Dodgers sustain success with homegrown talent
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers win and produce prospects year after year. In the last three seasons, they've set the franchise record for victories twice (106), sandwiched around a franchise mark for winning percentage (.717) and a World Series championship in 2020.
During that time, they've graduated four Top 100 Prospects (Will Smith, Gavin Lux, Dustin May, Brusdar Graterol) to Los Angeles and included four more (Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray) in blockbuster trades for Mookie Betts, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. They've also brought a number of useful -- if less hyped -- players to the big leagues, including Matt Beaty, Tony Gonsolin, Victor González, Edwin Ríos and Mitch White.
Poised for a 10th straight trip to the postseason and the betting favorite to win their second World Series in three years, the Dodgers also should infuse some more hometown talent into their roster in 2022. It may be difficult to crack a stacked lineup that added Freddie Freeman, but there should be opportunity on a pitching staff with more question marks than usual.
The prime candidate to make an impact in Los Angeles is right-hander Bobby Miller, a 2020 first-round pick out of Louisville. His pro career consists of 56 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A last summer but he may not need much more time in the Minors. He has overwhelming stuff: a four-seam fastball that can sit in the upper 90s for several innings; a heavy mid-90s two-seamer; a two-plane slider and a fading, sinking changeup that park in the mid-80s and can be well above-average pitches when they're on; and a power curveball in the low 80s.
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"Miller hasn't thrown a fastball under 99 mph the last three weeks," Dodgers farm director Will Rhymes said. "His main focus has been to differentiate his two fastballs, which both had similar horizontal movement. We're trying to add some more vertical to his four-seamer, and we know more vertical on a high-90s fastball plays well.
"He's made some changes with his delivery. It's very synced up and he's staying closed longer, and there's more deception and less effort. He has such a broad mix and he needs to be a little more creative with the usage of his pitches. He's been very exciting with his stuff and execution."
Right-hander Ryan Pepiot also could play a significant role in the Majors this year. The 2019 third-rounder from Butler posted a 7.13 ERA in Triple-A when his control and command faltered at the end of last season, but he owns the best changeup in the Minors, a low-80s weapon that fades before disappearing at the plate. He sets it up with a mid-90s four-seamer that touches 98 mph with good carry up in the zone and has added sweep and power to an upper-80s slider.
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"With Pepiot, it just comes down to execution and finishing-school stuff," Rhymes said. "All of his pitches are fully formed, so it's a matter of refining his attack plan versus left-handers and right-handers and executing with consistency. It's a uniquely good changeup with super-high rpm."
Other right-handers who could see time in Los Angeles include Landon Knack and Andre Jackson. Knack has one of the best combinations of stuff and command in the Minors -- as evidenced by his 82/8 K/BB ratio while reaching Double-A in his pro debut last year -- and Rhymes said his ability to mix and locate four pitches and desire to excel are reminiscent of Zack Greinke. Jackson, who features a four-seamer that can hit 98 mph and a plus mid-80s changeup, impressed in three appearances with the Dodgers last year.
Camp standout: Michael Grove
Surprise 2018 second-rounder Michael Grove recorded a 7.12 ERA in his first two pro seasons, but lowering his arm slot led to dramatically improved control and command last August, leading the Dodgers to protect him on their 40-man roster. The right-hander continues to show promise this spring, striking out two Padres in a perfect inning of work in his lone Cactus League appearance. He has shined in Minor League camp as well, showing a four-seamer that reaches 99 mph and a pair of high-spin breaking balls.
"Grove has looked incredible," Rhymes said. "He picked up right where he left off: big velocity, strikes, better movement. In live BP, he threw a curveball to Max Munch that looked very good."
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Breakout potential: Nick Nastrini
When Nastrini's control disappeared last spring, he fell out of UCLA's rotation after just five starts. He pitched better with the summer Santa Barbara Foresters and in workouts before the Dodgers drafted him in the fourth round, then dazzled with his stuff in his brief pro debut and during instructional league. The right-hander can sit in the mid-90s with his four-seamer and miss bats with a pair of high-spin breaking balls as well as a mid-80s changeup that dives at the plate.
"Nastrini is right on track," Rhymes said. "His delivery is very synced up and his tempo is great. His velocity has been good, 95-98 mph again, he's always had very good feel for his slider and he's throwing some good curves. His strike-throwing has been good. The mix is really deep and the upside is beyond high."
Something to prove: Kody Hoese
The 25th overall pick in the 2019 Draft out of Tulane, Hoese tried to play through an intercostal strain last year before missing two months and finishing with a .188/.241/.245 line and just two homers in 59 Double-A games. His swing looked longer and slower in 2021, and the third baseman is trying to regain the stroke, plate discipline and power that made him a first-rounder.
"Hoese worked extremely hard in the offseason," Rhymes said. "He came to L.A. and worked with our Major League hitting crew, dove in on building a great swing. I'm really optimistic about the year he's going to have."