MLB Spring Training: February 25 winners and losers

MLB Spring Training: February 25 winners and losers

Winner: Billy McKinney, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder

McKinney started Arrieta’s bad afternoon with a leadoff hit, but he didn’t stop there. He added a double in the fourth and a home run off Anthony Swarzak in the sixth. The Jays won 13-6.

Loser: Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder.

Meadows must have felt like he under-dressed for the big party Tuesday. Facing Baltimore, the Rays scored 15 runs on 16 base hits. But Meadows went hitless in four at-bats, and the Rays’ designated leadoff man remains 0-for-spring in 2020.

Winner: Luis Cessa, New York Yankees pitcher.

The Tommy John diagnosis handed out to Yankee pitcher Luis Severino opens up a rotation spot that New York intends to fill from within. Among the candidates, Cessa was first to the mound against Toronto Tuesday, and he delivered a scoreless inning. Granted it was a small victory for Cessa, but it did maximize the opportunity to make an impression. Cessa struck out two Jays.

Loser: Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs pitcher.

Lester also made his 2020 spring debut Tuesday, and he showed nothing. David Dahl hit Lester’s first pitch into right field for a double. An error and walk followed, and before Lester got back to the dugout the Rockies had three runs. A second-inning walk, single and two-run producing double finished Lester’s tour of duty for the day.