MLB Spring Training 2015: Full Schedules, Under-the-Radar Prospects to Watch
Argue all you want about the length and importance of spring training. Cite the 30-plus-game schedule, imbalanced competition and lack of veteran interest as reasons. Give it a try.
Because no matter what you say, there's nothing you can take away from the prospects who make their presences felt in big league camps. Prospects have given countless managers incredibly difficult decisions when it comes to fine-tuning rosters before the team breaks camp for the start of the regular season.
There are usually one or two spots left open for unknowns during spring training, and it's not always the top prospects who get the nod for those opportunities. Sometimes it's the youngsters who don't get the recognition of the big names.
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You're certainly familiar with Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton, Francisco Lindor and others at this point. It's time to get more acquainted with a few other faces who could have an impact on their respective teams as early as April 1.
Prospects only have 30 or so games to prove themselves in spring training. Look for the following three players to make the most of their opportunities.
Full daily schedule is also available at MLB.com.
Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have a ton of budding young talent ready to make an impact for the parent club. Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vasquez are in line for major playing time this season, and Jackie Bradley Jr. could find himself playing meaningful innings as well.
The big prospects in the system include the names above, along with Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Garin Cecchini and others. But a player often overlooked is 24-year-old Matt Barnes. Of the aforementioned four, he'll be the one who makes the biggest impact this season.
He got his first taste of the bigs last September, tossing nine innings and allowing four runs. It wasn't the greatest of auditions, but Boston will rely on him for depth purposes this season.
Justin Masterson was incredibly ineffective last season. Clay Buchholz has an extensive injury history. Joe Kelly missed time last season with a hamstring issue, making just 17 starts on the year. That leaves room for Barnes to possibly work out of the rotation, and that's what Boston is preparing him for:
He tweeted his excitement about hitting spring training and getting ready for the season late last week:
Barnes varies speeds on his fastball, occasionally dialing it up when he needs to get a big out. He works off the fastball, as his changeup is a decent offering at this point in his career. But his curveball has hard snap out of the zone, making it a difficult pitch to hit when batters are preparing themselves for a mid-90s fastball.
Preparing as a starter right now, Barnes could break camp as the long man out of the bullpen before a more permanent spot opens up in the rotation. All things considered, he's probably Boston's first choice as spot starter.
DeLino DeShields, OF, Texas Rangers
Speed is the most disruptive force in baseball, and DeLino DeShields has plenty of it.
The Texas Rangers selected the 22-year-old in the Rule 5 draft last year. DeShields must remain on the Rangers' 25-man roster this season if the Rangers don't want to forfeit him back to the Houston Astros. There's incentive to keep DeShields because of his speed and overall upside. Plus, the Rangers have no real hopes of competing at a high level in 2015.
He's not the best of hitters, even as far as slappers go—but he gets on base consistently (.362 OBP in the minors), and that's a crucial element in a speedster's game.
With 249 steals in 519 career games in the minors, DeShields has top-notch speed. He was also caught 66 times, however, so he admittedly needs a bit of work. But MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo thinks he deserves a shot:
"DeShields' best tool is his speed, and it's legit. He can steal bases at any level. The fact that DeShields can play the outfield and maybe return to second base a little bit will help him, as flexibility is always a plus for a Rule 5 Draft guy. Whether he's motivated may not matter, if there's no space for him. I know there's been talk about DeShields' lack of effort at times, but I also see a guy who came back in a hurry after being hit in the face last year. I think the Rangers will get his best, and yes, I think it will be enough for him to stick. DeShields' legs alone should allow him to make an impact.
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If he can return to form as a second baseman, the Rangers could opt to give him looks outside of his likely role as a pinch runner. Jurickson Profar is injured yet again, leaving Rougned Odor as the starter at the position. DeShields could sneak in and grab a few at-bats.
DeShields won't win American League Rookie of the Year, nor will he appear on many leaderboards for the award. But he's a surefire bet to excite Rangers fans. Speed thrills, after all.
Austin Hedges, C, San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres retooled this offseason, adding Derek Norris and Tim Federowicz behind the dish. Lost in the shuffle is top prospect Austin Hedges, who was in line to start after the team traded Yasmani Grandal to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal that brought Federowicz over.
But the rest of the offseason saw Hedges continually pushed to the backburner. The team acquired Norris from the Oakland Athletics to act as the starter, and he was dangled heavily in talks with the Philadelphia Phillies for ace Cole Hamels. Now he's the odd man out.
A defense-first catcher, Hedges offers a drastically different option at the catcher position than Norris. Whereas Norris might get on base at a .350 clip with 10-15 home runs, Hedges will frame pitches and throw out base-stealers while providing minimal offense.
The potential is there for the 22-year-old's bat to grow, but PetCo Park won't be kind to the career .252 hitter (.695 OPS) in the minors.
San Diego boasts top-tier pitching. James Shields, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy could grow tired of Norris' shoddy work behind the plate, prompting a move. If Hedges impresses enough in the spring, he could get the bump to the bigs.
It's a bit of a long shot for the Padres to give up on Norris so quickly, but a prolonged slump like he endured in the second half of last season could necessitate a change.
Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn
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