Jorbit Vivas reached Triple-A in 2023, his second year on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, the infielder moving one step closer to the majors.
In spring training Vivas played more third base than second base, two positions he’s played regularly since the Dodgers signed him out of Venezuela in 2017. But during the regular season, Vivas started 120 times at second and only 12 times at third.
He got off to a hot start with Double-A Tulsa by hitting .346/.458/.667 in April. He won Texas League player of the week for April 18-23, and started the season with a 16-game hit streak during which he had 10 doubles, four home runs, and a triple.
Vivas didn’t have anywhere near that kind of power the rest of the year, with 14 doubles, nine home runs, two triples, and a .103 isolated power through the end of the season. But he was still productive at times, including an .800-plus OPS in both June and July.
After hitting .280/.391/.436 with a 123 wRC+ for Tulsa, Vivas was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 22.
Vivas took his lumps in Triple-A, hitting .225/.339/.294 with a 63 wRC+ in 26 games for Oklahoma City. But that’s to be expected considering Vivas at 22 was the youngest player on the team.
He kept his plate discipline in Triple-A, walking 12.4 percent of the time along with a relatively-low 15.7-percent strikeout rate that was Vivas’ highest at any affiliate since rookie-level Ogden in 2019. Over the last two seasons, Vivas between High-A, Double-A, Triple-A, and the Arizona Fall League has more walks (138) than strikeouts (135).
Vivas led all Dodgers minor leaguers in getting hit by a pitch 27 times this season, and he’s been hit by 68 pitches over the last three years.
If there’s something to watch going forward for Vivas, aside from general improvement in his second stint in Triple-A, it’s whether the left-handed hitter can gain any traction against left-handed pitchers. Vivas this season hit .279/.394/.435 with all 13 home runs and 21 of his 25 doubles against right-handed pitchers, and hit just .232/.331/.306 against southpaws. Over the last two seasons, Vivas has an .817 OPS against righties and .664 against lefties.
Vivas started at second base for all three postseason games for Oklahoma City, including winning the Pacific Coast League championship. He had one single in eight at-bats, walked four times, stole a base, and scored three runs.
2023 particulars
Age: 22
Stats: .269/.381/.407, 13 HR, 25 2B, 111 wRC+ between Double-A/Triple-A
Salary: in minors all year (minimum salary for non-first-year players on a 40-man roster in 2023 was $117,400, per the collective bargaining agreement)
Game of the year
Vivas had a season-high four hits for Oklahoma City on September 7 on the road against Sugar Land, and it came at a perfect time. In his first 13 games in Triple-A, Vivas had no extra-base hits, but in this game he hit for the cycle.
He doubled in the second inning, hit a home run in the fifth inning, singled in the seventh inning, and tripled in the ninth to complete the cycle.
Jorbit Vivas leads off the ninth inning with a triple to complete the cycle!!! pic.twitter.com/fBgcr9vudc
— Oklahoma City Dodgers (@okc_dodgers) September 8, 2023
Roster status
Vivas hasn’t yet reached the majors so he has no service time. He has one option year remaining, having used options in 2022 and 2023.