MLB Spring Training 2023: Highlighting Most Impressive Pitchers and Hitters
The start of the 2023 MLB season is right around the corner. Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 30, with two games—the San Francisco Giants versus the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves versus the Washington Nationals—kicking off the season at 1:05 p.m. ET.
While meaningful games are still a week away, serious baseball fans have had plenty to track through spring training.
As is usually the case this time of year, a few players have managed to stand out from the crowd during exhibition action. Kyle Manzardo, a top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays, for example, has continued to build on an impressive minor-league resume this spring.
Manzardo has batted .333 with two home runs and nine RBI on 27 at-bats.
Pitchers have shown their stuff in spring training, too. Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber has pitched 16.2 innings and posted a 1.62 ERA with 14 strikeouts in four appearances.
From established stars to prospects looking to break into the majors, there have been several standouts this year. Here, we'll dive into some of the most impressive performers of 2023 spring training thus far.
Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
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Rays prospect Kyle Manzardo has built a buzz in the minors since being taken in the second round of the 2021 draft. In 30 games of Double-A ball last year, Manzardo hit .323 with five home runs and 26 RBI.
Manzardo was arguably even more impressive this spring, and he certainly drew interest from Rays manager Kevin Cash before Manzardo was re-assigned to minor-league camp over the weekend.
"It's really cool to see a guy come in that you hear a lot about and not just back it up but do more than back it up," Cash said, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "It's easy to put comps on guys—I won't do that with him—but he's talented, and he's got a knack for getting the barrel to the bat."
With Yandy Diaz slated to play first base for the Rays this season, Manzardo may not get a call-up early in 2023. If he picks up where he left off this spring, however, it may be difficult for Tampa to keep him off the main roster all season.
Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Guardians
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Manzardo appears to be a major-league star in the making. Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber has been a star pretty much since making his MLB debut in 2018. He was an All-Star a year later and was the AL Cy Young winner in 2020.
Bieber has been in top form this spring as he and the Guardians prepare to make another run at the postseason. They came close to reaching the ALCS but fell to the New York Yankees in a 3-2 series.
As of Wednesday, Bieber had the lowest ERA (1.62) among pitchers who have thrown at least 15 innings during spring training. Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old is expected to be the opening-day starter when Cleveland visits the Seattle Mariners next Thursday.
"I think that's probably a given that he's working towards that," manager Terry Francona said, per Mandy Bell of MLB.com. "He knows that, but we kind of reserve the right [to change things], one, if weather ever got in the way or something else."
Bieber is set to make his fourth straight opening-day start for Cleveland.
Darick Hall, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
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Darick Hall isn't an entrenched starter like Bieber, but he's not vying for his first taste of MLB action like Manzardo, either. He did that last year, filling in as a designated hitter while Bryce Harper was out with a fractured thumb.
In 41 games last season, Hall hit .250 with nine home runs and 16 RBI. With Harper recovering from Tommy John surgery, Hall has a chance to see playing time again, and he's impressed during spring games.
Hall has taken 44 at-bats this spring and batted .318 with five home runs and 11 RBI. While Hall hasn't been guaranteed a spot with the starting unit, his prowess at the plate definitely gives him an opportunity.
"If he swings the bat like I think he can swing, we'll figure out the roster," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Hall first joined the Phillies organization as a 14th-round selection in the 2016 draft. Before being called up, the 27-year-old had 28 home runs and 88 RBI in 101 Triple-A games last season.
*Statistics from Baseball Reference
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