When 2017 closed and 2018 began, Austin Barnes was poised to, if not take over the catching role, at least step in as an equal to Yasmani Grandal. But, at-bat after at-bat and frustrating ground ball after frustrating ground ball, the Arizona State University product once looked at as the potential heir to the Dodger catching throne was simply a backup and a less attractive alternative to the colossal home run hitting Grandal.
For Barnes, his problems were rooted in his splits.
Against right-handed pitching, he hit just .151. Against lefties, although not much better than the other, Barnes mustered a .