Los Angeles Dodgers: Predicting top five home run leaders
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers led the National League in home runs last season and take that power into 2019 looking to repeat the feat.
Say what you will about the Los Angeles Dodgers but one thing is true: the team hits a lot of home runs. Unfortunately, this go big or go home mentality hurt the team in the World Series, however, it carried them to the World Series, to begin with.
The team obviously wants to improve the contact at the plate and increase the base runners. That does not mean that the Dodgers will go away from the power approach as the front office undoubtedly wants the team to lead the NL in home runs yet again.
We are still going to see a lot of home runs in Los Angeles despite losing Yasmani Grandal, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig. Here are our predictions for the Dodgers’ top-five home run hitters.
5. Enrique Hernandez — 22 home runs
One of the things that I was tanking to the bank prior to 2018 was that Enrique Hernandez would improve and become a starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Everyone loves Hernandez for his personality and versatility and Hernandez took that an entire extra step in 2018.
Hernandez saw an increase in production against right-handed hitters that saw him in the lineup on a near nightly basis. Hernandez played 145 games for the Dodgers with a .470 slugging percentage, .806 OPS and 21 home runs.
We should expect a very similar season out of Hernandez, and just to see improvement, we predict that he will hit one more home run than he did in 2019.
While we have already made our case for Max Muncy to be the second baseman, we will still undoubtedly see Hernandez on a near-nightly basis in left field, second base and wherever else they need him.