5 Bold Predictions for Dodgers Opening Day Roster Competitions
The Los Angeles Dodgers suddenly have several competitions for the Opening Day roster.
Hyeseong Kim, who signed a three-year, $12.5 million deal with the Dodgers this offseason, is no lock to make the Opening Day roster.
Read more: Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim Could Be Left Off Opening Day Roster, Sparking New Competition
“I just think there’s so much unknown between now and Opening Day, seeing how the roster plays out and how he looks,” general manager Brandon Gomes recently said recently.
Added manager Dave Roberts: “Right now, he’s in a competition to earn a job with us. So I would say that’s still all in play, and we don’t need to make a decision right now.”
In addition to the competition at the end of the position player roster, the Dodgers have plenty of spots open in the bullpen. Three key relievers — Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Michael Grove — are not expected to be ready for Opening Day, meaning there’s plenty of room for pitchers to impress and earn a spot.
And finally, there are three players competing for the final spot in the starting rotation — Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Bobby Miller.
With just three weeks to go until the Dodgers open their season in Japan, here are five predictions for how the competitions will shake out and impact the roster (with a couple bonus ones to watch out for).
More news: Dave Roberts Provides Latest Report on Roki Sasaki From Dodgers Camp
1. Hyeseong Kim Starts Season in Minor Leagues
While this prediction is not as bold as it would have been just a week ago, Kim not making the Opening Day roster would still be considered a surprise considering his three-year, $12.5 million deal.
Nonetheless, the Dodgers know he needs to catch up to major league pitching, and in this prediction, they’ll do it with him in the minor leagues.
Kim is just 1-for-12 thus far in spring with five strikeouts and one infield single.
2. Andy Pages Opens Season on Opening Day Roster
With Kim opening the season in the minors, that paves the way for Pages — who homered on Wednesday — to break camp with the club.
Pages hit .248 with 13 home runs, 46 RBIs, and an OPS of .712 across 116 games his rookie year. He even had a two-home-run performance in the National League Championship Series.
What to Watch For: I couldn’t make this prediction just yet, but if Eddie Rosario continues to impress, he’s a dark-horse candidate to break camp with the club as a left-handed option to replace Kim.
3. Tommy Edman is the Dodgers’ Starting Second Baseman
With Kim in the minor leagues — and Gavin Lux on the Cincinnati Reds — the Dodgers suddenly need a second baseman. Enter Edman, who was expected to start the year as the center fielder.
Edman will transition back to the infield while Kim gets settled in the minor leagues. That will give Pages plenty of opportunities in center field — with Edman still playing center field and both Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor getting opportunities at second base.
4. Tony Gonsolin Wins No. 5 Starter Competition, Dustin May Opens Season in Bullpen
The first prediction on the pitching side of things has Gonsolin, who has looked really sharp this spring, securing the No. 5 spot in the Dodgers’ starting rotation. However, May won’t be a starter in the minor leagues.
Instead, the Dodgers will experiment with May being a reliever to open the year, and could then use him as a starter if injuries start to pile up.
5. A Non-Roster Invite Makes the Opening Day Bullpen
Finally, the Dodgers have three spots to fill in the bullpen, and at least one of them will be with a non-roster invite.
Right-handed pitchers Luis Garcia and Giovanny Gallegos are both competing for spots in the bullpen. One of them will break camp with the team, and get to travel to Japan for Opening Day.
Bonus prediction: Ben Casparius makes the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster.
Casparius has looked really sharp in spring training. With all the injuries, he’s going to get one of those final bullpen spots.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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