February 29th, 2020 at 9:30 am 
by 0799291000348 While it is much too early in the 2020 spring training to draw any firm conclusions on any Dodgers players, there have been some early, notable performances.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
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Pitching
In the seven games played thus far, the Dodgers have ten pitchers who have each worked two or more innings without allowing an earned run (Austin Drury, Caleb Ferguson, Tony Gonsolin, Kenley Jansen, Marshall Kasowski, Adam Kolarek, Edubray Ramos, Logan Salow, Dennis Santana, and Mitchell White). Collectively, those pitchers have pitched 23-innings, walked only 4, while striking out 28-opposing hitters. Excluding the non-roster invitees (NRI’s) to the Major League camp, the pitching staff has allowed only seven earned runs in the first week of games. Even though pitchers are typically ahead of hitters this early in spring training, those are very impressive numbers.
A few notable pitching performances to date:
- Veteran closer Kenley Jansen has dominated in his two perfect innings pitched, striking out five of the six hitters he has faced.
- 25-year-old Tony Gonsolin has impressed, allowing only one hit in his three innings of work; no walks, three strikeouts, three ground ball outs, and three fly balls.
- 23-year-old Caleb Ferguson has been perfect in his two innings of work, striking out 2, with three ground ball outs.
- 23-year-old Dennis Santana is making an early case for a spot in the bullpen on opening day with his high velocity, movement, and command; striking out six in his three innings of work.
- Veteran Adam Kolarek is off to a good start to convince the Dodgers that he is more than a LOOGY (left-handed one-out guy) doing what he does best, getting ground ball outs in his two perfect innings of work.
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Hitting
Everyone knows that veterans Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Corey Seager, and Justin Turner are going to hit, it is just a matter of getting their respective mechanics and approach ready for opening day. Nonetheless, there are several encouraging signs, not the least of which is Corey Seager being 100% healthy. Seager has yet to strike out in his 10-plate appearances and is hitting the ball to all fields.
- Betts and Muncy each have 12-plate appearances without striking out, and Bellinger only twice in his 11 trips to the plate.
- 24-year-old, infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry is showing that his 2019 combined stats for Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City were not a fluke (.300 / .366 / .516 / .882 with 19-home runs).
- Utility player Chris Taylor has dealt with some minor physical issues, which have limited him to only eight plate appearances. But watching him hit the ball to center and right fields (his home run was into the right-field bleachers) speaks volumes about his approach.
- Others who have swung the bat well include veteran backup catchers Austin Barnes and Rocky Gale; recently reacquired 25-year-old outfielder/first baseman Luke Raley; 22-year-old, middle infield prospect Omar Estevez; 24-year-old outfield prospect DJ Peters (only two strikeouts in 10-plate appearances); and 25-year-old outfield prospect Cody Thomas with two LONG home runs.
- With the caveat that twenty-five spring training games remain, utility players Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios could be feeling some pressure about making the opening day roster with McKinstry performing so well. Rios in particular, as he has struck out in half of his 12-plate appearances. Although A.J. Pollock’s roster spot seems assured, he cannot be pleased with the start of spring training, as he has but one hit and five strikeouts in 13-plate appearances while facing right-handed pitching.
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Fielding
Finally, a brief observation about the team’s team fielding. After seven games, the Dodgers have yet to record a fielding error. That is remarkable, considering that 36 pitchers and 29 position players have been used in those games.
Another plug for Zach McKinstry; watching him play defensively on the infield is a true pleasure, as he is so fundamentally sound. After following his progress through the Dodgers minor league system, he has become a personal favorite.
Check back in one week for the next 2020 Dodgers spring training update.
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Excellent write-up Jesse. Thank you. McKinstry a minor-league favorite of mine also along with Cody Thomas and Luke Raley. Would not want to be the person to make the decision who makes the OD roster and who does not. Hard choices right now.
Thanks. Your love of the Dodgers and comments always brightens the day. Yes, there will be some very difficult decisions made before opening day. McKinstry was the Dodgers pick in the 33rd round of the famous 2016 entry draft (Lux, Smith, White, May, Peters, Raley, Gonsolin, Thomas) as a glove first shortstop. Dodgers gave him $100,000 as a draft eligible sophomore and he has worked hard to improve his hitting.
Wow. If the 2016 entry draft got the all the Dodgers whom you listed, they got quite a bountiful harvest. Did they not?
there where others as well that I did not include. Relief pitcher Sheffield was the teams supplemental pick after the first round; 11th round pick pitcher AJ Alexy was traded to the Rangers as partial payment for Yu Darvish; and, 14th round pick Dean Kremer, also a pitcher, was part of the group of players sent to the Orioles for the Manny Machado rental. SS Errol Robinson, and catcher Steve Berman were also drafted in 2016.
McKinstry is looking very good and as you said, he is so fundamentally sound.
Two more errorless games yesterday for a total of nine to start spring training.
The bullpen could most definitely be a major strength this year. The most encouraging thing is Jansen’s performance to date. If he is back to his old self, who can beat us?
So far, so very good for the relievers. Throwing in the off season seems to have made a big difference in pitchers (remember when reliever Mike Marshall advocated throwing all year?), Driveline baseball refining mechanics, etc. — and adding closer Blake Treinen to the staff may have been competition that Jansen needed to return to form. If the bullpen is a strength in 2020 rather than a big question mark in 2019, this team will make Dodgers and MLB history.