The Dodgers aren’t just weighing bat speed or prospect buzz when they think about a possible James Tibbs III call-up. They’re also trying to manage the dominoes that come with carrying a roster through the stretch run.
That’s why the club’s decision to summon catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. from Oklahoma City after Dalton Rushing landed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right elbow discomfort - the right of a partially torn UCL - tells you plenty about where Tibbs stands right now. Alfonzo got the nod, not the 23-year-old corner outfielder who is hitting .292/.414/.538 for the Comets.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes made the logic plain Monday when asked about the possibility of Tibbs getting the call.
“It’s just hard to predict what minor-league performance [will translate to up here],” Gomes told the California Post on Monday.
And that’s the crux of it. Oklahoma City plays in the Pacific Coast League, where offense comes easy and pitchers take a beating.
The league-average ERA sits at 5.42, which is only a shade better than the Colorado Rockies’ 5.46 team ERA at Coors Field. Once errors are folded in, the average PCL team gives up 5.95 runs per game, more than any major league club.
So while Tibbs has put up eye-catching numbers, the Dodgers are looking at the bigger picture. They have reasons to prioritize catching depth, especially with Will Smith still working back after missing the better part of three months with a neck injury.
Gomes and manager Dave Roberts are watching Smith’s workload carefully as he gets ready for what the team hopes will be another deep postseason run. In last year’s World Series, Smith caught every inning of all seven games against the Toronto Blue Jays.
That’s where Alfonzo fits in. The Dodgers want Smith available as a pinch-hitter on the days he doesn’t catch, and carrying a third catcher makes that easier to manage.
Alfonzo arrived in Los Angeles with a strong line at Oklahoma City - .302/.378/.409, along with two home runs, 25 RBIs and an OPS of .787 - though he has yet to match that production in the majors. Through 12 games with the Dodgers, he’s hitting .185/.185/.259.
Roberts said the roster setup is about preserving options, not forcing one specific bat into the lineup.
“It’s just more of having the ability to use [Feduccia] when he’s not starting to be a left-handed bat,” Roberts said, “and to be able to use Will off the bench as a bat while he’s building up, [without forcing us afterward] to catch him, on days that he doesn’t start.”
In Other News...
Rays Fans May Already Be Questioning This Trade Return
The Dodgers decision to move Jack Suwinski to Tampa Bay and bring back catcher Hunter Feduccia along with minor league right-hander Jacob Kmatz was always going to invite quick judgment from both fan bases. Feduccia has settled in as a backup catcher for Los Angeles, giving the club steady depth behind the plate, while Kmatz has already started to look like the kind of arm that can matter sooner rather than later if his Double-A progress keeps trending up.
For Rays fans, the early return is the sort that can stir second thoughts because Kmatz has not just been throwing well, he has also drawn attention for a promising pitch mix and a place among the more interesting arms in the Dodgers minor league system. The trade was framed as part of a broader exchange, but the longer Tampa Bay watches Kmatz develop, the more this one could become a test of patience on their side. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Just Revealed A Dodgers Advantage Tigers Fans Know Too Well
Tarik Skubal has settled in quickly since landing with the Dodgers, giving the club another high-end arm as it pushes through a strong 2026 season. Max Muncy recently pointed out something that has long been part of the Tigers travel reality, noting that Detroits old team plane could not make a cross-country trip without stopping for fuel, a detail that says plenty about the gap between the two organizations.
The Dodgers, by contrast, now travel with two separate planes for players and staff on road trips, a setup that underscores how different life can be in Los Angeles. For Skubal, it is a small but telling reminder of what changed when he moved from Detroit to a contender with a far bigger operation around him. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Freeland Is Running Out Of Time To Win Over Dodgers
Alex Freelands September with the Dodgers has turned into something bigger than a late-season audition. The young infielder has been back from the minors and into a roster spot that gives Los Angeles a closer look at what he can offer, especially at second base, where the club is still sorting out its long-term picture. After getting into 79 games this season, he has a real chance to show he belongs in the conversation as more than just depth.
The timing matters because the Dodgers are not simply looking for a useful September bat or glove, they are trying to learn whether Freeland can factor into their plans beyond 2026. His results this month could carry real weight in how the organization views his future role, and for a player trying to secure a longer runway in a crowded organization, every at-bat and every inning now feels like part of a much larger test. [Read more 🡒]