Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Miguel Vargas, No. 3 in the organization, has yet to take a swing in eight plate appearances this spring.
Why such a drastic approach?
The second baseman has not been given the green light to swing the bat yet in a live game because of a hairline fracture in his right pinky he suffered in February, yet he is still in the lineup.
So why is he still in the lineup?
For experience and to build chemistry with Miguel Rojas, who is taking over shortstop for the injured Gavin Lux.
“He’s walking more than he’s striking out,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday when Vargas had more walks than strikeouts. “Teams haven’t got the memo yet.”
Vargas has four walks to go along with four strikeouts in his eight plate appearances, sporting a .500 on-base percentage.
Roberts has Mookie Betts, who has experience at playing second, penciled in Friday’s lineup, but hopes Vargas will be fully cleared to go on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.