Spring training is nearly here, and the San Francisco Giants are getting their roster in order. On Wednesday, the club announced 19 non-roster invitees who’ll be heading to camp, and one name that jumps out is Diego Cartaya - the former top prospect once seen as the future behind the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cartaya’s story is one of early promise and recent setbacks. Just a couple of years ago, he was the Dodgers’ No. 1 overall prospect in both 2022 and 2023 - a title that carries weight in a system as deep and talent-rich as L.A.’s. A catcher with power, poise, and defensive upside, Cartaya was viewed as the heir apparent behind the dish, potentially anchoring the position for years to come.
The #SFGiants have extended non-roster invitations for Major League Spring Training to the following 19 players: pic.twitter.com/gVdtnPPKF9
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) February 4, 2026
But the road to the big leagues is rarely linear. Cartaya hit some turbulence in 2023 and 2024, struggling to find consistency in the minors.
His offensive production dipped, and questions began to surface about his readiness. With Will Smith entrenched as one of the league’s premier catchers and Dalton Rushing rising fast through the Dodgers’ pipeline, the organization made a tough call.
This past offseason, they dealt Cartaya to the Minnesota Twins - a move that might’ve been unthinkable not long ago.
Things didn’t click in Minnesota either. Cartaya couldn’t quite find his footing in the Twins’ system, and after a difficult stretch, he was released.
That could’ve been the end of the road - but at just 24 years old, there’s still time for a turnaround. The Giants saw enough to take a shot, signing him to a deal and now giving him a fresh opportunity in spring training.
This is a classic change-of-scenery situation. Sometimes, a new clubhouse, a different coaching voice, or simply a reset in expectations can unlock something in a player.
And for Cartaya, the tools haven’t disappeared - the power, the arm, the potential to impact a game from behind the plate are still there. It’s just about putting it all together.
San Francisco’s catching depth chart isn’t set in stone, and Cartaya will have a real chance to make an impression this spring. Whether that leads to a spot on the Opening Day roster or a role later in the season remains to be seen. But if he can rediscover the form that once made him one of baseball’s most talked-about young catchers, he could become a key piece for a Giants team looking to shake up the NL West.
And let’s be honest - if Cartaya ends up contributing in San Francisco and helps the Giants push the Dodgers in the division? That’s the kind of full-circle baseball storyline we live for.