2017 Dodgers review: Franklin Gutierrez

The Dodgers signed Franklin Gutierrez as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela in 2000, but traded him away before he ever made the majors. His return to his original organization didn’t quite work out as either side hoped.

What went right

Gutierrez hit .273/.385/.455 in May, his best month, though he totaled only 26 plate appearances.

He was 5-for-15 (.333) with a walk against right-handed pitchers.

What went wrong

Gutierrez hit his lone home run of the season against a left-handed pitcher — Matt Moore of the Giants — but in his limited duty hit just .195/.298/.341 against southpaws, after hitting .293/.368/.548 with 20 home runs against them in 2015-16 combined.

Gutierrez could never really stay on the field. He strained a hamstring trying to steal a base in April and missed 19 games, then went on the disabled list for good in late June with ankylosing spondylitis, the same condition that caused him to miss the entire 2014 season.

The ankylosing spondylitis robbed Gutierrez of the mobility and flexibility that made him a great defensive outfielder earlier in his career. With the Dodgers he started 14 games in left field but completed only four of them, usually removed for a defensive replacement late in games. He totaled 87⅓ defensive innings in 2017.

2017 particulars

Age: 35

Stats: .232/.317/.339, 3 doubles, 1 HR in 63 PA

Salary: $2.6 million

Game of the year

Gutierrez was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI against the Reds on June 9 in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. It was his lone multi-hit game of the seaon

Roster status

Gutierrez is a free agent.