LOS ANGELES — In employing Dave Roberts and Ron Washington as their respective managers, the Dodgers and Angels are the only two Major League Baseball clubs led on the field by Black men.
While he pointed to larger improvements in increasing diversity on the bench around the sport, Roberts thinks that number will only grow when there are more Black executives in positions of power to make those hires.
“Just speaking candidly, you know, the world hires people that look like ‘em, and so I think that’s the challenge and something I think we’re trying to address in our game itself,” Roberts said Saturday before the game against the Kansas City Royals, which marked the Dodgers’ Black heritage night.
Roberts, who is in his ninth season managing the Dodgers, believes baseball as a whole has improved in efforts to hire the best coaches regardless of race. He pointed to the six Latino managers around the league this season, which is a record.
“Well, diversity is one question,” Roberts said. “I think that we’ve gotten a lot better. You see Latin American managers, I think that’s great. You know as far as Black managers, myself and Wash, I just think it’s the executive side.”
When asked how to accelerate that progress at the corporate level, Roberts was more reserved.
“I’m gonna stand down,” he said. “I gave my thoughts, and then after that, kind of let the powers that be decide on that one.”
The Dodgers’ recognition and Roberts’ assessment come amid ongoing efforts by the sport to better reflect and connect with its Black history and fans.
Records from the Negro Leagues were officially recognized and accounted for in MLB statistics beginning in May.
The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants will play a game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday. The newly renovated stadium is the oldest ballpark in America and was home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1960.
“I think that baseball is continuing to get it right and kind of correct some things that I don’t think that we were great at in the sense of appreciating the platform that we have and appreciating how many people now recognize the great men, the great athletes in baseball that they are identifying with,” Roberts said.
Roberts actually played at Rickwood Field in the late 1990’s as a minor leaguer en route to a 10-year major league career.
“At that point in time, I knew about the Black Barons, but I didn’t know, I didn’t appreciate it,” he said. “I was young and dumb.”
The Dodgers’ Black heritage night festivities included pregame performances by Black fraternities and sororities. Star shortstop Mookie Betts designed a special jersey that was given to fans who bought a ticket package.
“Black heritage tonight, I’d say frankly this is the most I’ve seen colored people, Black people at Dodger Stadium home games, and for me that excites me,” Roberts said.
WAYS TO GO
Max Muncy has not played since May 15 because of a strained oblique, and Roberts does not expect the third baseman back anytime soon.
“Honestly, I don’t know a timeline, but it’s even slower than I think we all expected,” Roberts said.
Muncy is limited to “fielding, throwing, (and) running” right now, according to Roberts.
“Right now, he’s gonna take another week off from swinging,” Roberts said. “He wasn’t even swinging the bat, even like the rotational plyo (plyometric exercises).”
Muncy was hitting .223 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 40 games before he was hurt.
With Muncy out, the Dodgers traded for reserve infielder Cavan Biggio on Wednesday, picking him up from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday for minor-league pitcher Braydon Fisher.
Biggio made his Dodgers debut on Saturday, hitting seventh.
GETTING CLOSE
Clayton Kershaw is set to begin a rehabilitation assignment for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga next week, which includes a scheduled start on Wednesday.
“I think he’s already over the whole rehab process, but at least to get in a situation where it’s game-like because it is a game, I know he’s looking forward to that,” Roberts said of Kershaw, who had shoulder surgery in November.
UP NEXT
Royals (RHP Brady Singer, 4-3, 3.30 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 6-5, 3.24 ERA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network, 570 AM