Arizona Fall League Dodgers Week 2 review

Week 2 of the Arizona Fall League saw the Glendale Desert Dogs drop four of five games, but a trio of Dodgers on the team had newsworthy weeks.

Catcher Will Smith was 4-for-11 (.364) in his three games this week. He was also a guest on The Show Before The Show podcast with Sam Dykstra and Tyler Maun this week, talking about missing the final two months with a broken hand, suffered on a hit by pitch in his first game with Double-A Tulsa.

“That was definitely major setback this year getting injured, and even more disappointing that it was my first game up there,” Smith said. “There were several conversations during the rehab process about getting some extra at-bats somewhere, and the Fall League was definitely a discussion.”

Yusniel Diaz was 5-for-10 (.500) with a home run and a walk in three games. Bernie Pleskoff of FanRag Sports submitted a glowing report on the 21-year-old outfielder:

Many players his age look “raw” and show promise for the future. Diaz looked well-schooled in the fundamentals of the game and appeared confident in his actions. He shows promise for the future. He’s the real deal.

Diaz has a certain fluidity to his motions and actions that speaks to his innate athletic ability. He moves well with outstanding reactions and reflexes. The game comes naturally to Diaz.

A lack of power is the only tool that might keep him from being an All-Star. However, if he remains in center field, his star will rise and he could make several All-Star appearances. He may not be able to make the same claim as a corner outfielder where power is more expected, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Diaz hit at least 15 homers in his second or third year with the major league team.

D.J. Peters was 1-for-5 with a double in his only game last week, but he did speak with Sande Charles of Baseball Census:

Other performances this week

• Matt Beaty: 1-for-13 (.077), walk
• Andrew Sopko: 1 start, 4 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
• Isaac Anderson: 1 game, 2 IP, 3 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
• Shea Spitzbarth: 2 games, 1 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
• Michael Boyle: 1 game, 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout

The week ahead

Monday: at Peoria
Tuesday: vs. Peoria
Wednesday: vs. Surprise
Thursday: at Surprise
Friday: vs. Mesa
Saturday: at Mesa
Sunday: off day

All games 12:35 p.m. PT this week.