GLENDALE, Ariz. — The first full weekend of spring training is supposed to be about stretching, easing in, knocking off rust. That’s not really how it felt around the Los Angeles Dodgers.

There was star-on-prospect live batting practice. There was a Japanese phenom lighting up the radar gun. There were bullpen sessions with subtext. There was even a little outside noise from New York.

In other words, normal Dodgers camp.

Gavin Stone faced Shohei Ohtani at Spring Training this morning.

So excited to see Stone back on the mound this season and to see the GOAT doing what he does best on both sides again 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ITdlYMyc0P

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) February 14, 2026

When Shohei Ohtani digs in during live BP, even in mid-February, the energy shifts. Ohtani faced right-hander Gavin Stone in one of the weekend’s most anticipated sessions. The results don’t matter much this time of year. The competition does.

For Stone, it’s about attacking elite hitters and sharpening command. For Ohtani, it’s about timing and tracking — stacking quality reps as he gears up for another MVP-caliber season. It’s February theater. But it’s also a reminder: the bar here is different.

If there was one arm that turned heads, it belonged to Roki Sasaki.

In a live session, Sasaki touched 98.6 mph and looked free and explosive. He faced Hyeseong Kim and Seby Zavala, inducing a grounder to short, allowing a single and punching out one over 17 pitches. More important than the radar reading was the ease.

General manager Brandon Gomes said Sasaki had a strong offseason focused on strength and mobility. It showed. The delivery was synced. The arm speed was there. After an adjustment-heavy first season, Sasaki isn’t just looking to flash. He’s looking to anchor.

The newest late-inning weapon, Edwin Diaz, threw a bullpen and then handled a question that drifted in from Queens.

Mets owner Steve Cohen had called Díaz’s decision to sign with the Dodgers “perplexing.”

He praised the Mets organization, reiterated that he explored the market as a free agent and made it clear: the Dodgers recruited him well, and he chose to be here. “This is a new journey,” he said. “I’m happy to be with the Dodgers.”

Díaz appreciates the Dodgers going all the way for him.

“I was a free agent, so I got the chance to talk with everyone. And I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me. At the end of the day, I chose to be here. I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization, players, staff, ownership.”

The noise can get loud but it was louder in the clubhouse this weekend. If you wandered through the clubhouse this weekend, you probably heard Kiké Hernández before you saw him. Early to camp after signing a new deal, Hernández has already settled back into his unofficial role as clubhouse spark plug. The vibe? Very Kiké.

The timeline? More measured.

Gomes said Hernández is progressing well and should begin swinging soon, but the organization expects him to miss roughly the first two months. The Dodgers are targeting a midseason return. Same goes for reliever Evan Phillips, whom Gomes described as something of a “deadline acquisition” once healthy. The energy is immediate. The impact will come later.

There’s no rushing “Bazooka.” That’s the nickname for Brusdar Graterol, whose comeback from shoulder surgery will be deliberate.

Manager Dave Roberts was candid: the Dodgers are going to slow play him. The velocity isn’t where it will be. The process will take time.

Opening Day availability? Still unclear. In a bullpen that already has layers, the Dodgers can afford patience. And with a power arm coming off shoulder surgery, patience isn’t optional — it’s policy.

Right-hander River Ryan threw a bullpen this weekend — not a headline-grabber, but meaningful for a pitcher trying to reestablish himself in the rotation conversation. Spring training often belongs to the stars. But seasons are shaped by the depth arms who quietly build in February.

The first full weekend at Camelback Ranch didn’t provide answers. It provided signals. Sasaki’s velocity. Ohtani’s rhythm. Díaz’s composure. Kiké’s steady progress. Graterol’s careful buildup.

The rest of the roster reports Tuesday. The Cactus League opener against the Los Angeles Angels is Saturday. It’s still early. But in Dodgers camp, even the early days feel intentional.