NFL
By: George Lopez
Each year, MLB teams report for spring training with renewed optimism as they prepare for the upcoming season. The Los Angeles Dodgers are no exception, as they look to improve on their 2023 NLDS loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks following a 2023 season that saw the team finish with a 100-62 record. 2023 marked the 2nd straight season the Dodgers were unceremoniously knocked out in the Divisional round of the playoffs following a 100+ win season. The Dodgers front office, led by President of Operations, Andrew Friedman, set out to improve the roster through trades and free agent signings that the team believes will get them back to the World Series this season.
The biggest offseason move for the team was the signing of Shohei Ohtani. Dodgers fans have been eagerly waiting to see Ohtani play for the Dodgers this spring and have received their wish as the team announced Ohtani will make his spring training debut at DH on February 27. This will give fans a first glimpse of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Ohtani at the top of the Dodgers lineup. Ohtani is just one of many new faces on the team that fans are eager to see this spring.
Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was one of the biggest free-agent pitchers available the past offseason. The Dodgers were able to sign him to help bolster their starting rotation. In live pitching and bullpen work, Yamamoto has impressed his Dodgers teammates with the variety of pitches he throws and his presence on the mound. Though it has not been officially stated, Yamamoto is expected to make his spring training debut during this coming week, possibly as early as Wednesday. Pitcher Tyler Glasnow, acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, made his 1st start of the spring this past weekend. As excited as Dodgers fans were to see Glasnow pitch and are excited to see Ohtani and Yamamoto make their spring training debut, there are other players to keep a close eye on this spring.
Pitcher Walker Buehler continues to work his way back from his 2nd Tommy John surgery that cost him all of the 2023 season. Though the team toyed with the idea of Buehler coming back at the end of the last season to help during the playoff run, they made the right decision not to rush him back. This spring, the team has announced they will not rush Buehler back to the mound as they anticipate he will not join the starting rotation right out of the gate. The earliest Buehler is expected to join the rotation is a month after the season starts. The Dodgers want to bring him along at a good pace, slowly building him and and have him at his optimal peak when the playoff push begins later in the season.
All eyes will be on Gavin Lux as he comes back from a torn ACL suffered during spring training last season. Lux has seen game action as the DH for the Dodgers and is expected to take the field at the shortstop position this week. If all goes according to plan, Lux will be the opening day starter at shortstop for the Dodgers with Miguel Rojas giving the Dodgers depth and a solid backup to Lux.
Miguel Vargas is another player fans should keep a close on this spring. One of the top Dodgers prospects, Vargas was expected to be the everyday 2nd baseman last season. Vargas struggled at the plate while with the big club and was eventually sent back to the minors where he continued to struggle. This spring, with Mookie Betts being the everyday 2nd baseman, Vargas has seen work in the left field where he has shown the defensive ability to play the position. If Vargas shows that he was able to fix his issues at the plate that hampered him last season, he will give the Dodgers valuable depth not only in the outfield, but he would also be able to play 2nd base during games the team would like to have Mookie Betts play right field.
There is a lot of excitement at Dodgers camp this spring as fans look forward to seeing newly acquired players. As exciting as fans are to see Glasnow, Ohtani, and Yamamoto this spring, fans are eager to see the return of Lux and Buehler to the team this season. With the additions brought in by Andrew Friedman and the return of key players, Dodgers fans await the season and look forward to getting the bitter taste of losing in consecutive NLDS rounds out of their mouths. Get ready for the season with new gear from our partners at Fanatics.
