Friday, February 23, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On a beautiful Friday afternoon at Camelback Ranch, the Los Angeles Dodgers trounced the San Diego Padres 4-to-1. A month from now, the Dodgers and the Padres start the regular season in South Korea.
Freddie Freeman homered in his first at-bat of the spring. Coming off the best performance during his major league career, Freeman and the Dodgers hope he will duplicate his remarkable performance. At 34, he should have another remarkable season, barring injury.
Landon Knack was brilliant as he started the game and pitched two scoreless innings. He changed speeds well and had supreme control. Since the Dodgers don’t have any room for a young pitcher on their Opening Day roster unless they have an unforeseen injury, Knack figures to start the season in Oklahoma City. At some point during the 2024 season, he should be with the Dodgers.
Miguel Vargas made his Cactus League debut and impressed. While Vargas made the Dodger Opening Day roster in the 2023 season, he had a disappointing performance that caused his demotion to AAA after the All-Star break. He is playing a new position, left field.
While playing a new position, Vargas looked so comfortable in left field. This spring training a former Dodger great Andre Ethier has worked with Vargas on his defense. Friday, Vargas had two hits.
So far this spring training, the Dodgers have had fantastic pitching from mostly unknown young hurlers. Most these young pitchers won’t begin the season with the Dodgers unless injuries ruin the pitching staff. Over the course of the 162-game season, teams will use their forty-man rosters. According to former Dodger general manager Ned Colletti, teams will win their divisions with the forty-man rosters.
