One of the better Spring Training competitions to monitor for the Los Angeles Dodgers is in left field. A combination of youth, veterans and players working their way back from injuries will ultimately decide how the situation unfolds.
Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson, holdovers from the 2017 World Series roster, look to maintain their status in the outfield mix, while rookie Alex Verdugo is poised to enter the picture.
The return of Trayce Thompson and Andrew Toles from injuries further congests the depth, and that’s before even mentioning the surprising reacquisition of Matt Kemp.
Let’s analyze which players are in prime position to crack the Opening Day roster and which players may be on the outside looking in.
Kiké Hernandez: Hernandez isn’t exactly a prototypical left fielder, as the utility player appeared at seven different positions in 2017.
Hernandez saw most of his time in center field, but is capable of filling in at the corners, as well as any position in the infield. He once again crushed left-handed pitching last season and his defensive versatility makes him that much more valuable to the Dodgers.
Heading into the 2018 season, Hernandez will likely be deployed all around the diamond, as has been the case since the club acquired him. His defensive flexibility will be key, especially if the Dodgers only carry four bench players during the regular season.
That being said, Hernandez will still see his fair share of playing time in left field, especially when a southpaw is on the mound. But he won’t be limited to just that one position.
Matt Kemp: The Dodgers created shockwaves around the league with their trade to acquire Kemp from the Atlanta Braves in what was essentially a five-player salary dump for both teams.
Almost immediately after the trade was announced, it was widely assumed that the Dodgers would attempt to trade Kemp to an American League team, where he would be better suited as a designated hitter.
Such a trade never came to fruition, as Kemp reported to Camelback Ranch in a Dodgers uniform with redemption on his mind. He reportedly lost 40 pounds during the offseason and looks considerably better in the field compared to recent years.
One aspect of Kemp’s game that was never in question is his offense. Thus far in Spring Training, he has posted a 1.281 on-base plus slugging percentage, with four home runs in 29 at-bats.
What’s more, Kemp is seemingly fitting in with the rest of the clubhouse. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman echoed similar sentiments and believes there’s an increasing likelihood that he’ll break camp with the team.
Should Kemp indeed be included on the Opening Day roster, he’ll presumably see most of his opportunities against left-handed pitching. Though, he was actually more successful against right-handers last season.
On days where he isn’t starting, Kemp provides a potent bat off the bench. Having that kind of power late in games will only benefit the club, as it looks to capture its first World Series championship in 30 years.
Joc Pederson: After seeing a drop off in production at the plate during the regular season, Pederson redeemed himself with a World Series for the ages.
In 20 plate appearances across six games, the 25-year-old batted .333/.400/.944 with three home runs — becoming the first player in Dodgers history to do so since Davey Lopes in 1978.
Considering he was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City just two months prior, Pederson’s quick turnaround on baseball’s biggest stage is a tremendous feat of its own.
Despite his offensive success to close out the year, Pederson may not even be guaranteed a roster spot in 2018, let alone a prominent role in left field.
If the Dodgers intend to carry a four-man bench so as to stash eight relievers in the bullpen, roster spots will be scarce. Assuming Austin Barnes and Chase Utley are locks, that only leaves two openings — presumably to two outfielders.
Hernandez will almost surely claim one of those spots, given his ability to play all over the field and success against left-handed pitching. That means one spot will be up for grabs between five other outfielders on this list.
The fact that Pederson still has Minor League options remaining could leave him as one of the odd men out. He has struggled thus far in Cactus League play, which could make such a decision more palatable.
Of course, a trade or injury to one of the aforementioned names could drastically change the outlook. But for now, Pederson’s immediate future remains unclear.
Trayce Thompson: The 2017 season was a lost cause for Thompson, as he posted career-worsts in nearly every category.
He only appeared in 27 games at the Major League level and never returned to form after suffering a complicated back injury in 2016. As a result, Thompson expressed frustration with his lack of progress from a year ago.
Thompson looks to turn the page and has hit well in Spring Training thus far. But he still has an uphill battle to work his way back into the Dodgers’ long-term plans.
Unlike Pederson, Thompson is out of Minor League options, meaning he would have to pass through waivers to and accept an outright assignment to the Minors in order to remain with the organization. That could very well be the scenario that plays out, as the Dodgers are loaded with outfield depth and will have some tough cuts to make.
Andrew Toles: Toles appeared headed for a breakout campaign in 2017 after a torrid offensive display in the month of April. An unfortunate knee injury during the first week of May derailed those plans, however, as he tore his ACL and was sidelined for the rest of the season.
It was a long recovery process, but Toles is ready to cement himself back into the left field conversation. He hit his first home run of the spring to close out the month of February and believes his knee is reacting well to game action.
Toles has continued to tear the cover off the ball in Cactus League play and appears to have picked up where he left off. One can make a case that the former top prospect should start every game in left field, given his early success against both splits.
At the very least, Toles figures to have an edge for a platoon role at the position, with perhaps Hernandez or Kemp serving as a right-handed complement.
But like Pederson, Toles may be forced to open the year with Oklahoma City as a result of a roster crunch. However, if the 25-year-old continues at his current pace, he may very well force his way on to the Opening Day roster.
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo enters the 2018 season as the Dodgers’ consensus top positional prospect from multiple publications.
He spent most of last season with OKC, where he enjoyed a career year at the plate. That warranted a September call-up to Los Angeles, though Verdugo struggled in a limited sample size.
After his cup of coffee wit with the Dodgers, Verdugo reflected on the experience and praised a multitude of veteran players in the clubhouse for helping him adjust to the Majors.
Now the 21-year-old looks to prove he belongs at the big league level on a full-time basis. He has already clubbed two home runs in Spring Training to date, on top of posting a 1.024 OPS in 27 at-bats.
Given his inexperience and the plethora of other options vying for playing time in left field, Verdugo may be bound for Oklahoma City to begin the season.
Even if that’s case, Verdugo will certainly see time with the Dodgers at some point during the 2018 season, as the organization utilizes their depth to the fullest extent.
