In the aftermath of the NLDS, news broke that Dodgers outfielder David Peralta underwent surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left arm. According to Jack Harris, Peralta sustained the injury sometime around the All-Star break but continued to play through it.
Anyone who watched the Dodgers this year noticed a steep dropoff in production at the plate in the second half of the year - noted by Fabian Ardaya below.
Fortunately for Peralta, he should be ready to go come Opening Day 2024 for the club he joins. This does, however, raise questions about his usage by the Dodgers in the closing months of the 2023 season.
If the front office indeed knew about his injury, they did not do much to address it. The club felt comfortable enough to not trade for a replacement, give a younger player a shot, or decrease Peralta's playing time.
In light of this news, it's even more interesting that he started the first two games of the NLDS. Whatever conversation the club had amongst themselves, they felt that a limited David Peralta provided their best chance to win as opposed to a healthy Kiké Hernandez or Chris Taylor.
Regardless of how anyone feels about this situation, David Peralta is owed a great deal of thanks. He came into the organization on a one-year deal, provided a good left-handed bat, especially when healthy, and even got himself nominated for a Gold Glove. Knowing he did all this while injured for the majority of the season makes it all the more impressive and shows great character on his behalf.
More must-reads: