​
​
Sign In
  • Support FanGraphs
    FanGraphs Membership
    FanGraphs Shirts
    FanGraphs Mugs
    Gift a Membership
    Donate to FanGraphs
  • Fantasy
    Fantasy Tools
    Fantasy Player Rater
    Auction Calculator
    Ottoneu Fantasy Baseball
    Signup, FAQ, Blog Posts
  • Blogs
    Blog Roll

    FanGraphs
    • The Rays Swap Out Their Catchers as the Brewers Add Depth Behind the Dish
    • Pre-Deadline Top 100 Prospects Update
    • With Chris Paddack Trade, Tigers Bolster Ailing Rotation and Twins Start Selling
    • Mitch Keller Is Suddenly a Hot Commodity
    Podcasts: Effectively Wild

    FanGraphs Prospects

    RotoGraphs
    • Josh Naylor & Ryan McMahon Trades Fallout - ARI & COL Impact
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Fantasy Movers: AL Edition
    Podcasts: The Sleeper and The Bust | Field of Streams | Beat the Shift

    Community Research
    • Effectively Wild's Preseason Predictions Game Update: Ben Clemens

    Archived Blogs: The Hardball Times | NotGraphs | TechGraphs | FanGraphs+
    Archived THT: THT Live | Dispatch | Fantasy | ShysterBall
    Archived Podcasts: FanGraphs Audio | Chin Music | UMP: The Untitled McDongenhagen Project | Stealing Home | Doing It For Bartolo | OttoGraphs |
  • Projections
    2025 Pre-Season Projections
    ZiPS, ZiPS DC
    Steamer
    Depth Charts
    ATC
    THE BAT, THE BAT X
    OOPSY
    2025 600 PA / 200 IP Projections
    Steamer600, Steamer600 (Update)
    2025 Updated In-Season Projections
    ZiPS (RoS), ZiPS (Update), ZiPS DC (RoS)
    Steamer (RoS), Steamer (Update)
    Depth Charts (RoS)
    ATC DC (RoS)
    THE BAT (RoS), THE BAT X (RoS)
    OOPSY DC (RoS)
    3-Year Projections
    ZiPS 2026, ZiPS 2027
    On-Pace Leaders
    Every Game Played, Games Played %
    Cy Young Award Projections

    Auction Calculator
  • Scores
    Today
    Live Scoreboard, Probable Pitchers
    Live Daily Leaderboards
    Win Probability & Box Scores
    2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
    AL Games
    TOR (4) @ BAL (16)Final
    TOR (2) @ BAL (3)Final
    COL (4) @ CLE (10)Final
    ARI (2) @ DET (12)Final
    TBR (5) @ NYY (7)Final
    BOS (8) @ MIN (5)Bot 9
    ATL (6) @ KCR (9)Top 9
    PHI (6) @ CHW (3)Final
    WSN (2) @ HOU (6)Bot 7
    TEX (0) @ LAA (2)Bot 3
    SEA (0) @ ATH (0)Mid 2
    NL Games
    LAD (5) @ CIN (4)Final
    CHC (3) @ MIL (9)Mid 9
    MIA (5) @ STL (0)Top 9
    NYM (0) @ SDP (1)Top 4
    PIT (0) @ SFG (0)Bot 3
  • Standings
    2025 Projected Standings
    2025 Playoff Odds, Playoff Odds Graphs
    2024 ZiPS Postseason Game-By-Game Odds
    AL East
    Blue Jays63460.0
    Yankees58494.0
    Red Sox57515.5
    Rays54548.5
    Orioles505812.5
    AL Central
    Tigers63460.0
    Guardians53549.0
    Royals525510.0
    Twins515510.5
    White Sox396923.5
    AL West
    Astros60470.0
    Mariners57503.0
    Rangers56514.0
    Angels52558.0
    Athletics466315.0
    NL East
    Mets62450.0
    Phillies61461.0
    Marlins505511.0
    Braves456016.0
    Nationals446217.5
    NL Central
    Brewers63430.0
    Cubs62441.0
    Reds56528.0
    Cardinals55539.0
    Pirates456218.5
    NL West
    Dodgers63450.0
    Padres58494.5
    Giants54538.5
    D-backs515712.0
    Rockies287934.5
  • Leaders
    Major League Leaders
    Batting: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, Career
    Pitching: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, Career
    Fielding: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, Career
    Major League Leaders - Rank
    Batting: Ranking Grid, Compare Players, Compare Stats
    Pitching: Ranking Grid, Compare Players, Compare Stats
    Splits Leaderboards
    Pitch-Type Splits Leaderboards
    Season Stat Grid

    Postseason Leaders
    Batting: 2024, (WS), (LCS), (LDS), (WCS), Career
    Pitching: 2024, (WS), (LCS), (LDS), (WCS), Career

    Spring Training Leaders
    Batting: 2025, 2024, 2023
    Pitching: 2025, 2024, 2023

    KBO Leaders
    Batting, Pitching
    NPB Leaders
    Batting, Pitching

    Minor League Leaders
    AAA: International League, Pacific Coast League
    AA: Eastern League, Southern League, Texas League
    A+: Midwest League, South Atlantic League, Northwest League
    A: California League, Carolina League, Florida State League
    CPX: Arizona, Florida
    R: Dominican Summer League
    College Leaders
    Batting, Pitching

    WAR Tools
    Combined WAR Leaderboards
    WAR Graphs
    WPA Tools
    WPA Inquirer
    Rookie Leaders
    Batters 2025, Pitchers 2025
    Splits Leaders
    Batters: vs L, vs R, Home, Away
    Pitchers: vs L, vs R, Home, Away
  • Teams
    Team Batting Stats
    2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
    Team Pitching Stats
    2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
    Team WAR Totals (RoS)
    AL East
    Blue Jays  |  DC
    Orioles  |  DC
    Rays  |  DC
    Red Sox  |  DC
    Yankees  |  DC
    AL Central
    Guardians  |  DC
    Royals  |  DC
    Tigers  |  DC
    Twins  |  DC
    White Sox  |  DC
    AL West
    Angels  |  DC
    Astros  |  DC
    Athletics  |  DC
    Mariners  |  DC
    Rangers  |  DC
    NL East
    Braves  |  DC
    Marlins  |  DC
    Mets  |  DC
    Nationals  |  DC
    Phillies  |  DC
    NL Central
    Brewers  |  DC
    Cardinals  |  DC
    Cubs  |  DC
    Pirates  |  DC
    Reds  |  DC
    NL West
    D-backs  |  DC
    Dodgers  |  DC
    Giants  |  DC
    Padres  |  DC
    Rockies  |  DC
    Positional Depth Charts
    Batters: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, DH
    Pitchers: SP, RP
  • RosterResource
    Current Depth Charts
    AL East
    Blue Jays
    Orioles
    Rays
    Red Sox
    Yankees
    AL Central
    Guardians
    Royals
    Tigers
    Twins
    White Sox
    AL West
    Angels
    Astros
    Athletics
    Mariners
    Rangers
    NL East
    Braves
    Marlins
    Mets
    Nationals
    Phillies
    NL Central
    Brewers
    Cardinals
    Cubs
    Pirates
    Reds
    NL West
    D-backs
    Dodgers
    Giants
    Padres
    Rockies
    In-Season Tools
    2025 Closer Depth Chart
    2025 Injury Report
    2025 Payroll Pages
    2025 Transaction Tracker
    2025 Schedule Grid
    2025 Probables Grid
    2025 Lineup Tracker
    2025 Minor League Power Rankings
    Offseason Tools
    2025 Free Agent Tracker
    2025 Offseason Tracker
    2025 Opening Day Tracker
  • Prospects
    Prospects Home
    The Board
    The Board: Scouting + Stats!
    How To Use The Board: A Tutorial
    Farm System Rankings

    Top Prospects List
    20252024
    AL
    BALCHWATH
    BOSCLEHOU
    NYYDETLAA
    TBRKCRSEA
    TORMINTEX
    NL
    ATLCHCARI
    MIACINCOL
    NYMMILLAD
    PHIPITSDP
    WSNSTLSFG
    2025 Preseason Top 100
  • Glossary
    Library
    Batting Stats
    wOBA, wRC+, ISO, K% & BB%, more...
    Pitching Stats
    FIP, xFIP, BABIP, K/9 & BB/9, more...
    Defensive Stats
    UZR Primer, DRS, FSR, TZ & TZL, more...
    More
    WAR, UBR Primer, WPA, LI, Clutch
    Guts!
    Seasonal Constants
    Park Factors
    Park Factors by Handedness
  • Sign In

Position Battles: Dodgers’ 2B Job

by David Golebiewski
March 15, 2010

With Orlando Hudson now turning two for the Twins, the Los Angeles Dodgers have an open competition at the keystone spot heading into 2010. Are any of the candidates worthy of fantasy consideration?

The two main guys fighting to gain manager Joe Torre’s favor are Ronnie Belliard and Blake DeWitt.

Turning 35 in April, Belliard was picked up from the Nationals last August and split time at second with the O-Dog down the stretch. The bulky Belliard won’t be helped by his limited range in the field. He’s currently trying to shed some weight: in order for his $825,000 contract to become guaranteed, he needs to tip the scales at no more than 209 pounds at some point during spring training.

At the dish, Belliard has a 111 wRC+ in nearly 1,200 PA over the past three seasons. He has hit for a good deal of power over the past two seasons: Belliard had a .137 Isolated Power in 2007, but posted a .186 ISO in ’08 and a .174 ISO in ’09.

Over that same time period, Belliard’s strikeout rate has risen from 14.1% in ’07, 19.6% in ’08 and 21.2% in ’09. Perhaps he’s taking a bigger cut, coming up empty more often in exchange for those additional extra base hits. On pitches within the strike zone, Belliard made contact 90% of the time in 2007, 87.1% in ’08 and 85.4% last season (87-88% MLB average).

DeWitt, meanwhile, was taken in the first round (28th overall) of the 2004 draft. The lefty batter has shifted between second and third base during his pro career, compiling a .277/.337/.443 triple-slash in the minors.

In 2008, DeWitt took 421 trips to the plate with the Dodgers, batting .264/.344/.383 with a 96 wRC+. Though he showed little thump (.120 ISO), he did display a good eye. DeWitt drew draw a walk in 10.7 percent of his PA, chasing 22.3 percent of pitches thrown off of the plate (25 percent MLB average).

Last year, he got just 53 PA at the big league level with a 64 wRC+. At Triple-A Albuquerque, DeWitt hit a mild .256/.349/.426, walking 11.8 percent, punching out 12.5 percent and posting a .170 ISO. Albuquerque is a great offensive environment, so DeWitt’s major league equivalent line looks dour: Baseball Prospectus’ MLE’s have Blake’s 2009 work at Albuquerque translating to a .216/.306/.373 showing in the big leagues. That certainly looks harsh: DeWitt’s BABIP in Triple-A was just .273. His MLE wouldn’t look as grisly if he had hit 20 to 30 points higher with the Isotopes.

Belliard and DeWitt could be platooned, with Ronnie rapping lefties and Dewitt handling right-handers. DeWitt hasn’t done much against southpaws in the minors, with a .266/.323/.391 triple-slash (he has performed well against LHP in limited big league time, but the very small sample size doesn’t lend itself to any firm conclusions).

Jamey Carroll, inked to a two-year deal over the winter, will serve as an infield reserve. Skilled glove man Chin-lung Hu could end up being the next Adam Everett if some team gives him a chance. That says all you need to know about his fantasy value, though. The sleeper in the discussion is Ivan DeJesus Jr., a well-regarded prospect looking to rebound from a lost ’09 season.

DeJesus Jr., 22, missed last year after suffering a broken leg during a nasty home plate collision. The 5-11, 180 pound middle infielder offers little in the power department (his career minor league ISO is .074), so he’ll have to prove that he can avoid being bullied by big league pitching. However, he has a .295/.380/.369 line on the farm. He controls the strike zone well, drawing ball four in 11.5 percent of his PA and striking out 17.5 percent. DeJesus Jr. wasn’t a speed merchant prior to his injury, but he did swipe 16 bags in Double-A in 2008, and has a career 75 percent success rate. Don’t be surprised if he enters the picture at some point in 2010.

For 2010, CHONE projects Belliard to bat .257/.318/.407, with a 94 wRC+. DeWitt checks in at .254/.327/.398, which also comes out to a 94 wRC+. Neither guy figures to garner much attention in fantasy leagues.

DeJesus Jr. is the most interesting name of the bunch, though his lack of pop is worrisome. Pitchers aren’t going to tiptoe around the strike zone if the guy batting can do little more than slap a single. Those walk totals might not translate especially well to the highest level, though that remains to be seen. Outside of deep NL-only leagues, Belliard and DeWitt aren’t draft-worthy. DeJesus Jr. is someone to keep in mind during the summer.





Draft Order: The Outfielders
 
Real Draft: Razzball

A recent graduate of Duquesne University, David Golebiewski is a contributing writer for Fangraphs, The Pittsburgh Sports Report and Baseball Analytics. His work for Inside Edge Scouting Services has appeared on ESPN.com and Yahoo.com, and he was a fantasy baseball columnist for Rotoworld from 2009-2010. He recently contributed an article on Mike Stanton's slugging to The Hardball Times Annual 2012. Contact David at david.golebiewski@gmail.com and check out his work at Journalist For Hire.

3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
chair
15 years ago

Dodger fans are very optimistic about Dewitt’s offense, though long term it is agreed he will probably be at third base. I don’t weight his spring training too heavily, though it has been tremendous (391. 500. 652. in 28 PAs). However I do consider him a big time sleeper in NL only leagues where second base is very thin.

0

Regular Features

  • Mining the News

    A daily compilation of baseball news and analysis.
  • The Sleeper and The Bust Podcast

    Paul Sporer and Justin Mason lead the RotoGraphs staff in a daily fantasy baseball podcast.
  • Beat the Shift Podcast

    Ariel Cohen and Reuven Guy bring their analytical approach to fantasy baseball.
  • ADP Market Watch

    Offseason analysis of the NFBC Average Draft Position market for fall and winter drafts.
  • LEAGUE CLASSIFIEDS

    Fill your league with Rotographs Community Members.
  • Bullpen Report

    Detailed daily updates and charts on every bullpen in the Major Leagues to help you manage your saves and holds.
  • Bold Predictions

    The Rotographs staffs puts forward their best longshot predictions for the season.
  • Projecting X

    Mike Podhorzer’s projection analysis profiles, reviews, and deep-dives.
  • Ottoneu Strategy

    Strategy for the year-round FanGraphs Fantasy game.
  • Roto Riteup

    The most roto-relevant news of the previous day, recapped in a concise format for your morning coffee.

2025 Fantasy Rankings

C

-

1B

-

2B

-

SS

-

3B

-

OF

-

Top 200

SP

-

RP


Ottoneu Rankings

C

-

1B

-

MI

-

3B

-

OF

SP


Industry Awards

  •  •  2024 NFBC Super ($20K)
  •  •  2024 NFBC Super ($18K)
  •  •  2024 NFBC Auction Championship
  •  •  2024 TGFBI Overall
  •  •  2024 Tout Wars AL ($20K)
  •  •  2023 NFBC Super ($20K)
  •  •  2021 Tout Wars Mixed Auction
  •  •  2021 TGFBI League
  •  •  2021 NFBC Main Event
  •  •  2020 Tout Wars HTH
  •  •  2020 LABR Mixed Auction
  •  •  2017 Tout Wars Mixed Auction
  •  •  2017 Tout Wars AL
  •  •  2016 Tout Wars H2H
  •  •  2013 Tout Mixed Draft

  • Alex Chamberlain
    Post Count: 305
  • Ariel Cohen
    Post Count: 263
  • Chad Young
    Post Count: 445
  • Jake Mailhot
    Post Count: 142
  • Jeff Zimmerman
    Post Count: 2312
  • Jon Becker
    Post Count: 226
  • Jordan Rosenblum
    Post Count: 18
  • Justin Mason
    Post Count: 1138
  • Lucas Kelly
    Post Count: 394
  • Mike Podhorzer
    Post Count: 2522
  • Paul Sporer
    Post Count: 2650
  • 2025 Rankings
  • Auction
  • Beat the Shift
  • Bold Predictions
  • Catchers
  • Chat
  • Draft
  • Dynasty
  • FAAB
  • Featured
  • First Base
  • Head to Head
  • Hitters
  • Injuries
  • Keeper Strategy
  • LABR
  • Lineups
  • Links
  • Market Watch
  • Meta Analysis
  • Mining the News
  • NFBC
  • Ottoneu
  • Outfielders
  • Podcast - The Sleeper and the Bust
  • Projections
  • Prospects
  • Rankings
  • Relief Pitchers
  • Roto
  • Roto Riteup
  • Second Base
  • Shortstops
  • SP Chart
  • Starting Pitchers
  • Statcast
  • Strategy
  • Streamers
  • Third Base
  • Tout Wars
  • Trades
  • Uncategorized
  • Waiver Wire
You are going to send email to

Move Comment

Updated: Thursday, July 24, 2025 6:00 AM ETUpdated: 7/24/2025 6:00 AM ET
@fangraphs - Contact Us - Advertise - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy
sis_logo
All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play-by-play data provided by Sports Info Solutions.
mlb logo
Major League and Minor League Baseball data provided by Major League Baseball.
Mitchel Lichtman
All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman.
TangoTiger.com
All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com
Retrosheet.org
Play-by-play data prior to 2002 was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet.

Support FanGraphs
Become a Member

Please consider becoming a FanGraphs Member. All the great work that you've come to rely on is made possible by Member support, including analysis, stats, projections, RosterResource, prospect coverage, and podcasts.

Membership starts at $.16 a day.

Already a Member: Log In

Sign Me Up