Dodgers’ Alex Vesia Reveals How He Plans to Build Off Strong 2024 Season
The Los Angeles Dodgers had many pitching ailments to their roster last season.
Despite just three starting pitchers from the rotation remaining by the postseason, the bullpen was arguably hit worse in 2024.
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One of the few constants in that pitching room all season long was Alex Vesia. He wasn’t just available a majority of the season, but it may have been his best one yet.
The southpaw from Northern California had a career-low 1.76 ERA along with career-highs in innings (66.1), strikeouts (87), WAR (1.6), and even saves (5).
Especially in a season with no clear-cut closer, having an elite reliever was an unbelievable help on the road to October. Vesia spoke to Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain about how he plans to follow up his spectacular outing.
“I think it’s just going out and competing.” Said Vesia. “Not trying to be too far ahead of myself. It’s getting one out at a time. I come into games where you get one out, two outs, or three outs. I try to never be too far ahead. A high school coach told me, ‘Don’t ride the highs too high, and the lows too low.’ When Doc calls me into the game, I’m prepared I’m ready. I’m going to give it everything I got.”
Perhaps it’s this mindset that helped him have so much success last season.
It’s either the mindset, or the two Red Bull energy drinks each game.
“I have my Red Bull in the first and my Red Bull in the fifth. Sugar free,” said the reliever. “I love adrenaline.”
Whatever combination of factors that it is, Vesia has shown that it works and constantly displays his passion for not just being on the mound, but for wearing a Dodgers uniform.
“My energy is always towards the Dodgers, it’s never towards opponents or anything like that. I get fired up because I want to get off the mound so the boys can hit. It’s never towards the other team, I always try to keep it respectful in that sense.” Said Vesia.
“I love this game, man.”
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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