Rookie Joc Pederson Could Determine 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers’ Fate

Oct 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson (65) during workouts on the day before game one of the 2014 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodgers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the busier teams during the 2014-2015 offseason. Second baseman Dee Gordon, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, and outfielder Matt Kemp are no longer wearing Dodger Blue. Replacing them are veterans Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins along with the man who could ultimately determine the team’s fate, rookie outfielder Joc Pederson.

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The Dodgers’ outfield was already crowded last season with Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, and Andre Ethier. They solved that logjam by trading Kemp to the San Diego Padres. The move allows more at-bats for Scott Van Slyke and clears room for Pederson to become an everyday player. Everything is set perfectly for Pederson to start in center field for the 2015 Dodgers and have an immediate major impact as a rookie.

Pederson had a great year at Triple-A for the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2014. He hit 33 home runs to go along with his 78 RBIs. Pederson also hit .303 with a very impressive .435 on-base percentage. Although he had 149 strikeouts, his 100 walks show that this young man does have some patience at the plate.

Eventually, Pederson could become the perfect three-hole hitter. He has power and speed, which after it has developed at the big league level, may translate into individual and team success.

Before this happens, Pederson may be in a Dodgers’ lineup that looks a little bit lackluster with him down at the bottom. Speedsters Rollins and Crawford will most likely hit first and second in the batting order before things are turned over to the power bats in the middle. Neither Rollins or Crawford is as reliable as they were back when they played each other in the 2008 World Series yet these two men are the ones who will be called upon to get things started and give the middle of the order someone to drive in. Crawford did hit .300 in 2014, but it was in a limited 370 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Rollins was only a .243 hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies with just a .323 on-base percentage. As poor as this may seem, it was still his second best OBP since 2008.

The Dodgers are in a lot more trouble than they would like to admit. The biggest question is who will hit fifth for them. Will it be catcher Yasmani Grandal? What about Howie Kendrick or Juan Uribe? It has to be one of these guys, or it can be Pederson if he outperforms the expectations.

The pressure is definitely on for Pederson to perform well in his rookie season. Moving on from Kemp to Pederson signifies some faith that they believe strongly in his abilities. For a young player, this could give him the motivation to perform at his best.

A very good year from Pederson means the Dodgers have a solid five-hole hitter for the 2015 season and beyond.

The Steamer projection on Fangraphs does not think very highly of Pederson for his rookie season. While they project him to hit 20 home runs, they also have him striking out 144 times with only a .225 batting average. Making contact appears to be one of the biggest growing pains with Pederson. If he can overcome this and put together even just a .240 batting average, the entire team can benefit greatly.

Pederson has a great chance to be a difference maker for the Dodgers. It all begins with how he does in 2015.