Getting Yasiel Puig in shape is a key off-season focus of Dodgers

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig fields a ground ball during batting practice before Game 5 of the NLDS against the New York Mets on Oct. 15.

Columnist

Nov. 11, 2015 4 AM PT

Reporting from BOCA RATON, Fla. — If the off-season unfolds as the Dodgers envision, Yasiel Puig will report to spring training with a resculpted body.

“That’s a focus,” said Andrew Friedman, the team’s president of baseball operations.

Puig is listed by the Dodgers at 6 feet 2 and 255 pounds.

“He has continued to get bigger and stronger each year,” Friedman said. “It may not be the optimal size for him to play 150 games, 150-plus games.”

Puig played in only 79 games this year because of hamstring problems. Preparing the right fielder’s body to withstand an entire six-month season is part of Friedman’s plan to reinforce the Dodgers lineup. Rather than search for an offensive upgrade on the free-agent or trade markets, Friedman said the Dodgers would count on Puig, Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal to recapture the form that made them All-Stars.

Speaking at baseball’s general managers meetings, Friedman said that Puig, Pederson and Grandal are “three big wild cards.”

However, if they play up to their potential, Friedman said, “I think we have a chance to have one of the more dynamic offenses in the National League.”

The Dodgers are expected to return the nucleus of a lineup that hit 187 home runs this year, the most in the NL.

“For the most part, our position-player group is pretty locked down,” Friedman said.

Top prospect Corey Seager, who batted .337 as a September call-up, will replace 36-year-old Jimmy Rollins on a full-time basis. The only other significant change will be at second base, where free-agent Howie Kendrick was the starter.

Kendrick is expected to reject the qualifying offer extended to him by the Dodgers, which, if accepted, would bind him to the team next season at a salary of $15.8 million. Kendrick’s departure could be significant. Batting .295 with nine home runs and 54 runs batted in in 117 games, Kendrick often hit directly behind or in front of Adrian Gonzalez.

Friedman said he is uncertain whether the Dodgers would replace Kendrick externally or internally.

In-house candidates include utility man Enrique Hernandez and rookie Jose Peraza.

Hernandez batted .423 against left-handers but only .234 against right-handers. Peraza has played in only seven major league games.

The right-handed-hitting Hernandez could also be a candidate to form a platoon in center field with the left-handed-hitting Pederson.

On the surface, Pederson had a solid rookie season. He batted only .210, but his 26 home runs ranked second on the team to Gonzalez’s 28.

But his season splits showed a disconcerting trend.

Of his 26 home runs, 20 were hit before the All-Star break; and he batted only .178 after.

Pederson acknowledged pitchers adjusted to him.

“Everybody knew they were going to throw hard fastballs in,” Pederson said. “That’s not a secret. That’s a pitch they didn’t go away from. I didn’t show them I could hit it. When I did hit it, they had a shift on.”

Pederson said he intends to work this off-season with Johnny Washington, his former rookie league hitting coach. Pederson credits Washington with helping him develop into a major league hitter.

Friedman said he expected Pederson to be on the Dodgers’ opening-day roster, but sounded less certain he would start in center field.

Like Pederson, Grandal made his first All-Star team this year. And like Pederson, his production decreased significantly in the late stages of the season. Only one of Grandal’s 16 home runs was hit after Aug. 1.

The explanation offered was simple: Grandal was injured.

When the season ended, the catcher underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.

Still, Puig remains the player with the most upside.

“Puig’s first 2 1/2 seasons, he was like one of the 20 best players in baseball,” General Manager Farhan Zaidi said. “We are a different team when he is as healthy and as productive in ’13 and ’14.”

Puig never found a rhythm this year as the result of two lengthy stints on the disabled list. He also developed a blister on his left palm that ruptured in the middle of the season.

He finished the season batting .255 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs.

Puig is working out at his off-season home in Miami and is said to be in regular contact with Brandon McDaniel, the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

Friedman is encouraged by the reports on Puig he has received from McDaniel.

“He’s getting after it this winter,” Friedman said. “The reports have been great.”