Players To Watch: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

Joc Pederson

Jun 3, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson (31) hits a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Joc Pederson is doing exactly what Andrew Friedman and company wanted him to do: he’s making people forget about Matt Kemp.

The Dodgers rookie swings like you get points for distance. He has a swing comparable to Carlos Gonzalez, just with a few more holes in it. He strikes out a lot, but the Dodgers are more than happy to put up with that if the rest of his game stays consistent.

Pederson has brought back the Three True Outcomes discussion because of his abysmal strikeout rate that’s supplemented by his tremendous walk and home run rates. Here’s how he ranks in all of baseball: fourth best with 17 long balls, fifth best with a 15.7% walk rate, and sixth worst with a 30.1% strikeout rate.

He’s been a force at the top of the lineup, and he hit his first career grand slam the last time he faced De La Rosa. Keep an eye on the budding young star throughout this series, because he’s really fun to watch.