The Los Angeles Dodgers are headed to the 2024 World Series to play the New York Yankees, but not without unsung hero reliever Brent Honeywell Jr. In a team full of superstars, those underrated players always have indispensable roles. Few people know who this right-hander is, but his teammates do and know they won’t get to the Fall Classic without him.
The Unsung Hero In The Dodgers Bullpen Entering The World Series
Another Team’s Treasure
Honeywell was designated by the Pittsburg Pirates in July. The Dodgers, in desperate need of arms, claimed him off waivers the next day. The right-hander took a late-night flight and was the opener for a start against the Detroit Tigers in the Motor City. He went three innings and allowed no earned runs while striking out two. Armed with a screwball and wearing a turtleneck, he posted a 2.63 Earned Run Average in 37 and 2/3 innings for the rest of the year.
DFA’D Again
When Los Angeles began to get pitching help, Honeywell was designated for assignment again. The right-hander had a choice to make. He chose to remain in the Dodger minor-league system and wait for his opportunity. He was recalled a month later and continued to eat innings, preserving a bullpen that threw the most innings in baseball this season.
A Study In Perseverance
The Tampa Bay Rays drafted Honeywell in the second round in 2014. Once considered one of the brightest prospects, he spent time with the Rays, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox systems before joining the Pirates organization in 2024. Along the way, he has endured four arm surgeries as well.
Got Mookie Off The Milk Carton?
The right-hander was left off the Division roster in favor of higher-leverage arms. However, he threw live batting practice to Mookie Betts, who had been struggling to find his post-season swing. Something must have clicked for Betts. He is hitting close to a .3oo batting average with 4 home runs (he was robbed of a fifth) and 12 runs batted in thus far in the postseason.
Crucial Innings
Reliever Alex Vesia was left off the National League Championship roster due to an intercostal injury. As a result, Honeywell got the roster spot against the New York Mets. He pitched three scoreless innings in Game Two and gave his teammates a chance at a comeback. The Dodgers fell short, but the plucky right-hander did his job. He was called on again in Game Five and went a crucial 4 and 2/3 innings in a blow-out loss. However, third basemen and teammate Max Muncy told Honeywell, “You just won us Game Six.”
Why would Muncy tell a reliever sporting a 4.70 ERA that? By going that length in the game, the reliever spared the high-leverage arms of the Dodgers bullpen. A bullpen was required to pitch a full nine innings to acquire the decisive Game Six and a berth in the World Series against the New York Yankees.
In short, Brent Honeywell may not possess a high-leverage arm, but he does have a high-leverage heart. Just ask his teammates.
Main Photo Credits: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
