Ranking Dodgers players who will benefit from new MLB rule changes

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The new MLB rule changes for the 2023 season are here. Enjoy them. You have no choice! The ghost runner is permanent. There will be bigger bases. There are defense shift limitations. Pitchers will be on a timer.

Which Los Angeles Dodgers will be disadvantaged? We already took a look at that. How about we keep the positivity train rolling and look at who will benefit? Somebody has to, right?

It's a big year of change for the Dodgers, who will welcome a number of new players (both young and old) after watching portions of the most recent era of dominant LA baseball depart over the last couple offseasons. On top of that, they'll be faced with adapting to the ever-evolving game.

If the Dodgers have proven one thing over the last decade, though, it's that they're resilient and resourceful. Even if some players have a tough time with the new rules, it won't be long before they figure it out.

As for those who could benefit right off the bat, those guys will help the Dodgers avoid a lengthy adjustment period.

Ranking Dodgers players who will benefit from 2023 MLB rule changes

JD Martinez

Let's start off with a joke, because this is all about having fun anyway. Dodgers fans might not remember, but in September of last year, JD Martinez cost the Red Sox in a big way with a baserunning gaffe.

In the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out, Martinez hit a slow roller to shortstop. Isiah Kiner-Falefa came in, fielded it cleanly, threw it to Gleyber Torres at second base to get the first out, and then Torres fired it over to first, but the throw wasn't in time. Martinez was ruled safe and the Red Sox inched closer with the score now 4-3.

But wait a minute! The Yankees reviewed the play and it was revealed Martinez completely missed the bag when running down the first base line.

Yanks turn a double play after replay shows that JD Martinez missed the bag! pic.twitter.com/x1UhEjgZJB
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 15, 2022

Woof. But that won't happen with the bigger bags, baby! And for Martinez, who's slowing down big time (and was already slow to begin with), every inch counts. Next time, that big toe will catch the base and the inning will continue.

Ryan Pepiot

Ryan Pepiot figures to be a bigger part of the Dodgers' plans in 2023 after the pitching losses suffered this offseason. The 25-year-old appeared in nine games (making seven starts) last year and finished 3-0 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 42 strikeouts across 36.1 innings of work.

Some issues remain, however. He surrendered 1.5 HR/9 and 6.7 BB/9. Not good. That helps explain his 5.42 FIP. Nothing that can't be fixed, though. It was a good debut season for the right-hander and we can expect a leap forward this time around.

Some might think the pitch clock might mess with a younger player, but Pepiot actually had a 16.4-second tempo in between pitches when he was on the mound last year. That was good for 82nd in MLB and fourth among Dodgers pitchers. With runners in base, that number went up to 21.7 seconds ... but that was first among Dodgers pitchers (and 76th in MLB).

The pitch clock will feature a 30-second timer in between batters, 20-second timer with runners on base in between pitches, and 15-second timer with no runners on base in between pitches. Maybe Pepiot won't be a top percentile beneficiary, but he certainly can continue working through his rhythm and groove without any changes, and that's important for a developing pitcher.

Clayton Kershaw

Don't think you need a crash course on Kershaw. He moves quickly and ranked 61st in MLB with a 16-second tempo with the bases empty and 166th with a 22.9-second tempo when there were runners on. Only reason for that increase is because of his pickoff strategy, which could be an issue since pitchers can now only try two attempts before a failed third pickoff attempt advances the runner, but it's probably important to remember that most of Kershaw's work is done with nobody on the paths.

He has a career 1.00 WHIP. That'll do most of the talking for the left-hander.

David Peralta

How about a couple of sluggers? The newly introduced David Peralta was brought in to likely platoon in left field when a right-handed pitcher is on the mound. The lefty slugger certainly has the ability to hit to all fields, but he's mostly a pull hitter.

Now that defensive shifts are limited, Peralta, who has seen a drastic dip in his average and BABIP the last two seasons, will likely find more holes. Obviously the fact he's gotten older has played a role, but these numbers are significant:

2017 - .293 AVG, .333 BABIP

2018 - .293 AVG, .328 BABIP

2019 - .275 AVG, .327 BABIP

2020 - .300 AVG, .361 BABIP

2021 - .259 AVG, .303 BABIP

2022 - .251 AVG, .307 BABIP

Conventional wisdom would suggest those numbers should improve if Peralta still has a decent amount left in the tank.

Mookie Betts

This one's two-fold. The shift argument isn't overwhelming for Betts, but it's notable. If you look at his spray chart, a good amount of his hits came up the middle or in the hole between shortstop and third base. Teams shifted 57.5% of the time when Betts was at the plate and their formation was typically three infielders on the left side. One of the defenders would play right over second base in a clear effort to steal hits up the middle from Betts. He still got the job done ... but maybe we're talking a return to MVP status, since a big part of his game from 2015-2020 was hitting for average.

Next up, the bigger bases. We've seen a stark decline in Betts stealing bags over the last couple years. Injuries likely played a role since he dealt with hip and back issues in 2021 and 2022 (only 22 stolen bases in 264 games compared to 26 in his previous 205), but will the bigger bases and limit on pickoffs entice the 30-year-old to take off a bit more?

Though his sprint speed only ranks in the 49th percentile (as of the 2022 season), he's still in the 86th percentile for outfielder jump, which likely indicates he can still get that good first step as the pitcher begins his delivery. Somebody's going to have to make up for the loss of Trea Turner disrupting on the base paths.

Betts still has it in him, and he could be aided with the rule changes.

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