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Dodgers: Top Three Surprises of the First Half of the Season

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DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 27: Alex Verdugo #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a single in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 27, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 27: Alex Verdugo #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a single in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 27, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 22: Alex Verdugo #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates running to second base after his 11th inning walk-off home run defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4 at Dodger Stadium on June 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Verdugo shatters expectations in the first half

Alex Verdugo was supposed to be a very solid player which is why the Dodgers refused to include him in past deals, such as the trades for Manny Machado and Yu Darvish.  Throughout his first 100 at-bats in the big leagues, Dugie did not impress too much which had many fans including myself, ready to deal Alex away to make room for Bryce Harper last off-season.

In the first half of the season, Alex Verdugo rewarded the Dodgers’ patience in refusing to deal him and made all fans wishing he was traded look very foolish.  At the moment, Verdugo has a .311/.360/.506 slash line and has helped make up for the loss of A.J. Pollock.  He has the Dodgers figuring out ways to keep him in the lineup when Pollock finally returns such as trying Joc Pederson at first base.

With multiple game-winning hits and game-saving defensive plays, Alex Verdugo has been better than advertised and is one of the surprises of the first half of the season.

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