Five spring-training story strains to observe for the Dodgers

The Dodgers imagine they will get loads of offensive manufacturing from their probably new double-play pairing of shortstop Gavin Lux and second baseman Miguel Vargas.

How these two carry out defensively, nonetheless, is more durable to foretell.

Shortstop is Lux’s pure place, and he dealt with the function for a stretch in 2021 whereas Corey Seager was injured. The fifth-year large leaguer graded out decently at second base final 12 months.

Despite that, although, Lux additionally has a observe document of often shaky defensive stretches and shall be shifting to shortstop within the first 12 months of Major League Baseball’s new guidelines banning shifts — placing a heightened significance on his already premium place.

Vargas is even much less confirmed within the discipline. The rookie made solely 28 appearances at second base within the minor leagues, the place he was largely a 3rd baseman whose protection was seen as his largest weak point by expertise evaluators. And although he has pure athleticism and vary, the shift ban might make it more durable to compensate for his potential rising pains with the glove.

If both wrestle, the Dodgers’ options up the center are restricted.

Miguel Rojas is a reliable infielder able to enjoying both function however has struggled on the plate in current seasons and is coming off two offseason surgical procedures to his proper hand and wrist. Taylor additionally has defensive versatility however will probably be wanted within the outfield.

The solely different member of the 40-man roster with MLB expertise at both center infield spot is Yonny Hernández, a 24-year-old along with his fourth group within the final calendar 12 months. Michael Busch is the membership’s next-best infield prospect however has defensive query marks of his personal after switching from first to second base just a few years again.