Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
There are technically 14 cuts left to go until the roster gets down to 26, but after the latest moves of the Dodgers it’s essentially one … maybe two.
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The roster picture is getting clearer and clearer by the day as the Dodgers continue to cut down following the last purge.
Since yesterday, they have optioned pitchers River Ryan and Kyle Hurt, and reassigned infielder Ryan Fitzgerald to the minors.
Dave Roberts acknowledged that Kyle Hurt has had an impressive camp, but said the decision came down to how little he’s pitched the last couple years and seeking a more controlled environment to “get some tread on the tires.” https://t.co/FaJ0GXX9g0
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 18, 2026
River Ryan will not start the season in the majors
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) March 18, 2026
He's had a big camp, but team officials have repeatedly talked about needing to be mindful with his workload as he returns from Tommy John surgery. Like with Kyle Hurt, they'll ease him back in the minors first https://t.co/S3w1eoqQ4g
That goes a long way to clarifying the roster since both Ryan and Hurt were potential roster candidates, but in the end the road back from injury is taking priority.
There are now 21 pitchers and 19 position players left in major-league camp (excluding the two already on the 60-day IL), leaving them at 40 total for 14 cuts left to go. Realistically though, there are five pitchers and one position player who have all but been confirmed to start the year on the IL and aren’t on it yet, leaving 16 pitchers and 18 position players for a total of 34 and 8 cuts left.
Furthermore, they have confirmed Santiago Espinal has made the team and that Roki Sasaki has made the rotation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected the contract of IF/OF Santiago Espinal.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 18, 2026
Dave Roberts said Roki Sasaki “is going to be one of our starters” to begin the season. Dodgers still finalizing some other roster decisions.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 18, 2026
Neither are surprises at this point, despite the latter’s Spring struggles.
With those confirmations, the remaining battle is Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and Nick Senzel for the final position player roster spot*, as Ben Casparius, Will Klein, and Edgardo Henriquez are likely the final three pen spots over Landon Knack, Antoine Kelly, and Chris Campos, though keeping one of the latter two would be fascinating.
*The others are two NRI catchers and Jack Suwinski, who I don’t think are in contention.
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As far as performances go, Roki Sasaki gave a worrying one, as he continued to have inconsistency more than anything. His latest start’s line was 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 5 K, but it was great until it wasn’t.
Roki Sasaki blamed his third inning command issues on a sinker he was trying to work on
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) March 18, 2026
His answer (via interpreter) when asked if he's worried about lack of results overall this spring:
"There’s a lot of things I need to work on … But the result in ST doesn’t really matter." https://t.co/Kh54Zx3Azv
His cutter/slider looking viable and having a good shape makes it a productive outing in a way, but the fastball command is gonna run everything.
Updated Roki plots now that I fixed the slider issue on his FK. Better grade on it and the four-seam, plus the added sinker, and a SL that looks significantly better than the old SW. Was skeptical of him coming into the year, but this seems relatively thorough pic.twitter.com/3Uycwrq7Zd
— Stephen Sutton-Brown (@srbrown70) March 18, 2026
I have a feeling Roki's fastball command might always be spotty and the results will come and go based on how that progresses. That said, the cutter looked like a legit third pitch today, which is pretty big.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 18, 2026
As far as Shohei Ohtani‘s pitching goes … well, looks ready.
Four strikeouts from Shohei in his first #DodgersST start! pic.twitter.com/CU2EMxSRM8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 18, 2026
Meanwhile, Dalton Rushing has looked improved at the plate in terms of at-bat quality and what not, and I’m hoping he becomes the super backup that was planned last year.
Dalton goes oppo! pic.twitter.com/LRhExD6TPV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 18, 2026
Honestly, I don’t expect a ton from Jack Suwinski, but two homers in limited Spring time is a great way to start a reclamation stint.
Jack Suwinski hits a SECOND home run with the Dodgers in as many games!!
— Hyeseong Kim Muse 김혜성 (@HyeseongKimMuse) March 18, 2026
It’s the longest home run from a Dodger this Spring at 467 feet! pic.twitter.com/LaL8o8ASM0
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Tick-tock.
