Dodgers unlikely to call up top prospect Joc Pederson for a 'while'

Los Angeles Dodgers fans hoping to see top prospect Joc Pederson are likely going to have to wait a while.

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There were rumors earlier this week suggesting that Pederson could be in line for a promotion after Carl Crawford went down with injury, but Matt Kemp, who had previously been benched for five consecutive days took over Crawford’s spot in left field.

Not wanting to have Pederson rot away on the bench, the team has apparently decided to keep him at the minor league level for a ‘while’ and keep their rotation of Kemp, Crawford, Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier in the outfield (when all players are healthy, of course).

"There’s been clamoring to bring him up to the majors with him having an excellent season (.337, 15 HRs, 33 RBIs, 13 steals) in Triple A. He’s a lefthanded-hitting center fielder and he would solve some of the Dodgers’ future problems. But they have committed to Andre Ethier in center now that manager Don Mattingly has decided Matt Kemp needs to become a corner outfielder. As a big-market team, the Dodgers need to win now and not be in the development business at the major league level. Unless there are more outfield injuries, Pederson will likely stay put for a while."

Pederson is clearly more talented than Ethier and would likely provide better numbers than both Crawford and Kemp, though, with hefty investments in their current Major League outfielders there’s nothing the Dodgers can do.

That said, Pederson is more than ready for Major League pitching and it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Dodgers attempt to move one of their outfielders (sans Puig, obviously) before the July trade deadline.

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Dodgers unlikely to call up top prospect Joc Pederson for a ‘while’

By Bryan Rose | Jun 1, 2014