The Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt with a rash of nagging injuries to several players through the first few weeks of Spring Training but have begun to get healthy.
Dustin May and Jimmy Nelson each resumed throwing after being shut down because of respective side and groin/lower back trouble, and Justin Turner avoided a serious injury when being hit by a pitch in his left hand.
Chris Taylor is also said to be nearing a return to the Dodgers lineup, and now Joc Pederson is poised to head down his path toward appearing in a Cactus League game.
According to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, Pederson is able to participate in workouts after being limited by a sore right side/hip:
#Dodgers Joc Pederson says he has been cleared as full participant in today’s workout. Next step would probably be ABs in minor-league camp games
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 6, 2020
Although Pederson’s injury was not considered serious, it wasn’t until late last week that he resumed baseball activity. He built up from standing in on Clayton Kershaw’s bullpen session and doing bunting to playing catch and taking swings in a batting cage late last week.
Like with their other players, the Dodgers have been content to take matters slowly with Pederson. “I don’t think we’re really worried about getting him ready for the start of the season,” manager Dave Roberts recently said.
“We’re more mindful of is not having a setback. The calendar is our friend, so we’re not worried about getting him at-bats and ready for Opening Day.”
Pederson is expected to platoon with AJ Pollock in left field this season. Of course, he — along with Ross Stripling — was nearly traded to the L.A. Angels just before the start of Spring Training.
The trade being in limbo overlapped with Pederson’s arbitration hearing, which he attempted to have rescheduled but to no avail. The three-person panel ruled in favor of the Dodgers. Pederson remains on track to become a free agent after the 2020 season.
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