Dodgers second basemen combined for only nine home runs in 2026, ranking 28th in all of baseball. Think about that for a second. For a team stacked with Hall of Famers and beloved veterans, the heart of their infield was a serious power outage, barely ahead of the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. It’s a clear signal that the Dodgers are facing a significant challenge at second base as they look toward the 2027 season.
Dodgers’ Second Base: Defensive Gains, Offensive Pains
Let’s break down how 2026 actually went at second. Alex Freeland got the most starts, logging 67 appearances and 579 defensive innings, especially during the first two and a half months when Tommy Edman was sidelined with an ankle injury. Edman still managed 42 starts and 386 1/3 innings at the position, while the now-retired Miguel Rojas pitched in with 36 starts and 302 1/3 innings. The silver lining? All three of those guys were above average defensively, measured by both Defensive Runs Saved and Fielding Run Value. That’s solid.
But the offense? Oh, man. While the Dodgers were middle of the pack in Wins Above Replacement at second base, coming in 15th among major league teams with 2.2 WAR according to FanGraphs, that value was definitely fueled by their glove work. Offensively, Dodgers second basemen ranked a dismal 20th among 30 teams with an 89 wRC+ and were 22nd in slugging percentage at .358. Their on-base percentage (.318) and batting average (.249) sat at 15th. It’s clear: the defense was there, but the bats were mostly silent.
The Search for a Right-Handed Solution
With Miguel Rojas now retired, the Dodgers’ second base situation is even more in flux. They just claimed utility player Christian Cairo off waivers, and he could see time there once he makes his major league debut. They still have Edman and Freeland, plus Hyeseong Kim, though Kim has yet to prove he can consistently hit major league pitching.
It’s pretty wild to think about, but for a team that has Shohei Ohtani locked in at designated hitter and Freddie Freeman at first base, plus a set outfield and beloved veterans like Mookie Betts and Max Muncy elsewhere in the infield, second base stands out as perhaps the easiest path for the Dodgers to improve in 2027. Katie Woo at The Athletic reported that the Dodgers are actively seeking a right-handed-hitting infielder. The idea is this move would free up Edman for more of a utility role, allow Betts to get some rest when needed, and add crucial depth alongside Freeland. Fabian Ardaya, also at The Athletic, followed up, naming two infielders the Dodgers have shown interest in: Mauricio Dubón and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Both can play multiple positions, which suggests the Dodgers might once again feature a rotation of players seeing time at second base.
So, as we look to the 2027 season, the question is loud and clear: Who’s gonna own second base for the Dodgers? Will it be one of these new targets, or will we see another season of musical chairs? It’s the biggest puzzle piece for their front office this offseason, no doubt about it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
Leave a Reply