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The Los Angeles Dodgers surprised many by designating longtime catcher Austin Barnes for assignment Wednesday. While the move was a glaring signal of the team’s intentions about winning another championship, the departure of a veteran like Barnes came as a shock to the system for his teammates.
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Third baseman Max Muncy spoke about the loss of a clubhouse leader, and the reality of baseball being a business.
“I feel like when you look at some of the pillars in this clubhouse, he would be one of them,” Muncy said to The Athletic. “Just a guy who brought so much to this team off the field that you can’t really quantify that. It’s something that’s hard to really put into words how much he meant to this team, in this clubhouse, on the plane, in the dugout, on the road at the hotel. Just who he was to everybody.”
Muncy and Barnes were teammates for eight seasons, beginning in 2018 when the third baseman joined the Dodgers. Barnes made his Major League debut with the Dodgers in 2015, and was one of the few players who has been with the organization through its ups and downs.
The Dodgers chose to call up top prospect Dalton Rushing, who had been patiently waiting for his chance to shine in the big leagues. Rushing is a talented left-handed hitter, and allows Will Smith to get more rest in between starts.
Rushing has been hitting .308 in Triple-A this season, and is expected to make a good amount of starts for the Dodgers in the coming weeks.
Several fans are anxious to witness Rushing in the majors, but the corresponding move for his call up is certainly heartbreaking for many L.A. players.
“Any time someone gets DFA’d, it’s always tough,” Muncy said. “They’re here, and then you show up the next day and it’s like they never existed. That’s why this is such a tough business. You build friendships and then they’re just gone.”
More news: Dave Roberts Reveals Dalton Rushing’s Role, Debut Date for Dodgers
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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