Instant Takeaways from the Opening Week of 2015 Spring Training Games

Don't get hurt.

That's the main goal for every big leaguer—not just during the opening week of 2015 MLB spring training games, but during the exhibition schedule in general. Unfortunately for Hunter Pence and the San Francisco Giants, that goal is already unobtainable after the iron-man right fielder broke his left forearm, per the team's Twitter account.

For the Giants, the crucial upshot of Week 1 is that reinforcements are already required. Taking a look around spring training camps across Arizona and Florida, there are already plenty of takeaways to be had.

The early reviews are in for international imports like Jung-Ho Kang and Yasmany Tomas after making their first in-game impressions. Plus, Yasiel Puig has made it clear that he has some ambitious goals for 2015.

The San Francisco Giants Need to Add a Bat

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After losing Pablo Sandoval over the winter, the San Francisco Giants offense had a razor-thin margin.

That margin has already been obliterated with the news that a broken forearm will sideline Hunter Pence for six to eight weeks. Pence, who appeared in all 162 games in 2014, was San Francisco's most consistent power source as he racked up 59 extra-base hits.

The always upbeat Pence maintained a positive outlook on the situation, as he explained via Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle: "This is going to be a great blessing. It always finds a way to do that."

Pence might just be right, but on paper, the Giants are in trouble. As Damon Bruce of 95.7 The Game put it, the club now has the worst outfield in the National League. Adding an extra bat would provide the Giants with some much-needed insurance, and Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the team is already in the market for just such an addition.

Nightengale adds that Allen Craig of the Boston Red Sox would be a "perfect fit." He'd also be an expensive one, as the right-handed hitter is owed $25.5 million over the next three seasons and has a $13 million option for 2018.

Jung-Ho Kang Made a Powerful First Impression

You can only make one first impression, and Jung Ho Kang made a powerful one.

On March 3, in just his second at-bat as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 27-year-old lofted a home run beyond the wall in right-center field at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Kang has plenty of work to do before he secures a spot in the Pirates lineup, but going yard in his first game is an ideal start for the Korean as he looks to transition to the big leagues. The infielder has also impressed with his glove work, as manager Clint Hurdle told Tom Singer of MLB.com that his defense has been "very steady."

David Wright Takes His Job as Captain Very Seriously

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The pitching-rich New York Mets are on the rise, and David Wright is doing whatever it takes to create a winning culture.

According to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News, the club captain found prospect Noah Syndergaard eating lunch in the clubhouse during an intrasquad scrimmage on March 3. Wright confronted Syndergaard and lectured the 22-year-old about how he should have been out in the dugout with the rest of his teammates.

Ackert added that reliever Bobby Parnell then proceeded to dump Syndergaard's plate in the garbage when he didn't get up quickly enough. Manager Terry Collins agreed with the message that the veterans were trying to send, as the skipper explained via Ackert.

"We have preached it and preached amongst the players: we are in this together," he said. "If they felt someone was violating that trust, it needs to be addressed and it sounds like it was addressed."

Following that lunchroom exchange, Wright has made it clear that he's looking to set the tone for a Mets club that has the potential to sneak into the wild-card chase in 2015.

Pat Venditte Is the Most Interesting Relief Pitcher in Baseball

Pat Venditte is baseball's can't-miss middle reliever.

The ambidextrous 29-year-old is impressing early in camp as he looks to land a gig in the Oakland Athletics bullpen.

"It's funny how he catches people off-guard every time," said Oakland catcher Luke Carlin, via Joe Stiglich of CSN California. "Even the umpire had to make sure he had the rule down."

The "Pat Venditte Rule" states that Venditte must announce before he faces a switch-hitter whether he'll be pitching right-handed or left-handed. So far, the reliever has been excelling from both sides, as he's yet to give up a hit in his first two outings. If he makes the roster, Venditte could prove to be an especially versatile weapon for Oakland in 2015.

Yasmany Tomas Actually Could End Up Playing Third Base in 2015

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

This spring, Yasmany Tomas will be splitting his time between third base and the outfield. It's still extremely early in the Cactus League campaign, but so far the reports are positive on his glove work at the hot corner.

"We were very encouraged by what we saw," Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale told Nick Piecoro of AZCentral Sports after the Cuban played in his first game at third base on March 6.

The D-backs dished out a six-year, $68.5 million deal to Tomas primarily because he is renowned for his tremendous power potential. If the 24-year-old can stick at third, that would be an extra bonus for the National League West club.

The Texas Rangers' Starting Staff Just Can't Stay Healthy

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Last year, an array of injuries—especially to the starting rotation—sent the Texas Rangers tumbling to a 67-95 finish. The club isn't off to an encouraging start heath-wise in 2015, either.

As Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports, staff ace Yu Darvish has a sprain in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and could end up requiring Tommy John surgery. According to Grant, the "best case" scenario for Darvish would be to attempt to rest and rehab his elbow and return to action by the All-Star break.

With Darvish facing an extended layoff and potentially missing out on the entire campaign, the Rangers are in a tricky spot as the AL West is shaping up to be a highly competitive division in 2015.

Yasiel Puig Is Ready to Step Up His Game in 2015

John Locher/Associated Press

Yasiel Puig is absurdly gifted.

However, during his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cuban has also been prone to making his fair share of mistakes, from missing a cutoff man to getting into a shouting match with former teammate Matt Kemp in the dugout.

As Puig explained in Spanish to Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today, the outfielder knows it's time for that to change.

"I'm sure that when Jimmy Rollins was the MVP (in 2007), he never showed up late. And you listen when guys like Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano and Adrian Gonzalez remind you that you need to set an example to your teammates by coming in early."

According to Ortiz, the 24-year-old also has his sights set on winning a big-time award and helping the Dodgers return to October: "If I win an MVP, it would be welcome. I would enjoy it with my teammates and the great city of Los Angeles. But the most important thing is to get back to the playoffs."

Last year, Puig posted a .915 OPS in the first half of the season. If the right-handed hitter can put up an entire campaign like that, he'll be right in the mix for the NL MVP Award.

Note: All stats and videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.