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Los Angeles Dodgers: The six breakout stars of the last six seasons

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the batter's box on a single in the third inning of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leaves the batter's box on a single in the third inning of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

Despite being successful for the last half-decade, the Los Angeles Dodgers have had many different outlooks and different breakout players stepping up.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the longest active postseason streak at five years and are looking to become just the third team in MLB history to make the playoffs in six consecutive seasons. Part of the reason the Dodgers have been so great for so long in baseball terms is the emergence of several different stars to contribute.

Of course, there is always the core piece and that core piece has been Clayton Kershaw. Aside from that, the Dodgers have been a revolving door of talent. The only players on the roster that were on the roster in 2013 are Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Matt Kemp. Kemp obviously was traded away, Ryu was not present due to injury for over half that time.

Thus, in the madness that has been the Dodgers over the last five and a half years, there have been several different breakout players. In fact, the Dodgers have accomplished the rare feat of having a breakout player, whether it be a journeyman or a rookie, step up and contribute in a big way.

2018: Max Muncy

  • 2018 season (so far): .280 AVG, 20 HR, 38 RBI, 1.060 OPS

  • Career prior: .195 AVG, 5 HR, 17 RBI .611 OPS (96 games) 

Writing an article prior to the season about how Max Muncy deserved a roster spot out of Spring Training was one of my best takes ever. Even then, I did not expect Muncy to come anywhere close to the level of production he is currently producing at.

Nobody did.

Muncy is looking like the best hitter in the National League. Yes, Max Muncy. Not Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackson, Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto or Bryce Harper; Max Muncy.

Muncy’s 1.060 OPS will be good enough to lead the National League once he crosses the qualified 3.1 plate appearances per game threshold. Muncy is currently 31 plate appearances shy and should reach that mark in three weeks or so.

Muncy leads baseball in AB/HR and has turned into 2015 Joc Pederson without the strikeouts. This elite level of production may be unsustainable long-term for Muncy but he has certainly been a huge reason why the Dodgers have turned the season around.

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