4 Dodgers Players You Would've Never Guessed Led the Team in WAR for a Full Season

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not missed the postseason since 2012 and have only had a few small stretches without playoff baseball in franchise history. The team has a seemingly unlimited budget, and always has stars on the roster, yet there are still players in team history who found a way to surprise fans by leading the team in WAR. Let's take a look at a few who fans may have forgotten about as time has passed.

4. Chad Billingsley

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley spent much of his career with the team. / Denis Poroy/Getty Images

Chad Billingsley was with the Dodgers from 2006-2013 and made one All-Star Game in 2009. However, his best season came in 2008 when he posted a 4.8 WAR. The right-hander went 16-10 with a 3.14 ERA in what was his first full season as a starter. He remained consistent throughout his career, but never topped that 2008 WAR or win total. Billingsley just beat out fellow pitcher Derek Lowe in terms of WAR during that special 2008 season.

3. Kevin Gross

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kevin Gross had one solid season cut short. / Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Dodgers were off to a hot start in 1994 before the season was cut short with a strike. One fun fact from the season is that pitcher Kevin Gross just beat out star Mike Piazza in terms of WAR by 0.2. Gross finished with a mark of 3.8 after going 9-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 23 starts. He likely would have topped his career high of 4.0 in 1992 if a full season had been played, and his story just adds to the list of what could have been in 1994.

2. Alejandro Pena

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alejandro Pena beat out some top talent in 1984. / George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Alejandro Pena spent 15 years in MLB and never made an All-Star Game. However, he did beat out the likes of Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela to lead the Dodgers in WAR in 1984. Pena posted a career-best mark of 5.0 and led the league in ERA at 2.48. It was one of his only seasons as a full-time starter, as Pena dealt with shoulder issues. He still went on to have a nice career, but Dodgers fans may have forgotten about his early promise as a starter.

1. Brad Penny

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny played his best baseball with the team. / Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Brad Penny made a name for himself with the Dodgers, making two All-Star Games and finishing third in Cy Young voting in 2007. That 2007 season also saw him lead the team in WAR at 5.9, just beating out Russell Martin at 5.6. Penny went 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA in what ended up being the best season of his career. His ERA jumped to 6.27 in 2008 and it is easy to forget how dominant he was for a short period of time.