Spring training notes by Maureen Mullen
Chicago White Sox
Left-hander Derek Holland retired the first seven batters he faced in his Grapefruit League outing against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, but then he ran into trouble with left-handed hitters.
Holland, signed to a one-year, $6 million deal in December, gave up two walks before Kyle Schwarber’s three-run homer. In fourplus innings, he allowed six earned runs.
“I still got to work on a few things,” Holland said. “I was upset with the lefties, two walks. Hats off to (Schwarber). Good pitch. He turned on it. He was probably looking for it — hats off to him on that. The most frustrating thing was those two walks to lefties.”
Although 35 of his 36 career minor league appearances have been as a starter, fireballing righthanded prospect Michael Ko
pech had an impressive Cactus League debut as a reliever. In two innings against the Cubs on Friday, he struck out five and allowed one hit.
Cleveland Indians
Right-hander Carlos Car
rasco struggled in his first four Cactus League starts, giving up 14 earned runs on 17 hits, including five home runs, over eight innings for a 15.75 ERA. Pitching coach Mickey Call
away said after Carrasco’s March 13 start that Carrasco felt mild discomfort while throwing his offspeed pitches in the game. An MRI the next day revealed some swelling around the elbow but no structural damage.
If he progresses, Carrasco could return to game activity this week. The Indians do not need a fifth starter until April 15. They could slot in Carrasco as the fifth starter to give him more time.
“If he comes out of this and he’s pitching well, there’s probably no need for that,” Callaway said. “But that’s always an option.”
Left fielder Michael Brantley is playing in minor league games as the Indians bring him along slowly in his return from shoulder surgery, and he was expected to make his Cactus League debut this week. The Indians hope he will be ready for opening day.
Detroit Tigers
Right-hander Michael Ful
mer, the reigning AL rookie of the year, could start the home opener April 7 against the Boston Red Sox, which would mean he would pitch later in the rotation.
Fulmer was slowed earlier this spring by a Grade 1 right ankle sprain.
“We’re going to push Fulmer toward the back because we started him slower (this spring),” manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com. “We want to ease him in.” Right fielder J.D. Martinez, who missed a few days early this spring because of a pectoral injury, left Saturday’s game after spraining his right foot making a shoestring catch in the first inning. X-rays were negative, and it was uncertain how much time he would miss.
Kansas City Royals
Alex Gordon was limited by injuries to 128 games last season and 104 in 2015 after averaging 156 over the four previous years.
But he appears to be healthy and recovered from the sprained wrist that bothered him last season. In his first 13 Cactus League games, Gordon hit .405 (15for-37) with a home run and eight RBI.
“We just want to get him going,” manager Ned Yost told The
Kansas City Star. “But he’s been swinging the bat great.”
The Royals have a tight, three-way battle at second base among Christian Colon, Whit Merrifield and Raul Mondesi. All three have strong spring training numbers.
“We’re trying to move (Colon and Merrifield) around a lot, but they can play anywhere in the infield,” Yost said. “Second is probably where Colon’s most comfortable and (is) his best position.”
Minnesota Twins
Right-hander Trevor May, who had been the front-runner for the fifth spot in the rotation before he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament March 11, will seek a second opi-
nion from Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers’ team physician.
May, believed to have a full tear of the ligament, remains likely to have season-ending surgery.
Left- hander Tyler Jay, the sixth overall pick in 2015, is moving back to the bullpen after being converted to a starter last season.
Jay was a reliever at the University of Illinois and in his first professional season with the Twins. The move is expected to get Jay on a faster track to the major leagues.
“Nothing is permanent in the prospect-development process, but this is a collaborative decision to put Tyler in the best situation for success,” Mike
Radcliff, the Twins’ vice president of player personnel, told MLB.com.
“Each organization is striving to maximize the strengths and abilities of each of our players, and this decision reflects that objective.”