Last offseason Joc Pederson again was the subject of multiple Los Angeles Dodgers trade rumors. The team ultimately held onto him and he responded with a career year.
As has been the case in previous years, Pederson played almost exclusively against right-handed pitching in 2019. In 149 games he hit .249/.339/.538 with 16 doubles, 36 home runs, 83 runs scored and 74 RBI. His batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, runs scored and RBI all represented the best marks of his young career.
Pederson set a Dodgers franchise record in 2018 when he hit eight leadoff home runs. He was the team’s primary leadoff hitter against righties again this year, and broke his own record by hitting nine long balls to begin games.
While he was not named an All-Star despite having an underrated first half, Pederson was still present at the week’s festivities in Cleveland to take part in the Home Run Derby for the second time in his career.
He wound up being defeated by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the second round, but the duo won the night by putting on a show for the fans, hitting a record 29 home runs each and going into double overtime.
Pederson is one of the streakiest hitters in the league, and he went on an incredible hot streak in the month of September. In a three-game span, Pederson had six consecutive extra-base hits to tie Larry Walker’s National League record. Included in that was five home runs and a double.
His season also included an experiment at first base, although he struggled greatly at the position so eventually was moved back to the outfield.
The 27-year-old is known to be a clutch postseason performer in his time with the Dodgers, and he was solid for them in the playoffs in 2019 again despite the NL Division Series loss to the Washington Nationals. In five games in the series, Pederson batted .267/.353/.600 with a home run and three runs scored.
2019 highlight
On April 15, the Dodgers not only welcomed Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp back to Dodger Stadium as a member of the Cincinnati Reds for the first time, but they also celebrated MLB’s annual Jackie Robinson Day.
The Reds took a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning after Kemp hit an RBI single off Kenley Jansen, setting the stage for a potential walk-off in the bottom half. David Freese did his job as a leadoff hitter by drawing a walk against Reds closer Raisel Iglesias.
Pederson followed it with a walk-off home run to right-center field that just cleared the wall to complete the 4-3 victory and send the fans home happy.
2020 outlook
Pederson is going into his final year of club control before hitting free agency next winter. To no surprise, he has been the subject of trade rumors once again this offseason.
If the Dodgers hold onto him, he will play a similar role for the team in 2020 although there likely will not be another experiment at first base.
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