LOS ANGELES – Quite a lot of DodgerFest on Saturday caught up with numerous Dodgers gamers, together with a handful of people that received't play within the majors in 2023. We already lined Walker Buehler, who shall be on an innings restrict in 2024 and begin . the season on the injured listing because it slowly crawls.
Gavin Lux missed all of final season after tearing his ACL and spraining the MCL in his proper knee within the third sport of spring coaching. The surgical procedure ended his 2023 season earlier than it began. However now he’s totally healed, and the plan is to renew what was purported to be his position within the final season, because the Dodgers start the intersection.
That features being prepared for opening day on March 20.
“So long as there are not any clashes resulting in this, the plan is the primary day. That's the entire purpose,” Lux mentioned Saturday. “I ran bases, obtained out of the field, checked the whole lot we have to play in a sport. So now I’ve to go play naturally.”
Lux was drafted within the first spherical in 2016 as a shortstop, and that's the place he made 83 % of his begins within the minors earlier than debuting within the majors in late 2019. Locked in at shortstop earlier than Corey Seager, adopted by Trea Turner, Lux discovered a brand new dwelling at second base, and even performed some area to get enjoying time in 2021-22.
The Dodgers stay excessive on Lux at his authentic place, as they have been previous to final season.
“We be ok with Gavin. He's already working there, and he's had a very devoted season,” mentioned normal supervisor Brandon Gomes. “We really feel as assured now as we did final season, which is able to resume on the intersection.”
Taking up at shortstop most likely received't imply enjoying each sport. The Dodgers shall be cautious of Lux, particularly after lacking a complete season with a significant knee harm.
“I anticipate him to be our beginning shortstop, however definitely from an ACL reconstruction, I don't know what number of video games he’ll play. In fact, we have now to present him some relaxation,” mentioned the supervisor Dave Roberts Saturday. “Having a man like Miguel Rojas enjoying additionally makes me really feel snug at shortstop.”
Rojas was acquired in January 2023 for a utility infielder position, however ended up main the group in begins and innings pitched after Lux was injured. Rojas was unbelievable defensively, within the 91st percentile in MLB in vary on the place and top-five in Outs Above Common. Rojas tied Dansby Swanson for the main league lead at shortstop with a plus-14 Complete Zone Score regardless of beginning simply 91 video games and enjoying two-thirds of the defensive innings on the place. Rojas was additionally fifth with plus-12 Defensive Runs Saved.
He simply didn't hit a lot, slashing .236/.290/.322 with a 69 wRC+. Rojas has hit significantly better in opposition to left-handed pitching in his profession, to the tune of a 96 wRC+, together with a 102 wRC+ in 2023. As an occasional starter in opposition to southpaws, mixed with wonderful protection, Rojas' abilities could possibly be maximized on this. position
Lux had a breakout yr for the Dodgers in 2022 enjoying largely second base, and likewise has some left area in addition to 31 innings in reserve at shortstop. He hit .276/.346/.399 with a 114 wRC+, and led the Nationwide League with seven triples.
He has been understanding at Dodger Stadium and taking area drills at shortstop for the previous three months, making ready to imagine the position he was slated for a yr in the past.
“I grew up enjoying shortstop, I really feel much more athletic on that aspect of second base,” Lux mentioned. “Second base was a little bit of an adjustment for me as a result of principally I needed to attempt to be taught to play on the massive league stage, which isn’t very simple. Getting back from the aspect the place I grew up enjoying and I had lots sport reps, it's type of like second nature.”
The Dodgers' bullpen additionally has a pair of contributors who will miss your entire 2023 season after shoulder surgical procedure. Each are anticipated to be totally prepared to begin spring coaching.
Blake Treinen mentioned he by no means actually felt proper on the mound throughout 2023, when he made three minor league appearances within the Arizona Advanced League and Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis in eight days in late August after surgical procedure earlier November. After speaking with the coaches and coaching employees, Treinen was locked up for 2023, with a concentrate on 2024, much like Buehler.
“I really feel wonderful. It's been a blessing to have a full season, and it's most likely the most effective I've felt since I used to be 21,” Treinen mentioned. “I'm simply trying ahead to spring coaching, to get aggressive. The bullpen periods have been going nice, and I've come again wonderful.”
When wholesome, Treinen has been wonderful for the Dodgers, with a 2.45 ERA and three.00 FIP in 103 innings, with 113 strikeouts and 34 walks because the begin of 2020.
However he has pitched simply six main league innings over the previous two seasons, none of them coming in 2023. The Dodgers exercised Treinen's 2024 membership choice on Nov. 5, which pays him a wage of $1 million, after making $8 million in every of the latter. three seasons.
Treinen turns 36 this season, and isn't truly wholesome till 2021, and his wage isn't prohibitive if the Dodgers determine to chop bait if issues don't work out. However they’re getting a flyer who nonetheless has one thing within the tank, and is anticipated to be totally prepared as soon as spring coaching begins.
“Blake is trending rather well proper now,” Gomes mentioned.
It's the identical for JP Feyereisen, who underwent shoulder surgical procedure to restore his rotator cuff and labrum in December 2022, shortly earlier than the Dodgers acquired him from the Rays.
Feyereisen mentioned he threw a bullpen session Saturday morning only a few ft from the identical mound at Dodger Stadium on which the interview passed off that afternoon. It was his seventh bullpen session this season for the righty. He didn’t pitch in any minor league video games throughout 2023, however was rehabbed all season.
“It was good final yr to have a reset, get the entire physique, arm and thoughts prepared,” Feyereisen mentioned Saturday.
Feyereisen had a 1.48 ERA and three.21 FIP in his 61 innings for the Rays in 2021-22, with 58 strikeouts and 27 walks. That included permitting only one unearned run in 22 video games in 2022 earlier than injuring his shoulder.
Feyereisen, who turns 31 on Wednesday, nonetheless has two choice years remaining, and will trip the categorical from Los Angeles to Oklahoma Metropolis at occasions this season. The Dodgers averted wage arbitration by signing him to a one-year, $770,000 deal on Jan. 11.
“I haven't actually had a yr [of stats] earlier than arbitration to point out what I can do, however I feel that's why the Dodgers traded for me once I was injured,” Feyereisen mentioned in an interview with True Blue LA in November. “They know that once I'm wholesome I may be an efficient particular person for them to make use of sooner or later.”
