Dodgers Blue Heaven: Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #7

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #7

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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(Tommy Lasorda, pic via Camelback Ranch on twitter)

ONE DAY AWAY: The Dodgers held their seventh and final full-squad workout of Spring Training today with some team defense work, bunt plays and live batting practice. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox.

WE GOT A SITUATION HERE: This morning, the Dodgers split into two teams and played a situational game, highlighting defensive strategy and baserunning. The teams weren’t exactly evenly divided as the starting lineup for the first team was Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager, Carl Crawford, A.J. Ellis and Joc Pederson. The other starting squad consisted of Micah Johnson, Elian Herrera, Cody Bellinger, Trayce Thompson, Brandon Hicks, Alex Hassan, Corey Brown, Austin Barnes and Rico Noel. Field Coordinator Clayton McCullough actually did the pitching with a screen in front of him while Dodger hurlers simulated the start of the pitch.

Alex Wood, Brandon Beachy and Jamey Wright threw live batting practice to a group of hitters including Kiké Hernandez and Justin Turner.
Beachy was signed by the Dodgers on Feb. 21, 2015 and worked his way back to the Major Leagues after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery on March 21, 2014. The right-hander made two starts for Los Angeles last year, was designated for assignment on July 30 and then signed to a minor league deal on Jan. 6, 2016.

(Puig, pic via @MLB on twitter)

MANNY HAPPY RETURNS: Dodger Spanish Language broadcaster Manny Mota arrived at Camelback Ranch this morning and will help out as an instructor for a few weeks. Mota, who turned 78 on Feb. 18, enters his 48th season as a player, coach or broadcaster with the Dodgers. His Dodger playing career spanned parts of 13 seasons from 1969-1980 and 1982 and during his 20-year-career, Mota hit .304 with San Francisco (1962), Pittsburgh (1963-68), Montreal (1969) and the Dodgers. The native of the Dominican Republic became baseball’s all-time pinch-hit leader with 150, a mark since broken by former Dodgers Lenny Harris and Mark Sweeney.

Dodger Special Assistant, Player Personnel Aaron Sele also arrived in camp today. Sele is entering his eighth season in the Dodger front office following 15 seasons as a pitcher in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox (1993-97), Rangers (1998-99), Mariners (2000-01, ‘05), Angels (2002-04), Dodgers (2006) and Mets (2007).

GET WELL SOON: Right-handed reliever Josh Ravin underwent surgery on his left arm yesterday and is expected to be out of action between eight and 12 weeks. Ravin broke his left radius after being involved in a car accident on Monday afternoon.

WHAT AN HONOR: On this date in 2005, Dodger Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson was honored posthumously by receiving the Congressional Gold Medal during ceremonies in the rotunda of the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC.