MLB Spring Training 2024: Players, Teams, and Stories to Watch
Via ESPN
Summary
MLB Spring Training 2024 opened with compelling storylines headlined by Shohei Ohtani's arrival at the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a record-setting $700 million contract. Ohtani, recovering from Tommy John surgery, would serve only as a designated hitter in 2024, but his presence alone reshaped expectations for the Dodgers. Juan Soto's trade to the New York Yankees also generated significant buzz, pairing him with Aaron Judge at the top of one of the most formidable lineups in baseball.
Position battles, prospects competing for roster spots, and injury recoveries added texture across all 30 teams. The Baltimore Orioles featured 20-year-old Jackson Holliday vying for the everyday second base job. The 2024 spring also marked the first full spring under the new rules from 2023 — including the pitch clock and shift restrictions — that had reshaped gameplay.
