MLB Spring Training: Friday was a day for a deal… or two

MLB Spring Training Recap: March 6

Winner: Nick Martini, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder

Martini is a 30-year-old journeyman trying to make the Phillies as a non-roster invitee. It’s not likely to happen. His .269 career batting average in 245 official at-bats isn’t bad, but the Phillies don’t really need a left-handed hitting outfielder. Bryce Harper and Jay Bruce pretty much cover that niche.

So afternoons like Martini had Friday may end up being his MLB spring training highlight. Against the Detroit Tigers, Martini stated his case for attention, if not playing time.

Entering the game in the sixth inning as a replacement for Adam Haseley, Martini singled in the seventh to drive in two runs. He got a second shot in the eighth inning and launched a home run over the fence in right.

For the spring Martini is hitting .364 with a 1.44 OPS.

Winner: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves first baseman

Freeman’s a good enough first baseman that he doesn’t need a second career. All the same, he auditioned as a play-by-play guy Friday.

Wearing a microphone, Freeman reached first base on a walk in the first inning of Atlanta’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

Then as Marcel Ozuna lofted a two-out, wind-blown pop up behind second base, Freeman entertained the Braves TV audience by narrating his own trip around the bases.

“There’s wind,” Freeman is heard to repeat as Red Sox infielders futilely tried to position themselves beneath the ball. Because there were two out and a 3-2 count, Freeman was approaching third base by the time the ball fell.

He was winded by the time he crossed home plate – you could tell that by his quite audible panting — but he made it home without much of a play.