The 2010s brought a lot of excitement for Dodgers fans. The franchise experienced its most success in decades, which featured 7 consecutive NL West titles and 2 NL Pennants. Let’s take a look at 10 players who put on a Dodgers uniform during the 2010s decade and analyze the ones that surprised us out of nowhere and the ones that failed. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
1. Chris Taylor
On June 19, 2016 the Dodgers acquired Chris Taylor, who was nothing more than a utility player from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for former first-round pitcher Zach Lee. Taylor played in 34 games as a Dodger the rest of that season, but his career would really take off in 2017. Taylor did not make the Opening Day roster for the Dodgers, he missed the cut by literally one player. However, that would not affect him. Taylor went on to hit .288 with 21 home runs and 72 rbis after he got the call up. Taylor would cement himself as the team’s leadoff hitter. Taylor was a NLCS Co-MVP and hit a leadoff home run off Dallas Keuchel in the World Series. Taylor has been with the team ever since and can be counted on to play any position on the field. He is currently batting .266 during his tenure in Dodger Blue.
Chris Taylor is unstoppable. #ThisTeam pic.twitter.com/eBFbeF5mTl
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 18, 2017
2. Scott Kazmir
In December 2015, the Dodgers signed Scott Kazmir to a 3 year, $48 million deal as a replacement for Zack Greinke. Kazmir would only pitch one season for the Dodgers. He made 26 starts, pitched 136.1 innings and was 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA. Probably the most memorable flop about Kazmir was his first innings troubles. He had a 6.92 ERA in the first inning and never failed to put the Dodgers in a deficit to begin the game. Kazmir missed all of 2017 with numerous injuries. Kazmir hasn’t pitched in the majors since that 2016 season and was traded to the Braves after the 2017 season.
3. Rich Hill
After battling back from injuries and pitching in independent ball, Rich Hill signed a 1 year, $6 million contract with the Oakland Athletics for the 2016 season. Later that season, the Dodgers acquired Hill along with Josh Reddick in exchange for Holmes, Cotton, and Montas. Despite blister issues, Hill went 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA as a Dodger including a 7 perfect inning performance against the Marlins before Roberts took him out for a reliever. Rich Hill started Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals and was excellent against the Cubs as well. The Dodgers brought back Hill on a 3 year, $48 million deal and he has been fantastic especially in the postseason. Hill has a 1.06 NLCS ERA and a 1.80 World Series ERA. In his 4 seasons with the Dodgers, Rich Hill is 30-16 with a 3.16 ERA.
Rich Hill joins Dazzy Vance as the only @Dodgers pitchers age 39 or older to strike out 10+ in a game. pic.twitter.com/QlL6zFKudc
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 18, 2019
4. Héctor Olivera
On March 24, 2015, Olivera agreed to sign with the Dodgers for six years and $62.5 million, including a $28 million signing bonus. Touted as an exciting infielder, he played just 35 games in the Dodgers minor league systems hitting .272 with 2 home runs and 10 rbis. However, it just wasn’t working out, so the Dodgers traded Olivera later that year to the Atlanta Braves in a three-team deal bringing in a bunch of players to Los Angeles including Alex Wood. Olivera would never play a game with the Dodgers and did not play many games with the Braves. On May 26, 2016, Olivera was ultimately suspended for 82 games without pay for violating MLB’s off-the-field personal conduct policy that consists of domestic violence. Olivera would eventually sign with the Padres, but it did not work out there and he would sign internationally after being released.
5. Kenley Jansen
Jansen was signed as an undrafted free agent catcher with the Dodgers organization back in 2004. Eventually Jansen was converted to a relief pitcher and made his major league debut in 2010. Jansen would get some save opportunities and was permanently named the Dodgers closer in 2013 by Don Mattingly after Brandon League was removed from the role. Jansen went on to be the team’s closer for the rest of the decade and accumulated a franchise record 301 career saves. Jansen was named to 3 All-Star teams and even pitched an immaculate inning. Jansen has a career ERA of 2.35 with 13.3 Ks/9 innings.
6. Alex Guerrero
Represented by Scott Boras, Guerrero would sign with the Dodgers for a 4 year, $28 million deal with the Dodgers. Guerrero made his major league debut that same season in 2014, but he only appeared in 11 games. During his demotion to the minors, Guerrero was involved in a scuffle with teammate Miguel Olivo. Olivo bit off part of Guerrero’s ear, which would require surgery. In 2015, Guerrero was named Rookie of the Month for April. He hit .423 with 5 homers and 13 rbis in 13 games. It seemed like the young phenom was going to be a huge force in the lineup. Unfortunately, he became a defensive liability, which limited his role and he finished 2015 as a .233 hitter with 11 home runs and 36 rbis. Guerrero would get hurt during Spring Training that next season and hasn’t appeared in a major league game since, which led to his release from the team.
7. Max Muncy
After not getting much playing time in Oakland, Muncy signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers. He spent all of 2017 in the minor leagues retooling his swing. Muncy was called up by the Dodgers on April 17, 2018. Muncy hit 20 home runs in under his first 200 at bats which set a franchise record. Muncy would participate in the 2018 MLB Home Run Derby. Muncy finished 2018 hitting .263 with 35 home runs and 79 rbis. In the World Series, Muncy hit a walk-off home run in the 18th inning to get the Dodgers their first win that series. In 2019, Muncy was named to the All-Star team as a replacement and hit .251 with 35 home runs and 98 home run. In 2 seasons with the Dodgers, Muncy has hit 70 home runs, which puts him near the top of all players in a 2-year span along with being one of the league leaders in road home runs.
8. Brandon McCarthy
McCarthy signed a 4 year deal worth $48 million to be in the Dodgers rotation. In four 2015 starts before his tearing his UCL, he was 3–0 with a 5.87 ERA. McCarthy would undergo Tommy John surgery and make his return in late 2016 by making 9 starts and posting a 4.95 ERA. In 2017, McCarthy started off the season strong but would dislocate his shoulder weight lifting. McCarthy made 16 starts with a 6-4 record and 3.98 ERA but battled numerous injuries. McCarthy would make one appearance in the World Series, which was when he allowed a game winning 2-run homer to George Springer. In 3 seasons with the Dodgers, McCarthy was just 11-7 with a 4.51 ERA and will be remembered for starting zero games for the Dodgers in the postseason.
9. Logan Forsythe
The Dodgers acquired Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays with hopes that he would become the every day second baseman. In mid-April Forsythe was placed on the DL with a fractured toe. Forsythe struggled to find his swing the entire season and only appeared in 119 games. He finished the season hitting .224 with just 6 home runs and 36 rbis. He only hit .190 against RHP. 2018 was even worse for Forsythe, after hitting just .207, he was finally traded to the Twins for Brian Dozier. In less than 2 seasons with the Dodgers, Forsythe was never able to find consistency and hit just .218, while being a mediocre defender.
10. Justin Turner
After being released by the Mets, Turner signed a minor league deal after Tim Wallach saw Turner play in an alumni game. Turner had his contract purchased and made the Opening Day roster for the 2014 season. Turner made his presence felt immediately by hitting .340 in 109 games. Turner would eventually take over as the team’s everyday third baseman and will be remembered by Dodgers fans forever. In 6 seasons with the Dodgers, Turner has hit .302 with 112 home runs and 383 rbis. Turner was voted in to one All-Star team during the 2017 season and is viewed as a clubhouse leader. The postseason is where Red Dream does his most memorable damage. Justin Turner hit a walk-off home run in Game 2 of the NLCS to put the Dodgers ahead 2-0 in the series. He hit a go ahead home run in the NLCS off Jeremy Jeffress. Turner is a career .310 hitter in the postseason and won the 2017 NLCS Co-MVP with Taylor.
JUSTIN. TURNER. CLUTCH.#NLCS pic.twitter.com/bX2DCTvx8R
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 16, 2017