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Dodgers Roundtable: The Start of Spring Training

By Sarah Maninger

(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 01: Alex Verdugo (Photo by Russell Lansford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 01: Alex Verdugo (Photo by Russell Lansford/Getty Images) /

2. The Dodgers have invited 22 non-roster players to Spring Training, which of these players do you think could have an impact in the coming weeks?

Jamaal:

I don’t know that the non-roster-invitee guys will make much of an impact, the Dodgers, for the most part, are an intact and healthy team. I feel that there is little where even with strong play and NRI can position themselves to make an impact on the Dodgers roster. I went to Spring Training last year and I saw Cody Bellinger strike out twice and Alex Verdugo hit the cover off the ball, so that gives me some perspective on how little Spring Training can mean.

Jason:

I like DJ Peters, the kid is going to be good; however, I do not think he will ever be great. He strikes out a bit too much for my liking, however, he will give the fans some oohs and ahs with at least one monster shot this spring.

Another guy I am really excited to see is Keibert Ruiz. I have heard great, great things about Ruiz but I have not seen more than a couple highlight packages of him. It will be great to see how he performs against better pitching.

Will any of them make a big impact? Well, maybe. It is just hard for me to consider anything they do “big” simply because it really doesn’t mean anything for them. We’ll see.

Sarah:

DJ Peters. This is a prospect who hits homers and gets on base. Peters is still in Double-A, so his impact in the majors this season will be minor, but he, along with some great players with great potential, are the future of this organization. I think that he will make an impact in the coming weeks simply by doing what he’s been doing but in front of major league players and major league coaches.

After only two years in the minor leagues, he’s hit 40 home runs and averaged .302 at the plate. At 22, he could be called up to the majors by the All-Star break of the 2019 season. We all saw the effect that Cody Bellinger had on the team last season, and players like Peters are the ones that could have that same effect on the team in the future.

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