Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
We’re reaching the point in Spring Training now where the lull hits, as there’s not many players we aren’t familiar with to get hyped over, and all you really want for a team as good as the Dodgers is for everybody to be healthy.
Thankfully, there’s still a bunch of stuff to post about this time around, but I’m definitely ready for the season.
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Cody Bellinger is about to face live pitching and he’s still on track for Opening Day.
Joe Kelly, on the other hand, seems nowhere close.
Same goes for Brandon Morrow, as he’s still building arm strength.
David Price has said that he will do whatever the Dodgers want him to this season.
“Right before we signed Trevor [Bauer], I reached out to [Dodgers president of baseball operations] Andrew [Friedman] and said, ‘If it happens, I’m willing to do whatever you guys need me to do. That’s not a problem for me,’” Price said. “’So, just keep me in the loop. And let me know and I’ll be ready for whatever.’”
“I can see him pitching in any role that we have for him and David, being the pro and the teammate that he is, also voiced that that whatever role that we see is best for the Dodgers in 2021 is what he wants to do,” manager Dave Roberts said before Monday’s game. “So that’s just a credit to him, but our job still is to build him up for whatever potentially could happen and continue to give us some options.”
Now you could say that should be what’s expected from a player, but he’s an accomplished veteran and him being open to this from the jump just makes everything easier for the team going forward.
Zach McKinstry seems like a lock for the Opening Day roster, and part of the reason is because he can play everywhere.
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Not really sure where Jimmy Nelson will be able to fit in on both the 40-man and the Opening Day roster, but boy he sure looks ready to be an impact arm.
Dennis Santana looks revitalized to begin 2021 (he’s been up to 97 mph this year) and seems like a candidate to impact the roster.
Josiah Gray‘s results haven’t been the best so far, but the stuff certainly looks about ready to get a look in the majors.
Dodgers have a bunch of prospects ready to breakout in 2021, and Bobby Miller is a top candidate.
Speaking of guys with helium, Ryan Pepiot.
Landon Knack is probably a lesser known prospect compared to Gray, Miller, and even Pepiot, but for a guy with zero professional innings, the Dodgers are letting him pitch in Spring Training and it wasn’t hard to see why.
Andre Jackson is yet another player that has shown out well and already looks like he took a step forward in his development.
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There’s been a lot of rumbling about DJ Peters improving and potentially seeing reserve time on the Dodgers. While the power is still the calling card, stuff like working walks instead of striking out is probably the reason for the optimism.
Gavin Lux is off to a fast start in Spring Training, and about a week ago I thought he was noticeably quieter at the dish, as he used to have a ton of movement both in the setup and swing.
Later in the week, Lux confirmed that he was trying to get simpler for consistency.
Speaking of adjustments, Kody Hoese may have made a slight one as well.
Exciting times seeing all these prospects look so impressive, especially while the Dodgers themselves are reigning World Series champions.
