Kuzul

After a couple of weeks, some members of the Texas Rangers are standing out from the others.

In fact, there are eight players who have a .300 batting average or higher while playing in at least eight games. Of the eight, only two of them played extensive time in the big leagues last season.

And even though it is spring training, it is worthy to note the players who are breaking out this spring. Many of them have seen a wide array of talent on the mound and in the batter’s box.

However, there hasn’t been a pitcher who has really stood out from the rest of the staff so we are going to look at hitters here.

Here are five breakout performances through the first two weeks of spring training.

Brent Lillibridge, 3B

Brent Lillibridge has had the hottest bat so far in spring training.

He has played in eight games and is hitting .438 with one homer and three RBI. The only blemish on his spring resume is a lone strikeout. Other than that, he is spraying the ball all over the diamond and has committed just one error over 36 innings.

The Rangers are the seventh team Lillibridge has played for in six years. Although the Texas infield is full, it would be difficult for the Rangers not to keep him on the 25-man roster if he continues to hit the way he has been.

Robinson Chirinos, C

Geovany Soto hasn’t seen much playing time due to an injury, and Robinson Chirinos is seizing the opportunity of extended playing time.

Chirinos has struck out six times in 17 at-bats, which account for nearly every out this spring. But he also has seven hits, making for a .414 batting average with four RBI and two walks. His .474 OBP is the highest of any other player with more than one game played.

He has thrown out three base-stealers in four attempts and has caught as many innings as J.P. Arencibia. Chirinos is really making most of the innings he has been given this spring.

Keven Kouzmanoff, 3B

Kevin Kouzmanoff hasn’t played in the big leagues for two years but is enjoying his first spring with the Rangers.

The 32-year-old is hitting .333 in 16 games so far. He is second on the team with six RBI and third in runs scored with six. He has one home run and has been walked three times.

Kouzmanoff has played 61 innings in the field, which is also the second most on the club. He has yet to commit an error and has split time at first base and third base.

After two years in the minors, Kouzmanoff is looking to prove he belongs on the 25-man roster.

Michael Choice, OF

Michael Choice’s performance so far this spring should be helping fans get over the trade that saw Craig Gentry go to the Oakland A’s.

Choice has played in 15 games this spring and is hitting .323 in 31 at-bats. He has one homer, a double and a triple and has driven in three runs.  He is tied with Chirinos for the most strikeouts on the team (6) and has yet to draw a walk.

Cutting down on swings is something Choice will learn over the rest of spring ball. Expect to see him getting quite a bit of playing time when the regular season gets going.

Jurickson Profar, 2B

Although Jurickson Profar hasn’t played defensively, he is showing promise at the dish.

Profar has more at-bats (40) than any player. He is hitting .300 and has driven in a team-high 11 runs. He has three doubles and two home runs to his credit, one of which was a grand slam.

He also has a team-high eight runs scored.

Getting at-bats is key for Profar, who had scattered playing time over the course of 2013. Letting him hit every day is more important than getting him his first live groundball.

All stats courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

You can follow Trey on Twitter @treydwarren

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What is Trevor Rosenthal’s long-term role with the St. Louis Cardinals?

For 2014, the answer’s easy. Rosenthal will lock down the ninth. After securing the closer job late last season, he emerged as a late-inning force in the Cards’ playoff run.

But for 2015 and beyond, all bets are off. Or at least they should be. While Rosenthal enjoys closing, he’s stated in the past his desire to start. 

Early in spring training, Rosenthal talked about his situation with Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Starting would be a different challenge. Coming into the organization, I always kind of envisioned that being the end result.

The last time Rosenthal started, he was 8-6 with a 2.78 ERA in 94 innings for Double-A Springfield in 2012. Then he got the call to Triple-A, posting a 4.20 ERA in three starts.

In 2011, Rosenthal had his first taste as a regular in the starting rotation. He struck out 133 in 120 1/3 innings for Low-A Quad Cities. The 4.11 ERA wasn’t overly impressive until you factor in the shoddy defense behind him. According to Baseball Instinct, his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) rate was 3.22.

Rosenthal had struggled in August, as the 7.12 ERA that month hinted at the strains of a workload over a full season. But he impressed the Cards’ front office during spring training in 2012, prompting St. Louis to bump its flame-throwing prospect to the Texas League.

The repertoire is there for Rosenthal to succeed in the rotation. The high-90s fastball is his calling card. The natural sinking action creates plenty of ground balls. The power slider is a great complement. And while he doesn’t use the changeup often in his current role, it was an improved offering during his time in the minors.

In a short period of time, Rosenthal has emerged as an elite closer. And considering the club’s starting depth, it’s a no-brainer to keep him planted in the ninth inning this season. However, pitchers with this type of arm don’t grow on trees. It would behoove the Cardinals to find out if he could translate his success to the rotation.

Winning in today’s game has become more reliant on a strong bullpen. Still, 200 quality innings from a starter offers more value than 70 innings of relief, no matter how dominant.

Jason Motte’s return from Tommy John surgery could factor in Rosenthal’s future. He established himself as a stopper by saving 42 games for the Cardinals in 2012 after excelling in October for a World Series winner in 2011.

Motte’s a free agent after the season. It’s doubtful he’d re-up with the Redbirds as a set-up man knowing the money available on the open market.

Every year, the role is a revolving door. Teams are finding success without a mainstay in place.

Tampa Bay has won 90 or more games in four straight seasons using three different closers.

Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel is the only pitcher to save at least 30 games for the same team the last three seasons. The four teams in the last two Fall Classics each utilized different closers from the pitchers who started the season.

Veteran reliever Edward Mujica had four career saves before knocking out 37 for the Redbirds last season.

Then there’s the money factor.

Teams are increasingly reluctant to pay big dollars for closers. The Orioles decided to trade Jim Johnson, who had back-to-back 50-save seasons, rather than pay the arbitration-eligible right-hander a salary close to $10 million.

Rosenthal may never cash in on big-time starter money like Clayton Kershaw. But even average big-league starters are garnering $15 million or more per season in the current market.

Kimbrel, arguably the game’s top stopper, signed a four-year, $42 million extension. His biggest payday will come in 2017 when he’ll make $13 million. The Cubs are paying Edwin Jackson $11 million, and his ERA was barely under 5.00 last season.

I’m sure Rosenthal is well aware of the discrepancy.

It’s understandable to ask where Rosenthal fits into a St. Louis rotation filled with established young arms and a bevy of intriguing prospects on the way.

Adam Wainwright is signed through 2018. Of Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha and Shelby Miller, Lynn is the closest to free agency, but that won’t come until 2018. Carlos Martinez could be ready to graduate to the rotation. Jaime Garcia, Tyler Lyons, Joe Kelly, Marco Gonzales and Tim Cooney also are in the mix.

So why mess with a good thing?

Rosenthal could fizzle as a starter. He could get injured. Maybe he’d tire after a few innings, lose velocity. Those issues contributed to former Cardinals reliever Todd Worrell moving to the bullpen in the ‘80s. He excelled there.

Rosenthal already is thriving as a closer. But just imagine what he could become as a starter.

You’ll never know until you try.

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The Boston Red Sox went 86 seasons without winning a World Series. In 2013, however, they won their third championship in the past 10 years. Now it is 2014 and the Red Sox are looking to do something they have not done in nearly 100 years, win back-to-back World Series titles. This quest for a repeat starts in spring.

Boston is coming into this season with some key losses to their rotation. Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Franklin Morales, Stephen Drew, Andrew Bailey and Ryan Dempster are all off the team but to the same respect, they have some made some key additions as well. Edward Mujica, Burke Badenhop, A.J. Pierzynski, Grady Sizemore, Jonathan Herrera and Chris Capuano all look to help make the Red Sox better than a season ago.

Here are some of the best tweets about the Red Sox during Spring .

Let’s this thing off right.

Sit back and watch Big Papi launch his first home run of #SpringTraining: http://t.co/7kw9dAQimm #BoysAreBack

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) March 10, 2014

Some new key names coming this year.

How does this sound? “Leading off for the Boston Red Sox: Number 38, Grady Sizemore.” http://t.co/yeTI66d4BD

— NESN (@NESN) March 10, 2014

Red Sox owner takes a shot at the Marlins.

They should apologize for their regular season lineup.

— John W. Henry (@John_W_Henry) March 8, 2014

Boston fans are in Florida for the defending champs.

Off to Florida to watch the Boston Red Sox in spring training! gonna be wearing that 2013 world series shirt! #RedSoxNation 🔴🔵😏

— Ashley Lawson (@Ash_Lawson94) March 5, 2014

Sounds as though the games are drawing a crowd.

@RedSox There are more people here at a spring training game than the rays get at home games. #BoysAreBack #RedSox

— Hooley Keith (@Hooleygrail) March 11, 2014

The pressure of Spring Training for the young prospects.

Can’t even imagine how cool it would be to be at #springtraining knowing the BIGS could be right around the corner. #nopressure @RedSox

— Michael Shuemaker (@TheHiddenMike) March 11, 2014

Boston Red Sox are looking good from the mound.

Jon Lester already killin it out there #springtraining #GoSox @RedSox

— Trill Ty (@TylaShorr) March 10, 2014

Those Red Sox pitchers are looking sharp and the offense is hot. I’m loving what I see @RedSox #SpringTraining

— Kristin O (@kris10721) March 10, 2014

#BoysAreBack

In his #SpringTraining debut, @JLester31 was on point: http://t.co/4yXtXC8Rg6 #BoysAreBack

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) March 10, 2014

Fans are excited with what the Boston Red Sox have in store this season.

I just cant wait for the @RedSox regular season to

— Brad Perry ▲ (@_BradPerry) March 11, 2014

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Spring training performance is generally taken with a grain of salt, as most guys are simply trying to shake off the rust and work on a few different things before the start of the regular season.

However, for the handful of guys on each team fighting for what are generally one or two open roster spots, spring performance can mean the difference between breaking camp with the big league club and being shipped to the minors.

With a number of position battles still far from decided, here is a look at 10 dark horses to watch over the final weeks of spring training. These guys were far from the favorites to land their respective jobs entering camp, and most of them are still not the favorites at this point, but they have at least an outside shot at securing a spot on an Opening Day roster.

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Nobody likes being under the microscope. 

However, in MLB spring training camps across Arizona and Florida there are tons of players under all sorts of scrutiny for all sorts of reasons.

Some are stars who find themselves facing extra pressure because they’re tying to live up to the expectations that come along with signing big-money contracts. Others are top prospects who are being asked to step up and make an immediate impact in their rookie campaigns. And finally, there are the veterans looking to rebound from terrible seasons a year ago.

With those considerations in mind, here’s a look around the league at the most scrutinized player in every MLB camp.

Note: All stats courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted. 

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The defending National League champion St. Louis Cardinals entered spring training with very few position battles.  Manager Mike Matheny has a lineup full of consistent, proven players at almost every position.  

Predicting the lineup for the team is not entirely difficult, though there are a few positions that will remain in flux.  Players may fill a few different lineup spots depending on other starters that day or the opponent’s starting pitcher.  It is a popular subject this time of year, as evidenced by the United Cardinal Bloggers and their recent responses to a roundtable question posed by Ben Chambers of The View From Here asking them to predict the lineup themselves.

Ultimately, the lineup will not vary greatly.  The impressive part may be just how solid the lineup is every day.

The best way to look at the lineup may be to break it down into pieces.  The leadoff spot, the “two-hole”, the middle of the order and the bottom of the order.  Looking at each one individually will give a good examination of just what the Cardinals have to offer in 2014.

All statistics are from Baseball-Reference unless otherwise noted.

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Spring training is where fans and the upper management can get familiarized with some of their teams’ lesser known talent. The New York Yankees have received a ton of production from such players this spring.

It’ll probably be awhile before we see any of these guys crack the 25-man roster, though there is an outside shot that one or two will find their name on the final roster this season. It all depends on how long they can stay hot.

The real test will be later on in the spring. As the spring schedule progresses, major league hitters and pitchers stay in games longer. If the young unknowns can take advantage of their opportunities when they arise, they’ll definitely impress manager Joe Girardi and his coaching staff.

It’s been just two weeks, however, and these are the numbers that are already popping out of the box scores. Keep an eye out for the following players until the team breaks camp and heads to Houston to take on the Astros on Tuesday, April 1.

Follow me on Twitter: @kennydejohn

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Spring training statistics are quite limited in their usefulness. Hitters don’t accumulate enough plate appearances to give us a large enough sample size from which to draw conclusions. Pitchers are rounding into form, building up arm strength and facing inferior competition. Simply put, if you’re looking up a player’s spring stats and projecting them to have meaning over a full season, you’re doing it wrong.

Yet spring performances can be important insofar as they may decide positional battles, even on a team as deep and talented as the reigning World Series champs. There are fewer spots up for grabs in Boston than in many other MLB cities, but that doesn’t mean that the Red Sox Opening Day roster has been finalized just yet.

We still have a few weeks to go until the Red Sox open their season, and no player has truly helped or hurt his reputation enough to this point to seriously change how we evaluate him. That said, changes in the organizational depth chart are underway, and we’re gaining a clearer look at who’s likely to begin the season in the majors.

Small sample caveats aside, let’s look at three Red Sox on the way up and three on the way down this spring.

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Roughly two weeks of spring training games are in the book as we push ever closer to Opening Day and the start of the 2014 MLB season.

Spring training results have to be taken with a grain of salt, as it’s as much a time for players to shake off the rust and work on specific things as it is a competitive atmosphere. Still, there are stats at our disposal, so we’ll dive into them and analyze.

With that, here is a look at 10 early surprises of spring training’s opening weeks of games, from unknown players excelling to top prospects putting on a show and on to star players struggling early.

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Spring training is important, but you cannot always judge regular-season success based on how people perform in this month of exhibitions. For example, some guys do great all spring but never seem to stick on a major league team.

On the flip side, some of the best players in baseball aren’t very good at spring training for some reason. They struggle but then get it together in time for the games that really count.

I want to highlight five overachievers and five underachievers for you today. They are active in Major League Baseball right now, and we will see how this spring will progress for them.

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