Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Even though I posted the first Spring Training recap just this morning, when the next one would come was basically dependent on what Yoshinobu Yamamoto did in his Dodgers debut today. Well, you’re getting this post because it was thoroughly impressive.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Heck of a debut today for him, as he faced the minimum over two innings. Yamamoto struck out the first batter he faced, gave up a single, then erased it with a double play. In his follow-up, he got a pair of strikeouts on nasty looking splitters and got a fly out.
He was locked in enough that he forgot the outs and had to get directions from Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani tells Yoshinobu Yamamoto to get off the field, lol. pic.twitter.com/XS2epwjL8J
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) February 28, 2024
As I said on Twitter, you can see what they meant about the command now. Every pitch from Yamamoto seems to be with purpose and the misses aren’t by much.
Hours after I wrote nice things about my hopes for Gavin, he finally got his first chance at shortstop and … well.
That was his first chance at short this Spring.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) February 28, 2024
Could’ve gone better.
An unexpected update is on Maximus, who got hit on the hand/wrist area. The team is optimistic that it’s not serious, but hell they always seem to be.
Max Muncy (left hand) to get an X-ray Thursday after the HBP. Team sounds optimistic it is not serious.
— Doug Padilla (@DougPadilla) February 28, 2024
A pleasant Walker Buehler update today that helps me avoid slipping further into doomerism on his way back from elbow surgery. Even if those readings are in short bursts for now, it’s at least promising.
Walker Buehler said he felt good during his live BP yesterday, and that his fastball was sitting 94-95 mph
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) February 28, 2024
He said he’ll probably need another 3-4 live BPs before being ready for game action, but sounded encouraged about his progress lately https://t.co/BxY9wfw8FE
Buehler also pushed back against some of the narrative surrounding his rehab/progression:
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) February 28, 2024
“Everything that’s been written about me that it’s not going well, I don’t think that’s true. There’s just boxes I’ve got to check. I feel good about it.”
Continuing his road back today, he gave up a single and then got squeezed on a walk, but did strikeout two batters.
Daniel Hudson being healthy is really all that matters. pic.twitter.com/E12vkfRkf2
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) February 28, 2024
In terms of hot starts to the Spring, it was just nice to see Pages back in action, but today he really declared he was healthy. Pages smashed a no-doubt two-run homer to left, tripled off the wall in center, and also made a sliding catch in right.
Andy Pages triples off the wall and really wants to prove he's healthy. pic.twitter.com/gKgGZ9FqIH
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) February 28, 2024
Andy Pages really trying to call dibs on first guy if they need an outfielder. pic.twitter.com/vgVNJltqlJ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) February 28, 2024
Two prospects to watch this Spring that I mentioned previously, and both saw action today again. Ramos had just a cameo despite his torrid start, coming in for an at-bat and drawing a walk, which is actually nice because it’s part of what the Dodgers wanted to see from him. Meanwhile, Vanasco got a scoreless frame that included a strikeout, giving up just a single. I dunno man, every time I see him the stuff seems to play.
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This probably won’t be a daily thing, but if you can’t get excited for Ohtani and Yamamoto, what can you?
