MLB news: Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants

Let’s look around Major League Baseball for some of the latest MLB news and notes, including a piece of Los Angeles Dodgers history plus the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals making some position announcements on the diamond this spring.

MLB news: Los Angeles Dodgers to retire Fernando Valenzuela’s number

In an honor that is long overdue as we discussed in this article, the Dodgers have announced they will officially retire Valenzuela’s number 34 during a weekend celebrating “Fernandomania” in August. The franchise has long had a policy of not retiring a player’s number unless he is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, the Dodgers have worked around that since Valenzuela last pitched for them in 1990. No player has worn 34 since that time, a tip of the cap to the influence the 1981 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award winner has had on not only the franchise, but also the Mexican community that cheered on his rise to stardom.

Kansas City Royals news: Hunter Dozier to get more work at third base

As a part of Royals Rally on Saturday, J.J. Picollo, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations/General Manager for the Royals, told reporters that Hunter Dozier will get extensive work at third base this spring. Last season, Dozier spent 27 games at third base while spending 40 games in the outfield (primarily right field, while seeing some time in left as well).

According to MLB.com’s Anne Rogers, Picollo said third base “is the best place for him [Dozier] to play every day.” Rogers also reported that Bobby Witt Jr. will be the everyday shortstop in 2023, while second base will be a competition between Nicky Lopez and Michael Massey.

Last season, Dozier’s strikeout rate was 25.0 percent, continuing a streak where the six-year MLB veteran has struck out at least that clip every season (including 28.4 percent in 2021).

San Francisco Giants: Thairo Estrada to “get some looks” in center field

Saturday was also Giants FanFest, and manager Gabe Kapler wasted little time in sharing that Thairo Estrada will “get some looks” in center field when spring training kicks off.

The 26-year-old Estrada has seen action in just two innings in one game in center field during his four-year career split between the Giants and New York Yankees. Last season, Estrada spent most of his time on the infield, logging 102 games at second base and 37 games at shortstop.

As our friends at Around the Foghorn discussed in this article, the look for Estrada this spring is likely more about finding a way to keep him on the field more and less likely about him moving out of the infield on a primary basis. According to the MLB.com depth chart, Estrada is still listed as the starting second baseman while backing up Brandon Crawford at shortstop.