Heading into his first season as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dave Roberts caught many by surprise when he identified Andre Ethier as a viable option to bat lead off during the 2016 season. While the roster was without a prototypical leadoff man, it’s a role Ethier had never filled.
Roberts cited the veteran outfielder’s on-base percentage as reason behind the thinking, but it was never put to the test as Ethier sustained a fractured tibia during Spring Training that derailed his year. Instead, Chase Utley was called on to fill the void.
Utley fared well during the first half of the season, but his effectiveness dipped as the year wore on.