Los Angeles, CA (News4usonline) – The Los Angeles Dodgers officially kicked off the 2026 season on Saturday, Jan. 31 with DodgerFest. There were approximately 30,000 fans that attended DodgerFest 2026 at Dodger Stadium, which was later confirmed by Magic Johnson on Twitter/X.
DodgerFest 2026 featured interactive games, player autographs and the team’s consecutive World Series titles. The Dodgers go into the 2026 season without Clayton Kershaw for the first time since the 2007 season. According to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel, Dodgers first baseman Freeman talked about how strange it will be without the left-handed Kershaw being around.
“It‘s going to be weird that Clayton Kershaw will not be playing for the Dodgers,” Freeman said.
Freeman and other Dodgers star players like Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts attended DodgerFest. All three former MVPs talked about last season and what they’re going to expect for the 2026 season. Will Smith and Edwin Diaz will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Betts and Freeman, will not participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) mostly for personal reasons. Betts withdrew from the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) because he is expecting his third child with his wife, Brianna.
“I wasn’t (going to be) able to go out there and play and be in Puerto Rico (for the group stage games) and be that far from my family, I needed to be close to California,” Freeman said.
Ohtani will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) as a hitter not as a pitcher, a decision he made to recover from his elbow injury and help Japan defend their title.
It is the right decision for Ohtani not to pitch. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani isn’t going to pitch for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), it was Ohtani decision.
“I wasn’t surprised, so I can’t even say I was relieved. I think that he wants to, understanding what he did last year, what he had to go through to then, how best to prepare himself for 26 to do both, it just seemed like the right decision, so I wasn’t surprised and feel really good about it,” Roberts said.
Betts wants to play shortstop for the LA Dodgers until he retires from playing baseball.
At DodgerFest, Betts told Doug McKain that Betts goal is to play shortstop for the Dodgers for the rest of his career
Betts played most of his career in right field. He’s also a Gold Glove winner at right field and is one of the best defenders.
“I’m a hundred percent sure I’ll be able to,” Betts said. “I keep my body in really good shape, and so, at that age, you know, the argument is, ‘Yeah, you’ll slow down’ or whatever, but nah, I’ll be fine. I work out and do everything it takes to be successful to be able to move. And I understand that’s what I got, you know? I have to be able to move and stay agile. I’ll be able to play.”
Freeman reveals his plans for the end of his career. Freeman said he would like to play for four more years with the Dodgers.
After winning last season Dodgers are likely to get a “three peat” in 2026 season since New York Yankees (1998-2000) “three peat” and could be the third team getting it.
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