As the World Baseball Classic heats up, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves without some key players. Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Edwin Díaz, and Hyeseong Kim are all proudly representing their countries, leaving a noticeable gap in the Dodgers' spring training roster.
While the team anticipated more participation in the WBC, a few players opted out for various reasons. Freddie Freeman chose not to join, Miguel Rojas faced insurance issues, and Kiké Hernández is on the mend from elbow surgery. Tyler Glasnow also decided to sit this one out, prioritizing his preparation for the regular season.
Glasnow's focus on the upcoming season is a strategic move. He communicated early with Team USA that his sights were set on Dodgers camp, aiming to build on the momentum he gained at the end of last season.
His collaboration with the Dodgers' coaching staff has been pivotal in his progress. Glasnow shared, “I have so much trust in them, to where I don’t feel like I have to do everything on my own.”
Last season, Glasnow was limited to just 90.1 innings due to right shoulder inflammation, a setback following a previous elbow sprain. However, he rebounded impressively in the postseason, showcasing a stellar 1.69 ERA and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings over 21.1 innings pitched.
In an effort to boost his durability, the Dodgers encouraged Glasnow to gain weight during the offseason. Adding roughly 20 pounds through additional meals, he hopes this adjustment will translate to improved health and performance this year.
As Glasnow and the Dodgers gear up for the season, the focus remains on leveraging these strategic choices to ensure a strong campaign ahead.