Spring Training is underway for the Los Angeles Dodgers with pitchers and catchers already working out at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, and many position players already there or arriving in the next few days.
The Dodgers aggressive and free-spending offseason has brought numerous new faces into the mix, most notably Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the new season should see some key players returning from injury, including Walker Buehler.
Both Yamamoto and Buehler are expected to be a major part of the Dodgers rotation this season, with the former working as the top pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) over the last few years before making the jump to MLB, and the latter becoming the Dodgers’ ace before his injury.
Buehler has expressed interest in learning from Yamamoto, and the pair played catch together to warm up for their first bullpen sessions of 2024.
Walker Buehler’s catch partner today? Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Both are throwing bullpens this morning. pic.twitter.com/CW0riI0Y62
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 9, 2024
Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws his bullpen as Andrew Friedman looks on. pic.twitter.com/L6KVRRMKvx
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 9, 2024
Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws first bullpen at #Dodgers camp pic.twitter.com/v6WqOZUk90
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) February 9, 2024
Here is your zoomed-in video of Walker Buehler throwing a bullpen. pic.twitter.com/fY3XAXBWI1
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 9, 2024
#Dodgers Walker Buehler throwing a bullpen this morning pic.twitter.com/UzaT8dYOYg
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) February 9, 2024
Yamamoto was among the players who reported early to Spring Training, and he is projected to lead the Dodgers rotation that has high expectations. The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract that is the richest deal for a pitcher in MLB history, and it includes multiple perks in the deal as well, signifying the Dodgers’ belief in his talent.
The 25-year-old over the past three seasons with the Orix Buffaloes went a combined 49-16 with a 1.44 ERA and 580 strikeouts.
Walker Buehler ‘ahead of schedule’
Buehler missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from the second Tommy John surgery of his career. He initially hoped to join the Dodgers rotation late last year but shifted his focus to 2024 after making one rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The right-hander started throwing bullpen sessions before reporting to Camelback Ranch for Spring Training and offered an encouraging update on his progress, saying he is ahead of schedule.
Despite the positive news, the Dodgers are going to slow play Buehler this spring, and he is expected to miss the start of the regular season as a way to manage his innings.
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