This week, Dodgers catching prospect Austin Barnes was hit in the hand. The severity of the injury turned out to be minimal, but the uncertainty around Barnes heightened the front office’s concern about its catching depth.
That worry, along with the team’s continued interest in improving against left-handed pitching, led to Thursday’s acquisition of Philadelphia catcher Carlos Ruiz and the exodus of longtime backup catcher A.J. Ellis.
“I could go on and on about A.J. and his attributes, and what he brings to a team,” Andrew Friedman, Dodgerspresident of baseball operations,said.