The Dodgers on Monday unveiled their media information for 2024, the annual ebook with loads of info and figures concerning the staff, its historical past, the present roster, and extra. The quilt options the anticipated incoming famous person Shohei Ohtani, in addition to the opposite three members of the probably prime 4 of a dynamic Dodgers lineup.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are seated, in entrance of Ohtani and Will Smith, who’re standing, on the quilt. It's not a precise duplicate, however each time a quartet of Dodgers hitters pose for a photograph, it conjures up recollections of the 4 Dodgers hitting 30 dwelling runs every in 1977, the primary staff in MLB historical past to perform that feat. . Unsurprisingly, Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Dusty Baker and Ron Cey had been on the quilt of the staff's media information the subsequent season.
That 1977 pose was recreated final season when the Dodgers had their first quartet of 100 RBI gamers on the identical staff in franchise historical past. Betts and Freeman had been a part of the 2023 quartet, together with JD Martinez and Max Muncy.
It's nice firm to be on the quilt of the media information for Smith, who batted third in 118 of his 120 begins final season. However this 12 months the highest three of the Dodgers lineup will more often than not be the three former MVPs sharing the quilt. Tuesday marks the fourth time Betts, Ohtani and Freeman have performed collectively in a Cactus League recreation this spring, with these three in that order on the prime of the checklist.
That is the primary media information cowl for Smith, and the primary cowl for any present Dodgers participant as of 2021. That 12 months, nine players and manager Dave Roberts graced the cover after the club won the World Series. Prior to now two years, the media information has honored a franchise legend – Corridor of Fame announcer Jaime JarrÃn was on the quilt for his last 2022 season, and Fernando Valenzuela acquired the 2023 cowl earlier than his uniform quantity 34 was formally retired throughout the season.
If something, the shock might be that Yoshinobu Yamamoto it’s not on the quilt, particularly after his 12-year contract, $325 million was the biggest and longest contract for a pitcher in main league historical past. However contemplating the size of his settlement – the primary Yamamoto will be waived is after the 2029 season – he may have different alternatives to be on the quilt of the media information.