Spring Training Recap: February 25

Welcome to the Spring Training recap for February 25! Every day throughout Spring Training we’ll be providing a rundown of the top news and performances from the previous day’s games, as well as highlighting things to watch for in today’s matchups. Yesterday saw a full slate with 17 games so let’s get right to it!

 

News

 

• Luis Severino is set to undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow, thus ending his 2020 season.
• Aaron Judge (shoulder) could play in Grapefruit League games as soon as next week.
• Freddie Freeman will sit out a few days due to right elbow inflammation.
• J.D. Davis will undergo an MRI after jamming his left shoulder while diving for a ground ball.
• Adam Haseley has entered concussion protocol for hitting his head after attempting to make a diving catch.
• Julio Teheran will not make his scheduled start today due to left hamstring tightness.
• Lance McCullers Jr. will see his first game action in a few days, barring any setbacks.
• The Mets are considering not having an official fifth starter, instead using a matchup-based approach.

 

Top Hitting Performances

 

C.J. Cron (1B, Detroit Tigers): 1-for-2, HR, BB

Batting cleanup for his new team, Cron smashed his first homer of the spring in the 5th inning. Fully recovered from the thumb injuries that plagued his 2019 season and no longer having to split time at first base with Mitch Garver, Cron could be primed for a big year if he can remain healthy.

 

Trevor Larnach (OF, Minnesota Twins): 2-for-2, 2 R, HR, RBI, SB, BB

Getting the start at DH and batting cleanup, Trevor Larnach did a little of everything and showed everyone why he is such an intriguing prospect. A 2018 first round pick, Larnach will play the majority of the season in the minors, but could be a difference-maker if he gets called up to the big leagues later in the year.

 

Luis Robert (OF, Chicago White Sox): 1-for-3, 3B, R

One of the top prospects in baseball, Robert batted out of the seven spot in this one. Arguably the favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year, Robert should have a big year regardless of where he bats in the lineup throughout the season.

 

Mike Yastrzemski (OF, San Francisco Giants): 2-for-2, R, SB

Yastrzemski batted leadoff in this game, a spot in which he seems likely to begin the season for the Giants. After flashing more power than expected a season ago, Yastrzemski will look to build off a strong rookie campaign in what will be his first full year in the majors.

 

Paul DeJong (SS, St. Louis Cardinals): 1-for-1, R, HR, 4 RBI

Batting third for the Cardinals, DeJong hit a sac fly and homered. Always a nice source of power, he has the potential to provide major value this season if his plate discipline improves.

 

Corey Seager (SS, Los Angeles Dodgers): 2-for-3, 2B, R, RBI

One of the best young players in the game before having to undergo Tommy John surgery, Seager never quite looked himself in his first year back from the injury. This is an encouraging sign as he looks to bounce back from his underwhelming 2019 season.

 

Taylor Ward (OF, Los Angeles Angels): 3-for-3, HR, 3B, 3 RBI

Ward has struggled mightily in his two short stints in the big leagues, but he destroyed the ball in Triple-A and is someone to watch if he can build off this performance.

 

Brandon Lowe (1B, 2B, OF, Tampa Bay Rays): 2-for-2, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

Before getting hurt at the start of July last year, Lowe was in the midst of a terrific rookie season. Now back to full health, he looks ready to pick up right where he left off.

 

Pitching Roundup

 

Here was our list of starters to watch from yesterday’s games:

SPs to watch on TV today:

Musgrove: 93/94 still there? SL/CU/CH usage up? Sinkers gone?
Luzardo: FB/CH/SL command
Lucchesi: Legit Changeup?
Bundy: More SL/CH & Fewer FB?
Brandon Bielak: Could he start?

Bieber, Pearson(!), Morton, Means, Folty, and Turnbull are not televised ?

— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) February 25, 2020

Here’s how some of them fared:

 

Joe Musgrove (SP, Pittsburgh Pirates): 2 IP, 0 Hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Musgrove was terrific in his two innings of work against the Phillies’ split squad, allowing no baserunners other than plunking Roman Quinn to start the game. Perhaps this is the year that Musgrove finally puts it all together.

 

Jesus Luzardo (SP, Oakland Athletics): 2 IP, 1 Hit, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks

Luzardo was masterful in his two innings against the Padres, fanning two and inducing a double play to erase the one baserunner he allowed. His fastball topped out at 97 mph in the start. He almost certainly will not have a full workload this season, and his health has proven to be a concern, but the 22-year-old will likely be spectacular when he does take the mound.

 

Joey Lucchesi (SP, San Diego Padres): 2 IP, 1 Hit, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

The Athletics got to Lucchesi in the first inning of this one, as he gave up a walk and a double before throwing a wild pitch to give up his first run of the spring. He settled in nicely after that though, with an easy one-two-three second inning.

 

Dylan Bundy (SP, Los Angeles Angels): 2 IP, 0 Hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks

Bundy was outstanding in his first spring appearance as a member of the Angels, striking out four of the seven Reds batters he faced. Bundy’s stock will be on the rise after this one, especially now that he is in a park that should help limit his long balls, and has a much better lineup behind him for run support.

 

Brandon Bielak (SP, Houston Astros): 2 IP, 3 Hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 Ks

Bielak got the start for the Astros, but was less than spectacular, giving up a double in the first inning before serving up back-to-back homers in the second. After splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A last year, the 23-year-old will likely begin the 2020 season back in Triple-A.

 

Nate Pearson (SP, Toronto Blue Jays): 1 IP, 0 Hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 Ks

Nate Pearson was dominant against the Yankees, striking out the side in his only inning of work. The Blue Jays top prospect will start the season in the minors, but he could be added to the big league roster later in the year.

 

Spencer Turnbull (SP, Detroit Tigers): 2 IP, 0 Hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks

Turnbull dominated the Mets in two perfect innings of work, striking out four in the impressive outing. Turnbull was terrific in the first half of 2019 before falling apart down the stretch, so this is an encouraging sign that perhaps some nagging injuries were the reason for his second-half struggles.

 

What to Watch for Today

 

SPs to watch on TV today:

Genesis Cabrera: FB/2ndary good enough for SP spot?
Urquidy: Don’t be bad
Keller: FBs up, CU/SL heavy mix, <3
Woj-Bomb: Cutters/Sliders wicked?
Thor: Fbs up, 2ndary stuff down?
Canning: Healthy n all?
Dunn: Throw strikes please
Paddack: new CB!

— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) February 26, 2020

A few more:

Tanaka: Is his splitter working?
Joe Ross: Anything more than FBs/SLs?
Pruitt: Good enough to start?
Newcomb: Curveball/Changeup okay?
Josiah Gray + Brady Singer: I’m excited to sit and learn
Sonny “the other” Gray: Still CB/SL heavy and good down?

— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) February 26, 2020

Featured image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)