Joc Pederson Blasts Off as Designated Hitter for D-Backs

In a pivotal National League West matchup, the Arizona Diamondbacks turned to veteran slugger Joc Pederson to provide some punch in the lineup against the San Francisco Giants. After cracking a pinch-hit homer the previous night, Pederson was rewarded with the designated hitter spot and the three-hole in Thursday’s batting order.

The former All-Star didn’t disappoint in his expanded role. Pederson jumped on an early mistake pitch from Giants starter Alex Cobb, drilling a no-doubt blast over the right field wall to open the scoring. His fourth-inning solo shot traveled a projected 428 feet, representing the longest home run of Pederson’s season to date.

“Any time you can get a ball up in the air in this park, you’ve got a chance for it to really carry,” Pederson said after the game. “I was just trying to get some good pitches to hit and put a good swing on one.”

The long ball was the 170th of Pederson’s big league career and his team-leading 22nd of 2022. Despite spending most of the year in a platoon role, he’s already matched last season’s home run total in 43 fewer games.

Pederson’s power exploits have been a welcome addition for the Diamondbacks, who have relied heavily on the long ball to manufacture runs this year. No team has hit more homers than Arizona’s 211, helping overcome some struggles with runners in scoring position.

While he’s not an every-day player at this stage, the 30-year-old’s ability to change a game with one swing makes him an offensive spark plug off the bench. His mix of power, patience and postseason experience are all qualities manager Torey Lovullo can tap into down the stretch.

After scuffling in June and July, Pederson seems to have found his groove again in August. His .814 OPS this month ranks second on the team behind only Christian Walker. If he can maintain that level of production, Pederson figures to be a key part of Arizona’s lineup against right-handed pitching the rest of the way.

With the D-Backs trying to chase down the final National League wild card spot, Pederson’s hot bat could be the difference in a tightly contested playoff race. Few players in the game today can match his flair for the dramatic and penchant for rising to the occasion.

As a two-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, Pederson has shown up on the biggest stages before. Now he’ll be asked to channel that postseason magic in Phoenix and help power the desert bats to October baseball.