Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Breaks Down How Youth Movement Worked So Well This Year
This 2023 Dodgers team is special.
Yes, they are spearheaded by the veteran leaders in Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, and Max Muncy. But the team had to rely on some new faces and some young ones.
Dave Roberts talked to reporters this week about how these young players were so successful due to their willingness to learn from the veterans.
James Outman, the biggest contributor from the youth movement struggled mid-way through the year and turned to experienced players to mentor him, Jason Heyward and Mookie Betts.
“I think it’s worked because of the veteran guys in our clubhouse. The coaches, they’ve embraced them. We have the right young players. They’re not entitled. They want to work. They love to work. They don’t have all the answers, and so with that, the veteran players are way more welcoming, open to teaching.”
(via SNLA)
Outman was able to re-tool his swing and become one of the best hitters in the lineup after the All-Star break. Outman was also able to stay in the lineup due to his amazing defense in centerfield, constantly saving runs for the Dodgers.
On the year Outman is hitting .243 with 21 home runs and 66 RBIs while consistently hitting from the 7-8 spot in the lineup.
The team relied on young arms like Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan to pitch innings when pitchers like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin went down with injuries.
Miller was able to stick it out the entire year after being called up and is now on-pace to start one of the first two games of the postseason for the Dodgers at just 24 years old.
Miller on the year has tossed 113.1 innings for the team pitching to a 3.97 ERA and striking out 106 batters.
His last outing against the Detroit Tigers saw him toss 6 innings of 2 run baseball while striking out 7.
The Dodgers still have a star-studded lineup full of decorated players, but the young players who have stepped up big in the regular season will make plays in October.
Dave Roberts Proven Wrong and Right at the Same Time
Back in February, Roberts pushed back on the idea of the “youth movement” in LA following a less-than-flashy offseason. He told DodgersNation.com’s Doug McKain that it might be “aggressive” to say the team was going all in on rookie call ups when the team still had Mookie, Freddie, Muncy, and others as key parts of the roster.
While he was right to a degree, the club’s reliance on younger players helped the roster survive through a summer of injuries and other issues to once again be one of the top teams in the National League. And now the Dodgers will lean on the youth movement into October.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
