The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a good season in 2023, but it’s not up to their usual level.
They’ve been one of the most successful regular-season teams over the past decade and that’s because their roster is always loaded.
When you think of Dodgers stars, the names of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw come to mind.
While all of those players have been good, they are dwarfing one of the most underrated players in baseball.
Catcher Will Smith is having a fantastic season and bills himself as the best catcher in baseball.
Smith made his MLB debut in 2019 and has been elite ever since.
According to Doug McKain, since his debut, Smith has ranked in the top three in OPS, home runs, RBIs, wRC+, and fWar.
Will Smith catching ranks since making his MLB debut on 5/28/19:
.861 OPS (1st)
69 hours (2nd)
229 RBI (2nd)
136 wRC+ (1st)
12.5 fWAR (3rd)The Dodgers receiver is one of the most underrated and appreciated players in the game.
—Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) June 26, 2023
He’s a key piece in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup and he’s also great behind the plate.
Having an offensive-minded catcher is a rare thing in the MLB.
Some teams have catchers in the lineup because of their ability to run a game and not swing the bat.
But the Dodgers are among the few who have the best of both worlds.
LA has a 43-34 record on the year and that puts them in third place in the NL West.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the most amazing teams in baseball and they don’t seem to be slowing down.
The Dodgers have won the NL West in nine of the past ten seasons.
The experience of their roster is what they hope can take them to the top of the division.
NEXT:
Freddie Freeman has joined an exclusive MLB roster
