February 23rd, 2023 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka As the City of Los Angeles braces for its second blizzard warning on record this Saturday, 26-year-old Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove will take the mound at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Maryvale, AZ for the Dodgers 2023 Spring Training Opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at 12:10 p.m. PST.
“I don’t think I’ve started a Cactus League game yet, so it will be nice to get back on my routine against some guys in different jerseys, see how the pitches look, and see how they react to it. So, yeah, I’m excited for it,” Grove told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson on Wednesday afternoon.
(SportsNet LA)
Ironically and by pure coincidence, the Wheeling, WV native and Dodgers second-round draft pick in 2018 out of West Virginia University in Morgantown appeared in last year’s Dodgers Spring Training debut, earning the save.
Grove appeared in seven games for the Dodgers in 2022, having started six of them. He finished his MLB debut season with a 1-0 record and 4.60 ERA, with 24 strikeouts and 10 walks (one intentional). He allowed 21 runs on 32 hits, six of which were home runs.
The downside to all of this for Grove is that, although the Dodgers 2023 starting rotation has yet to be finalized by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (et al.), Grove is going to have an extremely difficult time bumping future Hall of Fame left-handed Clayton Kershaw, left-hander Julio Urias, right-hander Tony Gonsolin, right-hander Noah Syndergaard, and right-hander Dustin May from the Dodgers starting rotation, and will most likely begin the 2023 campaign at Triple-A Oklahoma City. This is, of course, pure speculation and most certainly subject to change.
(SportsNet LA)
Play Ball!
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Grove has taken longer than expected to develop into a professional pitcher. Perhaps longer recovery time from 2017 TJ surgery compounded by missing the 2020 season (covid) that allowed others to pass him on the prospect lists. Watched him get his fastball into upper 90’s last season and it looks like he could be the next Mitchell White in the bullpen, or possibly trade capital.
JP
I think the addition of D Peralta really plugs a hole for the Dodgers.
Now a Peralta / Thompson Outman platoon in LF (CT3 in the mix) settled LF.
I think CT3 starts opening day in CF which really settles the lineup in good shape.
A lousy CT3 is way better offensively than anything we got from swinging at Air with your eyes closed approach from unwilling to change his approach Cody Bellinger
I agree with you about a Peralta platoon in LF, whether it is with Turner or Thompson (I am not sold on Thompson). Centerfield is still a question mark for me — will not be surprised to see Dodgers make a deal for that position before opening day.
I believe that the Dodgers 40-man roster on Opening Day will be a bit different than it is right now.
Ron
What position do you think will be upgraded?