Dodgers Video: Miguel Vargas and JD Martinez Get Work in at Dodger Stadium
Spring training can’t come soon enough. For both the fans and the players it seems. This week marks the final week of the offseason and even though camps open for teams next Monday (pitchers and catchers officially report on Wednesday), a pair of Dodgers were spotted getting in work at Dodger Stadium today.
Rookie Miguel Vargas along with newest Dodger J.D. Martinez were filmed hitting and fielding at Chavez Ravine on Tuesday and it’s sure to get you even more hyped for the real start of spring training.
As you likely know by now, Vargas is making the transition to second base this season and has been working on the move for most of the winter. The 23-year-old has spent many hours at Dodger Stadium over the last few months and, more recently, worked with another new Dodger in Miguel Rojas.
Over the weekend the annual FanFest event, Rojas talked about their work and shared that he’s actually working Vargas at shortstop because, “if you can play shortstop, you can play anywhere.”
Also at FanFest, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared a bit on what he’s seen from Vargas and what he feels the young infielder needs to work on.
“I think as far as the rangeability and foot speed, Miguel can handle it. I think he needs to continue to work low to the ground as an infielder,
but his baseball IQ, jump on the baseball, I think it makes more sense.”
As far as J.D. Martinez, 2023 marks a sort of redemption season for the five-time All-Star. Last season the veteran saw a bit of a drop in power, hitting just 16 home runs in 139 games with the Red Sox. While he did connect for 43 doubles, the power production wasn’t quite up to his standards.
With LA, he’ll reunite with former hitting consultant Robert Von Scoyoc and look to get the homer pop back up while acting as a hitting mentor in his own right for some of the younger players on the roster.
Game one of the spring training season is set for February 25 with the Dodgers taking on the Brewers in Maryvale.
