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Dodgers: Edwin Rios Has Started Swinging A Bat After Season Ending Surgery

In a 162 game season, it’s easy to forget about the guys who got injured early on. We were reminded of Dustin May after he was seen throwing a ball after his Tommy John surgery that cost him his 2021 season. Now it’s time to remember Edwin Rios.

Rios was lost to a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, ending his season back in May. This was a tough one for Dodger fans and for Rios. The slugger was struggling mightily before the surgery. His 2021 campaign ended with him going just 4 for 51, posting a .354 OPS. This was tough on Rios because when he was struggling, the fans were really getting on him. He was whiffing at a legendary rate.



However, when it came out he had been playing through a pretty serious injury, it sure explained a lot. Fans can be tough when a player is struggling, but to find out that his beautiful swing was hampered by a serious shoulder injury was heartbreaking for Rios.

The Beautiful Swing Returns

Dustin May appears to be rehabbing with Rios, as he posted this video to his Instagram of Rios back in the cage, swinging the bat.

What Can A Healthy Rios Bring Again?

Rios had great success in limited 2020 play. This is a quote from a Dodgers Nation piece from last September!

“In only 75 at-bats this season, Ríos has 14 extra-base hits — 8 home runs, 6 doubles. At that rate, he is hitting a homer once every 10.6 at-bats, which is just ridiculous. To top it off, his average exit velocity of 92.6 MPH puts him in the top 15% of all hitters. In other words, if he puts a ball in play, you’ll hear it.”

That beautiful swing provides a tremendous amount of power. Rios will likely always be a high strikeout guy, but that’s okay. Rios brings the power. The Dodgers will be happy to have another power-hitting lefty back and add to the bench options for the 2022 season.

NEXT: Insider Suggests LA Could Offer Clayton Kershaw Incentive Laden Contract

AJ Gonzalez

AJ is a lifelong Dodgers and Lakers fan who grew up in California. His whole family is also lifelong Dodgers fans. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, two kids, his guitars, and beagle Kobe.

23 Comments

  1. It wears thin, this constant excuse of playing through an injury that supposedly has hampered your swing and reason for the horrible hitting. If you can’t swing the bat effectively, you shouldn’t be in the lineup, as you’re unjustifiably giving away 3-4 outs every game he starts. This includes Bellinger, who should have been sent down to AAA to either get healthy or fix his issues swinging the bat. The detriment that came from him playing was worse than having him in AAA for a couple of months. He provider so little offensively, his few defensive moments did little to erase the former.

    1. and yet Belli was one of our best hitters in the playoffs! Dodgers did exactly the right thing keeping him up in the bigs while he got stronger, healed up and worked on a new swing – all at the same time, while recovering from the broken leg he received from that stupid pitcher at first base!

      1. “and yet Belli was one of our best hitters in the playoffs!”

        A testament to how bad the hitting was in the playoffs, less the incredible game by Taylor.

        1. Belli was the 2nd best hitter behind CT3 and ahead of all the great worthless season hitters!

  2. I predict that he will either be traded or DFA’d. There really is no place for him anymore.

  3. Having Rios injured and not able to play at full strength was a big loss. He hits a ton, plays 1st and 3rd and some left field. I agree shoulder injuries take awhile to get strong but I also read he had been dealing w shoulder pain since college, and he still made it to the bigs. I’d keep him, his ceiling is very high.

  4. I certainly think there is a place for Rios when healthy…it’s reasonable to project him as a bench player and I suspect his work in 2020 played into the decision to let Joc walk to a degree. I just wish players (and the club for that matter) would own up to injuries as soon as they are aware of them. Shoulder injuries are a bear; I sure hope we see a healthy Rios sooner rather than later next year.

  5. Rios – he never impressed me. I don’t know – it’s a long time before he’s recovered and swinging the bat well. Hope he comes all the way back, and we’ll see what we got come ST

    1. My take is Rios will never hit for high average. He’s got lots of pop but a really high k ratio. All or non. Not great if you ask me. Rather have more contact hitters.

  6. For anyone doubting Rios: rather than operating on your gut reaction (or ‘feelings’) go check out his 2020 stats – both regular season and postseason. Based on those statistics, he could have been considered as a viable replacement for Justin Turner if he had gone elsewhere. (Of course, fortunately, that wasn’t the case.)

  7. Bellinger changed his approach to hitting in the post-season. He did not all of a sudden get healthy. He choked up on the bat, widened his stance and stopped using a severe uppercut. He tried to hit the ball as it was pitched, not trying to hit everything into the stands, on every swing. He went from a .165 batting average and a very low OPS to a .353 batting average and .900 OPS in the 12 games in the post-season. If he follows the path he chose in the post-season, he could again be a very valuable player. He could be an all-star. It is up to him.

    1. I feel he only did that to help the team in October. The regular season a lot of these guys play selfish for their career stats and potential contracts they can earn. He wants to be a power hitter. His postseason approach won’t get him there, of course neither will whatever his approach was during the 2021 season.

    1. They’re going to be fine for years under their current regime. Tons of money and the ability to pick up under the radar guys. Joey Fart should be good

  8. Another full time lefty in the lineup doesn’t bode well. We always struggle against southpaws

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