AUSTIN BARNES NEWS

Returns to lineup Thursday Barnes (head) will start at catcher and bat ninth Thursday versus the Marlins.

Impact Barnes took a backswing to the head in Tuesday's series opener at Miami, but he cleared concussion protocol and is back in action for Thursday's series finale. Will Smith will take a turn as the Dodgers' designated hitter.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Austin Barnes Dealing With Contusion on Side of Head The veteran backstop is dealing with a head injury after getting hit by a backswing.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Dodgers News: Austin Barnes Dealing With Contusion on Side of Head The veteran backstop is dealing with a head injury after getting hit by a backswing.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Clears concussion protocol Barnes cleared concussion protocol Wednesday after getting hit by a backswing Tuesday versus the Marlins, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Impact Barnes has a contusion on the side of his head, where Nick Fortes accidentally struck him with his bat in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday, but the 33-year-old backup catcher could return to action as early as Thursday's series finale in Miami. Will Smith is behind the plate for the Dodgers on Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Has bruised temple Barnes said he felt fine after exiting Tuesday's game against Miami upon getting hit by Nick Fortes' backswing, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Barnes said he has a bruise on his left temple and will be re-evaluated ahead of Wednesday's game. The 33-year-old has been serving as the backup to Will Smith all season, and he will likely return to the Dodgers' lineup in a couple days if everything checks out after further testing.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits game early Barnes was removed from Tuesday's game against Miami with an apparent injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Impact Barnes was struck in the head by Nick Fortes' backswing during the seventh inning, and he was later replaced behind the dish by Will Smith. The Dodgers will take a look at Barnes and presumably evaluate him for a concussion, but he should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Discusses Grind That 2023 Season Has Been for Austin Barnes The hard work paid off for the struggling catcher!

AUGUST 19, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Discusses Grind That 2023 Season Has Been for Austin Barnes The hard work paid off for the struggling catcher!

AUGUST 19, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Dodgers Notes: LA Wins a Close One, Former Dodger Reliever DFA'd, Betts and Freeman Are All-Time Duo Austin Barnes hit his first home run of the season in the Dodgers’ 1-0 win.

AUGUST 18, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Swats first homer of campaign Barnes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run Thursday in a 1-0 victory against Milwaukee.

Impact Barnes chose a prime time for his first long ball of the season, as his solo shot to left field in the seventh inning accounted for the lone run in LA's 11th straight win. The catcher added a single in the contest, giving him his first multi-hit performance in 43 games this season. Though he's valued for his work with pitchers as Will Smith's backup behind the plate, Barnes has endured a difficult campaign with the bat, slashing a measly .136/.216/.176 over 141 plate appearances.

AUGUST 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up start for day game Barnes will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Impact With top backstop Will Smith resting for the day game after the night game, Barnes will be getting a turn behind the plate. Barnes will be making just his sixth appearance of July after going 2-for-17 with four strikeouts over his prior five games this month.

JULY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks in run in return Barnes went 1-for-3 with a walk and one RBI in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the White Sox.

Impact Barnes had been out for nearly a week tending to an injured right wrist. The backup catcher has hit safely in five of his last 11 games dating back to May 8, but his playing time will remain limited behind Will Smith. Barnes owns a poor .111/.207/.136 slash line with five RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases over 28 contests this season.

JUNE 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Wednesday Barnes (wrist) is hitting ninth and catching versus the White Sox on Wednesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Barnes will return to the lineup for the first time since Thursday as he was plunked by a pitch in his right wrist during that contest. Will Smith is getting Wednesday off while Barnes handles backstop duties.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out of lineup Barnes (wrist) remains out of the lineup Tuesday versus the White Sox.

Impact Barnes hasn't appeared in a game for the Dodgers since taking a fastball off his right wrist last Thursday. Will Smith is catching and batting third in Tuesday night's series opener against Chicago.

JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Austin Barnes Appears to Have Dodged Injury After Getting Hit By Pitch The veteran catcher was drilled in the hand by a fastball.

JUNE 9, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Provides Unnerving Update on Injured Catcher Austin Barnes This doesn’t sound very good.

JUNE 8, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Provides Unnerving Update on Injured Catcher Austin Barnes This doesn’t sound very good.

JUNE 8, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

X-rays negative X-rays on Barnes' right wrist came back negative Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Impact Barnes left Thursday's game against the Reds after taking a fastball to the hand, but he appears to have avoided a major injury. It's possible the Dodgers sideline Barnes for a few days to ensure he's fully-healed his next time out, but he should be able to avoid the IL.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sent for X-rays on hand Barnes was sent for X-rays on his right hand Thursday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

Impact The veteran catcher took an Ian Gibaut fastball off his hand in the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 6-0 win at Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon and manager Dave Roberts acknowledged afterward that it "didn't look good, didn't sound good." Los Angeles might have to make a 40-man roster move for a new backup to Will Smith if Barnes requires an IL stint.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leaves after HBP Barnes exited Thursday's game against the Reds after taking a pitch off his right hand, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Barnes got struck by an Ian Gibaut fastball in the top of the ninth inning and was replaced at catcher by Will Smith to begin the bottom of the ninth. It could have just been a precautionary move with Los Angeles leading 6-0 and only three outs to get. Barnes finished the day 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads back to bench Barnes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Though the Dodgers activated Will Smith (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Friday, he served as a designated hitter in his first two games back in action. As a result, Barnes continued to pick up starts behind the plate, but he'll head back to the bench Sunday with Smith deemed ready to make his return as the Dodgers' starting catcher. Assuming Smith sees most of his action at catcher moving forward, Barnes looks like he'll see his role get scaled back.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Steals second bag Barnes went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Thursday's loss against the Pirates.

Impact Barnes led off the fifth inning with a base hit before swiping his second bag of the year, matching his total in 62 games last season. The 33-year-old Barnes has been the Dodgers' primary option behind the plate with Will Smith (concussion) sidelined. While Barnes can run better than a typical catcher, he hasn't offered much with the bat, going just 3-for-38 with no extra-base hits to start the year.

APRIL 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Wednesday Barnes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Impact After starting behind the dish in each of the Dodgers' last three games, Barnes will get a breather Wednesday while Austin Wynns receives a turn behind the plate. Barnes should be back in the lineup for Thursday's series finale in Pittsburgh, but he'll likely revert to the No. 2 catcher's role by the weekend, when Will Smith (concussion) should be ready to return from the 7-day injured list.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Work picking up, but sits Wednesday Barnes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Impact Since Will Smith (concussion) last played April 12 before going on the 7-day injured list a few days later, Barnes has started at catcher in four of the Dodgers' past six games. Austin Wynns will get the nod behind the dish Wednesday, but Barnes should remain the Dodgers' preferred option at the position until Smith is back from the IL, likely no earlier than Friday.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Austin Barnes Addresses Ejection, What Lead Up to Argument Austin Barnes was ejected for the first time in his career. The Dodgers catcher addressed what happened to the media.

APRIL 10, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM