5 Dodgers who could become first-time All-Stars in 2023

The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently riding the third-longest postseason streak in MLB history and have been one of the most talented teams in the league for several years now. Though they took a step back this offseason, they still definitely have enough to win a World Series with this roster.

On top of the big names, the Dodgers have also mastered the ability to get All-Star performances out of players who were not previously of that caliber. Based on history alone, Dodgers fans should expect at least one All-Star surprise this season.

That being said, there are also some notable players on the roster who have not earned a trip to the Midsummer Classic in their career. Not all of these players will end up getting the nod, but there are five favorites who could be making their first All-Star Game trip to Seattle this year.

5 Dodgers who could become first-time All-Stars in 2023

5. Evan Phillips

Evan Phillips was by far the best reliever on the Dodgers in 2022 and if he pitches the same way in 2023 then it will be hard to deny him a trip to the All-Star Game. Not many relievers ultimately get the call, but Phillips certainly pitched like an All-Star last season and will have his role elevated this year.

Phillips spun 63 innings for the Dodgers last season, finishing with a 1.14 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 77 strikeouts. The right-handed reclamation project was the only pitcher in the entire league last season to throw at least 60 innings and have an ERA below 1.15. Since 2010, it has only happened 11 times. That is how special Phillips was.

Phillips is the most qualified pitcher in the bullpen to handle the ninth inning. If he gets the full-time closer role then he will have an ironclad case to make the NL All-Star team should he continue on this trajectory.

3. Gavin Lux

There are a lot of young bats on the Dodgers that could hit their way to the ASG. Miguel Vargas should get the necessary playing time to make it happen, and if he continues hitting like he did in the minors, then he might have a good chance.

There's even someone like James Outman, who tore it up in the minors and could be a valuable bat to this lineup. Outman has more competition in the outfield now and may not get the playing time, but he's another name to keep an eye on.

Of all the young bats, though, Gavin Lux has to be the favorite to get his first All-Star nod if he can stay healthy and finally have that breakout campaign.

The 2022 season was an appetizer for a potential breakout season for Lux in 2023. While injuries ultimately hurt his season and his production down the stretch, Lux sported a .300 average and .806 OPS as late as Aug. 6.

If Lux can add a bit more power to his swing (which is possible, he hit 25 home runs in his last minor league season) then his offensive numbers have the chance to be really special. If Lux gets his home run total to the 15-20 range then this is someone who could flirt with a .900 OPS.

At 25 years old, he's no longer the young prospect who's just finding his way at the big-league level. If Lux is ever going to live up to the hype he had as a prospect, then it will have to start in 2023.

2. Will Smith

Will Smith is regarded by many as one of the best catchers in the entire sport because of his offensive prowess at the plate. The only catcher that is in the same conversation as Smith offensively is JT Realmuto ... and even then, it's a toss-up.

Smith has consistently been a positive presence in the Dodgers' lineup. In 2022, he slashed .260/.343/.465 with 24 home runs and 87 RBI. Crazy enough, that was a down year at the plate for him compared to his 2021 season, as his OPS dropped 53 points from .860 to .807.

Over the last two seasons, Smith ranks second in home runs, second in RBI, third in hits, first in OPS, and second in fWAR among all catchers. He's undoubtedly a top-two catcher in the league and yet doesn't have a single ASG appearance to his name.

The two catchers on the National League roster last season were Willson Contreras and Travis d'Arnaud. It's not like Smith struggled to start the 2022 season, as he was actually better in the first half. Smith had 14 home runs, 47 RBI and a .842 OPS at the All-Star break last season.

This isn't a case of someone breaking out and becoming a first-time All-Star. This would be the case of someone earning a bid that they already should have earned twice over.

1. Julio Urías

If you were blown away by the fact that Smith hasn't been named an All-Star yet in his career, then you might fall out of your chair over the fact that Julio Urías also has never been rewarded such recognition. Despite finishing as a top-three Cy Young candidate in 2022 and getting Cy Young votes the year prior, he's still waiting for the fans to vote in his favor.

Urías was once a top prospect in the sport, and after a slow start to his career he has finally started to reach his ceiling as a wipeout southpaw. It's no small feat to lead the National League in ERA at 25 years old. There's an argument to be made that Urías still hasn't reached his peak.

Perhaps that's what it will take for him to not get snubbed from the ASG in 2023. Assuming all goes well, 2023 will be the third year in a row in which Urías is pitching like a bonafide ace and it will be impossible to deny him an honor he also should have received at least once.

In 2021 Urías had a slow start to the season that held him back, so that is understandable. A red-hot second half brought his overall numbers down, but he did have a respectable 3.74 ERA at the break.

It was a completely different story in 2022, though. Urías was sporting a 2.89 ERA, 1.024 WHIP and had 94 strikeouts in 96.2 innings pitched at the break. His second half was once again better, but those are undoubtedly All-Star numbers. He should have enough traction to represent LA in Seattle should he perform like that again in the first half of 2023.

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