Dodgers notes: Hu is the ‘star of the spring’

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TUCSON -- Middle infielder Chin-lung Hu, who was set back by blurred vision and batted only .181 in the majors last year, drew praise this morning from Manager Joe Torre.

‘Hu, to me, has been the star of the spring,’ Torre said. ‘Coming into this spring, I really didn’t know what to expect. This kid, his whole demeanor has changed.’

Hu is competing for a reserve role. He and Blake DeWitt, who is also competing for an opening-day roster spot, could be helped by the fact that they’re on the 40-man roster, unlike fellow utility infield candidate Juan Castro.

Torre said he didn’t want to retard the development of Hu and DeWitt by sitting them on the bench instead of getting them more at-bats in Triple-A.

Will Ohman, the Dodgers’ newly signed situational left-hander, is scheduled to pitch today. Ohman admitted feeling ‘strange’ signing so close to the start of the season. He revealed that in November, he was offered a two-year deal by his former club, the Atlanta Braves, that was far more lucrative than the one-year, $1.35-million package he signed with the Dodgers. ‘Initially, there was regret,’ Ohman said.

Mark Loretta (groin) will take at-bats in a minor-league game Wednesday instead of playing in the Dodgers’ Cactus League finale against the San Francisco Giants as was originally planned.

Jason Schmidt will probably remain in Arizona to work out when the Dodgers break camp, Torre said.
The Dodgers are facing the Arizona Diamondbacks today. Here’s their lineup:

Juan Pierre LF
Brad Ausmus C
Andre Ethier RF
James Loney 1B
Matt Kemp CF
Casey Blake 3B
Blake DeWitt SS
Chin-lung Hu 2B
James McDonald RHP

-- Dylan Hernandez