"Improving the defense was important - just as important as improving the offensive output. The eye test would tell you as much. By bringing Kyle Tucker in - who, let's be real, was brought in because of his bat - the Dodgers have done that. While Tucker isn't the fleetest of foot outfielder anymore, his improvement over Teoscar Hernandez should be apparent next season."
"Defensive runs saved would tell you Hernandez played relatively well in right field over the last two seasons. In 1,542 innings since signing with the Dodgers, he has a 6 DRS. However, outs above average and the eye test tell a different story. In that same time, his -10 OAA is fifth-worst among MLB right fielders (minimum 1,000 defensive innings), and his arm doesn't do a ton to make up for the deficiency."
Dodger Stadium's outfield measures 113,349 square feet, and the NL West contains five of the top 12 biggest outfields by square footage. Improving defense was prioritized equally with boosting offensive output, prompting the acquisition of Kyle Tucker for both his bat and defensive potential. Teoscar Hernandez produced a 6 DRS in 1,542 innings with the Dodgers but posted a -10 OAA, ranking among the worst right fielders in range, with Fielding Run Value at -8. Small-sample contributions from players like Pages temporarily propped up outfield defensive metrics. Hernandez ranks highly in routes run since 2022.
Read at Dodgers Digest
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