The Dodgers got some good news today as Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry have both re-joined the team from the injured list, per MLB.com’s Juan Toribio (via Twitter). DJ Peters and Sheldon Neuse have been optioned to Triple-A to create the necessary roster space.
Bellinger has been out for all but four games of the 2021 season. He suffered a stress fracture of his fibula in the first week of the season. The former MVP had just 21 plate appearances before hitting the injured list. With his return, Chris Taylor can return to a super-utility role.
While the Dodgers are no doubt thrilled to get Bellinger back in the lineup, they haven’t missed a step with Taylor in Bellinger’s place: Taylor has posted a 146 wRC+ this season. The reverberant effects, however, have left the Dodgers a little short-handed at times, leading to the signing of Albert Pujols and continued use of Max Muncy at second base. Muncy has continued to prove himself capable at the keystone. Regardless, the Dodgers will enjoy the options available to them now that Taylor is once again freed up to move around the diamond.
McKinstry, 26, had been perhaps the story of the season for the Dodgers before he, too, went down with an injury. The infielder/outfielder was slashing .296/.328/.556 before landing on the injured list with an oblique strain.
On the whole, the Dodgers have had to flex their tremendous depth early on this season. They’ve done so successfully. With McKinstry and Bellinger back in the fold, they again appear to have perhaps the deepest and most versatile collection of position players in the game.
Peters, 25, will benefit from more regular playing time as he returns to Triple-A. In 34 plate appearances with the parent club, Peters hit .192/.382/.385, good for a 96 wRC+. Neuse, 26, has yet to figure it out at the dish this season, posting a 47 wRC+. Both players figure to find their way back to the bigs at some point this season.
Pollack, Seager and then the lineup will be back to full strength.
He’ll yea finaly hopefully this deepens are line up but sucks to see Dj go I think he needs to make a adjustment to hit the ball more consistently but the athleticism is there with him especially for a big guy like him. Also hopefully mookie gets going sucks to see him struggle like that but I think there might be something wrong mentally or physically but hopefully he gets through it.
And then some others Mook Muncy and turner can pull up lame.
The way Mookie plays I’m surprised he isn’t injury prone.
Dj needs to set the ol’ Atec or WIN VR machine to 95mph heaters @ the top of the zone for a bit.
Hard to stick in MLB with that hole.
Yoshi stays! That’s a miracle.
I’d be surprised if it isn’t just a stay before he’s cut loose when AJ Pollock comes back or another roster move like Gonsolin (or at the latest when LHH Corey Seager is back). After it looked like he was starting to figure it out in LA he’s started to look lost at the plate again. He could honestly benefit from some time in AAA to work in fixing his issues, if he agrees to it (out of options). But anyway I don’t expect him to last much longer in LA.
I think you’re right except both will be traded or waived away by mid season. LAD is too deep even in MiLB.
Thank god.
Yoshi is without a doubt one of the worst players I have ever seen.
Haven’t been watching Neuse wiff 90%of the time have you
How long have you been watching baseball, a week?
finally.. and i expected it was peters and neuse to get sent down. knew it. GLAD TO SEE CODY AND ZACK RETURN!!!!!!
Zach had some good numbers in AAA especially his K:BB rate – He looks ready and he was mighty clutch his last time out. Cody still seems in pre-season mode while AAA, although is coming off a bad season – Wonder if they are rushing his return as he may be a little rusty, but he has power to change game outcomes.
Just the defense alone is going to be a major boon – Helps everybody get back into better fielding positions as well
I expect the bat to be rusty till 2nd half…He was working in a new swing earlier this year as well,
Pujols has looked pretty good so far. Will be interesting to see what happens to his playing time as team gets healthy