosters expanded to 30 players to begin the season, the Dodgers would likely add Gore as a pinch runner, especially when considering extra innings will start with a man on second base.
- On an edition of MLB Tonight on MLB Network, Ron Darling was asked who he predicted will win this season’s most valuable player award in the National League. He chose 35 year old third baseman, Justin Turner. Darling points out Turner has dealt with injuries that have seen him miss substantial playing time every season for the last few years, but with a “truncated season” of 60 games, long or any injured list stints should be unlikely. In Turner’s career with the Dodgers, he’s slashed .302/.381/.506 and is ranked tenth in OPS+ (139) among Dodger players with at least 2000 plate appearances on the team. He can easily be considered one of the most prolific hitters in the franchise’s history.
- There have been numerous players absent for reasons Dodgers officials weren’t at liberty to say. This has led to many assuming those players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Although that reason is valid in some cases, it isn’t for all. In an article for The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal and Brittany Ghiroli explain how local health and safety guidelines have affected teams, more specifically, the Dodgers and Nationals.
The local regulations in both D.C. and L.A. require anyone who comes into close contact with a person who tests positive for the virus to quarantine for 14 days, affecting both the Nationals and Dodgers in the early stages of camp.
MLB, in its operations manual for the 2020 season, states that protocols established by health-care institutions and governmental entities will supersede its own, “regarding the return to work of individuals who have come into close contact (as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.”
The other missing players were being held out in accordance with the local regulations that require them to quarantine after coming in close contact with someone who had tested positive.
This could have significant ramifications throughout the season since California is considered having stricter guidelines than most states, which also tends to evolve depending on the status of the disease’s effect on the state’s populace.
Oskar is a writer for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Graphic credit: Alberto Amezola, Jr.