The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Kolten Wong to a Minor League contract this past August after his first season with the Seattle Mariners did not go according to plan.
The veteran second baseman struggled to the tune of a .165/.241/.227 batting line in 67 games before he was designated for assignment by the Mariners at the 2023 MLB trade deadline. After clearing waivers and electing free agency, he joined the Dodgers for the stretch run.
Wong played a combined fives games between the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex League (ACL) team and Triple-A Oklahoma City before returning to the Majors when rosters expanded at the start of September.
“Right when I signed, I went down to Arizona and started working with the hitting coaches, working in the hitting labs,” Wong said at the time. “Just kind of cleaning some stuff up that I had creep in with Seattle, which led to my demise.”
Wong’s work with Dodgers hitting coaches continued to pay off as he hit .300/.353/.500 with two doubles and eight RBI over 20 games during the final month of the regular season.
By finishing the 2023 regular season with the Dodgers, Wong reached 10 years of Major League service time. That is considered a significant benchmark as fewer than 10% of players in MLB history have accomplished the feat.
Wong was included on the Dodgers postseason roster for their matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series, earning the final spot over Amed Rosario. Wong went hitless but drew a walk in four plate appearances during the three games.
Kolten Wong 2023 highlight
Wong’s best performance of the 2023 season came on September 28, when he went 3-for-3 against the Colorado Rockies. It was his second three-hit game of the year, as he previously reached the mark while with the Mariners on April 23.
2024 outlook
Wong reached free agency and is now looking to join his third team since the 2022 season. He could potentially sign a Major League contract due to his late-season success with the Dodgers and reputation as a solid defender.
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