Los Angeles Dodgers: Non-roster Spring Training invitees to watch
By Jason Reed
3. Paulo Orlando, OF
Shifting the focus from top prospects to former big leaguers, the third most important non-roster invitee that you should be watching during Spring Training is Paulo Orlando. The main reason for that is because, while he is a non-roster invitee, he probably will be on the Dodgers at some point this season.
Orlando has big league experience and the second that the Dodgers need any sort of outfield help from the minor leagues he is going to be one of the first to be called upon, that is if he makes a good impression in Spring Training.
Orlando has all the makings of being this season’s Max Muncy; a guy that plays solid enough in Spring Training to get the call when someone gets injured and earn his spot on the roster. While he likely will not hit 35 home runs, this is a guy that hit over .300 in a big league season before and has shown signs of being capable of doing so again.
What makes Orlando such a natural fit is that he is a right-handed outfielder that hits southpaws better than right-handers. The Dodgers have plenty of left-handed bats and one of the areas of need is at least one more right-handed bat to balance out the lineup.
Orlando can be that bat and it honestly would not be shocking if the Dodgers found something in him and turned him back into a solid contributor.
The Dodgers undoubtedly are going to tweak Orlando’s mechanics like they did Chris Taylor when they acquired him. Watch closely how those changes positively or negatively affect Orlando in Spring Training this year.