The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a delicate roster-balancing act as September looms. With several key players expected back from the injured list, one of the team’s biggest offseason signings, outfielder Michael Conforto, may soon see his role diminished—or disappear entirely.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was blunt in his latest assessment:
“The pending returns of the injured players will jeopardize the roster spot of Michael Conforto, whom the Dodgers signed last offseason to a one-year, $17 million contract. Conforto, manager Dave Roberts’ ‘pick to click’ during spring training, is batting .183 with a .606 OPS.”
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Conforto’s struggles have been a season-long storyline. Entering this weekend’s pivotal series against the San Diego Padres, Dodgers left fielders had combined for a .214 batting average (27th in MLB) and a .667 OPS (23rd), according to The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. Conforto has logged over 100 starts in left, yet his offensive production has lagged far behind expectations.
Manager Dave Roberts has defended sticking with him, citing a lack of better options. But that equation is about to change. Kiké Hernández, Hyeseong Kim, Max Muncy, and Tommy Edman are all set to return in the coming weeks, crowding the roster and creating opportunities for new outfield configurations.
Roberts himself acknowledged the uncertainty.
“I think that whoever we get out there, we need production,” Roberts told Plunkett. “As guys come back, there’s going to be opportunities. … But we definitely need production.”
Kim and Hernández are already working on rehab assignments with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Both have seen time in the outfield this year, with Kim impressing across multiple roles and batting .304 with a .744 OPS before landing on the IL in late July. Hernández, meanwhile, has logged over 60 innings in left field and remains a trusted defensive option when healthy.
Roberts hinted that Kim’s versatility could play a role in how the Dodgers address their left field problem:
“Obviously we know Hyeseong can play second base. We know he can play shortstop. So just seeing him out in left field, I think that it just potentially gives us a little bit more options.”
The Dodgers also added Alex Call at the trade deadline, giving the club yet another outfield candidate, while Teoscar Hernández could shift back to left if needed. Add Edman’s eventual return to the mix, and it’s clear the team is preparing for contingency plans that don’t involve Conforto.
For Los Angeles, the timing is critical. Saturday’s loss to the Padres knocked the Dodgers out of sole possession of first place in the NL West, highlighting the razor-thin margin they face as the postseason nears. Left field has been a glaring weakness, and the front office can ill afford continued stagnation from a position that should provide offensive punch.
Conforto’s signing was seen as a calculated gamble, but the Dodgers have given him ample opportunity to rediscover the form that once made him an All-Star. Nearly five months in, the patience appears to be running out. With October closing in, the roster crunch could finally push Los Angeles to make the move many have been waiting for: turning the page in left field.