FanSided

Dodgers: 3 LAD players who’ve earned first All-Star nods

By Adam Weinrib |
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 23: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammate Chris Taylor #3 after hitting a grand slam in the top of the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 23, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 23: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammate Chris Taylor #3 after hitting a grand slam in the top of the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 23, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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Breaking news regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers’ All-Star Game hopefuls: it’s all of them. Nearly every single Dodger merits All-Star consideration.

Except Garrett Cleavinger. Sorry, dude.

All kidding aside, the Dodgers have rebounded from a roller-coaster first month-and-a-half of the season to emerge with the second-best record in baseball, thanks to contributions from an exceptional offense, sterling staff and basically the entire 26-man unit.

While it maybe would’ve been nice for a few of these guys to save their first All-Star nods for 2022 when the game will be at Dodger Stadium, we see no need to delay rewarding them just for sentimental value. They’ve earned it — and one may be approaching a crossroads in his Dodgers future anyway.

As the year rounds past the midway point of the half-season (not a real metric), it’s officially time to think about finishing strong going into the break, when we should be able to celebrate several of our stars at the Midsummer Classic in Colorado.

Some Dodgers who’ll be attending the game will be the guys who’ve gone already — it’s old hat for Clayton Kershaw, though it’s very impressive he’s seemingly earned consideration yet again.

Some Dodgers could be making their second appearances at the event, establishing themselves as regulars for the next generation — looking at you, Walker Buehler and Max Muncy!

This trio, though, should finally be making their first trip, and they represent three players in three very different positions.

One is a young star at a position with a dearth of All-Star options who could easily go on a run for the next decade. One is a player who may have thought he was hitting a wall prior to the 2020 postseason, but whose future has been entirely recalibrated. And one is a Dodger stalwart a few months away from free agency having his best year ever in the uniform.

Hopefully, the committee reads this list.

These 3 Dodgers have earned their first All-Star appearances in 2021.

Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Chris Taylor

Surely you noticed how good, reliable and versatile Chris Taylor is at some point prior to this season.

If not, though, he’s making it very clear what he can provide on a night in, night out basis, and just might be the Dodgers’ first-half MVP. He’s going to have a difficult time getting over the All-Star hurdle that prefers big names and bigger power profiles, but gosh darn it, we’re going to advocate for him anyway until we can’t advocate for him anymore.

At least put the man on the “Final Vote” ballot! Do they even still do that?

Thus far in 2021, Taylor is mashing lefties, but hitting everyone, though his slugging numbers are down against righties.

His overall line of .285/.411/.486 with 1.3 WAR accrued might not stand out among other outfielders in the race, but it’s certainly impressive enough to merit consideration on a blind resumé.

Also, doesn’t the All-Star Game love narratives? And doesn’t the player who’s been the engine driving the supposed best team in the league’s success deserve to be honored for doing so?

If the Dodgers Team MVP can’t make the All-Star roster, then what is this world coming to? If Taylor leaves this offseason, it might be a rude awakening as to just how important he’s been all along.

Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

2. Will Smith

This should be the first appearance from Will Smith behind the plate, but it won’t be the last.

After all, the era of Yadier Molina is finally endi–I’m sorry, what’s that? He’s somehow hitting .288 with seven bombs and a 141 OPS+ as offense around the league is depleted? Got it. Makes total sense.

OK, pencil Smith in for coming off the bench following Molina’s five innings as the starter, then.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith should make the 2021 All-Star Game.

The 26-year-old, who’s only just beginning to get name recognition beyond “oh, yeah, the same name as that lefty,” has matched Molina blow for blow this year, posting a 139 OPS+ and a superior WAR of 1.2 through just 38 games played.

This is only the start of the ride for our stalwart behind home plate (yes, we’re confused about what happens to Keibert Ruiz, too), and with Molina’s aging curve and Buster Posey’s approach towards the exit lane, too, there aren’t many NL catchers who can prevent him from making the next five or six games at least. This should be a two-man race between Smith and Philadelphia’s JT Realmuto for the next several years, unless Willson Contreras can find his consistency once again.

Celebrate Smith’s first appearance when it comes (it’ll likely be just a few weeks), but don’t celebrate too hard. He’s got plenty more en route.

Dodgers
Dodgers /

1. Julio Urias

Thank goodness development isn’t linear, right? Phew.

If development were linear, Julio Urias would’ve probably had trouble recovering from the difficult five starts he made in 2017 as a 20-year-old greenhorn with all the expectations in the world thrust upon him.

If development were linear, Urias might’ve been discouraged after his follow-up attempt didn’t come until the 2018 postseason following shoulder surgery that could’ve stolen his trademark arsenal from him.

That wasn’t the case, though. Urias worked. He battled. He was willing to take the ball out of the bullpen to end the 2020 season, and his dominance resulted in his participation in the most indelible image of the past three decades of Dodgers baseball: the final out of a drought-breaking title.

Dodgers starter Julio Urias deserves an All-Star appearance.

Despite proving he could do something other than start at an elite level, Los Angeles’ front office didn’t succumb to temptation, allowing Urias to win back his No. 4 starter spot on his merits entering 2021. So far, so great.

7-1, 3.03 ERA, and the NL’s leading strikeout-to-walk ratio highlight Urias’ case to make the summer stage alongside, perhaps, three other teammates from the sterling rotation. Often, when the team has most needed a stopper, the ball has somehow fallen to its youngest member, and he has delivered time and again. That deserves to be rewarded.

Pretty solid arc.

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