The Los Angeles Dodgers began the 2016 season with six rookies on their Opening Day roster. Of that group, only Kenta Maeda and Corey Seager had previous professional experience. Maeda of course pitched in Japan for seven seasons, while Seager was with the club in 2015.
The number of rookies and abundance of injuries wound up serving as a precursor for what lied ahead. With setting a Major League Baseball record for most players put on the disabled list in a single season — 28 — the Dodgers have called on several rookies from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
While the young players have played key roles for the Dodgers this season, they are rookies after all, and subject to good-nature hazing and annual dress-up day.
The latter of which came on Sunday after the Dodgers’ disappointing loss to the Miami Marlins. Rookies returned to their lockers and found personalized cheerleader outfits hanging.
The players wore the outfit, complete with pom-poms, for the team’s chartered flight to New York. Although Puig is not a rookie, he too dressed up, though only for a brief moment.
Seager, who dressed up last season when it was a wrestling theme, was exempt in 2016. Highlights of this year’s rookie dress-up below:
#puigyourcheeleader #goDodgers #goRams @JaredGoff16 pic.twitter.com/naD7vkz78M
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) September 11, 2016
Oh, to be a rook! ? #WeLoveLA pic.twitter.com/RKZ6CQAror
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 11, 2016
You're welcome! #Dodgers #RookieDressUp pic.twitter.com/nBVHjj7DBu
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) September 11, 2016
"That's my best friend." ? https://t.co/mQQVOZS7di
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 11, 2016
Looking good, squad. ? #WeLoveLA pic.twitter.com/IZp3xk69qn
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 11, 2016
