About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.

Dodgers’ opening day lineup features Andrew Toles leading off, Yasiel Puig eighth.

Andrew Toles

Andrew Toles is one of two Dodgers who will appear on their first opening day roster today. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff photographer)

Andrew Toles didn’t merely make his first opening day roster Monday. He’ll get the Dodgers’ first plate appearance of the new season.

Toles is leading off against the San Diego Padres in the first game of the season for both teams.

“We like Andrew in the batter’s box against right-handed pitchers,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “To get at-bats in there, the speed element, and have Corey (Seager) behind him — also, just to have Logan (Forsythe) somewhere in the middle to break up Adrian (Gonzalez), Joc (Pederson) and Yasmani (Grandal), there’s a lot of similarities with those guys. To have a right-handed grinder-type bat in the middle, it also sandwiches Adrian around two right-handed bats. Strategically it could be a benefit for us.”

Here are the complete lineups for both teams:

Continue reading “Dodgers’ opening day lineup features Andrew Toles leading off, Yasiel Puig eighth.” »

Dodgers minor leaguers: where will they begin the 2017 season?

Josh Fields

Pitcher Josh Fields will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the season. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff photographer)

The season-opening rosters for the Dodgers’ minor league affiliate teams were posted today.

Here are the players who will report to the full-season affiliates:

Continue reading “Dodgers minor leaguers: where will they begin the 2017 season?” »

WBC forecast: Mostly baseball, a little rain.

Chavez Ravine is in an unusually vegetative state. #baseball #worldbaseballclassic #netherlands #puertorico

A post shared by J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) on


The skies are clear for today’s World Baseball Classic game between Puerto Rico and The Netherlands at Dodger Stadium.

Tomorrow’s game between the United States and Japan won’t be so dry.

Executives with MLB and the MLB Players’ Association met with the Dodger Stadium grounds crew and Earth Networks, a weather intelligence data provider Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for the league said that spotty rain is expected early tomorrow, followed by “light passing showers” until 9 o’clock. The same holds for Wednesday’s championship game.

However, the WBC organizers expect both games can be played without interruption.

“Batting practice on Wednesday is the only thing” that might be in jeopardy, the official said. If that’s the case, teams will take batting practice indoors.

It’s better than the alternative. The two semifinals and championship game are being treated like an MLB playoff series. That means if any game has to be postponed due to rain, it will be moved back a day.

For now, don’t plan on Thursday baseball.

Injury updates: Brock Stewart, Andre Ethier.

Brock Stewart

Brock Stewart has been shut down with fatigue in his right shoulder. (Denver Post photo)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brock Stewart has been shut down from throwing due to shoulder fatigue, and manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that he isn’t sure when the right-hander will pick up a baseball again.

“As I understand it is not serious,” Roberts said. “He just got a little fatigued and there’s soreness in his shoulder.”
Continue reading “Injury updates: Brock Stewart, Andre Ethier.” »