March 21--REPORTING FROM PHOENIX -- Nine days after he sprained his left knee, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager took the field for a light workout with his teammates Sunday morning at Camelback Ranch.
Seager ran, completed some agility drills, took batting practice and threw. The initial diagnosis was one to two weeks off after he injured himself. Manager Dave Roberts remains confident Seager will be ready for opening day.
"He's progressing well," Roberts said. "So I'm pretty optimistic about him."
Roberts has not given a date for when Seager might return to Cactus League games. Seager also probably will play in a series of minor league games in order to face as much pitching as possible before the season starts.
Maeda won't face Iwakuma
Last week, Kenta Maeda informed the Japanese press how excited he was for Monday's game, when he would square off against Seattle pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma. Maeda expected to bat against his countryman.
Roberts scotched that dream Sunday morning. The Dodgers will use a designated hitter against the Mariners. The team thought Maeda was better served batting in a simulated game with fellow pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood.
"He's going to get the work in today," Roberts said. "To potentially get one at-bat tomorrow, I'd rather him do it [on the back fields]. And, also, we'd rather see a guy get a few at-bats and use the DH."
Kershaw's session ended shortly after he bunted a ball off his ankle. He said he was fine afterward.
andy.mccullough@latimes.com
Twitter: @McCulloughTimes
