5 questions Dodgers should reply at spring coaching

Shohei Ohtani will lead off once more. Will Smith will bat fifth. Mookie Betts will most likely be within the third spot.

Three weeks earlier than the Dodgers’ first full-squad exercise of spring coaching, supervisor Dave Roberts was already speaking about what his batting order would seem like.

And why not?

Roberts is aware of what he has.

All-Stars up and down the lineup. A rotation full of potential Cy Younger Award candidates. A bullpen loaded with flamethrowers.

Not a lot guesswork is concerned when your crew is the two-time defending World Sequence champion. Not as a lot finger-crossing when you will have the costliest assortment of expertise in baseball historical past.

That doesn’t imply the Dodgers don’t have any questions heading into spring coaching this 12 months.

Listed here are the 5 most essential:

What to anticipate of Roki Sasaki?

Thought of a generational expertise in his dwelling nation of Japan, the 24-year-old Sasaki stays a thriller as he prepares for his second 12 months within the majors.

Sasaki underwhelmed as a beginning pitcher final 12 months, as his management was off and his velocity was down. He spent greater than 4 months on the injured listing, however returned within the closing week of the common season and shortly turned the crew’s nearer.

The fitting-hander accepted the transfer to the bullpen below the situation that he be given an opportunity to start out once more this 12 months. The Dodgers will honor their promise to him, however it’s unsure whether or not he has the sturdiness or arsenal required to be a beginning pitcher within the majors.

In his 5 years with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese league, Sasaki was by no means wholesome for a whole season. He stated his aim this 12 months was to “stay standing on the mound for your complete 12 months with none accidents.”

Sasaki depends closely on his fastball and forkball, a lot in order that Roberts has known as for him to develop a 3rd pitch. Sasaki is listening.

“I’ve been practising a cutter and slider since final 12 months,” he stated.

Who’s at second base?

With Tommy Edman recovering from ankle surgical procedure and anticipated to overlook the beginning of the season, Miguel Rojas is anticipated to share time at second base with both Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland.

The fleet-footed Kim excelled as a bottom-of-the-order hitter when he was initially known as up from triple-A final 12 months, however his manufacturing plunged after a few months. In 71 main league video games, he stole 13 bases.

The opposite possibility could be Freeland, who entered final season as one of many group’s high prospects. He earned his first promotion to the majors in the course of the season when Max Muncy and Kiké Hernandez have been on the injured listing. Batting simply .190 in 29 video games, Freeland completed the season with triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis.

Which model of Andy Pages exhibits up?

By operating over Kiké Hernandez to make a season-saving catch in Recreation 7 of the World Sequence, Andy Pages assured himself a spot in Dodgers folklore. However can Pages guarantee himself a spot on the crew going ahead?

Pages, 25, finds himself at a profession crossroads. He crushed 27 homers within the common season final 12 months, however was simply 4 for 45 within the postseason.

This would be the 12 months wherein Pages transitions from prospect to common starter — or turns into one other James Outman. One other athletic outfielder, Outman homered 23 occasions for the Dodgers in 2023. He was traded final 12 months to the Minnesota Twins.

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Can Tanner Scott dwell as much as the cash?

Tanner Scott described his first season with the Dodgers final 12 months as “type of terrible.” The self-evaluation was charitable.

The $72-million left-hander was nothing just like the pitcher who struck out Ohtani 4 occasions in 4 plate appearances pitching for the San Diego Padres within the 2024 Nationwide League Division Sequence. Scott registered a 4.74 earned-run common and was credited with 9 blown saves.

Scott believes his downside was that he challenged opposing hitters an excessive amount of, and the information signifies he’s onto one thing. The share of pitches he threw within the strikezone went up final 12 months.

With Edwin Díaz signed to be the crew’s nearer, Scott is anticipated for use in a setup position and Roberts ought to be capable to deploy him in opposition to their opponents’ greatest left-handed hitters.

Is Ryan Ward already on the buying and selling block?

Ryan Ward has hit 70 dwelling runs within the minor leagues during the last two seasons. He was the Pacific Coast League’s Most worthy participant final 12 months. He’s already 28.

So why did the Dodgers spend $240 million to keep away from giving him an opportunity?

The crew’s decision-makers swear the selection to splurge on Kyle Tucker was extra about Tucker’s expertise than Ward’s shortcomings.

The draw back of arising in a corporation just like the Dodgers is that as a result of they must win now, they don’t have the posh of playing on prospects. The Dodgers will check out him to see if he could possibly be a late bloomer like Max Muncy, however his actual likelihood may come elsewhere. Different groups have an interest, making him a candidate to be moved on the commerce deadline.