Dave Roberts Reveals Why Dodgers Catching Prospect Hasn't Played This Spring

Why this prospect didn't play.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently revealed why one prospect has yet to make his Cactus League debut this season. 

Diego Cartaya, the 22-year-old catching prospect who signed from Venezuela back in 2018, is dealing with a back issue that has kept him out of Spring Training. Roberts did say that Cartaya should be ready for the beginning of the minor league season, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

Dodgers catching prospect Diego Cartaya has been dealing with a back issue this spring. Similar to the stuff he’s dealt with in the past.

It’s why he hasn’t gotten into Cactus League action yet, though Dave Roberts said he should be ready for the start of the MiLB season.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 2, 2024

Though many would have liked to see Cartaya in action this spring, with the other major leaguers, it won't happen due to his back issues. Instead, the Dodgers optioned Cartaya back to Double-A Tulsa on Sunday.

Cartaya looks to have a bright future. He was a consensus top-100 prospect in 2022 and 2023.

His prospect stock has fallen a bit since. Cartaya wasn't at his best in 2023. He hit 19 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .189 batting average at Double-A Tulsa. His .278 OBP represented a 100-point drop from his 2022 season split between high-A and low-A. 

Once healthy, Cartaya will look to rebound in 2024.