When the Angels of Anaheim’s decided to release 41-year-old future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols, it was the equivalent of Christmas in May for Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. Shortly after the 2020 World Series, Friedman indicated that one of the team’s offseason priorities was to add an additional right-handed hitter for the 2021 season to complement the exceptional group of lefty hitters Cody Bellinger, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, and Corey Seager.

During Spring Training, the team held the equivalent of open tryouts for position players who hit from the starboard side of home plate. Internal options were limited, with outfield prospect DJ Peters at the top of the list. The Dodgers acquired infielder/outfielder Sheldon Neuse from the Oakland A’s to enter the competition and invited non-roster veterans Andy Burns, Matt Davidson, Rangel Ravelo, and Elliot Soto to Camelback Ranch for an opportunity to earn a roster spot.

At the end of Spring Training, none of the competitors had stepped up to claim the roster opportunity, with Neuse declared the de facto winner when Cody Bellinger went on the injured list with a broken leg, forcing the team to move utility player Chris Taylor to centerfield, with Neuse’s flexibility to play multiple infield and outfield positions being the deciding factor.

Thus far in the season, Neuse has slashed .178/.196/.333/.529, striking out 37% of plate appearances, with shaky defense.; not what Friedman had in mind when he went looking for an additional right-handed hitter. With the addition of Pujols, Neuse’s days with the team are numbered, only waiting for the return of Zach McKinstry from his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.

There are other players on the roster whose roster status is only as long as it takes for Scott Alexander, Bellinger, AJ Pollock, Tony Gonsolin, and Brusdar Graterol to return from the IL.

Luke Raley appears to be in a roster competition with 29-year-old Yoshi Tsutsugo, who was recently acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, or outfield prospect Zach Reks, who is one of the few Oklahoma City Dodgers who is having a good start to the Pacific Coast League season. Pitchers Dennis Santana, Edwin Uceta, and Alex Vesia are counting the days until they will return to the alternate training site at Camelback Ranch or to the Oklahoma City Dodgers roster.

Injuries have significantly contributed to the Dodgers’ uneven start to the 2021 season. But as players heal, the team’s roster will once again be deep and talented as they continue their quest for another World Championship.

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