January 27th, 2016 at 11:19 am 
by Ron Cervenka When the Dodgers broke spring training camp a year ago, there was zero doubt who their everyday center fielder would be. Not only did (then) 22-year-old Joc Pederson tear it up offensively during spring training hitting .338 with six home runs, he also made several outstanding defensive plays.
Through the first month of the 2015 season Pederson had an incredible slash-line of .298 / .461 / .596 for an alien-like 1.087 OPS. So good were his first month numbers that many were already handing him the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year trophy.
And then the bottom fell out.
As they always seem to do, major league pitchers quickly figured Pederson out and over the course of the next five months the young Palo Alto, CA native and fan-favorite saw his average drop nearly 100 points to finish the 2015 campaign with a less-than-stellar .210 batting average in 151 games played. Additionally, Pederson’s incredibly long (albeit powerful) swing led to a franchise-tying 170 strikeouts. He did, however, finish his rookie season with 26 home runs – second-most on the team behind Adrian Gonzalez’s 28.
Pederson’s swing is so powerful that it’s only a matter of time before he hits one completely out of Dodger Stadium. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Pederson’s struggles at the plate got so bad that former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly replaced him with 23-year-old super utility bench player Kiké Hernandez as his everyday center fielder for 19 games (18 starts) – a move that proved extremely successful for the team down the stretch until Hernandez suffered a left hamstring injury on August 30. Hernandez finished the 2015 season with a slash-line of .307 / .346 / .490 for an OPS of .839. Although Hernandez appeared in only 76 total games in his first full season with the Dodgers, the extremely popular San Juan, Puerto Rico native and Twitter regular slugged seven home runs and had 22 RBIs.
Many forget that Kiké Hernandez hit six home runs last spring tying him with Joc Pederson for the team lead. (Video Capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
No one can nor will argue that Pederson is a far superior defensive center fielder than Hernandez; in fact, it’s not even close. But at what point do the Dodgers trade better defense for better offense? It’s not that Kiké plays a bad center field, it’s just that Pederson plays a Gold Glove-caliber center field. And in spite of those 170 strikeouts, it’s impossible to say that Pederson’s 26 home runs weren’t a big reason why the Dodgers won their third consecutive NL West title last season.
But the Dodgers’ center field situation is not just a two-horse race. During the off-season, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi went out and acquired outfielders Trayce Thompson, Corey Brown, Alex Hassan and Rico Noel. They also have Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke and Alex Guerrero on their 40-man roster, although Puig is better suited in right and Ethier and Guerrero in left.
Realistically, there is absolutely no way that Joc Pederson won’t be the Dodgers 2016 Opening Day center fielder. The big question is, will he be the Dodgers center fielder on the final day of the season?
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I really do think Joc has to earn it again. He doesn’t have to come out of ST smoking hot but after 25 games or so he has to have gotten his hitting shoes on and be making better contact. Someone has to help him get a more compact swing.
This is a tough call Ron. If Joc would just shorten up a bit and not swing for the fences constantly… but we were saying that last year. He really needs to do some soul searching, because .210 with near 200 k’s just doesn’t cut it. Even with gold glove defense. I’d say that he’s trying out again for his position in ST. Certainly hoping he finds his way because he has the makings of a great ball player.
I think if he would just once, bunt down the 3b line when the defense plays the crazy shift on him, it would prove to everyone that he’s actually getting it.
Just do it. Even if you get out.
Agree, Bobby. Doing so would also probably get him better pitches to unload on. Good call.
I agree it is not a done deal. I think he will have some competition from Thompson. If he will just tap the ball down the left field line when the shift is on, he will get hits and the shift will end. He also needs to learn to steal 2nd. Of course that may change with a new manager.
First thing I can’t ignore is the Guerrero thing. Ron, did you really hint that Guerrero was in the mix for CF?
Joc did better in September and interestingly started to get walks again. Badger had a link to an article showing Joc was having trouble with an up and in fast ball, both in and out of the strike zone. When he tried to adjust to that pitch it affected his ability to hit the low and away pitch.
I guess that is why he changed his stance and now hits with his knees bent instead of standing straight up. That lowers the strike zone. If ya can’t hit the up and in fast ball, don’t swing at it and do something to make it a ball instead of a strike.
What took so long to change his stance. Joc’s pal, Pujols, bends his knees. Copy Pujols and then copy Bonds and choke up. Then copy Furcal’s slap bunt and Will’s regular bunts.
I think Joc catches the ball hit into right center in the playoffs that Kike’ didn’t get to.
Not at all, just that he’s on the 40-man… for now, that is.
Ron don’t feel bad, Nomar on the last two recent Dodger’s shows on TWC, has said that Joc doesn’t have the starting job in center this year. And Nomar has doubts that Joc can hit in the majors, because Joc’s lack of contact in the minors, and in the majors. Hopefully both Joc and Thompson can both hit this year. And I sure hope Joc does hit for Dodgers this year, and for Bum, because that is Bums favorite player.
Who is going to be signed to take Beachy’s place on the 40 man roster?
Now THAT is the multi-million-dollar question. I’m going with Howie (wishful thinking).
A few names that I’ve seen out there include:
Juan Uribe
Ian Desmond
Tyler Clippard
Yasiel Sierra is not on the 40 man of now. He will be correct? He will be taking Beachy’s spot…..
Good point.
Team will know early in ST if Joc worked in off season to remake his swing. Not only a long swing, but way too much head movement, and consistently opening his hips and front shoulder early in swing. First clue will be the size bat he chooses to use. Pretty fair ball player by the name of Mike Schmidt K’d almost 31% of the time in his first full MLB season compared to Joc’s 2%; Schmidt’s slash line that season was .196/.324/.373 compared to Joc’s .210/.346/.417. I think Joc has the talent, does he have the work ethic necessary to become a premiere player?
Typo on Joc’s K rate — obviously 2% is incorrect, it was 29%
As a 23 year-old rookie, this player only had 443 Plate Appearances, but he hit 18 HR while walking 62 times with a whooping 136 Strikeouts. His BA was .196 and he OPS’ed .697!
He went on to hit 530 more HR, although he continued to strike out at a high rate and walk at a high rate. He’s was about the same size as Joc Pederson who had 540 PA as a 23 year-old rookie where he hit 26 HR, walked 92 times, batted .210 and OPS’ed .763.
Mike Schmidt continued to adjust and grow as a hitter and is in the Hall-of-Fame, but Joc arguably had a better rookie year at the same age! I’m not saying Joc is bound for Cooperstown, but none of us have a clue what he will do. Will he stay the same, grow as a hitter or regress as a hitter? It’s one of those three choices. I hope he grows, but I have no opinion what he will do.
Exactly! Hard work and adjustments will determine whether Joc is the next Jerry Sands or Dale Murphy.
Mark thanks I didn’t think Joc was as big as Mike. Is Joc as built as Mike was?
Mike was 6′ 2″ 195.
Joc is 6′ 1″ 215.
One thing the Dodgers DON”T NEED and that’s another outfielder, unless he’s a real bonafide superstar. I think that this team should really give Joc a chance. By changing their personal, not only does the team seem unfamiliar to it’s fans but I think it slows up the march to success.