Dodgers: 2 players who’ve justified team’s faith and 1 who hasn’t

Dodgers Disappointment: Yoshi Tsutsugo

On the same day the Dodgers made their high-profile play for Albert Pujols, they also inked one of the most expensive free agents in Tampa Bay Rays history (no, seriously) in Yoshi Tsutsugo.

It seemed as if Los Angeles, scrambling for bats, was hoping at least one of Pujols and Tsutsugo would catch on as patient power hitters. Tsutsugo is more versatile, while Pujols carries more of a pedigree, of course.

Unfortunately, only one has made an impact thus far.

In nine games in LA, Tsutsugo has hit .130 without power, slotting into left field on a part-time basis. This is a player who brought a 30-homer bat over from Japan, expected to be the latest grind-it-out power threat to grace the Rays’ vaunted lineup last year. Unfortunately, that power rarely presented itself, and we’ve experienced more of the same in Los Angeles.

When the Dodgers added Tsutsugo, there was reportedly a run on his services, with many waiver-wire teams clamoring to add him as a lottery ticket. It’s only been a few weeks, but there’s been no indication, underlying or otherwise, that he’s a viable major league player. With so many bats returning to the outfield mix (and right on time, Cody Bellinger and Zach McKinstry!), we’re not sure how much longer his leash will last.

Win a lot, lose very little. Chalk this one up as a disappointment for the scouting department thus far.

Dodgers: 3 LAD players who’ve earned first All-Star nods

These Los Angeles Dodgers players have earned a shot at their first All-Star appearances during the 2021 MLB season. Congrats!