You’d be hard-pressed to name two more underrated stars in baseball not named Max Muncy or Joc Pederson. Even then, Max Muncy is well-respected among circles of baseball fans, placing second on MLB Network’s list of top-ten first basemen entering 2020. The later is often overlooked due to his role as a platoon player with the Dodgers, but his eighth-best at-bats per home run rate in 2019 is an indication that not only is he the league’s most powerful platoon player in baseball, but he is a star
On the twenty-eighth birthday of the Dodgers slugging outfielder, we take a look back at the five most defining moments of Joc’s career. The man has had quite a career, so reducing this list down to five was a challenge. Without further ado, we start with number five…
5. Leadoff Home-Run vs Braves in Game 1 of the 2018 NLDS
Perhaps I am a bit biased on this one due to the fact that this occurred at the only postseason baseball game I have ever been to and the energy at Chavez Ravine was off the charts. Nevertheless, this home run makes the list because Joc sparked not only an offensive outburst against Atlanta that series but he lit the fire that would carry the Dodgers into the World Series for a second consecutive year.
4. Game-saving Catch vs Padres on June 14, 2015
This play of the week back in 2015 when Joc Pederson used to be the Dodgers centerfielder (I know right, it feels like ages ago) may not seem like anything overly-spectacular at first glance, but after further analysis by ESPN’s Sports Science, we see just how impressive this play is. After taking his eye off the ball for roughly half a second, Joc had to make up about seven feet, accelerating to a speed of over eighteen miles per hour to make this catch, which was followed by contact with the wall about 0.27 seconds later.
3. Walk-Off Home Runs vs Reds on Jackie Robinson Day 2019
It was the return of Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to Los Angeles for the first time since Game Five of the World Series the previous year. Hitting in the middle of the order, Puig and Kemp accounted for all of Cincinnati’s run production this game, with Puig hitting a two-run shot off Clayton Kershaw in the top of the first and Kemp knocking in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth off Jansen. Somewhere in between all this, Reds’ ace, Luis Castillo, drilled soon-to-be 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger right in the knee and Dodgers fans’ hearts skipped a beat as they thought they had lost their star for a significant amount of time. This game really had it all. Ah, I miss baseball. Anyway, back to Joc, with a runner on first and no out, Joc crushed the third pitch he saw from Raisel Iglesias, a hanging slider, deep into the right-field pavillions for what remains the lone walk-off of his career.
2. Game-Tying Home Run vs Nationals in Game 5 of the 2016 NLDS
To lead off the top of the seventh, Joc Pederson took future Hall-of-Famer, Max Scherzer deep on the first pitch he saw, chasing him from the game and sparking a four-run inning for the Dodgers that would propel them into the National League Championship Series. When all factors are taken into consideration, being on the road for an elimination with no momentum, in the late innings, facing a legendary pitcher, the fact that the Dodgers even advanced to the next round is because of the man with the Instagram handle @yungjoc650.
1. Solo Shot vs astros in Game 6 of the 2017 World Series
In the most corrupt, one-sided championship series of all time in which a gutless organization referred to as the houston astros stole a World Series title, Joc Pederson had a series to remember, belting three home runs to the tune of a .333 batting average and 1.344 OPS. For Joc Pederson’s top career moment, this entire series is what I wanted to feature, as it is the peak of his career thus far, but in the spirit including singular moments, I decided to roll with this home run that otherwise would have either secured Los Angeles its first World Series title since 1988 and ended with Joc Pederson, not george springer rightfully receiving the honors of 2017 World Series MVP.
What are some of your favorite Joc Pederson moments? Feel free to comment or tell us on Facebook or Twitter @dodgerslowdown.
Featured Image Credit: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Ian Nielson has been a writer for @DodgersLowDown since 2018. Follow him on twitter @ianenielson