Call to the pen
Fansided

5 overreactions from 2023 MLB Spring Training so far

By Seth Carlson

Mar 4, 2023; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Overall view of Surprise Stadium as Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack Greinke (right) pitches to Los Angeles Dodgers batter Miguel Vargas during a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2023; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Overall view of Surprise Stadium as Kansas City Royals pitcher Zack Greinke (right) pitches to Los Angeles Dodgers batter Miguel Vargas during a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2023; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (77) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2023; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (77) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Anthony Volpe is ready to become the New York Yankees’ starting shortstop

The Yankees’ shortstop issue is well-documented, but could their fix be ready in-house?

Top prospect Anthony Volpe is having a strong spring training as he makes his case to break camp with the big league club. And Yankees fans couldn’t be any happier to witness that potential reality, as that would mean bench relegation for the unpopular Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Manager Aaron Boone has said that a path exists for Volpe to travel north with the big league club, but we’re not sure if we buy it, especially since the 21-year-old spent most of last season in Double-A before finishing the year in Triple-A. The Yankees don’t make a habit of rushing their top prospects despite fans clamoring for Volpe and fellow youngster Oswald Peraza (who did make a good impression late last season in the Bronx).

If Volpe’s strong spring continues, perhaps Aaron Boone and company won’t have much of a choice but to make the 21-year-old their Opening Day shortstop. For now, though? It’s still early.

3. The Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic finally appears set for his breakout campaign

It’s hard to believe how fast Jarred Kelenic has fallen since he was traded from the New York Mets to the Seattle Mariners as part of the Robinson Cano-Edwin Diaz blockbuster deal from 2019.

Once viewed as an elite top prospect, Kelenic has flamed out in his brief big league stints with Seattle in 2021 and 2022, raising some doubts about his viability as a future piece for the Mariners. Meanwhile, Edwin Diaz has blossomed into a star for the Mets, which only makes this worse for Seattle’s side of the trade, a deal that we all believed they had won if only because of Kelenic.

That’s why Kelenic’s early spring returns in 2023 have been eye-opening, to say the least.

That’s a blast off Milwaukee Brewers’ All-Star reliever Devin Williams. Not too shabby.

Kelenic has flashed his power tool a few times already this spring and that has Mariner fans excited. It’s early yet, and the 23-year-old has much to prove, but if he keeps this up, maybe Seattle will finally see some meaningful returns from their end of the Edwin Diaz trade from four years ago.

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