Joc Pederson is a well-known baseball player who has achieved great success throughout his career, including two World Series championships and two All-Star selections. However, there has been some debate as to whether or not he is considered an everyday player.
We will explore what it means to be an everyday player in baseball, examine Joc Pederson’s career statistics, analyze his role on his teams, and discuss how a team’s needs and roster composition can impact his playing time.
By the end of this post, we will have a better understanding of whether or not Joc Pederson is truly an everyday player.
Definition of an Everyday Player
In baseball, an everyday player is a player who is considered a regular member of the starting lineup and plays almost every day. Typically, an everyday player is someone who is consistently in the lineup and plays in a majority of the team’s games.
Being an everyday player is considered a sign of reliability and consistency, as it shows that the player is able to perform at a high level on a regular basis.
Everyday players are usually the team’s best and most valuable players, as they provide a consistent source of production and help the team win games.
However, it’s important to note that not all players who are considered everyday players play every single game. Some may be given days off periodically to rest or recover from injuries, or they may be benched in certain matchups against particularly challenging opponents.
Overall, though, an everyday player is someone who is expected to be a regular contributor to the team’s success and is relied upon to perform at a high level on a consistent basis.
Joc Pederson’s Career Statistics
Joc Pederson has played in the major leagues since 2014, primarily with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here’s an overview of his career statistics:
Batting Average: .230
On-Base Percentage: .336
Slugging Percentage: .470
Home Runs: 145
Runs Batted In: 368
Walks: 397
Strikeouts: 935
While these statistics are solid, they don’t necessarily indicate that Joc Pederson is an everyday player. One factor to consider is his performance against left-handed and right-handed pitching.
Throughout his career, Pederson has been primarily used as a platoon player, meaning he typically only starts against right-handed pitching.
Against righties, he has a career slash line of .242/.353/.501, while against lefties, his line drops to .188/.280/.336.
Comparing his statistics to other players who are considered everyday players, it’s clear that Pederson’s performance against left-handed pitching is below average.
For example, Mike Trout, one of the best players in the game and a true everyday player, has a career line of .315/.418/.581 against lefties.
Overall, while Joc Pederson has shown flashes of greatness and has contributed to two World Series championship teams, his career statistics and platoon player role suggest that he may not be an everyday player.
His performance against left-handed pitching is a particular weakness that may limit his playing time in certain situations.
Joc Pederson’s Role on His Teams
Joc Pederson has been used primarily as a platoon player throughout his career. A platoon player is a player who is used selectively based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness.
In Pederson’s case, he has typically only started against right-handed pitchers and has been benched in favor of a right-handed hitter against left-handed pitchers.
This platoon player role has been consistent throughout Pederson’s career, regardless of which team he has played for.
For example, during his time with the Dodgers, he often split playing time in the outfield with other left-handed hitters such as Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, with each player being used primarily against pitchers of a certain handedness.
While Pederson’s role as a platoon player has limited his overall playing time, it has also allowed him to maximize his performance in situations where he is most likely to succeed.
Against right-handed pitching, he has been a very productive hitter with power and patience at the plate, which has made him a valuable contributor to his teams.
Overall, while being a platoon player has limited Pederson’s playing time and has prevented him from being an everyday player, it has also allowed him to be a productive and valuable contributor to his teams in the situations where he is most likely to succeed.
Team Needs and Roster Composition
A team’s needs and roster composition can have a significant impact on Joc Pederson’s playing time. For example, if a team has a surplus of left-handed hitters, they may be less likely to give Pederson consistent playing time as a platoon player, as they may prefer to use a right-handed hitter in his place against left-handed pitching.
On the other hand, if a team is in need of a left-handed power bat, Pederson may be given more playing time and even be used as an everyday player.
In this situation, the team may be more willing to live with Pederson’s struggles against left-handed pitching, as his overall offensive production could still be valuable to the team.
Another factor to consider is a team’s overall offensive strategy. If a team prioritizes hitting for power and driving in runs, Pederson’s skillset as a power hitter could make him a more valuable contributor.
However, if a team prioritizes getting on base and manufacturing runs, Pederson’s high strikeout rate and low batting average may make him a less appealing option.
Overall, Joc Pederson’s role on a team can vary depending on the team’s needs and roster composition.
While his skillset as a platoon player has made him a valuable contributor to teams in the past, his playing time and role may be impacted by the specific needs and priorities of the team he is playing for.
Here’s a Table Comparing Joc Pederson’s Career Statistics Against Left-handed and Right-handed Pitching:
| vs. LHP (Career) | vs. RHP (Career) | |
|---|---|---|
| AVG | .181 | .242 |
| OBP | .269 | .342 |
| SLG | .339 | .486 |
| OPS | .608 | .828 |
| HR | 24 | 110 |
| K% | 28.7% | 23.6% |
| BB% | 9.3% | 10.2% |
This table shows that Joc Pederson has struggled against left-handed pitching throughout his career, with a significantly lower batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage compared to his numbers against right-handed pitching.
However, his power numbers against right-handed pitching are impressive, with 110 home runs and a .486 slugging percentage.
FAQs
What is Joc Pederson’s best season statistically?
Joc Pederson’s best statistical season came in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he hit .249/.339/.538 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs in 149 games played.
Has Joc Pederson ever played any position other than outfield?
While outfield is his primary position, Joc Pederson has also played first base in a few games throughout his career.
What is Joc Pederson’s contract situation?
As of April 2023, Joc Pederson is playing on a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, worth $10 million.
Has Joc Pederson ever won any awards or accolades?
Joc Pederson has been named a National League Rookie of the Month, and has won a National League Championship Series MVP award. He has also been selected to play in the All-Star Game twice.
Conclusion
While Joc Pederson has been a productive player throughout his career and has contributed to two World Series championship teams, his role as a platoon player and his struggles against left-handed pitching suggest that he may not be an everyday player.
Pederson’s playing time and role on a team can be impacted by a variety of factors, including the team’s needs, roster composition, and overall offensive strategy.
While his skillset as a power hitter and patient hitter at the plate make him a valuable contributor in certain situations, his limitations against left-handed pitching and high strikeout rate may make him a less appealing option in other situations.
Overall, Joc Pederson’s role on a team is likely to continue to depend on the specific needs and priorities of the team he is playing for, and his ability to adapt and contribute in a variety of situations will continue to be an important factor in his success as a player.
