Looking ahead at the '24 Dodgers: First up, catchers

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LOS ANGELES -- With the Dodgers starting the season with two games against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, they’re set to arrive at Camelback Ranch in just about a month in order to prepare for the now much-anticipated 2024 season.

Before that happens, however, we’ll take an in-depth, position-by-position look at the Dodgers and how they’ll look in ‘24. Because there are acquisitions left to be made, we’ll start with the position that seems to be the most set: Catcher.

The starter: Will Smith

Smith has been one of the best catchers in the sport for a few seasons, but the 28-year-old was finally named an All-Star in ‘23. But it was a tale of two halves for Smith, who stepped into the three-hole in the lineup and picked up right where Trea Turnerleft off in ‘22.

In the first half of the season, even as he battled a scary concussion situation, Smith hit 13 homers and posted a .890 OPS, which was among the best at the position. In the second half, however, he dealt with a lingering rib injury, and his offensive numbers took a dive. He hit six homers over his last 60 games and struck out 50 times during that span. That tough second half ultimately hurt his overall numbers, but there’s no denying the impact he has on the Dodgers.

When Smith is right at the plate, the Dodgers’ offense will be tough to stop. He’ll likely slot into the cleanup or No. 5 spot behind Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and, at times, Max Muncy. Tasked with making other teams pay for potentially pitching around the three stars, he’ll look to prove, once again, that he’s more than capable of doing just that.

The backup: Austin Barnes

Barnes has never been known for his offensive game, but it was still a forgettable season at the plate for the veteran, who recorded just 32 hits over 178 at bats in ‘23. If there was a silver lining, however, it’s that his offensive numbers were much better in the second half.

But as has always been the case, Barnes’ main role on the roster, especially with the added offensive firepower, is to be good behind the plate and help the pitching staff reach its potential whenever Smith needs a blow. Even with some of his career offensive struggles, Barnes has value at his position.

In the pipeline: Hunter Feduccia, Diego Cartaya, Dalton Rushing, Thayron Liranzo

If Smith or Barnes goes down with an injury, Feduccia is poised to be the next man up. Last season, when Smith missed time with a concussion, the Dodgers struggled to replace his production and leaned on journeyman Austin Wynns to fill in on short notice.

This season the Dodgers should have more Major League-ready catchers ready to step up. Feduccia had a very strong Spring Training last year and carried that into the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 26-year-old hit 11 homers and posted a .838 OPS, the highest of any season in his Minor League career. If he continues to hit at that clip, he’ll push the Dodgers to make a decision at some point in the season.

The other three prospects -- Rushing, Cartaya and Liranzo -- are still a ways away from making an impact in the Majors. Cartaya went into the ‘23 season as the top prospect in the organization, but he had a dreadful year at the plate, and concerns with his back have quieted his hype. Rushing had the complete opposite experience, mashing at every level since being drafted out of Louisville in ’22, but he also dealt with some scary concussion symptoms that affected some of his performance at the plate. And then there’s Liranzo, who seemingly came out of nowhere last season and established himself as a really good prospect. The 20-year-old hit 24 homers and posted a .962 OPS in 94 games at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga.