![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/usatsi_28261439_168399360_lowres-544x306.jpg\" "\\"Los")
<\/p>\nGLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 The first two days of full-squad workouts at Camelback Ranch have carried a familiar feel \u2014 championship mentality.<\/p>\n
For a club chasing a third straight title in 2026, there has been no talk of history, no grand declarations. Instead, it has been about preparation. Manager Dave Roberts made that clear in his opening address to the team. As he\u2019s done in past championship seasons, Roberts didn\u2019t carry the meeting alone.<\/p>\n
Before the first full-squad workout, several players addressed the team \u2014 including two of the club\u2019s biggest offseason additions: Kyle Tucker and Edwin D\u00edaz. Roberts said he felt it would be \u201cpowerful\u201d for the clubhouse to hear why both players chose Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Tucker spoke about competing on the biggest stage and embracing expectations. D\u00edaz emphasized unfinished business and the draw of pitching meaningful October innings.<\/p>\n
The message resonated. Veterans nodded. Young players listened. The room felt aligned. That\u2019s the tone Roberts wanted.<\/p>\n
One of the early camp storylines is the construction of the batting order. Roberts confirmed that Shohei Ohtani will again lead off. No debate there. Behind him? Still fluid.<\/p>\n
Roberts said he \u201clikes\u201d Mookie Betts in the No. 3 spot \u2014 and notably added that it would not change based on pitcher handedness. That\u2019s a significant vote of confidence after what Roberts labeled an offensive \u201coutlier\u201d season for Betts in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way he played shortstop last year,\u201d Roberts said, \u201cand expecting him to be better offensively this year, he will be in the MVP conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Betts\u2019 defensive transition to full-time shortstop drew praise throughout last season. Roberts belief is that with stability at the position, the bat rebounds to its typical elite level.<\/p>\n
The No. 2 and No. 4 spots remain undecided. Roberts acknowledged he\u2019s weighing combinations between Tucker and Freddie Freeman, seeking the right balance of on-base ability and run production.<\/p>\n
For now, experimentation continues.<\/p>\n
Betts also revealed a long-term goal that extends beyond 2026. When asked about the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, he didn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Betts said. \u201cI would\u2019ve done the WBC if it wasn\u2019t for the timing of having a child. Kids are always a blessing. If I get the opportunity to play in the Olympics, absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
With baseball returning to the Olympic stage in 2028, the idea of Betts representing Team USA on home soil adds another layer to an already decorated resume.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the field, Roberts provided a glimpse of the weekend pitching plan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch.<\/p>\n
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to start one of the Dodgers\u2019 first two Cactus League games. Ohtani is slated to serve as designated hitter in both contests as he continues his pitching progression.<\/p>\n
The early workload is measured, intentional \u2014 consistent with the organization\u2019s emphasis on long-term readiness.<\/p>\n
Through two days, there\u2019s an unmistakable steadiness around this group.<\/p>\n
Veterans reinforcing standards. Newcomers embracing expectations. The manager preaching preparation over prophecy. If there\u2019s a theme at Camelback Ranch so far, it isn\u2019t about rings. It\u2019s about work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 The first two days of full-squad workouts at Camelback Ranch have carried a familiar feel…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":580769,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2406],"tags":[5,39,29,1165,4332,4333,774,57,3224,4331,4,1526,169,468,6094,313],"class_list":{"0":"post-580768","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-dodgers","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-dodgers","10":"tag-kyle-tucker","11":"tag-la","12":"tag-la-dodgers","13":"tag-ladodgers","14":"tag-los-angeles","15":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","16":"tag-losangeles","17":"tag-losangelesdodgers","18":"tag-mlb","19":"tag-mookie-betts","20":"tag-news","21":"tag-shohei-ohtani","22":"tag-tst-los-angeles","23":"tag-yoshinobu-yamamoto"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116096561183976857","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=580768"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580768\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/580769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=580768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=580768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=580768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}