Scott Van Slyke’s disappointing season will come to a premature end, as the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder will have surgery on his ailing right wrist.
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Van Slyke Confirms Surgery
Saturday, Aug. 27
Per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Van Slyke will miss the rest of 2016. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register added that Van Slyke said his surgery is scheduled for Sept. 1, and the arthroscopic procedure will clear out cysts and scar tissue in his wrist.
Wrist problems have plagued Van Slyke dating back to 2015. He didn’t play in the National League Division Series against the New York Mets last season with inflammation.
After appearing in four games in the first week of this season, he was placed on the disabled list with wrist irritation. He was out for nearly two months before being activated prior to a June 3 game against the Atlanta Braves when Yasiel Puig was injured.
Earlier this month, Van Slyke went back on the DL with wrist irritation. The Dodgers moved him to the 60-day disabled list on Aug. 25, officially ending any hope of his returning before the regular season ended.
The injuries have taken a toll on Van Slyke’s performance. He had a career-high .910 OPS in 98 games during the 2014 season, but that number fell to .700 in 2015 and to .606 this season.
The Dodgers outfield has been a mess all season, with Howie Kendrick being the only stable presence. Joc Pederson is turning things around in the second half, while Josh Reddick is still acclimating himself to his new team.
The 30-year-old Van Slyke finds himself in a precarious position because he’s eligible for arbitration this winter for the first time, but his struggles the last two seasons could make him a potential non-tender candidate.
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