GLENDALE, Ariz. — The deeper the calendar moves into March, the more the Dodgers’ roster picture starts to sharpen. And this spring, one of the clearest developments has been the rise of a player who arrived in camp without a guaranteed job.
That would be Santiago Espinal.
For a non-roster invitee, Espinal has gone from intriguing depth piece to a player manager Dave Roberts is already struggling to imagine leaving behind when the club heads back to Los Angeles.
“It’d be hard to imagine him not being on the team,” Roberts said Thursday.
It’s not difficult to understand why.
A spring that’s turning heads
Santiago hits his second homer of the game for the lead! #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/UTaXqovud3
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 5, 2026
Espinal’s numbers this spring are the type that force attention, even in a small sample. Entering Thursday’s game, he was batting .571. By the end of the afternoon, the stat line had become even louder. Facing his former team, the Cincinnati Reds, Espinal homered twice in his first two at-bats and drove in six runs. The outburst pushed him to 10-for-16 in Cactus League play, giving him a staggering 1.792 OPS.
Spring stats alone rarely win roster spots for the Dodgers. But when they come attached to a player already known for defensive versatility and steady clubhouse presence, they carry weight. And Espinal has checked every box.
A natural fit in the Dodgers’ ecosystem
The Dodgers have long prioritized flexibility on the bench. Espinal fits that philosophy almost perfectly.
The 31-year-old has logged time across the infield this spring, showing the smooth hands and reliable instincts that made him a valuable piece with both the Toronto Blue Jays and Reds over the past six seasons. Roberts described his integration into the clubhouse as “seamless,” a notable endorsement on a roster filled with veterans and established stars. Espinal’s career track record supports that reliability. Over six major league seasons, he’s hit .261 with 20 home runs and 160 RBIs, production that has largely come in a utility role built on defense and contact.
This spring, though, the bat has looked louder than usual.
Opportunity opening on the roster
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) and Santiago Espinal warm up before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Circumstances have also helped Espinal’s case. The Dodgers recently created roster room in the 40-man roster after outrighting Jack Suwinski, while injuries have sidelined Tommy Edman. With those openings, the pathway to a bench job has become much clearer. Espinal’s right-handed bat could complement another versatile piece in camp, Hyeseong Kim, who offers left-handed balance while splitting time between second base and center field.
Together, they could give Roberts a pair of movable chess pieces — the kind of interchangeable depth the Dodgers rely on across a 162-game season. Espinal arrived in camp fighting for relevance. Now he’s forcing his way into the conversation.
For a Dodgers team with championship expectations, bench roles are rarely ceremonial. Injuries happen. Matchups matter. Depth gets tested. If Espinal’s spring performance is any indication, he may end up doing more than simply claiming the last seat on the bench.
With a few weeks remaining before Opening Day, the Dodgers’ roster is beginning to take shape. And increasingly, it looks like there’s a place reserved for the infielder who arrived as a long shot and quickly became one of the most compelling stories of the spring.