Accidents are an unlucky a part of Spring Coaching, however there’s no time for groups to dwell on who’s lacking. The main focus now could be on discovering out who’s able to step in.
Typically, meaning counting on much less skilled gamers to fill the void.
Listed here are 12 unproven gamers who might discover themselves thrust into bigger roles than anticipated after their groups misplaced key contributors to spring accidents.
Drake Baldwin, C, BravesBaldwin (MLB Pipeline’s No. 62 general prospect) put himself in consideration for a Main League alternative with a powerful displaying within the Minors final season, throughout which he posted a .298/.407/.484 slash with 12 homers, 52 walks and solely 54 strikeouts over 334 plate appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett. The teen’s progress seemingly influenced Atlanta’s resolution to say no veteran backstop Travis d’Arnaud’s 2025 membership possibility at season’s finish. Baldwin was anticipated to vie for the backup catcher job behind starter Sean Murphy this spring, however Murphy suffered a cracked left rib when he was hit by a pitch on Feb. 28, elevating Baldwin to the highest of the depth chart.
Brett Baty, INF, MetsA former extremely touted prospect who ranked twenty first on MLB Pipeline’s High 100 prospects checklist coming into 2023, Baty has but to search out his footing on the Main League degree, posting a .215/.282/.325 slash and a 70 OPS+ over 169 video games. Nonetheless, Jeff McNeil’s proper indirect pressure has reopened the door for the 25-year-old Baty to probably log common taking part in time — at second base, a place he is by no means performed within the Majors — early this season. It is a possibility he did not appear more likely to get after the Mets re-signed Pete Alonso in February, locking in Mark Vientos as their beginning third baseman.
Acquired from the Yankees within the Alex Verdugo commerce previous to 2024, Fitts made his MLB debut final yr and notched a glowing 1.74 ERA over 4 begins for the Purple Sox, albeit with an alarmingly low 10.6% strikeout charge and 15.2% whiff charge. Priester has additionally had bother avoiding contact over components of two seasons within the Majors, recording a 15.2% strikeout charge and 22.7% whiff charge.
Emerson Hancock, SP, MarinersSelected sixth general within the 2020 MLB Draft, Hancock was as soon as thought-about the most effective of the Mariners’ assortment of pitching prospects. However whereas Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo have all developed into rotation mainstays for Seattle, Hancock has but to ascertain himself as a viable Main League hurler, recording a 4.71 ERA with a 5.42 FIP over 15 massive league begins. Now 25, Hancock may have one other likelihood to make his mark after Kirby was shut down with proper shoulder irritation in early March.
Brooks Lee, INF, TwinsThis June will mark eight years for the reason that Twins chosen Royce Lewis first general within the 2017 MLB Draft, but the third baseman nonetheless hasn’t performed the equal of 1 full season within the Majors. His improvement has been stalled by a laundry checklist of accidents, the newest of which — a left hamstring pressure suffered on March 16 — will drive him to overlook Opening Day. With Lewis sidelined as soon as once more, the Twins are contemplating various choices to fill their hot-corner void. That features Lee, who had a rocky debut over 185 plate appearances for Minnesota final season (.585 OPS) however provides loads of upside, having earned the No. 18 spot on MLB Pipeline’s checklist of the High 100 prospects in baseball previous to 2024.
Cade Povich, SP, OriolesAlthough Povich struggled over his first 11 begins (6.58 ERA) as a rookie in 2024, he ended the yr on a excessive notice, pitching to a 2.60 ERA with 32 strikeouts and eight walks in 27 2/3 innings after the calendar flipped to September. That efficiency earned the left-hander a spot on Baltimore’s roster for the AL Wild Card Sequence towards the Royals and positioned him to be a depth starter for the O’s in 2025. The staff will probably be calling on Povich a lot earlier than anticipated after Grayson Rodriguez went down with discomfort close to the again of his proper elbow. The damage has briefly shelved a pitcher who was slated to play a key position for the staff as its potential ace after Corbin Burnes left as a free agent. The expectations for Povich aren’t almost as excessive, however the 24-year-old might give the Orioles’ rotation a a lot wanted enhance if he pitches like he did on the finish of final season.
That is one thing Texas certainly envisioned when it took Leiter second general within the 2021 MLB Draft and Rocker third general the next yr, although neither hurler has taken a standard path to get so far. Leiter owns a lifetime 4.81 ERA within the Minors and had an 8.83 ERA over 35 2/3 innings for the Rangers final season. Rocker, in the meantime, underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2023 and has made solely 19 mixed appearances within the Majors and Minors, together with three begins for Texas in 2024.
Tylor Megill, SP, MetsInjuries and inconsistency have prevented Megill from changing into a everlasting fixture within the Mets’ rotation throughout his 4 years within the Majors, a span through which he has posted a 4.56 ERA in 74 video games (67 begins). Nonetheless, with Frankie Montas (proper lat pressure) presumably out till June and Sean Manaea (proper indirect pressure) additionally anticipated to overlook Opening Day, Megill has one other alternative to show himself as a starter. He’ll look to construct on a powerful end to the 2024 marketing campaign, having recorded a 2.32 ERA with 36 Okay’s over 31 innings in his last six begins.
Ben Rice, DH, YankeesEven with the additions of Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, the Yankees had been at all times going to be hard-pressed to switch the manufacturing they misplaced when Juan Soto left the Bronx for the rival Mets in free company. The problem has gotten even steeper amid Giancarlo Stanton’s battle with extreme tendon accidents in each elbows. Dealing with an influence void, New York might look to Rice to take Stanton’s place as its common designated hitter, a minimum of towards right-handed pitching. Whereas Rice had a lowly .171/.264/.349 slash over 178 plate appearances as a rookie in 2024, he confirmed a powerful grasp of the strike zone with a 20.6% chase charge and an 11.2% stroll charge. He additionally flashed notable pop, recording a 15.6% barrel charge.
Will Warren, SP, YankeesStanton isn’t the one Yankees star on the mend. The staff’s rotation additionally has taken a number of hits, with Luis Gil (proper lat pressure) and Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgical procedure) each struggling main accidents this spring. Whereas New York had veteran Marcus Stroman on the prepared when Gil went down, Cole’s substitute was much less clear. Warren, although, has emerged because the frontrunner for the job. The 25-year-old wasn’t on anybody’s radar in the beginning of Spring Coaching, after he was hit laborious (10.32 ERA) over 22 2/3 innings throughout his 2024 debut season. Nonetheless, he has raised his profile with a formidable efficiency in Grapefruit League motion, posting a 2.87 ERA with 16 Okay’s and three walks over 15 2/3 innings.
