Over the past few seasons Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernandez combined to provide the Los Angeles Dodgers with a wealth of versatility and in some sense revamped the utility role. Now, Taylor shares that responsibility with Zach McKinstry.
Hernandez departed via free agency in search of an everyday role at one position, which created an opportunity for McKinstry. He has been on the rise since 2019 and continued to impress in every opportunity with the Dodgers thus far.
“He’s been great. The biggest thing is he’s having fun out there. He’s playing with energy, he’s making big plays in the outfield,” Taylor said of McKinstry.
“He hasn’t played much outfield before, but he’s been outstanding out there. And just putting good at-bats together. We saw a lot of that last year in the Summer Camp. I thought he was one of our best hitters in Summer Camp last year. Unfortunately he didn’t really get his opportunity because there wasn’t many open spaces.
“This year he’s really showing. I think he’s been ready for quite some time. He’s doing a heck of a job.”
McKinstry made another start in right field on Saturday because Mookie Betts is still on the mend from lower back stiffness, and he helped Julio Urias escape trouble in the first inning by throwing out Ryan Zimmerman at third base.
McKinstry then provided a two-run single in the second, which gave the Dodgers their first lead and they never trailed again in the 9-5 win.
Taylor humbled by comparison to McKinstry
Prior to McKinstry making another start in right field, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts drew a parallel between the rookie and Taylor. “Each time he gets out there he gets better. He’s kind of cut from that Chris Taylor cloth, where it doesn’t matter,” Roberts said.
“He just wants to play and he’ll figure it out and make the plays. That’s what he’s done for us.”
Even with Taylor being the more experienced of the two, he was humbled by the comparison. “I think we’re each our own player. He’s a great player. Honestly, I take that as a compliment to myself,” Taylor said.
“He puts great at-bats together and I think we’re just seeing the beginning. I think he’s going to have an outstanding year for us. I don’t think this is a hot streak or anything. He’s just playing up to all of our expectations.
“He’s outstanding. I think defensively he’s probably getting comfortable playing multiple positions, kind of like I was early on in 2017. So far he’s doing a great job.”
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