There's no denying that Hanley Ramirez has been one of the more important cogs to the Dodgers machine this season. He's been hitting like an MVP caliber player while playing the kind of defense I thought he wasn't capable of. Sure, he's not a Ozzie Smith out there, but he has been more than able to handle the position.
Unfortunately, this Dodger season has been rife with injuries, so when he got banged up this weekend it was not a shock. Yesterday afternoon Hanley made great defensive play on a pop foul ball that saw him tumble into the stands at Wrigley Field. Watch a video of the play here. He immediately left the game with a bum shoulder. It's been reported that it's not separated, and he will have a MRI today. Word has yet to trickle as to those results. (UPDATE: shoulder feeling better, MRI has been cancelled for now via a tweet from ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne.)
In the meantime, we are left to wonder, "what happens now?"
If Hanley Ramirez were to go on the DL, it is likely the Dodgers would bring up another short stop to cover the position. Earlier in the year, the Dodgers kept Justin Sellers on the roster, but he failed mightily with the bat and glove. Besides, nobody likes a hot dog on a motorcycle. The top Dodgers prospect at the position, Corey Seager, just got promoted to High-A ball in Ranch Cucamonga. He figures on competing for a roster spot in 2015, so seeing him in Dodger Blue now would be premature. Seager needs more time to simmer. We could always recall Elian Herrera, but I find that to be a boring pick. Seen that, done that.
The only good option in my mind is Dee Gordon. He's been sort of a lost soul in Dodgerland. At one time he was hailed as our short stop of the future, but withered away when he couldn't perform. Soon thereafter, the Dodgers signed Hanley Ramirez and Dee's shine has been fading ever since.
Since I feel obligated to throw some numbers your way I thought I'd mention that he is on fire in AAA right now. Over the past 10 games he has 15 hits in 39 at-bats for a average of .385. He has stolen 8 bases and is OPS'ing an otherworldly 1.005. See his stats at MILB here.
If there is a good time to give him a shot at proving his value, it's now. Dee Gordon just might rekindle those positive feelings we all felt when we thought he could be a star. Furthermore, I've got a Dee Gordon T-shirt in my closet that needs to see some sunlight, and all I'm looking for is an excuse to put it back on.
Pic Credit Above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.
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