Projecting Dodgers' 2025 lineup after Hyeseong Kim deal, Teoscar Hernandez reunion

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on a mission this offseason with maintaining their roster following a World Series championship in 2024. They re-signed outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, one of their top outgoing free agents, and made a couple more key additions to their lineup via free agency.

Their offseason signings include outfielder Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim. The Conforto signing addressed the vacancy in the outfield with Mookie Betts making a more permanent move to shortstop. The addition of Kim led to the Dodgers shipping off Gavin Lux for a prospect after his playing time was blocked at second base.

With the additions to their lineup, their 2025 lineup expects to be much different than their 2024 iteration.

Projecting the Dodgers starting lineup in 2025

The combination of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez should take the top four spots in the order. The bottom five spots in the order will likely come down to who is available and generating the best matchup against the opposing starting pitcher.

Will Smith is the primary catcher and should see 100+ starts behind the plate. The backup job is up in the air this spring, with Austin Barnes competing against Hunter Feduccia. Tommy Edman is the primary center fielder when everyone is healthy, although he provides coverage at every position. The 2024 NLCS MVP could play a super-utility role on the roster, depending on who is healthy and who is not.

Looking at the positions on the roster, the Dodgers will be platooning right field, third base, and second base. In a typical platoon 65-70% of the plate appearances will be against a right-handed pitcher, meaning most of the at-bats will go to Conforto, Max Muncy, and Kim at those respective positions. Based on their current roster, the right-handed part of the platoon at those spots will go to Andy Pages, Chris Taylor, and Miguel Rojas.

Pages' situation with the Dodgers is up in the air, with no clear path to consistent playing time in the outfield. He's best suited as their fourth outfielder for the 2025 season. Pages crushed lefties in a small sample size, hitting .357 with three home runs and a .917 OPS over 107 plate appearances. His 157 wRC+ ranked top on the team based on a minimum of 80 plate appearances. There is a bit of risk to shoehorning him into that role as a 24-year-old, but at the same time, his poor numbers against right-handed pitching may have also contributed to the Conforto signing.

Either way, the Dodgers have an embareassment of riches on their 40-man roster and have the flexibility to adapt to any opponent in MLB. If rival fans were upset about the Dodgers' dominance in 2024, can't say they'll be feel any better about 2025.