As the Los Angeles Dodgers were finalizing their 2022 Opening Day roster that ultimately included 16 pitchers and 12 position players, there were only a few questions, but none of which involved whether or not Edwin Ríos would be part of the bench.
Jake Lamb enjoyed a productive spring as one of the Dodgers’ non-roster invitees, but was re-assigned to Minor League camp. That effectively created a path for Ríos to be included on the Opening Day roster.
“It means the world, man. God is good,” he said of earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. “Like you said, I put in the work, made it a goal to be healthy for Spring Training and to be able to make a roster is honestly a blessing.”
Ríos was expected to take a step forward last season, but struggled out of the gate before landing on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation in early May. He had just four hits on the season and was mired in an 0-for-32 skid at the time of being put on the IL.
Ríos unfortunately didn’t get an opportunity to get back on track as he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Now healthy again, the 27-year-old hit .292/.433/.708 with one double, three home runs and seven RBI in 12 Cactus League games. “I just wanted to come in ready,” Ríos said.
“Be productive, show them I still got it, and I think I did just that. And I’m just excited and happy for kind of a redemption year. We’ll take it day to day from here on out.”
Ríos believes he is in a good spot with his swing and focused on refining his mechanics during the offseason. “I’m feeling good,” he said. “Kind of had a long offseason. So kind of went to the basics.
“Got back on the tee, try to slow things down a little bit. Just working on the little things, putting the ball in play a little more. Just excited.”
Ríos making Dodgers Opening Day roster was ‘surreal moment’
Ríos was with his family when he received the call from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that he made the Opening Day roster, making the moment all the more special. “It’s kind of a surreal moment,” Rios said.
“And you know you always have these expectations. You have had these plans and you plan for things to happen a certain way and sometimes that doesn’t happen.
“But to be able to do what I did this offseason with the medical staff, the people back home and being on that opening roster was was a big thing for me and my family and we loved every bit of it.”
Ríos has appeared in four games (three starts) thus far, going a combined 3-for-12 with one RBI and one walk.
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