The Los Angeles Dodgers were expected to lose Santiago Espinal via waivers after he was designated for assignment, but will keep him in the organization.
Espinal, an infielder who can play all four spots, is known for his great glove work and range, but his bat has lagged behind, making him hard to keep in the everyday lineup.
The Cincinnati Reds had enough of his lackluster offense over his two years with the team, leading to his release after the season.
He ultimately failed to secure a contract until the Dodgers came knocking with a minor league deal that included a major league option, giving him a chance to play in the spring.
Espinal was a friend and former teammate of Teoscar Hernandez, who played on the Blue Jays team during which Espinal made his sole All-Star team.
In 19 Spring Training games, he hit .378 with a 1.059 OPS. He got five walks, seven strikeouts, including six doubles and two home runs.
Additionally, he played all infield positions and made stellar defensive plays. He has the arm to make any throw, either from third base or shortstop, along with the field instincts.
With the revamped swing as well, Espinal made the major league roster with Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez on the injured list.
Santiago Espinal’s limited major league run
Espinal hit just .220 with 41 at-bats and a home run. He was more of a defensive replacement, giving Max Muncy some days off and covering for anyone else who needed time in the infield.
With so many lefty bats, Espinal provided a right-handed bat to a Dodgers roster that needed those options as well.
However, after fellow Latino Kike Hernandez was activated, Espinal was designated for assignment on Monday, a move many knew was coming.
Without any minor league options left in his MLB career, the Dodgers had to designate him for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, putting him on waivers.
As a result, any team could put a claim on him, and it was expected that he would leave. According to the Dodgers’ transaction log, however, Espinal has passed through waivers, and the Dodgers have moved him down to Oklahoma City Triple-A.
Considering his professionalism and production, along with the positional flexibility, the Dodgers get to keep hold of a valuable player at a time when there are already injuries.
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