MLB Spring Training: The mid-spring All-Star roster
Outfield
If there was an award for spring MVP, Franmil Reyes would be all over it. The Indians outfielder is batting .444, he’s scored five runs, driven in a co-spring best 11, and produced five home runs. That adds up to a spring-best 1631 OPS.
The Red Sox have been waiting years for Rusney Castillo to arrive. Perhaps this is the year. Castillo is enjoying a .480 spring average with a dozen hits in 25 spring at-bats.
Cheslor Cuthbert is another non-roster player trying to find a spot, in his case with the White Sox. A former member of the Royals, Cuthbert is doing everything he can do. He’s hitting .385 with 10 hits – three of them home runs – in 25 at-bats. Cuthbert also has a .500 on-base average.
Adam Engel is among those making Cuthbert’s quest for a roster spot difficult. Engel, battling Luis Robert for playing time in center field on the South Side, matches Kiner-Falefa and Reyes for the spring lead in RBIs with 11.
Yonathan Daza is making a strong argument for why the Colorado Rockies ought to bring him north with them. In 27 spring sat bats, Daza has 11 base hits, plus six RBIs. He’s hitting .407 with a .989 OPS.
Bubba Starling is a 27-year-old career minor leaguer getting a chance to make the Royals roster as a fourth outfielder. His 11 hits in 26 at-bats include six for extra bases, and he’s sitting on a .423 batting average. Starling’s 1.385 OPS ranks third for the spring behind only DeJong and Reyes.