Every Spring Training there are players who either play themselves off the roster and some who potentially play themselves onto the roster. Then there are those that may not make the OD roster, but have moved ever so close to their MLB debut.
We have those again this year. IMO, Edgardo Henriquez has played himself off the OD roster. He has not been good at all during ST. And while it hurts my heart, Alex Freeland is heading back to OKC. While it was a longshot to make OD roster, Ryan Ward’s play this Spring puts him back at OKC. As I am editing this, we have learned that he has already been optioned.
Last year, early season injuries to Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, and Blake Treinen opened the door for Jack Dreyer to come out of nowhere to make the OD roster. Ben Casparius also was allowed to cement himself into the bullpen.
Santiago Espinal seemingly has put himself into the position of making the OD roster. He will ultimately battle Hyeseong Kim for the roster spot once Tommy Edman returns. Also while editing, we have learned that Kim suffered a hand injury in the WBC sliding into 2B on a SB attempt.
Notwithstanding his Sunday outing, Kyle Hurt has shown enough to get serious consideration to making the OD roster. In Spring, ERA is inconsequential. Instead, I like to concentrate on what they can best control, walks and strikeouts. He just pitched in his 5th game, and has compiled 5.0 IP. In those 5.0 IP, Kyle has 1 walk and 9 strikeouts. He may not have faced a lot of elite bats, but 9 K and 1 BB in 5.0 IP is impressive. That computes to 16.2 K/9. He misses a lot of bats, and that plays well.
On an 0-2 pitch, Hurt threw a horrible 88.1 MPH changeup center/center to De Vries. He did not have to be a top prospect to crush that one. I am sure Mark Prior has advised him that that pitch cannot be made in that spot.
Those not on the 40 man who IMO have jetted up the depth chart include:
- Jackson Ferris
- James Tibbs III
- Zach Ehrhard
- Noah Miller
- Chris Campos
- Elijah Hainline
Alex Call has done nothing to move him out of the #4 OF role. He can play all 3 defensive OF positions, can run some, and he has hit well this Spring.
I do not know what Nick Senzel’s contract says, but if he can opt out, I assume he will. I am sure he has interested multiple teams. If not, he will go back to OKC and wait for an opportunity. Depending as to how severe Kim’s injury is, he could break camp with LAD.
Certainly Ryder Ryan has done everything he can to put his name into consideration.
But there is one pitcher who has truly opened the door. LHRP Antoine Kelly was signed as a MiLB free agent out of the Rockies organization last November.
Kelly was a13th round pick by the Padres in 2018 out of Park Ridge, IL HS. Kelly chose to forego the Padres contract offer and go to Wabash Valley (IL) CC. The Brewers selected him in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft. At Wabash Valley CC, Kelly was a 6-foot-6 project where he led all junior college pitchers with a whopping 19.1 strikeouts per nine innings but little in the way of secondary pitches. The Brewers signed Kelly for slot value, and sent him to the Arizona Rookie League and watched him strike out 41 batters in 21 2/3 promising innings. While striking an imposing figure, and after adding 20 pounds to fill-out his tall frame, he added power for his fastball that jumped from the low 90s to the upper 90s. He pitched almost exclusively with a fastball that immediately became one of the best in the Brewers’ system.
The arrows were pointing in the right direction in 2020 for Antoine Kelly, who was one of the most electric players at Milwaukee’s alternate training site.
In 2020 at the Brewers’ alternate training site, Kelly took the next step by honing his changeup into a legitimate weapon to pair with his fastball and a slider that could be above average in time. It may have been a matter of necessity, since Kelly pitched against veteran hitters with Major League experience who were accustomed to handling big velocity. After seeing Kelly make strides to his arsenal and the rest of his game, including learning to hold runners, some club officials considered Kelly the team’s unofficial alternate site MVP.
Unfortunately at the conclusion of the season, Kelly, underwent offseason surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Specifically, Kelly underwent pectoralis minor release surgery and a first rib resection surgery on Nov. 5, 2020, performed by Dr. Gregory Pearl.
Kelly moved to full time relief in 2023. He was DFA by the Brewers in July 2024, and the Rockies claimed him off waivers. Kelly elected free agency after the 2025 season and signed a MiLB contract with LAD.
Kelly reached as high as #5 Brewers prospect in 2021 for Baseball America, and #6 per MLB Pipeline in 2020 and 2021.
All Kelly has done this Spring is to appear in 6 games, 6.0 scoreless IP, 1 hit allowed, 2 BB, and 7 K. He is a LHRP who strikes batters out. He has a 6’5” extension with a sweeper slider to go with his fastball. Unfortunately for Kelly, the team is chock-full of LHRP. He is currently scheduled to go to OKC where he will compete with Ronan Kopp as a lefty who could get the call if one of the LAD LHRP is injured.
This is a fantastic piece about a guy I’ve been noticing as well. It’s a testament to our depth that a guy like him could break out and still not make the team. I guarantee he’ll get a good pep talk from AF, Doc & Prior when he’s sent down, saying keep at it and we’ll see you again.
So much talent and such strong coaching.
The bullpen looks deep. Kelly? Yeah, maybe. Personally I’ve got Hurt and Ryan ahead of him.
As for second base, I’ve made my choice clear. Kim projects better than any of the candidates. I sure hope he isn’t injured. Espinal is having a great Spring but it’s 27 plate appearances. He is fine on the roster until Edman gets back but his career .665 OPS doesn’t impress.
It is unfortunate so much emphasis appears to be put on so few early at bats. None of the #1 or #2 system ranked minor league minor leaguers are pushing their way on to the 26. Back to the minors with all of them? Guess so. Again, if it were me I’d give somebody a few weeks in The Show.
Opening Day can’t get here fast enough for me. These games I’m seeing feel like Ground Hog Day.
I never said that I thought Antoine Kelly was going to make the roster. I said he has opened the door for consideration. I concluded that he would go to OKC and compete with Ronan Kopp for first LHRP up. As much of an advocate of Kyle Hurt that I am, he has not pitched better than Kelly this Spring.
· Hurt – 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 HR
· Kelly – 6.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Regardless, IMO, Hurt has made the OD roster.
SP:
Yamamoto
Glasnow
Ohtani
Sasaki
Wrobleski
Sheehan
RP:
Diaz
Scott (L)
Vesia (L)
Treinen
Dreyer (L)
Casparius
Klein
Hurt
Do not know when Snell will be ready. Don’t know what happens to Wrobo once that happens. He is still auditioning.
Ryan is going to start. If I am dropping a SP to the bullpen, it would be Sasaki and not Ryan. I can see a scenario where Ryan makes the team out of camp and is a piggyback for Ohtani until Ohtani is stretched out. That would necessarily move Hurt to OKC. Once everyone is sufficiently stretched out, I can see Ryan being optioned to continue to start and bring up a one inning reliever.
With respect to 2B, I do not share your enthusiasm for Kim. I am now in the Miggy Ro should be the primary 2B until Edman returns. Kim may be faster, but he is not better defensively than either Miggy or Tommy. Yes, Kim won a GG in Korea, while Edman won one in MLB. Edman is a switch hitter with some pop.
Before his injury at the WBC, Kim batted .100/.250/.400/.650 with a 33% K rate. In ST he has a 38.5% K rate. 2nd half of 2025, Kim batted .143/.160/.204/364. He had 1 BB and 22 K in 51 PA for a 43.1% K rate. Those are not even Freeland numbers. Freeland does not chase, Kim does. Kim has more swing and miss than Freeland. Espinal is head and shoulders better than both in those categories. Miggy Ro doesn’t chase or whiff nearly at the level of Kim.
Freeland has gone from being too aggressive at the plate to too passive. He has 9 walks in ST, so he does get on base. 9 BB vs 4 K. His BABIP is .167 while Kim’s is .714. Neither rate is going to hold up. Freeland is 3 years younger than Kim. But I agree that Freeland needs to go to OKC. He has not earned the LAD OD roster spot. I am not sure what Kim offers more than Edman, Miggy, or Espinal. IMO, I do not think Kim has earned the starting 2B position. He is a role utility player. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Kim is 10 years younger. Probably 10 mph faster. Better range. He can play more positions, including centerfield. Plus, he’s being paid over $4 million. Obviously I like him better than you do.
That said, I like Miggy too. Who doesn’t? If the plan is to give Edman the second base job when he’s ready then Miggy there for a few weeks is fine. It would be a bummer to give up on Kim. And sending him to AAA won’t help him. He needs to see ML pitching. He only has 170 plate appearances. Patience is needed here.
I agree
LHRP:
1. Scott [by default]
2. Vesia
3. Dreyer
4. Wrobleski [if not starting]
5. Kelly
6. Kopp [on 40 man]
Why by default? Scott was hurt last year, and says that he feels better than when he was with Miami or San DIego. 4 games 3.1 IP, 0 runs. 2 hits, 1 BB, 5K. His slider looks unhittable this Spring. This is going to be a different year for Tanner. I can see Doc using Tanner the same way as Francona used Andrew Miller.
I understand why you would include Wrobo here, but the Dodgers still see him as a SP. He is still 25. Why limit him?
All good points
Ftr, i agree with your pitching staff
Although Ryan in AAA shouldn’t last long
Just the kind of stuff I love reading about. Thanks again Jeff
Hunter Greene to have bone chips removed from his elbow. Likely out until at least July.
To bad, I thought the Reds were in a position to take another small step forward, it’s a much tougher job when you lose your ace for half a season. It wasn’t Tommy John so I guess it could have been worse.
I think we are the envy of the league. Very rich in pitching, hitting and position players (even with a few still nursing injuries and surgeries), you know all other GMs are drooling.
Crazy rich, top farm & players want to play here.
“Love the player. Love the guy”. Roberts. Espinal.
Edman. Kiké. Rojas. Kim. Espinal. Freeland. Call. Rushing. That’s a very crowded bench.
Is Espinal better than Edman? Is Kiké really necessary? Will Freeland be freed? Will Ward be rewarded with free agency ? Is Hyeseong long gone?
.An abundance of bench. A profusionary plentitude of proxy players. A surfeit of surrogate substitutes. A big bummer for somebody.
Gas is over $5 here and USA lost to Italy.
Not going to touch other insanities going on out there.
Can someone make sense of all this?
I think I need April.
Well sure Italy won but they had Joe Dimagio in centerfield.
Don’t forget, Bam Abedayo of all people puts up 83 points.
The Ravens nix the Maxx Crosby trade.
What a fun time for sports!
Biggest concern IMO is the bullpen, a lot of question marks. If they do the same routine and pull most starters after 5 innings, that pen is going to get run down again come playoff time. sure it worked out last year but not so sure that is a recipe for success, Dodgers had to really scramble to pull it off last year but can they bubblegum together another relief staff from starters, left-overs, etc.?
A 3peat is possible but it will come down to injuries and the bullpen in the end (they can probably weather the injuries).
I am not worried at all about the bullpen. Of course overuse can come in to play,, but that can be mitigated by the use of starters stepping in if needed in the beginning. River Ryan can be available for long relief, pigggyback, Justin Wrobleski can do the same once Blake Snell is back. Landon Knack has had some bad outings, but he has also had some fantastic appearances. We already know Will Klein can go multiple innings in a high stress environment.
Gavin Stone will get ramped us as well, but slowly. He had inflammation in his shoulder, no structural damage. He does not have to be ready by OD. He probably overthrew in his first game back. If I remember, his velo was up after a year and a half.
If some wear down, Brock Stewart says he will be ready before the end of the 1st hald. Evan Phillipsaround trade deadline. Brusdar Graterol had a setback, but not a debilitating concern. Kyle Hurt, Edgardo Henriquez, and Paul Gervase willl often be optioned as fillins. Ronan Kopp, Antoine Kelly, and Ryder Ryan are all poised to join the team some time this year. Jackson Ferris?
I do not believe Roki Sasaki will be in line to start playoff games. If he is, that bodes well for LAD. Same with Emmet Sheehan.
Last year, Scott, Phillips, Stewart, Graterol were all hurt. Not from being overused. And Alex Vesia had a personal tragedy precluding him from participating in the WS.
No MLB team can match the Dodgers in pitching depth. And if necessary, there i always the trade deadline.
The pen is pretty solid. There will be hiccups for sure. But this pen looks pretty good.
In the end the starters become the bullpen
Shut the USA-Italy game off when they fell behind 5-0, so I missed the comeback. Still lost 8-6. Shows why one should not be too cocky. Everyone had the USA in the finals, now their fate is in the hands of Mexico and Italy. The Dodger site has its list of who will make the 26-man roster. They have Espinal and Kim both on the roster. Haven’t heard how severe Kim’s hand injury is, that will affect the final decision.
Kim and Espinal are the logical choices. I do not know if Miggy or Espinal platoons with Kim. Miggy and Espinal can both play 3B, so both could spell Muncy. I still prefer Call in CF if Pages needs a rest instead of Kim. When Edman returns, if is going to be a battle between Kim and Espinal to stay. Kim has options, Espinal does not.
I thought Kyle Hurt earned the last bullpen slot over Edgardo Henriquez. I do not know how a reliever in 4.0 IP allows 7 runs (6 earned), 5 hits 4 BB, 2 HBP, and 3 3 K gets the nod. It is not as if Henriquez was a lock. Or perhaps he was, and none of the other relievers had a chance to make the team. There is still two weeks until OD, so the audition for the last reliever will continue
I also believe that Wrobo will be in the rotation, at least until Snell returns.
How long will it take to get Ohtani stretched out? He can’t start out with 3 inning outings and crush our bullpen right out of the gate.
With all the off days early in the season, they probably won’t let him go more than 3 or 4 innings based on his pitch count.
Bear, I was thinking about your HOF post a few days ago, and was thinking, Kenley has a decent chance at the HOF, he’s 24 saves short of 500 not saying he’s a lock, but if he gets another year or two in he should get consideration. If Jensen did get in he’d probably go in as a Dodger, he was here quite a bit longer than any other team he pitched for.
I had totally forgotten about Kenley. Jansen is with the Tigers now. He had 29 saves last season with the Angels. He has averaged 28 a year over the last 3 seasons. There is a good chance he gets to 500 this year. This is his 17th season in the majors. There are 9 closers in the Hall. Jansen is 4 saves behind Lee Smith, who is third on the all-time list with 478. Rivera and Hoffman are out of Kenley’s reach with 652 and 601 respectively. Of the 9 guys already in the hall, the only other closer with 400 or more is Billy Wagner. I would believe Kenley should be a lock. The only knock on the guy is that he only has led the league in saves twice. Once with LA in 2017 and as a Brave in 2022. He only made the All-Star team four times. They don’t give out the reliever of the year award anymore. He has never spent more than two years with any team since he left LA in 2022. He would definitely go in as a Dodger.
Oh good call on Kenley. Yes he has a good Hall of Fame shot.
Bear, not sure if you also mentioned Corey Seager being a potential Hall of Famer? Granted I’m sure if he gets in, he’s going in as a Ranger and not a Dodger
I do not think Seager will have the credentials. Too much time spent injured.
USA advances via the backdoor as Italy crushed Mexico. Pasquintino hit 3 homers. More pitchers going down to injuries across the league again. Hader will start the year on the IL for the Astros.
Sasaki, who will be needed, throwing 98-100 on back fields yesterday.
Gulp.
How about 96 for strikes along with his splitter and whatever off speed third pitch he is working on?
Yep. USA comes in through the bathroom window. Anybody care? I don’t. There are a lot of MLB players still in that thing, including 4 important Dodgers.
Myself, I would rather see Smith, Ohtani, Yoshi back in camp.
Not Kim or Díaz? 😎.
We do not know how Kim’s hand is, but I would think if it was bad enough, the Dodgers would insist he return to LAD to visit their hand specialist.
I hope Díaz does not have another celebration where ruptures his patellar tendon and is out the year…again.
It was reported on Tuesday that Glasnow thought he was going to be asked to join Team USA, but he put out the word that he was not interested as he had every intention to go to Camelback and work out with his team and get ready for the season.
Then there’s Kiké Hernández, who is with Team Puerto Rico on the bench, and says the WBC is more important to him than the WS:
Not besmirching Kiké. Foreign born players do have a different take on the WBC. Heritage is important. I know Frankie Lindor wanted to be with Team Puerto Rico and Miggy Ro wanted to play for Venezuela. It certainly does not mean as much to Bryce Harper.
Total brain fart forgot they were both still in the tournament. Diaz is far more important than Kim.
Just saw this on Kim:
Those guys have all reached the mountaintop, let them enjoy the way from a different peak.
Hey, I get it, playing for your country is a privilege and something they want to do. I just dislike the chance of season ending injuries.
I’m happy for our guys in the WBC. I’m also assuming we’ll see some of our guys vs some of our guys as the Elite 8 begins tomorrow.
I know how crazy exciting it was to see Shohei strike out Trout in 2023. I can’t even begin to imagine how much that meant to Shohei, Team Japan, or the Japanese fans.
Dodgers next two games are night games. Play the Reds tonight. US plays Canada tomorrow in Houston.
And Freddie will be playing for the Dodgers.
I am anxious to see what Espinal does against MLB pitching. He has feasted on minor league and NRI pitchers so far.
Get ready for opening day 2b.
WBC is an interesting and somewhat entertaining side light to Spring Training. I am not a huge fan but the players seem to really enjoy it. I will root for the USA and anyone but the DR with Machado.
I have never been a fan but I’m open to this next round. Wow me.
I was at the USA semi final, and the final in 2023, they were pretty exciting games to be at.
Muncy hit a 2-run homer, his second of the spring, both coming off of LHP. No matter what happens tomorrow, Kersh is leaving team USA after the game. If they advance, he will be replaced by the Twins Joe Ryan. Hurt with 3 Ks in his inning of work.
Max is going to have a good year, I can feel it coming