The Los Angeles Dodgers are far from the offensive juggernaut they were expected to be coming into this season. They have underperformed despite having three former Most Valuable Players at the top of their lineup. Mookie Betts has not had the year that he was hoping for. The perennial All-Star started the season losing at least 20 pounds due to illness. However, he has been on fire of late, hitting above a .350 batting average for nearly a month. It seems that if one were to look deeper down the lineup, we would see a more complete picture. For example, corner outfielders Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernández‘s lack of offensive production for the Dodgers.
Dodgers Need More Offense from Corner Outfielders as Postseason Nears
At the Mendoza Line
Conforto’s offensive struggles are well-documented in 2025. His batting average has hovered around .190 most of the year. As a result, there was much speculation that the Dodgers would trade for a corner outfielder at the deadline. The Dodgers acquired Alex Call. This has further reduced Conforto’s playing time to playing against right-handed pitching. It is still not enough for some who wanted Conforto off the team completely.
But the Dodgers have shown a particularly long leash for veterans, and more importantly, Conforto’s hard contact rate and on-base percentage are still respectable. Is Los Angeles’ patience paying off? In the latest series against the San Francisco Giants, the left-fielder went 5-for-9 with a home run and several walks, and he finally made it back to .200 for the first time since April. Obviously, it may be too soon to tell after one series. But if the Dodgers are going to make it to October and beyond, they are going to need quality contributions from Conforto.
The “Butter and Egg Man”
However, the most surprising player to have a down year is Teoscar Hernández. Last year, he was able to execute at a high level with runners in scoring position. This led to a World Series ring and a generous contract extension. At the beginning of the 2025 season, it looked like he picked right up where he left off. However, a groin injury and a foot injury sidelined him for some time. When he returned, Hernández seemed like a shell of himself both offensively and defensively. He went more than a month and a half with a batting average that hovered near .170.
The All-Star has looked, at times, lost and disinterested at the plate. Things reached critical mass when his negative defensive rating in right field got worse. This led to calls for Hernández to switch positions from right field to left. And reading between the lines of mild-mannered manager Dave Roberts to express displeasure and bench Hernández.
TEOSCAR HERNÁNDEZ RBI DOUBLE pic.twitter.com/Bo6s7fzLgc
— Jack (@MidWestLAFan) September 14, 2025
Signs of Hope?
Hernández has promised an increased focus on his defense. His offensive slumber seems to be wearing off. His batting average of .248 is on the rise after back-to-back three-hit games in San Francisco, including a home run that led to a series win.
The Dodgers need contributions from Hernández and Conforto to lengthen the lineup, put pressure on the opposing pitcher, and give the Dodgers pitchers some much-needed cushion. It is vital if Los Angeles wants any chance to repeat.
Main Photo Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
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