Dodgers: Logan Forsythe is Ready to Man the Hot Corner

With the devastating news coming up this past week in the MRI from Justin Turner’s hand injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers will once again find out the hard way as to how they’ll fill his spot at the start of another regular season.

Not only has this scenario appeared as recently as the beginning of last year’s start – yet, we could also see some friendly competition stem from this open spot in the lineup. With the likelihood of Logan Forsythe to be primed as the first option at the hot corner, more room could open up on the active roster and allow Kyle Farmer to be involved in the mix as well.

We do know that Turner suffered a fractured wrist, and will likely be unable to play until late April, possibly extending into May, as well. Even with the tough loss of the 2017 All-Star, there are very trustworthy in-house replacements. Kyle Farmer, and the current number one option, Logan Forsythe.

It should be safe to say that the Dodgers have two good options in these men. Not only have both Forsythe and Farmer been making positive strides leading into the regular season at the plate, but they both have a steady defensive hand to offer as well. Logan had serviced some innings at third for the Dodgers over the course of the 2017 season (301.2 – to be exact), and there is no doubt that his personal expectations are very high for his accountability at the position.

As a smaller sample, Kyle Farmer has played nothing but 50.0 errorless innings when he has been at third base this spring. Judging by those numbers, combined with how he has been swinging the bat, Farmer will make for a fine second option – and will certainly play with the mentality of an everyday player if he sees any amount of time.

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Coming around to Logan Forsythe’s struggles from last season is not particularly easy to see through. He was not efficient at the plate by any stretch and simply lost his stroke through the entire season. In only eight fewer games played, the power production from Logan was sliced by a 14 home run difference, from 20 (in 2016) to 6 (in 2017). Not only did Forsythe lack power and production, but he was also unable to accumulate 100 hits. These were all big question marks going into spring training and will likely remain as areas of work until the consistency is once again apparent at the plate.

When all is said and done, the Dodgers certainly need a positive trend in 2018 from Logan Forsythe. His spring numbers have already given a good reason for there to be plenty of spunk waiting to be unleashed through a full season, but we will have to wait and find out. Forsythe has already hit a third of the number of home runs in 13 spring games, as opposed to his feat of six home runs through 119 games in the 2017 regular season.

While home runs might not be everything, it would only add another lethal bat to the already scary Dodger lineup. Also to note – there could be a potential spot up for grabs at the top of the Dodger batting order for whoever can show some solid consistency – that would include the likes of Chris Taylor, and possibly a mix of Chase Utley or Kike Hernandez to be in the conversation as well.

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Even with all things looking positive at the moment, it will be up to Logan Forsythe to recreate who he was only two years ago, offensively; and hopefully, take a step forward in terms of once again contributing with authority to the Dodger lineup this year. Eyes will be on him no matter what, so it will be a good opportunity for him to earn his stripes again and prove why he is such a trusted and valued ball player for Los Angeles. Fans and the entire Dodger organization alike are all counting on Logan to be who we know he is and to once again buckle down and tear it up at the dish and in the field. He is in the driver’s seat right now – time to go full speed ahead.