As part of the 2024 MLB World Tour, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will play the first ever regular season games in South Korea from March 20-21.
While the Seoul Series is another milestone for MLB in their quest to expand internationally, the earlier start to the season means the Dodgers and Padres are dealing with shortened Spring Training timelines. That could pose an issue as players try to build up for the grueling demands of a 162-game schedule.
Despite these concerns, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wants his players to focus on the positives of opening the season earlier than usual. “I hope their mindset is to be excited, looking forward to it. There’s no downside in that,” he began.
“So I’m sure that it’s different. It’s out of our routines, but I think I’m excited about it. And I hope our players are excited about it. We’re playing two games that matter. And like I said, there’s nothing we can do about it, so you better look forward to it.”
The Dodgers are being mindful with giving players enough reps to prepare for the Seoul Series, but not to the point where they are being overworked.
Many of their players are on track to be ready for the season, but some will have to wait until the Dodgers return stateside, including Brusdar Graterol, who is dealing with hip tightness.
Tyler Glasnow, who is expected to start in one of the two games against the Padres, expressed confidence he will be ready to go. “Yeah. I’m not sure what the pitch count is or anything, but I can be ready, for sure,” he answered when asked if he will have time to build up for the early schedule.
Dodgers likely piggybacking starting pitchers in Seoul Series
Roberts previously said that the Dodgers will likely piggyback their starters in the Seoul Series due to the shortened spring. Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are on track to start in some order during the two-game series.
The Dodgers have deployed the piggyback strategy on several occasions in recent years, where one starting pitcher throws five innings and/or 75 pitches and another finishes the game. They’ve also utilized openers with bulk pitchers going behind them.
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