There’s only one game (and, obviously, two teams) left in the World Baseball Classic, which means all the camps in Arizona are filling back up with players whose teams were eliminated. They have time to readjust and get back in the groove with their major league club before Opening Day in nine days.
Let’s take a quick look at the MLB news and storylines coming out of Arizona camps. We have all the MLB spreads to make a bet online on spring training action and you can also check out some MLB odds.
DeBut for DeGrom
One of the most eagerly anticipated appearances of the spring took place Sunday when Jacob deGrom finally pitched in a game for the Texas Rangers. He tossed three scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing two hits.
One of those hits was a triple, and deGrom appreciated the opportunity to prevent that guy from moving up 90 more feet.
“I felt like I threw the ball well,” deGrom said. “Whether it’s spring or during the season, the goal is to try to put up zeros. So that’s what I was trying to do out there today. The second batter of the game, I gave him a triple and I’m like, ‘OK, let’s leave him there.’ That’s what I was trying to do. It was good to be in a real game and have to bear down there and make pitches.”
DeGrom, who was slowed early in camp by side tightness, was able to throw 34 pitches and finished his day of work with some more time in the bullpen. He’ll have another start this week and then should be in line for an Opening Day start at home against the Phillies on March 30.
White Sox Injuries Piling Up
The Chicago White Sox had a pretty smooth spring from a physical standpoint until the past week or so when a handful of key players started wrestling with one issue or another.
It started Friday when word came that Andrew Vaughn was dealing with some back pain. The World Baseball Classic then claimed another victim when White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada suffered a bruised rib in a collision while playing for Cuba. Finally, Eloy Jimenez left Monday’s game against the Diamondbacks with a right calf issue.
Jimenez’s last act was a dash down the line on a chopper and he looked a bit uneasy with his stride as he crossed first base.
Throw in a forearm strain that has popped up for reliever Matt Foster and you have a tough stretch for a team that was decimated by injuries in 2022. Moncada was limited to 104 games and Jimenez to just 84 in what was a disappointing 81-81 campaign.
Brosseau Bashing for Brewers
Mike Brosseau has carved out a nice niche for himself as a versatile guy who can play around the infield, has plenty of outfield experience and even had three scoreless innings on the mound last year. He’s hoping to get a few more at-bats in 2023 and has given the Brewers something to think about in that regard with a scorching spring.
The 29-year-old entered Tuesday leading his team and ranking tied for first among Cactus Leaguers with four home runs. He’s also added a pair of doubles in a .417 effort through 10 games.
Brosseau’s value is in that versatility so he won’t be an everyday guy, as most MLB predictions have said. He’ll likely get his 50 starts or so against lefties. He’s mashed a few of them in his time.
Speedy Johnson Pushing for Spot in San Francisco
The San Francisco Giants have had some injuries to outfielders this spring with Mitch Hanigar having an oblique issue and Austin Slater a calf problem. If one or both are not available by Opening Day, one option to fill in is speedster Bryce Johnson, who leads all of baseball with 11 steals this spring (the next player has just eight).
Johnson played at Sam Houston State and had to climb through the system, getting thwarted like so many others by a lost 2020 year. But he hit .286 with 30 steals at Triple-A in 2021 and .290 with 31 steals at Triple-A in 2022, earning a late cup of coffee with the Giants.
“He’s done what we’ve asked him to do, which is to be relentless on the bases, be ultra-aggressive, be dynamic and don’t hold back at all,” manager Gabe Kapler said of Johnson. “He’s done all of those things.”
Johnson, considered a solid defender at all three outfield spots, is batting .360 (9-for-25) in Cactus League action.
Angels Camp Abuzz in WBC Drama
They’re still toiling away in Tempe as the Los Angeles Angels look to build a roster that can end the franchise’s string of seven straight losing seasons. But all eyes in camp on Tuesday night will be on the action in Miami, where Mike Trout’s Team USA goes for the WBC title against Shohei Ohtani and Japan.
Both Angels have been essential to their teams’ runs through the tournament. After Japan’s walk-off win over Mexico to reach the championship game, Ohtani was able to glance ahead at a potential mammoth matchup with his teammate (and others) on Tuesday.
“Not only Mike Trout, but one through nine in that order is filled with superstars and household names,” Ohtani said via interpreter Ippei Mizuhara on Monday. “I’m just excited to face that lineup, and it’s a great thing for Japanese baseball.”
Ohtani will not be the starting pitcher but he said he’ll be ready in relief. A potential matchup with Trout in a big situation late in this game would be epic, and you can be sure everyone in Tempe will be watching. If there were MLB picks to be made on that one at-bat alone, it might break the Internet.
