Cody Snavely
Before the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers Cactus League game against the Seattle Mariners on Friday afternoon, the team announced many updates for multiple starters throughout the week.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of camp this week in Glendale, Arizona, is that Shoehi Ohatni will not face live hitters or have any more bullpen sessions before the team heads off to Tokyo, Japan, to kick off the regular season against the Chicago Cubs.
Overall, the Dodgers only have four Cactus League games remaining before they head across the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, March 12th, not leaving much time for Ohtani to ramp up and face hitters.
Ohtani, 30, is finally set to return to his unicorn two-way player status this season but is also rehabbing from an off-season shoulder surgery after tearing his labrum in Game Two of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees.
During yesterday’s pre-game media scrum, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that the team wanted to slow down Ohtani’s ramp-up on the mound as he prepares to be the team’s full-time designated hitter.
“We just felt that to intensify the bullpens alongside of the intensity of the games (as DH) wasn’t smart, so we just wanted to kind of slow-play it.”
While this has caused some concern among Dodgers fans and the media, it does fall in line with what Andrew Friedman told Dodgers insider David Vassegh on DodgerTalk during DodgerFest last month, which was not set timeline or date when Ohtani would face hitters or return to the rotation.
Also, what should make everyone less stressed is that Ohtani has continued to throw despite no bullpen session scheduled, which shows there are no setbacks or arm pain, as the team would have shut him down from all baseball activities.
Moving on from one starter to another, veteran left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw also threw his first spring bullpen today after returning to Dodgers camp shortly before they began their flight to Tokyo, Japan.
Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers right as the team reported to camp on a 1-year $7.5 million contract. The deal includes multiple incentives based on innings and time on the active roster, where the veteran lefty can earn an additional $1 million for making his 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th starts of the season and active roster bonuses; he’ll add an additional $2.5 million for 30 days on the active roster, $1 million for 60 days, and $1 million for 90 days.
Kershaw stated that he is likely to be placed on the 60-day Injured List once the regular season opens up, and the team needs to clear space on the 40-man roster. However, Kershaw anticipates being ready shortly after, so a June activation date is in the cards.
Another starting pitcher who threw today was right-hander Bobby Miller, who faced live hitters for the first time since being placed on the concussion protocol after being struck in the head by a line drive that was over 100mph off the bat.
Thankfully, Miller suffered no major setbacks in his throwing program and remained unscathed despite some swelling and bruising on his forehead.
In his live at-bat session, Miller gave up a home run to Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy but, after that, generated a few whiffs on his breaking pitches and a high fastball. The session ended, however, after Muncy hit a line drive up the middle, to which Miller ducked out of the way.
With the team set to leave soon, it remains unknown what Miller’s next steps will be, but it seems fair to say he’ll be one of several arms to remain stateside, continuing his throwing program and maybe appearing in one of the three exhibition games against the Los Angeles Angels.
Lastly, the Dodgers will have to decide whether right-handed pitcher Dustin May will earn a rotation spot before camp closes in a few weeks.
May has pitched to a 5.40 ERA in five innings of work this spring but is coming off a three-inning scoreless outing against the Texas Rangers his last time out, albeit on over fifty pitches.
(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
May, 27, he has no minor league options remaining, meaning he’ll have to be on the Dodgers Opening Day Roster, whether in the starting rotation as the fifth starter or in the bullpen.
Dustin May has stated he’ll be OK with whatever decision the team makes, but another route the Dodgers could explore is placing May on the Injured List to start the season and send him on a rehab assignment to get built up.
This option would give the Dodgers some much-needed roster flexibility while also helping May continue his buildup during the regular season.
Still, a lot can happen between now and then, and whatever role a healthy Dustin May has, I’m sure he and the Dodgers will be happy.
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