Scott Van Slyke

Coming off a stellar 2014 in which he hit .297/.386/.524 in part-time duty, Van Slyke took a step back in 2015. Overall he hit just .239/.317/.383, but what was most surprising was his regression against LHP. Van Slyke destroyed them to the tune of a 1.045 OPS in 2014, but last year managed just a .784 mark. Seeing his BABIP drop from .400 to .305 year over year was a part of the story, but Van Slyke's BB% also dropped from 11.4% to 9.1% and he obviously showed less power with a .144 ISO versus 2014's .227 mark. Perhaps part was due to back, neck, and hand injuries that plagued him at different times last year. Barring a trade to an organization willing to give him full-time at-bats, Van Slyke is likely to return to the Dodgers to again fill a part-time outfield role, primarily against left-hand pitching. An offseason of rest should allow his body to heal up, allowing him to again be an offensive force when he is inserted into the lineup.

Van Slyke lived up to his reputation as a right-handed power bat capable of demolishing left-handed pitching last season, as he hit .315/.415/.630 with a .447 wOBA against southpaws in 2014. In an outfield less crowded than the Dodgers', Van Slyke might be able to carve out more playing time against righties, but there was a significant drop in his production across the board against them, and he becomes even more prone to striking out (32.8% K% v. RHP). In many ways, Van Slyke was the National League equivalent of Steve Pearce -- and it's clear that this skill set projects better in the American League. If he remains with the Dodgers, a similarly productive season in a limited role should be within reach, but there may be other teams interested in seeing what he's capable of doing with 400-plus plate appearances.

Van Slyke showed he could destroy minor league pitching in recent years, but in 2013, he got his first real taste of big league pitching, and the results weren't bad, as Van Slyke posted a .240/.342/.465 slash line with seven home runs in just 129 at-bats. Van Slyke has a big, looping swing, resulting in him striking out in more than 23 percent of his plate appearances, but he also walked in 13.2 percent of them. Van Slyke knows how to take a walk and possesses excellent power, but with no real opening in the Dodgers' lineup, his upside with the Dodgers appears to be as a backup outfielder and first baseman.

Van Slyke has put up monster numbers in the minors the past two seasons - .346/.425/.593 in 2011, .327/.404/.578 last year. Given his first taste of major league pitching last year, Van Slyke hit just .167 in 54 at-bats, seeing time at the outfield corners and at first base. Given that he's 26 and has no clear path to playing time, expect Van Slyke to open 2013 back in Triple-A. He seems likely to only see playing time in the event that he's traded or if someone is injured.

The son of former All-Star outfielder Andy Van Skyle, Scott has exceeded expectations as a former 14th-round pick out of high school back in 2005. Now 25, Van Slyke batted a robust .348/.427/.595 for Double-A Chattanooga, tallying 45 doubles and 20 home runs in 457 at-bats to go with a respectable 100:65 K:BB. Named the organization's minor league hitter of the year in 2011, Van Slyke will open 2012 in Triple-A and cross his fingers for a big league opportunity. He's likely limited to first base and left field defensively.