Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Santiago Espinal had a tremendous sport towards the Cincinnati Reds Thursday, additional making a case for his inclusion on the Opening Day roster.
Espinal went 2-for-2 with two dwelling runs, a solo shot and a three-run blast, and picked up two extra RBIs with two sacrifice flies within the Dodgers’ 14-13 loss. The 31-year-old didn’t hit a house run for the whole thing of the 2025 season regardless of taking part in 114 video games for the Reds.
This efficiency comes straight after supervisor Dave Roberts’ feedback about Espinal’s probability to make the Opening Day roster out of spring coaching, the place the skipper stated it will be “arduous to think about” a state of affairs the place the six-year veteran doesn’t make the group.
To this point this spring, Espinal is 12-for-19 and has 4 consecutive multi-hit video games. His eight RBIs within the Cactus League rank first on the Dodgers, as does his 1.761 OPS.
The infielder signed a minor league cope with the Dodgers simply after spring coaching started, and wasted no time in seizing a chance inside the group. With Tommy Edman out for Opening Day as he recovers from ankle surgical procedure, there’s a broad open spot at second base and Espinal could possibly be the frontrunner for the place if he continues to supply.
“It’s fairly wonderful, that’s what it’s all about,” Espinal stated of the chance to land a beginning spot for the World Sequence champs.
“You’ve received to compete on a regular basis while you come right here. You’ve received to compete in something you do. Whether or not it’s hitting, whether or not it’s completely different you’ve received to compete and that is what it’s all about.”
Can Dodger Followers Anticipate This Form of Offense Out of Santiago Espinal Constantly?
Whereas Espinal actually has had an amazing spring, anticipating him to place up numbers like he has all through the rest of the season is unrealistic.
Espinal posted a .574 OPS final season and has struggled with the bat all through his profession, however that’s to not say he isn’t of any worth. The Dodgers have a historical past of turning discount signings into stars, and Espinal could possibly be the most recent entry on that listing.
Apart from, Espinal’s actual worth lies inside his glove.
He posted two outs above common with restricted taking part in time in 2025, rating within the high 76% of MLB, and has traditionally been nice within the area, rating inside the high 10% of the league in outs above common on a number of events.
The veteran will look to proceed stringing strong performances collectively as he appears to help the Dodgers all through their three-peat marketing campaign in 2026.
Did you want what you noticed from Santiago Espinal right this moment?
