The Los Angeles Dodgers underwent a lot of changes to their roster during the offseason, but so far they have not seen their production dip and even set a franchise record for the most extra-base hits through the first 60 games of a season.
The 2023 Dodgers produced 223 extra-base hits through the series finale against the New York Yankees, surpassing their previous franchise record of 221, which was set during the 60-game season in 2020. The third-place mark belongs to the 2000 Dodgers team that had 218 extra-base hits, and prior to that it belonged to the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers team which had 215.
During the offseason the Dodgers let Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Joey Gallo, Edwin Ríos and Hanser Alberto leave in free agency. Gavin Lux then suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Spring Training, which further depleted theIR offensive talent.
The Dodgers did acquire J.D. Martinez, David Peralta, Jason Heyward and Miguel Rojas to add depth to their lineup, and they also opened up spots for James Outman and Miguel Vargas to take on everyday roles.
Martinez has been the most productive member of the group, producing 31 extra-base hits in his 45 games, including 15 home runs and 14 doubles. However, the offense has mostly been carried by Freddie Freeman, who has 35 extra-base hits in his 61 games.
Freeman leads MLB with 23 doubles and he has also added 11 home runs. The superstar had 24 of his extra-base hits, including 17 doubles, during May, which set the Dodgers’ record for most extra-base hits and two-base hits by one player in any calendar month.
Babe Herman (July 1930) and Duke Snider (June 1954) previously shared the Dodgers record with 23. Herman also held the Dodgers franchise record for most doubles in a month with 16, which came in July of 1930 as well.
Freeman’s historic May earned him National League Player of the Month honors after batting .400/.462/.722 over 28 games, which made him the first Dodgers player to take home the honors since Bellinger did so in April 2019.
Other key extra-base hit contributors on the Dodgers are Mookie Betts (30), Max Muncy (23), Miguel Vargas (21), James Outman (20), Chris Taylor (16), Will Smith (15) and Jason Heyward (14).
Among Dodgers hitters with at least 20 at-bats, Austin Barnes (one) is the only player without at least five extra-base hits this year. Trayce Thompson and Miguel Rojas each have five exactly, with all of the former’s coming via the long ball and all of the latter’s being doubles.
Dodgers attendance reached 2023 season-high during Yankees series
The Yankees played at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2019, and just like MLB Players Weekend, they took two of three games from the Dodgers.
The highly-anticipated matchup produced three consecutive sellouts at Dodger Stadium, bringing the Dodgers to 10 capacity crowds thus far on the season.
Dodgers attendance for the series opener on Friday night was announced at 52,534, which gave them their largest home crowd of the season. However, that mark didn’t last long as the Dodgers had an announced attendance of 52,975 on Saturday for a new Dodger Stadium record during the 2023 season.
ESPN Sunday Night Baseball had an announced attendance of 52,816.
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