Dodger Rookies

by count sutton on Jun 5, 2006 3:06 PM EDT

The diary about Matt Kemp got me thinking about the Dodger rookies. How many of them will stay up with the Dodgers and play significant roles?

Here are the guys up (that I can remember):
Andre Ethier
Jon Broxton
Matt Kemp
Willy Aybar
Joel Guzman
Russ Martin

Here are the guys on the DL:
Yhency Brazoban
Jeff Kent
Jason Repko
Ricky Ledee
Jayson Werth
Dionner Navarro
Bill Mueller

When these guys get healthy (or, depending on the player, "relatively healthy"), who of the Dodgers rookies will stay up and still receive a good chunk of playing time?

Poll

Which Dodger rookie has the best chance of playing a significant role this season?

Matt Kemp

12 votes

Joel Guzman

3 votes

Andre Ethier

8 votes

Russ Martin

67 votes

Jon Broxton

26 votes

Willy Aybar

6 votes

122 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I think

Broxton and Martin are up for good this year. Possibly Ethier, too. I expect Guzman, Aybar, and Kemp to get sent down once the other guys listed get healthy.

by samjjones on Jun 5, 2006 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Broxton and Martin will be the keepers of the bunch, with Either around.

Broxton...21 year old, 16g,19in,3r,11h, 26ks, 9bb, 0.93era
Either...24 years old,30g,4hr,13rbi,.289ba,.362 obp.
Martin...23 years old, 26g, 3hr, 16 rbi, 270ba, .359 obp.

If I had to pick one, it would be Martin, because they have some pitching depth. I think Broxton has earned his time, smoking in Triple A and dominating in the MLB.

The team of him and Gagne SU/Closer is a great future for LA.

by ChrisRef19 on Jun 6, 2006 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

All the rookies listed are taking the places of quality players, with the possible exception of Kemp (replacing Repko) who's only 21. Aybar is holding 2nd and 3rd for Kent and Mueller, Martin's good but not THAT much better than Navarro, and Ethier is taking AB's away from Cruz. Broxton has been awesome, but has yet to supplant the immortal Takashi Saito in Grady Little's mind.

I think Chad Billingsley might have the best chance to make a very significant impact because he will eventually replace some combination of Seo, Tomko, and Perez, who have a combined ERA of 5.13.

I voted for Broxton because of his 0.93 ERA, and a 12.1 K/9. And for those that followed the minors and havent seen Broxton in the majors yet, Broxton has come up with a split-finger pitch to complement his mid-90's fastball and high-80's slider. Its still inconsistant, he came up with it a couple weeks ago, but its already fooling hitters.

by sanchez101 on Jun 5, 2006 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

Billz

I thought about adding Billingsley and had his named entered in the poll at one point. I pulled because he's not up yet. I agree with your point that he may ultimately have the most impact.

by count sutton on Jun 5, 2006 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Broxton

Martin is their 8 year starter at catcher, health willing, but Brox is a monster - he's, right now, ready to be the Mariano to Gagne's Wetteland and should take over closing duties next year. I see no reason next year's 'pen can't lead with:

Jonathan "The Bull" Broxton
Yhency Brazoban (assuming healthy)
Greg Miller
Hong Chi Kuo

by silvysilv on Jun 5, 2006 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

the bull

i wouldnt go as far as to compare Broxton to Rivera, lets just leave him at good, young, power reliever at let him go from there. Its probably more like Lidge replacing Wagner than Rivera replacing Wetteland.

by sanchez101 on Jun 5, 2006 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Brox

I'm certainly being hyperbolic, but there's just something lovable about a 6'6, 270 lb MOOSE who fires filth at you again and again and again.

by silvysilv on Jun 5, 2006 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Martin

will stay up, Navarro isn't too special to me, and I think Aybar stays up too. He's earned his spot on the roster and should at least be their utility guy filling in at 2b, 3b and maybe 1b if needed, but he can hit.

by SoCalSoxFan on Jun 5, 2006 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

And more on the way

Kuo was just recalled. G Miller will get a call later this year and of course Billingsly will be making an impact, just how big remains to be seen.

Aybar - I don't see him being sent down when Mueller returns. He has proved he can play 2nd and 3rd and hit. He may even pull a Freddy Sanchez and relegate the veteran Mueller to the bench if Mueller even returns. His knee injury doesn't sound like it is responding very well and the combination of his prior knee surgeries is making him look very risky for the rest of the year.

Kemp will stay, he's shown to much to be sent back in favor of Repko. If he is sent down it will only be a small time period until the Dodgers sort out the outfield with some minor deals. Best looking prospect I've seen since Mondesi. Reminds me of Hawk Dawson.

Guzman will surely be sent down when Kent comes off the DL.

Broxton stays and continues to give effective setup.

Martin stays and either shares time with Navarro or Navarro goes to the ML until Alomar gets DL'd which is just a manner of time.

Ethier should be on the team instead of Ledee but I'm not sure what they will do with him.

The last two homestands have been as fun as I can remember in years. The bombs that Kemp has hit and his arm.....

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen.

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 5, 2006 11:10 PM EDT reply actions