Spring Training was eventful for the Los Angeles Dodgers, whether it be the acquisitions of Mookie Betts and David Price just before pitchers and catchers reported, Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, key players dealing with injuries, or the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
As Opening Day rapidly approached, it required Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to begin penciling his 26-man roster. One player who may have been in danger of missing the first couple weeks of the season was Joc Pederson.
He had ben dealing with a minor right hip injury that kept him off the field the entire spring. Pederson was able to get in a Minor League game for the first time this week, so there was progress in his recovery.
So much so that Roberts anticipated Pederson appearing in a Cactus League game soon and likely being ready for Opening Day, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Joc Pederson hasn’t played in a Cactus League game yet because of a right hip injury, but manager Dave Roberts said he still believes the outfielder can make the Opening Day roster. Pederson played five innings in one Minor League game and Roberts said he could play in a Major League game “sometime next week,” pushing back a previous timeline of this weekend.
Of course, when Opening Day will be is now unknown. With MLB initially delaying the start of the season for a minimum of two weeks, the earliest the season would begin in April 9; a start in May is considered more likely. Pederson presumably would make a full recovery by that time.
Pederson is coming off a career season in which he played 149 games, batting .249/.339/.538 with 36 home runs, 83 runs scored and 74 RBI.
He was nearly traded to the L.A. Angels just before the start of the spring, but the deal was called off by owner Arte Moreno. So Pederson figures to be the primary left fielder when the Dodgers face right-handed pitching. AJ Pollock will likely see a lot of time against left-handed pitching as a part of the platoon.
Pederson lost his arbitration case and is due to become a free agent after the 2020 season.
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