Rockies outfielder David Dahl, whose season ended Sept. 23 because of a right shoulder strain, underwent surgery on Tuesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com tweets. The surgery was a success, and the Rockies expect that Dahl will be ready for spring training, per Harding.
It’s a relief for the Rockies that Dahl’s on track for next season, as the 26-year-old has largely been a quality member of their offense since his career began in 2016. Dahl owns a .286/.334/.494 line with 38 home runs in 1,020 plate appearances, though his production went off the rails during a 2020 in which he batted a horrid .183/.222/.247 without a homer across 99 trips to the plate.
Of course, injuries have been the main problem for Dahl since his pre-MLB days started. He has never played more than 100 regular-season games (in 2019) with the Rockies and has appeared in just 264 dating back to his first year. Dahl appeared in a meager 24 of a possible 60 games this year, but the hope is that he’ll have a healthy, bounce-back campaign next season.
I like the Rockies outfield of Tapia, Pillar and Blackmon as starters, although a healthy Dahl could be a big addition. The question is “when has he ever been healthy? I also like Desmond. Come on back fella. Hilliard needs to make more contact.
Pillar is a free agent. Desmond has been awful for the Rockies. Unless they sign a free agent (like Pillar), they will need a good and healthy season from either Dahl or Hilliard.
Dahl is a product of home cookin’. Rockies need him healthy, producing, then deal him as soon as possible.
Too bad everyone knows to check road numbers for Rockies player before trading for them.
If he really is a product of home cooking his value will be whatever he’s doing on the road.