[March 10, 2014]
(The Sports Xchange) —
Major League Baseball player notes:
San Diego Padres:
Kelly, Casey
RHP Casey Kelly, who is rehabbing after having Tommy John surgery
in April 2013, threw 33 fastballs, 10 changeups and two curveballs
in a bullpen session March 7. He might face live batters in
mid-March. "If I didn't know he was hurt, I'd tell you he was
completely normal," pitching coach Darren Balsley said.
San Diego Padres: Street, Huston
RHP Huston Street, who is sidelined due to groin tightness, had
long-toss and side throwing sessions over the weekend of March 7-9.
Street suffered the injury March 2.
San Diego Padres: Luebke, Cory
LHP Cory Luebke, who two weeks ago had his second round of Tommy
John elbow reconstruction surgery in less than 21 months, was placed
on the 60-day disabled list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for
OF/INF Alex Castellanos. Luebke will not pitch this season.
San Diego Padres: Grandal, Yasmani
C Yasmani Grandal, who is rehabbing after undergoing right ACL
surgery last Aug. 6, saw his first live action behind the plate in a
simulated game on March 8. Grandal caught every other inning. "This
moves him closer to an actual game," manager Bud Black said.
San Diego Padres: Quentin, Carlos
LF Carlos Quentin started only two of the Padres' first 11
exhibition games as the club continues to monitor his right knee and
limit his activities. Quentin, who played half of each of the past
two seasons due to right knee problems, has a new batting stance
(upright with his feet slightly more spread). He homered for his
only hit this spring through March 9. Quentin has had three right
knee surgeries since the start of spring training 2012.
San Diego Padres: Cashner, Andrew
RHPs Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross, who both came on strong for the
Padres as starters at the end of last season, did not allow a run
through their first two exhibition starts. Cashner, 27, who is on
schedule to be the Padres' Opening Day starter, allowed three hits
with no walks against five strikeouts over five innings. Ross also
worked five innings in his first two starts without allowing a hit,
although he issued three walks against four strikeouts.
San Diego Padres: Ross, Tyson
RHPs Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner, who both came on strong for the
Padres as starters at the end of last season, did not allow a run
through their first two exhibition starts. Cashner, 27, who is on
schedule to be the Padres' Opening Day starter, allowed three hits
with no walks against five strikeouts over five innings. Ross also
worked five innings in his first two starts without allowing a hit,
although he issued three walks against four strikeouts.
San Diego Padres: Medica, Tommy
1B Tommy Medica was the Padres' hottest hitter early in the
exhibition season. Through March 9, Medica was 13-for-25 (.520) with
two doubles, two homers and six RBIs. Medica, who turns 26 on April
9, hit .290 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 69 at-bats over 19
games with the Padres at the end of last season. He is also
competing for the final spot on the Opening Day roster, although his
inexperience in the outfield probably means he will open the season
at Triple-A El Paso. Medica, Castellanos, OF/1B Kyle Blanks and
1B/OF Xavier Nady are competing for the right-handed-hitting
outfield/first base/pinch hitter spot on the Opening Day roster.
San Diego Padres: Castellanos, Alex
OF/INF Alex Castellanos, 27, was claimed off waivers by the Padres
from the Rangers on March 7. Castellanos, who can play all three
outfield positions as well as second and third, was acquired after
the Padres lost CF Cameron Maybin for up to six weeks with a
ruptured left biceps muscle. Although left-handed hitters Will
Venable and Alexi Amarista could see the most action in center until
Maybin returns, Castellanos gives the Padres a right-handed option.
He will be vying for one of the last spots on the 25-man, Opening
Day roster.
Castellanos hit .177 with two homers in 24 games over the past two
seasons with the Dodgers. He hit .291 with 36 home runs and 35
steals in 199 games over the past two year with the Dodgers'
Triple-A Albuquerque affiliate.
Colorado Rockies: Nicasio, Juan
RHP Juan Nicasio, who has no health issues this spring, is off to a
good start. Nicasio held the San Francisco Giants to two singles in
three scoreless innings March 4, retiring the final seven batters he
faced with no walks and four strikeouts. On March 9, Nicasio held
the Kansas City Royals to one single in four scoreless innings. He
walked one and struck out three, throwing 31 of 49 pitches for
strikes. With his surgically repaired left knee strong and fully
recovered, Nicasio looks vastly improved.
Colorado Rockies: Logan, Boone
LHP Boone Logan threw his first bullpen session of the spring March
8, a 25-pitch effort, and he was scheduled to throw again March 11.
Logan, signed to three-year, $16.5 million contract as a free agent,
underwent surgery in October to have bone chips and a bone spur
removed from his left elbow. He is expected to be an important piece
in the Colorado bullpen, and pitching coach Jim Wright said he hopes
Logan will be ready for Opening Day. Logan used his breaking pitches
March 8, a sign of progress.
Colorado Rockies: Belisle, Matt
RHP Matt Belisle, 33, pitched in 302 games the past four seasons,
totaling 317 relief innings. His ERA in 72 games last year was 4.32,
continuing the steady rise from 2.93 in 2010 to 3.25 in 2011 to 3.71
in 2012. And his average fastball velocity dropped to 90.5 mph last
year from 92.7 mph in 2010, according to FanGraphs.
The Rockies exercised a $4.25 million mutual option on Belisle for
this season. They love his competitiveness, his veteran presence --
he has been valued mentor for LHP Rex Brothers -- and his
willingness to always take the ball. However, Belisle may find
himself pitching more in the sixth and seventh innings rather than
the eighth given the Rockies' bullpen depth. He worked this
offseason on incorporating his changeup and pitching inside more
with an eye toward being less predictable.
Colorado Rockies: Cuddyer, Michael
RF Michael Cuddyer was hit in the left shoulder blade by a 97 mph
fastball thrown by Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija on March 5. The pitch
ripped off some skin and left Cuddyer stiff and sore, but Cuddyer
escaped serious injury.
"There's bones in the shoulder that could chip off, and more
importantly, I have my jaw right there, and that's what it was
coming for," Cuddyer said. "I got lucky."
He said if it were the regular season, he could have played the
following day, but instead he rested. He was scratched from the
lineup March 7 after participating in pregame activities, and he
resumed playing March 8.
Colorado Rockies: Morneau, Justin
1B Justin Morneau played Feb. 28 in the Rockies' Cactus League
opener but was out the next nine days due to a stiff neck. This
early in spring training, manager Walt Weiss said Morneau has plenty
of time to get ready for Opening Day, March 31 at Miami. "My feeling
is hitters don't need many at-bats down here, especially guys that
have been around for a while," Weiss said.
Morneau took batting practice March 7. He said neck stiffness is
something he typically experiences several times a year, the result
of his neck locking up on a swing.
"If it were the regular season, I probably could have played," he
said, "but it happened a month before Opening Day, so there was no
reason to rush it."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Bradley, Archie
RHP Archie Bradley is making a strong push for a spot in the Arizona
rotation after two scoreless spring training starts, and the
Diamondbacks plan to give the 21-year-old right-hander another test
in Australia.
Bradley will start the D-backs' exhibition game against the
Australian national team on March 21, the day before Arizona begins
a two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sydney,
Australia. The rookie received the assignment in part to see how he
handles a change of environment.
Bradley gave up three hits in 6 1/3 innings in starts against the
Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Angels, striking out nine and
walking four. Miguel Montero and Henry Blanco each caught him once,
and both were impressed. Blanco called Bradley "electric" after the
Colorado start, and Montero said Bradley showed good command of his
curveball against the Angels on March 8.
Colorado Rockies: Pacheco, Jordan
C Jordan Pacheco was scratched from the lineup March 3 due to a
strained left shoulder that he aggravated during batting practice.
Pacheco underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage, and he
said he needed some anti-inflammatory medicine. He did not play
again through March 9, but he was expected to return to action in
mid-March. Trainer Keith Dugger called it an "overuse" injury.
"It's fine structurally; it's strong," Pacheco said. "You want to
play every day and get your reps in spring training, but I played
winter ball and I'm not too worried about it."
Pacheco played 20 games through Nov. 12 for Toros del Este in the
Dominican Republic. In 73 at-bats, he hit .274 with a .354 on-base
percentage and .370 slugging percentage. Pacheco, 28, went to winter
ball after spending most of 2013 as a backup first baseman. He hit
.239 in 247 at-bats for Colorado last year.
Colorado Rockies: Rutledge, Josh
2B Josh Rutledge suffered a sprained left ankle during the second
day of full-squad workouts and aggravated it March 1 in a Cactus
League game. "Better now than in the season, missing a whole bunch
of time," Rutledge said. "The thing now is to not try to come back
too quick on it, and there will still be plenty of time." He
returned to the lineup March 8 against the Angels and hit a two-run
homer off RHP Joe Blanton.
Rutledge lost his second base job last year to DJ LeMahieu, who is
currently the starter at that position. Rutledge is competing with
Charlie Culberson and Paul Janish for two utility infielder spots,
assuming the Rockies carry five outfielders.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Kemp, Matt
OF Matt Kemp got seven at-bats in a minor league intrasquad game
March 8, the latest step forward in his recovery from October ankle
surgery. Kemp went hitless but would not have stayed in the game to
run the bases had he reached. He did not play defense.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Guerrero, Alex
INF Alex Guerrero signed a four-year, $28 million contract, and the
Dodgers anticipated making him their primary second baseman in 2014.
An All-Star shortstop in Cuba, Guerrero reported early to Arizona
and began working on the transition to a new position. With a week
left before the Dodgers break camp and travel to Australia for a
two-game opening to their regular season, Guerrero has not seized
the position. In fact, he is getting outplayed by another converted
shortstop, Dee Gordon, in every way.
"He needs to play," Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said of Guerrero, who
did not play in the year before his defection and was limited in
winter ball by hamstring issues. "We see the ability. We need to see
the consistency."
Guerrero's contract allows the Dodgers to send him to the minors in
2014. After this season, though, they would need his permission to
option him.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Kershaw, Clayton
LHP Clayton Kershaw will start the first of the Dodgers' two games
against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will
start the second game. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly announced his
starting pitching choices for the historic series at Sydney Cricket
Grounds.
Kershaw, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, was an
easy choice for the opener. "Any time you get to start Opening Day,
no matter what continent it's on, that's pretty cool. That's
definitely an honor," Kershaw said.
OF Yasiel Puig tore up the Cactus League a year ago, batting .517
with three home runs. He has not been the same force of nature this
spring. Through March 9, he was batting .200 (4-for-20) and dealing
with some inflammation in his upper back/shoulder blade area.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Greinke, Zack
RHP Zack Greinke was scheduled to throw a bullpen session March 10,
and he could pitch in a game later in the week. Greinke had not
pitched in a game since leaving his first spring start after only
four pitches with a mild calf strain. Greinke likely will not make
the trip to Australia, and he could open the season on the disabled
list.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Stripling, Ross
RHP Ross Stripling, one of the Dodgers' top pitching prospects, tore
a ligament in his elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery later
this month. Stripling already underwent an elbow operation to remove
loose bodies from the joint. He will have the Tommy John surgery
after inflammation and swelling from that procedure subsides.
Stripling will miss the entire 2014 season.
Washington Nationals: Fister, Doug
RHP Doug Fister was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League
start March 7 against the Houston Astros due to elbow inflammation.
Manager Matt Williams said Fister would be pushed back a couple days
until the inflammation subsides. He said he was not concerned and
that the move was precautionary. An MRI taken March 6 revealed the
inflammation.
St. Louis Cardinals: Carpenter, Matt
3B Matt Carpenter signed a six-year, $52 million contract extension
with the Cardinals on March 8. Carpenter, 28, batted .318 with 11
home runs and 78 RBIs in 2013. He led the National League in runs
(126) and doubles (55) last year.
"For a baseball junkie like myself, I can't think of a better place
to play than the city of St. Louis," Carpenter said at a press
conference in Jupiter, Fla. "Busch Stadium, I still pinch myself
every time I make that drive to the field. Playing in front of these
fans, the city of St. Louis, Cardinal baseball as a whole, it's just
so much fun. It's such a privilege to put on this jersey. It's
something I don't take lightly at all."
The contract includes a team option for a seventh year in 2020 at
$18.5 million and a $2 million buyout if the option is not
exercised.
Kansas City Royals: Infante, Omar
2B Omar Infante, who sat out three days due to shoulder
inflammation, returned to Cactus League action Sunday. He went
1-for-3 with a walk. Last year, Infante batted .318 with 10 home
runs and 51 RBIs with the Detroit Tigers. He signed a four-year, $30
million free-agent contract with the Royals in the offseason.
Cincinnati Reds: Latos, Mat
RHP Mat Latos will not start Opening Day but could be ready to
return by April 6, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Sunday. Latos is
coming off recent knee surgery. He threw his first bullpen session
of the spring March 5 and another March 8 without any issues.
First-year manager Bryan Price has not named a starter for the Reds'
opener March 31 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Last year, Latos went 14-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 32 starts.
St. Louis Cardinals: Diaz, Aledmys
SS Aledmys Diaz, a Cuban free agent, signed a four-year contract
with the Cardinals on March 8. He he will report to spring training
in Jupiter, Fla., on March 10. Financial terms were not announced.
Diaz, 23, batted .315 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 270
at-bats in Cuba's highest-level professional league in 2012. He
played professionally in Cuba for five seasons (2008-12), beginning
when he was 17.
"We have been following Aledmys for quite some time," Cardinals
senior vice president/general manager John Mozeliak said in a
statement. "His signing marks a significant benchmark for the
Cardinals in the international arena and we are excited to have
reached this agreement."
Diaz, considered a strong offensive player, likely will start the
season in the minors.
Atlanta Braves: Medlen, Kris
RHP Kris Medlen left Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the New
York Mets in the fourth inning with a strained right forearm. Medlen
grabbed his right elbow and turned his back to home plate after
throwing a pitch to New York's Matt Clark.
The 28-year-old was scheduled to be the Braves' Opening Day starter.
He was examined by the team's doctor and will be re-evaluated on
Monday. Medlen went 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA over 197 innings in 2013.
He had Tommy John surgery in 2010.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Perez, Oliver
LHP Oliver Perez agreed a two-year, $4.25 contract with the
Diamondbacks on March 7. He is expected to be the top left-hander
out of the bullpen, but the D-backs had yet to acknowledge the deal
is official, even though Perez had a locker in the clubhouse, wore
No. 59 and threw a bullpen session at Salt River Fields on March 9.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin, Patrick
LHP Patrick Corbin will throw the first pitch in the major leagues
this season when he starts the D-backs' season-opener against the
Los Angeles Dodgers on March 22 in Australia, with RHP Trevor Cahill
going the second game. Cahill was 14-8 with a 3.33 ERA and earned
his first All-Star appearance last season after making the team as
the fifth starter. "I'm going to approach it as another ballgame and
try to do my best. Whether it is the first or whatever, that doesn't
mean too much to me," Corbin said. "It's exciting the Diamondbacks
are giving me the opportunity to start the first game. I think
everybody wants to start the first game. It's an honor."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Arroyo, Bronson
RHP Bronson Arroyo, scratched from a March 2 start because of a
herniated disk, played long toss March 8 and March 9 and said the
initial session "wasn't that good. It was too stiff for me to get
after it." Arroyo is tentatively scheduled to throw a bullpen
session March 12 and get into his second spring training game March
14. He believes he will be ready for the start of the U.S. regular
season if he gets four more spring starts. Arroyo is not expected to
travel with the team to Australia.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Ross, Cody
OF Cody Ross slid March 8 for the first time since suffering a
fractured hip on Aug. 4, and he also hit and ran 90 at percent out
of the batter's box in a camp game on March 9. "The thing I'll say
about Cody, unlike other guys we've had come back from serious
injuries, everything that he has done has been good," manager Kirk
Gibson said. "He's really had no setbacks. Every step of the way, it
has all been great. When he slid yesterday, he just attacked it. No
apprehension at all." Ross is likely to make his first spring
appearance as a pinch hitter, Gibson said. The veteran is unlikely
to play for Arizona during the Australia trip.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Miley, Wade
LHP Wade Miley and RHP Brandon McCarthy are not expected to travel
with the D-backs to Australia because they will not be used. "They
don't have to do the travel and back," manager Kirk Gibson said.
"We're just trying to prepare to win as many games as we can, and we
figure that is the way to go." Miley was considered for a bullpen
role, Gibson said, but the team thought better of it.
Arizona Diamondbacks: McCarthy, Brandon
RHP Brandon McCarthy and LHP Wade Miley are not expected to travel
with the D-backs to Australia because they will not be used. "They
don't have to do the travel and back," manager Kirk Gibson said.
"We're just trying to prepare to win as many games as we can, and we
figure that is the way to go." Miley was considered for a bullpen
role, Gibson said, but the team thought better of it.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Pollock, A.J.
CF A.J. Pollock was 10-for-25 in his first 11 spring games. "Numbers
mean absolutely nothing to me right now," he said. "Just trying to
work on stuff. Obviously, results are great. It doesn't translate.
If there is something specific you are working on that gets you more
comfortable for the season, that is the best thing to do right now."
San Francisco Giants: Romo, Sergio
RHP Sergio Romo had a 33.00 ERA through four exhibitions, and he
hadn't thrown sliders. He was working on a changeup and limiting his
slider to side sessions. Romo said he was implementing a changeup
"so when I need it, I can go to it." As for the slider, "I don't
need to throw it in a game for me to say I got it. It's there."
San Francisco Giants: Scutaro, Marco
2B Marco Scutaro wasn't close to getting into a spring training game
as of March 9, and manager Bruce Bochy was wondering if he should
look at other second base options for opening day. "It's been slow
progress," Bochy said.
Scutaro was doing core work to limit the chances of further back
trouble. He spent most of last season dealing with a sore back after
it locked up on him.
While Bochy said March 7 that if Scutaro weren't playing or close to
playing in a week, he'd consider Plan B, Scutaro was confident he
could be ready for the season. "I've seen improvement with my back,"
said Scutaro, who was taking grounders and hitting soft toss and off
a tee.
San Francisco Giants: Lincecum, Tim
RHP Tim Lincecum threw five shutout innings in his first two
appearances, striking out just one batter and walking one. "I'm OK
with throwing any pitch in any count," said Lincecum, who seems to
have more of a pitch-to-contact approach than in previous years. He
said he expects his velocity to increase from 89 to 91 mph "when I
get my arm strength up and get extended a little bit more and get a
feel for myself on the mound in a game atmosphere."
San Francisco Giants: Escobar, Edwin
LHP Edwin Escobar, 21, was one of the positives early in the
exhibition season, sporting a 1.50 ERA through March 9 appearance.
He is insurance in case of a rotation injury, perhaps the No. 6
starter. He is penciled in to open the season with Triple-A Fresno.
"He's close. He's knocking on the door now," manager Bruce Bochy
said.
San Francisco Giants: Vogelsong, Ryan
RHP Ryan Vogelsong was charged with seven runs (five earned) in 2
1/3 innings, snapping an impressive streak for Giants starting
pitchers. The projected five starters, including Vogelsong, gave up
one run in their first 23 innings. The other four starters: RHPs
Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Tim Hudson and LHP Madison Bumgarner,
who was picked to pitch Opening Day.
San Francisco Giants: Pence, Hunter
RF Hunter Pence (left shoulder tightness) did not play March 8-9. He
expected to miss only a couple of days.
San Francisco Giants: Morse, Michael
LF Michael Morse (right calf soreness) did not play March 8-9. He
wasn't expected to miss much time.
