Los Angeles Dodgers: Alex Verdugo will be September’s biggest storyline

Many have long-awaited the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top prospect, Alex Verdugo, to have an impact in the MLB. In September, Verdugo will complicate things for LA.

September call-ups are one of the most interesting dynamics in all of sports. The MLB roster expands from 25 to 40 and gives top prospects a chance to show what they are capable of before fully joining the big league roster. For some, September can also serve as a playoff tryout; that is the case for Los Angeles Dodgers‘ top prospect, Alex Verdugo.

We have seen this before — top prospects getting that September call-up and proving that they are MLB ready to earn themselves a spot on the postseason roster.

Cody Bellinger was supposed to be a September call-up last season but electrified the Dodgers so much throughout the season that he more than earned a postseason spot. A better example of someone thriving in September was Corey Seager in 2015.

Seager played 27 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015 and slashed .337/.425/.561 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. That was enough to earn Seager a postseason roster spot, although he did struggle with a .188 batting average in the NLDS.

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This year’s version of 2015 Corey Seager is Alex Verdugo, who has been patiently waiting his time to shine in the big leagues.

Verdugo did enjoy a brief MLB stint earlier in the season as well as a September call-up last season. Despite tearing it up in AAA Oklahoma City and being untouchable in trade talks, Verdugo has not yet gotten his chance to shine despite being one of the team’s best options in the outfield.

In 91 games at the AAA level this season, Verdugo carries a .329/.391/.472 slash line with 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. Verdugo also has eight stolen bases, 34 walks and 47 strikeouts.

Verdugo is not a prototypical power hitter by any stretch. While he has enough pop in his swing to reach 15-20 home runs over 162 games, he thrives in making hard contract on line drives and getting topspin on the baseball.

As a result, Verdugo is a natural gap-to-gap hitter that can find holes throughout the field. He is not the modern left-handed pull hitter. Verdugo has the swing to hurt defenses anywhere.

Plus, his speed and above average arm make him a significant defensive upgrade in the outfield for anyone aside from Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger. In fact, he might just be a better natural outfielder than Bellinger.

Verdugo is hitting .291 with six doubles and a home run in 62 plate appearances in the big leagues this season. He is 2-5 with a double and two runs scored since being called up on September 1.

Verdugo is going to get plenty of key at-bats in big situations this season. He has become a natural defensive substitution late in games for the Dodgers as well as the second-best pinch-running option behind Tim Locastro.

Not only that, he is a prime pinch-hit candidate against right-handed relief pitching after a southpaw has started. He is already a better option against right-handed pitching than the likes of Enrique Hernandez.

If Verdugo were to make the roster, it would have to take up the spot of an existing player. David Freese is already making his case to make the roster due to his playoff heroics as well as the much-needed help in hitting southpaws. Who he forces out is unclear.

For Verdugo, his biggest competition is in the likes of Joc Pederson and Chris Taylor, with the latter being the more likely option to get removed from the roster.

It would take a lot for Verdugo to surpass the NLCS co-MVP for a roster spot but it is possible. Taylor has not been great this season and has played his way out of the starting lineup.

Taylor’s 29.4 strikeout percentage is the seventh-worst in the league, fourth-worst among hitters with 500 or more plate appearances and is the worst among National League hitters. He is the only player among the top-15 in strikeout percentage to not have 15 home runs, either. At least most of the other guys produce power.

That makes Taylor a huge candidate to lose a roster spot as strikeouts are the worst thing to have in the postseason. Even outs need to be situational; whether that is moving a runner to third on a groundout to second or working a nine-pitch out.

Verdugo can do those things and the only thing that gives Joc Pederson the slight edge is his ability to come off the bench and deliver power for the Dodgers. Pederson has been much better this season for the Dodgers and is the team’s best two-out, down by one, need a solo home run in the seventh inning option.

The door is wide open for Alex Verdugo to make the playoff roster. Chris Taylor is going to try to slam it shut and Verdugo is going to try and break it off its hinges. This internal competition will only drive both men and will actually help the team make it there, first.

Because at the end of the day, none of this matters if the Los Angeles Dodgers miss the postseason.