Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along. See what they've written below.
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| (Clayton Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016) |
HERE WE GO AGAIN: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their first official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Position players report on Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout will take place the following day, Thursday, Feb. 25. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.
- Josh Ravin missed today’s workout due to flu-like symptoms.
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| (Dave Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016) |
DOCTOR’S ORDERS: Dave Roberts addressed the club’s pitchers, catchers and staff this morning as he opened his first season as Dodger manager. Roberts is the 10th manager in Dodger history and the 28th in franchise history after serving as the bench coach for the Padres the last two seasons. Roberts, who is of African-American and Japanese descent, becomes the Dodgers’ first-ever minority manager and the fourth L.A. Dodger manager to also play for the franchise, joining Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell and Glenn Hoffman.
ON THE MOUND: Among the first Dodgers to throw a bullpen today was newly-signed right-handed reliever Louis Coleman. Coleman, 29, spent the majority of the 2015 season with the Royals’ Triple-A Omaha, going 8-2 with nine saves and a 1.69 ERA in 38 games, before receiving a call-up to Kansas City on Sept. 7 and making four scoreless appearances (3.0 IP) in the big leagues. Coleman made his Major League debut in 2011 with the Royals and appeared in 152 games with Kansas City from 2011-15, going 6-4 with two saves and a 3.20 ERA. He’s limited opposing hitters to a .223 batting average in the big leagues, while averaging better than a strikeout per inning, with 186 Ks in 177.1 innings pitched.
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| (Coleman and Anderson, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016) |
- Joining Coleman in throwing their first official bullpens of the spring today were Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, J.P. Howell, Joe Blanton, Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan, Yimi Garcia, Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Ross Stripling, Matt West, Zach Lee and Chase De Jong.
KING OF THE VALLEY: Congratulations to Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier on having his Arizona State No. 14 jersey retired and joining the Wall of Honor last night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Ethier and his former teammate, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, were both honored prior to ASU Baseball’s home-opener against Xavier. In two years at ASU, Ethier posted a .371 batting average with 14 home runs and 118 RBI and was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection.
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| (Andre Ethier, pic pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016) |
HITTING FOR THE “OURCYCLE”: Earlier today, the Dodgers’ community relations team played host to “OurCycle LA” at Dodger Stadium. The one-day event, part of the program launched by Mayor Eric Garcetti, provided 200 first-time Internet subscribers the opportunity to participate in computer literacy training and a free refurbished computer.
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