Cody Snavely
The 2025 Major League Baseball offseason is finally over, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs will kick off Cactus League action today in Arizona for the start of spring training games tomorrow.
However, before that, there is much to catch up on with the Dodgers, including updates to Freddie Freeman and Will Smith‘s ankle injuries, Ohtani pitching plan update, and Chris Taylor‘s role for the team moving forward.
Freeman & Smith Ankle Injury Update
One of the most significant injuries facing the Dodgers roster this spring is that of 2024 World Series Most Valuable Player Freddie Freeman, who is behind coming into camp after having offseason ankle surgery.
Freeman famously played through multiple injuries for the Dodgers last October. It started in mid-summer when a fractured finger forced Freeman to miss a few games. Then it was the ankle that Freeman rolled over on after colliding with San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arráez in the National League West clincher at Dodger Stadium.
After the conclusion of the Fall Classic, Freeman sought to rest his injured ankle, hoping to avoid surgery; however, that would be unsuccessful. Still, despite no ligament damage, Dr. Kenneth Jung had to shave bone spurs and remove a part of Freeman’s cartilage that had floated to the area of his Achilles tendon. The overall recovery time was eight weeks.
Freeman began swinging shortly before the team reported to camp and maintained he’d be ready to go for Opening Day. He’s doing everything but running, though he’s running at eighty percent body weight on the anti-gravity treadmill. He hopes to be in a Cactus League game at the end of the month.
Still, despite the setback, Freeman wants to play as many games as possible during the upcoming 2025 regular season. “The goal is 162,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s 161 because I always take the game off after we win the division.”
As for Dodgers everyday catcher Will Smith, his ankle injury is less severe than Freeman’s, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that he would likely miss the first week of Cactus League games.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the injury affects Smith only while running, so the veteran backstop has still been able to catch bullpen sessions and take live batting practice thus far during camp.
The injury is not expected to derail Smith for the start of the regular season in Tokyo, Japan, or the domestic Opening Day. Still, it should allow minor league catchers Hunter Fedducia and Dalton Rushing to get some reps at camp.
Pitching Plans for Ohtani this Spring
Another major storyline this spring is what the Dodgers are going to do with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, as the three-time Most Valuable Player Award winner is set to return to the mound in his second season with Los Angeles.
Last year, Ohtani was the Dodgers’ full-time designated hitter as he recovered from season-ending elbow surgery. This paved the way for him to set career highs in multiple offensive categories, such as home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases, creating the illustrious 50/50 club.
Ohtani has thrown two bullpen sessions so far this spring, each with around twenty pitches, all fastballs, but the next step will be to incorporate off-speed pitches and face live hitters. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts already stated that Ohtani will likely not rejoin the rotation until May.
That said, the Dodgers’ starting rotation will also be a traditional five-man until Ohtani is ready, as confirmed by Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman.
Furthermore, the plan for Ohtani is unlike any other pitcher coming back from Tommy John Surgery, as the two-way star will need to be in the Dodgers lineup and unable to go on a rehab assignment.
The plan seems to be communication between the Dodgers and Ohtani. “I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of conversation with him,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “What he’s doing is incredibly unique and the toll it has, none of us have data points to draw from of, ‘Oh, when we were around this, this guy recovered this way.’ It’s so unique that we absolutely need his feedback. He’s also so dialed into how he feels and how his body’s doing that it will be an active conversation between all of us.”
Once the two-way star returns, the Dodgers will revert to a unique six-man rotation, which will bring familiarity to both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki and help alleviate the workload for the rest of the pitching staff, which has been decimated by injuries the last two seasons.
Until then, don’t expect to see Ohtani appear in any Cactus League games, the two-game series in Tokyo, Japan, or the final two exhibition games against the Los Angeles Angels.
What is Chris Taylor’s Role?
Since re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2021 season to a 4-year, $60 million contract, utilityman Chris Taylor has been in steep decline. Overall, since the 2022 season, Taylor has a combined slash line of .222/.310/.374 with a .684 OPS and below-league-average wRC+ of 93.
The 2024 regular season was even worse, with the righty posting career-worst numbers, including a dreadful 74 wRC+ and .202 batting average, but the Dodgers still rode it out with him on the roster.
Taylor is in the last year of his contract and set to earn $13 million this season with a club option for the 2026 season, which will likely be denied. However, Taylor’s role seems undecided regarding this team and this season.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, when asked about Taylor’s role with the club moving forward, Roberts replied, “I don’t know.”
Roberts continued by stating that it is Taylor’s “superpower” of being able to do whatever is asked of him and play everywhere. “It could be from third base to center field to left field.” He also mentioned second base. It does put some added pressure on the Dodgers to make the best decision for the team.
Roberts also indicated that young outfielders Andy Pages and James Outman are not guaranteed spots on the roster, stating that it’s hard to find opportunities. Still, they’ll be there throughout the season.
“Guys will get an opportunity because at some point in time meritocracy, merit matters, but when you have a roster that’s arguably the most talented roster in history one through 40, playing time is hard.”
Taylor and recently re-signed utilityman Kiké Hernández are locks to make the Opening Day roster, but whether they stay is entirely up to how they both play, particularly Chris Taylor, who not only has to prove he can contribute to himself but also the fans.
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