The Los Angeles Dodgers have handled followers to unforgettable moments on the flip of the last decade, profitable three World Collection titles and making the playoffs each season so far within the 2020s.
Now midway via one of the crucial fruitful intervals of time in Dodgers historical past, listed here are the important thing moments which have outlined the franchise’s success.
2020
Mookie Betts Arrives
Whereas Shohei Ohtani is the perfect participant ever to don Dodger blue, there was no extra impression for the Dodgers within the final 5 years than including outfielder Mookie Betts.
Betts introduced a profitable tradition, pushing the staff and holding everybody, most of all himself, accountable. He completed.
In his first season, he completed runner-up for the Nationwide League MVP award. On high of his impression, the commerce has been ranked among the many extra one-sided offers because of the lack of worth the Dodgers gave up, as Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong have gone on to make Andrew Friedman remorse it.
The Drought Ends
The Dodgers, in important half because of the Betts addition, lastly ended the 32-year World Collection drought. It was such a aid after a number of years of heartbreak in October, when groups had been viable contenders.
Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, and Justin Turner, three fan-favorite veterans, lastly received the championship that they deserved.
Additionally, the Dodgers handle to win with Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger, the younger duo who got here up via the minor leagues as blue-chip prospects, and helped propel the offense.
2021
Andrew Friedman swings an enormous commerce….once more
The president of baseball operations had developed a fame as a prospect hoarder who hesitated to make massive strikes in the course of the first a part of his time below the Dodgers.
If the Betts commerce confirmed Friedman isn’t afraid of being aggressive, his 2021 commerce for each Washington Nationwide stars Max Scherzer and Trea Turner was a double-down.
The Dogers went 43-13 after including the 2 stars, and it helped save a season that accidents had marred.
Chris Taylor’s Wild Card walk-off
The Dodgers misplaced within the NLCS to a powerhouse Atlanta Braves staff that went on to win the entire thing, although Los Angeles had a particular second earlier in its postseason run.
With the Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals tied at 1-1, utility man Chris Taylor put his cape on and hit a game-winning two-run shot, clinching the sport and permitting the boys in blue to advance.
2022
Historical past Made
The Dodgers made the playoffs for the tenth straight yr, setting a franchise file. They completed with a 111-51 file, changing into the staff with essentially the most wins for the reason that Seattle Mariners.
Padres-Dodgers Rivalry Begins
The San Diego Padres have lengthy served because the Dodgers’ little brother, although in 2022 the groups met within the postseason for the primary time, marking a brand new chapter of their rivalry.
Powered via Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Joe Musgrove, the Padres ended up beating the Dodgers in 5 video games, finishing an upset and beautiful the Los Angeles powerhouse.
After this sequence loss, the Dodgers misplaced a number of key gamers, together with Trea Turner, Tyler Anderson, and Cody Bellinger, marking a roster shift.
2023
A Quiet Winter
After years of transfer after transfer, making blockbuster additions, the Dodgers lastly didn’t signal an enormous free agent or make a commerce of be aware; as a substitute, regardless of dropping expertise, Los Angeles stayed put.
They nonetheless received greater than 100 video games, the primary staff to take action 4 straight seasons, and Freedie Freeman and Mookie Betts had glorious seasons, however the Dodgers received swept by the Diamondbacks, resulting in a winter of motion.
Kershaw Reaches Milestone
Clayton Kershaw reached 200 wins, an unique membership, and handed Don Drysdale for second on the Dodgers’ all-time wins listing.
2024
A Free Company For The Ages
The Dodgers opened up the checkbook and determined to go all-in on the Freeman-Betts core, bringing in drastic assist.
They signed two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a 12-year, $325 million contract, amongst different key additions.
Ohtani ended up profitable the Nationwide League MVP in the course of the season, created the 50-50 membership, all whereas not pitching because of his elbow harm.
Yamamoto had a powerful season, posting a 3.00 ERA, although he missed a great deal of time because of harm, an issue that plagued the staff all year long.
The bullpen was the staff’s strongest unit.
A Large-Stakes World Collection
The Dodgers completed with the perfect file in baseball, dwelling as much as the preseason hype after spending all that cash.
Nevertheless, it was the under-the-radar addition of Tommy Edman who ended up taking dwelling the NLCS MVP.
The Dodgers ended up going through the New York Yankees in a showdown between the 2 largest markets in baseball.
Los Angeles received their second title in 5 years, beating the Yankees in 5 video games.
Freddie Freeman Delivers
With the Dodgers down 3-2 within the tenth inning of World Collection Sport 1, Freddie Freeman stepped as much as the plate and hit a walk-off grand slam that adopted an all-time name from announcer Joe Davis.
2025
Again-to-Again Champions
In case it wasn’t clear to some within the baseball world, the Dodgers stamped their place in historical past and cemented their standing as a dynasty.
They captured their second straight title, although it hasn’t been straightforward. The Dodgers battled rotation accidents and prolonged slumps in the course of the common season.
The bullpen was a shell of its former self, although the perfect rotation cash should buy, with the addition of Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell, proved to be sufficient to cruise via the Nationwide League playoffs.
The World Collection turned out to be a special beast that required some magic.
Kike Hernandez Saves The Dodgers
Mr. October got here via as soon as once more, making an excellent defensive play that sealed Sport 6, an elimination recreation on the street towards the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Unlikely Hero
Second baseman Miguel Rojas, within the high of the ninth inning with the Dodgers down 4-3, delivered a game-tying dwelling run that helped the staff keep alive.
Ace Yoshinbou Yamamoto, who went six innings in Sport 6, got here in in the course of the backside of the ninth inning and received the Dodgers out of a jam with runners in scoring place.
Finally, Will Smith stepped as much as the plate and delivered the go-ahead dwelling run, letting Yamamoto end the sport by getting the ultimate outs, and ending one of the crucial excellent World Collection ever.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photos
