Imagine it or not, the 2024 MLB common season begins in a single week — when the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres open play in Seoul, Korea on March 20 and 21 earlier than all 30 groups take the sphere on March 28.
Earlier than we flip our focus to the lengthy season forward, we requested ESPN MLB reporters who’ve been throughout Arizona and Florida to interrupt down what has stood out most to them throughout spring coaching.
From stars within the making to large names raking, this is what has caught our eyes.
Who’s one participant who has impressed you most in spring coaching?
Jorge Castillo: There is a man named Juan Soto the New York Yankees acquired over the offseason, and he’s smashing baseballs in spring coaching. All of us count on Soto to rake. However he is made fairly the impression on the Yankees in lower than a month — on and off the sphere. Gerrit Cole mentioned he loves watching Soto within the batter’s field. Aaron Boone mentioned he expects Soto to kill the ball each time he is on the plate. Everybody appears to be raving about him.
Hitting in entrance of Aaron Decide ought to, on paper, give Soto loads of pitches to hit. Enjoying at Yankee Stadium ought to present him the extreme setting he covets. It might be the recipe for an MVP efficiency — and the best platform season coming into free company.
Alden Gonzalez: I do know he is not essentially missing in protection, however nonetheless — what Shohei Ohtani is already doing, lower than six months faraway from one other main elbow surgical procedure, is kind of spectacular. He was wowing Dodgers coaches and teammates together with his first few rounds of on-field batting apply in early February, and he has been locked in all through Cactus League play, with 4 walks and 11 hits — together with two homers, a double and a triple — in 23 plate appearances.
Take into accout: Ohtani missed the season’s first month coming off his first Tommy John surgical procedure in 2019. Now there isn’t any query he’ll be the Dodgers’ designated hitter after they open up in South Korea, despite the fact that they’re going to begin every week early.
Buster Olney: Reynaldo Lopez threw three hitless innings in our exhibition broadcast towards the Pink Sox and his stuff was completely filthy. Lopez was an under-the-radar signing with the Braves, who moved aggressively in locking him down for $30 million over three years even earlier than Thanksgiving turkeys went into the oven.
Lopez bounced round final yr amongst three groups, from the White Sox to the Angels to the Guardians, and he appeared to get higher at each cease; in Cleveland, he did not permit any runs in 12 appearances. He appears poised to play a big function for the Braves, who’re anticipated to ramp up his innings in a hybrid function this yr.
Jesse Rogers: Eloy Jimenez has all the time been a slugger however he hasn’t been in a position to keep wholesome. Now totally ensconced because the Chicago White Sox designated hitter, that is his likelihood to place collectively a profession yr. His timing is in midseason kind proper now and the one concern is that if he can stick with it till the season begins.
Jimenez has been slowed by myriad illnesses throughout his profession, some fluky, so protecting him out of the outfield would possibly get him within the lineup typically sufficient to kind a dynamic offensive duo with Luis Robert.
David Schoenfield: James Wooden was the highest prospect acquired by the Nationals within the 2022 Juan Soto commerce and he has blasted three dwelling runs this spring — together with one mammoth moon shot in first at-bat. The 6-foot-7 outfielder will seemingly all the time be strikeout-prone (he fanned 173 instances within the minors final season), however he is drawn as many walks as Okay’s this spring.
What one group are individuals sleeping on that they should not be for the season?
Castillo: Groups coming off a pennant run often aren’t missed, however the Arizona Diamondbacks have not been getting a lot love. Sure, their run to the World Sequence was unbelievable — some would even argue fluky — after a 84-win common season. Sure, the mighty Dodgers are of their division. However the D-backs nonetheless have Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly atop the rotation. Franchise cornerstones Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno are again after shining as rookies in 2023. And Arizona is even higher than final season with the additions of Eduardo RodrÃguez, Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suárez. Put all of it collectively and Diamondbacks may once more be a harmful membership in October.
Gonzalez: Maybe it is overly optimistic, however one thought appeared to hover over the Padres as they navigated what grew to become a cost-cutting offseason: They’re going to positively be much less proficient in 2024, however maybe they’re going to truly be higher. The Padres missed the playoffs regardless of a plus-104 run-differential final yr, the product of a head-scratching incapability to supply in clutch conditions and win one-run video games. A few of that (a variety of that?) may be luck. If these numbers enhance they usually get higher performances from five-star gamers who’re definitely able to extra — Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove — they will win greater than 82 video games. A.J. Preller nonetheless must make strikes, significantly within the outfield, however there’s bounce-back potential right here — even with out Juan Soto, Blake Snell and Josh Hader.
Olney: The Seattle Mariners, who might need put us to sleep just a little this winter due to how they needed to discover artistic methods to generate payroll flexibility. However they’ve arguably the perfect rotation within the division — possibly in the entire sport — and if the likes of Mitch Haniger can keep wholesome, Seattle might be very harmful.
Rogers: The Cincinnati Reds. Their confidence is effervescent over and their offseason additions might be sneaky good. On the very least, there is a ton of recent, veteran management within the room to assist a proficient however younger roster. Plus, they’ve extra depth than a variety of groups within the division. The top of final season must also assist as Cincinnati battled till the ultimate weekend whereas waking up a sleeping big within the stands. Nice American Ballpark was rocking. In the event that they get off to a great begin, be careful.
Schoenfield: I am not saying they will win the AL East, however do not write off the Boston Pink Sox — even with Lucas Giolito’s harm. This group will rating some runs, particularly given what we noticed from Triston Casas within the second half and in the event that they get something from a wholesome Trevor Story. Clearly, the pitching is skinny: Perhaps they exit and signal Jordan Montgomery or Michael Lorenzen.
What’s one factor that has shocked you this season?
Castillo: How no person — completely no person — is speaking in regards to the guidelines carried out final season. A yr in the past, the subject dominated the spring coaching discourse. Some individuals hated them. Others liked them. It was a grand experiment that might absolutely break the sport in some eyes. Now the principles are simply a part of the sport, having transformed loads of the haters from a yr in the past.
Gonzalez: Nothing is extra shocking than the quantity of free brokers who stay unsigned. We’re into the second full week of March and Blake Snell, the reigning NL Cy Younger Award winner, does not have a group. Neither do the likes of Jordan Montgomery, J.D. Martinez, Michael Lorenzen, Brandon Belt and Tommy Pham. Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman did not signal till effectively into spring coaching.
A number of groups have blamed uncertainty over their regional sports activities networks as a cause for chopping prices; many others have famous that Scott Boras, infamous for his willingness to delay free company, represents so most of the aforementioned gamers. Regardless of the cause, gamers and brokers in every single place are involved.
Olney: I’m most shocked by the optimism oozing out of Toronto Blue Jays camp, within the spring after a extremely irritating and temporary look within the playoffs final fall. On paper, they did not appear to try this a lot this winter, past teasing with their Shohei Ohtani flirtation, they usually really want upgrades to their every-day lineup. However Vladimir Guerrero reported to camp in wonderful form and possibly that’s the supply of a variety of optimism. Toronto wants the incumbent place gamers to carry out higher, and Vlad’s offseason effort fueled a perception that he and Daulton Varsho and others could make this occur.
Rogers: Seeing the hysteria across the Dodgers is definitely fairly jolting. It is an all-out social gathering within the Cactus League when L.A. takes the sphere. In case you plan on coming, depart your resort early: the wait to get into the parking heaps is sort of as dangerous as a Taylor Swift live performance. OK, possibly it isn’t that dangerous however hordes of followers are following each transfer made by Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They’re undoubtedly the present to look at this season.
Schoenfield: It isn’t essentially a shock, however positively a “listen” scenario with the Yankees’ rotation: Gerrit Cole is getting an MRI on his elbow as he is had discomfort recovering from his outings; Carlos Rodon remains to be looking for his kind and velocity after a misplaced 2023 and has served up three dwelling runs in 5â…” innings; Nestor Cortes, getting back from shoulder points, has allowed 17 hits and 9 runs in 10 innings. Is there sufficient concern right here to push the Yankees to signal Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery?
What’s one place battle you might be watching intently out of your time at spring coaching?
Castillo: It isn’t essentially a place battle, however the Yankees’ backup-infielder scenario is one thing to regulate. On Saturday, supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned Oswald Peraza might be shut down for at the very least six weeks due to a shoulder harm. Peraza, as soon as a extremely touted prospect, was projected to make the group’s Opening Day roster — however the Yankees had been already looking for to enhance the spot earlier than Peraza’s harm. Tremendous utlityman Kiké Hernández mentioned he selected to signal with the Dodgers over the Yankees in late February. Amed Rosario, one other free agent infielder, picked the Rays over the Yankees. Peraza’s harm may push the Yankees again into the seek for a veteran addition, whether or not through free company or commerce.
Gonzalez: I am questioning what the Baltimore Orioles are going to do with their wealth of position-player expertise, a lot of which appears able to matriculate to the key leagues. It has been fascinating to see whether or not Jackson Holliday — the 20-year-old infielder who’s the group’s third consecutive No. 1 prospect within the sport — can win the on a regular basis second base job out of spring coaching. However Baltimore’s outfield image is fascinating too. Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander are locked into beginning roles, however Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers — all younger, proficient outfielders who bat left-handed — are gunning for one or two potential open backup spots.
Rogers: I am excited by seeing how the Reds’ infield depth chart shakes out. This appears like a scenario the place how they begin the season is not more likely to be how they end it, particularly with a couple of early accidents and now a suspension for extremely touted prospect Noelvi Marte. At full power, the Reds might need an enviable downside: too many proficient gamers with too few spots for all of them. Cincinnati careworn a necessity for depth in the course of the offseason, and they’re already needing it.
Schoenfield: Dodgers shortstop. Gavin Lux booted the primary two grounders hit to him and he had some throwing-accuracy points even when he performed second base — so now L.A.’s shortstop apparently is … former proper fielder/second baseman Mookie Betts (with Lux sliding over to second). As if we want additional testomony to Mookie’s greatness. Nonetheless, this appears like a query in progress and it would not shock if Miguel Rojas, a greater defender, finally ends up enjoying essentially the most innings at shortstop.
Olney: I agree with Dave — we’re all on Dodgers shortstop watch after Lux’s lengthy absence final yr and the questions of whether or not he can maintain down a vital place on this dynamic group. On the very least, the Dodgers want somebody who catches the ball and makes routine performs, and so it’s going to be fascinating to see how Lux progresses this spring. Rojas is an effective fallback for a group with an enormous payroll, however there’s already hypothesis in different entrance workplaces that the Dodgers may make a transfer for Willy Adames if the Brewers punt on 2024, as some evaluators count on.