The postseason is just days away, and while the Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for a third straight title run, they might be staring down a ghost from their past. Mark Bowman, the Atlanta Braves beat writer for MLB.com, just dropped the news that the Braves will likely bring a third catcher onto their playoff roster. Why? Because Drake Baldwin is probably gonna be the designated hitter. And that third catcher? Someone who’s already worn Dodger blue this season.
Remember That Guy? He’s Back!
That “familiar face” in Atlanta’s system could be Chuckie Robinson. Dodger fans will remember Robinson’s brief stretch behind the plate in June and early July. He was optioned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets in July, had one day back with the Dodgers in August, then ultimately got released by the Comets that same month. As you probably guessed, he landed in the Braves’ farm system, and now, he could be facing off against his former teammates on the biggest stage. Talk about a curveball!
The Numbers Tell a Story, But Don’t Count Anything Out
So, should the Dodgers be worried about Chuckie Robinson? Look, the Dodgers didn’t just part ways with Robinson for no reason. Their catching situation got healthy with Will Smith’s return, and Hunter Feduccia proved himself a reliable backup. Robinson, frankly, didn’t quite hit that standard. In his eight games with the Dodgers, he had 23 at-bats and only managed two hits, both in a 12-3 win against the Minnesota Twins on June 23. His batting average was a brutal .087, and his on-base percentage and slugging were identical because he never walked or had an extra-base hit. He did, however, strike out five times. Ouch.
Now, his minor league numbers are better. With OKC, he hit .229/.333/.440/.774, and he was similar with the Gwinnett Stripers, slashing .229/.316/.333/.649. Real talk, based on those stats, it feels wild to think Robinson would be a true difference-maker for the Braves. But hey, this is baseball! Remember that devastating sweep the Dodgers suffered at the hands of the Braves in August? Ha-Seong Kim, who hadn’t had a hit in almost three months, mashed a walk-off against them. Anything can happen in the postseason.
The playoffs are right around the corner. Will we see Chuckie Robinson make an unexpected appearance against his old squad? If he does, could that low-average bat somehow come up with a clutch moment that nobody expects? The Dodgers are chasing history, and a random former player could be the wildcard.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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