While the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a strong case to be the latest MLB dynasty by winning back-to-back World Series titles and three in the last six years, their franchise history and success since 2000 is a mixed bag.
Up until the current era, there were middling levels of postseason accomplishments since the turn of the century. But there have also been impressive individual performances and players who carved out a special place in the Dodgers’ franchise history.
The DodgerBlue.com staff has ranked the best Dodgers players in the last 25 years. Among various factors considered, the all-time Dodgers list was compiled by evaluating a player’s contributions and significance to the franchise.
Dodgers quarter-century all-time team
No. 9: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
On Dec. 21, 2023, the Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract — the longest and richest deal for a pitcher in MLB history.
The right-hander made the jump to the Major Leagues after seven impressive seasons with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes.
Yamamoto made his Dodgers debut during the Seoul Series and struggled as he allowed five runs in just one inning against the San Diego Padres.
Yamamoto otherwise had a solid first half of the 2024 season before going on the 15-day injured list in June with a right rotator cuff strain, which came one day after he was removed from a start against the Kansas City Royals due to triceps tightness.
He returned for four starts in September and ended the regular season on a high note. Yamamoto finished 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.11 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine in 90 innings pitched over 18 starts.
The rookie then posted a 3.86 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against six walks in four postseason starts as the Dodgers went on to win the World Series.
Yamamoto followed up his debut season with an even better 2025 campaign. An All-Star for the first time, he went 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine while also setting career-highs in innings pitched (173.2) and starts (30).
Yamamoto was particularly dominant in the 2025 postseason, going 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 37.1 innings across six games (five starts).
He put together one of the greatest performances ever seen in a World Series, going the distance in Game 2 before earning the win in two consecutive elimination matchups on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yamamoto tossed 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in the winner-take-all Game 7 just one day after throwing six frames of one-run ball.
Yamamoto posted a 1.02 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against two walks in 17.2 innings across his three appearances en route to winning World Series MVP honors.
No. 10: Matt Kemp
No. 11: Will Smith
No. 12: Cody Bellinger
No. 13: Adrián Beltré
No. 14: Walker Buehler
No. 15: Andre Ethier
No. 16: Eric Gagné
No. 17: Shawn Green
No. 18: Manny Ramirez
No. 19: Gary Sheffield
No. 20: Adrián González
No. 21: Yasiel Puig
No. 22: Chris Taylor
No. 23: Russell Martin
No. 24: Kiké Hernández
No. 25: Miguel Rojas
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