Once a regular in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, Andre Ethier went through a down year in 2014 that he bounced back from the following season. He went into 2016 figuring to compete for an everyday role in left field.
Ethier was in the midst of an impressive Spring Training, when a foul ball off his right leg threw his entire year off course. Initially diagnosed with a lower leg contusion, Ethier did not show expected signs of recovery.
A follow-up examination revealed he sustained a fractured tibia. Ethier was projected to miss 10 to 14 weeks, but didn’t return from the disabled list until September.
An identical scenario unfolded this season, as Ethier was bothered by back and hip trouble during the spring. It was eventually revealed to be cause of a herniated disc in his lower back. The 35-year-old was activated off the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 1.
While he’s essentially missed two full seasons, the veteran outfielder is nonetheless confident in his ability to still play and make an impact, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Oh, 100 percent. I believed that last year when I came back,” Ethier says. “Whether more baseball is this month or until the end of October, I don’t know.”
When Ethier returned last September, he went 5-for-24 with one double, one home run, two RBI, two walks and six strikeouts in 16 games (three starts). It was enough for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to include Ethier on the team’s postseason roster for both their series.
He appeared in eight playoff games off the bench, and had two hits, including one home run, and one walk in seven plate appearances.
Roberts has not ruled out the same situation unfolding this October. In 10 games (three starts) thus far, Ethier is 4-for-15 with one home run, one RBI, one walk and five strikeouts. He’s starting in Friday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals.
While Ethier may have intentions of playing beyond 2017, whether it comes with the Dodgers is unlikely. Rather than exercise a $17.5 million team option for next season, the club is much more likely to pay a $2.5 million buyout.
That’s not to say a reunion would be completely out of the question. After all, the Dodgers did re-sign Chase Utley during the offseason, even after trading for Logan Forsythe.
