Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers' franchise has fielded a team every year for over a century, but Adrian Gonzalez tells TMZ Sports this year's iteration has a chance to be L.A.'s best EVER.

We chopped it up with the former Dodgers All-Star out at LAX this week just before Los Angeles kicked off its first spring training games of the year ... and when we asked him just how good the guys can be in '25, he didn't mince words.

"I know it could be best team of all-time," he said. "For sure."

Scary moment during the Dodgers' first spring training game of the season on Thursday ... Bobby Miller was drilled in the forehead by a line drive.

The scene just unfolded during L.A.'s exhibition tilt with the Chicago Cubs out at Camelback Ranch in Arizona ... as Miller was attempting to sneak a curveball by Michael Busch in the game's second inning.

Busch ended up whacking it -- and it beelined at 105.5 MPH right for Miller's face. Unfortunately for the pitcher, he wasn't able to get out of the way in time.

Roki Sasaki is getting a warm welcome in Los Angeles ... with the Dodgers' new star pitcher landing a personal meet-and-greet with LeBron James at the Lakers game!!

The 23-year-old Japanese athlete was front and center at the Purple and Gold's home win over the Washington Wizards ... getting a courtside view of King James' triple-double performance in the 111-88 victory.

The 40-year-old made sure to take a second to chop it up with the flamethrower ... shaking his hand as they exchanged pleasantries during shootaround.

Believe it or not, the rich could get even more rich this offseason ... Kenley Jansen just told TMZ Sports he'd be down for a reunion with the Dodgers!!

The free agent reliever -- who closed for L.A. for about a decade of his MLB career -- said to us out at LAX on Monday afternoon that despite the Dodgers' bullpen being awfully crowded these days, he'd certainly listen if they called.

"I'm ready to play, man," said Jansen, who revealed to us he still has a home in Los Angeles. "I'm ready to play wherever it is."

Turns out, the ugly scene involving Mookie Betts and some overeager Yankees fans in Game 4 of the World Series could've been even worse ... 'cause the Dodgers superstar just revealed he considered retaliating against the NY backers with violence.

The L.A. outfielder opened on the matter with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson as part of the comedians' "Back That Year Up 2024" special ... and Betts told the guys he straight up considered hurling a baseball at the two men who tried to rip his glove away on a foul ball pop fly at Yankee Stadium back on Oct. 29.

"I was in the moment," Betts said. "I thought about throwing the ball at them."

Hundreds of thousands of fans packed the streets for the Dodgers' championship parade to celebrate their World Series win over the Yankees ... an event so big, it cost Los Angeles over $2 million to have emergency personnel on hand to make sure folks were safe.

But, don't fret ... the team's going to make the city whole.

TMZ Sports has learned the World Series parade cost the Los Angeles Police Department $1,738,621.19 ... almost entirely for a gang of extra officers to man the event.

The L.A. Dodgers fan who had a horrific firework accident during the World Series has undergone several procedures to mend his hand ... but despite the unfortunate event, he tells TMZ Sports he's staying positive through it all.

We spoke with Kevin King fresh off his fourth surgery after the DTLA incident that cost him his pointer and middle finger on his left hand ... and he is thankful it wasn't worse.

"If you're only losing a couple of fingers, don't worry about it," he said. "Thankful it wasn't my face, eye or ears."

Shohei Ohtani didn't seem fazed about losing his title of highest-paid player in baseball on Sunday ... 'cause he was busy enjoying the Los Angeles Lakers game with his stunning wife!!

The Dodgers superstar and Mamiko Tanaka left their adorable pup, Decoy, at home for a date night at Crypto.com Arena ... and with LeBron James out for the contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shohei provided plenty of star power.

The 30-year-old and his former hooper bae had great seats for the Purple and Gold's 107-98 victory ... and at one point in the night, they were shown on the scoreboard to a massive ovation.

Kai Asakura is fighting for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 310 -- his first-ever bout in the United States -- and the Japanese MMA star says there's one special person he'd love to see Octagon-side ... Shohei Ohtani!

TMZ Sports recently chopped it up with 31-year-old Asakura before his UFC debut -- a title bout vs. Alexandre Pantoja going down December 10 in Las Vegas -- and the 21-4 fighter hopes the newly minted World Series champ can squeeze in a trip to Sin City.

"I have never met [Ohtani]," Asakura told us through a translator. "But I'd love him to come and watch my fight."

If ya missed out on the sale of Shohei Ohtani's historic 50/50 home run baseball, don't worry ... another cool artifact from the Dodgers superstar has just hit the auction block -- one of his old Nippon Professional Baseball league jerseys!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... a Nippon-Ham Fighters uniform Shohei rocked during the 2017 NPB season was posted to Grey Flannel Auctions this week -- and it's pretty awesome.

It's got Ohtani's name on the back, his former squad on the front -- and some unique markings on the tags.

Anthony Banda sure wouldn't mind it if his Dodgers squad boasted a lineup that featured Shohei Ohtani AND Juan Soto in 2025 ... telling TMZ Sports he's hopeful it goes down!!

Soto, of course, is a free agent after spending this past season in New York ... and Los Angeles is reportedly one of just a few teams that's in play for his services for the foreseeable future.

In fact, according to MLB.com, the Boys in Blue were expected to meet with him just this week to deliver their recruiting pitch.

Fernando Valenzuela's cause of death has been revealed -- the Los Angeles Dodgers legend died of septic shock.

TMZ Sports has obtained the 1981 World Series champion's death certificate ... which listed decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis as underlying causes.

The medical examiner also suspects Valenzuela suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ... a rare brain disorder.

Steve Garvey grounded out during his run for public office in California ... but the Dodgers legend tells TMZ Sports there are only positives to take away from his first at-bat in politics!!

We caught up with the former MLB star shortly after the AP called his race against Adam Schiff for a seat in the United States Senate ... but despite the outcome, the World Series champ was proud of the work his campaign did.

"We're gonna end up with six to seven million votes, new platform in California for moderates," he said. "I'm very proud of the people for standing up. We've registered more people in 58 counties there. All the good things."

The MLB's best two-way player is down to just one arm for the time being ... Shohei Ohtani had shoulder surgery this week -- and as you can see, one of his wings is now immobilized by a sling.

Ohtani went under Dr. Neal ElAttrache's knife on Tuesday in L.A. to repair the labrum he tore while trying to steal a base in Game 2 of the World Series -- and on Thursday, he appeared in OK spirits.

Rockin' a burnt-orange cap and a pair of sweats, Ohtani's left arm was held close to his body by a big ol' brace -- but he didn't seem to be too hindered.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto appears to be off the market -- the ace was spotted moseying around Beverly Hills with Japanese model Niki Niwa.

The new World Series champ hit Rodeo Drive with Niwa -- who also starred on the popular reality show, "Terrace House" -- earlier this week ... when TikTok content creator Jack Banana ran into the two potential love birds.

26-year-old Yamamoto and Niwa, 28, seemed to be mid-shopping spree ... which is well deserved after helping bring home a Commissioner's Trophy to the City of Angels.

The L.A. Dodgers fan who had a firework explode in his hand during a viral World Series celebration-gone-wrong last week has lost two of his fingers, his dad announced this week.

Kevin King Sr. told Fox 11 Los Angeles his 25-year-old son, Kevin King Jr., is now without the pointer finger and the middle finger on his left hand ... and has already undergone two surgeries to repair the damage the firework caused.

Unfortunately, King Sr. said King Jr. will require a third procedure soon.