Alex Vesia

Vesia struggled on the surface in 2023 in large part due to .354 BABIP and 72.6 percent strand rate. However, he still managed a 21.7 K-BB% and should be in for a bounceback campaign in a potential high-leverage role out of the Dodgers' bullpen in 2024.

Vesia continues to fly a bit under the radar as one of the game's top left-handed relievers. His 94 mph 4-seamer was one of the best in the league, producing a top-20 Statcast run value (-14) for that pitch type. His fastball was responsible for 53 of his career-high 79 strikeouts, while his 34.8% K% was in the 97th percentile. He also got plenty of whiffs (92nd percentile), leading to a 73.8% in-zone contact percentage that was 4th-best among qualified relievers. Vesia was particularly sharp in the second half, as 26 of his final 27 appearances were scoreless. From July 22 onwards, he compiled an impressive 0.36 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 40 strikeouts over 25.2 innings. Vesia will continue to serve as the Dodgers' top lefty out of the bullpen, but don't dismiss the possibility that he becomes part of the mix for saves, especially if he continues to improve his command (4.0 BB/9 for his career).

Vesia arrived in Los Angeles last February as part of the Dylan Floro trade and opened 2021 in the minors. The southpaw bounced between Triple-A and Los Angeles several times before showing he had nothing left to prove at Triple-A, fanning 19 hitters over nine innings at that level before he got the call for good near the All-Star break. Vesia was outstanding for the Dodgers, quickly overtaking Victor Gonzalez as the team's top lefty out of the pen. He finished the year with a 2.25 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 12.2 K/9 over 40 innings, and his 17.8% SwStr% would have ranked among the leaders if he qualified. He attacks left-handed hitters with his slider and only allowed one hit on the pitch all year, while blanking hitters altogether on his changeup. The lefty turns 26 in April and needs to improve his control (5.0 BB/9) to take the next step forward, but initial returns forecast a promising high-leverage career.

Vesia is a player whose minor-league statistics get your attention. In 100 minor-league innings, he's allowed just 75 hits with a 138:26 K:BB while allowing just four home runs. Stats such as those would lead one to believe Vesia has a triple-digit fastball or some nasty breaking ball, but neither is true. Vesia has a rather average fastball, but he hides it well and it sneaks up on hitters. His changeup is his best pitch, and it is why he was able to produce such lofty strikeout totals in the minor leagues. He made it from Division II college to the major leagues in two years thanks to embracing a role in the bullpen. Expect to see him in the majors a fair amount in 2021 assuming he can throw more strikes than he did during his brief time in the big leagues in 2020.