Vicente Padilla, released last summer by Texas, will be named the Dodgers Opening Day starter Thursday by manager Joe Torre, baseball sources told MLB.com. The club could not confirm Padilla’s selection.

 

Padilla will start April 5 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and be followed in the rotation by Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and an as-yet-unnamed fifth starter. Factoring in off days, Kershaw is lined up to start the home opener at Dodger Stadium April 13 against Arizona. — Ken Gurnick

Rumors that the Dodgers are trying to trade young shortstop Chin-lung Hu have are untrue, according to baseball sources. The Dodgers feel they need Hu for insurance if starting shortstop Rafael Furcal has an extended absence.

However, there are indications that the Dodgers would move left-handed starting pitcher Eric Stults or outfielder Jason Repko. Stults, currently competing for the fifth starter job, is out of options. Repko has little chance of reaching the Major Leagues with the Dodgers, who have added reserve outfielders Reed Johnson and Garret Anderson. The Dodgers also believe that Xavier Paul has passed Repko on the outfield depth chart. — Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers received upbeat medical reports on catchers Russell Martin and Brad Ausmus and reliever Hong-Chih Kuo.

Martin, healing faster than expected from a pulled groin, will start in a Minor League game Thursday and predicts he’ll be in the Opening Day lineup.

Kuo, shut down for a few days with recurring elbow soreness, played catch on flat ground, although it remains uncertain whether he will be ready for Opening Day. He’s pitched in only two games this spring.

Ausmust, out with a bad lower back, resumed baseball activities and said he should be in a game in the next few days. — Ken Gurnick

Injuries to catchers Russell Martin and Brad Ausmus created a rare opportunity for non-roster backstop Justin Knoedler, who caught all nine innings of the Dodgers’ 4-2 split-squad loss to the Angels Monday. It not only was the first time the 29-year-old Knoedler caught all nine innings of a spring game, but it was only his second start in seven Major League training camps. This is his 10th professional season and he’s had Major League call-ups by the Giants in three different seasons.

“By the sixth or seventh inning, I was hoping they wouldn’t take me out,” he said. “That was fun.” — Ken Gurnick

 

Andre Ethier  will have his jersey retired by his alma mater, Saint Mary’s High School, Wednesday in Phoenix.  Either wore no. 14.  Dodgers Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda will speak about Ethier and Dodger broadcaster Rick Monday will emcee the event. — Ken Gurnick

Dodgers manager Joe Torre “promised” reporters on Monday that he would announce his Opening Day starting pitcher on Thursday. From all indications, it will be Clayton Kershaw. — Ken Gurnick

Rule 5 draft pick Jamie Hoffman Monday was returned by the Yankees to the Dodgers.

 

Hoffman, a 25-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder, had a 14-game call-up to the Dodgers last year after starting the season at Double-A. He was the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft by the Nationals for a fee of $50,000 and was immediately traded to the Yankees. He was offered back by the Yankees to the Dodgers, who paid $25,000 to reacquire him. Hoffman figures to play for Triple-A Albuquerque. — Ken Gurnick 

 

Catcher Russell Martin’s simulated game Monday morning was cut short after he was hit by several pitches from Minor Leaguer Tim Corcoran.

“The third time was the charm,” said manager Joe Torre.

Martin — rehabbing quickly from a goin pull — was hit in the back and also knocked down, but it was the one that hit his wrist that prompted team officials to pull the plug.

“It got a little too simulated,” said Torre. “There was no damage. He was lucky on the one on the wrist. It was a little too uncomfortable to continue.” — Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers released infielder Angel Berroa Monday morning. Manager Joe Torre said the club is satisfied that Chin-lung Hu can fill in for shortstop Rafael Furcal on an extended basis if needed and wanted to give Berroa a chance to hook on with another club before the season started.

Late Sunday the Dodgers also reassigned to Minor League camp non-roster outfielder Alfredo Amezaga, who was signed after he underwent microfracture knee surgery with the understanding that he wouldn’t be game-ready until mid-season. He’ll continue his rehab at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. — Ken Gurnick

Blake DeWitt still hasn’t locked up the starting second baseman job because of, and in spite of, what he did Sunday.

DeWitt homered and raised his average to .371, but he also committed an error on a routine back-hand play that led to an unearned run. Despite his offense, DeWitt has not been “anointed” the stater by manager Joe Torre because he hasn’t fully dispelled doubts about his ability to handle defense at second base. It was DeWitt’s third error of the spring.

He finally was involved in a double-play, but still has not turned a double-play pivot this spring. — Ken Gurnick