
How has the Dodgers’ Roster Changed Since Opening Day 2016?
A lot has changed from Apr. 4 to now. Now that the calendar has flipped to September, let’s take compare the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster to the roster today.
Opening Day Roster | Active Roster Today | |
Starting Pitchers | 1. Clayton Kershaw | 1. Rich Hill |
2. Scott Kazmir | 2. Kenta Maeda | |
3. Kenta Maeda | 3. Julio Urias | |
4. Alex Wood | 4. Ross Stripling | |
5. Ross Stripling | 5. Bud Norris |
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The biggest change is the fact that former Cy Young Winner, Clayton Kershaw is not on top of the pitching rotation.
Instead it is newly acquired Rich Hill from the Oakland Athletics manning the top of the Dodgers starters. Also, new to the boys in blue this year, Bud Norris has become a pitcher the Dodgers rely on in times of need.
20-year old Julio Urias made his major league debut against the New York Mets in late May at 19 years old. Since then the young pitcher has gone 5-1.
Opening Day Roster | Active Roster Today | ||
Bullpen | RHP- Kenley Jansen | RHP- Casey Fien | |
RHP- Chris Hatcher | LHP- Jesse Chavez | ||
LHP- J.P. Howell | LHP- J.P. Howell | ||
RHP- Joe Blanton | LHP- Adam Liberatore | ||
RHP- Pedro Baez | LHP- Grant Dayton | ||
RHP- Yimi Garcia | RHP- Joe Blanton | ||
RHP- Louis Coleman | RHP- Kenley Jansen |
Other than that, the Dodgers have been riddled with so many injuries, that constant changes were made to the bullpen.The only two constants from the Opening Day Roster are relief pitcher Joe Blanton and closer Kenley Jansen.
[graphiq id=”7tHMwtBrEfb” title=”Los Angeles Dodgers 2016 Bullpen” width=”600″ height=”528″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/7tHMwtBrEfb” link=”http://mlb-teams.pointafter.com/l/28/Los-Angeles-Dodgers” link_text=”Los Angeles Dodgers 2016 Bullpen | PointAfter” ]
Opening Day Roster | Active Roster Today | ||
Catchers | C- A.J. Ellis | C- Yasmani Grandal | |
C- Austin Barnes | C- Carlos Ruiz |
Much to the dismay of some fans, fan-favorite A.J. Ellis was traded Aug. 25 to the Phillies for fellow catcher Carlos Ruiz.
Yasmani Grandal has been the main player behind the dish for the Dodgers, whose played in 102 of the possible 133 games for the club.
[graphiq id=”3ae33j5TU3j” title=”Yasmani Grandal 2016 Complete Batting Splits” width=”640″ height=”523″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/3ae33j5TU3j” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/6230/Yasmani-Grandal” link_text=”Yasmani Grandal 2016 Complete Batting Splits | PointAfter” ]
Opening Day Roster | Active Roster Today | ||
Infielders | 1B- Adrian Gonzalez | 1B- Adrian Gonzalez | |
2B- Chase Utley | 2B- Chase Utley | ||
SS- Corey Seager | SS- Corey Seager | ||
3B- Justin Turner | 3B- Justin Turner | ||
SS- Charlie Culberson | SS – Charlie Culberson | ||
3B- Rob Segedin |
In probably the most consistent area for the Dodgers has been the infield. Nothing differs from the Opening Day roster aside from the call-up of 27-year old Rob Segedin.
The Dodgers have been pleasantly surprised with the breakout play of Corey Seager and Justin Turner.
The play of Turner has bolted him into the NL Most Valuable Player conversation.
[graphiq id=”lmHfFQWtxM9″ title=”Justin Turner 2016 Complete Batting Splits” width=”640″ height=”801″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/lmHfFQWtxM9″ link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/16635/Justin-Turner” link_text=”Justin Turner 2016 Complete Batting Splits | PointAfter” ]
Seager has made a claim for the NL Rookie of the Year award and perhaps the MVP.
[graphiq id=”28lKN5tPxUV” title=”Corey Seager 2016 Complete Batting Splits” width=”640″ height=”801″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/28lKN5tPxUV” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/18836/Corey-Seager” link_text=”Corey Seager 2016 Complete Batting Splits | PointAfter” ]
Opening Day Roster | Active Roster Today | ||
Outfielders | LF- Kike Hernandez | LF- Howie Kendrick | |
LF- Carl Crawford | CF- Joc Pederson | ||
LF- Scott Van Slyke | RF- Josh Reddick | ||
CF- Joc Pederson | RF- Andrew Toles | ||
RF- Yasiel Puig | LF- Kike Hernandez | ||
RF- Trayce Thompson |
The outfield for the Dodgers has seen its fair share of changes.
Left fielder Carl Crawford was released by the team Jun. 13, giving the younger players valuable playing time.
Also, in what some were calling a surprising move, Yasiel Puig was demoted to AAA Aug. 2.
In just 19 games at Oklahoma City, Puig has a .348 batting average, four home runs and 12 RBI.
[graphiq id=”asG8pcc46b3″ title=”Yasiel Puig Career Batting Triple Slash” width=”640″ height=”494″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/asG8pcc46b3″ link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/13252/Yasiel-Puig” link_text=”Yasiel Puig Career Batting Triple Slash | PointAfter” ]
The Dodgers started the season with 10 players on the disabled list. Currently the team has 14 players on the disabled list, including eight players that were on the Opening Day Roster.
Player | Injury | DL Type |
LHP- Brett Anderson | Blister | 15-Day |
RHP- Louis Coleman | Shoulder | 15-Day |
RF- Andre Ethier | Leg | 60-Day |
RHP- Yimi Garcia | Biceps | 60-Day |
RHP- Chris Hatcher | Oblique | 60-Day |
LHP- Scott Kazmir | Neck | 15-Day |
LHP- Clayton Kershaw | Herniated Disk | 60-Day |
RHP- Brandon McCarthy | Hip | 15-Day |
RHP- Josh Ravin | Triceps | 15-Day |
LHP- Hyun-Jin Ryu | Elbow | 60-Day |
CF- Trayce Thompson | Back Fractures | 60-Day |
RHP- Chin-Hui Tsao | Triceps | 60-Day |
LF- Scott Van Slyke | Wrist | 60-Day |
LHP- Alex Wood | Elbow | 60-Day |
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