David Price returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2021 season after opting out the previous year because of concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The left-hander began last season in the bullpen, but eventually moved back to the starting rotation as injuries piled up. In 39 games (11 starts), he went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA, 4.23 FIP and 1.43 WHIP across 73.2 innings pitched.
Price embraced the hybrid role as he was willing to help the Dodgers in any capacity. Now as he enters the final year of his contract, the 36-year-old has higher expectations for himself and hopes to earn a permanent spot in the starting rotation, via Juan Toribio of MLB.com:
“I’m here to prove myself,” Price said. “I haven’t thrown my best baseball for the Dodgers, and that is something I look forward to doing. I want to earn it. I don’t want to be given anything. I want to go out there and I want to earn it.”
Price was rusty at times last season as a result of his one-year hiatus and it led to inconsistent results on the mound. He is looking to change that this year by pitching his best baseball with the Dodgers:
“This is a game I’ve put a lot of years into, a lot of hard work,” Price said. “To not go out there and get the results I expect to get, that’s always disheartening. I want to be able to do that this year and have fun with it.”
As it currently stands, only Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw are guaranteed spots in the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation. Andrew Heaney, who signed a one-year contract with the club in November, is a candidate to be the team’s fourth or fifth starter as well.
That leaves one spot for the likes of Price, Tyler Anderson, Tony Gonsolin, Andre Jackson and Mitch White. Trevor Bauer at this time isn’t an option for the Dodgers starting rotation as his administrative leave was extended through April 16.
Price’s 2021 highlight
Price earned his first win of the season after tossing two scoreless innings and collecting four strikeouts against the San Diego Padres on April 16. He also tallied a sacrifice fly in the 12th inning that capped off a five-run outburst for the Dodgers offense.
Price’s contributions of getting a win, four strikeouts and the RBI in the extra-innings game marked a first for a Dodgers relief pitcher since Nap Rucker during the 1915 season.
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