GLENDALE, Ariz. — Miguel Vargas might look as if he is on an island as the Dodgers transition him to second base for the first time, all while the rookie hopes to become an everyday major leaguer.
Except that while Vargas has talented veterans that circle him on the field, those established players have taken it upon themselves to be vast oceans of knowledge. Advice and encouragement are available at all times, with all of it just a few steps away in any direction.
From Miguel Rojas to his right at shortstop, Freddie Freeman to his left at first base and the ever-present Mookie Betts behind him in right field, the Dodgers have created a support system around someone they think can be a dynamic young player.
“This clubhouse, I feel like, the mix of veterans are really cool, because we’re coming from different cultures,” Rojas said. “So me playing shortstop next to a guy like Miguel Vargas, who is coming from Cuba, it’s easier for me to translate whatever I need to translate to him and he’s going to understand.”
Veterans have always been the drivetrain of a baseball roster and the Dodgers are loaded with them again. Clayton Kershaw, Betts and Freeman are all available to let the younger players know what it takes to be a champion and what is expected as a member of the Dodgers.
Max Muncy, Julio Urias, Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor all are pushing into the veteran ranks. And a flock of familiar faces have arrived. Rojas, JD Martinez, David Peralta, Jason Heyward and Shelby Miller essentially have seen it all between them.
“It’s great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the veteran additions. “I think that with veterans, there is one part of it of getting guys to understand your vision and have them be aligned. And the guys we brought in … are guys that were already aligned in philosophies that we value. So that just makes my job much easier and more fun.”
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