The Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitching staff has garnered plenty of deserved attention because of their rotation featuring three Cy Young Award winners in Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer and David Price, but the team has a bevy of options behind them as well.
The starting rotation will be rounded out by Walker Buehler, and one of Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Julio Urias. Should the Dodgers need to further tap into their depth, the likes of Josiah Gray, Jimmy Nelson and Mitch White could receive opportunities.
Gray has been on the rise in prospect rankings over the years, and it would not be a surprise for the young right-hander to make his MLB debut during the 2021 season. For the time being, Gray is in camp at Camelback Ranch as a non-roster invitee.
He was among the latest Dodgers pitchers to throw live batting practice, which amounted to facing Corey Seager and others. Gray got Seager to fly out in his first at-bat, but the 2020 National League Championship Series and World Series MVP hit a home run his next time up.
#Dodgers live BP —Jo-Jo Gray v Corey Seager pic.twitter.com/B8oGZsZuxl
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 27, 2021
“With Jo-Jo, he had a good run of hitters to face,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after watching the live BP session. “I thought he made some really good pitches, our hitters spoiled some good pitches. But as far as getting his work in, I thought Jo-Jo threw the baseball really well, breaking ball was sharp, fastball was really good.”
Dodgers position players enjoying live BP
With a wildly talented roster — one that includes nine players ranked in the top 100 for the 2021 season — competition during live BP is understandably high.
Such was the case when Buehler faced Mookie Betts, with their matchup beginning on a strikeout. Betts then returned the favor his next time up by hitting a home run off Buehler. “It was great,” Roberts said. “Obviously there’s competition.
“Mookie put a good swing on a breaking ball. Obviously there’s love and respect between the players. Walker, where he’s at, we got him up and down, getting his work in. It was a very productive day all the way around.”
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