by Rowan Kavner
(Editor’s Note: Throughout the offseason, Dodger Insider will recap each position group from the 2021 season. The series continues in center field.)
Previous editions
Catcher
First Base
Third Base
Shortstop
Second Base
Left Field
OVERVIEW
The plan for Cody Bellinger to provide his Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field throughout the 2021 season took a turn just four games into a roller-coaster year. Coming off offseason right shoulder surgery, Bellinger played just seven games in April and May after suffering a hairline fracture in his leg. He would later deal with hamstring and rib injuries, all while still building back strength in his shoulder, in a 2021 regular season that didn’t go the way the former MVP envisioned (.165/.240/.302 with 10 homers in 95 games).
But he flipped a switch when October arrived.
With Bellinger feeling at his best, the talented 26-year-old turned his season around leading the Dodgers with a .353 postseason batting average. He lifted them past the Giants with the game-winning hit in the NLDS, and his game-tying, three-run home run in Game 3 of the NLCS gave them life.
Chris Taylor, Mookie Betts and — by year’s end — Gavin Lux combined to shoulder most of the starts in center field when Bellinger was sidelined or playing first. Lux had never played outfield at any level before this year, but he logged time there in September and earned the majority of starts in center field in the playoffs as Bellinger shifted to the infield with Max Muncy injured.
PLAYING BREAKDOWN
- Cody Bellinger: 74 starts, 87 appearances, 674 2/3 innings
- Chris Taylor: 48 starts, 61 appearances, 423 innings
- Mookie Betts: 25 starts, 30 appearances, 212 innings
- DJ Peters: four starts, 11 appearances, 49 innings
- AJ Pollock: five starts, eight appearances, 48 innings
- Gavin Lux: six starts, six appearances, 45 1/3 innings
TEAM STATS (CF)
(Note: The following stats are accumulated for players who played that position at the time of the at-bat. For example, only Taylor’s stats while playing center field are included rather than his overall stats for the year.)
AVG: .221 (26th in MLB)
OBP: .315 (T-17th)
SLG: .365 (26th)
OPS: .679 (21st)
HR: 19 (T-12th)
R: 94 (T-3rd)
RBI: 68 (15th)
wOBA (Weighted On-Base Average): .296 (21st)
wRC+(Weighted Runs Created Plus): 86 (22nd)
K%: 24.4 (12th highest in MLB)
BB%: 10.9 (3rd)
bWAR: 0.8 (26th)
BASERUNNING
SB: 16 (T-12th)
CS: 2 (T-4th)
rBR (Baserunning Runs): 2 (T-9th)
DEFENSE
Def (Defensive Runs Above Average): 2.0 (15th)
DRS (Defensive Runs Saved): -5 (T-22nd)
Errors: 4 (T-14th)
Fielding %: .989 (T-20th)
TOP TWO (BY PLAYING TIME)
· Cody Bellinger
Overall (350 PA) — .165/.240/.302, 10 HR, 39 R, 36 RBI, 3 SB, 48 wRC+, -0.8 fWAR, -1.5 bWAR
As CF (314 PA) — .163/.242/.291, 8 HR, 36 R, 32 RBI, 3 SB
Fielding, As CF — 2 E, .988 FP, -1 DRS, 2 OAA
Postseason — .353/.436/.471, 1 HR, 5 R, 7 RBI, 5 SB
· Chris Taylor
Overall (582 PA) — .254/.344/.438, 20 HR, 92 R, 73 RBI, 13 SB, 113 wRC+, 3.1 fWAR, 2.6 bWAR
As CF (209 PA) — .270/.370/.371, 3 HR, 38 R, 19 RBI, 7 SB
Fielding, As CF — 1 E, .991 FP, -4 DRS, 0 OAA
Postseason — .351/.419/.784, 4 HR, 9 R, 12 RBI
HIGHLIGHT MOMENTS
· Most pundits expected the Dodgers and Padres to compete for the division crown at the start of the year. That led to some competitive early-season matchups and unforgettable finishes, including Betts’ game-saving, game-ending catch at Petco Park on April 17 in a 2–0 win.
- Bellinger reminded everyone of his gifts in the outfield when healthy. On Aug. 29, on the run at full extension, Bellinger tracked down a deep drive to rob Colorado’s Connor Joe of extra bases.
- With Trea Turner joining the Dodgers at the deadline, Lux knew his opportunities for playing time in the infield would be sparse. The former top infield prospect volunteered to get outfield reps for the first time in his baseball career while on assignment at Triple-A in September, then flashed his potential and athleticism at the spot with an opportunity later that month at the big-league level.
Lux’s first taste of the outfield included some growing pains, like when he slammed into the wall in center field — which his teammates had some fun with — but he demonstrated enough promise with his chances in September to earn time in the outfield in October.
- Lux started and Bellinger finished Game 5 of the NLDS in center field. Both players made an impact in the ninth inning, with Lux singling to move Justin Turner into scoring position and Bellinger driving in the game-winning run on a hit off reliever Camilo Doval to send the Dodgers to the NLCS.
LOOKING FORWARD
Bellinger will look to build off his tremendous postseason. A full, normal, healthy offseason should help him start on better footing.
If first baseman Max Muncy (elbow) returns healthy for the start of the 2022 season, Bellinger figures to occupy center field, where his ability to cover ground makes him one of the most valuable defenders on the team. But if the Dodgers need to bump Bellinger to first base, Pollock, Betts and now Lux all have experience in center field. The Dodgers also called up another promising defensive outfielder to the 40-man roster in prospect James Outman.
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