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With so many prospects in big league camp, it’s important that all stats be analyzed within context. At the same time, it’s hard not to get excited when a prospect makes an immediate impact against superior competition.

Since the start of Cactus and Grapefruit League games, more and more top-ranked prospects have opened eyes with their performances in spite of limited playing time. However, for those prospects yet to produce in major league camp, their time to right the ship is fading quickly as teams continue to trim their rosters in anticipation of Opening Day.

Here’s our look at the latest stock movements for some of baseball’s premier prospects.

Stock Up

Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

Spring Training Stats: .394 (13-for-33), 8 R, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K (12 G)

Wong has been on an absolute tear as of late. After going 0-for-10 through his first five spring games, the 23-year-old second baseman has been playing like a guy who deserves a starting spot, batting .565 (13-for-23) with six runs, six extra-base hits and eight RBI.

Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Spring Training Stats: .415 (17-for-41), 6 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 3 K (13 G)

Castellanos has been one of baseball’s more productive hitters this spring, which is about all the Tigers can ask for as the 22-year-old prepares to open the season as the team’s third baseman. Over his last five games, Castellanos is batting .526 (10-for-19) with four doubles, one home run and nine RBI. Say what you want about spring statistics—what he’s done so far is very impressive.

Steven Souza, OF, Washington Nationals

Spring Training Stats: .355 (11-for-31), 8 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, SB, 4 BB, 4 K (17 G)

Souza doesn’t get the love he deserves due to his age (24), but the outfielder has the potential to be a solid everyday outfielder in the major leagues. Although he was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Souza made sure to finish his spring campaign in style by going 3-for-3 with a triple, two home runs and three RBI on Sunday against the Astros.

Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Spring Training Stats: 10 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (3 G)

Martinez is one of several young pitchers battling for the final spot in the Cardinals’ Opening Day rotation, and there’s no denying that the electric right-hander has made a very strong case after just three starts. In his latest outing, Martinez, 22, dominated the Mets for the second time this spring, allowing only two hits and a walk with three strikeouts over four scoreless frames.

Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds

Spring Training Stats: .303 (10-for-33), 10 R, 2 2B, 9 SB, 6 BB, 4 K (12 G)

Hamilton has been an ongoing surprise this spring as he prepares to take over as the Reds’ Opening Day center fielder and leadoff hitter. The 23-year-old has shown an improved ability to consistently reach base while minimizing strikeouts, and we were already well aware of his base-stealing prowess.

Reds manager Bryan Price is amazed on a daily basis with Hamilton’s electric play (h/t to John Fay of Cincinnati.com):

“We get to see it every day – every play at first base, every bunt, every ground ball is bang-bang. Every base hit to center is a possible double based on how aggressively the center fielder goes after the ball. It’s really exciting to watch.”

Nick Williams, OF, Texas Rangers

Spring Training Stats: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Nick Williams, who in my opinion is one of the more gifted hitters in the low minors, enjoyed a memorable spring debut on Sunday, going 2-for-2 with a pair of game-tying home runs. First, the 20-year-old outfielder hit a two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning with the Rangers trailing the A’s, 13-11. Then, in the top of the ninth, Williams smoked a line drive—on a pitch located just above his shoe tops—to straightaway right field to tie the game at 15.

Andrew Heaney, LHP, Miami Marlins

Spring Training Stats: 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (3 G)

Heaney made a solid case to break camp in the Marlins’ Opening Day rotation, but given the presence of guys like Tom Koehler, Brad Hand and Kevin Slowey, it’s not surprising that the 22-year-old was reassigned to minor league camp on Monday. In his final spring outing on March 13 against the Cardinals, the talented left-hander allowed one hit and a walk against one strikeout over three scoreless innings.

Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs

Spring Training Stats: .281 (9-for-32), 2 2B, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 10 K (11 G) 

Baez continues to make the most of his playing time as Starlin Castro slowly recovers from a hamstring injury, as he’s now hit safely in six of the 10 games in which he’s appeared. While he’s played every game at shortstop so far, manager Rick Renteria stated that the 21-year-old phenom should see time at second base starting this week.

Yordano Ventura, RHP, Kansas City Royals

Spring Training Stats: 15.1 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, BB, 15 K (4 G)

Ventura arguably has been Kansas City’s most impressive starter this spring, showcasing his usual triple-digit velocity, but also an ever improving feel for pitching. Though he’s been sharp in each of his last two outings, the 22-year-old right-hander was flat-out dominant on Monday night against the Rangers, as he scattered four hits and struck out six over six scoreless frames. Following the game, Ventura was officially named to the Royals’ rotation, penciled in at the No. 3 spot.

An AL scout had this to say to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman about Ventura’s stellar arm:

Stock Down

Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers

Spring Training Stats: 0-for-6, 5 K (1 G) 

Like teammate Nick Williams, Gallo also made his spring debut on Saturday in the Rangers’ 16-15 win over the A’s. However, in a game that featured 31 total runs and on 34 hits, the left-handed slugger was 0-for-6 with five strikeouts, otherwise known as the platinum sombrero.

Allen Webster, RHP, Boston Red Sox

Spring Training Stats: 12 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 8 K (4 G)

Webster certainly has the pure stuff to be effective as a starter in the major leagues, but his overall command and consistency still leaves something to be desired, evidenced by his shaky performance in three of four starts this spring. The 24-year-old right-hander will likely spend most of the year at Triple-A Pawtucket and inevitably be called on to start at times later in the season, but that plan could change if the organization chooses to utilize him in a bullpen role.

Jackie Bradley, OF, Boston Red Sox

Spring Training Stats: .182 (6-for-33), 2 R, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 9 K (11 G)

Bradley is trying to break camp with the Red Sox for the second consecutive year. However, after batting .419 in 28 games last spring, the 23-year-old outfielder has mustered only six hits in 33 at-bats this year while striking out in eight different games. More significantly, Bradley’s struggles have opened the door for Grady Sizemore, who has batted .381 through seven games. 

Jon Gray, RHP, Colorado Rockies

Spring Training Stats: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (3 G) 

Gray was knocked around in his third spring appearance on Thursday night against the A’s, allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk while failing to complete three innings. In the outing, the 22-year-old right-hander worked mostly in the low 90s, touching 95 mph, and lacked the sharp slider he showcased in previous appearances. Yet, this kind of outing is pretty standard for a pitcher participating in his first major league camp.

Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles

Spring Training Stats: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (2 G)

Lee made his spring debut on March 7 against the Rangers, throwing two scoreless innings with one strikeout. However, the 22-year-old right-hander struggled with his command in his follow-up outing last Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks in 2.2 frames against the Diamondbacks. Still, it’s worth noting that Lee fanned four batters on the day.

*All stats courtesy of MLB.com and reflect games through March 17, 2014.

*All videos courtesy of MLB.com/MLB Advanced Media.

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It’s been a revolving door at shortstop and second base for the St. Louis Cardinals for a decade. Yet, the lack of continuity at those positions hasn’t hindered on-field success. The Cards have reached four World Series and won two titles since 2004 while often employing a little more than utility players at each spot.

In 2014, the Redbirds will look to end the yearly duct-tape job up the middle by pairing rookie second baseman Kolten Wong with free agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

Peralta signed a four-year deal early in free agency. Around the same time, the Cardinals made a trade that essentially handed the starting job to Wong.

The Cardinals haven’t had the same second base/shortstop starting combination for consecutive years on Opening Day since Fernando Vina and Edgar Renteria shared the stage together from 2000-03.

How ironic that a franchise once blessed with cornerstone players up the middle in Tom Herr and Ozzie Smith would get by with stopgap options for so long.

Having two impact players in the middle of the diamond would be a welcome twist. Since 2008, Cesar Izturis, Khalil Greene, Brendan Ryan, Ryan Theriot, Rafael Furcal and Pete Kozma have started Opening Day at short.

Adam Kennedy, Ryan, Skip Schumaker (twice) and Daniel Descalso (twice) have received that same honor at second.

Not exactly Robinson Cano and Troy Tulowitzki.

In fairness, they haven’t been stiffs. Each one made an impact, especially in the postseason.

Whether it’s Kozma’s and Descalso’s timely hits in the 2012 National League Division Series, Schumaker’s double in Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS, or Furcal’s glove work in that same contest, they all played a role in St. Louis’ tremendous run of success.

Entering the offseason on the heels of a disappointing loss to the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic, shortstop was the only glaring weakness for a Cardinals squad loaded with talent and depth.

Kozma, even with his occasional heroics and stellar defense, wasn’t hitting enough to justify a full-time gig. Among National League shortstops with at least 300 at-bats last season, he ranked last with a .273 on-base percentage while slugging a hideous .548. As much as his defense was an asset, his bat was a greater detriment.

On too many nights, there were two automatic outs at the bottom of the Cards’ lineup.

So the St. Louis front office went shortstop shopping equipped with financial flexibility and a surplus of trade chips. Quickly turned off by an unappealing market, general manager John Mozeliak looked to the free agent class. Before Thanksgiving, he had his man, inking Peralta to a four-year, $52 million contract.

“We knew center field was very important, but the shortstop market on the other hand was one that was not deep in free agents,” Mozeliak told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com at the time of the signing. “There were really two being bantered about us. For us, it was really focusing on someone who could hit from the right side, somebody that was a steady defensive player, someone that had experience and could fit right in. We certainly explored the trade market at many levels, trying to see what we could do there, but the acquisition costs seemed very preventative for us to move forward with that.”

But Peralta would travel to St. Louis carrying more than just his consistent bat and solid glove. He brought along baggage in the form of the 50-game suspension he served last season with the Tigers as the result of Major League Baseball’s Biogenesis investigation.

Since signing with the Cardinals, Peralta has said all the right things. Teammates have given him a clean slate.

“I know a lot of fans are going to say a lot of things,” Peralta explained to Paul White of USA Today. “It’s baseball, man. You need to forget about it and play baseball. We’ll move forward and try to forget about it.”

Cards fans, widely regarded as the most respectful and knowledgeable in baseball, have embraced Peralta. The faithful who fill Busch Stadium nightly won’t ask for much, just an honest effort and respect for a team and game they love dearly.

It’s the perfect situation for Peralta. He’ll play for a perennial winner in a town where the fans will cut him some slack. He’ll get the benefit of the doubt. The past is in the past.

Peralta is a .268 career hitter who’s never hit fewer than 10 home runs in a full season. He has four campaigns of 20 or more homers to his credit—the last coming in 2011.

According to FanGraphs, Peralta had a UZR (Ultimate Zone Ranking) of 3.5 last season in Detroit. Kozma’s 6.7 UZR in 2013 speaks to his defensive brilliance, but it also illustrates how competent Peralta is with the glove.

Peralta’s presence gives the Cardinals their best all-around shortstop since Renteria left in 2005. His new double-play partner, the rookie from Hawaii, could give the Redbirds fans a dynamic tandem at second and short like they haven’t seen since the days of Herr and The Wizard.

Wong has plus skills across the board. Defense may be his calling card, but he also possesses great speed and some pop.

The ability Wong showed in the minors gave Mozeliak the confidence to deal hometown favorite David Freese to the Los Angeles Angels, allowing Matt Carpenter to slide from second to third.

Wong struggled to display any of those abilities during last season’s September call-up. He had the entire offseason to marinate on that embarrassing pickoff to end Game 4 of the World Series.

“I didn’t do anything to make people believe that I’m ready to be there. I know that,” Wong told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before spring training. “All of the games, all of the time I had and I didn’t prove it to people that I’m ready. … That showed me that I had a lot of work left to do to be ready to compete. That’s what I’m doing. I want to make sure this time, going into spring, that’s not the case, that there’s not a question.”

Then in December, Wong had to deal with the passing of his mother, Keala Wong, who lost her long battle with cancer. He came to spring training in Jupiter adorned with a new tattoo to honor his mom.

“It’s something that I’m proud of,” Wong shared with Goold. “This means everything to me.”

Wong went to work, eager to prove he belonged in the big leagues. He was determined to earn the starting assignment rather than being the beneficiary of trade circumstances.

Since starting the Grapefruit League 0-for-10, Wong is one of the hottest hitter in spring training. He’s batting .565 since, with two homers and eight RBI.

A week after talk of Wong possibly starting the season in Triple-A, he’s cemented his place on the Opening Day roster.

Wong and Peralta will take the field side by side in Cincinnati for their first Opening Day together. The Cardinals hope it’s the start of something special.

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When it comes to roster building, depth is only good until a team is forced to use it. For the Oakland Athletics, injuries to starting pitchers may dismantle a team that was ticketed for October baseball and championship aspirations.

According to John Hickey of Bay Area News Group, the Athletics could start the season with 60 percent of their projected starting rotation—Jarrod Parker, A.J. Griffin and Scott Kazmir—on the disabled list. 

When it comes to Parker, he won’t be there for the entire 2014 season. According to Jane Lee of MLB.com, the 25-year-old right-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday. This will be the second major arm surgery of Parker’s young career, leaving his future in doubt.

For his team, the immediate future is just as cloudy. Coming off back-to-back AL West titles, the Athletics had a busy offseason in preparation for a meaningful 2014 campaign and trip back to the postseason.

Now, those plans are on hold.

In the loaded AL West, the Athletics can’t afford to lose projected starting pitchers and still win the 90-95 games necessary to put themselves in true contention. Texas is too talented and teams like Los Angeles, Seattle and Houston all improved during the winter. On a day-to-day basis, wins will be harder than ever to achieve for this A’s team. 

Furthermore, the American League is loaded. Outside of Houston, Minnesota and Chicago, a case can be made for any team in the league competing for a postseason berth. In order to qualify for the AL postseason in 2014, luck is almost as important as talent.

With less than two full weeks until Opening Day, luck is alluding the Athletics.

Unlike the Braves recent acquisition of Ervin Santana, don’t expect Oakland general manager Billy Beane to scour the open market for a veteran to save his young, injured staff. Even if Santana was still available, this franchise would be more apt to solve problems internally. 

Yet, despite pitching depth in the organization—Drew Pomeranz, Jesse Chavez, Michael Ynoa, Phil Humber—it’s too much to ask manager Bob Melvin to replicate the production and talent of Jarrod Parker.  

When Bartolo Colon was allowed to bolt to New York in free agency, the message to Parker was loud and clear: It’s your rotation now.

That message came with good merit. Over the last two years—comprising Parker’s first two big league seasons—the young righty has been among the most consistent and effective starters in the entire sport. 

Over the span, only 25 starters have thrown at least 375 innings, pitched to an ERA of 3.75 or better and allowed less than 1.0 HR/9. The combination of durability, run-suppressing pitching and the ability to keep the ball in the ballpark is rare, even among high-quality arms.

In fact, the list of names below Parker is almost as impressive as the names above him, per Baseball-Reference (subscription required). Lance Lynn, Justin Masterson, Ricky Nolasco and Jon Lester all have put up ERA marks higher than Parker’s 3.73 over the last two seasons. 

To be fair, it’s easy to overreact in light of major spring training injuries to projected aces. The narrative in March often is flipped and reversed by the All-Star break. With time to reassess the roster, it’s possible, if not likely, that the A’s could overcome Parker’s injury.

Three years ago, the St. Louis Cardinals lost Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery. That October—with Wainwright rooting on an upstart wild card team from the dugout—the Cardinals won it all in Tony La Russa’s final season.

Of course, Parker’s the biggest name, but not the only name. 

With Griffin and Kazmir also banged up, the Athletics will need to find bulk innings from their pitching depth. Organizational depth is built for times like these, but losing three potential 200-inning arms is rare and costly.

In fact, when you consider that Kazmir was signed to effectively replace Colon’s production, the Athletics are about to enter a season with the tall task of re-allocating 587.1 innings from last year’s staff. 

Even with a deep bullpen—designed in part to ease the burden of innings from young, unproven arms—the A’s will be challenged to survive over the long haul.

In a perfect world, Oakland’s offense will soar to the top of league rankings in runs scored, pitchers like Jesse Chavez and Drew Pomeranz will surprise and Sonny Gray will take a leap from potential AL All-Star to Cy Young contender.

The blueprint for overcoming this type of setback was illustrated by the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, but even that took a miraculous September run to capture a spot in the postseason tournament. 

With the American League poised to be a daily grind and as competitive as any year in recent memory, the A’s can’t survive 60 percent of their rotation being out for an extended period. It would be a fool’s errand to call a Billy Beane team hopeless, but the difference between watching the postseason at home and competing for a World Series is slim.

Jarrod Parker’s injury is likely a sign that it’s just not the year in Oakland.

Agree? Disagree?

Comment, follow me on Twitter or “like” my Facebook page to talk about all things baseball.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. All contract figures courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Roster projections courtesy of MLB Depth Charts.

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The Kansas City Royals prepare for their season in Surprise, Ariz., every year.  The excitement level surrounding the club during spring training in recent years has greatly increased.

The excitement is deserved.  The team is playing well, players they are depending on are producing and they seem to have the right pieces in most every spot you look.  The Royals are on the verge of discovering the success that has eluded them for more than 20 years.

Along the way, the players on the field tend to see their stock rise and fall.  Quality production, staying healthy and consistent work will lead to a rise in stock.  Failing to stay healthy and on the field, not being a veteran leader or finding yourself suddenly in minor league camp can bring that stock down.

The Royals have their fair share of news this spring.  A quick look around can show the varying stock of six players.

Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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The New York Mets sent down a number of their top prospects earlier this week, but many made an impression that should excite fans moving forward.

Talent evaluators around baseball have lauded the Mets farm system this offseason for having high-end prospects such as Noah Syndergaard, Travis d’Arnaud and Rafael Montero. These prospects should be in the majors in the near future (if they aren’t already there), but some of the team’s lower level prospects were impressive prior to being sent down to minor league camp.

Below are the most impressive prospects who are no longer on the big league roster. I haven’t included Syndergaard, d’Arnaud or Montero because they are still in major league camp, and I excluded Cesar Puello because I wrote about his impressive performance Wednesday here.

Steven Matz

Steven Matz pitched just two innings this spring, but he exhibited the tools of a prospect that could skyrocket up prospect rankings this season.

Matz has battled injuries since he was drafted, as he pitched in his first minor league game in 2012 after being picked out of high school in 2009. In 2013 he was able to put together his first full season while pitching in Low-A Savannah, where he had a spectacular season, pitching over 100 innings with a 2.62 ERA and a 1.166 WHIP.

This spring, Matz showed scouts and fans why he has the ability to be an impact pitcher in the near future. Coming from the left side, Matz has serious velocity with feel for both a changeup and curveball, although both secondary offerings need serious work. Chris Mellen of Baseball Prospectus took note of Matz last August, as he clearly came away impressed with the Long Island native.

Matz continued his impressive showing this spring, as he surrendered just two hits and one walk while striking out five in his two innings of work. Two innings is such a small sample, but the overpowering stuff Matz exhibited is a great sign moving forward.

While Matz’s injury history and delivery bring up concerns, his stuff is unquestionable. Whether it be as an elite reliever or a potential rotation arm, the future looks bright for the Mets’ young lefty.

Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo has always had the look of a top prospect, as he is a tall and projectable left-handed outfielder with a smooth swing. His lack of high school experience and rawness as a player has always meant that his path to the majors would be slower than most prospects, meaning that every sign of development is crucial for the Wyoming native.

This spring, Nimmo looked the part both on and off the field, and could be ready for a breakout season in 2014.

Nimmo came into camp looking much bigger and stronger than previous years, yet by all accounts was still fast enough to play center field. This is important for the Mets, as they clearly want to keep him in center as long as possible, as MetsMinorLeagueBlog’s Toby Hyde noted:

Nimmo maintaining his speed while he gains muscle during his development is crucial to his value as a prospect, as his bat becomes much more valuable if he’s able to play center field.

Nimmo also showed great signs at the plate this spring. He has always exhibited a patient approach at the plate, but his issue has been how he fails to drive the ball and struggles against lefties. In a game earlier this spring, Nimmo ripped a single to right field, driving the ball even though it did not result in an extra-base hit.

Hyde noted how this single by Nimmo displayed a new approach, as Nimmo was able to pull and drive the ball:

This hit was a great sign, as was Nimmo’s performance throughout all of his at-bats in major league games. He went 3-6 while getting hits off of lefties and looking comfortable at the plate against high-level pitching.

While all of his hits in big league games were singles, he showed the ability to drive the ball well in B-level games, as Adam Rubin of ESPN tweeted:

Nimmo should start the season in High-A St. Lucie, but if he continues developing and starts complementing his patient approach with more power at the plate, he could force his way to Double-A Binghamton and a potential call-up in 2015.

Kevin Plawecki

Kevin Plawecki rose to prominence last season with his tremendous performance at both Low-A Savannah and High-A St. Lucie, and has continued to show off his hitting prowess this spring.

Plawecki is still a work in progress behind the plate, but he should be able to remain a catcher, although he will likely never be an exceptional one, defensively.

As a hitter, Plawecki doesn’t have great raw power, but he makes consistently hard contact and should develop into a solid doubles hitter with a high average. As a catcher, that is a very valuable asset to have.

Plawecki’s performance in spring training indicates that his domination of the lower minors was not a fluke. Before official games began, the Mets played an intrasquad game, and as Adam Rubin documented, Plawecki lined an opposite-field single off of prized pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard:

Syndergaard was dominant that day, but Plawecki showed that his contact-oriented approach could stand up to elite offerings, and is a good sign for his development as he heads into the upper minors.

Plawecki also ripped a double in against the Atlanta Braves in a big league game, getting the barrel on the ball and pulling a rope down the line, which you can see in the below video.

The most important part of Plawecki’s growth moving forward is defensively, as his bat appears as if it will continue to be solid, regardless of the competition. Whether it is as a trading chip or as a fill-in if d’Arnaud can’t stay healthy, Plawecki is an important part of the Mets’ future.

Amed Rosario

While Amed Rosario wasn’t a part of the big league camp, the reports on him so far are very promising as they show how much improvement he has made.

Rosario is a polarizing prospect in baseball, with many believing he could be a first-division talent. Baseball Prospectus’ Jason Parks tweeted that he believes Rosario would be a high first-round pick in this years upcoming MLB draft if he were eligible, as he is the same age as many high school seniors:

Rosario is raw, and as a teenager he has many holes in his game that he needs to fix before he can start rising quickly through the Mets’ farm system. Because of how raw he is, Amazin’ Avenue’s Jeffrey Paternostro’s scouting report of Rosario from last year makes sense. Paternostro was very critical of Rosario’s swing, writing about how it had multiple moving parts that led to a long uppercut swing, which could hurt his hit-tool as he ascends through the minors.

This shouldn’t be concerning as Rosario was 17 at the time, but as an 18-year-old this spring training, the reports on his swing have vastly changed. Jeff Moore of Baseball Prospectus scouted Rosario earlier in March and wrote (subscription required):

…he showed good bat control and a short swing for someone with such long limbs. He was able to stay inside the ball, and during the opposite-field portion of his round of batting practice, he did not settle for just going the other way. He drive [sic] the ball to right field with authority.

Paternostro scouted that Rosario elongated his swing so he could have an uppercut and sell out for power, but Moore’s report shows that Rosario has not only cut down his swing, but he also is still able to drive the ball and project as a power prospect.

Moore’s report is significant because while he gives a glowing report of Rosario, he is extremely critical of Mets prospect Gavin Cecchini, whom he believes should no longer play shortstop. Moore provides an unbiased perspective, and by showing that he is not afraid to be critical with his write up of Cecchini, fans should be all the more optimistic about Rosario.

Rosario should start the season in the New York Penn League with the Brooklyn Cyclones, and seeing whether his swing has truly shortened and if he can produce on the field should be one of the most intriguing stories in the Mets’ farm system in 2014.

All statistics courtesy Baseball-Reference.

You can follow Sean on twitter at @SCunninghamPG.

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Breakout Performances from the Dodgers’ First Two Weeks of Spring Training

The Los Angeles Dodgers are among the favorites to win the World Series in 2014 after reaching the National League Championship Series last year. The lofty expectations are fueled by the return of well-established—and well paid—stars such as Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez.

However, a couple of breakout performances during spring training mean that some unexpected names could help the Dodgers end their 26-year World Series drought.

Players that thrive in February and March don’t always turn out to be meaningful contributors during the regular season. But here are two Dodgers that have raised some eyebrows with their stellar play this spring.

Justin Turner, INF

When Justin Turner signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in February, it didn’t register as a significant offseason move. However, Turner has swung a hot bat this spring, and his versatility could make him the top utility infielder off the Dodgers bench.

Turner has hit .333 in 24 spring training at-bats while getting starts at second base, third base and shortstop. He’s also appeared in 26 games as a first baseman during his five-year major league career, making Turner a valuable player off of the bench.

A career .260 hitter, Turner hit a career-best .280 in 82 games with the New York Mets last season.

Neither Dee Gordon nor Alex Guerrero, the presumed favorites to win the starting job at second, have been particularly impressive this spring. Chone Figgins and Brendan Harris have also struggled at the plate while competing with Turner to become L.A.’s primary utility infielder.

Mark Ellis, Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker are no longer in Los Angeles, and the other second base options have failed to impress. With a strong spring performance, Turner has earned a spot on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster.

Seth Rosin, RHP

Seth Rosin faced long odds of making the Dodgers’ 25-man roster when he was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies last December. But Rosin has excelled on the mound this spring, adding further uncertainty to an already crowded bullpen.

The 26-year-old right-hander has an impressive 1.64 ERA and 12:2 KK:BB ratio in 11 innings this spring.

The Dodgers added depth to their bullpen last offseason by re-signing Bryan Wilson and adding free agents Chris Perez and Paul Maholm.

Both Wilson and Perez have historically been late-game, one-inning pitchers, making their presence less threatening to Rosin’s chances of sticking with Los Angeles. Maholm has a strong major league track record as a starter and long reliever. However, the veteran lefty has struggled mightily this spring, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs in just 7.2 innings.

Dodgers prospects Paco Rodriguez and Chris Withrow, both of whom contributed to the club’s 2013 campaign, are also threats to Rosin’s chances of making the team.

The bigger issue for Rosin is his status as a Rule 5 draftee. If he doesn’t remain on the Dodgers’ 25-man roster all season, Los Angeles must place Rosin on waivers before offering him back to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rosin may have sealed his own fate with a tough outing on Thursday. He surrendered five hits and two earned runs in a three-inning appearance versus the Cincinnati Reds.

Despite the recent performance, Rosin has been one of the few standouts for the Dodgers this spring. If he is squeezed out of the picture in Los Angeles, there is little question that Rosin can help a major league club in 2014.

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Whether it’s Josh Reddick returning to form or Michael Taylor desperately trying to prove himself, the Oakland A’s are witnessing a variety of breakout performances that are making key decisions more difficult.

After one week of camp, four guys in particular were incredibly impressive. Now with more than two weeks worth of games under their stirrups, three of those four have continued to stay hot in Arizona while a handful of others have stirred things up.

What makes a breakout star? Well, one guy isn’t at all familiar to A’s fans. Three others are fighting for a job on the 25-man roster. Another once had a starting role, saw it vanish and now wants it back. And the other, well, he’s breaking out of a year-long slump, which was likely due to injury.

And heck, let’s rank ’em. Ranking is based purely on spring training performances. The best performance gets the No. 1 spot.

All statistics are courtesy of MLB.com.

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The midway point of spring training has come and gone, and some Cincinnati Reds players have begun to turn in what we could consider “breakout” performances.

It can be difficult to stand out among a group of players including former MVP Joey Votto, All Stars like Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce, and Cy Young candidates like Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos. However, this group of players has done just that.

The team already made their first round of cuts. One player on this list, Billy Hamilton, is immune to that, as he’s slated to be the team’s everyday center fielder for the 2014 season.

The other two players—Neftali Soto and Brett Marshall—are likely to be sent to minor league camp at some point this spring. But, after surviving the first round of cuts, the duo will be given the opportunity to showcase their skills against a higher level of competition for a little while longer.

In an attempt to further familiarize you with them, and their accomplishments, we’ll highlight the impressive showings of those three players, starting with Billy Hamilton.

Billy Hamilton

Coming into spring training, concerns surrounding Billy Hamilton’s ability to hit and get on base were at an all-time high as he was handed the keys to one of the National League’s best lineups over the last four seasons.

Hamilton’s performance this spring will have zero impact on whether or not he’s the team’s everyday starting center fielder. However, his mid-spring training numbers will go a long way toward alleviating some of the concerns surrounding his readiness for a starting job.

Over 22 spring at-bats, Hamilton boasts a .269/.387/.346 slash line with two doubles, three RBI, nine runs scored, a 3:5 K/BB ratio and six stolen bases. Though his numbers are impressive, it’s important to note that, first, this is just spring training, and second, that Hamilton has faced a slightly lesser level of competition in comparison to some of his teammates.

Hamilton’s also done a solid job of keeping the ball on the ground, and that can prove problematic for fielders looking to rush a play to get him out.

The 23-year-old’s OppQual—Baseball-Reference’s measurement of opponent quality—rating for the spring clocks in at 8.7, slightly below the MLB level of 10, but higher than the 8.0 Triple-A level. Whether his quality of opponents faced is lower than MLB level is irrelevant though, as Hamilton has shown poise at the plate, the ability to work a count, bunt for a hit and draw a walk.

Don’t kid yourself into thinking that Hamilton’s numbers will seamlessly transition into the regular season. Steamer and ZiPS projections have Hamilton slashing .246/.301/.334 and .264/.319/.362, so it’s best to temper expectations for the young speedster.

However, if his displayed ability to work counts and draw walks carries over even slightly into the regular season, Hamilton will exceed all expectations for his 2014 campaign. 

Neftali Soto

Having been with the organization for seven seasons, Neftali Soto is a name that some fans may already be familiar with. However, over the last year or two, Soto has faded into prospect limbo as the team continues to find a position for him to play.

Soto could be a viable bench bat this season, but at just 25 years of age, the team is still looking for any way to keep him in an everyday lineup to avoid stunting his development.

Last season—his second full season at Triple-A Louisville—Soto had a decent season, slashing .271/.313/.414 with 15 home runs, 21 doubles, 61 RBI, 54 runs scored and a 103:26 K/BB ratio. Soto’s been raking this spring, posting a .370/.370/.667 slash line with one home run, five doubles, two RBI and four runs scored.

Soto has yet to register a walk in his first 27 at-bats. However, he’s also managed to keep from striking out to this point as well.

Over his the last two minor league seasons—2012 and 2013—Soto sports strikeout rates of 22.7 and 20.8 percent respectively, so to see him go 27 at-bats without registering a strikeout, while simultaneously maintaining a .300-plus batting average, is a great sign.

Soto has played all 13 of his games at first base this season. However, as Jamie Ramsey—The Reds’ Assistant Director of Media Relations—noted last month, Soto is also seeing some work behind the plate during inter-squad workouts.

It’s not quite as exciting as Jamie makes it out to be, as Soto has caught in the past. Back in 2010, the Reds tried moving Soto behind the plate, but the experiment went south in a hurry.

In 10 games as a catcher, Soto allowed two passed balls, and managed to catch just one would-be baserunner, compared to 15 successful stolen bases—a six percent CS%.

According to team manager Bryan Price—via team beat writer John Fay—Soto could catch, but in emergency situations at the big league level.

I imagine there’s never been a manager who didn’t want that third catcher that you have some comfort with. So, if Neffy is with our club and he can do that in a pinch, think of what that does.

The idea is novel, but unless Soto can pick up a spot in the outfield at Louisville this season—which is somewhat unlikely given the team’s minor league outfield situation, then he’s likely showcasing himself as a trade chip.

Even if that’s the case, Soto is having a solid spring.

Brett Marshall

Brett Marshall has bounced around quite a bit over the past four months. Back in December, the Yankees waived the 23-year-old, only to have him get picked up by the Chicago Cubs. Then, just under two months later, the Reds were able to claim Marshall off waivers from the Cubs.

Shortly after claiming Marshall, GM Walt Jocketty had this to say of the young starter—via MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.

I talked to him and he sounded like a good kid. We had good reports on him. He had one of the best changeups in the Yankees organization. He’s a sinkerballer with a good slider. He’s got a couple of [Minor League] options left.

The move makes sense for the Reds, who have very little big league-ready pitching depth in the minor leagues. Marshall’s changeup and sinker would play very well in Great American Ball Park, so it’s worth a flier—especially when the cost of the acquisition was DFA’ing middle-infielder Henry Rodriguez.

Marshall isn’t a physically imposing guy, and stands in at 6’1″ and 195 pounds, but he generates decent velocity through solid torque in his hips and chest. Take a look at Marshall’s spring-training pitch velocities and usage rates, courtesy of BrooksBaseball.net.

Marshall’s done a solid job of varying his pitches, displaying four pitches with usage rates over 10 percent, and a fifth—his curveball—hovering right around nine percent. 

All of this has culminated in an impressive mid-spring stat line.

Marshall’s walk rate is high, and in the regular season, 9.0 BB/9 would probably leave you looking for a new job. However, generally speaking, that hasn’t been the case throughout his minor league career so it shouldn’t be a concern moving forward.

Outside of his high walk rate, Marshall has been dominant this spring.

His OppQual rating comes in at 8.5, putting him somewhere between the big league and minor league levels. Although Marshall has faced a below-MLB level pool of talent this spring, the opportunity to showcase his skills has resulted in a breakout campaign.

He’ll likely slot in behind lefty David Holmberg as the team’s second call-up if and when the need arises for a starting pitcher. But, should he continue to impress in big league camp, Marshall will greatly increase his chances of joining the team in a starting capacity this year.

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As spring progresses and players settle into their roles on the baseball diamond, the San Francisco Giants have already learned a lot about their team’s potential.  The starting pitching, including newcomer Tim Hudson, has been solid, and several players are stepping up their game in hopes of either solidifying their starting spot or earning a roster spot altogether.

On the mound, right-hander Tim Lincecum is silencing critics who say his best years are behind him.  In just over nine innings pitched, Lincecum has posted a solid 1.93 ERA and a 1-0 record.  Right-hander Matt Cain, last season’s Opening Day starter, also appears to have returned to form, not allowing a run and surrendering only one hit in eight innings pitched.

After struggling in his first few starts, right-hander Ryan Vogelsong rebounded for an excellent start Thursday against the Texas Rangers, only allowing one run in five innings.

With the projected five-man rotation performing well, up-and-comers are also making a name for themselves.  In a matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers and ace Clayton Kershaw, 21-year-old Edwin Escobar pitched well against the perennial Cy Young candidate.

Catcher Buster Posey is having a banner spring training.  Currently, the slugger is batting .450 with a home run and six RBI.  Utility infielder Joaquin Arias has also enjoyed success at the plate, cementing his role as the go-to infielder off the bench.  Arias is batting .391 in nine games thus far.

In the outfield, new addition Mike Morse has displayed his power already, though it has not been reflected in his numbers.  Morse was robbed of not one, but two home runs in a February game against the Oakland Athletics by outfielder Josh Reddick.

Shortstop Ehire Adrianza is turning heads as well.  He has already smashed two home runs, a double and a triple, making a case for himself as a second utility infielder for the Giants.

However, he has competition from shortstop Brandon Hicks, who is on a hot streak at the plate.  In a contest against the Dodgers, Hicks slammed a two-run home run off Clayton Kershaw.  After a slow start, Hicks has now recorded five doubles along with a home run to complement a .318 average.

As the spring months chug along, the Giants will keep their eyes on their higher performers.  There’s more action to come in the upcoming weeks before Opening Day.

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As with any offseason, a number of big-name players changed teams this winter, and the first couple weeks of spring training has been the first opportunity those guys have had to make an impression with their new clubs.

Spring training performance is not always a great indicator of future success, as guys are still generally working on different things and shaking off the offseason rust at this time rather than going all out for production. Still, it is worth taking a look at how these newcomers have fared in the early going.

What follows are mid-spring grades for the top 15 offseason acquisitions, based on their performance over the first two-plus weeks of spring games.

Players who re-signed with their club this winter were not considered, and I have also excluded Washington Nationals right-hander Doug Fister, who is dealing with elbow issues and has thrown just two innings this spring.

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