GLENDALE, Ariz. — As quickly because the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani, supervisor Dave Roberts started to dream of what the highest of his lineup would appear like within the 2024 season and past.
On Tuesday, as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Ohtani took the sector for the primary time as teammates, Roberts lastly revealed the order for his prime three hitters.
Betts stayed on the leadoff spot, with Ohtani and Freeman coming in proper behind him. It’s a lineup that now options three former MVPs, forming, arguably, probably the greatest trios in Main League historical past.
“As a supervisor, you begin attempting to formulate a lineup and see the way it seems on paper,” Roberts stated. “You get a giant glow in your face if you have a look at Ohtani, Freeman and Betts.”
Tuesday was a comparatively auspicious begin for the new-look lineup, with Betts (single) and Ohtani (two-run homer) notching successful apiece in three at-bats. Freeman went 0-for-2, grounding out to quick and flying out to left.
The dialog with the three superstars occurred early within the camp, and it wasn’t significantly prolonged. Betts, Ohtani and Freeman all let the Dodgers know that they might settle for wherever they’ve them hitting within the order.
When Roberts and the Dodgers started to dig into issues, it was clear that they didn’t wish to transfer Betts out of the leadoff spot. It’s the place Betts has had the vast majority of success all through his profession, together with an American League Most Useful Participant Award in 2018 and a pair of second-place finishes for NL MVP since coming to the Dodgers in ‘20.
“I believe for me, Mookie actually has thrived within the leadoff spot,” Roberts defined. “I like him on the prime, being the igniter.”
Coming to a call on Betts was simple for the Dodgers. Then, it was about determining how Ohtani and Freeman would observe. Each have had expertise hitting in each spots, making it simpler for the Dodgers to try to challenge the place they might really feel most comfy heading into the 12 months.
A couple of days into camp, Roberts pulled Freeman into his workplace and laid out the plan. He can be hitting third behind Ohtani. Freeman, after all, hit second for the Dodgers in 2023, a 12 months through which he completed third in NL MVP voting. The dialog didn’t final lengthy as Freeman shortly stated he was on board.
“I don’t suppose that the handedness actually impacts [Freeman or Ohtani],” Roberts stated. “I really feel that having Shohei hit in entrance of Freddie, I believe will create a number of scoring from first base, a possible stolen base risk. After which to have Will Smith behind Freddie, it simply made a number of sense.”
In his profession, Freeman has hit second in 363 video games and third in 1,146. In 2022, the Dodgers had an analogous scenario with Trea Turner. Freeman hit second in 83 video games and third in 76. He put up robust numbers in every spot, however he did publish a .980 OPS within the three-hole (in contrast with .863 batting second).
Ohtani, alternatively, has hit in all 9 spots of the batting order all through his profession. The 2-time unanimous AL MVP has seen most of his success hitting second, posting a 1.013 OPS in 240 video games. Ohtani has an .856 OPS in 247 video games hitting third.
Given their previous numbers, it may counsel that Ohtani feels extra comfy hitting second whereas the splits are about the identical for Freeman, who will now get much more RBI alternatives behind Betts and Ohtani.
“I believe that if you happen to’re wanting on the DNA of the 2 hitters, Shohei is extra of a free swinger than Freddie is,” Roberts stated. “So when you have anyone like Freddie behind him, pitchers are nonetheless gonna assault Shohei in a selected approach, little doubt about it. However there’s additionally an opportunity that they need to be within the strike zone a little bit bit greater than if Freddie wasn’t behind him. Not to remove something from anyone else on our roster, however Freddie is the largest presence for defense behind Shohei.”
There actually isn’t a lot of a improper reply for the Dodgers contemplating the expertise concerned. The lineup may change if issues don’t work early within the season. However as of now, the Dodgers consider that is the easiest way to go.
“I believe we’re gonna do that for some time,” Roberts stated. “What some time means, I don’t know proper now. It’s not set in stone. It’s nonetheless gotta work and make sense. However I do suppose I will be sluggish shifting on issues. I don’t transfer simply because for per week or two it doesn’t work.”
