When the Dodgers traded Matt Kemp and his lofty eight-year / $160 million contract to the San Diego Padres after the 2014 season for (then) 26-year-old highly-touted catcher Yasmani Grandal, they were hoping to get a defensive and even more so a switch-hitting offensive upgrade from (then) 35-year-old / seven-year MLB veteran catcher A.J. Ellis and his career .240 / .343 / .356 / .698 slash-line. What they got instead was a guy who was indeed an excellent defensive catcher – a 2015 All-Star, in fact – but a guy who never seemed to be 100 percent healthy. In fact, the (now) 27-year-old La Habana, Cuba native underwent what was called “clean-up” surgery on his left shoulder a week after the Dodgers were eliminated from the 2015 postseason.

When pitchers and catchers reported for spring training 2016, Grandal claimed that he was 100 percent healed from his off-season surgery but midway through camp he developed soreness in his right forearm and began the 2016 season on the disabled list. But even after returning to action one week into the new season, Grandal just didn’t seem quite right; this in spite of going 13 for 44 (.295) at the plate with one home run and throwing out three of nine would-be base stealers.

Like nearly every other Dodger, Grandal found himself mired in a slump when the calendar turned to May. He was 2 for 16 (.125) through May 10 and saw his season batting average drop to .250 with no additional home runs. By every appearance Grandal was still falling short of the guy that the Dodgers had hoped they were getting a little over a year earlier.

But then something happened; something very good.

On Wednesday night Grandal launched a 97-MPH Noah Syndergaard fastball into the Right Field Pavilion of Dodger Stadium for a solo home run – his first batting left-handed, which is considered his stronger side. (His first home run had come batting right-handed). And even though the Dodgers would go on to lose that game 4-3, Grandal’s swing looked exceptionally smooth and of the likes we have not seen since he joined the Dodgers.

After more than a year, Yasmani Grandal appears to finally be 100 percent healthy. He absolutely crushed Bartolo Colon’s 87-MPH fastball on Thursday night for a three-run home run.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But wait, there’s more!

On Thursday night Grandal hit another home run batting left-handed – this one a three-run shot off of veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon that landed halfway up the Right Field Pavilion. In fact, according to HitTrackerOnline.com, it traveled 446 feet. But what was most noteworthy about this home run – Grandal’s third of the season and his second in as many nights – was the confidence that he showed at the plate. Once again his swing was very smooth and nearly identical to the one the night before. Although it would be Grandal’s only hit on the night in his four plate appearances, he hit the ball very hard in each of his other three at-bats, with two fly ball outs to center field and a hard ground out to second base.

There is no argument – none whatsoever – that A.J. Ellis is a very valuable asset to the team and a huge favorite among Dodger fans. But the simple truth is that if Yasmani Grandal can remain healthy and continue to have the quality at-bats that he has over the past two nights. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts would be foolish not to give Grandal the bulk of the starts – especially with so many other Dodgers slumping right now.