MLB Spring Training: The mid-spring All-Star roster
By Bill Felber
MLB Spring Training: The mid-spring All-Star roster
The left side of the infield
It’s questionable whether anybody has had a better spring that Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong. DeJong has 13 base hits in 26 at-bats, a spring-leading .500 batting average. Throw in four home runs and you get a 1.000 slugging average and 1.517 OPS.
Francisco Lindor hasn’t let the uncertainty over his contract foul up his spring. The Indians shortstop is batting .400 with three home runs and 10 RBIs, That adds up to a 1.200 OPS for a spring All-Star who’s a great bet to double as a mid-summer All-Star.
No third baseman has had a better spring than Texas’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Slated only to be a left-side backup, he’s forcing himself into increased playing time with a .419 batting average in 31 trips to the plate. Kiner-Falefa’s bat has not only been productive, it’s also been timely. His 11 RBIs are tied for the most in spring play. He also has four home runs.
After parts of two major league seasons under his belt, Phillip Evans signed with the Pirates this winter as a non-roster invitee. Like Kiner-Falefa, he’s used the chance he’s been given at third base to full advantage. Evans has nine hits and he’s driven in seven runs. Only time will tell whether that opens up a roster spot, but he’s giving it his best.