Along with his promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, Dalton Dashing will now completely play left area, in response to supervisor Travis Babary. This can be a main change for Dashing, who till not too long ago has largely been a catcher.
Dashing doesn’t have a ton of expertise within the outfield so his progress in left area will probably be one thing to observe. It’s clear the Dodgers have been listening to Dashing’s progress within the minors, therefore the promotion, so it’s probably the group can even be protecting an in depth 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 somewhat little bit of an adjustment, however that’s simply form of the life-style.”
“The transfer has been actually good,” Dashing mentioned. “After I received right here, they instructed me that the transfer to the outfield wouldn’t solely higher myself, but in addition the groups I’ll play for sooner or later. I’ve executed my development on the plate, so now my mindset is to go on the market and assist the crew the place I can proper now.”
Oklahoma Metropolis has a variety of catchers on its roster together with, Diego Cartaya, Chris Okey, and Hunter Feduccia. The Louisville alum confronted an identical state of affairs in school when he performed behind Henry Davis, the No. 1 general decide in 2021.
Dashing was the Dodgers’ first decide within the 2022 MLB draft and is taken into account the franchise’s prime prospect. There’s a risk that he’ll make his Dodgers debut in late 2024. The transient main league stint would solely be potential if Dashing continues to carry out effectively on the plate. Not solely will he need to 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 strong bat however lacked expertise defending the plate.
“We have already got three catchers right here, and Dalton makes 4,” Barbary mentioned. “I believe it’s simply a kind of issues the place we’re making an attempt to make him extra versatile. That method when he does go to the large leagues, each time that could be, it provides him and the supervisor extra choices.”
The change to left area is a hurdle for Dashing but when he can embrace the change, it may end in one more promotion for the 23-year-old.
Photograph Credit score: Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman / USA Immediately Community
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