Maeda cruises in first Cactus League action

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda made his first start of the spring on Tuesday, throwing a perfect inning in the Dodgers' 8-2 loss to the Royals. Maeda struck out the first two batters that he faced, Whit Merrifield and Billy Hamilton.

“The first strikeout that I got was not as planned, but the second strikeout, of Hamilton, was what I aimed for, so that was good,“ Maeda said through an interpreter.

A year ago, Maeda worked on a new changeup in Spring Training and incorporated new grips on two pitches. This year, he’s sticking with the arsenal he already has and fine-tuning the new elements.

“I had a good feeling with the changeup coming out of my hand,” Maeda said. “I’m not really scared to choose that pitch. I’m confident in my changeup.”

Having incorporated a new curveball grip and going to a split-finger grip on his changeup last season, Maeda said his focus this spring is on “being more precise with those two pitches.”

“It’s an equalizer to the left-handed hitter,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Whether he can throw it for a strike if he needs to or bury it for a strikeout, as long as he can change eye levels with the fastball, the slider is obviously his best pitch, but to the lefty [the changeup] is a good equalizer.”

Seager having resurgent camp

Shortstop Corey Seager is on track for a comeback after missing all but 26 games in 2018 to elbow and hip surgeries.

“Corey is in a really good place,” Roberts said. “This is as good as I’ve seen him look. Watching him run the bases [Monday], his gait looks really good. Building him out as far as his arm strength. He’s going to spend a lot more time on the backfields this spring as far as taking at-bats, playing defensive innings, with the goal in mind to have him ready for Opening Day with us.”

Seager had been tracking pitches in live batting practice, but he hadn’t been swinging the bat until Tuesday.

“He had some good swings against Pedro Baez in a live session,” Roberts said of Seager’s first swings of the spring. “He had a 10-pitch at bat and ended up getting a base hit. Just to see some pitches and end up getting a hit was a productive day for Corey.”

The Dodgers have not said when Seager will make his Cactus League debut.

Pollock provides pop at the top

A.J. Pollock was 2-for-2 with a walk on Tuesday, cementing his solid first impression at the top of the Dodgers' batting order.

“There’s a plan in place,” Roberts said of Pollock’s approach at the plate. “Today, to get rewarded, a walk, the knocks -- he looked good up there. Aggressive swings. He looks right at the top of the order.”

New high-water mark in market

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is reportedly finalizing an eight-year extension worth $260 million, which would give the All-Start third baseman the largest average annual salary in Major League history.

“He’s a heck of a player, and obviously they wanted to keep a homegrown player with them,” Roberts said of the perennial MVP candidate, four-time All-Star and Silver Slugger, and six-time Gold Glover. “It’s a nice deal for him, nice deal for the team. It’s good for the game. Makes our job a lot tougher.”

Up next

The Dodgers head to Hohokam Stadium Wednesday to take on the A’s and right-hander Daniel Mengden at 12:05 p.m. PT. Dodgers southpaw Julio Urias will make his first start this spring.