Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB Spring Training: health concerns for Justin Verlander and more

By Bill Felber

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: Pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning of a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: Pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning of a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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.

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