The Dodgers’ signing of outfielder Michael Conforto gave the team a formidable power bat that fits in the middle of the lineup, one who has shown 30-home run power potential in years prior.

Spring training hadn’t begun the way that neither Conforto nor the Dodgers had hoped for, as he had just two hits (both doubles) across 17 spring at bats, striking out seven times. On Thursday, he had his breakout performance by going 3-3 with a double and two runs scored in an 8-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Conforto discussed his struggles earlier in spring and the adjustments he made when speaking with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following Thursday’s win.

“Typically, spring has been tough for me… I’ve been frustrated, obviously. Nobody wants to go out there and make outs and not feel right, so we put some extra work in today, worked some things out. I think really what it was was just leveling out my swing a little bit and being on time.”

Conforto has now raised his batting average to .250 and OPS to .775 over 23 spring plate appearances after his perfect day at the plate.

As the Dodgers amp up for their trip out to Tokyo next week, the Dodgers are doing the opposite when it comes to Shohei Ohtani and his throwing program.

The two-way superstar has not thrown a bullpen in a week, and manager Dave Roberts doesn’t want to intensify Ohtani’s sessions while he gets in his at-bats simultaneously, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

“As the game has intensified, his work playing in games, it was sort of trying to give him a little respite from the rehab and to slow him down,” Roberts said of the pause in Ohtani’s throwing program. “We’ve never really put a time on anything. … He’s still playing catch, so his arm is still moving. But we just felt that to intensify the bullpens alongside of the intensity of the games wasn’t smart, so we just wanted to kind of slow-play it.”

Left-hander Jack Dreyer has made quite the impression this spring, posting a 2.25 ERA with seven strikeouts in just four innings of work, but what really makes him stand out is his mastery of the Rubik’s Cube.

Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times writes about Dreyer’s hobby, noting that he carries it wherever he goes.

“He carries a Rubik’s Cube everywhere he goes,” manager Dave Roberts joked. “Some guys carry a golf club. He carries a Rubik’s Cube.”

How good is he at solving it? Here’s a video of him solving one in roughly 20 seconds.