Dodgers Offense: Top Hitters of Spring

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Offense has been flowing from the bats of the Dodgers this entire Spring. The Dodgers keep hitting homeruns and creating offense out of a lineup which does not have Matt Kemp nor Hanley Ramirez in it anymore. The Spring fireworks have surely made me miss the two aforementioned sluggers a bit less, even though seeing Matt Kemp in a San Diego Padres uniform will always be a strange and sad sight to me.

There have been numerous story lines coming out of Camelback Ranch this Spring, and the new front office had something to prove with their revamped roster. The Dodgers have hit the most homeruns (45) so far this Spring in the majors. The Arizona D-backs have only hit 12. The Dodgers also lead the majors in hits (292), runs (178) and RBI (171). The hope is that the offense can carry over into the regular season especially while several of the Dodgers key pitchers are shelved due to injury to begin the season.

The pitching issues have to be sorted out, but the exciting and productive offense has been fun to watch. While there has been many excellent offensive performances this Spring, let’s take a look at some of the top Dodgers hitters to show their stuff off in Arizona.

Next: On to slide two

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Turner-17 games, 43 AB,  9 R,  20 H, 6 2B, 8 RBI, 3 HR, 1 BB , 2 SO, 1 SB  .465/.489/.814

Holy smokes, Justin Turner has been good. He’s been slugging away, and the Dodgers were really smart- or lucky- to pick up Turner last February as a free agent. The non-roster invite ended up being an integral part of the Dodgers success in 2014 as a hot hitting utility player. Turner has been playing on the left side of the infield, but he is much better at third base than shortstop. The Dodgers will have to try to find Turner a spot in the lineup in order to not waste his offensive potential.

Even though Don Mattingly says he is not concerned with Juan Uribe’s lackluster Spring, the Dodgers probably won’t hesitate to play Turner more often should Uribe’s bat remain cold come April.

Next: Last slide

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Howie Kendrick 17 games,  43 AB,  12 R,  18 H,  5 2B,  9 RBI,  1 HR,  2 BB,  6 SO,  .419/.468/.605

The new Dodgers middle infield is shaping up to be very solid defensively as well as offensively. Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick are both feeling comfortable with their new teams and showing it at the plate. Kendrick, who is quietly having a very good Spring, is looking great in Blue. He’s looking at home with his new teammates even though he spent his first nine seasons with the Dodgers’ cross-town rivals, the Angels.

Don Mattingly is looking for consistency from Kenrick, and he has quickly shown his ability to produce quality at bats this Spring. Dee Gordon, the former Dodger second baseman, could not consistently get on base which didn’t allow the Dodgers to utilize his speed as much they wanted to.

“I’ve just been enjoying it,” said Kendrick, who had two hits, including a massive home run, in an 11-11 tie with the Texas Rangers. “Getting to know everybody, playing with everybody. It’s awesome. Everybody gets along.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Yasiel Puig 16 games,  43 AB,  9 R,  13 H,  1 2B,  5 HR,  13 RBI,  3 BB,  6 SO,  .302/.348/.674

Even though I’d argue that his bat flips are not in mid-season form just yet, Yasiel Puig is looking as though he is ready to have a huge season for the Dodgers in 2015. Puig, who had a monstrous inaugural Spring Training for the Dodgers after they first signed him, has had another solid Spring outing so far for 2015 giving us a glimpse to what is to come this year, his third with the Dodgers.

Puig was briefly sidelined with illness in mid-March, but he was right back on the field the next day contributing to the team. Yasiel Puig has not only hit well this Spring, but he has also impressed with his strong arm and his aggressive all-out style of play in the outfield. With more maturity and perhaps a few more words of English, Yasiel Puig has become the Dodgers’ franchise player alongside Clayton Kershaw.

2015 could be Puig’s biggest year yet.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Guerrero 20 games,  41 AB,  10 R,  14 H,  3 HR,  8 RBI,  1 BB,  5 SO,  .341/.357/.561

Alex Guerrero has a guaranteed spot on the team, but he still had something to prove to the new front office this Spring. With Justin Turner, Juan Uribe, Enrique Hernandez, Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins all in the mix, Guerrero had to show that his offense could offset his questionable defense. Even though I have maintained that Guerrero is at least capable at third base or shortstop, the Dodgers would have to option the much slicker fielder Darwin Barney and the vibrant Kiké Hernandez to the minors at least momentarily.

Guerrero has stood up to the challenge, and his offensive value could definitely benefit the Dodgers bench. I fully expect Guerrero to make the Opening Day roster, and he could even play a spell in left field if necessary. Even though Hernandez has had a late offensive surge this Spring after a slow start, Guerrero will get the roster spot because…he has to.