The Dodgers' pitchers and catchers have begun training at Camelback Ranch, and the long spring training is finally here.

With training camp underway, the new season is full of suspense, especially for the Dodgers, who are gearing up in the offseason to defend their World Series title. Here are the top three topics worth paying attention to in this year's spring training:

1. How did Shohei Ohtani perform as a second-rate player?

This question won't be fully answered during spring training, as Ohtani is not expected to pitch in major league games until May. Still, we're getting closer to the moment that everyone has been waiting for since Ohtani signed with the Dodgers — his return to second-tier superstar form.

Recovering from two major elbow surgeries was not easy. Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery as a major league rookie in 2018 and followed by surgery to repair his right elbow ulnar collateral ligament in 2023 — and left shoulder surgery last November added to the complexity.

Ohtani's second major elbow surgery didn't have much of an impact on him as a batter — he created the 50-50 club in 2024 and won his third MVP award — but it could have been different on the pitcher's mound. The Dodgers witnessed firsthand Walker Buehler's struggles as he returned after his second Tommy John surgery before finding his form in the 2024 playoffs.

No player has pushed the boundaries of what's possible at the major league level more than Ohtani in recent years, and so could his recovery. However, Otani still has some hurdles to overcome.

2. How did Mookie Betts perform as a returning shortstop?

Bates' move to the infield — especially the shortstops — was a hot topic during last year's spring training. It's still a hot topic today, as we'll soon see how Bates prepares for his future role as a shortstop after a full offseason of training.

Last year, Bates had already shown a lot of basic ability when he was transferred to the shortstop position late in spring training due to Gavin Lux's poor defensive performance. Bates' main problem is passing, although he has always had strong and precise arm strength when he was in the field.

After months of adapting to infield passing under low pressure, Bates should be better equipped to make the switch this spring. A six-time Golden Glove winner, Bates wasn't just content to qualify for the shortstop position – he wanted to be an elite.

Bates has excelled in the face of challenges, so it is not surprising to see him successfully adapt to the shortstop position. However, the Dodgers have several internal options to replace in an emergency, such as Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman, if his performance is not good for the team.

3. How will the starting pitcher rotation be formed on the opening day?

In terms of potential, the Dodgers' starting pitcher rotation is probably one of the best in recent years. But regardless of the talent and depth on paper, there are still some uncertainties.

The projected opening season rotation may include the following players: Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May. None of those pitchers pitched a full 135 innings last year, while Gonsorin and May have yet to pitch in the major leagues since 2023 due to major injury recovery. If there is a vacancy in the rotation lineup, it could be one of them, depending on how they perform in the Cactus League game.

Despite Sasaki's fame, he has yet to pitch in the major leagues and may need time to get used to. He has talent, but there's no guarantee that he'll be able to perform like an ace pitcher this season.

As with Ohtani's recovery, it's entirely possible that the rotation lineup will go as planned. If everyone is completely healthy and playing well, the risk of this rotating lineup will pay off handsomely. In addition, the Dodgers know they have Shohei Ohtani and most likely Clayton Kershaw as a backup – so the other starting pitchers recovering from injury may not be under much pressure.

So, while there are some questions about the performance and durability of this starting pitcher rotation for 162 games, the Dodgers' starting pitcher rotation issue is, frankly, a dream for many teams.