The Los Angeles Dodgers are in their first full week of 2024 Spring Training as position players are expected to report at Camelback Ranch by Tuesday and the team will hold a workout on Valentine’s Day.
Dodgers pitchers and catchers started reporting last week, and they were joined by multiple position players as well. Shohei Ohtani, James Outman, Jason Heyward and Gavin Lux were among those to get an early start on preparing for the 2024 season, which for the Dodgers begins with the Seoul Series from March 20-21.
The Dodgers — and San Diego Padres — had report dates earlier than other teams because of being part of the first MLB games in South Korea.
However, there was a delay in Joe Kelly arriving to Camelback Ranch, and Will Smith also had been out of camp as well. But both players joined the Dodgers for Spring Training on Monday morning, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Both are back in camp today. https://t.co/Ex92ENHHvL
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 12, 2024
Roberts had not provided specifics behind the excuses absences, but Kelly was in social media posts by his wife, as the couple was in Mexico for a relative’s wedding.
Prior to that, Kelly and his wife Ashley were among those who participated in the 2024 Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour. They were on hand for a pep rally at Corona High School, the first Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour event ever held in the Inland Empire, and they helped serve food while posing for photos at a local Jack in the Box.
Meanwhile, Smith was at DodgerFest on February 3. He’s looking to build off a first career All-Star season and continue cementing himself as one of the best catchers in baseball.
Key Dodgers Spring Training dates
The Dodgers’ first Cactus League game is February 22, against the Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Additional Dodgers Spring Training dates that are of note include February 23 for their first game at Camelback Ranch, split-squad matchups on March 2, and their final Cactus League game on March 13.
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