When Alex Vesia joined the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2021 season, not much was expected of the left-handed relief pitcher. However, through his first two years with the team, Vesia has proven to be one of their most effective bullpen arms.
But the question remains: Is Alex Vesia a good pitcher?
Answering the question of whether Vesia is a good pitcher requires examining his performance on the mound. In his time with the Dodgers, Vesia has posted impressive numbers, including a 2.19 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, and a 34.8% strikeout rate.
These numbers suggest that Vesia is not only a quality reliever but could potentially develop into a dominant force out of the bullpen.
Vesia’s success can be attributed to his ability to throw multiple pitches effectively.
He relies heavily on his slider, which he throws almost 40% of the time, but also mixes in a fastball and changeup to keep hitters off balance. This repertoire has allowed Vesia to limit walks and induce ground balls, minimizing the damage on the rare occasions that he does allow base hits.
Overview of Alex Vesta’s Career
Alex Vesia is a young and promising relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who has shown great potential in his short time in the Major Leagues.
In this article, we will explore his journey to the Majors, his growth and development as a professional player, and his impressive 2021-22 season with the Dodgers.
His Journey to the Majors
Vesia was born in California and played college baseball at Cal State East Bay. After going undrafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, he signed as a free agent with the Miami Marlins. Vesia spent two seasons in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut on July 25, 2020, with the Marlins.
Early Struggles and Adjustments
Vesia struggled in his first stint with the Marlins, posting a 5.40 ERA in 13.1 innings pitched. He was then traded to the Dodgers in February 2021 as part of a package for pitcher Dylan Floro. Vesia continued to struggle early on in his Dodgers career, allowing four earned runs in his first five appearances.
Improvements and Success in 2021-22
However, Vesia quickly turned things around and became one of the Dodgers’ most reliable pitchers out of the bullpen.
From May 1 to the end of the 2021 season, he pitched 42.1 innings with a 1.70 ERA, 2.54 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 38.1% strikeout rate, and 1.4 WAR. In 2022, Vesia has continued his dominance with a 2.27 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 32.6% strikeout rate, and 0.3 WAR through August 7.
The key to Vesia’s success has been his ability to attack hitters with his fastball-slider combination, inducing swings and misses at a high rate. He has also displayed pinpoint control, walking only 2.7% of batters faced in his Major League career.
Alex Vesia’s journey to the Majors has been a testament to his hard work and perseverance, and his improvement and success with the Dodgers have made him a valuable asset to the team’s bullpen.
With his impressive statistics and potential for further growth, Vesia is sure to remain an important part of the Dodgers’ pitching staff for years to come.
Alex Vesta’s Pitching Repertoire
What Pitches He Throws
Alex Vesia primarily throws a four-seam fastball and a slider. He occasionally mixes in a changeup as well.
How Effective Are They
Vesia’s fastball averages around 94 miles per hour, and he uses it to set up his slider, which is his best pitch. The slider has a sharp, late break and is responsible for the majority of his strikeouts.
According to Baseball Savant, Vesia’s slider has a whiff rate of 42.7%, which is well above the league average for sliders. His fastball also has decent movement and has been effective in inducing weak contact.
How They Compare to Other Pitchers
Vesia’s repertoire is not particularly unique, as many pitchers rely on a well-located fastball and a devastating breaking pitch. However, Vesia’s ability to consistently locate his pitches and keep hitters off balance has been impressive.
His high strikeout rate puts him in the company of some of the best relievers in the game, such as Josh Hader and Liam Hendriks.
Overall, Alex Vesia’s combination of a solid fastball and devastating slider has made him an effective reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past two seasons.
His ability to miss bats and induce weak contact has been an asset to the Dodgers’ bullpen, and he figures to be an important piece of their pitching staff for years to come.
Statistical Analysis of Alex Vesia
Since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2021 season, Alex Vesia has emerged as one of the team’s most effective relief pitchers. In just over 94 innings of work over the course of the past two seasons, Vesia has managed to post impressive statistics across a variety of metrics.
In this analysis, we will take a closer look at Vesia’s performance, examining his ERA, FIP, WHIP, strikeout and walk rates, and comparing his numbers to other similarly skilled relievers in the league.
Alex Vesta’s Performance Indicators
Vesia’s performance over the past two seasons has been excellent across a variety of metrics. Specifically, his ERA of 2.19 and FIP of 3.01 demonstrate that he has been highly effective at limiting runs and preventing scoring.
Similarly, his WHIP of 1.06 underscores the extent to which he has kept opposing batters from reaching base and putting pressure on the Dodgers’ defense.
Strikeout and Walk Rates
Even more impressive than Vesia’s overall numbers have been his strikeout and walk rates. Over the course of the past two seasons, Vesia has managed a strikeout rate of 34.8%, which ranks among the highest of any reliever in the league.
At the same time, his walk rate of 8.9% is fairly low, suggesting that he has managed to maintain control and limit his free passes.
Comparison to Other Relievers
When compared to other similarly skilled relievers in the league, Vesia’s performance still stands out as exceptional. For example, his ERA and FIP compare favorably to those of pitchers like Kenley Jansen, Josh Hader, and Craig Kimbrel, who have all established themselves as some of the most dominant relievers in the game.
All in all, Alex Vesia’s performance over the past two seasons has been nothing short of outstanding. With an impressive ERA, FIP, WHIP, strikeout rate, and walk rate, Vesia has positioned himself as one of the premier relievers in the league.
Going forward, it seems likely that he will continue to play a key role in the Dodgers’ bullpen for years to come.
Evaluation of Alex Vesta’s Performance
What Makes Him Effective
Alex Vesia’s effectiveness stems from his ability to consistently locate his pitches and his deceptive arm angle. Vesia is a left-handed pitcher who throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, making it difficult for batters to pick up the ball out of his hand.
He also has a solid fastball that he can locate on both sides of the plate, in addition to a slider that he can use to strike batters out. Vesia’s command and ability to deceive batters with his arm angle have made him a reliable reliever out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.
Strengths as a Pitcher
One of Vesia’s strengths as a pitcher is his ability to miss bats. He has a career strikeout rate of 33.1% in the major leagues, which is incredibly impressive. His deceptive arm angle and command have allowed him to get swings and misses on both his fastball and slider.
Additionally, he has proven to be an effective reliever in high-leverage situations, as he has held batters to a .192 batting average and .459 OPS in such situations over his career. His ability to miss bats and come up big in high-pressure situations has made him a valuable member of the Dodgers bullpen.
Improvement Areas for Him
One area where Vesia could improve is his command against right-handed batters. While he has been extremely effective against left-handed batters throughout his career, holding them to a .155 batting average and .488 OPS, right-handed batters have had more success against him, hitting .276 with a .825 OPS.
If Vesia can improve his command and develop a pitch that he can use to get right-handed batters out consistently, he could become an even more valuable reliever for the Dodgers.
Overall, Alex Vesia has been a valuable asset to the Los Angeles Dodgers since being acquired prior to the 2021 season. With his deceptive arm angle, solid fastball, and ability to miss bats, he has become a reliable reliever out of the bullpen.
While there are areas where he can improve, particularly against right-handed batters, his effectiveness and reliability make him an integral part of the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
What Happened to Alex Vesia?
Trade to Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 12, 2021, the Miami Marlins traded Alex Vesia and Kyle Hurt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Dylan Floro, a right-handed pitcher.
Minor League Status
Following the trade, Alex Vesia was no longer on the Marlins’ Major League Baseball (MLB) roster. Instead, he was assigned to the Dodgers’ minor league system.
Triple-a Season
Vesia spent the majority of the 2021 season playing for Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Dodgers. In his 28 games with the team, he had a 5.93 ERA and 1.61 WHIP.
Mlb Opportunities
Despite his struggles in the minor leagues, Vesia did have a brief stint with the Dodgers MLB team in July and August 2021. In 10 appearances, he had a 2.45 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 7.1 innings pitched.
Return to the Minor Leagues
After his short stint in the majors, Vesia was once again optioned to the minor leagues. He ended the 2021 season with a combined 6.61 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 35.1 innings pitched across both Triple-A and the MLB.
Who is the Best Dodgers Player of All Time?
Sandy Koufax is considered to be the best Dodgers player of all time. Koufax played for the Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. He was a superstar pitcher for the team. During his time with the Dodgers, he had seven all-star selections.
Koufax won four World Series titles with the Dodgers. He is the only pitcher to win three Cy Young awards in a row. Koufax’s career was legendary, with a record of 165-87 and a 2.76 ERA. He retired early due to chronic arthritis in his left elbow.
Koufax’s impact on the Dodgers and baseball as a whole is immeasurable. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Who is the Number 1 Pitcher?
Jacob deGrom is often considered the number 1 pitcher in the league, thanks to his exceptional performances.
The Roadblocks to Jacob Degrom’s Success
Despite his immense talent, injuries have been a significant constraint for deGrom in recent years.
Jacob Degrom’s Legacy as a Two-time Cy Young Award Winner
Jacob deGrom has won the Cy Young award twice, cementing his position as one of the best pitchers in the game.
The Unequal Comparison of Pitchers With Jacob Degrom
Many pitchers in the league have exceptional talent, but few can compare to the dominance of Jacob deGrom when he is healthy.
Looking to the Future of Pitching in the League
As many pitchers continue to break records and push the limits of what is possible, it remains to be seen who will rise to the top as the number-one pitcher in the league.
To Recap
Based on his track record with the Los Angeles Dodgers, it is fair to say that Alex Vesia is a good pitcher. His impressive ERA, FIP, and strikeout rate over the last two seasons suggest that he is a reliable relief arm who can be counted on to get outs in high-leverage situations.
Whether he can continue to develop and become a dominant force out of the bullpen remains to be seen, but there is no denying that Vesia has made a positive impact on the Dodgers since joining the team.
