Since becoming an official position in the National League this season, the Designated Hitter role has proven to be extremely valuable for the Dodgers; none more so than for 28-year-old utility infielder Edwin Ríos.

In his 21 games as the Dodgers DH (out of the Dodgers thus far 45 games), the Caguas, Puerto Rico native, who was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB draft out of Florida International University in Miami, is 19-for-68 (.279) – the second-best batting average on the team behind only 29-year-old superstar right fielder Mookie Betts, who is 51-for-172 (.297). Ríos has also slugged six home runs thus far this season – second-most on the team behind (wait for it…) Mookie Betts’ 12. He has also driven in 16 runs and scored 11 runs – eighth and 10th-most on the team, respectively.

In Friday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, Ríos’ second-inning three-run home run to right field off of long-time Dodgers antagonist and former Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the eventual 6-4 win over the snakes.

“Eddie’s just a great clubhouse guy, everybody wants him to succeed,” Betts said of Ríos postgame. “He’s really become like a glue guy. Just to see him in there getting a chance and actually playing well, I think we’re all rooting for him.”

As Dodgers fans know, utility infielder Max Muncy has been struggling horribly at the plate, due in part to a lingering left elbow injury. Things have gotten so bad for the popular 31-year-old Midland, TX native and fifth-round draft pick in 2012 by the Oakland A’s out of Baylor University that he was hitting a meager .150 (20-for-133) with only three home runs and 14 RBI. As such, Ríos has seen increased playing time as the Dodgers DH, and to occasionally spell 32-year-old superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman and 37-year-old third baseman Justin Turner on defense.

“I’m always ready,” Ríos told reporters postgame. “It’s definitely good, definitely nice. Feels good knowing when you come to the field you’re going to play. Definitely soaking it in and trying to take advantage of it.”

Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has the luxury of utilizing Justin Turner, Freddie Freeman, and catcher Will Smith (along with Muncy) as his occasional DH, if Ríos continues to put up the kind of numbers that he has in that role, it will be difficult for Roberts not to have Ríos in his everyday lineup – DH or otherwise.

Play Ball!

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