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 03/10/2015 MLB Note - Houston Astros Gattis, Evan
LF Evan Gattis made his debut in left field on Monday against the
Toronto Blue Jays, playing five innings defensively in a 1-0 Houston
win. Gattis will also earn defensive reps at first base this spring
but the club has already announced that he will not work behind the
plate. Gattis logged the majority of his time with the Atlanta
Braves as their catcher.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Hernandez, Roberto
RHP Roberto Hernandez made his spring training debut on Monday
against the Toronto Blue Jays, issuing two walks over two scoreless
innings while earning the win in the Astros' 1-0 victory. Hernandez
was delayed in his arrival to camp by visa issues in his native
Dominican Republic. He is locked in a five-way battle for the fifth
spot in the starting rotation after signing a minor-league contract
with the club.
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MLB Note - Houston Astros Appel, Mark
RHP Mark Appel was scratched from his appearance on Monday after
complaining of mild forearm tightness. Neither the Astros nor Appel
were concerned over the ailment, and Appel was not immediately
scheduled for an MRI, opting instead for additional rest. In his
first outing last Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies, Appel
allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts over two innings
and earned the win. He is ranked as the Astros' top right-handed
pitching prospect.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Cano, Robinson
2B Robinson Cano left Mariners camp temporarily on March 7 following
the death of his grandfather. His estimated return date was unknown
at the time.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Span, Denard
CF Denard Span had right core muscle surgery and could miss four to
six weeks, Nationals manager Matt Williams said.
"It's a core abdominal type injury," Williams said before a spring
training game against the visiting Atlanta Braves. "The time frame
is up in the air (but) you look at four to six weeks before he can
start doing baseball activities again."
Span hit .302 in 147 games last season and set a franchise record
with 184 hits while swiping a career-high 31 bases. A left-handed
hitter, Span also had hernia surgery in December. He played on
Thursday in the first spring training game against the New York Mets
and was hitless in two at bats.
Williams said Span was in Philadelphia for the surgery Monday and
would return to Viera later this week to begin his rehab process.
Span told MLB.com on Monday that he does not expect to be ready for
Opening Day, at home April 6 against the Mets.
Williams said Michael A. Taylor, 23, who made his major league debut
in August, will see most of the time in center field during spring
training. Taylor hit a homer on the first pitch of the game on
Sunday in a 3-2 loss in Tampa against the Yankees.
Williams said Tony Gwynn, Jr., a non-roster invitee who hit .152 in
80 games last season for the Philadelphia Phillies, could also see
time in center.
"He is a fantastic center fielder," Williams said of Span. But "we
have guys who can play the position as well."
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Gutierrez, Franklin
OF Franklin Gutierrez, who is trying to make a comeback after
sitting out most of the past two seasons with health problems, has
been sidelined by a minor groin injury.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Saunders, Joe
LHP Joe Saunders was signed to compete for a bullpen spot and add
depth among left-handed starters, but the veteran got off to a rough
start. His first two outings of the spring didn't go well, including
a one-inning performance on March 8 that saw Saunders give up six
earned runs off five hits.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Paxton, James
LHP James Paxton (bruised forearms) has been targeted to make a
March 17 spring training debut. Paxton suffered the injury in a
spring workout, and the Mariners are being careful with him despite
its lack of severity.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Hultzen, Danny
LHP Danny Hultzen has been throwing live batting practice sessions
as he continues his comeback from major shoulder surgery. The second
overall pick in the 2011 Major League draft has been slowed by
injuries during his career and, barring another setback, could be in
line to join the rotation at Triple-A Tacoma at some point.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Olmos, Edgar
LHP Edgar Olmos, who was placed on waivers last month and claimed by
the Rangers, has been returned to the Mariners after failing a
physical. Olmos could conceivably compete for a spot in the
rotation, if healthy, and the Mariners may have a need there after
veteran LHP Joe Beimel signed with the Rangers.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Walker, Taijuan
RHP Taijuan Walker made a solid spring debut by throwing two
scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in the Mariners' Cactus
League opener. Walker, long considered the top prospect in the
organization, is battling for a spot as the No. 4 or 5 starter in
Seattle's Opening Day rotation.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Peterson, D.J.
1B D.J. Peterson didn't disappoint during his first at-bat of spring
training. The 2013 first-round pick homered off San Diego Padres
left-hander Jason Lane during his first camp with the big-league
club.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Odor, Rougned
2B Rougned Odor is doing his best to put any worries about a
sophomore slump to rest. Odor, who played in 114 games as a
20-year-old, is off to a sizzling start for the Rangers at the
plate. He's batting .455 in his first four games with a pair of
doubles and his first spring homer Monday. He also made a
highlight-reel worthy behind-the-back flip to start a double play
Saturday against the Brewers.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Crisp, Coco
OF Coco Crisp will start in left field this season instead of
center, where he spent most of his major league career. The A's
believe the move to the less physically demanding position will help
Crisp avoid the injuries that plagued him last year and throughout
much of his career. Sam Fuld and Craig Gentry will form a platoon in
center field instead of left field. "We feel like we have a better
chance to keep him healthy out there," Melvin said. "He had some
questions, but he's going to do the best he can with it. He's
handling it like a pro, but there's also a pride factor involved for
a guy that's one of the premier center fielders to have to switch
positions." Crisp has made 232 career appearances in left field, 138
of those in 2005 with the Indians. Crisp, however, was sidelined
since leaving Sunday's game after two innings with strained right
lower triceps. He is day-to-day.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Vogt, Stephen
C/1B/OF Stephen Vogt's recovery from right foot surgery in October
is ahead of schedule. Vogt was cleared by doctors to appear behind
the plate, and he made his spring training debut Monday against the
Rangers. The plan going into spring training was for Vogt to be used
initially solely as a designated hitter. Vogt hadn't caught a game
since July 7. He caught the first three innings against Texas and
went 0-for-1 with a walk, batting fourth in the order.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Zito, Barry
LHP Barry Zito will make his second outing of the spring Tuesday
against the Diamondbacks in relief of RHP Sonny Gray. Zito made his
spring debut March 5, starting against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched
two innings, striking out two but allowing a two-run homer to 3B
Mike Olt. "We'll see where it goes from there," manager Bob Melvin
said. "I'm not saying he won't get another start. We're just trying
to keep him on a good schedule. That's the day we felt was best for
him to pitch. It doesn't preclude him from getting another start. We
just don't know yet." Zito signed a minor league contract with the
A's and is trying to revive his career after sitting out in 2014.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Hoying, Jared
CF Jared Hoying is doing his best to make the Rangers have a
difficult decision in center. Delino DeShields Jr. would seem like
the heavy favorite for the backup job because of his Rule 5 status
but Hoying, who had 26 homers and 20 steals last year in Triple-A,
had five hits and four RBIs in his first 10 spring at-bats. The
success he had last year at Triple-A is something DeShields doesn't
have either as he's never played higher than Double-A and is batting
.125 this spring.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Detwiler, Ross
LHP Ross Detwiler likely sews up a rotation spot with the injury to
Yu Darvish injury. Detwiler was competing for the No. 5 spot.
Detwiler allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings in his first outing of the
spring.
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MLB Note - Philadelphia Phillies Lee, Cliff
LHP Cliff Lee is awaiting a second opinion on his left elbow that
the 36-year-old fears could be career-ending.
Lee underwent an MRI exam Friday that showed mild inflammation but
did not indicate any ligament damage. The Phillies scratched Lee
from his scheduled Tuesday start and sent the MRI results to
renowned surgeon James Andrews for a second opinion.
"It'd be six to eight months out," Lee said Monday regarding a
possible operation. "So, basically, if I have the surgery, this
season will be done, possibly my career, I guess. I don't know.
We'll have to see."
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Span, Denard
CF Denard Span underwent right core muscle surgery March 9, and he
could miss four to six weeks of baseball activities, manager Matt
Williams said. Span hit .302 in 147 games last season and set a
franchise record with 184 hits while swiping a career-high 31 bases.
A left-handed hitter, Span also had hernia surgery in December.
Williams said Span was in Philadelphia for the surgery March 9 and
would return to Viera, Fla., later in the week to begin his rehab
process. Span told MLB.com that he does not expect to be ready for
Opening Day, at home April 6 against the Mets.
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MLB Note - Washington Nationals Taylor, Michael A.
CF Michael A. Taylor will see most of the time in center field
during spring training, replacing CF Denard Span, who is likely to
open the season on the disabled list. Taylor, who made his major
league debut in August, hit a homer on the first pitch of the game
March 8 in a 3-2 loss in Tampa against the Yankees.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Correia, Kevin
RHP Kevin Correia signed a minor league contract with the Mariners
on March 9 and received an invitation to the team's major league
spring camp. He will try to earn a job in the rotation. Correia, 34,
spent the 2014 season with the Twins and Dodgers, going a combined
7-17 with a 5.44 ERA in 32 outings (26 starts). In his 12-year major
league career, Correia also has pitched for San Francisco, San Diego
and Pittsburgh. He has a mark of 76-95 with a 4.59 ERA in 353 games
(216 starts).
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Darvish, Yu
RHP Yu Darvish, who has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his
right elbow, is expected to announce his next course of action
Wednesday. He might require Tommy John surgery.
Darvish was in New York on Monday to get a second opinion, and
according to multiple reports, he will be evaluated again Tuesday.
In his first start of spring training Thursday, Darvish left after
just one inning. "Right now, there's nothing official until we
complete all the steps that we need to complete with the second
opinions and everything else," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Bloomquist, Willie
UT Willie Bloomquist saw his first action since undergoing
microfracture surgery on his knee late last summer when he went
2-for-2 in Friday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.
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MLB Note - Seattle Mariners Choi, Ji-Man
1B Ji-Man Choi had a tough week. The minor leaguer suffered a broken
leg that will likely cost him the season, then he was designated for
assignment so the Mariners could clear a spot on their 40-man roster
for LHP Edgar Olmos. Choi cleared waivers and was optioned to
Triple-A Tacoma.
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MLB Note - Texas Rangers Tolleson, Shawn
RHP Shawn Tolleson will open the season in the bullpen, manager Jeff
Banister said, joining RHP Neftali Feliz and RHP Tanners Scheppers
as bullpen locks if healthy. Tolleson securing a spot is no real
surprise as he was the most effective Texas reliever from start to
finish in 2014, posting a 2.76 ERA and pitching in 64 games in his
first season with the Rangers.
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