2016 Dodgers review: Scott Van Slyke

Injuries cut into the 2016 season for Scott Van Slyke.

What went right

Van Slyke hit .243/.333/.405 against left-handed pitchers, with a 100 wRC+ that made him one of only six Dodgers (out of the 40 with at least one plate appearance against a southpaw) to be even league average against lefties all season.

What went wrong

Van Slyke only got 42 plate appearances and eight starts against lefties all season.

The Dodgers were the worst team in baseball at hitting left-handed pitchers in 2016 in several metrics. Van Slyke spent two long stints on the disabled list this season. These things are related.

Van Slyke missed 49 games after the first week of the season with lower back irritation, then missed the final 51 games of the regular season with right wrist irritation, the latter which required surgery in September.

In between injuries, Van Slyke hit just .225/.292/.314 with one home run in 113 plate appearances. He was 3-for-32 (.094) with runners in scoring position.

2016 particulars

Age: 29

Stats: .225/.292/.314, 1 HR, 6 doubles in 113 PA; -0.2 rWAR, -0.2 fWAR

Salary: $1.225 million

Game of the year

Van Slyke hit his only home run of the season on June 15 in Arizona, a three-run shot in the sixth inning against Patrick Corbin that gave the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw the only offense they needed in a 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Roster status

Van Slyke has three years, 151 days of service time, and avoided salary arbitration, signing a one-year deal on Dec. 1 worth $1.325 million. Van Slyke has one option year remaining.