MLB Spring Training: Harper's hit checks out; Myers springs into action

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Those two front-liners are among the headliners during MLB spring training games Wednesday, March 4.

Wil Myers continued his enjoyment of yet another superb spring Wednesday. Perhaps this year it will translate into regular-season success.

Myers was one of several players showing off their talents during Wednesday’s spring action. Bryce Harper also showed off, homering twice, one of those shots finding a home amid the palm trees behind the back fence at the Phillies’ spring complex.

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Here’s a look at Wednesday’s winners and losers.

Winner: Chris Owings, Colorado Rockies infielder

The non-roster player of the day, Owings is a seven-year veteran of three major league teams who are making a strong bid to go north with the Rockies.

Facing the Texas Rangers Wednesday, Owings ran his MLB spring training batting average to .364 with a three-for-three day. His first-inning hit didn’t blossom into anything, but he singled again in the third, this time driving in a run. Owings underscored his abilities by stealing second.

He added a third base hit in the fifth, although those contributions came to naught when Texas rallied to win 7-4.

Winner: Wil Myers, San Diego Padres outfielder

Remember all those winter discussions about the Padres trading Myers? Myers is dumping all manner of cold water on that idea.

Stationed at first base against the Royals, Myers hit safely in all three of his plate appearances, running his spring average to .421.

Those hits included a first-inning double, a leadoff single in the third and a second double, this time in the fifth. Unfortunately, the Padres failed to take advantage of any of Myers’ hits, eventually losing 9-7. Myers has a history of being a great spring hitter. He batted .407 in the spring of 2017 and .362 in the spring of 2018. For the record, his regular-season averages for the Padres those two seasons were .243 and .253.

Onto the highway

Sheesh, Bryce 💥

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/2ANbslzqUW
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) March 4, 2020

MLB Spring Training Recap: March 4

Winner: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder

Harper’s spring is only just beginning. But in only his spring workout Wednesday, Harper gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a lesson in what he can do.

With a runner on base in the first, Harper shot a two-run home run over the right-field wall, over the berm beyond the wall, over the back screen and into some palm trees. He homered again in the fourth, another two-run shot but this time onto the berm in left-center.

Those four RBIs gave the Phillies a solid leg up on their eventual 9-7 victory.

Loser: Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder

The Rays are touted as a serious threat to the Yankees in the American League East in large part due to guys like Meadows, a leadoff hitter with potential.

As they have much of the spring, the Rays got along well Wednesday vs. Toronto, even though Meadows continued his slow spring. It was a fully frustrating afternoon: three strikeouts in three at-bats, stranding four baserunners.

Meadows is now batting .059 for the spring. The good news is that the number will reset when the regular season begins.

Loser: The top of the Chicago White Sox batting order

The White Sox enter 2020 with one of the more set lineups they’ve fielded in years: Yoan Moncada leading off, then batting champion Tim Anderson, then Jose Abreu.

But the MLB spring training has not been good to any of the three. Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Sox rolled up 11 base hits and a 5-1 win, and they did it despite getting a collective goose egg from those three key stars.

Of the three, Anderson is the leading hitter, at .200. Moncada is off to a .125 start, and Abreu is hitting .188. When those three begin to hit, the Sox will be scary.

MLB Spring Training Recap: March 4

Winner: Niko Goodrum, Detroit Tigers shortstop

In his second full season, Goodrum labored along with the rest of the Tigers in 2019. He batted just .248. The signs of a turnaround this spring are substantial.

Facing the Boston Red Sox Wednesday, the Tigers rolled up 13 runs and 15 hits. Goodrum was a big part of it.

His one-out single touched off a five-run Tiger first inning. Goodrum added a fifth-inning home run to run his spring batting average to .429.

Winner: Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox outfielder

The Tigers-Red Sox battle was a pitcher’s nightmare, largely due to guys like Goodrum and Jackie Bradley Jr.

Trailing 5-0 before they got an at-bat, Bradley ignited a three-run Boston first with a double, eventually scoring. He homered to lead off the third and singled in the fifth.

Sadly for the prospect of a spring cycle, Bradley was lifted at the top of the sixth inning before getting a shot at a possible triple.

Loser: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds first baseman

In other circumstances, it would be easy to look beyond Votto’s .083 start. Every year a star looks bad in the spring for reasons that have nothing to do with anything.

But Votto’s recent performance – a 60 percentage point decline in batting average the last three seasons – raises a question about whether his best seasons are behind him. Against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, those questions lingered.

Facing Tyler Chatwood, Votto grounded out in the first. Leading off the fourth against Craig Kimbrel, Votto whiffed. Then with two on and two out against Kyle Ryan in the fifth, Votto struck out a second time.

Votto has only one base hit this MLB spring training, although he does have six bases on balls. The problem is he also has a half dozen strikeouts.

MLB Spring Training Recap: March 4

Loser: Adrian Morejon, San Diego Padres pitcher

Morejon got a brief look from the Padres in 2019, and he’s back this MLB spring training, hoping to land a bullpen role. Nothing happened in his start Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals to enhance his chances.