Pepiot, one of the Dodgers’ best prospects, had just had one of the worst starts of his professional career, giving up six runs in Salt Lake City before being pulled in the third inning.
After beginning last season in double A, he continued to impress with a quick tempo and aggressive approach, earning a promotion to triple A in August.
He was challenged by higher-caliber hitters and struggled to find a feel for his slider.
Throughout spring training, Dodgers staff noticed his renewed attitude.
“Failure is a precursor to success, especially at as high of a level of skill that Ryan has,” Hill said.
And he’s sequenced all three pitches more effectively, making his arsenal less predictable and his starts more efficient.
Wednesday might not be a one-off for Pepiot, either.
“The word that can kind of encapsulate Ryan to this point is ‘resolve,’ ” Hill said.
A Phoenix native, he originally interned at The Times before joining the staff in 2019.
