As Walker Buehler warmed up on Monday morning, preparing to enter the late innings of a minor-league game against the White Sox, an interested observer stood outside the bullpen. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers president of baseball operations, crossed his arms and watched Buehler prepare to face hitters for the first time since last season. A few minutes later, general manager Farhan Zaidi joined Friedman.
The Dodgers expect crucial contributions in 2018 from Buehler, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and the organization's top pitching prospect. He tested the waters in the majors last September as a reliever, but the team views him as a possible right-handed weapon to add to their mostly left-handed rotation this season.