Austin Barnes spent his 2015 season putting the finishing touches on his prospect development, earning his first big league call-up and, later, a September roster spot. Barnes lived up to the offensive expectations he brought in from Miami while exceeding the expectations on his catcher defense. Unfortunately for Barnes, his arrival to the organization came during a career renaissance season for A.J. Ellis, preventing him from taking full advantage of the playing time opening created by Yasmani Grandal’s shoulder injury. Barnes enters 2016 as the underdog in the battle to back up Grandal, but his inclusion in the discussion makes the Dodgers’ catching situation the best in baseball.
Dodgers top prospects 2016: No. 6 Austin Barnes
