Dodgers prospect Kendall George has revealed that the knee issue that followed his bizarre run-in with a Double-A bat dog ended with surgery.
George, the Dodgers’ No. 11 prospect, first went viral earlier this season after a frightening-looking play with the Tulsa Drillers’ bat dog on May 25. As he headed back to the dugout after scoring a run, the dog came out to retrieve No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula’s bat after De Paula drove in George. George tried to jump clear, but when he landed, he was left hobbling.
He wound up missing a month with a meniscus injury tied to the incident, then returned to Tulsa on July 4 and looked like his usual self for a stretch. In July, he hit .321 with an .815 OPS and added seven stolen bases.
Then came another interruption. Tulsa scratched him from the lineup on Aug. 1, which led to speculation that he might be included in a Tarik Skubal trade to the Tigers. That never happened, but the Drillers did quietly move him back to the 7-day IL a few days later.
George cleared up the mystery himself on Friday with an Instagram story, posting a hospital gown selfie and writing, " New knee for the kidddd. Bat dog: 1. KG: 0."
The team has not said whether the surgery will end his season, though that seems like the likeliest outcome. The larger question now is what George looks like when he gets back.
His speed is the headline tool. MLB Pipeline gives it an 80-grade, and George has been the most dangerous base stealer in the Dodgers’ system.
He has 33 stolen bases this season, plus three more during his rehab stint with Single-A Ontario. By comparison, No. 13 prospect Kellon Lindsey, who also has a perfect baserunning grade, has 11 steals this year.
George brings more than speed, too. He owns a .418 OBP in Double-A and a .408 mark across his minor league career. Still, the running game is what makes him stand out, and the Dodgers would be missing something special if that part of him doesn’t come all the way back.
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