2015 MLB Spring Training: 5 Players Making Headlines for Right Reasons

We all know spring training stats don't matter. You can hit .950 in the Cactus League and still hit .150 in the Major Leagues. 

But some spring performances are hard to ignore. That's especially true when a young player trying to prove himself shines or when a guy looking to bounce back from injury suddenly looks like his old self again.

What follows is a look at five players doing the best they can to convince us that how you play in March kind of, sort of matters.

Two are up-and-comers, one is a stud pitcher bouncing back from surgery, one is a hitter hoping to revive his career, and one is...well, let's just say one is in a category all his own.

Mookie Betts

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Spring training stats don't matter, spring training stats don't matter, spring training stats don't matter. With that being said, please direct your attention to these spring training stats from 22-year-old Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts: 17-for-36 (.472), seven doubles, two triples, one home run (inside the park), 10 runs scored and a 1.348 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).

His 10 extra-base hits are tops in Florida's Grapefruit League.

Red Sox fans were wondering if Betts would do enough to earn a spot as the team's Opening Day center fielder. Now they're probably debating whether he deserves to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com says that Boston's front office has already kicked around the idea of offering Betts an extension. "According to a major league source, the Red Sox have at least internally discussed the possibility of exploring an extension with Betts some time in the semi-near future," Bradford writes.

That's a lot of qualifiers, but the point is that Betts looks ready to contribute to the Sox right now and for many years to come.

The biggest question at the moment, though, is how the Red Sox will deal with Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, whom they signed for $72.5 million this offseason. Castillo has been playing well in recent days since recovering from an oblique injury.

But make no mistake: The Red Sox's center fielder is Mookie Betts, who, at least for now, can do no wrong.

Kris Bryant

Mookie Betts is playing like a five-tool stud. Kris Bryant, meanwhile, is playing like an absolute monster.

The Cubs' third-base prospect has hit nine home runs in 32 spring at-bats. That would be insane in the steroid era. Today, it's totally bonkers.

We knew Bryant had power: In 620 minor league ABs, he's mashed 52 homers. He was named Minor League Player of the Year in 2014.

But this is something else, and it's been enough to make the Cubs question whether they should make Bryant their starting third baseman instead of sending him back to the minors at all.

“I look at it as why not me?” Bryant said Friday, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. “I think I’m the type of guy who can go out there and do it. I’ve made it a point of mine to show them that I can.” 

Bryant's biggest hurdle is convincing team president Theo Epstein, who has never put a rookie on his Opening Day roster.

Epstein told ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers:

"

I've never put a guy on an Opening Day roster who hadn't played in the big leagues previously. In 13 years, I've never done it. I'm not saying I'd never do it, but the general rule, the presumption, is to allow those guys to go out, play, get comfortable, get in rhythm, and come up when you handpick just the right moment for them to have success.

"

If nine home runs in 32 at-bats won't do it, nothing will.

Matt Harvey

John Bazemore/Associated Press

When the New York Mets defeat the Yankees behind a dominant performance from their ace recovering from Tommy John surgery, you best believe Mets fans are watching and caring—even if the game technically doesn't count.

On Sunday, Matt Harvey blanked the Yankees over 5.2 innings of two-hit ball. Harvey, who missed all of 2014 due to the surgery, has returned with a vengeance this spring, posting a 1.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts and one walk over five starts. 

Harvey's velocity has been similar to where it was in 2013, when he stormed onto the MLB scene: in the mid-to upper 90s. Perhaps even more encouraging, his control has been excellent, and he's progressively gotten more comfortable mixing in all his pitches.

With fellow Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler following in Harvey's footsteps by getting Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, it's now even more critical for Harvey to anchor the Mets' rotation.

If Harvey is pitching like the rookie who earned an All-Star Game start two years ago, the Mets could play into October.

Ike Davis

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

If you were wondering what former Mets first baseman Ike Davis has been up to lately (or if you weren't), he's just been busy mashing baseballs for the Oakland A's.

This spring, Davis is 13-for-27 (.481) with a homer, two doubles and four walks. Since hitting 32 home runs for the Mets in 2012, Davis has been mediocre at best and downright awful at worst.

While Davis has a history of performing well in spring training, A's manager Bob Melvin has liked what he's seen. To start the season, he will likely have an opportunity to platoon at first base along with Billy Butler.

"I had some success platooning last year, so I hope to build on it and continue getting better,'' Davis said (via MLB.com's Ari Kaye).

If there's anywhere for a guy like Ike to rediscover his stroke, Oakland—land of the revived career and home of the platoon—may be the perfect place. 

Alex Rodriguez

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

If you haven't added Alex Rodriguez to your fantasy team yet, well, what exactly are you waiting for? The much-maligned Yankees slugger, back from his suspension for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), is not only fifth all time on the MLB home run list. He's also hitting the cover off the ball this spring.

Put these Grapefruit League numbers in your pipe and smoke 'em: 10-for-33 (.303), two home runs, one double, six walks and a .925 OPS. Small sample size, you say? Fair enough, but A-Rod is likely to be the Yanks' full-time DH this season.

"So far, I think he's certainly taken a run at the full-time DH situation, for me," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We'll talk about all these things, but the way he's looked so far down here, I would say he's definitely pushing himself in the mix for full-time DH consideration."

"I'm happy with my strike-zone discipline, and for me the goal never changes—just get a good pitch and take my 'A' swing," Rodriguez added. "Any time I give myself a chance to do some damage and swing at strikes, that's a good thing."

Expect a lot of 'A' swings from A-Rod in 2015.