Dodgers: How Many At-Bats Can Will Smith Get This Season With JD Martinez Involved?

With the new DH in the mix, Roberts was asked how that addition will impact Smith’s playing time.

Over the offseason, the Dodgers acquired outfielder/designated hitter JD Martinez. Although he will certainly bring value to the team, this move raises questions about how it would affect the playing time of catcher Will Smith.

Martinez is known for his powerful hitting and is a career .288 hitter with 282 home runs across 12 seasons. He will likely be used primarily as a designated hitter for LA, but the Dodgers may use him in the outfield as well. Manager Dave Roberts previously voiced how he expects to utilize Martinez:

"I don’t expect J.D. to DH 162 [games],” Roberts said. “But he’s gonna be the guy who is gonna be in that position 99.9% of the time.”

On the other hand, Will Smith is coming off a strong season where he hit .260 with 24 home runs and 87 RBI in 137 games played. Roberts used the DH last year to strategically get a break for Smith while still having him as a key factor in their lineup.

Smith made 25 starts at DH last season and with Martinez now in the mix, Roberts was asked how his addition will impact Smith’s playing time:

“The one thing I don’t want Will to hear right now is he’s gonna get less at bats. We’re gonna manage it, monitor it and see how it goes. I can say things and expect things, but they change quite often. And also, depending on how guys are swinging, certain guys might need a day here or there.”

In 2022, Smith started 106 games as a catcher and 111 games the year prior. Although catchers generally get more time off than other position players, Roberts and the team should still make sure to get Smith as many plate appearances this season as he did in 2022.

The challenge for Roberts will be to manage playing time effectively to keep the group healthy and productive over the course of a long season.