In a move that did nothing to move the needle, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed utility man Charlie Culberson last November to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
The 27-year-old had last played in the Majors in 2014 with the Colorado Rockies, and after an impressive showing in spring camp, Culberson earned a spot on the Dodgers’ roster by Opening Day.
Culberson then spent most of the year going back and forth between the Majors and Triple-A Oklahoma City, filling in at the big league level wherever needed as a utility man.
In 34 games with the Dodgers, Culberson batted .299/.309/.388 with one home run and seven RBIs, with the bulk of his playing time coming against left-handed pitching.
Culberson provided a boost in an area the Dodgers were deficient, hitting .313/.327/.417 in 46 plate appearances off southpaws.
Over 70 games with Oklahoma City, Culberson hit .260/.310/.385 with four home runs and 33 RBIs, while spending most of his time at shortstop.
Culberson made the National League Division Series roster, and appeared in four of the five games against the Washington Nationals. It was an uneventful season for Culberson as he went 0-for-7, which included failing to get a key bunt down in Game 4.
He was then left off the roster for the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.
2016 Highlight
Culberson had perhaps the biggest hit for the Dodgers in 2016, as he came up in a tie game against the Rockies in the 10th inning of the team’s final home game of the season.
In what was also Vin Scully’s final game at Dodger Stadium, Culberson launched a walk-off home run to left field, giving the Dodgers the win that clinched the NL West a fourth consecutive season.
The home run was Culberson’s first since Aug. 14, 2014, and could not have come at a better time.
2017 Outlook
Culberson will likely have a similar role in 2017, bouncing to and from Oklahoma City. What works heavily in his favor is that Culberson can play several positions.
