The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to rise to the top, reaching their 31st win on Saturday. Their success can be seen at the hands of many seasoned veterans, such as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and many more. However, this season, production from Dodger rookies has proved to be both prevalent and impactful to this Los Angeles team.
Although young talent is seen throughout their everyday lineup in players like Andy Pages, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been riddled with standout rookies making big contributions to the success of the team. With an already elite starting pitching staff, the Dodgers have two new assets to lead them to many more victories.
Can these rookies continue to have the impact they have had early on throughout the remainder of the year?
Rookie Sensation Exceeds Expectations
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Phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto has more than lived up to the hype he’s had since his Major League debut in March of this year. Before signing with the Dodgers, the 25-year-old sensation previously played professionally in Japan, where he had great success and made a well-renowned name for himself.
Yamamoto’s debut raised concerns for the Dodgers organization and fans alike. While facing one of their division rivals, the San Diego Padres, Yamamoto only pitched 1 inning before he was taken out of the game. He allowed five runs on four hits. His poor showing can be attributed to nerves, as his following appearances proved to be satisfactory.
Since debuting with Los Angeles, he has appeared in nine games and pitched 47.2 innings. Yamamoto has an ERA of 3.21 and a winning record of 4-1. He has registered 53 Ks and only 10 walks this season.
With Yamamoto’s elite arsenal of pitches and his exceptional curveball, opposing teams are only batting .217 against him.
Redemption from Rough Debut Season
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In 2023, Rookie Gavin Stone made his debut for the Dodgers. What looked like a promising beginning proved to be the start of some early struggles for the young pitcher. Last season, Stone threw 31 innings while acquiring an ERA of 9.00. He started in four of his eight games played while opponents batted .338 against him.
Stone got a second chance to prove his talent this season and took full advantage of it. He is now producing great numbers for the Dodgers and has become a key piece to the pitching staff, as many strong arms are on the IL.
In 2024, Stone started in all eight appearances with an ERA of 3.27 while garnering 44 innings pitched and 29 Ks. He has lowered his OBA to just .242. He now has a winning record with four wins and only one loss.
Not only has Stone had a great season so far, but his last four starts have been particularly lights-out. From April 26 to May 14, Stone has allowed only 1 earned run per game while facing powerhouse teams like the Atlanta Braves. He has been virtually unhittable, with an ERA of 1.42 in May.
Rookies in the Rotation
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With the strong arms of Yamamoto and Stone, the Dodgers’ pitching staff is one of the most elite in all of baseball. As many veteran Dodgers pitcher’s returns from the IL are fast approaching, these two talented rookies will continue to make their impact in the rotation as the season progresses.
About the Author
Rebekah Cook is a sports journalist from North Carolina who specializes in Major League Baseball. She is a recent graduate from the University of South Carolina Aiken where she worked in the athletic department covering all sports through her writing. An avid sports fan, Rebekah has played softball for 16 years, including at the collegiate level. Sports Journalism has been her passion for nearly 10 years
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