Aug 08

Off-day news

From The Athletic: the Dodgers are actively attempting to create two-way players.

[Right-handed infielder Brandon] Montgomery, 23, is one of several minor-league position players the Dodgers are trying as two-way players this summer, in preparation for a new rule that will next season prohibit position players from pitching unless specific conditions are met or they qualify for two-way status.

[snip]

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman indicated the goal was more practical.

“Any time you can have a guy potentially help the team in the batter’s box and on the mound, it’s incredible from a roster-construction standpoint,” Friedman said. “We happen to have a number of guys in our system who have done both well as an amateur. Now it’s about putting them in positions to evaluate and seeing if they can do it at the professional level. If so, obviously the benefits are huge.”

The way the Dodgers see it, only one of a player’s skills needs to be big-league caliber to justify his two-way status. Any usefulness the other provides is a bonus.