Dodgers leadership met with Mookie Betts without discussing a position switch, and the team remains committed to Betts at shortstop. Teoscar Hernández has struggled in right field but the Dodgers are not ready to shift him to left. Manager Dave Roberts said Hernández has shown strong right-field play at times and expects improvement, while noting the team can improve defensively overall. Potential outfield configurations if Hernández moves include Tommy Edman, Alex Call or Kiké Hernández as a third outfielder, with Hyeseong Kim at second and Michael Conforto likely moving to a bench role.
I just know that there's been times when he's played a formidable right field. I think he's going to get to that. I really do," Roberts said. "I think if you're talking about the first-to-thirds that's something we can be better at, closing in on the ball. But as far as left field versus right field - we're just not there yet. But that's a totally fair question.
While Roberts has discussed Hernández's defensive shortcoming multiple times this month, he also said the Dodgers can stand to improve defensively as a team. If the Dodgers ever do decide it is time for Hernández to move to left field, the picture of their three starting outfielders becomes much clearer once their roster gets healthy. There are a number of different third outfielder options that the team can deploy, depending on pitching matchups, involving Tommy Edman, Alex Call and Kiké Hernández. Their strongest lineup against right-handed starters likely involves Edman in the outfield and Hyeseong Kim at second base. In any case, it likely results in reducing Michael Conforto's role from a lineup regular to a bench player.
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