When the Los Angeles Dodgers reported for the start of Spring Training earlier this month it was with plenty of fanfare surrounding Shohei Ohtani and their roster largely appearing set.
However, the Dodgers have made multiple Minor League signings since camp opened and also saw the respective returns of Clayton Kershaw and Kiké Hernández. Kershaw re-signing with the Dodgers was long seen as a likely outcome, but the possibility of Hernández also remaining with the team was less clear.
That changed on Monday when the Dodgers traded Manuel Margot to the Minnesota Twins, who were mentioned among the finalists to sign Hernández.
Ohtani made his Dodgers Spring Training debut on Tuesday, which was also when Hernández joined the team for workouts at Camelback Ranch.
According to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times, Ohtani’s next game with the Dodgers and Hernández’s 2024 Cactus League debut are scheduled to come on Friday when they host the Cleveland Guardians:
Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani’s next spring game will be Friday (he will take live BP tomorrow)
Kiké Hernández will also be in the Dodgers lineup for the first time on Friday
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) February 28, 2024
Ohtani’s deliberate buildup and progression with his recovery from right elbow surgery quickly paid off as the two-time American League MVP hit a home run in the final at-bat of his first game.
Meanwhile, Hernández has recovered from the double hernia surgery he underwent last October and is excited to be back with the Dodgers. He enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence with the team last season after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline.
Hernández previously played for the Dodgers from 2015-2020.
Kiké Hernández wanted to be teammates with Shohei Ohtani
When both were still free agents early into the offseason, Hernández mentioned Ohtani as the player he most wanted to be teammates with.
It required the Dodgers winning a competitive process to sign Ohtani and some late roster shuffling, but Ohtani and Hernández now get to begin their first season as teammates on Friday.
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