Monday, March 02

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Three years ago, Edwin Díaz was at the center of a World Baseball Classic moment that was memorable for the wrong reasons.

After Díaz closed out a big victory over the Dominican Republic, his celebration with his teammates went awry when Díaz ended up on the ground, suffering a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee that would end his 2023 season before it began. It was a sobering scene, but the memory did not give Díaz any reservations about suiting up for Puerto Rico again for the '26 Classic.

"It wasn't in my mind," Díaz said. "I have the chance to play in front of Puerto Rico. That was an easy decision."

It was easy for the other four Dodgers playing in this year's World Baseball Classic, too. Before the bid for a three-peat begins in earnest, the Classic-bound Dodgers are playing for even more glory.

Over the past week, a bustling Dodgers camp has grown gradually quieter as the participating players have departed. Shohei Ohtani was the first to go, and after Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined him in Tokyo, much of the media that follows the Japanese stars left as well. Hyeseong Kim (Korea), Díaz (Puerto Rico) and Will Smith (United States) round out L.A.'s big league representatives -- and that's not to mention Clayton Kershaw, who's coming out for an encore with Team USA.

Leading up to these departures, players worked to prepare on the field -- and off it as well. Díaz bleached his hair blond in preparation, a tradition for Team Puerto Rico. Even Kiké Hernández, who has played for Puerto Rico before but is on the 60-day IL while recovering from left elbow surgery, sported newly bleached locks while going through workouts on Sunday.

Coming off another World Series, the Dodgers had another short offseason. That gave their WBC participants very limited time to ramp up before being thrust into meaningful games, and for Kim, performing well during Spring Training is actually a priority because he's battling for a spot on the Opening Day roster. 

Kim, like just about every other player, will tell you: The opportunity to play for one's country is so special that it takes precedence over most else.

"Being able to represent your country is one of the most honorable things that I can do," Kim said through interpreter Dean Kim. "I had the exact same mentality when I first put on the national team jersey. And this time at WBC, and any international tournaments, I have the same mentality at any chance that I'm able to represent my country."

The Classic begins with pool play in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; Tokyo, Japan; and Miami, Fla., from March 5-11. That means a few of the Dodgers -- Díaz, Ohtani and Yamamoto -- get the rare opportunity to play in front of home crowds. Ohtani and Yamamoto got to do it in last year's Tokyo Series, but for Díaz, he believes it's his first game in Puerto Rico since becoming a professional.

“I think that’s the most important thing for me, pitching in front of my family and friends," Díaz said. "People from Puerto Rico, they don’t have the chance to travel and see us play in the big leagues. So the chance to play in front of my family and friends will be something I’m looking forward to.”

Smith, who is sharing catching duties with AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, is looking forward to working with a loaded Team USA pitching staff that features both of last year's Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. And he's glad to be reuniting with Kershaw one last time, four months removed from winning a third World Series title together.

"I'm excited he's going to be able to join us," Smith said. "I know he was bummed he couldn't last time. So it'll be a really cool experience for him and me, trying to win a gold medal."

The Dodgers may be the most qualified team to answer a question that came up often early in Spring Training: Which means more, winning a World Series or winning a World Baseball Classic? Among L.A. players, only Yamamoto and Ohtani have won both, and they're vying to help Samurai Japan continue its dominance in the tournament.

"I feel like it’s a little bit different -- two different wins," Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. But in terms of meaningfulness, he continued, "Both are equal."

Early on in Spring Training, the Dodgers are getting a handle on the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, which will be used in Major League games starting this year. Through the first week or so of games, Dodgers have used their challenges to get a sense for the system and its tendencies.

"I’m encouraging guys to challenge if they feel the need, because they’re calibrating, too," manager Dave Roberts said. "To be mindful that you do have a challenge, I do think it hones your focus on the strike zone, and that’s a good thing."

Later in spring, the usage of challenges will likely get more strategic. But some Dodgers already have an idea of how they expect to use the system.

"It's going to be very rare if you ever see me challenge in the season," Freddie Freeman said after losing a challenge last week. "I'd rather our pitchers and catchers get that. For me, the only time I'll do it is top nine, bottom nine, bottom eight, massive situation."

Here's a summary of the latest on the Dodgers' injured players. We also keep track of all of the team's injuries and transactions as news occurs in this story.

• LHP Blake Snell (left shoulder): Progressing in his throwing program, but Roberts said his odds of being ready for Opening Day are "probably zero." More >>

• RHP Brusdar Graterol (right shoulder surgery): Per Roberts, he's in a "holding pattern." He's only playing catch.

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