The new-look Los Angeles Dodgers still don't have all of their problems solved. One of those potential issues involves prospect Joc Pederson, who is listed as the starting center fielder on the team's depth chart.
Los Angeles traded away Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres and moved Yasiel Puig back to right field to apparently make room for Pederson. The 22-year-old Pacific Coast League (PCL) Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player after slashing .303/.435/.582/.1017 with 106 runs scored, 33 home runs, 78 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 121 games. He was the first 30-30 player in the PCL since 1934.
However, there is one glaring issue in the youngster's game.
"Pederson struck out 149 times last year, leading some skeptics to feel his long, aggressive swing will be easy prey to more-experienced, harder-throwing pitchers in the major leagues," writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com. "That many strikeouts could translate to 200 or more, they say, if Pederson plays a full major league season. Ryan Howard led the majors with 190 strikeouts last season."
Pederson struck out 11 times in 28 at-bats when he was called up to the 40-man roster last September, but manager Don Mattingly believes experience is all the youngster needs to reduce those strikeouts and be more patient and selective at the plate. Mattingly said the team isn't "going to be that concerned about strikeouts."
But if it's still concerning to the team in spring training, the Dodgers can take their time with Pederson's development and put Yasiel Puig back in center field, where he spent 53 games in 2014. They also have outfielders Andre Ethier, Chris Heisey and Scott Van Slyke to fill a void in center or right field in the event they deem Pederson not ready, but it seems as if they trust the process by which the prospect is working on his flaws. After all, his ceiling is sky-high at this point, which is something president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is likely thrilled with.
"Pederson does face some challenges this spring before he can be penciled in as the Dodgers' surefire starting center fielder, but the odds are in his favor," writes Lou Musto of Gammons Daily. "He is the only true center fielder on the roster with a strong defensive skill set to go along with his offensive potential."
Pederson hasn't been getting much attention because of the whirlwind of prospects taking the Chicago Cubs' organization by storm as well as Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins and even Corey Seager of the Dodgers. But he will be a crucial aspect of the Dodgers' success in 2015 and many will be keeping a close eye on him.
