A warm sunny day game at Dodger Stadium saw the ball fly out for a handful of homeruns during an intrasquad game. One of them was Mookie’s first and likely many more to come as a Dodger.
- Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts says Gavin Lux will be in the starting lineup in Sunday’s intrasquad game, although he did get some reps defensively in Saturday’s intrasquad game. Lux first reported to Summer Camp on Friday. The public isn’t privy to the reason for his absence, which most assume that he either tested positive for COVID-19 or was awaiting test results for the disease. Lux, regarded as a future all-star, is one of many cogs in the Dodgers deep and potent lineup, so his presence provides the sense that it remains that way.
- AJ Ramos and Tony Gonsolin will throw another bullpen session before seeing any intrasquad action.
Ramos is a former all-star closer for the Miami Marlins. He signed a minor league deal and then added to the Dodgers 60 man pool. He’s vying for a chance to play this season for the first time since sustaining a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Gonsolin is a top Dodgers pitching prospect that saw forty innings at the major league level in 2019. In that short time, he showed the ability to allow a low line drive rate along with keeping the ball in the park.
- There are eleven more days until the Dodgers begin their season the evening of July 23rd. Before then, they’ll have five more intrasquad games plus two team workouts. They’ll conclude Spring Training 2.0 with three exhibition games from the 19th to the 21st of this month against the Diamondbacks (x2) and the Angels (x1).
- Every year training camp has its unexpected revelation. Players unknown to most fans will make their mark and become the highlight of camp. It’s no different this time around.
Before the season was put on hold in spring, it was Cody Thomas and his slugging display cracking five homeruns in twelve exhibition games.
Summer Camp also resulted in another surprising talent, but it’s not from any of the players on the team. It’s a clubhouse attendant by the name of Francisco “Chico” Herrera, who was asked to play left field during the team’s intrasquad games.
Herrera also served as a catcher for pitchers during the shutdown. But his play on the field has built a plea from players and fans for his chance to hit. As covered by J.P. Hoornstra of The L.A. Times, Chico might pass on that opportunity since it’s been a while he’s swung a bat. Nonetheless, with five intrasquad games left, good chance we’ll catch more highlights like this one:
CHICO! pic.twitter.com/n1Ewj6wHSi
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 11, 2020
- As mentioned earlier, Mookie Betts hit his first homerun in a Dodger uniform. If you missed it:
MOOKIE. BETTS.#SummerCamp | @SportsNetLA pic.twitter.com/be9kJa6dIa
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 11, 2020
Oskar is a writer for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Graphic credit: Alberto Amezola, Jr.