Editorials

Dodgers: Kiké, Pederson, Puig; Fans Reveal Who They Would Most Want to See Back in LA

With the offseason upon us, we took to social media to ask fans something that is always a hot topic. Who would you bring back if you could bring one of your favorite former Dodgers? In this list, we featured Kiké Hernandez, Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo, and Yasiel Puig. Thousands of fans chimed in with strong cases for each. We dive into some of the responses and give our pick.

Plus, a quick look back at Yasiel Puig’s electric MLB debut.



WATCH

Here’s the original post from our Twitter…

Unsurprisingly, Kiké and Puig got a massive outpouring of love. The two Dodgers with perhaps the most clutch moments and fun moments during their time in LA. With Kiké, he’s entering the second year of a two-year deal with the Red Sox, and Verdugo still has years of team control in Boston as well. So realistically, they’re not options to return. However, Puig and now Pederson are both free agents, so do with that what you want.

Related: Former LA Outfielder Yasiel Puig Settles Civil Suit

The discussion isn’t over! Which of these Dodgers would you most want back? Or if the player you want isn’t on this list, add them in the comments below!

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Doug McKain

Doug McKain is a lifelong Dodger fan and hosts Dodgers Nation’s “DNpostgame” show online. He also hosts Dodgers DougOut and the LA Sports Report on YouTube. DMAC is also a rabid Lakers fan, and lover of all Los Angeles sports.

27 Comments

  1. Puig, hands down. If only for his entertainment value both on and off the field.

    Seriously though has there ever been a bigger waste of talent?

    1. We really miss all these guys energy, there is ZERO energy or weirdness on the current team. Makes a tteam tick.

    1. Joc is still bringin’ it and still in his 20’s…But he doesn’t wanna be sitting on the bench any more!!!

      Koufax isn’t the worst idea either!!!

        1. Joc wants to be on a team that will contend first and foremost as he had indicated. He also is not concerned if he isn’t starting against every single LHP in the league. He wasn’t playing every single day this year anyway. If Joc comes back, and he has a lot of friends on this team, he still should get 450+ AB’S, especially if there’s a DH in the NL in 2022. Besides , if a LHP statrs, Joc could still enter the game once said LHP is removed. But I get the feeling he might get a few opportunities to face them as time goes on. One other note is the Dodgers as a team MUST improve against LHP as it is.

        2. I agree that he struggled against them in the past. But this past year he hit .265 against lefties in 110 at-bats.

          1. Yes, like I mentioned in my main comment reply to this article, Joc did much better playing for Atlanta than he did for the God-awful Cubs.

  2. Pederson, as he did this past year, was always a weight to be carried almost every season, and then showed up (big, for a very few games) in the postseason. Puig is out of his mind and will probably always make some aggressively foolish errors but, with good and supportive coaching, was great offensively and defensively. Bring back Puig.

    1. ‘No brainer’ and ‘Puig’ in the same sentence, is appropriate.

      Glue factory candidate.

  3. Koufax. New meds cure his arthritic elbow, and I hear he’s been working on a submarine knuckleball that rises like his fastball used to.

    Maybe it was a dream…

  4. It really amuses me how anyone in their right mind would want Kiké back. With getting his whining wish true in Boston to play more, with almost 100 more AB with 125 more PA Ryan 2019, he still had the same blah BA, minimal RBI despite 20 HR (a paltry 60), and even less positions played. The only thing he did well was hit .400 in the postseason, but what did that get Boston? Not even the alcs. Kiké was nothing but a class clown so Boston can keep him. I’m sick of Kiké

    Puig… Ah man such a waste. The Wild Stallion risked his life to get here and a combination of nobody coached him properly in how to live life outside the lines, and a half-hearted willingness to assimilate and rein himself in. We could use him in Left maybe while Taylor could play 2nd.

    Joc is hard to say. He batted low with the Cubs but they’re the Cubs. They suck. He did much better after getting to Atlanta, like if he felt more comfortable there, despite the team still being the default NL Least winner that we should have wrecked and won the Revenge WS with if not for Roberts being an idiot with pitchers again.

    Both Joc and Kiké strike out too much, but in comparison, Taylor also was almost a top 10 league leader again in SO – he just had a very good BAbip.

  5. Joc is my first choice. I was really irritated that the Dodger FO let him go. Not only has he been great in the clutch and in the postseason, his energy and enthusiasm for the game and his teammates is a joy to watch. Poetic justice he has back-to-back WS rings, and I am glad for him. I’d love to see Kiki back as well – another underrated clutch player, but he still has a year on his contract. Forget Puig -I always hated that guy and his attitude and the team doesn’t need him with his belligerent personality.

  6. Puig the ‘wild’ horse should be sent to the glue factory.

    I don’t need to be ‘entertained’ by a guy sticking his tongue out.

  7. Puig. He was great to watch, so entertaining. But flawed, made as many bonehead plays as great ones and he teammates couldn’t stand him. No thanks.
    Joc. A little tougher. Always dangerous, but not really an everyday player and a downright liability in the field. Good guy, but no, even with pearls.
    Verdugo. A good player, got traded because they had too many outfielders that week. Might turn into a star. Would be good to have back.
    Kike. His numbers are so so, but he’s a player. He can play anywhere, and well. He’s got power. He’s a modern day (read flawed, swinging from his heels) player that does so much well. He’s the one we need back.

  8. i say go with who we have under contract now and with our minors that are ready and playgo with that.

    1. That would be really bad. It would mean a status change to “rebuilding mode” and that wouldn’t fly with anyone: The team, the FO, and 99.999% of fans. It wouldn’t be practical either. You don’t suddenly just say “Screw the playoffs we’ll start from scratch.” because that’s relegated to teams that are routinely .500 or worse.

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