The player on each team with the most to prove in Spring Training

The player on each team with the most to prove in Spring Training

February 19th, 2024

Spring Training is a time for optimism as the 30 clubs get back into the swing of things in Arizona and Florida. But it's also a proving ground for players, from youngsters trying to reach their potential to veterans who are trying to hold on to a roster spot.

With the help of each club's MLB.com beat writer, here's a look at one player from each team who has a lot to prove before Opening Day:

American League East

Blue Jays: RHP
The early days of Manoah’s redemption tour are going as well as you could hope. He’s trimmed down noticeably and is saying all of the right things after being demoted to Triple-A twice in 2023, which was a stunning turn after he finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting the year prior. Manoah has the clear inside track on the No. 5 job in the starting rotation, and as long as he continues to take strides in camp, he should hold off Bowden Francis, Mitch White and Yariel Rodriguez. There’s incredible potential for one of the best comeback stories in baseball this season, but coming off '23, the Blue Jays will need to see it showing up in games this spring. -- Keegan Matheson

Orioles: LHP
Before the start of camp, it appeared highly likely Irvin was destined for the Orioles’ bullpen. They seemingly had six starters ahead of him in the hierarchy, and the 30-year-old left-hander is out of Minor League options. Now, Irvin will likely be part of the Opening Day rotation with Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain) heading to the injured list and John Means (delayed build-up) likely to join him. Irvin still needs to prove he can be a serviceable No. 5 starter while the rotation is shorthanded. His first year in Baltimore got off to a tough start (a 10.66 ERA in three starts) before he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Irvin was better upon his return, splitting time between starting and relieving and finishing with a 4.42 ERA in 24 games (12 starts). But the O’s would like to see the version of Irvin who had a 3.98 ERA in 30 starts for the A’s in 2022. -- Jake Rill

Rays: C
There will be pressure on young pitchers like Ryan Pepiot and Taj Bradley, who will be tasked with filling the void in the rotation left by Tyler Glasnow (traded) and Shane McClanahan (injured). The Rays are counting on young hitters like Jonathan Aranda and Curtis Mead to step up, too. But there’s a lot riding on the shoulders of Pinto, the only catcher on Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster, with only 63 games of Major League experience. The Rays believe the 27-year-old has the defensive ability, power and personality to take a big step forward this year. Given their limited options behind the plate, it’s critical that he does.-- Adam Berry

Red Sox: SS
The Red Sox acquired Grissom and his promising right-handed bat from the Braves for Chris Sale with the idea he can be the team’s primary second baseman. However, the 23-year-old Grissom will have to prove he is up to the task, particularly on defense. Grissom has started 41 games at the position in the Majors, and he has a strong mentor in double-play partner Trevor Story. Boston’s quest to vastly improve its infield defense from a year ago will at least in part hinge on Grissom’s performance. Offensively, Grissom has always held his own at the plate. The question is: How much power will he grow into? -- Ian Browne

Yankees: DH/RF
Stanton made it clear that his 2023 performance was unacceptable after he was limited to a career-worst .191/.275/.420 slash line while slugging 24 homers with 60 RBIs in 101 games. The 34-year-old prioritized conditioning and diet during the offseason, with general manager Brian Cashman saying that he expects a leaner version of Stanton to arrive in camp. Cashman noted that Stanton has "worked his tail off this winter" and is "committed to finding a way to be the impactful player that we know he can be for us." Stanton has four years remaining under contract with the Yankees, who owe him approximately $98 million. -- Bryan Hoch

AL Central

Guardians: CF
Daniel Espino, James Karinchak, Kyle Manzardo, Deyvison De Los Santos or any shortstop could’ve been this answer. But for Straw, his situation seems a little more dire. The Guardians acquired Straw at the Trade Deadline in 2021, and he put up a stellar second half of the season -- it was so good that the team locked him up with a five-year extension. Since then, he’s hit .229 with a .580 OPS, one homer, 61 RBIs and 184 strikeouts in 299 games. He’s been the everyday center fielder since he was acquired, but now he needs to prove his bat can do enough to keep that role. -- Mandy Bell

Royals: RHP
In the final year of his two-year, $17 million contract signed before the 2023 season, Lyles is entering camp as the Royals’ fifth starter. But there are plenty of young starters vying for the job, and the Royals like the added competition and depth they created when they signed Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to lead the rotation. Daniel Lynch IV, Anthony Veneziano, Alec Marsh, Angel Zerpa and others are all being built up as starters. Manager Matt Quatraro and his coaching staff are open to putting starters in the bullpen, using openers and a variety of methods to get the best out of their pitchers. Yes, Lyles is an innings eater and gave the Royals 177 2/3 last season -- nearly hitting that 180-inning mark they had pegged him for -- but he must show he’s better than the 6.28 ERA he posted and the 39 home runs he allowed in '23. -- Anne Rogers

Tigers: SS Javier Báez
Báez hasn’t had a great Tigers tenure, but he endured a particularly rough 2023, ranking near the bottom of the Majors in OPS+, chase rate and walk rate. He cited back issues as having limited him, an issue that he addressed in offseason workouts. The Tigers have built their lineup around a young core, but still need more offense from Báez if they’re going to contend in the AL Central. He has four more years on his contract, but at age 31, he needs to mature in his hitting approach to remain productive. -- Jason Beck

Twins: CF/DH
Held only to the designated hitter role last season due to the lack of improvement in his painful and problematic right knee, Buxton declared this offseason, “I’m back,” and vowed to return to center field. Now, he needs to back up those words. He said last month that his knee is in a better place than it was a year ago and being a full-time (or even most-of-the-time) DH was never a mental adjustment he could make. He said his offense suffered as a result. Getting back onto the grass could key both sides of his game, and he needs to show his body can handle that with regularity. -- Do-Hyoung Park

White Sox: RHP
There is absolutely no doubt the talented right-hander will be part of this White Sox team, and he almost certainly once again will be part of their rotation after making 27 starts in 2023. But Kopech used the words “clean slate” to describe his outlook entering Spring Training following an 8.10 ERA and 42 walks in 43 1/3 innings thrown during the second half of '23. He had a cyst removed from his right knee and feels healthy and prepared, but this season is a big one starting-wise for a pitcher also featuring bullpen capabilities. -- Scott Merkin

AL West

Angels: OF
Adell is playing for a roster spot this spring and it all hinges on whether the Angels want to carry five outfielders, as they signed Aaron Hicks to a one-year deal to join a group that already includes superstar Mike Trout, Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak. Adell could earn a spot on the roster if he plays well this spring, as he’s dominated Triple-A, but it’s yet to translate in the Majors with a career .214/.259/.366 slash line in 178 games over parts of four seasons. Complicating things is the fact that Adell is out of Minor League options, so if he doesn't make the team, he'd be exposed to waivers. -- Rhett Bollinger

Astros: LHP
The lefty starter made his second consecutive All-Star team last year, but his second-half swoon and poor playoff performances have cast some doubt about what to expect in 2024. After going 7-6 with a 2.51 ERA in his first 17 starts, he was 5-5 with a 4.66 ERA in his final 14 starts, which included an Aug. 1 no-hitter against Cleveland. He lost all three of his postseason starts, posting a 9.00 ERA. Whether it was the heavy workload from repeated deep October runs or struggling to adapt to the pitch timer, Valdez must find a way to rebound. -- Brian McTaggart

Athletics: CF
Ruiz brought excitement last season with his blazing speed that helped him set a new AL rookie record with 67 stolen bases. But his overwhelming lack of quality contact was a concern -- Ruiz ranked in the first percentile of Major League hitters in hard-hit rate (20%) and average exit velocity (82.7 mph), while his 2.5% barrel rate ranked in the fourth percentile. With an outfield mix that includes Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Seth Brown, Miguel Andujar and 2023 All-Star Brent Rooker, Ruiz will have to show improvements this spring to earn his spot on the Opening Day roster. -- Martín Gallegos

Mariners: 1B
In just a year and a half, France went from playing in the All-Star Game near where he grew up, at Dodger Stadium, to being a non-tender candidate this offseason in the wake of inconsistencies that lasted throughout 2023 and left him admittedly embarrassed at season's end. But the Mariners are bullish on a big rebound from the contact specialist, who bought property in the Seattle area and has rigorously worked throughout the winter at Driveline Baseball in nearby Kent, Wash. -- Daniel Kramer

Rangers: CF
It's not that the 25-year-old Taveras had a poor 2023, but with top prospect Evan Carter already in the big leagues and the club's No. 2 prospect, Wyatt Langford, knocking on the door, he’ll need to step up his offensive game to remain the Rangers' starting center fielder. Taveras hit .266 with a.733 OPS last year while playing an above-average center field, but he hit just .175 in the postseason. Taveras will no doubt be the Opening Day center fielder and will hold the starting spot for the foreseeable future, but he’ll need to prove he can do it long-term. -- Kennedi Landry

National League East

Braves: LHP
Sale really just has to prove he can remain healthy after being limited by injuries each of the past four seasons. The 34-year-old southpaw has totaled 151 innings over that span with 102 2/3 of them being completed last year. He’s not going to rebound and immediately regain his status as a Cy Young Award candidate. But he has a shot to prove he can provide stability to the back end of Atlanta’s rotation and possibly be a difference-maker in the postseason. -- Mark Bowman

Marlins: RHP
Cabrera, 25, hasn't been able to put it together on a consistent basis since his MLB debut in 2021. Demoted to Triple-A last August because of command issues, he finished with the second-highest BB/9 rate among MLB pitchers with at least 90 innings. Despite that, Cabrera has been the subject of trade rumors because of his frontline potential. Out of Minor League options, Cabrera must step up with Sandy Alcantara sidelined. -- Christina De Nicola

Mets: 3B
Despite his struggles throughout 2023, which included a demotion to Triple-A, Baty enters Spring Training penciled in as the Mets’ third baseman. To hang onto that job, he must prove that he can handle the speed of the Major League game -- an issue for Baty both at the plate and on defense last season. If Baty falters, the Mets can simply give more at-bats to veteran infielder Joey Wendle. But their preference is for Baty -- just 24 years old -- to take the job and run with it. -- Anthony DiComo

Nationals: CF
Making his return from an injury-shortened 2023 season, Robles will compete with Jacob Young for the starting center field job. The two-time Gold Glove Award finalist showed offensive improvements in the 36 games he played last year, but the rookie Young made a strong impression during his opportunity for everyday playing time. Robles will look to take the momentum he established from winter ball into Spring Training. -- Jessica Camerato

Phillies: CF
Rojas slashed .302/.342/.430 and played elite-level defense in center field in just 59 games last season as a rookie. He posted 2.5 Baseball-Reference WAR, which tied for seventh on the team with Taijuan Walker. But then Rojas went 4-for-43 with one walk and 15 strikeouts in the postseason. It was not why the Phillies lost to the D-backs in the NL Championship Series, but more production would not have hurt their chances. The Phillies need Rojas to show improvement offensively this spring. If not, he could open the season in Triple-A, and make an already thin outfield even thinner. -- Todd Zolecki

NL Central

Brewers: CF
Chourio isn't just the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, he also just got an eight-year, $82 million contract without having played a day in the big leagues -- a record for a player with no Major League experience. That will create sky-high expectations for the 19-year-old entering Spring Training. Chourio should be the Brewers' Opening Day center fielder. He should be a power-speed star in the mold of Julio Rodríguez (one of the biggest MLB projection systems, ZiPS, is currently projecting Chourio for 19 home runs and 35 stolen bases as a rookie). But Chourio still has to make the team first, win the center field job and prove he belongs in the bigs. -- Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: 3B
While there are plenty of Cardinals candidates for this spot following an unsightly 71-91 season, Arenado gets the nod because of his burning desire to show that he is still one of the game’s best players despite tangible signs of slippage in 2023. His streak of 10 straight Gold Glove Awards ended, as did his seven-year run of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in non-COVID-shortened seasons. Still, Arenado was an All-Star and his numbers -- .266, 26 home runs and 93 RBIs -- were solid for most. Now 32, Arenado reported to camp leaner after having dropped four pounds, he enrolled in Pilates classes to become more flexible, and he adjusted the positioning of his arms in his batting stance. Said offseason workout partner and close friend Lars Nootbaar: “A motivated Nolan is a scary Nolan.” -- John Denton

Cubs: UTIL
The Cubs’ thinking around Morel has shifted some throughout the offseason. After initially emphasizing the importance of finding a defensive home for him, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer more recently stressed the importance of versatility. New Cubs manager Craig Counsell has also said that. No matter where the athletic and energetic Morel plays, his bat has the potential to remain in the lineup. There is no denying Morel’s power (26 homers in 388 at-bats in 2023), but he can be a free swinger at times and still has a ways to go to earn trust at any one position. It’s possible Morel winds up getting most of his playing time as a designated hitter. One way or another, this will be an important spring for Morel in terms of finding the best path into Chicago’s lineup. -- Jordan Bastian

Pirates: RHP
It was just a year ago that Contreras pitched for the Dominican Republic team at the World Baseball Classic and was viewed as a building block for the Pirates’ rotation for years to come. Then he saw his fastball velocity drop and his ERA rise, resulting first in a demotion to the bullpen and then to the Minors for most of the year. He’s going to get another opportunity to prove himself, and manager Derek Shelton has noted very early on that Contreras' delivery looks more fluid. If he can regain his form from 2022, when he was considered a top 100 prospect, it would be a huge boost for this Pirates rotation. If he doesn’t, then his future with the Pirates becomes foggier. -- Alex Stumpf

Reds: LHP
The Reds don’t need Lodolo to prove that he has good stuff or can get people out. The lefty with a big, sweeping curveball could be at the top of their rotation. But he’s had two injury-filled seasons, including being limited to seven starts in 2023 by a stress fracture in his left tibia. Lodolo has looked good in the early going of camp but must show that he’s healthy and can stay healthy to make the rotation. The team’s starting depth has increased since he has pitched for the club. It now has the likes of Andrew Abbott and free agents Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez. -- Mark Sheldon

NL West

D-backs: OF
From a personal standpoint, the 2023 season would be one McCarthy would probably like to forget. After arguably being the team’s most impressive position player in '22, last year was a mix of struggles and injury for the speedy outfielder. McCarthy is a good defender who can play all three outfield positions, and when he’s on base he can create chaos. With the re-signing of outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and the addition of free agent DH Joc Pederson, there will be a roster squeeze and McCarthy could really use a good spring to solidify his spot. -- Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: OF
The 2023 season was outstanding for Outman, who finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He showed poise throughout the season and the ability to break out of an extended slump at the plate, while also providing much-improved defense. The challenge for Outman now is doing it again in '24. He’ll be the team’s starting center fielder and nothing suggests he can’t do it again, but he’ll still need to prove it on the field. -- Juan Toribio

Giants: SS
A changing of the guard is underway for the Giants, who are expected to give the 22-year-old Luciano a chance to succeed Brandon Crawford as their starting shortstop this spring. San Francisco doesn’t have many fallback options at the position, so the club will be counting on Luciano to show that he can stay healthy and handle the demands of one of the most important defensive spots on the field. -- Maria Guardado

Padres: IF/OF
The Padres’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect overall, Merrill has been given a chance to win a big league job this spring. He’s played shortstop nearly his entire life, but this offseason, Merrill worked at second base, left field and center field. The Padres’ outfield is glaringly thin. If Merrill can prove a competent left fielder, his bat might carry him to a roster spot -- and perhaps even a spot in San Diego’s Opening Day lineup. -- AJ Cassavell

Rockies: 1B/RF
Bryant has played in just 122 games in the first two years of a seven-year, $182 million contract. He played left field in 2022 and began playing right field in '23. He finished last season playing first base, in hopes he can stay healthier there, and is penciled in at the position this year. Clearly, the Rockies need Bryant to approach the production of his standout years with the Cubs. But the club is in the early stages of meshing younger players into the lineup. If Elehuris Montero’s offensive development continues, Bryant could end up playing right field and designated hitter. Bryant may soon be not just trying to meet expectations but fighting off challenges for at-bats and playing time. -- Thomas Harding