Rising stars for the Los Angeles Dodgers
With spring training set to start in late February, each team is filled with hope for a run at a World Series title and fresh faces are ready to make a name for themselves in the majors. After finishing in first place in the National League West in 2023, the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to top their 100-62 record from a year ago.
Here are three rising stars who will look to make an impact for the Dodgers in 2024.
Bobby Miller, pitcher
2023 MLB stats: 11-4, 3.76 ERA, 1.10 WHIP with 119 strikeouts in 124.1 innings pitched.
After a solid rookie season, Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller enters 2024 as part of a new-look rotation filled with talent, including Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Called up due to numerous injuries to the Dodgers pitching staff, Miller helped stabilize the rotation and earned his first postseason start.
Ranking near the top out of all rookies in almost every pitching category, Miller was better than expected after a few rough starts to begin his career. According to FanGraphs his stuff+ was 125 on the season, which tied for third-best in all of baseball with Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider.
Although he struggled in his postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 24-year-old right-hander will put that behind him as he enters his second season in the MLB and what looks like a bright future.
Brusdar Graterol, pitcher
2023 MLB stats: 4-2, 1.20 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, seven saves with 48 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched.
One of the best relief pitchers in the MLB last season, Graterol is still relatively unknown but should hear his name pop up in conversations of the best setup men in all of baseball in 2024.
During a career year in 2023 for the Dodgers, he used his filthy stuff to give opposing hitters fits in the batter's box.
With a two-seam fastball that can reach over 100 MPH and possesses nearly 20 inches of run, it's no wonder that opponents have a tough time barreling up the baseball against him.
The 25-year-old made two appearances in the postseason, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over three innings of work, giving him 22 postseason appearances on his young career where he has been just as dominant.
With pitcher Evan Phillips slotted to be closing out ballgames again in 2024, the Dodgers will be able to employ Graterol to take care of high-leverage situations before handing the ball over to the 29-year-old closer.
James Outman, outfielder
2023 MLB stats: .248/.353/.437, 23 home runs, 70 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 151 games played.
After a third-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting in 2023, Outman is looking to carry the success he found and build off of that in 2024.
With 42 extra-base hits and 16 stolen bases in his rookie campaign, Outman quickly became one of the fan favorites in Los Angeles with his flair.
The 26-year-old left-handed swinging outfielder will look to continue establishing himself as one of the future cornerstones for a Dodgers team that is primed to contend for the World Series in 2024.
With the new additions of designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and shortstop Gavin Lux returning from injury, Outman will find himself with plenty of opportunities to improve on his production for the Dodgers next season.
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