{"id":25903,"date":"2025-02-14T03:51:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T03:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=25903"},"modified":"2025-02-14T03:51:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T03:51:44","slug":"exclusive-dodgers-spring-training-unveiled-roki-sasaki-shohei-ohtani-more-star-stunts-behind-the-scenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=25903","title":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE: DODGERS SPRING TRAINING UNVEILED \u2013 ROKI SASAKI, SHOHEI OHTANI &#038; MORE STAR STUNTS BEHIND THE SCENES!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wrapper_1vgzeyt\">\n<div class=\"style_1q03211\">\n<figure class=\"base_1ruub6q\" data-mm-type=\"image\"><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"base_1emrqjj\" title=\"Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_6192,h_3483,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/inside_the_dodgers\/01jm0db8xfagpmzmj52h.jpg\" alt=\"Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images\" data-uw-rm-alt-original=\"Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images\" data-uw-rm-alt=\"ALT\" \/><\/picture><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wrapper_brpv6a\">Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images \/ Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inStoryContainer_1r009zu\">\n<div class=\"wrapper_qe1qt7\">\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_tijpwojlg\">Spring training has commenced for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2025 L.A. roster features some of MLB&#8217;s top talent, and of course, there is no shortage of highlights since pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch on Feb. 11.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_psq0n4crt\">The crown jewel of the 2024-25 international signing class, Roki Sasaki, donned Dodger blue for the first time of his MLB career. Despite being a young starting pitcher, Sasaki has a chance to start for the Dodgers during the season opener in the Tokyo Series. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed this was a possibility, a testament to the team&#8217;s belief in Sasaki&#8217;s talent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"style_120ff32\" data-mm-id=\"_etplsbu5d\" data-mm-type=\"embed\">\n<figure class=\"_sk5w3b\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"_1nhfz2\" title=\"youtube\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FDRU8y2WvgA?feature=oembed\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-uw-rm-iframe=\"gn\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tout_d_9_5\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_mprtv0ty5\">Just talking to the scouts, when he pitches, I think he\u2019s going to be very good,\u201d Roberts said of Sasaki. \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone knows the body of work that\u2019s going to come this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_z0xxztm3i\">\u201cI\u2019m just as curious as everyone else is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_1ypwn0wzp\">Despite being poised for greatness, Sasaki is still a rookie and like every young player felt nervous at his first day of Dodgers spring training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_ecoqyz35u\">\u201cInside, I\u2019m really nervous,\u201d Sasaki said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_sscw7dhl8\">However, once the 23-year-old experiences a full camp, it should help him feel more accustomed to the batters he will face in MLB.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_p5hxm0eno\">Another highlight from the first few days of spring training included a Shohei Ohtani update. The NL MVP was seen throwing and should be ready to make his two-way debut by May. However, Ohtani is expected to be in the lineup for the season opener against the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_x86kt3pon\">Ohtani will throw his first bullpen session sometime this weekend, a significant step forward in the journey back to the mound. Unlike other starting pitchers, Ohtani will not be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment because he&#8217;s needed in the lineup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_r9ebntgcq\">\u201cThere\u2019s not going to be a rehab involved because obviously we need him to be active on the roster to take at-bats (as DH),\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_ij20l9sw4\">At Camelback Ranch, fans also got a first look at newcomers Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates. Veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw was seen standing next to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to observe Snell and Sasaki throwing their first bullpen for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"tout_d_9_7\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"style_120ff32\" data-mm-id=\"_p8g73fyno\" data-mm-type=\"embed\">\n<figure class=\"_sk5w3b\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"_1nhfz2\" title=\"Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates 1st Look! Sasaki, Ohtani, Dodgers Spring Training BTS Day 2!\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NaarBY8DIyU?feature=oembed\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_wtdk7zvyb\">It&#8217;s an exciting time to be a Dodgers fan, but utility man Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez said the defending champions are no longer basking in their success as the team eyes another ring in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_4qgsgzu9s\">&#8220;The expectations in this organization are the same, year in and year out, regardless of what happened the year before,&#8221; Hern\u00e1ndez said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>EXCLUSIVE: DODGERS SPRING TRAINING UNVEILED \u2013 ROKI SASAKI, SHOHEI OHTANI &amp; MORE STAR STUNTS BEHIND THE SCENES! - 24\/7 News America<\/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:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=25903\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"EXCLUSIVE: DODGERS SPRING TRAINING UNVEILED \u2013 ROKI SASAKI, SHOHEI OHTANI &amp; MORE STAR STUNTS BEHIND THE SCENES! - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. 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