The Los Angeles Dodgers’ $267 million payroll won the National League West Division this year – thanks to five raw rookies drawing the major-league minimum salary of $722,500 apiece.
The Arizona Diamondbacks open a wild-card playoff series today in Milwaukee on the shoulders of rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll. Their opponents feature six rookies that helped the Brewers win the NL Central.
Philadelphia’s defending NL champion Phillies had a 48-42 record when Johan Rojas was called up. His speed in the outfield and on the bases helped them go 43-30 the rest of the way and into a wild-card series against the Miami Marlins.
Rookies played a big role in the regular season for these NL teams and likely will be even more important in the playoffs. The Dodgers must get solid pitching from rookies Bobby Miller, Michael Grove, Ryan Pepiot and Emmet Sheehan in whatever roles manager Dave Roberts uses them.
Miller’s 100-mph fastball puts him second to ace Clayton Kershaw in the revamped rotation. The others will be used where needed – as they were this season as the Dodgers lost seven starters at some point:
1. Former Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer was released in January due to controversial off-field conduct. He went 11-4 with a 2.54 ERA over 24 starts in Japan.
2. Star right-hander Walker Buehler (46-16 career record) had his second Tommy John surgery 14 months ago. He’s not yet ready.
3. In May, Dustin May had his second elbow surgery in three years.
4. Noah Syndergaard missed time with finger ailments and was traded to Cleveland.
5. Kershaw was out from June to mid-August with a sore left shoulder.
6. Tony Gonsolin (16-1 record a year ago) went 8-5, missed several weeks, and had Tommy John surgery in September.
7. Julio Urias missed six weeks (hamstring injury), won four straight starts in August, then was put on indefinite administrative leave and his locker removed after being arrested in September on suspicion of spousal abuse.
Dodgers rookie outfielder James Outman was hot and cold. He hit .292 with seven homers before May 1, then only .192 with two homers the next two months. He got hot again with eight homers and .291 average for two months, then batted .222 with 6 homers and 11 RBI in September.
The NL’s best rookie was Carroll: 25 homers, 54 stolen bases and fine fielding. Arizona got fill-in help from rookie starters Brandon Pfadt and Ryne Nelson and rookie relief from Scott McGough and Drey Jameson.
McGough was activated Monday. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 16 due to an inflamed right shoulder. He was an important bullpen part in the first half with seven saves and a 2.72 ERA in 40 games. Battling the cranky shoulder, he had a brutal 8.63 ERA the next two months until being shut down.
Flame-throwing Jameson (3-1, 3.32 ERA) sprained his right elbow on July 6 and had a setback during rehab on Sept. 15. He’s out.
So is Miami’s prized 20-year-old Eury Perez with a sore shoulder. He went 5-1 with a 1.34 ERA in May and June to get the Marlins into the hunt. He then went 0-5 and was shut down.
NL Rookies In 2023 Post-Season
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Corbin Carroll, OF: 25 HR, 75 RBI, .285, 54 SB
Dominic Fletcher, OF: 2 HR, 14 RBI, .301 (on IL)
Brandon Pfadt, SP: 3-9, 5.72 ERA
Ryne Nelson, SP: 8-8, 5.31 ERA
Scott McGough, RP: 2-7, 4.73 ERA, 9 SV, 14 HLD
ATLANTA BRAVES
Jared Shuster, SP: 4-3, 5.81 ERA
AJ Smith-Shawver, SP: 1-0, 4.26 ERA
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
James Outman, OF: 23 HR, 70 RBI, .248, 16 SB
Bobby Miller, SP: 11-4, 3.76 ERA
Michael Grove, SP-RP: 2-3, 6.13 ERA, 1 HLD
Ryan Pepiot, SP-RP: 2-1, 2.14 ERA,
Emmet Sheehan, SP-RP: 4-1, 4.92 ERA, 1 SV
MIAMI MARLINS
Xavier Edwards, OF: 0 HR, 3 RBI, .291
George Soriano, RP: 0-0, 3.46 ERA, 1 SV,
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Joey Wiemer, OF: 13 HR, 42 RBI, .204 (not on NLDS roster)
Brice Turang, 2B: 6 HR, 34 RBI, .218, 26 SB
Andruw Monasterio, INF: 3 HR, 27 RBI, .259, 7 SB
Garrett Mitchell, OF: 3 HR, 7 RBI, .246
Sal Frelick, OF: 3 HR, 24 RBI, .246, 7 SB
Blake Perkins, OF: 4 HR, 20 RBI, .217
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Johan Rojas, OF: 2 HR, 23 RBI, .302, 14 SB
Recent Rookie Stars In NL Post-Season
Ian Anderson, RHP, 2020-21 Braves: He had rookie status both years and went a combined 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight starts. He worked 17 2/3 shutout innings in 2020. Then he helped Atlanta win the 2021 World Series with five hitless innings against Houston to win Game 3.
Jorge Soler, OF, 2015 Cubs: He bashed .474 (9-for-19) with 3 homers, 5 RBI and 6 walks in 7 games.
Kyle Schwarber, C-OF, 2015 Cubs: He hit .333 with 5 homers, 8 RBIs in 9 games.
Trevor Rosenthal, RP, 2012-13 Cardinals: He also was a two-year rookie and worked a combined 20 1/3 scoreless innings, going 1-0 with five saves, two holds and a whopping 33 strikeouts.
Madison Baumgarner, SP, 2010 Giants: The lefty won the deciding Game 4 of the NLDS over Atlanta, 3-2, and pitched eight scoreless innings to win Game 4 of the World Series over Texas, 4-0. Overall, he was 2-0, 2.18 ERA in 20 2/3 innings.
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, 2003 Marlins: At age 20, he hjt .265 with 4 homers and had 12 RBI in 17 games as Miami won it all. That included .333 with 3 homers, 6 RBI in a seven-game triumph over the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS.
Livan Hernandez, SP, 1997 Marlins: At age 22, the Cuban went 4-0 with a 3.18 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings to help the upstart Marlins win the World Series. His NLCS against Atlanta was legendary: 2-0, 0.84 ERA. That included out-dueling Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in Game 4, allowing three hits, one run, fanning 15 to win, 2-1.
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