Spring Training camps are in full bore during the final month of our Fantasy Baseball prep and draft season. The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues are full of activity as teams build their rosters for the 2024 MLB season. As a result, it’s difficult to keep tabs on the latest news and ongoings, even if you have already drafted your team(s). Well, here is a refresher to help you catch up on the top stories, ICYMI! ?
Familiar Faces in New Places
Trading his halo for residence in Chavez Ravine, Shohei Ohtani homered in his third at-bat with the Dodgers and went 5-for-10 through his first four games. His recovery from right elbow surgery has not hampered his prowess at the plate, and he’s on track for Opening Day.
Juan Soto has looked very comfortable in Yankee pinstripes as his budding bromance with new teammate Aaron Judge blossoms. Soto has two doubles and three homers in four Spring Training games. In fact, he has 17 total bases and a 2.616 OPS.
Braves’ new gunslinger Chris Sale is impressing in camp. His fastball velocity is a robust 97 mph, resulting in nine strikeouts through his first 4.2 IP. Also, he’s kept a clean sheet so far. Fantasy Spin: Sale has had an average break of 14.5 inches on his slider, with a slide piece that broke 20 inches on a strikeout in his Braves debut this spring. Last season, his slider “only” averaged 11 inches, but the break he’s showing in camp is more reminiscent of his dominant former self. Will it continue into the season? His health and stamina will be paramount, but I’m bumping him up my board a bit from a back-end 13th-rounder to an early 12th.
Corbin Burnes had a decent first showing with the Orioles, working a scoreless first inning on 22 pitches, 13 of which were strikes. The 29-year-old right-hander (acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Brewers on Feb. 1) struck out a pair in the outing. However, his next outing was not so kind. In just shy of two innings, he allowed three hits, three runs (all earned), one long fly and a free pass. He did add three strikeouts. His stuff looks ok, and the command has been sharp for it being so early in camp, so maybe just a vet getting his feet wet with a new club. But there were lowlights in 2023. Fantasy Spin: Going in the second round of 2024 drafts after being a first-rounder last season, I’m not feeling his cost. However, if he slips to the third, I’m on board.
Elsewhere, Sonny Gray tossed two scoreless frames with two punchies in his first outing with the Cardinals, though his second start was cut short by a hamstring injury. Gray has a mild right hamstring strain, making Opening Day murky.
Finally, new Giant Jorge Soler has five hits in 11 plate appearances – all singles. Soler stroked 60 extra-base hits in 2013, so they will come, but the contact is nice to see. His power bat is a welcome addition to the San Fran lineup.
Spring Training Injury Bug
Besides Gray, a handful of high-profile starting pitchers already are dealing with injuries.
- Lucas Giolito, Red Sox – Boston’s free-agent addition felt right elbow discomfort after his second spring start. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that initial tests showed Giolito “likely has a partially torn UCL and flexor strain,” which could put his 2024 season in doubt.
- Kyle Bradish & John Means, Orioles – Both pitchers will miss the beginning of the season due to ailments. Bradish has a sprained UCL in his right elbow. Means is a month behind schedule after dealing with a flare-up in his surgically repaired left elbow in October and won’t pitch in any Grapefruit League games.
- Kodai Senga, Mets – The author of the ghost fork saw his spring end before it even began. Arm fatigue translated into a strained posterior capsule, for which he received a platelet-rich plasma injection. Senga will need extra time to build up after a three-week shutdown due to the timing. Throwing left-handed doesn’t count! Fantasy Spin: If his recovery goes smoothly, he could plausibly return before the end of April. However, I feel mid-May is more likely.
- Justin Verlander, Astros – The three-time Cy Young Award winner is two weeks behind schedule because of a right shoulder issue and will begin the season on the injured list.
- Braxton Garrett, Marlins – The 26-year-old left-hander is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season after being delayed by general left shoulder soreness at the start of camp.
- Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays – Last season’s AL Cy Young Award finalist is dealing with right shoulder fatigue.
- David Bednar, Pirates – Due to right lat tightness, we have yet to see Bednar make a Spring Training appearance. He is not throwing as of this writing but hopes to be soon. Luckily, relievers don’t need a long ramp-up.
- Robert Stephenson, Angels – A popular favorite to usurp Carlos Estevez, Los Angeles has been cautious with Stephenson, who is working through right shoulder discomfort. It’s not serious enough to warrant any imaging, but there’s a chance he won’t be ready for the start of the season.
Positional players are relatively healthy at this point, yet some of our highly sought-after fantasy targets are dealing with issues.
- Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves – Acuña has irritation around the meniscus in his right knee – the same knee in which he tore his ACL in 2021. However, he is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
- Josh Jung, Rangers – After suffering a left calf strain at the start of camp, Jung is set to begin baseball activities during the first week of March.
- Jeff McNeil, Mets – New York has shut down McNeil from hitting activities due to a case of left biceps soreness. He has been participating in defensive drills and throwing, but swinging a bat is causing him issues. As of March 5th, McNeil reported feeling better but has yet to return to Grapefruit action. Mets beat reporter Anthony DiComo reports this could happen sooner rather than later.
- Matt McLain, Reds – McLain could make his spring debut later this week if all goes well in his recovery from a right oblique strain.
Two players who appear iffy for the start of the regular season are Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom and Cardinals center fielder Tommy Edman. Grissom is viewed as doubtful for Boston’s opener because of a left groin strain. There is no timetable for when Edman will see Grapefruit League action, as he is continuing his recovery from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist.
Spring Breakout
The first annual Spring Breakout games will be held on March 14-17, but a bunch of top prospects aren’t waiting to stand in the spotlight. Even before teams were set to congregate in Florida and Arizona, we hypothesized that Wyatt Langford has the highest likelihood of making his respective team from the 2023 Draft class. MLB’s No. 6 prospect has blasted three homers with seven RBI in six Spring Training games. Langford’s NFBC ADP is up to 144.90, and he may be worth every penny, but with rookies, buyer beware. Other rookies James Wood (No. 14 prospect) and Colton Cowser (No. 19 prospect) have joined Langford with three homers within their first eight games. Both could push the envelope this spring with their respective teams. Either way, they’ll be battling around the Beltway for years to come.
Meanwhile, Giants left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison (No. 23 prospect) has looked sharp in camp. In Harrison’s first start, he struck out four hitters over two hitless innings. He faced a potent Rangers squad, striking out Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim and the aforementioned Langford. Harrison’s second start again came against Texas, and while he showed some control issues (3 BB in 2.1 IP), he tacked on two more punchies after only giving up one run. His teammates say he looks explosive. Fantasy Spin: With veterans Alex Cobb (left hip surgery) and Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery) expected to open the season on the injured list, it’s looking like the Giants will lean on Harrison to serve as their No. 2 starter at the outset of the year.
Braves righty AJ Smith-Shawver (No. 69 prospect) has drawn rave reviews. Atlanta’s No. 1 prospect struck out five in a scoreless outing (2.2 IP) last time out vs. MIN, and his changeup was jumping! In his first start, he did give up three runs in two innings (2 HR) against the Phillies, but also K’d three.
Lastly, a highlight of spring was the showdown between the Orioles’ Jackson Holliday (top position player prospect) and the Pirates’ Paul Skenes (top pitching prospect). The hard-throwing Skenes won Round 1.
Spring Training Statcast Standouts
- Elly De La Cruz, Reds – 111.7 mph, 470-foot HR
- Spencer Jones, Yankees – 109.2 mph, 470-foot HR (MLB’s No. 84 prospect)
- Jung Hoo Lee, Giants – 99.7 mph double, 109.7 mph HR (Same game!)
- Tarik Skubal, Tigers – 97 mph avg. fastball velocity/99.6 mph max
- Eury Pérez, Marlins – 98.0 mph avg. fastball velocity/99.9 mph max
- Hurston Waldrep, Braves – Splitter with 87.3 mph avg. velo/574 rpm avg. spin rate (MLB’s No. 90 prospect)
- Evan Carter, Rangers – 29.9 ft/sec sprint speed on an infield single
- Harry Ford, Mariners – CS with 1.87 second pop time
- James Wood, Nationals – 109.7, 111.6 mph HRs
- Nate Pearson, Blue Jays – Splitter K at 87 mph/577 rpm/16 inches of run
