Joc Pederson could be in the lineup for the Dodgers on Opening Day.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Former Lookout Joc Pederson belted a homer in the ninth for the Dodgers that was all the difference in a 1-0 Los Angeles victory on Thursday night at Peoria Stadium.
Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu and Padres James Shields turned in scoreless outings, with Shields tossing three perfect frames and Ryu tossing two. Pederson's long ball, the first of the spring for the team's No. 3 prospect, came off Padres reliever Jose Valverde with one out in the ninth inning.
Pederson snapped an 0-for-9 skid with the home run, going 1-for-3 on the night as designated hitter. He has been in seven Spring Training games with 17 at bats. He is hitting .353 (6-17), including two doubles, a homer, and three RBI.
The California native entered 2014 as a highly touted prospect, and he lived up to expectations at Triple-A with a .303 average, 33 homers and 30 steals -- statistics that earned him PCL MVP honors. He hit just .143 with no homers or steals in 38 plate appearances as a September callup, but that production likely does not augur his future performance. Although the Dodgers still have three outfielders with extensive starting experience, their offseason trade of Matt Kemp was likely made, in part, to clear a regular spot in the lineup for the 22-year-old.
Starting the 2013 season as the youngest member of the Lookouts' team and the second-youngest position player in the league. Pederson was selected to represent the US team at the All-Star Futures Game during the season, and was also selected to play in the Southern League All Star game. He hit .278 while leading the league in slugging percentage (.497), was second in home runs (22) and runs (81), third in stolen bases (31), on-base percentage (.381), and OPS (.878), and fifth in walks while batting leadoff, with 58 RBIs and 10 outfield assists in 123 games during the season.
He earned post-season All-Star honors, was a Topps Double-A All Star and a Baseball America Minor League All Star, and was Baseball America's # 7 prospect in the league. In the Baseball America manager's poll, he was voted the best defensive outfielder and the most exciting player in the Southern League.
Joc Pederson
photo by Tim Evearitt