Key Dodgers Spring Training Storylines That Will Shape the 2026 Season
From roster battles to breakout candidates, here’s what to keep an eye on as the Dodgers ramp up for 2026.
LOS ANGELES, CA—Just like that, and the 2026 Major League Baseball offseason is coming to an end with pitchers and catchers set to report to their respective camps by the end of the week.
For the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s the start of what is expected to be yet another long season with lofty goals of becoming the first team since the 1990s New York Yankees to accomplish a three-peat.
Still, even with a star-studded roster, there are multiple reasons to have your eyes glued to spring training, especially with one of the league's best farm systems set to get significant playing time.
But what else is there to keep an eye out for this spring while the team begins its quest for its 10th World Series title in franchise history?
Year Two Preview: What’s Next for Roki Sasaki
It was a tale of two halves for Japanese rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki, who finished his first year on a high note in the Dodgers bullpen to close out the regular season and postseason.
Saying Sasaki met his massive expectations is a bit of a stretch, as the rookie mostly struggled to stay on the mound, missing most of the regular season due to a right shoulder injury. When healthy, he posted a 4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over eight games in the first half.
Still, Sasaki rebounded once he returned from the injured list, thriving in a new role for October as the team’s emergency closer after injuries to left-hander Tanner Scott and inconsistencies from veteran right-handers Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen.
When the lights were brightest, Sasaki showed up for the Dodgers, pitching to an elite 0.84 ERA across 10.2 innings, including a dominant National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he collected two saves and came to the rescue in Game Four, tossing three scoreless innings in relief.
However, entering Year Two, Sasaki has the same goal as he had in Year One: returning to the starting rotation.
Both President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and General Manager Brandon Gomes acknowledged that Sasaki would return to the rotation for the 2026 season, but whether that’s in the Major Leagues or Triple-A is less than clear.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared earlier this winter that it's imperative that Sasaki add a third pitch to his arsenal to further develop his career, as last season Sasaki heavily relied on his elite splitter and fastball, which, in a starting role, is a bit more predictable for MLB hitters.
Sasaki took that objective criticism to heart and, according to Dylan Hernández of the California Post, the right-hander is looking to add a cutter and two-seam fastball to his pitch selection.
Part of what kept Sasaki on the injured list for so long last summer was that the Dodgers also wanted him to work on his mechanics, as they attributed his injury to his mechanics and his struggles with command.
“I think there are two things: just making sure that my mechanics are in a very consistent place, so that I can be efficient with my delivery,” Sasaki said through an interpreter of what he hopes to do as a starting pitcher. “I think that was the key.
“And secondly, I think it’s about the physical part of it. And I think that just comes with working out.”
The Dodgers' starting rotation is very full at the moment, highlighted by postseason heroes Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell, along with hopeful full seasons of Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Emmet Sheehan.
Still, should the Dodgers opt to slow-play their starters, as seems to be the case for left-hander Blake Snell, Sasaki could be given an opportunity early on if he shows improvement during spring training.
As for spring training, it's set to be a massive one for Sasaki, as the team even denied him from participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic to focus on his 2026 season with Los Angeles and spending more time with the coaching staff.
If Sasaki can be who he was in October, it’ll massively change the outlook for the Dodgers' starting rotation, which is already considered one of the best in the sport.
Who Will Claim the Dodgers’ Bench Role? Kim vs. Freeland
One of the few storylines to look for this spring is how the Dodgers’ bench will shape up before the start of the regular season.
Early in the winter, the Dodgers re-signed Game Seven hero, veteran utility infielder Miguel Rojas, to a 1-year, $5.5 million contract for the final season of his career.
As of now, fan-favorite utilityman Kiké Hernández is not signed by the team, but even if the two work out a contract agreement during spring training, he’s expected to be sidelined for most of the first half of the regular season, rehabbing from offseason elbow surgery.
That then opens up a few spots on the bench, especially in the wake of Tommy Edman’s cloudy status for Opening Day. So, where does that leave Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim?
On the surface, Kim, 27, had a solid rookie year in Dodger Blue finshing with a .280/.314/.306 slash line and a slightly below league average 95 wRC+, but showcased elite speed and defense.
However, after a solid first half of the regular season, Kim’s performance tanked in the second half, where the left-handed hitter posted a -4 wRC+ and saw his strikeout rate nearly double from 25.2% to 43.1%.
Still, thanks to his speed and defensive versatility, Kim secured a spot on the Dodgers’ postseason roster, helping them wrap up another championship season.
As for Alex Freeland, his brief stint with the Dodgers was less than stellar, where the top prospect only hit .190/.292/.310 with a 73 wRC+ in 29 games filling in for the injured Max Muncy.
However, like Kim, Freeland’s value, especially for a bench role, comes from his defensive versatility, as the full-time Triple-A shortstop has experience at both second and third base.
While Freeland was unable to translate his minor league success to the pros, he still turned heads as the 24-year-old posted an .835 OPS, slugged 16 home runs, and collected 83 RBIs last summer.
Like his minor league teammate Ryan Ward, Freeland has little to prove in Triple-A and will likely be competing for a spot on the Dodgers Opening Day 26-man roster along with Kim.
Another aspect that gives Freeland a possible edge is the fact that he’s a switch-hitter, although the Dodgers exclusively played him against right-handed pitchers, as his .207 average and .602 OPS versus southpaws were less than desirable.
As it stands right now, Kim is projected to make the roster over Freelan according to FanGraphs, but an injury or good spring can change that narrative.
Managing the Load: How the Dodgers Will Pace Players After Consecutive October Runs
The toll of winning back-to-back World Series titles is immense for the Dodgers, as they head into spring training looking for a way to keep their veteran players fresh.
While not a part of the 2024 World Series-winning roster, left-hander Blake Snell has slowed down his offseason throwing program and looks to take his time gearing up for the upcoming regular season after missing more than half the 2025 season with a shoulder injury.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow is also in a similar situation as Snell, as he, too, missed most of the regular season dealing with his own injuries but returned just in time for October.
Japanese starters Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to be a full two-way player at the start of the regular season, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who made a career-high in starts and innings pitched last season for Los Angeles, on top of an ungodly October run.
Second baseman Tommy Edman is also expected to have a delayed start to spring training and could possibly start the season on the 15-day injured list as he rehabs from offseason ankle surgery.
Freddie Freeman, who experienced ankle issues late in the 2024 season and spent time on the IL early last season, will enter his age-37 season with two more years remaining on his contract.
So how will the Dodgers handle one of the league’s oldest rosters while they have their sights set on a rare three-peat?
In short, it’s doing exactly what they’ve done for several years now, and that relies on the organizational depth that they’ve built over the last decade.
Starting pitchers need a break? Well, throw in Emmet Sheehan, Roki Saski, Justin Worbleksi, and others to help fill in the gaps.
Freddie Freeman needs a day off? Enter Dalton Rushing, who is prepared to play more first base this season in an effort to get more plate appearances, along with giving All-Star catcher Will Smith plenty of days off through a long 162-game season.
Injuries to outfielders or infielders? Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, Ryan Ward, and several other minor leaguers are all ready to make the jump and get an opportunity.