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Dodgers fans can't forget about top non-All-Star performers in 2023
Which non-All-Stars have helped the Dodgers the most this year?
The MLB All-Star Game has come and gone after the league's best descended upon Seattle for a couple of days. The festivities featured five Dodgers: Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, J.D. Martinez, and, even though he didn’t play due to injury, Clayton Kershaw. None of these players were really a surprise to be selected, as they have all been top performers at their positions for multiple seasons.
They have rightfully gotten the attention they deserve during the All-Star Game and voting process, but they're certainly not the only players helping the Dodgers contend in a tough NL West division this year.
Who else deserves some props for helping the Dodgers maintain a top-three offense? Who's been responsible for playing a role in keeping the pitching staff afloat?
These non-All-Stars have come up big for the Dodgers in 2023
Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward deserves to have some love shown to him for the way he has performed this season. Following his release from the Chicago Cubs, burdened by underwhelming output and a hefty contract, Heyward's future in the major leagues seemed uncertain.
However, thanks to the support of the Dodgers and the invaluable camaraderie shared with his close friend Freddie Freeman, Heyward has made an impressive comeback. His current slugging percentage is .463, which, if he stays on pace, will be his highest mark since 2012 (when he was with the Atlanta Braves). His walk rate is also the best it's been since 2020 (11.4%), which is one reason for him having the fourth-best on-base percentage on the team at .348. For a player who was signed to just a $720,000 contract, Heyward has, so far, exceeded expectations.
David Peralta
Next is another player who was brought in on a one-year deal: David Peralta. A batting average of .283 on the season for a 35-year-old is pretty impressive. What makes it even more impressive is that, according to Baseball Savant, Peralta’s expected batting average is .305, which puts him in the top 3% of the league. This puts him above Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and J.D. Martinez.
Peralta is doing this by hitting the ball ... and crushing it, too. His hard hit percentage, which is a ball batted with an exit velocity of 95 MPH or higher, is 51.7%, putting him in the top 7% of MLB. He's doing all this while striking out at the lowest rate of his career (16.2%). After a slow start, Peralta has been a key member of this Dodgers team over the last few months.
Evan Phillips
On the pitching side of things, Evan Phillips had a strong case to be an All-Star, but former Dodger Craig Kimbrel got the nod (come on!). That means Phillips has a pretty obvious spot on this list. The Dodgers bullpen has seemed to calm down and experience a regulation of sorts, but one of the steadiest components all year has been Phillips. Although the right-hander hasn’t been as good as last season, his 2.55 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 12 saves are nothing to scoff at. Without Phillips, it’s scary to wonder how low this bullpen could have stooped.
Tony Gonsolin
Staying with pitching and another player who isn’t performing to the same levels as the previous year, Tony Gonsolin can't be overlooked. One reason Gonsolin makes this list is his availability when the Dodgers started getting decimated with injuries (even though he missed the first month of the year).
In a season that has seen a revolving door of a pitching staff, Gonsolin has faced the second most batters on the team behind only Clayton Kershaw. In his 12 starts, he has posted a 3.86 ERA, which, again, is only bested by Kershaw. Gonsolin may get lost in the mix with other Dodgers pitchers, but he continues to be a consistent and effective part of the rotation despite some stinkers.
Honorable Mentions
There are two honourable mentions that will also go to pitchers, Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan. They have been a part of a batterd (yet evolving) pitching staff and have done a fine job when called upon. Fans have waited to see Miller at the big league level, and despite some hiccups, he's been as good as advertised. Once he's fully comfortable, he will be a cornerstone for the rotation. As for Sheehan being a contributor, that may have been a little more surprising, but he has stepped in and done nicely for himself even though it looked like a number of other prospects were ahead of him in the pecking order.