Dalbec, Gallo swat away at start; Kellenic hurt
of the spring, off San Francisco’s Tyler Rogers.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels drafted Taylor Ward with the 26th overall pick in 2015 as a catcher. Since making his major league debut in 2018, though, he has played third base, left field, right field and first base. Perhaps he could add to that list soon.
Manager Joe Maddon told reporters that Ward catching in the regular season would likely only be in an emergency situation but it would also allow the team to pinch-hit or pinch-run for catchers.
“I’m liking what I’m seeing,” Maddon said. “The big thing with him, moving it down the road, if catching becomes a part of his résumé, this guy can stay in the business for a while.”
What we learned: RHP Junior Guerra arrived in camp on March 5, late because of visa issues. In camp as a non-roster invitee, he has a good chance being part of the bullpen to start the season. Maddon believes Guerra should have enough time to get ready.
Minnesota Twins
After finishing second in 2020 AL Cy Young voting, his first season in Minnesota, RHP Kenta Maeda is working on expanding his repertoire. At the start of camp, he told reporters he wanted to add a curveball, sinker or cutter to the slider, changeup and fastball he primarily threw last season. The curveball had been more of a mainstay early in his major league career, but it had increasingly fallen out of favor.
“Concentrating on the command, I’d like it to be a pitch that I can control to get strikes consistently,” he told reporters.
What we learned: 3B Josh Donaldson made his first Grapefruit League appearance on March 7 with a three-run homer off Tampa Bay’s Collin
McHugh. Minnesota is progressing Donaldson, 35, slowly this spring and will continue to do so in the regular season with the goal of keeping the 2015 AL MVP healthy.
New York Yankees
C Gary Sanchez hit .147 with 10 homers and 24 RBI in 49 games last season. His early showings this spring have been encouraging, with two homers in his first five at-bats, raising hopes that he can return to his 2019 form, when he hit a careerhigh 34 home runs. He is also garnering praise for his work behind the plate, which has also been an issue.
“There’s a real businesslike way he’s going about things,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters. “He looks really at ease and comfortable behind the plate. I feel like he’s continuing to grow and mature.”
What we learned: Boone, 48, returned to the team on March 7, a few days after surgery to implant a pacemaker, telling reporters he had been dealing with lightheadedness, low energy and shortness of breath over the prior two months, saying his heart rate at times dropped below 40 beats per minute. Boone had open heart surgery in 2009 to repair a congenital defect.
Oakland Athletics
On March 5, Matt Chapman made his first appearance at third base since having seasonending surgery to repair a torn right hip labrum in September. In the second inning, he made a diving stop to his right on a sharply hit chopper of the bat of Kurt Suzuki, making the throw near the line from deep behind third base for the out.
The play gave the two-time Gold Glover confidence that his hip has recovered.
“Going to make that play, I didn’t really think about anything,” Chapman told reporters.
“Got up and made the throw. So it’s nice to kind of test it and see where it’s at.”
What we learned: With Jed Lowrie yet to be cleared by the medical staff after having offseason knee surgery, Tony Kemp is getting most of the work at second base. “He’s doing everything well,” manager Bob Melvin told reporters.
Seattle Mariners
OF Jarred Kelenic, the 2018 sixth overall pick (Mets) and one of baseball’s top prospects, is out after suffering a Grade 2 strain of the adductor muscle in his left knee on March 5. He had been having an impressive spring. The injury likely makes it difficult for Kelenic to make the opening-day roster.
“While disappointed that Jarred will be sidelined, we are relieved that the long-term outlook is positive,” GM Jerry Dipoto told reporters.
What we learned: RHP Justin Dunn and LHP Nick Margevicius are competing for the final spot on the six-man rotation Seattle will use to start the season. If Margevicius wins the job, Chris Flexen would be the only righty in the rotation.
Tampa Bay Rays
Manager Kevin Cash is counting on SS Willy Adames, 25 and entering his fourth major league season, to be a team leader, on and off the field. It’s a role Adames is happy to accept – even with some younger players (Wander Franco, Vidal Brujan, Greg Jones, Taylor Walls) who might try to take his job one day.
“I don’t have to worry about somebody taking my job. I want them to get better,” Adames told reporters. “They have to do their thing to get to the big leagues and stay there, and I have to do my thing to stay here and continue to get better.”
What we learned: LHP Rich Hill, 41 on March 11, was disappointed
in his first spring outing (three hits, four runs, two walks, without recording an out against Boston) but he felt fine physically, with his fastball about 86-88 mph, saying a “simple fix” will get his fastball and curveball down in the zone.
Texas Rangers
Texas acquired Nate Lowe in a six-player deal with Tampa Bay in the offseason with the expectation that he would be the starting first baseman. But he has been getting competition this spring from Ronald Guzman, who has also worked in the outfield, a development that evolved faster than manager Chris Woodward anticipated.
“Performance, in my opinion, is based on a lot of different things, and, obviously, being productive in games is really important, but (so is) everything they’re doing, how they’re growing,” Woodward said.
What we learned: Joey Gallo, who hit .181 with 10 homers and 26 RBI in 57 games last season,
hit four home runs in his first five spring games. He said he worked in the offseason on getting his launch angle down and driving the ball more.
Toronto Blue Jays
RHP Nate Pearson, Toronto’s top pitching prospect, gave the organization a scare last week, suffering a Grade 1 strain in his right groin in a March 1 outing. Pearson, Toronto’s firstround (28th overall) pick in 2017 who made his big-league debut last season, is expected to be a major part of the team’s rotation in 2021.
“We will be cautious because we can,” GM Ross Atkins said. “And we’ll make sure that pain is completely gone before he’s back on the mound.”
What we learned: RHP T.J. Zeuch told reporters he did more light throwing in the offseason, with the goal of keeping his arm moving and avoiding a shortened throwing motion he had slipped into previously.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Manager Torey Lovullo enters the final year of his contract following a pandemic-shortened 2020 season in which the Diamondbacks finished last in the National League West with a 25-35 record.
“Look, it’s a game of results,” he said. “I need to be held accountable to that. I would expect that. I ask the players to be accountable. So, for me, it’s a nonissue.”
Lovullo has a 285-261 record over four seasons and was NL Manager of the Year in 2017.
What we learned: Signed to a minor league contract and invited to major league spring training, RHP Anthony Swarzak has a chance to win one of several openings in the bullpen. The 35-year-old did not pitch in the majors last season. He had a 4.56 ERA in 59 games with the Mariners and Braves in 2019.
Atlanta Braves
1B Freddie Freeman will hit in the No. 3 hole of the batting order this season despite thriving in the second spot in 2020 when he was NL MVP.
Manager Brian Snitker hit Freeman No. 2 last season when the designated hitter rule was in effect in the NL. However, pitchers, who hit ninth, are scheduled to bat this season.
Freeman will hit behind RF Ronald Acuna Jr. and 2B Ozzie Albies and in front of LF Marcell Ozuna and C Travis d’Arnaud. A year ago, Freeman batted .341 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI and a 1.102 OPS in 60 games.
What we learned: RHP Bryse Wilson looks poised to build on his breakout performance in last year’s postseason. In his first start of the spring, Wilson pitched two scoreless innings against the Pirates.
Chicago Cubs
RHP Craig Kimbrel is the closer after losing the job last season. Kimbrel had just two saves in 2020 while compiling a 5.28 ERA in 18 games. He ceded the closer’s role to RHP Jeremy Jeffress, who was not re-signed.
Kimbrel did finish strong, pitching 7 1⁄3 scoreless innings in eight September appearances with 13 strikeouts.
“He went through a little bit of bumps,” manager David Ross said of Kimbrel. “He worked his way back into being himself. As long as Craig is who we know he can be, he’s gonna be our closer.”
Over his 11-year career, Kimbrel has 348 saves.
What we learned: Veteran IF Eric Sogard, signed to a minor league contract last week, joins the crowded competition to be the starting second baseman that includes David Bote, Nico Hoerner and Ildemaro Vargas. Last season Sogard hit .209 with one homer and a .560 OPS for the Brewers in 43 games.
Cincinnati Reds
C/IF/OF Kyle Farmer was concerned he had been typecast as a utility player after spending the first four seasons of his career in that role.
However, Farmer is the mix to be the starting shortstop with Dee Strange-Gordon, Kyle Holder and Alex Blandino. Freddy Galvis was the primary shortstop last season, but the Reds did not re-sign him.
Farmer, 30, was a shortstop at the University of Georgia. He has made 16 appearances at the position in the majors.
“Every spring training, I’ve had to tell myself, ‘This is the biggest spring training of your life,’ ” Farmer said.
What we learned: OF Shogo Akiyama should be ready to start the season despite missing a week of spring training. He returned to Cincinnati to be with his wife, who was hospitalized with multiple injuries after a tree fell on her.
Colorado Rockies
Expectations are low for the Rockies after two consecutive losing seasons and the trade of 3B Nolan Arenado to the St.
Louis Cardinals. However, RF Charlie Blackmon believes Colorado will be better than many outside observers think.
“I’m thinking, ‘How do we move forward in the wake of his absence?’ ” Blackmon said of losing Arenado, his close friend. “That’s the part that doesn’t scare me as much as it did, initially. When I look around, I see the talent in the locker room.”
The Rockies will need a big year from Blackmon, who batted .304 with six home runs and a .804 OPS in 59 games last season. The four-time All-Star Game participant hit .500 through the first 17 games but his average was just .216 over the last 32 games.
What we learned: LHP Austin Gomber, acquired in the Arenado deal, appears to be the favorite to win the fifth starter’s job. He is competing with RHPs Ryan Castellani, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Dereck Rodriguez.
Los Angeles Dodgers
RHP Trevor Bauer worked his way out of a two-on, no-out jam in the first inning against the Padres on March 6 by throwing with his right eye closed.
“I like making myself uncomfortable and throwing different stuff my way and trying to find a solution for it,” said Bauer, who won the NL Cy Young Award last season with the Reds. “I think that’s how you improve. Find a way to make yourself uncomfortable and get comfortable with it and then do it again.”
Bauer did not allow a run in five innings in his first two spring starts after signing a three-year, $102 million contract as a free agent.
What we learned: The Dodgers are optimistic RHP Brandon Morrow will pitch out of the bullpen at some point this season. However, often-injured Morrow, who has not appeared
in the major leagues since 2018, will remain behind in extended spring training.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins made the postseason last season for the first time since 2003 on the strength of a young pitching staff. The organization is hoping some young hitters take a step forward after struggling as rookies.
OF Monte Harrison batted .170 with 26 strikeouts in 47 atbats. “I said I was not going to be that guy who gets called up to the big leagues and struggles mentally,” Harrison said. “And then when I got to the big leagues, I struggled mentally. That’s very humbling.”
Meanwhile, OF Jesus Sanchez went 1-for-25 with 11 strikeouts, 1B Lewin Diaz batted .154 and SS Jazz Chisholm had a .161 batting average.
What we learned: LHP
Gio