As the WBC winds down and the days click off the calendar, each game brings us closer to the beginning of the regular season. Today’s article is an update on some of the position battles, how some of the veterans that the club will be leaning on are doing and what the outlook is rolling into the first game of 2023.

Starting Pitchers

Dustin May had somewhat of a pedestrian start his last time out giving up 2 runs in 4.0 innings, but I am super pumped about what he is going to bring to the table for the Dodgers this year. It takes a bit to get the “feel” back after Tommy John, and I think he’s there. May has absolutely filthy stuff! His ERA is 2.13, his avg. against .170, 16 Ks so far. He does also have 7 walks, but I think that’s just scar tissue from the process of just trying to get all the “feels” back, and I think in a short amount of time he’ll be all the way there. 

Per Tim Neverett, the Dodgers were hoping for 4 innings from Clayton Kershaw in his start on the 10th, but only got 3, so he finished his pitch count in the bullpen. Kershaw’s last outing had some good and some bad aas he gave up 2 runs in 4 hits in 5 innings  How many innings do you think Kershaw will throw this year? 1) Less than 100 2) 100-125 3) More than 125. Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Noah Syndergaard’s velo is down, but he had been getting outs until his outing yesterday. Coming into yesterday he had given up just 1 run in 9.1 innings and had struck out 6 and walked none. Yesterday was rough, however, as he have up 6 earned runs in 4.1 innings. Coming back off of Tommy John is different for everyone, and, similar to May, I think yesterday was some scar tissue in terms of not quite fully having his “feels” back. We’ll see, but, in my opinion, it’s nothing to worry about yet. 

Julio Urias has been in the World Baseball Classic, and, although he shut down his pitching, he stayed with the team. That’s a positive, in my opinion, because Urias threw 185.2 innings in 2021, then threw 175 innings last year, both records highs for innings thrown in his career. So, any rest he can get this year will we welcome. 

Relief Pitchers

Evan Phillips was up to his dominant ways again tonight. Phillips went 1 inning scoreless and struck out 2. He has yet to give up a run so far in ST in his 6 innings and that’s on the heels of last year where he didn’t give up a run in 26 of his last 28 outings.

Shelby Miller is one of the off-season acquisitions that I’m super excited to follow despite his rough start. 1) He is a great athlete 2) He has Great Arm Talent 3) His 4-seam slider combo makes him the exact guy the Dodgers like to put in their lab and make great again.

It was great to see Yency Almonte back at his scoreless ways. Check out the great commentary from Tim Neverett & Rick Monday on how good Almonte was last year. His Slider had a .119 avg. against, close to a 50% K rate & he didn’t allow a run in his last 16 outings.

Brusdar Graterol got through his 1 inning on Sunday unscathed. Graterol is a 100+ arm that fought injury towards the end of last year after posting ERA’s of 0.00 in both July and August in 9 appearances. When he’s healthy, he’s overpowering!

Adam Kolarek is back with the Dodgers after logging 17.2 innings with the A’s last year. #adamkolarek has 143.1 MLB innings and a lifetime ERA of 3.77, so he’s been a good MLB reliever in his career. More bullpen depth for the org.

It’s never a good night for the opponents when Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips pitch in the same game. Vesia didn’t allow a run in 28 of his last 29 outings last year and that included the post season.

After a rough opening outing, Victor Gonzalez has looked better in his last 2 outings and didn’t give up a run yesterday. #victorgonzalez has been off and on in his career and last year was lost due to injury, so it will be interesting to watch his bounce back.

Phil Bickford’s slider has looked good at times this Spring Training, but his last outing was rough. In his last performance he gave up 3 earned runs in 2/3’s of an inning to move his ERA to 5.68 so far in the Spring. The Dodgers love their veterans, and Bickford was good in 2021, but it will be interesting to see if he is given a roster spot in front of someone like Gavin Stone or Mark Washington. 

Infielders

Freddie Freeman is such an elite baseball player! I love watching him hit! He hit .325 last year in the Regular season/OPS .895, then hit .357 in the Post Season/OPS .947 & is hitting .417 so far in ST OPS of 1.500. Freeman is worth every penny, plus some!

Max Muncy is healthy, his swing looks great, and he just has a look of motivation. I’ve touched on it a couple times already, but last year was below his standards, for several reasons, injury being the top, and I think he’s on a mission to prove it was a fluke!

JD Martinez went big fly on Friday, and it looked really good. Some swings just look better than others, and this one looked really connected, on time, and in the best form. This home run swing was a thing of beauty and shows that he is rounding into form as the season quickly approaches.

#miguelrojas struggled last year offensively, but he is a career .260 hitter & hit .265 in 2021 & .304 in 2020. His career OPS of .672 is far from elite, but his on-base % is .314 for his career which is good. And, his bat-to-ball skills are something the Dodgers need. He’s hitting .294 so far this Spring with an OPS of .822, and when you consider how good he in on defense, if he keeps hitting like he has, he will be one of the best players in the league. 

Outfielders

Chris Taylor had a good day on Sunday getting 2 hits, including the home run included in the video. This video includes a Slo-mo showing Taylor lifting & hitting across the top of the ball on his roll-over ground ball. His HR was on a curve, so the drop of the pitch matched the plane of the lift in his swing. He was able to hit both, though, because he let the ball get deep, IMO!

This swing in the video included if you click the picture is the Blueprint for Jason Heyward. Watch how flat his hands travel through the zone & how he starts “above” the ball, then turns the barrel with his top hand through contact. This will keep him from “lifting”, and give him the chance at consistent but hard contact.

Prospects/Minor League Contracts

Love the ride & run from the right arm of Tayler Scott. Scott features a slider, sinker, 4-seam & change. and has velo that sits 93 on his 2-seam, and 94 on his 4-seam. His ERA so far in Spring Training is 3.86, his WHIP is just 1.00, and he has allowed a run in just 1 of 7 outings. He was picked up via free agency & signed to a Minor League contract and comes to the Dodgers with 28.1 MLB innings.

Here is Ryan Ward’s at-bat from Monday night when he singled into right field. Wardo is having a great Spring Training hitting .294 with a homer and 5 RBIs. I say it every time I post about him, but his hit tool is one of the best of any young prospect in the game. Period! The Dodgers have played him some at first during Spring Training to give him some versatility, but he improved leaps and bounds defensively last year in left field. Ward was on track to lead the Dodgers Minor League system in home runs last year before he got hurt in August, and he was going to hit .300, or very close to it. This dude is legit!

Here’s Alex Freeland’s entire at-bat last night on the big field. Freeland was drafted in the 3rd Rd. last summer out of UCF & hit 11 HRs in 142 ABs last year @ UCF, then hit 3 HRs in 32 ABs with Rancho. That’s 1 HR every 5.28 ABs. Impressive to say the least!

Click the video on the right and check out the velo & the depth on the cutter from Jake Pilarski. If you haven’t ever heard of him, join the club, he’s been in Indy ball for the last couple of years. Pilarski struck out the side and his last pitch of the inning was 101 MPH. Wow! Can’t wait to see more of his lightning bolt for a right arm!

Tyler Cyr was signed by the Dodgers to a Minor League contract in the off-season and hasn’t allowed a run in his last 3 outings and has 4 Ks and no walks during that stretch. His avg. against so far is just .222.

It was great to see Aldry Acosta on the big field tonight. When Acosta was healthy last year, he was completely dominant. As a matter of fact, after he returned from injury at the beginning of August, he didn’t give up a single run in his 14 outings.

Heckuva nice play on the big field from corner infielder Brandon Lewis. Lewis led the organization in home runs per at-bat in 2021 and has one of the best hit tools of any young power hitter in the game.

After helping Panama qualify in the WBC, Jose Ramos is back with the Dodgers. Ramos had 25 Home runs between Rancho & Great Lakes last year & as you’ll see, when he gets extended, he’s as impressive as anyone. This swing was awesome! Here’s his entire at-bat from today.

Catcher Patrick Mazeika broke up the no-hitter with a double in the bottom of the 5th inning in Sundays game, which was kind of a ho-hummer. Mazeika comes to the Dodgers with 147 MLB at-bats and is a former 8th Round draft pick by the Mets in 2014. The Dodgers signed him to a Minor League contract in December

Gavin Stone started his last outing on Sunday by giving up 2 hits, then did this….

1) Change, Change, Change, Change-K!

2) 4-Seam, Change, Change-K!

3) Change, Change, Slider that painted the outside corner, 4-Seam, Change-INNING OVER!

Wow, Just Wow! This Dude is HIM! Check it Out by clicking on his picture!

I was Super pumped to watch John Rooney get his chance on the big field Sunday, and equally as nervous considering he was brought in with the bases loaded and just 1 out. Roons did a great job! I’m looking forward to more chances for the big lefty out of Hofstra. Rooney spent all of last year in AA Tulsa, so hopefully I get to see him in OKC this Summer.

Here’s an at-bat from Dalton Rushing. Tim Neverett & Rick Monday talk about how good he has been. He hit .404 after being drafted, had 7 multi-hit games in his last 14 & was 20 for his last 56 as at L-Ville, went 34 for 77 in Aug. & was 54 for his last 133 (.406) Wow!

Catcher David Freitas had 2 hits yesterday and is hitting .417 OPS 1.033 so far in ST. Freitas was signed to a Minor League contract back in January and brings 125 MLB at-bats of experience with him to the organization. Short and compact swing, but very strong.

Antonio Knowles got action on the big field & did his thing droppin’ that big-time slider. Check it out Below! Knowles spent last year at High A Great Lakes & started the year going 12 outings (14.1 innings) without giving up a run. Can’t wait to watch him in Tulsa!

Click the picture to get a good look at Keegan Curtis from today. Curtis was hitting 96 last year w/ Tulsa & featured a big slider. In fact, in a game in late July, Curtis threw 7 sliders in a row. The Dodgers signed him in June of last year after he was released by the D-Backs.

Here’s a great example of why the Dodgers are so high on the hit tool of Miguel Vargas. He inside outs an inside fastball to right field, meaning you can’t jam him, then, he turns on a hanging curveball. That’s pretty advanced stuff for a rookie, IMO. Vargas is hitting over .400 since he has been able to swing the bat, so this dude can flat rake.

Ryan Pepiot threw 3 innings in his last outing on Friday and gave up just 2 hits, and 1 run, and struck out 4. His ERA so far in ST is 2.00, and combined, in all of his MLB action between last year and ST this year, he has given up just 17 runs in 45.1 innings. He has 13 Ks in ST to just 3 Walks

Michael Grove has had 2 outings in a row where he has had an inning go sideways on him, and both times he responded by not giving up any more runs. After giving up 2 in the 1st on Sunday, Grove threw the next 3 scoreless. so, although the 1st inning was not great, there were some definite positive Takeaways: 1) His response was excellent 2) 6 Ks 0 Walks 3) He’s showing he can give length even when an inning goes sideways.

Sean McLain is another 2022 Middle Infield Draft Pick that is one of the best young fielders in the game. This Dude can really pick it & he can hit too. He hit .328 in his 3 seasons @ Arizona State, had an OBP of .410, and a Slug % of .487. Watch his defense below!

Bradley Zimmer had a double in yesterday’s game & is hitting .304 so far in ST, OPS of .820 in 23 at-bats. Zimmer was a 1st Round Draft Pick in 2014 by Cleveland & has 859 MLB At-Bats. The outfield competition in ST in this org. is awesome to watch!

Catcher Hunter Feduccia had a triple yesterday and continues to impress hitting .467. His on-base % is .529, and his OPS is 1.462, all of which lead all Dodgers with more than 2 at-bats. He also leads the team in RBIs with 9, so he is having a great ST! GEAUX Tigers!

Here’s a good look at Wander Suero, who has 185.1 MLB innings & a lifetime ERA of 4.61 ERA at the MLB level. #wandersuero has a 4-pitch mix & throws his cutter (92) 75% of the time, his change the 2nd most his curve the 3rd most, then his 4 Seam (91) the least.

Jonny DeLuca had 2 hits last Tuesday & is 4 for his last 6 with a double, a homer, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs scored & 8 total bases on the Main Field. He’s known to get hot! Between June 30th & July 29th he had hits in 19 of 22 games & went 33/88 in that stretch with 6 home runs, 3 triples & 15 RBIs.

I can’t wait to watch Eddys Leonard this year in Tulsa, & possibly OKC. Leonard is coming into his own & is showing out at ST & is hitting .409 with an OPS of 1.026. One thing that sticks out about him is how strong he is. Watch him turn around this cutter.

Devin Mann is having a very good Spring Training! He’s hitting .288 with an OPS of .994 and is hitting .333 in his action this month. #devinmann is a guy that, in other organizations with less talent, would probably already be a starting 2nd baseman at the MLB level.

Michael Busch was one of the prospects that got sent to Minor League camp right as he is starting to heat up. #michaelbusch had 3 hits last Tuesday & is 4 for his last 6 with a home run a double and 3 RBIs. His avg. is up to .261, OPS .828. This dude does damage!

Click the picture to get a good look at veteran Matt Andriese. #mattandriese has a lifetime 4.03 ERA in 509 MLB innings & has yet to allow a run in ST so far in 5 innings and has a WHIP of 0.80. MLB experience & depth with 5 pitches, 4-seam, change, curve, cutter, and sinker.

Welcome back to the Dodgers Rubby De La Rosa! #rubbydelarosa pitched for the Dodgers in 2011 & had 1 appearance with LA in 2012 before being traded to Boston after he had Tommy John. He was signed to a Minor League Contract but has 421.1 MLB innings of experience.

Steven Duggar had 3 hits in the game on the 13th for the Dodgers. He’s hitting .172 so far in Spring Training with an OPS Of .643, but he has 776 MLB at-bats, so he provides depth with Major League experience, something this club values.

Short, compact, but yet explosive and dynamic is the best way I can describe Jorbit Vivas’s swing. I can’t wait to watch #jorbitvivas and #eddysleonard play together up the middle in AA Tulsa next year.

Outfield prospect, Damon Keith can flat rake, and to all fields. His oppo % last year was almost 40%, so this double to right-center was not a mistake and should not come as a surprise to anyone who follows him much at all. Keep up the Great work!

James Outman is doing everything he can to fight for a roster spot during his Spring Training action. He’s hitting .289 with an OPS Of .931 and has 2 home runs and 9 RBIs. Outman hit 31 home runs last year, had an OPS of .978 and had 106 RBIs. He also had 2 grand slams and hit for 2 cycles. There’s just not much more he can do to prove himself. 

Diego Cartaya has seen action on the Main Field and it didn’t take him long to make his mark. Click the Picture and you’ll see him throw out a runner trying to steal, which will give you a feel for the type of arm he has. Cartaya is the Dodgers #1 prospect and for good reason, he’s very talented and has a great work process, is a great teammate and does his homework. 

#markwashington continues to throw well, which, if you follow Dodgers Daily much, shouldn’t come as a surprise, because Wash is known to go on “heaters”. So far, 0 runs in 4 Apps & 2.2 innings. From July 28 of 2021-June of last year, he gave up just 4 runs in 34 apps.

#andrejackson looks terrific! This is JMO, and I have 0 inside info, but he looks like he is turning the corner & it’s because he’s built his mix around his change, instead of chasing velo, although he does have a very good fastball. O runs 6 innings, 7 Ks & just 1 walk!

Andy Pages led the Dodgers Minor Leagues in HRs in 2021 w/31, his homerun per flyball rates have ranged from above average to elite, he hit .296/OPS .904 in the AFL at the end of last year, he’s shed 25 lbs., and has an absolute cannon. This dude is a great prospect.

Takeaways from Nick Robertson’s Spring Training so far 1) His length gives him great extension & his effortless delivery gives his FB further deception 2) He has an edge this year & is showing out in ST 3) The “ride and run” on his 4-seam to righties is very good & so was his changeup!

Landon Knack might be the pitching prospect I am the most excited to follow in Spring Training. He’s healthy and ready to showcase his 4 plus pitches. Watch the “ride and run” on his fastball and the ++ changeup. Keep your eye on this guy, he’s gonna keep trending up.

Remember the name #jordanleasure! This dude is flat-good and has a big future ahead of him. From May 29th of last year to August 14th he gave up a grand total of 1 run. That stretch spanned 24 outings and in that time he struck out 35 hitters and walked just 6. Wow!