Monday, February 10, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
Spring training begins tomorrow for the Los Angeles Dodgers since they start the 2025 season on March 18th and 19th against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan. Coming off their first full-season world championship since 1988, the Dodgers are determined to repeat the World Series champions for the first time since 1999 and 2000.
Entering spring training, every baseball pundit thinks the Dodgers are the favorite to win the World Series after a fantastic offseason. As every baseball fan knows, no team can buy a championship, but the Dodgers have made strategic moves to improve their organization.
The Dodgers have questions to be answered during spring training. However, during Dave Roberts’ tenure, the Dodgers always found answers in spring training. The Dodgers need to extend Roberts’ contract before the regular season starts. This will happen, but no one knows when.
Mookie Betts is trying to be the Dodger shortstop in the 2025 season. Last spring training when Gavin Lux failed at shortstop, Betts moved to shortstop for the first time in his major league career. He struggled with throwing errors until a pitch broke Betts’ hand. During this offseason, Betts has worked on his defense, particularly on his arm angles. Betts’ throws should be more accurate this year. Betts’ focus on the defense at shortstop might interfere with his incredible offensive production.
If the Dodgers don’t like Betts’ defense at shortstop, they have two other players, not including Chris Taylor or Kiké Hernández. Miguel Rojas, 35, can play Gold Glove-caliber shortstop, but he can’t play every day without getting an injury. His offense is better when he plays occasionally.
Tommy Edman can play shortstop at an average major-league level. However, Edman won a gold glove at second base. For the 2025 season, Edman is slated to play center field, but the Dodgers can play Andy Pages at center field.
During this offseason, the Dodgers signed Hye-Seong Kim out of the Korean Baseball Organization. Kim was a Gold Glove infielder in Korea, but no one knows if his offense will translate to the major leagues. The Dodgers plan for Kim to play second base, but no one knows if he can hit major league pitching consistently. Even Kim worries if he can handle major league velocity.
This offseason the Dodgers tried to upgrade their starting rotation, but they don’t know how their six-man starting rotation will work. Early in the 2025 season, Shohei Ohtani cannot pitch, so the Dodgers must find out whether Tony Gonsolin or Dustin May can hurl well enough to be the sixth-man in the rotation. Either has pitched since the 2023 season.
Everyone is excited about the upcoming season for the Dodgers. On paper, the Dodgers are by far the best team in the major leagues. Games aren’t won or lost on paper. The Dodgers will have to overcome challenges and injuries to repeat as the World Series champions. I only know the upcoming season will be thrilling and interesting.
