Andre Ethier sat at the podium, without a Dodgers uniform, as his former teammates huddled around him on the ground floor of Dodger Stadium. On one side of the room sat younger players like Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez. Matt Kemp came through a side door and ruffled Ethier’s closely shorn hair.
The group had assembled for Ethier’s retirement ceremony Friday night. After 12 seasons with the Dodgers, Ethier, 36, did not attend spring training after missing most of the past two seasons with various injuries. He said he was convinced by team executive Lon Rosen to take part in pregame festivities before the team faced the Astros.