MLB Spring Training 2012: 10 Players Getting Opportunities Because of Injuries

Major League Baseball would be far less interesting without injuries. Terrific players emerge every season because those ahead of them on the depth chart couldn't stay healthy.

Doors have opened for these 10 to contribute in significant roles in 2012.

Seizing these opportunities could keep them on the field even when those they are replacing return to full strength.

Alfredo Aceves (Boston Red Sox)

Only about a year ago, the Boston Red Sox were being praised for their pitching depth—but this spring they are scrambling for starters.

Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester are certainly the top three.

However, the remaining two slots are available while John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka recover from Tommy John surgeries.

Alfredo Aceves—a very effective reliever since reaching the major leagues in 2008—is taking advantage of the vacancies in the rotation. All his outings in spring training have been great (unlike Daniel Bard's), and he has avoided minor injuries such as the ones that Andrew Miller and Vicente Padilla have succumbed to.

His main competitors for the starting jobs pale in comparison.

As a result, expect Aceves to exceed the 114 innings he hurled in 2011.

Rick Ankiel (Washington Nationals)

Pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel is a non-roster invitee at Washington Nationals camp.

His prospects of making the 25-man Opening Day roster looked slim in mid-March, as he dealt with left hamstring issues and missed a handful of exhibition games.

While he was out, Michael Morse—who enjoyed a breakout campaign last season—suffered a lat injury in his right shoulder. Concern is growing that he won't be ready for the opener on April 5.

Then Ankiel came back on March 20 and has since been effective with the bat.

All of a sudden, Ankiel appears to be in control of his own destiny.

Willie Bloomquist (Arizona Diamondbacks)

He needed to play some left field and even start a game at second base, but utility man Willie Bloomquist ultimately racked up 381 plate appearances in 2011.

Unfortunately, he is unlikely to sniff the outfield grass now that the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed Jason Kubel for added depth.

In other news, Stephen Drew won't be the shortstop at the onset of 2012 as he mends his injured ankle.

This means Bloomquist can return to his primary defensive position and once again get significant playing time.

Jonathan Broxton (Kansas City Royals)

Jonathan Broxton reluctantly accepted a pay cut to join the Kansas City Royals after a mediocre, injury-riddled campaign as closer of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

There was a mutual understanding between Broxton and his new club that he would serve as setup man to closer Joakim Soria.

As it turns out, Soria has opted for season-ending surgery on his pitching elbow after consulting several physicians.

Broxton is now a top candidate—along with up-and-coming stud reliever Greg Holland—to work the ninth inning.

Randall Delgado (Atlanta Braves)

The Atlanta Braves relinquished some starting pitching depth last October by sending Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians.

Because fellow veteran Tim Hudson (back surgery) is at least a month away from returning to an MLB mound, his spot will be delegated to a prospect.

Randall Delgado continues to out-duel Julio Teheran. There will be no need to rush Hudson back if Delgado handles the transition well.

He had success (1-1, 2.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) in seven starts in 2011.

Brian Duensing (Minnesota Twins)

There's nothing more Brian Duensing could have done thus far in spring training to prove that he deserves a prominent role on the Minnesota Twins pitching staff.

His six scoreless innings are gradually forcing people to forget about his struggles in 2011.

Fire-baller Joel Zumaya is out of the picture after ruining his elbow (again). Also, starter Scott Baker has been slowed by tendinitis.

In any case, Duensing continues to rise in the pecking order.

Freddy Galvis (Philadelphia Phillies)

Freddy Galvis is the best in-house replacement that the Philadelphia Phillies have to replace Chase Utley.

Never mind that he hardly has any experience at second base.

Utley is still limited by a chronic knee condition, and Galvis has been touted as one of the organization's top prospects.

Moreover, because reserve infielder Michael Martinez has fractured his right foot, the door is indefinitely propped open for Galvis to stick on the active roster.

John Lannan (Washington Nationals)

There are few front offices in baseball that haven't discussed left-hander John Lannan over the past month.

Originally, it was assumed that he was expendable on the Washington Nationals, considering their quintet of MLB-tested starting pitchers.

But since Chien-Ming Wang strained his left hamstring on March 15, Lannan could still have a place in the rotation.

He just needs to fend off the talented Ross Detwiler.

Lance Lynn (St. Louis Cardinals)

Former reliever Lance Lynn has dominated spring training (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.82 WHIP).

His opportunity for advancement presented itself when Chris Carpenter began feeling a "weakness" in his neck, shoulder and upper arm.

The St. Louis Cardinals are indefinitely awarding him a middle-of-the-rotation spot.

Now, "the question is how deep into the season the Cards can expect to be without Carpenter."

Eric Sogard (Oakland Athletics)

It seems inevitable that Eric Sogard will break camp with the Oakland Athletics.

He has simply outplayed Josh Donaldson and Adam Rosales this spring, all the while flaunting his defensive versatility (zero errors at three positions).

Yet without Scott Sizemore—or rather with him—there would be no third base job to compete for. In late February, Sizemore tore the ACL in his left knee.

Sogard finally has the chance to establish himself in the big leagues after a few short stints in previous seasons.

He and the aforementioned opportunists on this list must stay grounded, though. They are all susceptible to injuries, too.

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