The Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up Cactus League play this weekend and return to Southern California for the annual exhibition Freeway Series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which begins on Sunday, March 25.
The three-game opener will be held at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, while the latter two contests will take place at Dodger Stadium on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The Dodgers customarily take a handful of Minor League players with them from camp at Camelback Ranch into the Freeway Series.
That holds true this year, as Gavin Lux, DJ Peters, Edwin Rios, Errol Robinson and Will Smith will have the opportunity to soak in the experience of a Major League stadium, according to Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA:
.@therealerob_6, @8Peters, @TheRealGavinLux, @Edwin_Rios30 & @will_smith30, among minor leaguers that will be invited to participate in #FreewaySeries.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 23, 2018
One notable prospect that won’t join the Dodgers for the Freeway Series is Walker Buehler, who instead will continue his work at Camelback Ranch:
.@buehlersdayoff will not be in Anaheim & will continue to workout in AZ. Is expected to break camp with @okc_dodgers. #DodgersST
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 23, 2018
Of the five players set to travel with the Dodgers, Rios arguably enjoyed the most success. He slugged three home runs and hit .423/.464/.885 across 26 at-bats.
Peters made a strong impression as well, hitting two home runs while sporting a 1.053 on-base plus slugging percentage in 19 at-bats. Lux accumulated just four at-bats during Cactus League play, but recorded a pair of hits during that limited sample size.
Robinson, a sixth-round pick in 2016, picked up just one hit in 15 at-bats. Smith, one of the organization’s better catching prospects, posted a .778 OPS with one home run over 16 at-bats.
Buehler thrived in Cactus League play this spring, tossing four scoreless innings over two appearances with seven strikeouts to one walk. He was sent to Minor League camp earlier in the month and is expected to begin the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
