10 Most Surprising Spring Training Performances

Every year in spring training there are a few performances that stick out.

Unexpected players put up outstanding numbers and prospects demonstrate that their timetable may need to be sped up.

So far in 2013, there have been a number of these surprising spring training performances. It is unknown how they will impact the regular season, but it is something to keep an eye on.

Domonic Brown

Spring Training Stats: .397/.465/.714, 6 HR, 12 RBI

Even if there were questions about if Domonic Brown could handle a starting role in the Philadelphia Phillies outfield this season, it appears that he answered them with his outstanding performance in spring training.

Brown has been knocking the cover off the ball and is amongst the spring leaders in home runs. He is looking like the highly ranked prospect that he once was just a few short years ago.

Michael Wacha

Spring Training Stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 15 K, 1 BB (11.2 innings)

When the St. Louis Cardinals took Michael Wacha in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft, they knew that they were getting an advanced college pitcher. They did not expect that he would blow through the minor leagues and spring training.

Wacha followed up his impressive 2012 performance with an absolutely dominant spring. This could put Wacha on the fast track to the big leagues if he continues to pitch well in the high minors, where he'll likely start the year.

Khristopher Davis

Spring Training Stats: .351/.400/.784, 5 HR, 13 RBI

Thanks to knee injuries to both Corey Hart and Mat Gamel, there are openings on the Milwaukee Brewers' roster. Khristopher Davis is doing his best this spring to show that he deserves to fill one of them.

Davis put on a show in the high minors last season, hitting .350 with 15 home runs in 82 games. That level of performance has continued this spring.

Javier Baez

Spring Training Stats: .302/.318/.628, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB

Getting compared to a hitter with 500 home runs is incredibly high praise for a prospect. Javier Baez has already drawn comparisons to Gary Sheffield from his manager Dale Sveum (h/t Carrie Muskat of MLB.com).

If Baez continues to hit like he did this spring, those comparisons will certainly continue. His most impressive performance of the spring did not even count—it was in an exhibition game against Japan. Baez hit two home runs in that game, including a game-winner.

Nolan Arenado

Spring Training Stats: .314/.314/.743, 4 HR, 11 RBI

The Colorado Rockies might be in for a long season in 2013, but there is a chance that they will have a lot of excitement during the year. Top prospect Nolan Arenado is doing his best to make the team out of spring training.

There are obviously questions about if it's worthwhile for the Rockies to start Arenado's service time clock when they likely will not be competing this season, but with him in the lineup, it would not be surprising to see them contend for the wild card.

Colorado will have a difficult decision to make about Arenado as spring training ends.

Christian Yelich

Spring Training Stats: .381/.469/.857, 5 HR, 13 RBI

Christian Yelich is another top prospect that is making his team reevaluate their plans for him.

Based on the numbers that Yelich has put up this spring, he is making the Marlins at least consider promoting him all the way from High-A to the big leagues (h/t Juan C. Rodriguez of The South Florida Sun Sentinel). The only motive would be to put fans in the stands, since the Marlins won't be a competitive team.

Even with his impressive numbers, the Marlins are better off sending Yelich to the minors to start the year so they they don't start his service time.

Shane Robinson

Spring Training Stats: .465/.511/.791, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 3 SB

It takes a lot to make an impression in the St. Louis Cardinals outfield, given the talent the team has already. It will be even harder for someone to crack their rotation once Oscar Taveras is deemed ready by Cardinals brass.

However, Shane Robinson is drawing attention this spring thanks to his numbers. He could turn into a solid option off the bench for the Cardinals in 2013.

Jeff Francis

Spring Training Stats: 2-1, 1.96 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 10 K, 2 BB (18.1 innings)

Even after a season in which he went 6-7 with a 5.58 ERA, the Colorado Rockies decided to bring Jeff Francis back after he hit free agency. So far this spring, that has looked like a smart move.

Francis has been one of the biggest surprises so far this year. This performance could mean nothing, or it could mean that Francis has once again found the magic that allowed him to finish ninth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2007.

Julio Teheran

Spring Training Stats: 2-1, 1.35 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 25 K, 6 BB (20 innings)

Julio Teheran was one of the top prospects in the Atlanta Braves organization and one of the highest ranked pitchers in the minors entering the 2012 season. However, he laid a goose egg and put together an awful season, going 7-9 with a 5.08 ERA in Triple-A.

Teheran is looking to put last season behind him and prove it was a fluke. So far this spring he has done a very good job of doing that, but the proof will come once the regular season starts.

Alex Cobb

Spring Training Stats: 0-1, 2.33 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 23 K, 2 BB (19.1 innings)

Alex Cobb has done a good job for the Tampa Bay Rays over the past two years, but the team is hoping that he will be able to take on a bigger role after they dealt away James Shields this winter.

If the spring has been any indication, Cobb appears to be up for the task. This could be a breakout year for Cobb if he is able to keep his K/9 rate above 9.0, like it had been in the minors and so far this spring.