PHOENIX -- The Dodgers are seeing more good things early from Hyun-Jin Ryu than expected this spring.
Ryu, limited to just one game the past two seasons because of shoulder and elbow operations, had another impressive outing Friday, pitching two innings of live batting practice to Dodgers hitters. He could advance into game action next week.
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"Everything's been positive," said pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. "The spin is extremely good, the fastball command has been there. It's been impressive. We just have to make sure he's responding the next day and the next day. The pitching part he's showing extremely good delivery, command. Now I think it's just the reps and ups and downs and getting into game action."
Management came into Spring Training not knowing what to expect from Ryu. He worked out diligently over the winter, traveling from Korea to Okinawa and its kinder weather for bullpen sessions, and his performance so far has lived up to the reports.
"I'm not concerned about velocity as much as seeing that he doesn't have setbacks," said Honeycutt. "His pitchability, we'll see where he's at when the intensity gets more [in games]. He's finally feeling better, and we're starting to see good results. Right now, nothing but positives."

Alternating innings with Ryu was Scott Kazmir, who also missed time last season (due to a thoracic injury). He has been struggling with his mechanics this spring, fighting off bad habits developed while pitching through discomfort last season.
"I thought today was tremendously better than the first time," Honeycutt said of Kazmir's outing. "He has been working on a lot of things early in camp, getting his rhythm and timing, and it's part of the process of getting it going again. His body is in a much better place than for most of last season, the hips and side and neck. He was pitching through a lot of different issues. He got into a lot of bad habits. We're seeing more and more the results of the work. He's going to have days of good and bad."