MLB Spring Training: health concerns for Justin Verlander and more
Willie Calhoun suffered a fractured jaw. Justin Verlander reported arm soreness. Trey Mancini left MLB spring training camp to deal with a medical issue.
Most of Sunday’s MLB spring training headlines were melancholy. The Texas Rangers lost a starting outfielder, possibly for an extended period, to a fractured jaw. Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander pulled himself halfway through a scheduled stint against the Mets, citing soreness.
And the Baltimore Orioles announced that starting outfielder Trey Mancini had left camp to deal with what was described as a non-baseball medical situation. There was no elaboration.
Here are Sunday’s winners and losers from MLB spring training.
Winner: The three-inning starter
Need proof that spring training lasts too long? We’re now two full weeks into spring games, yet many teams are still limiting their best pitchers to three-inning workouts.
On Sunday alone, the Dodgers, Mets, Rockies, Pirates, Mariners, and Orioles were among teams that sent front-line talent to the mound but demanded just three innings of performance before calling it a day.
In Cincinnati camp, Trevor Bauer, a potential Opening Day starter, delivered four innings and pronounced himself ready for the regular season to begin.
“I’m ready to go,” Bauer told reporters after allowing just one hit and striking out four. “I’m able to command all my pitches, the velo is there…all my stuff is sharp.”
Who needs reps?
MLB Spring Training Recap: March 8
Winner: Cody Thomas, Los Angeles Dodgers
Cody Thomas is a non-roster invitee to the Dodgers camp whose closest brush with the big leagues occurred last year at AA Tulsa. There is approximately zero chance of him breaking camp with the club.
That’s what makes days like Sunday so special.
With a runner on base in the second inning, Thomas belted a home run to center field off Rangers veteran Jordan Lyles. It drove Thomas’ spring batting average to .286 with an eye-catching 1.370 OPS.
Thomas will soon be sent to AAA, but he’ll go with the knowledge that he gave the Dodgers something to remember him by.
Winner: Backup catchers
Stephen Vogt is a career journeyman trying to lock up work as the backup to Diamondbacks receiver Carson Kelly. Josh Phegley is a non-roster invitee who hopes the Cubs decide they want a third catcher to spell Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini.
Both their performances Sunday made a case.
In Arizona’s 8-1 victory over a split-squad Cubs team, Vogt produced three hits and scored twice. He also nurtured five B-Backs pitchers through a game in which they allowed just three hits. Vogt raised his average for the spring to .350.
In Las Vegas with the other portion of the Cubs split-squad, Phegley caught most of the way and delivered two base hits, a first-inning RBI double, and a fourth-inning home run. Phegley raised his spring average to .350 with a 1.080 OPS.
Winner: Auld Lang Syne
If no the heart and soul of the 2012 and 2014 San Francisco Giants world championship teams Hunter Pence was an integral part of the mix. That’s one reason the Giants signed him as a free agent last month.
Pence will be 37 soon and it’s not clear how much usefulness he retains as an outfielder. But the guy can still hit, as he proved Sunday against the Seattle Mariners.
In the fourth inning, Pence greeted Mariners reliever Sam Delaplane with a home run to put the Giants ahead 2-1. His fifth-inning double sent two more runs across the plate.
Through two weeks of MLB spring training, Pence is batting .364.
Winner: Cheslor Cuthbert, Chicago White Sox outfielder
After being released by the Kansas City Royals over the winter, Cuthbert came to White Sox camp as a non-roster hopeful for a utility spot. Although listed by the Sox as an outfielder, his major league career has been spent mostly at third base.
Whether Cuthbert can carve out any time on the young and bullish Sox roster remains to be seen. But Sunday against the Padres, he made a forceful argument.
Cuthbert homered twice off Padre hotshot Chris Paddock, with the bases empty in the second and with a runner on base in the third. His offense powered the Sox to a 6-0 shutout of the Padres.
MLB Spring Training Recap: March 8
Loser: Willie Calhoun, Texas Rangers outfielder
The Rangers hopes for a productive offense took a literal hit Sunday when left fielder Willie Calhoun was struck in the face by a fastball. Doctors later diagnosed the injury as a fractured jaw,
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Dodger pitcher Julio Urias hit Calhoun in the bottom of the first inning. The game was delayed 10 minutes for on-field treatment, then Calhoun was transported to a hospital where the fracture was diagnosed. He is expected to be seen by a specialist Monday. But the Rangers are bracing for the worst.
“Knowing how important he is or our club… it’s a big setback for that to happen,” infielder Elvis Andrus said.
Loser: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros pitcher
Verlander made the start Sunday vs. the New York Mets, but left after just two innings, two fewer than he was expected to pitch. The reason: triceps soreness.
Astros manager Dusty Baker described Verlander’s removal as ‘precautionary,’ but added that Verlander would undergo a further medical evaluation.
“We got to take care of the big horse,” Baker declared.
In his second MLB spring training start, Verlander lost a few miles per hour off his fastball. “We don’t know if he is hurt,” Baker said.
Loser: Trey Mancini, Baltimore Orioles outfielder
Mancini, an Oriole veteran, left the team’s training facility for what was described as a ‘non-baseball medical procedure that is expected to be undertaken next week. Orioles players weren’t sure what that meant, but they knew it’s out of the ordinary, and that’s bad.
“Trey’s an enormous part of this team and a huge face for our club and everybody loves him,” manager Brandon Hyde told reporters Sunday. He said the team is “thinking about him and his well-being.”
In a Tweet, Mancini promised fans that “once there is more clarity, I will be sure to keep everyone updated.”
Loser: Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals
The Nationals project Kieboom to take the place of Anthony Rendon as their starting third baseman. But so far this spring, the transition isn’t working too well, especially in the field.
Against the Detroit Tigers Sunday, Kieboom did get two hits and drive home one run. His defense, though, was another matter entirely.
The Nats led 5-4 entering the ninth inning when Derek Hill tripled and scored on Danny Woodrow’s base hit. A walk, a strikeout a couple of wild pitches and a sacrifice fly found the Tigers on top 6-5 when Daniel Pineiro sent a two-out ground ball Kieboom’s way.
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He fielded it but threw wildly to first, allowing a third run to score. It was Kieboom’s third spring error; he’s now carrying a .857 fielding average.