With the Los Angeles Dodgers concluding their first weekend with the entire roster and group of non-roster invitees in camp, a handful of the special assistants in the front office and those with ties to the organization have made appearances at Camelback Ranch.
On Wednesday, Greg Maddux, special assistant to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman donned a Dodgers uniform and watched bullpen sessions. Maddux and Raul Ibañez were added to the club’s expansive front office earlier this month.
Former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was also in uniform on Wednesday and joined Maddux in offering advice to pitchers as they completed their bullpen session.
In addition to Gagne, Ron Cey, Eric Karros and Shawn Green are expected to spend time at Camelback Ranch this spring as guest coaches.
Maury Wills is already with the club and recently worked with Yasiel Puig on the bases. Then on Friday, the famed Sandy Koufax made his regular appearance at Camelback Ranch.
However, Koufax did not attend in his usual role as he is no longer a special advisor to Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Legendary left-hander Sandy Koufax is no longer a member of the Dodgers front office, the club confirmed to MLB.com on Friday.
Although Koufax no longer holds an official role with the organization, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts understandably is maintaining an open-door policy for the Hall of Fame lefty, per Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
“Sandy always has an opportunity to come here whenever he wants and can engage as much as he wants,” Roberts said. “If he comes out, that’s fantastic. There’s really no expectation. He has a right to do whatever he feels comfortable doing.”
On Sunday, Koufax clarified his standing with the organization. “I’m 80 years old and I have retired. I have not quit. I’m still part of the Dodgers’ organization and always will be especially as long as Mark and Kimbra Walter are part of ownership,” he said in a released statement.
“I will do most of what I have done in the past with no official title. I hope all the players, coaches, manager and everyone else in the clubhouse have successful and healthy seasons with a spectacular ending. See you Opening Day.”
The Dodgers hired Koufax as a special advisor in January 2013. In the role, he worked with pitchers during Spring Training and consulted with the team throughout the season.
In 12 seasons with the Dodgers, the first three of which were in Brooklyn, Koufax was 165-87 with a 2.76 ERA. He won three Cy Young Awards and an MVP — taking home both honors in 1963.
Koufax won three World Series titles with the Dodgers and was named World Series MVP in 1963 and ’65. At just 36 years old, Koufax became the youngest player elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.
