The Los Angeles Dodgers made the signing of Hyeseong Kim to a three-year contract official on Friday, and in order to make room on their 40-man roster, designated Diego Cartaya for assignment.
It’s an unceremonious development for Cartaya, who once was a former top Dodgers prospect in the organization. Among other challenges, he’s battled a back injury and a learning curve behind the plate over recent years.
Cartaya hit just .189/.278/.379 with 10 doubles, 19 home runs and 57 RBI over 93 games for Double-A Tulsa in 2023. He continued to show elite power, but struck out at a 29% rate.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes both voiced confidence in Cartaya being able to bounce back in 2024.
“He’s a really naturally talented player who’s coming off a down year,” Friedman said. “I’ve seen that a lot in the past with really good players, the ones who have really good makeup, bounce back from that. And so it wouldn’t surprise me at all Diego comes out this year and has a really good year.”
However, he continued to largely underwhelm with the Drillers despite some improvements.
Cartaya nevertheless earned a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City in June, and the organization planned to have him catch upwards of three games per week despite also having Hunter Feduccia on the roster.
Cartaya batted .208/.293/.350 with eight doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI in 49 games.
In 2022, Cartaya was named the Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year by the Dodgers, he was ranked by MLB Pipeline among their top 100 prospects.
What’s next for Diego Cartaya?
The Dodgers now have seven days to potentially trade Cartaya if he were to get claimed off waivers. Should the 23-year-old clear, the Dodgers would have the option to send Cartaya outright to the Minors while still keeping him off their 40-man roster for the time being.
Dalton Rushing’s development seemingly made Cartaya somewhat expendable.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers shocked fans and analysts alike by announcing a surprising decision regarding former top prospect Diego Cartaya. Despite high expectations for the young catcher, the team has decided to move him to a new position in the infield.
This unexpected move comes after Cartaya struggled to find consistent success behind the plate, leading the organization to explore other options for his development. With his strong arm and quick reflexes, the Dodgers believe that Cartaya has the potential to excel as an infielder, specifically at second base.
While some may question the decision to shift Cartaya’s position, the Dodgers are confident that this move will ultimately benefit both the player and the team. By adapting to a new position, Cartaya will have the opportunity to showcase his versatility and potentially make a greater impact on the field.
Only time will tell if this surprising decision pays off for the Dodgers, but one thing is for certain – Diego Cartaya’s journey in the MLB is far from over. Stay tuned to see how this talented prospect adapts to his new role and continues to grow as a player.
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