Spring Training Week 1 Recap: February 28th- March 6th

I will be highlighting specific games and player performances from each day during the weekly period.

Sunday February 28th:

Nationals vs. Cardinals:

Jack Flaherty struggled in his Spring Training debut. Flaherty was never able to get comfortable and only recorded one out. He was credited with one inning of work because of his high pitch count. He came back out for the start of the 2nd, but walked one, allowed two hits, and was charged with two wild pitches. Flaherty gave up three earned runs, allowed three walks, and recorded one strikeout.

Nolan Arenado made his Cardinals spring debut. Arenado struck out in the 1st inning and flied out to center in the 3rd. The fans gave him a standing ovation and were very appreciative of the Cardinals new star.

Yankees vs. Blue Jays:

Michael King gave up three runs in two innings of work. Considering this was his first outing of the spring, he is most likely still a candidate for the Yankees final rotation spot. It will be interesting to see if he can bounce back, assuming he gets a few more starts before the season begins.

George Springer did not make his Blue Jays debut, but will most likely debut in the next few games.

Braves vs. Rays:

Top prospect Wander Franco had 2 at bats in the spring opener and went 0-2 with a strikeout.

Vidal Brujan went 1-2 and was caught stealing a base.

Randy Arozarena, went 1-2 with a single.

Braves top prospect Drew Waters, went 0-1 with a walk and one run scored.

Dodgers vs A's:

The defending World Series Champions faced the Oakland A's in the first game of Spring Training. Mookie Betts and Corey Seager were the two big names in the starting lineup for manager Dave Roberts.

Seager went 1-2 with an RBI single.

Other Notable Player Performances from Sunday's Spring Games:

Orioles Trey Mancini returned from battling Colon Cancer and got a single in his first at-bat.

Marlins top prospect J.J. Bleday homered.

Red Sox top prospects Bobby Dalbec and Jeter Downs both homered.

Mariners top prospect Jarred Kelenic went 1-2 with a single.

Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen pitched 2 scoreless innings, while striking out one and walking two.

Brewers Keston Hiura hit a three-run home run, going 1-3.

Top Mariners prospect Julio Rodriguez, hit a walk-off single to beat the Padres 5-4.

Monday March 1st:

Tigers vs. Yankees:

Gerrit Cole made his first spring start, only pitching one inning. He gave up one run, allowed three hits, and recorded one strikeout.

Gary Sanchez homered in the 3rd inning.

Tigers top prospect Riley Greene went 1-1 with a walk.

Cubs vs. Padres:

One of the better pitching matchups in the first two days of spring, Kyle Hendricks and Chris Paddack both made their spring debuts.

Kyle Hendricks pitched two innings, allowing one hit, striking out two, and walking one. He gave up no runs.

Chris Paddack pitched two innings as well, striking out three and walking one. He as well gave up no runs.

Rockies vs. Dodgers:

The Dodgers were on all cylinders, putting up 10 runs in 6 innings.

Trevor Bauer made his spring debut. Bauer pitched 2 innings, recorded two strikeouts, and allowed one hit.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith went 2-3, while driving in one and scoring twice.

Gavin Lux went 2-3, driving in one.

Royals vs. Indians:

2020 AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber made his first spring start. Bieber was roughed up, giving up three runs, four earned in 1.2 innings.

Top Royals prospect, Jackson Kowar pitched two sharp innings

Other Notable Player Performances From Monday's Spring Games:

Francisco Lindor made his Mets spring debut, going 0-2.

Rays' Tyler Glasnow made his first spring start. He pitched 1.2 innings, while giving up two runs. He struck out three and walked three.

Phillies' Aaron Nola made his first spring start. Nola pitched two innings, while giving up 2 runs, including a solo home run to DJ Stewart.

Ronald Acuna Jr. made his spring debut, going 1-3 while scoring a run.

Mike Trout went 1-1 in his spring debut.

Brewers 1st round draft pick Garrett Mitchell, went 1-1.

A's Matt Olson hit a two-run homer.

Tuesday March 2nd:

Rays vs. Red Sox:

Three home runs were hit by the Red Sox in the bottom of the third inning. Enrique Hernandez, Jarran Duran, and Rafael Devers all went deep.

Rays prospects Wander Franco went 0-3 with one strikeout and Vidal Brujan went 1-1 with a single, an RBI, and a run scored.

Rangers vs. White Sox:

Lucas Giolito made his first start of the spring. He pitched 2 innings, while giving up one run and striking out four.

White Sox top prospect Andrew Vaughn, hit a 3-run home run in the 1st inning.

Jose Abreu went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Padres vs. D-Backs:

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a grand slam in the 2nd inning. Tatis is off to a great start this spring, after signing his 14-year $340 million contract.

Trent Grisham scored two runs and walked once.

Top Padres prospect CJ Abrams went 1-1 after coming in the game to pinch-run for Tatis Jr. in the 2nd inning.

Other Notable Player Performances From Tuesday's Spring Games:

George Springer made his Blue Jays spring debut, going 1-2 with a single.

Gleyber Torres went 2-2 with one run scored.

Framber Valdez made his first spring start. Valdez was sharp, only giving up one hit, a solo home run to Jeff McNeil. Valdez struck out two.

Tigers prospect Casey Mize started against Pittsburgh and pitched two innings. Even though it took him 45 pitches, he did not give up a run or a hit, while striking out 3 and walking 3.

Top pick Spencer Torkelson, scored a run and drew a walk.

Christian Yelich made his spring debut, going 1-2.

Walker Buehler pitched two scoreless innings.

Wednesday March 3rd

Pirates vs. Rays:

Number one prospect Wander Franco hit a home run over the right field wall, while going 2-3.

Austin Meadows hit his second homer of the Spring.

Red Sox vs. Twins:

Red Sox Bobby Dalbec homered twice.

J.D. Martinez went 2-3 with two RBI.

Jose Berrios made his first spring start. Berrios pitched two innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Mariners vs. Cubs:

Top prospect Jarred Kelenic, hit a home run.

New Cubs acquisition Joc Pederson hit a two-run homer in the 1st inning.

Anthony Rizzo homered in the 4th inning.

Cubs Zach Davies looked sharp in his two innings of work.

Blue Jays vs. Yankees:

Corey Kluber made his first spring start since signing with the Yankees.

Blue Jays top prospect, Simeon-Woods-Richardson started and also pitched two innings. Both pitchers looked sharp, without giving up a run.

Gary Sanchez homered in the 5th inning.

Other Notable Player Performances From Wednesday's Spring Games:

Tigers top pitching prospect Matt Manning, pitched two relief innings. Manning did not allow a run, while striking out one and only allowing one hit.

Indians Franmil Reyes hit a solo home run.

White Sox Eloy Jimenez went 1-1 and scored a run.

Angels Shohei Ohtani hit a monster home run over the center field wall.

Angels Dylan Bundy made his first spring start. Bundy went 2 innings and allowed no runs.

Padres Blake Snell made his spring debut. Snell pitched one inning, allowing no runs.

Thursday March 4th

Rays vs. Twins:

Rays pitching prospect Luis Patino was credited with the win in his one inning of work.

Kenta Maeda made his first spring start. Maeda looked sharp, pitching two innings and giving up no runs.

Twins prospect Alex Kirilloff, went 2-4.

Yankees vs. Phillies:

Yankees Deivi Garcia pitched two innings, giving up two runs.

Alec Bohm went 2-3 with a home run.

Phillies prospect Mickey Moniak hit two home runs.

The Phillies offense as a whole was on all faucets, scoring 15 runs.

Other Notable Player Performances From Thursday's Spring Games:

D-Backs Madison Bumgarner struck out six in two innings.

Pete Alonso hit a grand slam.

Padres MacKenzie Gore pitched two scoreless innings. He struck out two and walked three.

Aaron Civale pitched three scoreless innings, while striking out three.

Friday March 5th

Pirates vs. Phillies

Bryce Harper hit a 2 run-homer while going 2-2.

Phillies pitcher Spencer Howard pitched one inning and struck out two.

Tigers vs. Yankees

DJ LeMahieu went 2-2.

Michael King looked better in his second spring outing. He pitched two scoreless innings.

Gleyber Torres hit a solo home run.

Dodgers vs. Royals

Clayton Kershaw made his spring debut. Kershaw pitched two scoreless innings.

Whit Merrifield went 2-3.

Mookie Betts and Corey Seager both went 1-2.

Other Notable Player Performances From Friday's Spring Games:

Hyun Jin Ryu pitched two innings and giving up one run in his spring debut.

Max Scherzer made his spring debut, pitching 1.2 innings.

Matt Olson hit his second home run of the spring.

Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-3.

Trevor Story hit a three-run home run.

Saturday March 6th

Mets vs. Astros

Jacob deGrom made his spring debut. deGrom went 2 innings, giving up no runs. deGrom looked like his usual self while striking out three.

Zack Greinke pitched one inning, giving up one run.

Pete Alonso went 2-3 with an RBI.

Padres vs. Dodgers

Trevor Bauer pitched with one of his eyes closed. Bauer pitched three scoreless innings.

Chris Paddack pitched two scoreless innings.

Other Notable Player Performances From Saturday's Games:

Royals prospect Bobby Witt Jr. hit a home run.

D-Backs Zac Gallen pitched three scoreless innings.

Tigers prospect Tarik Skubal pitched two scoreless innings.

Final Thoughts: What an exciting first week of Spring Training. The baseball season will only pick up from here!!!

See you at the ballpark,

Adam