Dodgers Spring Training Preview: Rinse and Repeat?
After spending over a billion dollars on the contracts of overseas players Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2023, finishing with a 98-64 overall record, enduring a long list of injured players and chasing a dream, the Dodgers got the job done.
With the addition of Cy Young winner Blake Snell to an outstanding rotation that may see the return of Ohtani to the mound this year, the team seems to be in good shape prior to the 2025 season.
But building a super team does not only happen in the movies. It’s the LA Dodgers.
2024 record: 98-64 (First, NL West)
Last Postseason Appearance: 2024 (Won World Series 4-1 against New York Yankees)
What Happened in 2024: After a rough start to the season with key players like Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and Bobby Miller on the injured list, a second championship in a four-year span seemed like a foregone dream. Heading into All-Star break, their record was a modest 56-41.
Having Ohtani and Yamamoto for their first season as Dodgers — where the latter became the richest pitcher in the MLB without having played in the league — the team looked solid. That was despite a serious injury plague of 26 players, according to spotrac.
Dave Roberts proved to the country that a well-managed team with a .206 batting average can still win the World Series. He moved the pieces strategically showing there was no reason to panic over a five-game losing streak in the regular season. To taste victory, you first have to swallow loss.
New Arrivals
- RHP Rōki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines)
- LHP Blake Snell (San Francisco Giants)
- LHP Tanner Scott (San Diego Padres)
- RHP Kirby Yates (Texas Rangers)
- LF Michael Conforto (San Francisco Giants)
- 2B Hyeseong Kim (Heroes)
Key Departures
- 2B Gavin Lux (Cincinnati Reds)
- RHP Jack Flaherty (Detroit Tigers)
- RHP Walker Buehler (Boston Red Sox)
Projected Batting Order*
- DH Shohei Ohtani
- SS Mookie Betts
- 1B Freddie Freeman
- RF Teoscar Hernández
- 3B Max Muncy
- C Will Smith
- LF Michael Conforto
- CF Tommy Edman
- 2B Hyeseong Kim
Projected Rotation*
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (RHP)
- Blake Snell (LHP)
- Tyler Glasnow (RHP)
- Rōki Sasaki (RHP)
- Tony Gonsolin (RHP)
Projected Bullpen*
Long-Relief: Dustin May (RHP)
Mid-Relief: Anthony Banda (LHP), Landon Knack (RHP), Justin Wrobleski (LHP), Alex Vesta (LHP)
Set-Up: Kirby Yates (RHP), Blake Treinen (RHP)
Closer: Tanner Scott (LHP)
Biggest Question: How will Sasaki perform?
This team was busy in the offseason making trades, closing contracts and spending billions on international star players. Sasaki is one of the Dodgers’ newcomers who will be in the minors. His experience in Japan and winning the World Baseball Classic in 2023, speaks for itself. With a 2.02. ERA, 524 strikeouts in 414.2 innings pitched and an impressive start in the 2023 WBC against Czech Republic striking out eight batters in 3.2 innings pitched, Sasaki was able to recently join one of the most popular franchises in American baseball. For now, fans will have to wait for him to be called up to the show.
Team MVP: Teoscar Hernández
With 33 home runs — the highest in his career since he started playing in the majors — and a 2024 Home Run Derby win, Hernández demonstrated that it is never too late to blossom. At age 32, he played a crucial role in the World Series hitting .350 with four RBIs and one home run. After signing a three-year, $66 million contract extension last month, Hernández has MVP potential that can lead this team to greatness. Just take a seat and enjoy.
Breakout Candidate: Tommy Edman
One of the best decisions the Dodgers made after the All-Star break was to trade for SS Tommy Edman, an under-the-radar deadline acquisition. Edman brought the spark back to LA. After being named the NLCS MVP with a .407 average and 11 RBIs, he carried the team through the first three games of the World Series, batting .294 and becoming one of three players to hit a home run in the series. The infielder who used to play for the Redbirds (Cardinals’ Triple-A team) in Memphis found his way to Hollywood. Not everyone knew about Edman when he got to LA, but after his performance in October, fans should be grateful for bringing him back this season. He has rightfully earned his spot with the Dodgers.
Key Stat: .206
That was the team’s batting average against the Yankees during the World Series. It certainly was not the best as it also had two fewer home runs than its opponent. Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández deserve their flowers for keeping this team — and the dream of being champions again — alive.
Freeman, one of the only two players averaging over .300, will always be remembered for giving the Dodgers their first win in the 2024 World Series with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Edman’s solo home run in Game 2 helped the Dodgers seal the 4-2 victory and a 2-0 lead over the Yankees to finish the series with a .294 average and five hits.
Hernández, the player with the highest average (.350) and most hits (7) in this series, joined Freeman and Edman as the third player who hit a home run during the World Series.
2025 Will Be Successful If… the Dodgers can use their rotation better to improve their 3.90 team ERA.
Last year, they struggled significantly with pitching without Clayton Kershaw on the mound. So, with the awaited return of Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher and new additions like Blake Snell — a Cy Young winner — and young talent like Sasaki, this team has the chance of building one of the strongest defenses on the West Coast.
2025 Prediction: First in NL West, Playoff Berth
The Dodgers have the assets to make history. Now, it is up to them to use them strategically and work together toward the same goal. There should not be individualities or competition. Ultimately, after building a super team this year including a two-time Gold Glove winner and a Cy Young, a 115-47 record does not sound unreachable.
*Projections were pulled from FanGraphs as of March 5
Category: Cactus League, Los Angeles Dodgers, Top Stories
Tagged: Blake Snell Dodgers Dustin May Freddie Freeman Gladerol Hyeseong Kim Jack Flaherty Kirby Yates Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy Michael Conforto MLB MLB Spring Training MLB Spring Training 2025 Mookie Betts Roki Sasaki Shohei Ohtani Spring Training 2025 Tanner Scott Teoscar Hernandez Tommy Edman Walker Buehler
