Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez expects to take more walks

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Adrian Gonzalez drew another walk Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, his fourth in 26 plate appearances this spring. This is by design.

“I’m not going to go up there looking for a walk, but I do think I can get back to walking more,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez led the major leagues in walks in 2009 with 119. He drew a combined 89 walks over the last two seasons, including 47 last year.

Gonzalez attributes the decrease to the change in players around him. In 2009, he was playing for the light-hitting San Diego Padres, who offered him little protection in the lineup. Opponents used to pitch around him and there was nothing he could do about it.

Gonzalez was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2011. In the middle of the next season, he was traded again, this time to the Dodgers.

“I went to Boston and I came here and it’s like, ‘They have to come after me, look at who’s behind me,’ ” he said. “That shifted my mentality and made me more aggressive.”

As a result, his on-base percentage has dropped. His on-base percentage was a combined .403 from 2009-2011. Over the last two seasons, it is .343.

Gonzalez rarely appeared to be fooled at the plate in his first year and a half with the Dodgers. But he said that was a reflection of his ability to predict what pitchers will throw him rather than his selectivity.

“Even if it’s out of the zone, I know where he’s going, so I can cover it,” he said. “But sometimes, what I’m looking for is still a ball. I don’t have to swing at it.”

Gonzalez is pleased with his approach.

“I’ve done a decent job of it so far this spring,” he said. “I’ve walked three or four times and a lot of at-bats have gone deep into counts. There have been at-bats where I got frustrated because I walk and I’ll say, ‘I want to hit now,’ but then I’m like, ‘Stay with it.’ ”

That hurt

Informed that Dodgers reliever Jose Dominguez was clocked at 103 mph last year, Kansas City Royals outfielder Norichika Aoki considered himself fortunate.

A fifth-inning fastball by Dominguez that struck Aoki on his right leg traveled at 97 mph.

“So he was slow today,” Aoki said in Japanese. “I’m glad.”

Aoki laughed as he recalled standing in right field as he watched Dominguez warm up in the bullpen.

“He looked like he had bad control,” Aoki said. “I had a feeling I might get hit.”

Aoki screamed the Japanese equivalent of “Ouch!” before the pitch even hit him.

“He was throwing pitches that looked as if they would hurt,” Aoki said.

Aoki was removed from the game as a precaution, but said nothing was wrong with him.

Short hops

Zack Greinke will start Wednesday for the Dodgers against the Arizona Diamondbacks, provided he doesn’t wake up with any discomfort in his right leg. Greinke participated in fielding drills Tuesday and didn’t report any problems with his calf muscle, which he strained four pitches into his only start of the exhibitions season. … Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier are scheduled to play every day for the next five days. The Dodgers depart for Australia on Sunday in advance of their season-opening two games against the Diamondbacks. … Trevor Cahill is scheduled to start for the Diamondbacks in the second game in Australia, but that could change. Cahill hyperextended his right leg while covering first base in an exhibition game. If Cahill isn’t ready, Wade Miley or Brandon McCarthy would start in his place. … Right-hander Red Patterson was reassigned to minor league camp.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

Twitter: @dylanohernandez