Dodgers pitchers and catchers hold first Spring Training workout
Some members of the Dodgers took the field for the first official workout of Spring Training 2025 on Tuesday, just months after their the 2024 season ended with a World Series title.
While many familiar faces flooded the fields at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, the spring training facility for both the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, there were also a slew of new additions to the team that joined Tuesday's practice.
Among them were Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki, who now joins fellow countrymen in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and standout relief pitchers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, both of whom signed in recent weeks.
Perhaps the most surprising appearance was the Dodgers' most familiar face — Clayton Kershaw. The future Hall of Famer, who has yet to officially sign with the team, was spotted playing catch on Tuesday signaling what is inevitably going to be his 18th season with the Boys in Blue.
They were joined by the Dodgers' catching core for the last few seasons in Will Smith and Austin Barnes, as well as Hunter Feduccia, who has been on the 40-man roster since late-2023.
While most pitchers played long toss and held bullpen sessions, an exceptionally notice instance took place early on with two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani taking the mound to prepare for the coming season. He didn't pitch at all last year while recovering from surgery on a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm.
Even so, he managed to put together one of the league's best ever seasons by compiling the first ever 50 home run-50 stolen base campaign to capture his third Most Valuable Player Award, the first two of which came with the Los Angeles Angels.
He's also recovering from surgery on his non-throwing shoulder after suffering a labrum tear during Game 2 of the World Series, which happened when he attempted to steal second base. Despite the injury, he played in every game of the five-game series.
Even with all of the attendees at Tuesday's practice, some big names from last year's team were not in attendance. They include Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty, both of whom were picked up by different teams during free agency.
The first full team workout is slated to take place on Saturday with games beginning next week on Feb. 20. Their first game at Dodger Stadium will happen on March 23 in a preseason Freeway Series matchup with the Angels before they begin the season officially on March 27 against the Detroit Tigers.
