Baseball Notebook: Spring Training Edition

A Baseball Notebook: spring training Edition blog post covers all the baseball news and notes from around the league during Spring Training

Arrivals and Departures: Who’s coming and going on each team

As teams head to Spring Training they do so with mostly set rosters. However, there are always a few players on the bubble and a few non-roster invitees who could make an impact. Here’s a look at who is coming and going for all 30 teams.

AL East
Boston Red Sox The big story in camp will be the battle for the final spot in the rotation between Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson. Johnson is out of minor league options, so he has the inside track.
New York Yankees The Yankees have brought in a number of veterans on Minor League deals, including Troy Tulowitzki, Danny Espinosa and Greg Bird. They will all be fighting for roster spots.
Tampa Bay Rays The Rays have an open competition for the fifth starter spot in their rotation. Ryan Yarbrough, Jalen Beeks and Yonny Chirinos are among the candidates.
Toronto Blue Jays The Blue Jays are another team with an open competition for a spot in their rotation. Clayton Richard, Trent Thornton and Ryan Borucki are among the candidates.
Baltimore Orioles The Orioles will be looking to see if Miguel Castro can build on his strong showing from last season. He’s likely to open the season as their closer.

Spring Training Battles: Who’s fighting for what position

As players report to spring training this week, they’ll be vying for starting spots, a place on the roster or simply a chance to show they belong in the majors.
Here are some of the most interesting position battles to follow in Florida and Arizona:

catchers
The New York Yankees have an intriguing three-way battle for the two backup catcher spots behind All-Star Gary Sanchez. Kyle Higashioka, Austin Romine and Chris Iannetta are all in the mix.

infielders
A number of teams have open competitions at second base, including the Houston Astros who lost both All-Star Jose Altuve and utility infielder Marwin Gonzalez to Free agency Aledmys Diaz and Jack Mayfield are among those vying for the job. The San Francisco Giants will also have a new second baseman, with Scooter Gennett, Donovan Solano, Mauricio Dubon and non-roster invitee Yolmer Sanchez in the mix.

pitching prospects Who to watch on the mound

The pitchers and catchers have reported and spring training is in full swing! As we gear up for another season of America’s Pastime, let’s take a look at some of the top pitching prospects who could make an impact this year.

1. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
Buehler made his MLB debut last year and was impressive in limited action, posting a 3.35 ERA in 21 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander is expected to compete for a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation this spring and could be a breakout candidate in 2019.

2. Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers
The top overall pick in last year’s draft, Mize is one of the most hyped pitching prospects in recent memory. The 21-year-old right-hander will start the season in the minors but could make his MLB debut at some point this year. Keep an eye on him!

3. Forrest Whitley, Houston Astros
Whitley made his MLB debut last September and is considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. The 20-year-old righty is expected to begin the season in the minors but could be called up to the Astros at some point this year.

4. Brent Honeywell, Tampa Bay Rays
Honeywell was one of baseball’s top prospects before he underwent Tommy John surgery last February. The 23-year-old righty is on the comeback trail and could make his MLB debut at some point this season. Keep an eye on him as he works his way back!

5. Michael Kopech, Chicago White Sox

Kopech made his MLB debut last August and was impressive in limited action, posting a 3.70 ERA in 22 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander is expected to open the season in the White Sox rotation and could be a breakout candidate in 2019.

Infield Prospects: Who to watch around the horn

As we approach spring training fans’ focus inevitably turns to their team’s prospects. Who might help the Big League club this season? Who is the next wave of young talent that will don many years of service for the franchise?

Infielders are always in high demand. They are the backbone of any ballclub. Here is a list of some infield prospects — some well known, some not so well known — who will be looking to make a name for themselves this spring:

third base:
-Michael Chavis, Boston Red Sox Chavis was a first-round pick in 2014 and he has hit at every level of the minors. He has good power and can play both third base and first base. He is blocked by Rafael Devers at third base, but he could see time in the big leagues as a utility player this season.

shortstop:
-Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays Franco is one of the top prospects in baseball and he is just 18 years old. He is a switch-hitter with Plus bat speed from both sides of the plate. He has Plus speed and he projects to be a plus defender at shortstop. He will likely start the season in Single-A, but he could move quickly through the Tampa Bay system.

Outfield Prospects: Who to watch in the outfield

As we head into spring training there are a few outfield prospects that have caught our attention. Here’s a look at who to keep an eye on this spring:

Domingo Leyba, Arizona Diamondbacks: Leyba was acquired by the Diamondbacks in the deal that sent Shelby Miller to the Atlanta Braves He hit .263/.305/.398 with seven home runs and 46 RBI in 115 games with Double-A Mississippi last season. The 22-year-old is currently competing for a spot on the 40-man roster and could see time with Triple-A Reno at some point this season.

Raimel Tapia, Colorado Rockies Tapia made his Major League debut last season and showed promise, hitting .288/.331/.407 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 49 games. The 23-year-old is expected to compete for a starting job in the outfield this spring and could be a key piece in the Rockies’ lineup for years to come.

Mason Williams, New York Yankees Williams was acquired by the Yankees from the Indians in the offseason and is expected to compete for a spot on the roster this spring. The 25-year-old hit .296/.337/.379 with four home runs and 39 RBI in 112 games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus last season.

Catching Prospects: Who to watch behind the plate

As the saying goes, you can never have too much pitching, and the same goes for catching. A team can never have too many good catchers because they are so valuable and so difficult to find.

The position is so important because the catcher is the field general. He is the one who has to control the game, work with the pitchers, and make sure everyone is in the right place. And it’s not an easy position to play.

“It’s the most physically demanding position on the field,” said Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. “You’re putting a toll on your body every day, blocking balls in the dirt, getting beat up.”

That’s why teams are always looking for good catching prospects, and there are a few players who stand out this spring. Here’s a look at some of the top catching prospects in camp:

Top Position Prospects: The best of the best

As we approach Spring Training it’s time to take a look at some of the top position prospects in baseball. These are the young players who are knocking on the door of the Major Leagues and who have a chance to make an impact in the coming season.

Here are some of the top position prospects in baseball:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays Guerrero is the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and he is already one of the best hitters in minor League Baseball He has a chance to be a superstar, and he could be in the Major Leagues as early as this season.

Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox Jimenez is another top hitting prospect, and he has already shown that he can hit for power and average. He is likely to start the season in the minor leagues, but he could be called up at some point during the season.

Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres Tatis is one of the best young shortstops in baseball, and he has a chance to be a star at the Major League level. He is likely to start the season in the minor leagues, but he could be called up at some point during the season.

Non-Roster Invitees: Who’s trying to make a name for themselves

This spring, in addition to the 40 men currently on the 40-man roster, the Mets have invited 22 non-roster invitees (NRIs) to Major League camp. So who are these guys? Some are young prospects trying to prove they belong, some are veterans trying to hang on to their careers, and some are journeymen just hoping for a shot at the big time. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

outfielder Brandon Nimmo is the Mets’ top prospect according to Baseball America The 21-year-old was a first-Round Draft pick in 2011 out of High School in Wyoming, and he’s been climbing the minor league ladder ever since. He spent last season with the Double-A Binghamton Mets, where he hit .278/.394/.406 with six Home Runs and 42 RBIs. He’s unlikely to make the team out of spring training, but he could be up at some point during the season if everything goes well.

infielder Danny Muno is another highly touted prospect who made his Major League debut last September. The 24-year-old was drafted in the eighth round out of Fresno State in 2011, and he’s been hitting his way through the minors ever since. In 2013, he split time between Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas hitting a combined .273/.385/.429 with 10 homers and 63 RBIs. He’s probably not going to make the team out of spring training, but he could see time with the Mets at some point this season.

infielder/outfielder Matt Reynolds is another young player who made his Major League debut last September. The 23-year-old was drafted in the second round out of Arkansas in 2012, and he spent last season split between Binghamton and Las Vegas hitting a combined .267/.351/.448 with 16 homers and 77 RBIs. Like Nimmo and Muno, he’s unlikely to make the team out of spring training, but he could see time with the Mets this season if everything goes well.

catcher Kevin Plawecki is one of the Mets’ top prospects according to Baseball America The 23-year old was drafted in the first round out of Purdue in 2012, and he spent last season split between Binghamton and Las Vegas hitting a combined .305/.361/.416 with six homers and 67 RBIs. He’s unlikely to make the team out of spring training because veteran Travis d’Arnaud is entrenched as the starter, but he could see time with the Mets at some point this season if d’Arnaud gets injured or struggles offensively.

reliever Vic Black is one of several veterans fighting for a spot on the Mets’ roster this spring. The 27-year old has pitched parts of two seasons in the majors with mixed results (4.60 ERA in 46 innings), but he struck out 69 batters in 54 innings pitched between Triple-A Las Vegas and Double-A Binghamton last year,. He’s definitely got a shot at making the team out of spring training if he can pitch well this month.

Rule 5 Draft: Who’s eligible and who’s been taken

As the end of spring training approaches, all 30 Major League teams will soon have to make some decisions on the fate of some of their younger players.

One of those decisions revolves around the Rule 5 draft. The Rule 5 draft protects players from being taken by another team and allows them to stay with their current team.

Players who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft are ones who were drafted and signed at 18 or 19 years old and have spent five seasons in the minor leagues, or ones who were drafted at 20 years old or older and have spent four seasons in the minors.

The following is a list of some of the more notable players who have been taken in the Rule 5 draft in recent years

-J.D. Martinez, Houston Astros (now with the Detroit Tigers)
-Marco Estrada, Washington Nationals (now with the Toronto Blue Jays)
-Luis Sardinas, Milwaukee Brewers (now with the Texas Rangers)

Spring Training Schedule: A game-by-game look

This is the spring training schedule for the Nationals. Games are listed by date, then home team then where the game will be played, then the time of the game. All times are Eastern.

February 22: Nationals vs. Orioles in Sarasota, 1:05 p.m.

February 23: Nationals vs. Braves in Kissimmee, 1:05 p.m.

February 24: Nationals vs. Cardinals in Jupiter, 1:05 p.m.

February 25: Nationals vs. Mets in Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m