February 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nWhen 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\u2019s most anticipated sessions. The results don\u2019t matter much this time of year. The competition does.<\/p>\n
For Stone, it\u2019s about attacking elite hitters and sharpening command. For Ohtani, it\u2019s about timing and tracking \u2014 stacking quality reps as he gears up for another MVP-caliber season. It\u2019s February theater. But it\u2019s also a reminder: the bar here is different.<\/p>\n
If there was one arm that turned heads, it belonged to Roki Sasaki.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t just looking to flash. He\u2019s looking to anchor.<\/p>\n
The newest late-inning weapon, Edwin Diaz, threw a bullpen and then handled a question that drifted in from Queens.<\/p>\n
Mets owner Steve Cohen had called D\u00edaz\u2019s decision to sign with the Dodgers \u201cperplexing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cThis is a new journey,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m happy to be with the Dodgers.\u201d<\/p>\n
D\u00edaz appreciates the Dodgers going all the way for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez before you saw him. Early to camp after signing a new deal, Hern\u00e1ndez has already settled back into his unofficial role as clubhouse spark plug. The vibe? Very Kik\u00e9.<\/p>\n
The timeline? More measured.<\/p>\n
Gomes said Hern\u00e1ndez 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 \u201cdeadline acquisition\u201d once healthy. The energy is immediate. The impact will come later.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no rushing \u201cBazooka.\u201d That\u2019s the nickname for Brusdar Graterol, whose comeback from shoulder surgery will be deliberate.<\/p>\n
Manager Dave Roberts was candid: the Dodgers are going to slow play him. The velocity isn\u2019t where it will be. The process will take time.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t optional \u2014 it\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n
Right-hander River Ryan threw a bullpen this weekend \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The first full weekend at Camelback Ranch didn\u2019t provide answers. It provided signals. Sasaki\u2019s velocity. Ohtani\u2019s rhythm. D\u00edaz\u2019s composure. Kik\u00e9\u2019s steady progress. Graterol\u2019s careful buildup.<\/p>\n
The rest of the roster reports Tuesday. The Cactus League opener against the Los Angeles Angels is Saturday. It\u2019s still early. But in Dodgers camp, even the early days feel intentional.<\/p>\n