With the Dodgers having completed their spring training camp a full two weeks earlier than every other MLB team (except the Diamondbacks, of course), now would be a good time to reflect back on the past 37 days since pitchers and catchers reported on February 8. During that time the Dodgers played only 19 spring training games (plus four split-squad games) as compared to the 39 games they played last spring.

The Dodgers broke spring training on Sunday evening after only 37 days in camp.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

As happens every spring, there were some surprises during spring training 2014 and, of course, some disappointments.

Without question the biggest surprise of camp was Dee Gordon. Although you won’t find a person alive who doesn’t like the extremely polite 25-year-old Windermere, FL native and son of former major leaguer Tom “Flash” Gordon, Dee has struggled mightily during his three previous (partial) seasons with the Dodgers. Although no one ever questioned Gordon’s blazing speed, it did him and the Dodgers little good when he couldn’t get on base. In his 669 major league plate appearance, Gordon had a dismal .301 on-base percentage – not exactly what you expect from a projected leadoff hitter.

Perhaps realizing that his future with the Dodgers and even professional baseball was in serious jeopardy and that this was probably his last chance to make it to the Show, Gordon entered camp with renewed vigor, having come off of a very successful off-season in which he played in the Dominican and Puerto Rican Winter Leagues. In his combined 16 winter league games (which he played primarily as a center fielder), Gordon hit a remarkable .381 (24 for 63) with an even more remarkable .426 OBP.

Once camp began, Gordon would arrive early and usually spend an hour or more every day working with Dodgers legend and 1962 NL MVP Maury Wills on his bunting and baserunning skills. Up to this point Gordon had fallen well short of expectations as a bunter, in spite of his incredible speed. But under constant scrutiny, Wills taught Gordon to remain in the batters box until the bunt was down instead of a running bunt. Wills worked wonders with Dee completely turning his bunting game around, which helped the speedster to a .286 spring batting average (12 for 42 – including four triples) for a more acceptable .326 OBP. However, where Maury’s work really paid off was with Gordon’s baserunning. Dee was 9 for 9 in stolen bases to lead the Cactus League in only 18 games played.

With his MLB future on the line, 25-year-old Dee Gordon went all out this spring, including spending an hour or more each day working with Maury Wills on bunting and baserunning.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In addition to his renewed offense, Gordon also played exceptionally well at second base, committing only two errors in 59 chances for a .966 FPCT. All of this being said and in all honesty, recently signed Cuban infielder Alex Guerrero will most likely become the Dodgers everyday second baseman after a little more seasoning in the minor leagues. Guerrero simply has too much pop to ignore (he hit .300 with a home run and 9 RBIs) and his defense was even better than Gordon’s (no errors in 26 chances). Even when Guerrero does become the Dodgers everyday second baseman, keeping Gordon as a utility bench player should be a given.

Another spring training surprise was 29-year-old non-roster invitee Justin Turner, who hit .355 (11 for 31) in 16 games played – second only to Miguel Rojas (.444) among those playing in 12 or more games this spring. Turner also flashed the leather on defense while playing all four infield positions. At times the Long Beach native showed the grit of former Dodgers utility infielders Nick Punto and Jamey Carroll and never left the field with a clean uniform. The 6′ 0″ bearded redhead was ecstatic when notified that he had made the team and would be making the flight to Sydney. Turner quickly became a fan favorite at Camelback Ranch spending more time signing autographs for fans that just about anyone else. He is also extremely active on Twitter (@redturn2).

Speaking of Miguel Rojas, he was yet another surprise. Although extremely quiet, the 25-year-old non-roster invitee rookie spoke loudly with his bat and glove this spring. As noted, his .444 batting average led the team, and even though his three errors also led the team, he showed exceptionally quick hands and great footwork at shortstop and second base. It still remains to be seen if Rojas will make the final 25-man roster or not, but he was everything that Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti touted him to be. With the Dodgers having already purchasing the contracts of Justin Turner and Chone Figgins and with Dee Gordon a lock for a roster spot, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Rojas begin the 2014 season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

And speaking of Chone Figgins, he was indeed a surprise at spring training, but not the kind of surprise you are thinking. To be brutally honest, it is a surprise that Ned Colletti and the Dodgers didn’t designate him for assignment. Even though Figgins showed tremendous versatility by playing every defensive position except for pitching, catching and first base, he showed very little offense, hitting only .167 (6 for 36) in 16 games played. And even though the 36-year-old Leary, GA native sported a decent .326 OBP (primarily because of his nine walks) the supposed speedster stole only two bases while being caught once. Although I hope I am wrong, I do not see Figgins as being all that helpful to the defending NL West Champs and would much rather see Rojas on the Dodgers bench.

As for pitching, Ned Colletti once again came out looking like a genius by signing free agent Chris Perez and picking up Seth Rosin (pronounced Row-seen) in the Rule 5 Draft. Both of these right-handers pitched exceptionally well this spring – so well, in fact, that Chris Withrow and Jose Dominguez are now at risk of starting the 2014 season at Triple-A Albuquerque. Perez ended spring training with a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings of work while Rosin finished with an outstanding 1.64 ERA in 11 innings of work. As a Rule 5 draftee, Rosin must either remain on the Dodgers 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Phillies, who would undoubtedly take him back in a heartbeat.

Ned Colletti found a diamond in the rough when he selected 25-year-old Seth Rosin in the Rule 5 Draft from the Phillies (via the Mets) last December. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Even though 18-year MLB veteran Jamey Wright was invited to Australia, I would be shocked if the 39-year-old Oklahoma City native is not designated for assignment before the (domestic) season opener on March 30. In 6.1 innings of work this spring, Wright allowed seven earned runs for a bloated 9.95 ERA. And when you consider that veteran starting pitcher Paul Maholm will most likely begin the season out of the Dodgers bullpen as the long reliever/spot starter, there simply isn’t room for Wright on the Dodgers 25-man roster – especially with fireballers Chris Withrow and Jose Dominguez available.

I would also have to include Josh Beckett as a surprise this spring – this in spite of injuring his right thumb in a freak accident that will most likely cause him to begin the season on the 15-day DL. The good news is that the Dodgers will not need a fifth starter until April 19 and barring any setbacks, Beckett should be ready to go by then. And while some may consider Dan Haren as a surprise this spring, he has simply gone out and done exactly what Colletti signed him to do – go out and be a workhorse number four starter. On a personal note, Haren proved to be extremely polite with the media and is clearly well liked by his teammates. And being a southern California native (Monterey Park), the 33-year-old Haren is extremely happy to be a Dodger – the team that he grew up watching as a kid.

One of the other surprises this spring was veteran reliever Brian Wilson, not necessarily because of his excellent 4.1 innings of work, but because of the absolutely filthy knuckleball that he developed over the off-season and spring. Even though he only threw it a handful of time this spring, he clearly has it mastered and Dodger fans can expect the 32-year-old (last Sunday) Londonderry, NH native to use it quite a bit this season. You’ll know when he throws it because there will be a collective “Oooh” throughout the stadium – especially from the Dodgers dugout and bullpen. Fun stuff indeed.

On the disappointment side of things, there was nothing more disappointing than seeing Javy Guerra designated for assignment on Sunday. Guerra, who was the Dodgers fourth round draft pick in 2004 and spent all of his 10 professional seasons within the Dodgers organization, was out of options and there was simply no place to put him. And even though Guerra pitched well this spring (1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in eight innings of work), the 28-year-old Denton, TX native seemed to frequently have to pitch himself out of jams that he created for himself, especially with the nine hits and four walks he allowed giving him a rather ugly WHIP of 1.625. Javy has always been a huge fan favorite and a great teammate, and while there is always the chance that he will clear waivers allowing the Dodgers to send him back to Triple-A Albuquerque, in all honesty the former Dodgers closer would have a better shot at making it back to the big leagues with another team.

It’s safe to say that Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez, Juan Uribe and A.J. Ellis all had disappointing springs, but it is even safer to say that all of these guys will come around, and probably sooner than later. Although Crawford did not make the trip to Australia because of the pending birth of his child, he looked a lot better at the plate the last two or three days of camp and one has to believe that he will bust it open soon; so too will the others.

It was great to see Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier have solid spring training camps again and there is little doubt that these two guys will prove to be the very foundation for the 2014 Dodgers to build upon. As far as Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu go, fans who are worried about their less-than-stellar camps need to relax. For those who may recall, all three of these guys had ERAs over three last spring and we all know how their respective seasons ended.

On the injury front both Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley are progressing along at a remarkable pace – especially Bills. Whereas, if you had told me a month ago that Chad might be ready sometime in May, I would have said you were nuts, but this is now a very real possibility. As for Kemp, I’ll go on the record right here, right now and say that he will be back in the Dodgers line-up by May 1 – maybe even sooner.

Chad Billingsley is recovering from last April’s Tommy John surgery at a remarkable pace and barring any setbacks could be ready as early as mid-May. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Hands down the biggest disappointment on the injury front was top pitching prospect Ross Stripling tearing the ACL in his right elbow. While many projected Zach Lee to be next starter to emerge from the Dodgers minor league system, I have had Stripling ahead of Lee for over a year. Sadly, the best that Ross can hope for now is a Billingsley-like recovery so that he might be ready for spring training 2015.

While top outfield prospect Joc Pederson had a very impressive spring, he will most likely begin the 2014 season in Albuquerque. But Dodger fans can absolutely count on him playing at Dodger Stadium at some point during the season – especially if (Lord forbid) Crawford, Ethier, Puig or Kemp suffer a long-term injury. The 21-year-old Pederson showed everyone that he is MLB-ready and he played in every game – including every split-squad game.

Utility outfielder Mike Baxter also had a great spring and earned a spot on the opening day roster with his .308 batting average in the 20 games in which he appeared. That being said, Scott Van Slyke will most likely be considered the Dodgers fourth outfielder until Kemp returns to the line-up. Van Slyke can also spell Adrian Gonzalez at first base when needed.