{"id":34927,"date":"2025-02-19T08:01:26","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T08:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927"},"modified":"2025-02-19T08:01:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T08:01:26","slug":"dodgers-hitters-get-first-look-at-new-star-studded-pitching-staff-i-mean-were-loaded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

PHOENIX\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/span>During the monotony of spring training, live batting practice sessions usually are structured like boxing matches.<\/p>\n

One main event with a big-name pitcher, surrounded by a bunch of less notable undercards featuring unheralded arms.<\/p>\n

In this Dodgers camp, however, the loaded pitching staff has turned such routine activities into star-studded affairs.<\/p>\n

The latest example: Tuesday\u2019s rotation of batting practice sessions, with the Dodgers trotting out one star pitcher after the next in a display of their stunning depth of arms.<\/p>\n

On one field, two-time Cy Young Award winner and $182-million signing\u00a0Blake Snell\u00a0faced hitters for the first time as a Dodger.<\/p>\n

On an adjacent diamond, $72-million signing Tanner Scott, widely considered the best reliever on the free-agent market, did the same.<\/p>\n

At another point, two of the team\u2019s top returning pitchers,\u00a0Tyler Glasnow\u00a0and\u00a0Blake Treinen, went through their first live session of the spring.<\/p>\n

Even some of the other pitchers who threw \u2014 including veteran relievers\u00a0Kirby Yates\u00a0( signed to a $13-million deal last month) and Luis Garc\u00eda (one of the more accomplished non-roster invites in camp on a minor-league deal), as well as returning left-handers\u00a0Alex Vesia\u00a0and\u00a0Anthony Banda\u00a0\u2014 drew the attention of fans and team brass.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, we\u2019re loaded,\u201d said catcher\u00a0Will Smith, who was behind the plate for Snell and Yates. \u201cJust gotta stay healthy, gotta keep those guys going and pitching well. It\u2019s a long year. Still a hard game. So keep them locked in, keep them pitching well. That\u2019s my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snell had some of the day\u2019s most memorable moments, despite giving up a home run in one at-bat against Chris Taylor.<\/p>\n

In addition to his mid-90s fastball and wicked curveball\/slider pairing of breaking pitches, the left-hander snapped off a few changeups that wowed teammate Bobby Miller, who has\u00a0been mentored by Snell\u00a0this spring and watched from behind home plate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was nasty,\u201d Miller exclaimed. \u201cHis changeup is really good. I didn\u2019t know he had it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outfielder\u00a0Michael Conforto, a teammate of Snell\u2019s last year with the San Francisco Giants who also signed with the Dodgers, simply shook his head when asked about facing the veteran ace.<\/p>\n

In his first at-bat, Conforto struck out on three pitches. In the next, he fought off a couple of pitches foul before tapping out on a harmless grounder against \u201ca slider that looked exactly like a fastball.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was reminded of how lucky I was to be on his team last year, and how lucky I am this year,\u201d Conforto joked. \u201cI don\u2019t even know what you do [against him]. You have to kind of guess, as a lefty.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\"Dodgers<\/picture>\n
\n
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow warms up in center field at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday.<\/div>\n
(Wally Skalij \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Glasnow\u2019s session was equally notable. While he also gave up a couple of home runs, he struck out Taylor and new infielder\u00a0Hyeseong Kim\u00a0in back-to-back at-bats, flashing encouraging signs after missing the end of last season \u2014 including all of the playoffs \u2014 because of elbow tendinitis.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just wasn\u2019t healthy, he really wasn\u2019t,\u201d manager\u00a0Dave Roberts\u00a0said of the 6-foot-6 right-hander, who has been dogged by arm injuries during his career. \u201cRight now, if you watch him today and watch him in his \u2019pens, he\u2019s a lot more athletic. And I think for me, as a big-body guy, if we can just get him to continue to be athletic \u2026 you\u2019re going to see a much more consistent Tyler Glasnow.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Remaining \u201cathletic,\u201d Glasnow explained, has led to renewed focus on his upper-body movements and spine angle this spring.<\/p>\n

After consulting with staff and private biomechanics coaches over the offseason, Glasnow said he discovered that the front side of his body would fly too far open in his delivery last year, forcing him to put extra stress on his arm to complete each pitch.<\/p>\n

This spring, the 31-year-old All-Star said he is tweaking his mechanics to remain more squared up to home plate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m in a healthier position, it\u2019s just less effort for the same type of push, I guess,\u201d he said. \u201cSo it\u2019s just trying to carry that through the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the relievers, the only real question is who will fit into what role. The Dodgers aren\u2019t calling Scott their closer, though Roberts hinted he will get the bulk of save opportunities to start the season. Treinen, Yates, Vesia and Banda all figure to take on high-leverage spots, especially with Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech likely to start the season on the injured list.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Dodgers<\/picture>\n
\n
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani threw his second bullpen session of spring training at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday.<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

(Wally Skalij \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cOur bullpen and our starting staff is pretty dang good,\u201d Scott said. \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be really fun.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As if all that wasn\u2019t enough, Shohei Ohtani also threw his second bullpen session of the spring, pumping 21 fastballs over the plate as he continues to work toward his long-awaited return to two-way duties.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone\u2019s aware there are all these superstars around,\u201d Glasnow said. \u201cBut I think once you are in a clubhouse with them enough, it\u2019s like, they\u2019re just all teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps so. But put them all together, and even something as mundane as batting practice suddenly can become a heavyweight event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of talent, for sure,\u201d Snell said. \u201cI think once games start, that\u2019s when you get even more excited.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX\u00a0\u2014\u00a0During the monotony of spring training, live batting practice sessions usually are structured like boxing matches. One main event with a big-name pitcher, surrounded by a bunch… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nDodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019 - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019 - News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"PHOENIX\u00a0\u2014\u00a0During the monotony of spring training, live batting practice sessions usually are structured like boxing matches. One main event with a big-name pitcher, surrounded by a bunch...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-19T08:01:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"760\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"760\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927\",\"name\":\"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019 - News 365\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-19T08:01:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-19T08:01:26+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png\",\"width\":760,\"height\":760},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"News 365\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0\",\"name\":\"MsThao\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MsThao\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?author=2\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019 - News 365","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019 - News 365","og_description":"PHOENIX\u00a0\u2014\u00a0During the monotony of spring training, live batting practice sessions usually are structured like boxing matches. One main event with a big-name pitcher, surrounded by a bunch...","og_url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927","og_site_name":"News 365","article_published_time":"2025-02-19T08:01:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":760,"height":760,"url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MsThao","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MsThao","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927","url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927","name":"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019 - News 365","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png","datePublished":"2025-02-19T08:01:26+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-19T08:01:26+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/3-62.png","width":760,"height":760},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=34927#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Dodgers hitters get first look at new star-studded pitching staff: \u2018I mean, we\u2019re loaded\u2019"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/","name":"News 365","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/bd62b4f1523cc864d4f4e151cc009bc0","name":"MsThao","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/38555279c6b6b7febdf09c87b184059dc428484397a9d8d577024da5d6e35287?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MsThao"},"url":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?author=2"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34927"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34949,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34927\/revisions\/34949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}