Watch the Presentation of the Dodgers Daily All Grit Team

One of the biggest compliments a baseball player can get is when someone calls them “gritty”. The term “grit” can be defined in several different ways, but here’s how I define the term.

G-Guts: A player can’t be afraid of the moment, especially the big ones.

R-Resilience: Baseball is a game of failure. It’s not a matter of “if” you are going to fail, it’s a matter of “when”. Successful baseball players continue to pick themselves up when they get knocked down and keep trying until they reach their goals.

I- Intelligence: One of the biggest parts of being “gritty” is giving yourself every advantage possible. “Gritty” players don’t like losing, so they spend countless hours trying to figure out the best way to win. Learning the game, the opponent, and coming to understand what it is that you do best, then putting a plan together based on that gives “gritty” players a leg up on their competition. 

T-Tenacity: In the moment of competition, in baseball, it’s just you and the other guy for the whole world to see. “Gritty” players are tenacious in the way they compete and losing for these types of people is simply not an option. Gritty players find a way, “ANY” way, to beat the person that is in front of them. 

So, who are the players in the Dodgers Minor League system that show the most amount of “grit”? 

The following results come straight from the players in the system. I asked every player I have had communications with to list who they think is the “grittiest” player, and, after adding up the votes, here are the results.

#15 Diego Cartaya

Cartaya is a 21-year-old catcher that finished 2022 at High A Great Lakes. He is known as the Dodger’s #1 overall prospect in the organization, but, what you might not know is that he is also widely considered one of the best teammates of any player in the organization.

Cartaya has shown impeccable work ethic and, although he is getting a lot of attention, he does his best not to bring it to himself. He truly is the total package and here are some comments players made about him.

Diego has a quiet toughness! He doesn’t take his at bats onto the field, and as such a young catcher it’s truly impressive. He compartmentalizes well and that’s a huge flag of toughness for me

#14 Jorbit Vivas

Vivas is a 21 year old infielder who was put on the 40-man roster in front of last season, which goes to show how high the organization is on his talent. Now, his teammates have spoken in terms of his intangible qualities and the type of teammate he is.

His talent combined with his off the field excellence makes him a very exciting prospect.

Jorbit is a fox hole guy, anytime anywhere anyone. Loves the challenge. Wants the challenge

More Comments:

Jorbit is always working, always sore and always playing through it. Really tough kid!

#13 Justin Hagenman

Hagenman is a 26-year-old out of Penn State that got moved up to AAA OKC early in the season last year and spent the remainder of his season there. Hagenman is a guy that has always been willing to just do what the team needs him to do and his teammates have taken notice.

Hagenman quietly had a very good season last year and is easily one of the most underrated relievers in the game.

Here’s what his teammates had to say about the former Nittany Lion.

Whatever role the team needs him to fill, he’s always ready to do his job. He’s a competitor the entire time he’s on the bump.

More Comments:

He has been through a lot of different things in his career and he just keeps going and does his job.

#12 Yeiner Fernandez

Fernandez is a 20 year old catcher out of Venezuela who really made a splash this year in Rancho. He is just 5’9 170, but what he may lack in size, he makes up for with toughness and grit.

He is one of the best athletes in the system and has been compared by some to Austin Barnes because of his versatility and size.

Fernandez played 2nd base as well as catcher and we know how much the Dodgers love versatility in all of their players. He really turned heads in 2022 and has become one of the top overall prospects in the organization, and certainly one of the top catchers. Here are the comments on him from his teammates.

Yeiner Fernandez is one of the toughest guys we have in the org. Last year he got smoked many times with a back swing and foul balls and he never wanted to come out the game. There was one situation where he got hit in his left hand with a back swing and even after the trainer did an evaluation and told him that he can’t continue playing, he didn’t want to leave the game. There are others names, but for me Fernández is my guy for this list.

More Comments:

Always plays 100%. I’ve seen him get absolutely beat up behind the plate and he never will complain or talk about it. One of the grittiest/toughest guys I’ve met.

#11 Austin Gauthier

Gauthier signed as an undrafted Free Agent in 2021 and made it as high as Great Lakes this season. He is known to have one of the highest baseball IQ’s in the game and just does what he can to help win.

He has one goal as a Dodger and that is to help win another ring for the organization. He has been a winner everywhere he has been and that’s not a coincidence because he does all the little things every team needs to win games. He is a lot of fun to watch. 

Here were the comments made on him.

Kid was playing every single day this year and was grinding it out even when he was struggling. Even if he had a tough streak kid was still showing up each day and doing everything he knew he needed to do without hesitation. But he played a lot of games this year especially with little to no off day and just kept going.

More Comments:

Dirtbag in the most endearing baseball sense of the term. He does the things that don’t go into stat sheets and you’ll ironically, or not, see him on a lot of winning teams

 #10 Hunter Feduccia

“Feddy” as he is known by his teammates, is one of the most durable catchers in the game, and is also very good. He ended 2022 with AAA OKC, and, instead of wearing down like catchers are supposed to do, every year he actually gets stronger. He works great with every type of pitcher and has total respect from his teammates. He is easily one of the most respected players in the organization..

Read for yourself!

Dude gets beat up back there every night and never complains. I have seen him take some off of places you never want to lol and get right back up into the game. Grinds before, during and after the game for us pitchers and never complains. A true grinder!

#9 Ismael Alcantara

Alcantara is 24 year old out of the DR that finished 2022 with AA Tulsa. Any time I’ve asked a question about him to someone in the organization, the most common response is that he is “the real deal.” While his talent is plenty, his toughness and grit is it’s equal. Don’t believe me, believe the guys that go to battle with him every day.

Dude plays the game with so much passion and heart. A father of a young boy, you can tell he puts it all on the line for him and the rest of his family. Great guy who gets after it every day.

More Comments:

Goes to work everyday and doesn’t complain

#8 Taylor Young

Young is a 2022 Draft pick that came to the Dodgers as the All-Time hits leader in the history of Louisiana Tech. At 5’9 Young is not a player that tailors his game around 500-foot bombs, but that doesn’t mean he won’t catch your attention.

What will catch your attention is the way he plays. He is one of the grittiest, toughest, and smartest players in the game, period, at any level, and his “grit” factor is off the charts. As a matter of fact, his coaches for as long as he can remember have all called him a “dirtbag”, meaning, he’s willing to do what it takes to win. It didn’t take his teammates in the Dodgers organization long to catch on.

He’s a really scrappy player who always seems to find hits and be in the right spot at all times. Never gives at bats away and is fearless out on the field.

More Comments:

Oh for sure I’ll definitely nominate Taylor Young. I can’t think of something specific but when you watch him play the game you can just see his toughness with everything he does.

#7 Michael Busch

Busch is one of the top prospects in the Dodgers organization and is primed to make his MLB debut in 2023, so he is very talented. But, he’s also always been known as a “tough guy”.

He grew up in Minnesota and played hockey in High School, and was his teams quarterbacks, so toughness has been a requirement in his background, not an option. He is widely considered to be one of the best teammates in the system and, although somewhat quietly, has great leadership skills.

Classic hockey player mentality. You can trust that if he can play he wants to be in the line up, and he’s going to be there in the moment.

More Comments:

Great guy, great teammate that just grinds no matter the circumstances

#6 Justin Yurchak

Yurchak is one of the best hitters in all of Minor League baseball, but just never seems to get the credit he deserves. He hit .365 across 2 levels in 2021, then hit .282 this past season with AA Tulsa.

While  he may not get the credit he deserves in the Media ranks, his teammates have spoken and are giving him the credit he deserves by awarding him to the “All Grit Team”. 

Well done Justin!

Absolute grinder and is always doing the right thing and playing through anything!

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Goes to work everyday and doesn’t complain

More Comments

Without going into confidential detail, Justin would die on the field before coming out

#5 Ryan January

January is a 25 year old catcher out of Swampscott, Massachusetts and is a guy that does whatever is asked of him. “Jan” as he is known, doesn’t need publicity, he doesn’t need to be in the spotlight, he just wants to have the chance to show up to the yard every day because he just simply loves baseball.

The January Journey continues, and this time it’s taking a stop on the All-Grit team, a recognition that has been earned several times over.

With the caliber of catchers we have in this org it doesn’t stop this dude from working his ass off behind the plate. He’s got the true grit type of personality.

More Comments:

Easy answer! Ryan January! Jan is always at the field working on some aspect of his game. Whether it’s him getting in cage work, catching drill, and game planning. He is always working and talking with pitchers day in and day out during early work and so on. He would be working with the younger catchers or newcomers behind the plate just to teach them about how to pitch call and sequence for pitchers on the staff. Also, Jan is one of the guys you will never hear or see complain about having to catch during early work. He may give you a hard time but never comes from a place of bad intentions. Also, he could wear foul tips all game long but you’d never hear him complain about it. The trainer would have to force him to come out of the game before he would take himself out. All in all, Jan represents everything you think of when it comes to an everyday catcher! Love that guy behind the plate.

#4 Max Hewitt

I’m not gonna sugarcoat this one, I’m pretty fired up about Max being voted on to this list. I had the pleasure of watching his entire College career at Oklahoma State, and I have more respect for him than any other player I’ve ever seen come through that program.

Max is a 25-year-old utility player that was drafted as a catcher and finished 2022 in Great Lakes. His teammates came to find what I did while he was at OSU, and that is that this guy is special. He’s full of grit, he’s a great teammate and he’s one you want in your foxhole when the rubber meets the road.

Grinder type player from Canada. Definition of grit!.

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I told myself I had to think but right after I said that I was like heck no I don’t it’s Max 100%

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It’s Hewitt! Ask anyone on our Loons team and they will say the same thing

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He went through the most last year in terms of being inactive/active and taking care of the pitchers. Every time he got activated and played he was contributing which was very impressive

#3 Ryan Ward

Sit down, get comfortable, get some popcorn and settle in, because I could spend all day talking about this young prospect. Wardo, as he is known, is simply one of the toughest, hard nosed players in the game of baseball, and he is very talented too.

He graduated with less than 100 kids in his graduating class and learned small town values at an early age. Hard work and discipline is something that flows in abundance with Ryan. In fact, this off season, he wakes up at 4:00 in the morning to get his lifting workout in, then works an 8 hour day at his job, then, when he gets off work, he does his baseball work.

He is truly a throw back, and, while his play on the field speaks for itself, his process off of it has left everyone he has come in contact with totally impressed.

Here are the comments his teammates and those around him every day had for him.

Playing with him this year i realized how tough he was. Whether it was playing through injury or just having no regard of what’s in his way of getting a fly ball lol.

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There’s a bunch of reasons why I chose Wardo, dude plays hard! 

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Wardo is one of the toughest and grittiest players I have ever played with. He puts the work in everyday, doesn’t complain and does his job. Plus some.

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Wardo is a guy I wouldn’t hesitate getting in a foxhole with. You can count on him to do his part every single time.

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I love playing with Ryan. The dude is a great player and you couldn’t pry him out of the lineup with a crowbar.

#2 James Outman

If you have frequented any of the Dodgers Daily Social Media platforms, you know how high I have been on the game of James Outman for a long while now. Everyone in professional baseball is insanely talented, so talent isn’t always the first thing that sticks out in a Minor League setting. Outman is supremely talented, in fact, he might be the best athlete in the system, and just about every skill of his is in the plus category. But, as a former middle linebacker, his aggressiveness and total lack of fear in any setting sticks out, even amongst the worlds greatest players.

If Outman isn’t a very good Major League baseball player for a very long time, there are no “baseball gods”. Don’t believe me though, believe those that would know best, his teammates and others in the organization that work beside him every day.

There’s not a day that goes by in season or off-season where I don’t think he got a little better. He doesn’t talk about it either he just puts in the work.

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Being a former football player you can just tell he has a different mentality then most guys when it comes to competing and being gritty.

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Always getting his work in and is a gym rat.

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Great guy, great teammate that just grinds no matter the circumstances.

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James has no fear around the wall and is willing to give up his body to get an out.

#1 Drew Avans

I’ve been screaming from the mountain tops for anyone who is willing to listen for quite a while now that this guy is simply “One Helluva Player’.

He has the most complete game of anyone I’ve seen in a long time and he is the toughest and grittiest player in the organization as awarded by his teammates, which is the highest possible honor a player can get.

Last year he had the longest on-base streak in the last 3 years in the PCL at 53, and on back-to-back nights he extended it with bunt-base hits. He also stole 40 bases and played a great Center Field.

Avans not only needs to be on an MLB 40-man roster, but he also needs to be on a 26-man roster and he needs to be playing every day at the MLB level.

He is that good!

If an MLB club were to put him in Center, then batted him at a “table setter” position, then told him to be in the top 10 in on-base percentage and runs scored, he would do it, I’m convinced of that.

Avans learned his “blue collar” roots back home in Alabaster, Alabama, then at Southeastern Louisiana in college. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, and, probably not the most talented, but, no one will ever be able to convince me that he’s not the “best” baseball player on the field in the purest form of what a baseball player should be.

I’m not surprised in any way that his teammates overwhelmingly chose him as the “grittiest” player in the organization and I’m super excited that he was given this recognition.

He shows up every day with the same mentality. Every pitch, every at bat, gets the same attention and focus. He doesn’t care how the job gets done, he’s just willing to get it done.

More Comments:

Drew Avans is my choice. He is a grinder no doubt.

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I don’t know him all that well but did okay with him my second year in Arizona. Drafted in the mid 30’s but is just one step away from the bigs. Won’t get out worked and is just an all round gamer. Doesn’t have any overwhelming attributes besides his speed but will play hard every single day. Definitely a guy you want to play with.

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I would say Avans is probably on the top of my list. I noticed his grit/toughness when I played against him in college and playing with him this year I could see the love he has for the game and how he just never takes a pitch off and he’s just a great guy to have on your team.

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Drew plays hard and the right way every single night.

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It’s Avans, for sure

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Avans no doubt. Dude just shows up every day and grinds. Doesn’t complain and you can always count on Drew.

Honorable Mention

Others that received votes and comments as well from their teammates. 

Lael Lockhart Jr.

Nick is a big ole’ dude that knows how to grind. He comes right at hitters and we always feel great when he gets put in.

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Nick has been put in just about every role there is and he accepts everything and does his job to his best. He’s a true grinder!

Mark Washington

Wash is a guy that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. He is so confident and works very very hard and is a great teammate. We love it when he gets brought it, because we know good things are going to happen.

Ryan Pepiot

Talk about a guy that loves the big moment. We all know his talent, but when it matters the most, he is at his best. Very talented, and even more gritty.

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Pep has nasty stuff, and is one of the most competitive dudes I’ve ever played with. He’s going to be very good for a very long time.

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I think he got all of his vacation paid for this off-season with his frequent flyer miles this past season. He never knew where he was going to be every day, but just put his best foot forward every time he pitched, wherever his feet might have been that night. 

More Comments:

One of the things that stood out to me about Pep was that he never took nights off. Coming off of your MLB debut, it would be easy to not carry as much energy into a AAA start your next time out with 3000 people in the stands. But, he took those games as seriously as his MLB starts and that was impressive. 

Michael Grove

Talk about a guy that never gets the credit he deserves, but just goes out and does his job every day.

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Michael is probably the most underrated pitcher in baseball and is still getting better. All he knows is to just show up and work every day and it is paying off for him. 

Bobby Miller

Everyone knows he’s a stud, but his love for the game of baseball and getting better is next level. I got to train a little bit back home with him last off-season and lived with him in Tulsa. The dude is tough as nails and wouldn’t hesitate to have your back.

Gavin Stone

Gavin is a guy that never seems to get bothered by much, but is ultra-competitive and never gives in. He is very gritty.

More Comments

Gavin is a guy you want on your team. He believes in teamwork and, when he pitches, we definitely all have each other backs. 

Nick Nastrini

He just always puts in work and then some!

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Nick just has that Riverside grit. The dude just knows how to compete and you can trust him in every situation. 

Aaron Ochsenbein

This guy is an absolute grinder and plays through pain. If you want to know what “grit” looks like, just watch him pitch. 

Carson Taylor

Carson got beat up pretty good last year. Every pitcher we had threw very hard, so catching with Tulsa was not an easy job, but he grinded through it very well. 

Jonny DeLuca

Jonny isn’t flashy in the way he acts, but his game is so good that it definitely has flash to it. He has so much talent but is so humble and he doesn’t take his talent for granted. He works every day to get better and is very competitive. 

Kyle Hurt

Kyle is a guy that is one of the most talented pitchers in the game, but he’s also one of the most accepting for whatever role the team needs from him each day. 

More comments

Kyle was born to be tough and gritty. His dad played College football in the SEC and his grandpa played in the NFL, so I can’t imagine he had much of a choice other than to be gritty and tough, and reliable. 

John Rooney

Roons is so competitive. He gets in his routine and then he goes out every time he pitches and battles his ass off.  

Jake Cantleberry

Jake has always played against the best competition and he’s never been the biggest guy, so he had to learn how to compete really early. Dude battles like crazy when he ptiches. 

Landon Knack

Landon has dealt with injuries and just keeps grinding every day. I think he’s gonna put it all together this year. 

Devin Mann

Devin is one of the best dudes and teammates I have every played with. He not the “in your face” type of competitor, but his daily grind and the way he prepares is awesome.

Robbie Peto

I’ve been playing with him since I was 16, he’s a dawg. No matter the circumstances he’s gonna go out to the mound and compete his ass off. Whether he has his best stuff that day or not.

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Robbie was asked to pitch in just about every role last year and embraced all of them. He gives his team everything he’s got every time he takes the bump.

Brandon Lewis

Without going into confidential detail, Brandon would die on the field before coming out.

Jordan Leasure

Quietly confident. Nothing seems to ever bother “Leas” and he stays so consistent with both his play and his mentality. He comes right at hitters and has no fear.

Zach McKinstry (Not with the club anymore, but received votes)

The dude is a competitor, shows up to the field every day ready to get after it, and on top of that he is the best teammate I’ve ever run on and off the field. But an absolute grinder! The Cubs are lucky to have him. He is a teammate that will always push you to be your best.

Bubba Alleyne

Talk about a guy that plays hard and plays every day with great energy. 

Jimmy Lewis

Jimmy Lewis is a guy that has some grit. He 100% has not had it easy. But he continues to work his ass off in pursuit of his dream. All with a smile on his face. Jimmy could be having the worst outing of his life or the best outing of his life but you better believe he’s competing his ass every pitch of every at bat in every game. Nothing but respect for Jimmy. The guy is by far the hardest worker in my eyes!

Adolfo Ramirez

No fear, done it at dang near every level. Just give me the ball and let’s go type of guy.

Ryan Sublette

Different type of toughness. Not the chest-out intimidation guy, but he’s so confident in who he is that he doesn’t have to show that. He doesn’t let failures carry over!

Alex Freeland

Played through multiple injuries his whole career and was also born with an abnormal left foot. Plays the game hard and is a grinder!

Jose Martinez

He’s my brother since 2018.  He has a really strong mind and he is my choice among many players. He has my respect the same way I respect Bobby Miller. 

Other Receiving Votes:

Gus Varland, Miguel Vargas, Jose Ramos, Tony Wolters, Andy Burns, Donovan Casey, Franklin De La Paz.

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