Bill Plunkett

Bill Plunkett graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He has worked for daily newspapers as a sportswriter since 1983, in Southern California since 1987 and at the Orange County Register since 1999.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani smiles as he speaks to reporters on the first day of spring training workouts on Friday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Shohei Ohtani set to make his Dodgers’ Cactus League debut at DH vs. White Sox on Tuesday

February 26, 2024 at 1:08 p.m.

Shohei Ohtani will see his first game action with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. He is expected to start at DH against the Chicago White Sox.

The Dodgers’ James Outman, right, and Teoscar Hernandez celebrate after scoring during the first inning of their Cactus League opener against the San Diego Padres on Thursday in Peoria, Ariz. Hernandez and Outman are two key pieces to a Dodgers outfield that has some platoon options and flexibility. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

With Mookie Betts in the infield, Dodgers outfield has ‘a lot of good moving pieces’

February 23, 2024 at 7:31 a.m.

Betts is “all in” on playing second base full time this year, so Teoscar Hernandez and James Outman will be the key players in the outfield now.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani participates in spring training baseball workouts Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani ‘feeling good’ as rehab progresses

February 21, 2024 at 4:25 p.m.

Ohtani takes live batting practice again, with a goal of 50 at-bats before the season including live BP, Cactus League games or hitting off a pitching machine.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani participates in spring training workouts Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Shohei Ohtani ‘a lot further along’ in his recovery than Dodgers expected

February 17, 2024 at 8:06 a.m.

Ohtani takes batting practice on the field again Friday, sending balls flying over the fence, and says he plans to start facing pitchers in live BP next week.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani prepares to take batting practice during a spring training workout on Monday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani takes his work out on the field for first time

February 13, 2024 at 9:42 a.m.

Ohtani had not taken batting practice on the field since before his elbow surgery last September, but he took 21 impressive swings on the field during Monday’s workout.

The Dodgers flexed their economic muscles this winter, adding two-way star Shohei Ohtani, top left, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, top right, pitcher Tyler Glasnow, bottom center, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, bottom left, to a roster that already included perennial MVP candidates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, bottom right. The spending spree is already seen in some quarters as an attempt to correct their recent postseason failures by buying their way to a World Series title. (Photos by The Associated Press and Getty Images)

Dodgers head to spring training in ‘full villain mode’

February 13, 2024 at 10:13 a.m.

Their winter spending spree is already seen by many as an attempt to correct recent playoff failures by buying a World Series title, but they don’t see their billion-dollar flex...

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