Cody Snavely
It was a busy week in Dodger Land. This past Saturday, the team held its annual fan fest, which was renamed “DodgerFest” last season, at Dodger Stadium. The event symbolizes the unofficial end of the offseason, with the players, coaches, and executives meeting to celebrate and share the excitement for the upcoming 2025 season.
However, with the team preparing to break for camp in less than two weeks, we got plenty of updates on injuries, where things stand with Kiké Hernández and Clayton Kershaw in free agency, and much more that will go over in the latest Dodgers Notes.
DodgerFest was a Mixed Bag
Since the Los Angeles Dodgers changed ownership during the 2012 season, the organization has held an offseason fan event every year since 2013 to help celebrate the team and prepare for the upcoming season.
However, this year, due to the new $100 million renovations at Dodger Stadium, which have displaced most of the entire field, the team had to move the event to the parking lot. This was a similar issue that took place in 2020 when the centerfield plaza was being remodeled that winter.
Like last year, the event, which used to be free, now has a $20 general admission charge, a $10 increase from last year, along with a $10 parking fee. However, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to aid relief efforts for those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.
Still, for a lot of fans, the long lines and unorganized feel of the event left many fans angry, sad, and disappointed, but for the fans and media that were able to attend, it was a decent event given the situation of the Dodgers were put in.
Kiké Hernández & Clayton Kershaw Reunions on the Horizon?
With the Los Angeles Dodgers making their signing of 37-year-old right-handed relief pitcher Kirby Yates official last week, many thought the Dodgers’ historic offseason was all but over. However, when the 60-day Injured List opens on February 10th, the team may have a few more moves up their sleeves.
At DodgerFest, when the crowd chanted fan-favorite Kiké Hernández’s name, General Manager Brandon Gomes and President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman stated that the door is never shut on a reunion with Hernández.
“Obviously, we’d never close the door to Kiké,” Gomes said. “A lot of it is just making sure he and his family feel like it’s the best position for him. We’ll have those conversations, but it’s really like what is the best thing for Kiké and his family.”
Hernández, 33, is coming off a lackluster regular season but proved his worth in October, winning over fans yet again with his humor and electric personality. Hernández stated earlier in the offseason that he’d love to return to Los Angeles or, if a reunion wasn’t possible, a contending team.
The utilityman was an incremental piece to the Dodgers last October, hitting .294 with two home runs and an OPS of .808 en route to his second career World Series victory.
As for veteran left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the goal remains the same for both parties. A reunion is all but certain, and the team has been in constant communication, according to Gomes.
“We’ve been in touch with Clayton, and a lot of it is seeing how he’s feeling throwing before we pick up those conversations,” said general manager Brandon Gomes at DodgerFest. “He is throwing and starting to get in the swing of it, so our expectation is to have more conversations at an in-depth level soon.”
Kershaw, 36, stated during the Dodgers 2024 World Series celebration that he would be a “Dodger for life” and do whatever it takes to ensure he only wears a Dodger uniform for his entire career. The front office shares that sentiment and, out of respect, has given Kershaw his time and privacy to return when ready.
Kershaw will be entering his 18th season and is only thirty-two strikeouts away from joining the illustrious 3000 strikeout club. Despite the age and injuries, Kershaw has been elite when healthy, posting a 2.46 ERA during the 2023 season.
Kershaw has a career 2.50 ERA and a combined 79.4 bWAR, which is the most of any Los Angeles Dodgers player in team history. Still, even if re-signed.
A reunion with either player will have to wait until when the 60-day Injured List opens up, as the 40-man roster is full. But spaces will become available when multiple players are transferred, such as Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, and River Ryan.
Ohtani, Freeman, Rojas & More Injury Updates
Over the weekend, we got plenty of injury updates and a variety of players as we get closer to spring training, including a few superstars who played banged up during the 2024 Fall Classic against the New York Yankees.
The first significant update was regarding star two-way player and 2024 National League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani, who is set to return to the mound this season after missing all last season recovering from a hybrid Tommy John surgery.
It is all but confirmed that Ohtani will not be ready to join the Dodgers starting rotation at the start of the season, with Ohtani and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stating May as a possible start date.
“As of now, it seems like I’m on schedule,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “I’ve been able to work out every day, and I’m really looking forward to being on time for spring training and the season.”
The other issue facing Ohtani and the Dodgers is that the superstar is also rehabbing an offseason labrum surgery after injuring his non-throwing shoulder in a stolen base attempt in Game Two of the 2024 World Series.
However, Ohtani is set to be fine come spring training and has still continued throwing and hitting off a tee with no fears by the Dodgers coaches or front office.
Another member of the Dodgers who played through an injury last October was Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who, as we all know, played through an ankle and rib injury en route to his 2024 World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
In December, Freeman, 35, had offseason ankle surgery to clean up loose bodies and floating cartilage from the sprain he played through in the postseason. Freeman only started hitting again two days ago and hasn’t been cleared to run yet. However, he’s confident he’ll be ready for Opening Day.
“I think by the time I get to Spring Training … I should be probably full-bore hitting-wise, like taking batting practice with the guys, being able to do live BPs,” Freeman said on Saturday at DodgerFest. “But I don’t think I will be in the games at the beginning.”
Rounding out the injury report is veteran utility infielder Miguel Rojas, who is expected to be ready come Opening Day after having offseason sports hernia surgery.
Rojas stated he developed an infection after having hernia surgery that delayed his offseason program by a few weeks. Still, he is already feeling almost back to 100% and prepared for whatever role the team has for him.
Currently, Mookie Betts is the Dodgers’ tentative everyday shortstop, and Rojas figures to split time all around the Dodgers infielder, particularly second base, where the team does not have a clear everyday starter after trading former top prospect Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds a few weeks ago.
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