Smith has been experiencing concussion symptoms since the series in San Francisco. Former Giants catcher Austin Wynns was signed to fill in while Smith is sidelined.
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ inconsistent offense will be without one of its most consistent performers for at least a week.
Catcher Will Smith was placed on the seven-day injured list with concussion symptoms Sunday, retroactive to Wednesday’s game in San Francisco when Smith took a foul ball off the mask.
“Looking back, I think it was Wednesday, Tuesday or Wednesday in San Francisco,” Roberts said. “Then on Thursday, the off day, he just felt uneasy and foggy. So coming into Friday we didn’t know what it was and just felt that he didn’t feel well. So we took him through the (concussion) testing, (he) passed it and didn’t want to make too much of it.
“In the ensuing days, he felt a little bit better but we just want to be prudent and not run him out there.”
Without Smith on Friday and Saturday, the Dodgers had just one catcher on their active roster, Austin Barnes who started his third consecutive game Sunday. So Saturday night they reached out to former Giants catcher Austin Wynns and signed him to a contract.
Wynns was designated for assignment by the Giants on Monday when they activated Joey Bart from the IL in time for their series against the Dodgers. Wynns cleared waivers, elected free agency and was home in Nashville when the call came from the Dodgers.
“I was in Nashville with my wife, cooking and I got the call and told them, ‘First flight out, I’m there,’” Wynns said. “Can’t complain, man.”
That first flight left Nashville at 6 a.m. on Sunday and Wynns was in the Dodgers’ clubhouse in time for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game. Roberts said Wynns would get his first start with his new team on Monday against the New York Mets.
“It’s been a whirlwind and I’m happy I’m here,” Wynns said. “I know my role and will try to do the best I can.”
It is likely to be a short stay for Wynns, who hit .259 with three home runs in 65 games for the Giants last season. He also spent parts of three seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.
Smith is eligible to return as soon as Thursday when the Dodgers start a road trip in Chicago.
“I think for us, I like the energy,” Roberts said of Wynns. “Good teammate, and understands his role. I don’t know how long he’s gonna be here. But it’s good to have a guy who’s caught at this level.”
Triple-A catchers Hunter Feduccia and Patrick Mazeika were given consideration, Roberts said. Top prospect Diego Cartaya was not a candidate for the callup. The 21-year-old Cartaya was 5 for 20 in his first five games for Double-A Tulsa this season. Those are Cartay’s first five games above the Class-A level.
“He needs to play,” Roberts said. “So Diego was not an option.”
Smith is off to an excellent start, leading the Dodgers in batting average (.333), slugging percentage (.641) and OPS (1.058) while driving in 12 runs in 11 games.
“It is certainly about other guys picking up the slack, because one thing about Will that I can appreciate is his consistency, on the defensive side but (also) in the batter’s box,” Roberts said. “If you look at a lot of our guys – again, this is 15 games – it’s been very inconsistent, and Will is a consistent performer. So yeah, we need all of our guys to show some consistency, that’d be great.”
In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Wynns, the Dodgers moved right-hander Alex Reyes to the 60-day injured list. Reyes is in Arizona rehabilitating from surgery to repair a torn labrum last May. He is not expected to return until midseason.
Mets (LHP David Peterson, 0-2, 4.91 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Dustin May, 1-1, 1.47 ERA), Monday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
