Ah, Spring Training, a vital period on the baseball calendar when players can get into shape, hone their rusty skills and ease back into the daily routine. Or just play ping pong.
Not only did the Los Angeles Dodgers stage a doubles table tennis tournament, they all gathered in the clubhouse to watch the championship and opened the finale with dramatic introductions.
In one corner, with a style best described as lumberjack/hippy combo, we had pitcher Brandon Beachy and outfielder Scott Van Slyke…
Ping pong Championship! @Brandon_Beachy & @ScottVanSlick #DodgersSt #PingPong pic.twitter.com/4i42njTXQs
— Adrián González OLY (@Adrian_ElTitan) March 10, 2016
And in the other corner, rocking the h00ded sweatshirt boxer look, pitcher Chris Anderson and infielder Justin Turner.
Vs @SeeAyy & @redturn2 #DodgersST #PingPong pic.twitter.com/0fvMBikV7R
— Adrián González OLY (@Adrian_ElTitan) March 10, 2016
After a hard-fought battle (probably… we have no indication of the score), it was Beachy and Van Slyke who emerged victorious.
Your 2016 Ping Pong Champions!! @Brandon_Beachy & @ScottVanSlick #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/r0ejF1LsMh
— Adrián González OLY (@Adrian_ElTitan) March 10, 2016
If you’re wondering why at the end of that video someone suggests Clayton (Kershaw) should “crown the new champion,” it’s because Kershaw, along with Corey Seager, was the 2015 champion of this event, defeating Turner and Daniel Coulombe in the finals. Kershaw was paired with Adrian Gonzalez in this year’s tournament. Did that cost him a chance at repeating or were Beachy and Van Slyke simply on a roll that couldn’t be denied?
Isn’t Spring Training fun?
[FTW]
