GLENDALE, Ariz. – Juan Uribe is hitting just .225 this spring, and eight of his nine hits have been singles. He also recently celebrated his 36th birthday and certainly doesn’t look like a major-league third baseman with his bulging midsection.

He is listed in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ media guide at 245 pounds.

But Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Uribe showed up to camp at about the same weight he played at entering the 2014 season – during which he batted .311 and played Gold Glove-caliber defense – and that he’s not worried, either about Uribe’s conditioning or that age might have finally caught up to him.

“We feel confident with where he’s at body-wise. We still watch his BP and his processes and all that,” Mattingly said. “Don’t worry about hits in spring training. I’ve seen guys hit .400 all spring and the season starts, it goes to hell. I’ve also seen guys go through spring training, not get a hit and the season starts, they’re off and running. The at-bats look good. It’s not like he’s swinging and missing, not hitting any balls hard at all. I just feel like he’s getting ready.”

Uribe figures to be the Dodgers’ Opening Day third baseman, but the spot could be a contentious one at some point as Justin Turner continues to look like the same guy who batted .340 last year and was second among Dodgers’ position players in WAR. Mattingly said the Dodgers have taken to calling Turner, “Ginobili,” after the great San Antonio Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili.