After officially being named the backup catcher for the beginning of the 2017 season by skipper Dave Roberts in early December, many fans of the Dodgers were left wondering exactly what to expect from Austin Barnes, especially when considering his highly regarded potential and versatile ability to contribute all around the diamond.
During the 2016 regular season, Barnes played nine games at catcher for the Dodgers, seven at second base and one at third. He recorded time at those same three positions with Triple-A Oklahoma City, in addition to making one start in center field.