5 Dodgers players who are putting up eye-catching numbers this spring

Numbers mean everythigng in baseball. What do some of the Dodgers spring training numbers mean?

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are on a mission to bring a World Series championship back to southern California. While not a perfect roster by any means, LA has put together a cadre of talent that will be the odds-on favorite to win the National League West and possibly the NL pennant in 2024.

The Dodgers have one of the best hitting teams in the league, and with the additions to the starting rotation, the pitching staff is rather imposing as well. It should not come as shock to hear that the Dodgers have put up some impressive numbers this spring.

Spring training stats don't always tell the whole story, but at this point, it's all we have to go on. Some stats paint a rosy picture, while others can forecast a troubling season ahead. No matter which way you view these statistics, they're sure to grab your attention.

5 Dodgers players who are putting up eye-catching numbers this spring

Chris Taylor has struck out 16 times

There've been mostly positive performances from an overwhelming number of players in Dodgers camp this spring. But Taylor's 47.1% strikeout rate is alarming. Taylor has struck out 16 times in 32 at-bats and has drawn just one walk. Yikes!

James Outman has hit double digit strikeouts this spring as well, but last year's rookie is sporting a .469 on-base percentage in addition to his 11 punchouts, so Dodgers fans are inclined to look the other way. Taylor has a .265 OBP.

If Taylor doesn't get back to putting up the type of numbers that he did when he first came to the Dodgers organization, then it's quite likely that Kiké Hernández will supplant the 33-year-old as Dave Roberts' first option off the bench.

Freddie Freeman has recorded 14 RBI

Freeman might like his new spot in the batting order. After being moved out of the No. 2 hole in the lineup, Freeman will now be batting third for the Dodgers. That means he'll be hitting behind Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani.

This spring, Freeman leads the Dodgers with 14 RBI. Freeman has had back-to-back seasons of 100-plus RBI, and he'll be well on his way toward shattering his previous career-high of 121 ribbies in 2019.

With two former MVPs setting the table ahead of him, Freeman is going to have plenty of chances to drive in runs in 2024. Freeman led the NL in hits in three of the past four seasons, and was the league-leader in doubles the past two seasons. Having two of the best hitters in the game hitting ahead of him will see Freeman put up ridiculous numbers in 2024. His 14 RBI in 13 games this spring are an indicator of things to come.

Shohei Ohtani is slugging .909

What did you expect from Ohtani in a Dodgers uniform? Whatever your expectations may have been heading into the season, it's probably safe to double them. Ohtani has been hitting for contact and power this spring.

Ohtani was 11-for-22 before heading off to South Korea for the Seoul Series and had two home runs to go along with a .909 slugging percentage. Only four players with 20 or more at-bats have a higher slugging percentage than Ohtani this spring.

Tyler Glasnow & Yoshinobu Yamamoto have combined for 28 strikeouts

Glasnow will get the ball for the Dodgers' first game of the season and be followed by Yamamoto. If their spring training stats are any indication of what fans can expect in 2024, there's going to be a steady breeze in Dodger Stadium due to the number of whiffs from opposing batters.

Glasnow and Yamamoto have combined for 28 strikeouts in just under 20 innings pitched between the two of them. Both pitchers have racked up 14 Ks this spring. Yamamoto's 8.38 ERA and 1.97 WIHP are a bit unsightly, but Dodgers fans have seen that the right-hander's stuff plays against major league hitting.

The tandem of Glasnow and Yamamoto will be the Dodgers' 1-2 punch to begin the season, and likely remain that way throughout 2024 campaign. LA has several starters set to begin the year on the IL, but even when those injured pitchers return, the Dodgers' dynamic duo still represent the best hurlers on the ball club.

No Dodgers starting pitcher has allowed a home run this spring

Both Glasnow and Yamamoto can take a bow, because they're part of this outstanding statistic as well. None of the five players selected for the Dodgers Opening Day rotation have allowed a ball to leave the yard this spring.

In fact, as a team, Los Angeles has only allowed nine homers during Cactus League play and no pitcher has allowed more than one round-tripper. Michael Grove, who missed out on a rotation spot thanks to the stellar play of Gavin Stone, was the only potential starter to allow a big fly this spring.

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