Catching tandem a perfect complement

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- In an alternate universe, if the Dodgers were to combine Will Smith and Austin Barnes into one player, there’s no doubt the result would be one elite catcher.

Smith is one of the top young hitting catchers in the Majors, but has struggled defensively in his short time in the big leagues. Barnes improved as a hitter last season, but his value comes from being a very good defender behind the plate and a catcher that most pitchers prefer to throw to.

Though the Dodgers wouldn’t be opposed to having one dominant player who did both things extremely well, they’re very comfortable in having two players who bring different skill sets and complement each other perfectly.

“If you have the [one] player, you’re going to catch him 110 games,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained. “What about the other 50 games where you’re having some other guy? We get the benefit of both [for 162 games].”

Because the Dodgers have Smith and Barnes, as Roberts explained, they’re well positioned at the catcher spot. When you add Keibert Ruiz, the No. 1 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline, the Dodgers should have enough depth at the position for a full season.

In Smith, the Dodgers have a player who has the ability to be the best hitting catcher in baseball. The 25-year-old hit eight home runs and finished with a .980 OPS in 114 at-bats last season. His expected batting average ranked in the 92nd percentile, his hard-hit rate ranked in the 88th percentile and his whiff percentage was excellent, finishing in the 95th percentile.

Smith didn’t show any holes offensively last season and has been hot at the plate this spring, going 9-for-26 (.346) with one homer and a .952 OPS. Now Smith just has to prove it over the course of a full season.

“I think he can be a very impactful offensive player,” Roberts said.

His weakness, however, has been defense. He finished in the sixth percentile in framing last season and has struggled to keep opposing runners in check, throwing out just 11 of 48 steal attempts in his career.

But that’s where Barnes fits in.

Thanks to some help from Mookie Betts, Barnes saw improvement at the plate last season, hitting .244 in the regular season. Even with a solid season at the plate in 2020, Barnes’ career OPS is just .700. He’s much more valuable on the defensive end.

Like Smith, Barnes struggles to keep the opposing team’s running game in check. He has thrown out just 23 of 108 potential basestealers in his career. His framing, however, is one of the best in the league, ranking in the 96th percentile last season.

His ability to frame pitches and his understanding of how to call a game is why pitchers like Clayton Kershaw prefer to have Barnes behind the plate. It’s also why he started four of the six World Series games behind the dish (with Smith the DH in those contests).

“I think that they complement each other very well,” Roberts said of the catching tandem. “The combo, the sum, is very good and I’ll take that sum against any combo in all of baseball.”

While the Dodgers will take their duo over others, there are some challenges that come with having two solid players at the position. With no designated hitter in the National League, playing time between the catchers will be a topic throughout the season. As of now, it appears that Smith will get slightly more opportunities than Barnes because of his offensive prowess, but that hasn’t been determined.

The Dodgers are also ruling out the possibility that Smith play another position in order to get his bat in the lineup. Pitchers will also continue to have their preferences, and that will also be a factor in playing time.

That one superstar catcher from the alternate universe isn’t walking through the door. And the Dodgers think they’ll be better off because of it.

Game notes

• Julio Urías continued to make his strong case for one of the two open rotation spots, striking out three over four scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ 7-2 win over the Rangers on Friday. Urías has given up two earned runs over 10 1/3 innings in four starts this spring. He remains one of the favorites to open the season in the rotation.

• Kenley Jansen made his sixth Cactus League appearance on Friday, allowing his first run on a Ronald Guzmán solo home run in the seventh inning. Jansen has been sharp this spring, striking out the side in his last appearance against the White Sox on Wednesday. Jansen will be the Dodgers’ closer on Opening Day.

Up next

The Dodgers will travel to Peoria to take on the rival Padres on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 1:10 p.m. PT. Los Angeles will start right-hander Dustin May, while left-hander Ryan Weathers takes the hill for San Diego. The game will air on MLB.TV and MLB Network.