SAN DIEGO, CA—Perhaps the biggest problem that the Los Angeles Dodgers have faced this season has been left field.
During this past offseason, the Dodgers had hoped that veteran outfielder and left-handed hitter Michael Conforto would be an above-average player to balance out their position player lineup.
That has not been the case this season.
You’ve seen the stats, and we’ve reviewed them in a previous article, but to summarize: Conforto is statistically one of the worst hitters in Major League Baseball this season.
However, due to the number of Dodgers positional players currently on the injured list, the team has no alternative but to throw Conforto out there, hoping for the best.
Well, that is soon to change as multiple players, such as Hyeseong Kim and Kiké Hernández, are expected to rejoin the team next week. So what does that mean for the outfield?
Hyeseong Kim Will See More Time in LF on Rehab Stint
Prior to yesterday’s game, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts stated that Kim will get some more looks in left field during his minor league rehab stint with the Oklahoma City Comets in Triple-A.
Kim made his first rehab start on Thursday, collecting two hits in three at-bats, and was seen interestingly in left field with fellow teammate Kiké Hernández in center.
That sparked some speculation online about whether the Dodgers might be planning to move Kim to left field at the major league level upon his activation, a move Roberts confirmed.
Kim has never appeared in left during his time at the big league level, but the position is not foreign to him, having played there in the minor leagues and the Korean Baseball Organization before coming over to the States.
Kim, 26, quickly gained popularity after a fiery debut in his Major League career following his call-up in May. Although he posted an elite slash line, the Dodgers hesitated to give the former KBO star regular playing time, especially refusing to play him against left-handed pitchers.
Kim has struggled in July (as did much of the Dodgers’ offense), hitting .204/.218/.222 with a .440 OPS and 20 wRC+, along with seeing his strikeout rate nearly double to 40.0% in fifty-four at-bats.
Kim is a plus defender, with his best position being second base, but the Dodgers could be getting creative for Kim to take the reins in left, hopefully replacing Conforto.
Roberts also confirmed that Kiké Hernández, who will be active for the upcoming series against the Cincinnati Reds, could also be an option in left.
Edman & Team Hopeful he’ll be a Feasible Option in CF
One player the Dodgers have missed significantly is utilityman and 2024 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award winner Tommy Edman.
Edman, 30, has missed significant time this season due to a lingering ankle injury that has plagued him since last season, before even being traded to Los Angeles.
While Edman has filled in time at second, short, and even third, where the organization truly planned for him to be was center field, and that still remains the plan.
The Dodgers and Edman are eyeing a mid-September return, as he is finally beginning to ramp up baseball activities to the point where he is now running.
“It’s felt good with all the steps that I’ve been doing so far,” Edman said. “I’m taking it slower than last time just to make sure I’m not irritating the tissue any further.”
The team hopes that Edman’s ankle is healed enough that he can be a feasible option in center field, which would open up the door for Andy Pages to move to right field and Teoscar Hernández to left.
If his ankle is not ready for the outfield grass, the most likely outcome is second base.
Teoscar Hernández is an Option for LF
One option that many fans have been calling for recently is moving Teoscar Hernández back to left field, following his defensive miscues in right.
Hernández, 32, has never been known as a defensive first player, making up for the lack of clean play with his offense. However, this season, it’s been more of an issue.
While his defensive metrics are very similar to last season, where Hernández ranked in the bottom half of the league in OAA and fielding percentage, the ball has seemingly found him in more instances than last year.
With the Dodgers’ position player group starting to get healthier, could there be a move for Hernández going on? Back to the left? Dave Roberts said he’s thought about it.
While Roberts said he hasn’t talked with Hernández directly about any switch to left field to boost the offensive output there, he said, “it’s something I’ve thought about.”
Any switch won’t be made until both Edman and Kiké are activated, giving the team more depth.
However, one move that likely won’t happen is moving Mookie Betts away from shortstop to right field, a move that many have asked for, but the eight-time All-Star has looked fantastic at short as of late, including multiple dazzling plays in yesterday’s Game One loss.
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