Spring Training can quickly highlight small signs of future success but swings in the opposite direction via injury are annual indications that the season is in full swing. Several RDBL prospects are already making noise while a number of interesting Free Agents are making their first 2021 impressions on RDBL Scouting Departments as final impressions are being made for Draft Day.
Here is the latest 3 Up, 3 Down.
2B Gavin Lux (Minors), Aristocrats
Manager Dave Roberts said Lux will play regularly this season, and the team isn't "too concerned" with him facing left-handed pitching, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports. If that's the case, Lux could easily play his way into an Opening Day activation for the Aristocrats.
The 23-year-old appeared to be in line for the starting spot at the keystone in 2020, but he didn't make the Opening Day roster and ended up with a .595 OPS in only 69 plate appearances. The offseason departures of Enrique Hernandez and Joc Pederson opened up significant playing time in Los Angeles, and if Roberts' comments are any indication, Lux will have the chance to earn the starting job at second base to open 2021. Early success against left-handers could keep him in an everyday role rather than being limited to the strong side of a platoon.
RHP Corey Kluber, Free Agent
Kluber pitched two perfect innings and struck out two batters during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Toronto as RDBL teams line up their Draft Day targets for starting rotation help. Kluber looked great in his first appearance in pinstripes, needing only 22 pitches -- 15 of which were strikes -- to retire six batters. Most importantly, he emerged from the outing healthy after missing nearly all of last season due to a shoulder injury. Kluber's performance Wednesday is certainly uplifting for the Yankees, who are counting on the veteran to fill a spot near the front of their rotation.
Madison Bumgarner (3/$30), Hops
Bumgarner will not be back with the Hops in 2021, at least not on his currently contract, but the lefty did all he could to position himself for a decent contract on Draft Day during his Spring debut Thursday. Bumgarner allowed one hit while striking out six and walking none across two scoreless innings Thursday against the Angels. All of Bumgarner's outs came via the strikeout and 20 of his 33 pitches went for strikes. Perhaps most importantly, Bumgarner consistently sat around 90 miles per hour with his fastball, up from his 86.1 average velocity in 2020. Even with the positive outing, Bumgarner will have plenty to prove after posting a 6.48 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 41.2 innings last season but it's a start in the right direction.
LHP Framber Valdez, Free Agent
The Free Agent Pitching Market took a hit Thursday as lefty Framber Valdez's injured finger could sideline him for most if not all of the 2021 season. Valdez stepped up in Justin Verlander’s absence and played a huge part in Houston’s playoff run, breaking out with 70 2/3 innings of 3.57 ERA ball over the course of 11 appearances. The 27-year-old completed at least seven innings on six occasions and completed six frames in nine of his 11 outings. Fielding-independent metrics suggest that Valdez’s 2020 breakout was even better than reflected in his ERA. Valdez’s 60 percent ground-ball rate was one of the best in the game, and his 26.4 percent strikeout rate and 5.6 percent walk rate were both markedly better than the league average. The lefty’s 2.85 FIP and 3.23 SIERA both suggest that his 2020 success was far from a fluke. He would have been one of the more appealing upside arms available but now shifts to a potential undrafted player.
OF Kole Calhoun (2/$2), Taters
Calhoun underwent a right knee medial meniscectomy Wednesday to address a torn meniscus that will sideline him for Opening Day. The 33-year-old has been battling inflammation in his right knee, and after undergoing an MRI on Tuesday that resulted in the torn meniscus being diagnosed, he quickly went under the knife. The Diamondbacks have yet to provide an official recovery timetable, but 4-to-6 weeks is a reasonable expectation until we know more. Calhoun finished 6th in the National League with 16 home runs last year and is still expected to be retained by the Taters despite the dent in value.
RHP Nate Pearson (Minors), Taters
Taters top prospect Nate Pearson is dealing with a Grade 1 strain to his right groin, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Thursday ahead of the club's 8-2 loss to the Tigers. The right-hander, who is also No. 10 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list, injured the groin in Monday’s outing against the Pirates at TD Ballpark, during which he needed 28 pitches to get through one inning. “It’s hard to say for sure as we’re only two days off of the injury, so we’d like to have a bit more time before we put timelines on it and talk about when you’ll see him again,” Atkins said, “but our goal and hope is that you’re seeing him again here in Spring Training pretty quickly.” While it's not a long-term injury, it's another ailment to add to a growing list for Pearson and one that could put him behind the ball for a starting spot to open 2021.
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