Editorials

The Future of the Dodgers Infield

The Dodgers are currently one of the top teams in Major League Baseball if we are looking at their 2016 roster; however, things are changing. Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen, and Chase Utley are all free agents whose futures are uncertain. Adrian Gonzalez is right behind them, being that he will be a free agent in 2019. So what does our future look like with 3 of our infielders potentially leaving? You have nothing to worry about!

First Base

Adrian Gonzalez is not an easy act to follow. He is a career .290 hitter, with 308 home runs and 1954 hits. Luckily, the Dodgers have the 31st overall prospect in Major League Baseball as his successor.



Cody Bellinger is the Dodgers’ 1st overall prospect, and for good reason! In 114 games with the Tulsa Drillers this season, Bellinger hit .263, with 23 home runs and 65 runs batted in.

He was doing so well in Tulsa that he was called up to the triple-A OKC Dodgers for their playoff run. In 3 games with them, he hit .545, with 3 home runs and 6 runs batted in. He was essentially the definition of an impact player.

To top things off, Bellinger is quite the stud defensively. In 2016 with the Tulsa Drillers and OKC Dodgers, he put up a .997 fielding percentage. To put this into perspective, Gold Glover Adrian Gonzalez had a .998 fielding percentage in 2016.

Second Base

If the Dodgers do decide to resign Chase Utley, it will likely be something like a one year contract. If they don’t, Howie Kendrick could fill the void until he becomes a free agent himself. The team could even acquire a second baseman this offseason, such as Ian Kinsler.

The Possibility of a Dodgers and Tigers Trade

All of these players, however, would simply be placement cards until Willie Calhoun is ready to come up to the Majors.

Willie Calhoun had a great season with the Tulsa Drillers, hitting .254 with 27 home runs and 88 runs batted in. The number 4 prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system will add even more power to the lineup from 2nd base, which is something the Dodgers have not seen in a long time. His fielding percentage might be a little low at .957 for 2016, but him and Seager up the middle is without a doubt a deadly combination.

Shortstop

The Dodgers have one of Major League Baseball’s best players in Corey Seager as their everyday shortstop, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. In his rookie season with the Dodgers, Seager led the team in average and hits with .308 and 193, respectively. He also came in a close second in home runs with 26.

[graphiq id=”h8nQoscuhvf” title=”Corey Seager 2016 Complete Batting Splits” width=”640″ height=”801″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/h8nQoscuhvf” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/18836/Corey-Seager” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]

There is no doubt that the Dodgers plan on making Seager a franchise player. His ability to make adjustments at the plate is so valuable, not to mention he is doing that at only 22-years old. Plus, how can you not love a shortstop that has the power to hit 3 dingers in one game?

Third Base

This may be cheating, but I don’t apologize. I am banking on the Dodgers opening up their wallets and resigning Justin Turner for this one. There is just no one on the market that can match his abilities, both offensively and defensively. Plus, other than Rob Segedin, there are no players within the Dodgers organization who seem like they will be ready for the major leagues any time soon.

[graphiq id=”g6vy8eApVmR” title=”Justin Turner 2016 Complete Batting Splits” width=”640″ height=”822″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/g6vy8eApVmR” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/16635/Justin-Turner” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]

Justin Turner led the team in home runs and runs batted in with 27 and 90, respectively. He also put up a respectable .275 batting average and .339 on-base percentage. These big numbers came after Justin Turner slumped for the better part of the first half of the season. He was able to make adjustments to bring his numbers form .225 in the month of May to .286 in the month of June.

The infield is phenomenal now, but the future is so bright. With guys like Cody Bellinger and Willie Calhoun on their way to the majors and Corey Seager and Justin Turner holding it down, there is no telling what the 4 can do. All we can do is wait for now, but trust when I say that the wait will be worth it!

How this Years’ Playoff Defeat Compares to Years’ Past

Alex Perez

Whittier College Alumnus. Editor In Chief of Dodgers Nation. Lifelong Dodgers fan.

10 Comments

  1. What Dodgers need is a slugger OF (Braun, Cespedes…) and to Pederson improve A LOT his at-bats, specially his swing (that swing is PITIFUL) and plate discipline. 
    OF: Thompson, Pederson & Cespedes/Braun could it be pretty interesting.

  2. I will not be shocked to see Bellinger in the OF with Edwin Rios at 1b.  Just 22, Rios had a tremendous offensive 2015 season moving from Great Lakes to Tulsa.  Dodgers used him at 3b and 1b, but his fielding at the hot corner was really poor.  Dodgers need a stop gap second baseman for a couple of season until Omar Estevez is ready.  Only 18 playing at Lo A, Estevez started slowly but in second half of season he hit .293/.340/.458/.797 with 8 home runs and 40 rbi.

  3. gnrpuerari I believe team needs to find a full time spot for Toles next season; perhaps the leadoff hitter team has needed for years.  Love to have Cespedes, but no thanks on Braun. Dodgers could get the RH bat that hits LH pitching with powerto play second base; Ian Kinsler from Tigers? Logan Forsythe from Rays?  Blockbuster trade for DJ LeMahieu from Rockies (just wishful thinking)?

  4. Socalbum gnrpuerari :  In complete agreement on Toles. He is our leadoff hitter for many years to come.  A healthy Thompson with Toles and Pedersen and you don’t have to trade away anymore prospects.  I respect   Utley and love his attitude but he is done and we need to fill that hole but Culbertson, Hernandez, Segedin all showed they can play in the Bigs.  A 2 or 3 starter while shedding the walking wounded and we are set if we re-sign Turner and Jansen.  Please dump Blanton.

  5. Dodgers55 Socalbum gnrpuerari Liked what I saw of Thompson in ST and early season, but also watched him misplay several balls in the OF.  Offensively, he must use the whole field as he gets into the Kike Hernandez disease of trying to pull every pitch.  There are a couple of lesser known players who hit LH’ers very well that would be nice addition: LF Robbie Grossman (Twins), Brandon Guyer (Indians), and Wilmer Flores (Mets) as a utility player.

  6. Socalbum gnrpuerari:  My point is we have a lot of talent we saw late in the season and much more down on the farm.  Lets not trade it away for rentals like we did with Oakland and have on many other occasions in the past.

  7. Dodgers55 Socalbum gnrpuerari In my opinion, i’d keep Puig (he’s a fantastic defender) and IF he’s not injury, his bat in good enough to keep him.
    Reddick needs to, he doesn’t even should’ve come. I think that 2B is our biggest problem. Or we keep Kendrick there or we can bring Kinsler. Kendrick CAN’T play as OF, he sucks defensively.

  8. I agree Dodgers need to find room for Bellinger soon but they already have LH Ethier, Pederson and Toles in the outfield. He may just have to wait out Gonzalez for 2 more years. Dodgers really need to trade a little of their depth for Felix Hernandez or Justin Verlander until pitching prospects gain more major league experience.

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