Dodgers: 5 biggest Joc Pederson moments to remember him by

An end of an era came unexpectedly Friday morning, as news spread that longtime Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson had signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Pederson moving on means the Dodgers lose one of their first of a bumper crop of rookies that came along last decade that turned the Dodgers into a home run-crushing team.

In his seven seasons with the Dodgers, Pederson hit 130 home runs, good for 21st all time in franchise history. Despite hitting just .230 over his Dodgers career, Pederson had OPS of .806 thanks to his ability to draw walks (66 per year, on average) and slugging average (.470).

Pederson was the second-longest tenured position player behind Justin Turner and, like many, he finally was able to celebrate a World Series title this past October after six straight playoff losses. In his time with the Dodgers, Pederson surely provided countless moments that fans will never forget.

Bashing Rookie Year

Joc Pederson had been a minor league All-Star and the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect going into the 2015 season. After the team traded Matt Kemp in the offseason, that meant Pederson had a good chance to make the team permanently.

Pederson showed everyone his potential immediately, as he bashed the ball out of the ballpark at an historic rate.

In May and June, Pederson had two four-game home run streaks, the first rookie to do so since 1963. Pederson’s home run prowess led to an All-Star selection, making him the first Dodgers rookie since Hideo Nomo (1995) to be selected.

By the end of the season, Pederson would hit 26 home runs, the second-most by a Dodgers rookie up until that time.

Birth of Joctober

Over the course of his Dodgers career, Joc Pederson may have struggled at times during the regular season to provide a consistent bat, but during the playoffs, he seemed to elevate his game. Pederson hit .272 in the playoffs over his career, and his 9 home runs are good for fifth all-time in Dodgers postseason history.

Pederson’s clutch playoff hitting earned his play a fan-approved moniker known as “Joctober,” and it effectively debuted in the 2016 NLDS against the Washington Nationals. In Game 5 of the series, with the Dodgers down 1-0 against Nationals “ace” Max Scherzer, Pederson stepped to the plate nine outs from being eliminated in the NLDS for the third straight year.

On the very first pitch, Pederson smacked an opposite-field home run, stunning the Nationals and waking up the Dodgers’ bats. They went on to win the game 4-3 to close out the series.

Hot September

In 2019, Pederson had a career year, hitting single-season highs in home runs (36), RBI (74), batting (.249) and OPS (.876). Pederson also six home runs from the leadoff spot, tied for the league lead.

Pederson, a streaky hitter throughout the season, went supernova in September; he hit .344 with nine home runs and four doubles, driving in 16 runs while slugging .852 in easily his best month of the season.

Pederson started the month by going 6-7 with five home runs, a double, and nine RBI over three games, becoming the first player to hit five home runs in six at-bats since Josh Hamilton in 2012, and tied Larry Walker’s NL record of six consecutive extra-base hits in six at-bats set in 1996.

With his hot September, Pederson helped the Dodgers clinch their seventh consecutive NL West division title.

One More Joctober

In 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally got over the hump and won their first World Series title in 32 years.

For Pederson, it was a down season; in the shortened season, he was never able to get going consistently and hit .190, striking out 34 times in just 42 games. Despite his struggles, the Dodgers won their eighth consecutive NL West title and had the best record in baseball.

Pederson again showed up in October in a big way, hitting .382 with two home runs and eight RBI in 34 at-bats. Pederson played in every game of the expanded playoff format and, of course, his final Dodgers postseason hit was a home run.

Pederson’s fifth career World Series home run, good for second all-time in franchise history, helped the Dodgers win Game 5 of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. It gave the fans one more glimpse of the slugging Pederson and his October bashing prowess.

It remains a great way to close Pederson’s Dodgers career, and we’re glad his last hit landed over the fences, just as many of his other hits did.

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