Seeing how Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman invented what has come to be known around Major League Baseball as "The Ben Zobrist Role," it’s appropriate that his team remains the industry leader in this area.

Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernández and Max Muncy have all embraced their Inner Ben Zobrist in starting games -- and excelling -- at multiple positions.

One of Friedman’s core beliefs is that manager Dave Roberts should have maximum flexibility in terms of lineups and in-game decisions. Every team values versatile players, but no team has sought more of them than the Dodgers.

• 2020 MLB Postseason schedule

Not surprisingly, Friedman’s previous team embraces the same philosophy. The Rays also have the most Zobrist of any player in the game in Mike Brosseau.

He has started at four positions -- both infield and outfield -- and also pitched in four contests over the past two seasons. His .936 OPS in 2020 would get him playing time regardless of position, but his versatility increases his value. He’s an everyday player without an everyday position.

Let’s pause for a word about the real Ben Zobrist, a 14-year veteran, three-time All-Star and the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner who did not play in '20. Originally drafted by the Astros as a shortstop in the sixth round in '04, he was acquired by the Rays at the Trade Deadline in '06. He was a Minor League shortstop at the time and figured that was his permanent position.

In the spring of 2008, when Zobrist appeared headed back to the Minors again, Friedman, then the Rays general manager, approached him with the idea of playing multiple positions.

As Zobrist tells it, the request wasn’t really a request. “Or I could go back to the Minor Leagues and play shortstop full-time,” he said.

Zobrist may be slightly exaggerating the story, but the larger narrative works. Zobrist created a hybrid role for himself that became one of the most coveted on every roster.

What made him special was that he was excellent at every position. Former Rays manager Joe Maddon has credited Zobrist with both the production and attitude that helped Tampa Bay reach the postseason four times in six seasons between 2008 and '13.

This season, "Zobrist" dotted a bunch of rosters, with players understanding that it’s a good way to create value both for their team and themselves.

Not every team has multiple players who routinely play different positions, and that’s not critical. Sometimes having just one player capable of moving around the diamond -- for instance, Jurickson Profar with the Padres -- is huge.

Friedman has said it’s more than having players physically capable of moving around the diamond, it’s having players who are willing to do it. He credits Roberts with creating a culture in which players are willing to do whatever is asked of them.

So with a tip of the hat to Ben, here are the six postseason teams that have at least one player in the Zobrist mold:

1. Dodgers
Roberts used 56 lineups in 60 games this season because of the depth and flexibility of his roster. Multiple players made double-digit starts at every position except right field, where Mookie Betts started 50 games. Bellinger was the Dodgers' best defensive player at three positions in 2019 -- right field, center field and first base. This season, he started 38 games in center and 16 at first. Chris Taylor started at four positions, Hernández at five.

2) Rays
Willy Adames started 51 games at shortstop and Kevin Kiermaier 41 in center. Otherwise, Rays manager Kevin Cash mixed and matched his lineups to maximum matchups. While Brosseau symbolized Tampa Bay’s philosophy about flexibility, Cash even started 2019 American League All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe 11 times in the outfield in addition to 35 at second. Joey Wendle started 18 games at third, 18 at second and nine at shortstop.

3) Cardinals
Tommy Edman is that player every team is seeking. While the Cardinals have everyday players at five spots -- including franchise cornerstone Yadier Molina at catcher -- Edman gives manager Mike Shildt daily lineup options. He has started games at third, short, second, right field and left field. Rookie Dylan Carlson started at all three outfield spots after his Aug. 15 debut.

4) Padres
Profar was San Diego’s super utility player in 2020, starting games at four positions. In Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday, he entered as a pinch-hitter (and designated hitter) in the fifth inning and singled. Then in the eighth inning, he singled again and scored on Wil Myers' second homer to break the game open. Profar then shifted to left field for the top of the ninth inning. Jake Cronenworth has also proven valuable by playing three other spots besides his regular one, second base.

5) Marlins
Amid the comings and goings, Jon Berti established himself as invaluable to the Marlins renaissance. He started 17 games at second, seven in center, seven in right, two at third and two at short. He was the only player to steal home twice this season, including once in August against the Mets when he took off as the catcher lackadaisically tossed the ball back to the pitcher. Stumbling halfway down the baseline, he bear crawled the final 10 feet or so to complete a play that speaks volumes about what this nine-year Minor Leaguer means to the overachieving Marlins.

6) A’s
Manager Bob Melvin has a bench full of versatile players. Chad Pinder has played seven positions in four seasons with the A’s. Mark Canha has played five in six seasons. Tony Kemp can play the infield or outfield. Vimael Machin has played every infield spot. In a season like this one when the A’s have struggled to score runs, these players have given Melvin added options to maximize matchups.