Dodgers: Comparing Cody Bellinger to the best Dodger rookies ever
By Evan Lovett
31. player. 71. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Mike Piazza. 1993. C
Drafted by the Dodgers as a favor to Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft, Piazza was a first baseman with clumsy feet and an iron glove. Though he hit .268 and .250 during his first two minor league seasons, he flashed a little bit of power with 14 home runs in 499 at-bats. The organization figured that the burly right-hander was better suited for catcher and he toiled endlessly to hone the craft while also improving his hitting.
He began 1992 with a torrid start at AA San Antonio, putting together an OPS of 1.099 before being promoted to AAA Albuquerque where he hit .341 and clubbed 16 home runs, opening up everybody’s eyes to the young backstop.
A September call-up to give an aging Mike Scioscia a reprieve, Piazza acclimated to major league pitching by hitting .232 with a lone long ball in 74 plate appearances.
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Scioscia retired the following spring, leaving Piazza to battle with journeyman Carlos Hernandez for the starting position in Spring Training. Piazza tore the cover off of the ball at Vero Beach, leaving no doubt who would hold the title of starting catcher.
Piazza proceeded to have one of the most phenomenal rookie seasons of all-time, clubbing 18 home runs prior to the All-Star break en route to 35 on the season to go along with 112 RBI, a .318 batting average and a .932 OPS. He was the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year and the most valuable player on the Dodgers, appearing in 149 games for the club at the most demanding position.
Piazza was the first Dodgers catcher to win the Rookie of the Year award and was widely acknowledged for his deft handling of the pitching staff. He would go on to be elected to the Hall of Fame.