December 2nd, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was a moment in Dodger history that will never be forgotten – not ever. How could it be? It was a dramatic bottom-of-the-10th-inning walk-off home run in the final home game of the regular season that not only won the game for the Dodgers but it also clinched their franchise record-setting fourth consecutive National League West title. But most of all and the big reason why it shall forever be remembered is because it was the final home run call that legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully would ever make at Dodger Stadium … ever; and it belonged to a little-used utility infielder by the name of Charlie Culberson. With one swing of the bat, the 27-year-old Rome, Georgia native etched his name into Dodgers immortality – this in spite of the fact that it was and still is his one and only home run as a Dodger.
If Charlie Culberson never hits another home run again in his life, he will forever be remembered for the one that he hit in the final home game of the 2016 season that clinched the NL West Division title for the Dodgers.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka. – Click on photo to view video)
On Thursday afternoon, it was reported that the Dodgers had re-signed the soft-spoken utility infielder – who had a grand total of 68 plate appearances in the 34 games in which he appeared for the Dodgers in 2016 – to a one-year deal worth a reported $550,000. That’s it. Done deal; a mere $42,500 above the current MLB minimum salary of $507,500 (although this amount will probably increase when the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is ratified in the coming days) and a scant $15,000 more than he made in 2016.
What makes the Culberson re-signing both interesting and unusual is that the Dodgers didn’t have to do it. Culberson was not among their arbitration-eligible players. They simply threw the low-risk/potentially high-reward offer out there and the latest Dodgers rock star hero accepted it – boom, end of story.
For those unfamiliar with Culberson, he was selected in the first round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Calhoun High School in Calhoun, Georgia by the (wait for it…) San Francisco Giants, with whom he made his MLB debut on May 13, 2012. After appearing in only six games with the Giants he was optioned back to the minors and eventually traded to the Colorado Rockies on July 28, 2012 for second baseman Marco Scutaro. Culberson would appear in a total of 142 games for the Rockies over the next two seasons. He then missed the entire 2015 due to a back injury and elected free agency at the conclusion of the season and was signed by the Dodgers on November 19, 2015 to a one-year / $535,000 minor league contract.
Due to a spring training injury to Dodgers second baseman/outfielder Howie Kendrick, Culberson made the Dodgers 2016 Opening Day roster, appearing in 15 games and hitting .259 with two doubles and four RBI. He was optioned to Oklahoma City on May 18 and recalled by the Dodgers on July 20. The following day he was designated for assignment and optioned back to OKC on July 23. The Dodgers then recalled Culberson on August 23 and he remained with the major league club for the remainder of the regular season.
Culberson finished the 2016 season with a .299 batting average (20-for-68), a .309 on-base percentage and a .388 slugging percentage for an OPS of .697 – not great numbers but good enough to be included on the National League Division Series roster against the Washington Nationals. Unfortunately, he went 0-for-7 with two strikeouts in the Division Series and was left off of the NLCS roster against the Chicago Cubs.
Culberson celebrates with his teammates after his dramatic game-winning, division-clinching walk-off home run on September 25, 2016. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
But all of this aside and considering the fact that Culberson was not arbitration eligible, re-signing him for less than he probably would have received if he had been arbitration eligible is simply a great deal and steal for the Dodgers.
And come on, it’s Charlie Culberson we’re talking about here – the guy who will forever be linked to Vin Scully’s now famous “Would you believe a home run? And the Dodgers have clinched the division and will celebrate on schedule” call; the last home run call that Scully will ever make at Dodger Stadium.
Welcome back, Charlie!
Now, if we can just get Vin to come back.
Posted in 
@Dodgers Yikes!. JT’s replacement!
Welcome back Charlie.
From the limited times I watched Charlie play it seemed that he was much better at shortstop than he was at second base. He is a good defender and good pitching and defense is part of the formula of winning games.
Its interesting how an athlete can be a superb defender and yet struggle at the plate. They have the reflexes, can judge a fly ball, have good eyesight, but I guess the curve ball trumps all that.
Bums, I know that you know that hitting a round ball with a round bat being thrown 60′ 6” inches away from a pitcher throwing down hill, with ever changing speeds, ball movement/spin rate, coming from different arm slots and release points, with different body turns…is the hardest skill to achieve consistent success at in all of sports. Name another sport where you can be a consensus All-Star and fail 70% of the time.
I agree with you that Charlie is a better SS who appears to be less comfortable at 2B. But he did make some marvelous defensive plays at 2B last year. He is the consummate utility infielder. Not a star, but he will grind it out and play hard defensively and still get you some offense. I know I always felt more comfortable with Charlie in the lineup more than Kike’ or Chris Taylor (I know I may be in the minority). I would be more than fine if Chase Utley (L) and Charlie Culberson (R) were the infield reserves for LAD. I just do not know if Chase wants to stay home and be a reserve or go someplace else and start.
I will not be surprised to see Culberson platooned at 2b with a LH hitter like Descalso, Utley, or trade for Marlins Dietrich? I like the way Culberson plays the game and believe with more regular playing time he could be a fine platoon player.
There’s no way the @Dodgers could let @cculberson23 wear another uni next season. One of the stars of Vin’s last game gone? NO