The suspension that will see Dee Gordon away from the playing field until the 29th of July has brought for the likes of Miguel Rojas and Derek Dietrich to further elevate their stock. Both drafted as shortstops, the pair has certainly done that thus far, with the latter of the two showing all the assets necessary to hold down a roster spot long-term, albeit not a spot that’s available at the moment. Both Dietrich and Rojas have made the prospect of organizational oscillation down the road a less likely possibility, but Dietrich is doing more than providing stability.
Used primarily as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement to start the season, Derek Dietrich has made the most of his opportunities in the wake of the Gordon suspension. Batting in the leadoff spot, three hole, fifth spot, and bottom-third of the lineup, the 6-foot infielder has been utilized just about everywhere, acting as a sort of plug to fill any gaps that might open. He’s spent time in left field, among other places last season, and it’s clear Miami is very high on his bat, and justifiably so.
After hitting ten home runs in 250 at-bats last season to compliment his .802 OPS, the 2015-16 campaign has been one of unequivocal growth for the 26-year-old. His eleven RBI rank fifth on the team, three fewer than Christian Yelich despite having just under half if the plate appearances that the regular number three hitter has. Dietrich currently has a 1.024 OPS, the team lead, although his lessened plate appearances significantly hamper the weight of that statistic.
In addition to his 0.6 offensive WAR, the highest of his career, for the first time in the Cleveland, Ohio native’s career his defensive output has been up to par. An anomaly in a long line of disenchanted seasons, Dietrich defensive WAR is at 0.1, on the positive end of the spectrum for the first time in four seasons with the ball club. Moreover, the former Tampa Bay Rays farmhand’s 0.7 WAR is fifth on the team, only trailing Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, David Phelps, and Martin Prado.
In an odd turn of events, his .429 on-base percentage, which is only second to Yelich’s, has been supplemented by being struck by a pitch four times this season, good enough for third in the N.L. In each of those, especially the most recent, his acting skills have been put to the test, and have passed with flying colors.
Off the bench, Dietrich has come up with a pair of pinch hits, both of which have resulted in RBI, and once he himself ended up scoring. In contempt of his success off the bench, Dietrich has shown the ability to be a serviceable everyday player. In his twenty-eight at-bats as a starter, the Marlins temporary starting second basemen, in the odd platoon with Rojas, has eight hits, a pair of homers and nine RBI.
Opportunities might be scarce for the infielder, even though Martin Prado is getting up there in age. Originally acquired in the transaction that saw Yunel Escobar head to Tampa Bay, Dietrich is making noise within the Marlins organization while looking to fill a hole that is yet to be available, at least long-term.
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