Dodgers Outfielder David Peralta Had Offseason Back Surgery Before Signing with LA
The Dodgers signed outfielder David Peralta late in the offseason, a surprise addition of a former division foe who has spent most of his career to this point with the Diamondbacks. As Fabian Ardaya reports for The Athletic, Los Angeles was Peralta's first choice, so it wasn't the decision that took a long time to develop. It was the picture of Peralta's health.
Peralta’s market this winter was slow going, not just as his numbers fell during his time with the Rays, but also because of health. The outfielder required back surgery to address a herniated disk over the winter, with the discomfort coming “out of nowhere,” with Peralta not sure enough to speculate how that might have affected his production. His $6.5 million deal includes up to $1.5 million in additional incentives based on his time on the active roster.
Back surgery sounds scary, but a herniated disk/disc repair is pretty common these days. We don't know which disc was herniated, and herniations in different areas can cause symptoms in different parts of the body. Up in the higher spine, the herniation can cause nerve pain in the arms, while lower herniations can lead to sciatica and similar nerve pain in the legs. Without more details and a medical degree, it's hard to even speculate how much the herniated disc might have contributed to Peralta's lackluster late 2022 season, in which he posted just a 92 OPS+ after being traded to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline.
Peralta appears to be healthy now, so hopefully his offensive production will return. He will mostly be used against right-handed pitchers, against whom he has an .836 career OPS.
