It has been evident for years that Dave Dodd had the talent to be a special player. The way he went from an everyday outfielder in A ball in 2015 to manning RF for Jersey the very next season as a 22 year old was no mistake. The power potential was always there. In 2015 he hit 15 HR in just 41 games in AAA before being called up to the show. In 4 full big league seasons he has never failed to top 30 2B, 30 HR or 100 RBI. He has speed, he plays defense and the scary part.....he is improving.
Turning 27 early this season all you have to do is look at his numbers to see the improvement. He has improved on his batting average every year he has been in the league. Hitting .254 as a rookie in 2016, .289 in 2019 and now this year 75 games into the season an eye-popping .399. As a rookie Dodd broke the all-time record, and still holds it, for strikeouts in a season at 204. Last season he struck out 138 times and in 2021 he is on pace to K just 83 times.
At age 27, Dodd very well could be in the perfect storm. He hits directly behind one of the greatest hitters in the BSA in Mike Bryant and has power hitting all-star Jaime Torres directly behind him. He is in his prime. The 26-28 ages are well known for sluggers putting up the biggest numbers of their career. From Luis Padilla's record season at age 26, Jeff Cole's 12 WAR at age 27, Zach Hutchinson's 12.1 WAR season at age 27, and Bryant's Triple Crown season at age 28 now is Dodd's time.
So far in 2021 he is putting up video game numbers. When you look at the leaderboard it is a collage of Dodd's face over and over again sprinkled in with a couple other faces. His. 399 batting average is 26 points higher than Bill Wilson of Boston. His .471 OBP is 28 points higher than Al Mills of Greenville. This might be the most unbelievable one: his .853 slugging is 186 points higher than Matt Doyle of Toronto. The record for slugging in a season is .699 by Felix Morales. He has 10 more HR than Doyle as this point as well. If Dodd stays on his current pace he would shatter BSA records. A WAR of 15.8, 71 HR, 243 hits, 187 RBI. A triple slash of .399/.471/.853 to go along with an OPS of 1.324.
No one can say what is going on with Dodd right now. He already has a Player of the Month trophy to go along with 5 player of the week trophies in 2021 alone. All we can say to the fans of Jersey Shore and the BSA, sit back and enjoy it. You might be witnessing a season for the ages and seasons like this only come around once in a great while. Enjoy it will it lasts, I know I will!
GO D-BAGS!
No comments:
Post a Comment