Dodgers: What Happened to Edwin Rios? Why is He Not on the Roster?

There have been excessive hopes for Edwin Rios on the season’s begin.

He was anticipated to play on a close to day by day foundation, and contribute as one of many higher energy hitters on this proficient roster. With the addition of the common DH, there was rather more flexibility to get Rios concerned on a extra constant foundation.

By means of the primary two months of the season, Rios was doing simply that. He appeared in 27 video games, and had a powerful seven house runs and 17 RBIs in simply 86 at-bats. He was doing precisely what was requested of him, principally as a DH, with a couple of video games spent within the infield at first and third base.

Then, Rios went down with an damage, and he disappeared quicker than a Coke Zero within the Dodgers Nation workplace fridge.

Rios went on the 60-day IL with a hamstring issue, and wasn’t totally wholesome till August. In the midst of August, he was lastly activated off the Injured Record, and transferred to Triple-A for a rehab task.

The Dodgers had acquired Joey Gallo only a few weeks prior, making it just a little tough to seek out at-bats for the same hitter in Rios. However nonetheless, after the rehab task, there was a great probability we’d see Rios within the majors battling for a spot on the postseason roster.

That by no means occurred.

Rios has spent the final six weeks in Triple-A, by no means getting the chance to come back up — not even when rosters expanded to twenty-eight.

So the query is why?

What occurred to Rios that he so shortly misplaced his spot on the common season roster?

Effectively for starters, the aforementioned acquisition of Gallo on the commerce deadline clogged issues up a bit. Rios and Gallo are very related hitters — power-hitting lefties who wrestle to hit for common — so there wasn’t precisely a necessity for each. And Gallo’s an above-average outfielder, which places him forward of Rios by way of protection.

So then you need to have a look at Rios’ efficiency within the Minors.

In 48 video games with the Oklahoma Metropolis Dodgers, Rios is hitting .259 with 9 house runs and 39 RBIs. He’s struck out 66 occasions in his 189 at-bats. Not precisely spectacular numbers for a man who was hitting a house run each 11 at-bats or so by means of his first two months of this season. Within the minors, he’s hitting a house run in each 21 at-bats.

Edwin Ríos went oppo for his ninth Triple-A homer of the season. His OPS continues to climb, because it now stands at .851. #AlwaysLA https://t.co/3vSULpvkh0

In order that hasn’t helped him attain the bigs, particularly with the emergence of Trayce Thompson taking on one other roster spot, a man who’s hit righties surprisingly properly this season.

Then you need to have a look at the protection. Rios has performed a ton of third base for OKC, and has a fielding share of simply .881.

So you possibly can’t actually belief him to come back by means of as the facility hitter he’s imagined to be. And he’s not fielding notably properly. Plus, defensively, he’s extraordinarily restricted enjoying principally first base and third base, positions the Dodgers have properly lined.

In order that solutions why he by no means received an opportunity to come back again and see if he may supply this staff one thing they didn’t have already got.

You may make the argument that Dave Roberts may have at the least given him a shot, particularly with the expanded rosters. And if the rosters expanded to 40 like they used to, he undoubtedly would have gotten some enjoying time.

However, he hasn’t impressed all that a lot since getting back from the IL, and Roberts felt it was extra helpful to get guys like Gallo, James Outman and Miguel Vargas at-bats down the stretch, quite than the struggling Rios.

Rios’ time in Dodger Blue could also be removed from over. A great offseason may get him proper again on monitor to be a contributor subsequent yr.

However as this season involves an in depth, it’s protected to say we gained’t be seeing Edwin Rios for the rest of 2022.