The Los Angeles Dodgers called up several players from Triple-A Oklahoma City once active rosters expanded this month, with none arriving more heralded than Alex Verdugo. He’s the organization’s top hitting prospect and was thought to have a chance at making the postseason roster.
Verdugo started in each of his first four games with the Dodgers, but has since appeared in just five of the last 11 games. Each of those have come off the bench. Although a start in Friday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals wasn’t expected, Verdugo didn’t help his cause.
The 21-year-old was a late arrival to Nationals Park, which was met with a tongue-lashing from veteran Rich Hill that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t have any quarrel with, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group Almost immediately after his late arrival, the young outfielder was approached by veteran left-hander Rich Hill, who dressed down the September call-up in front of his locker.