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.

Three World Series Home Runs

After 29 years of waiting, the Los Angeles Dodgers returned to the World Series in 2017. Facing the Houston Astros, Joc Pederson showed a national audience what Dodgers fans got to see every baseball season.

Had the Dodgers prevailed in winning the World Series, it is likely Pederson would have won the World Series MVP. Pederson led the team in home runs (three) and RBI (five) during the seven-game series. Pederson’s three home runs were the most for a Dodger in a single series since Davey Lopes hit three in 1978.

Pederson came up with one clutch home run after the other. In Game 2 ,with two outs, he tied the game at one all in the fifth, ending a Dodgers hitless streak. In Game 4, Pederson put the game away for good, hitting a three-run home run in the top of the ninth. In Game 6, facing elimination, Pederson hit a solo home run in the seventh to extend the Dodgers to their winning margin of 3-1.

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.