![]() ![]() Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw will represent Team USA for the first time. ![]() The rosters include eight MVP winners and 67 All-Stars, 35 of whom took part in last year's Midsummer Classic. We've had stars take part in previous WBCs, but never like this. But it's a small price to pay for what will become a regular occurrence: Major League Baseball games that last 2½ hours.Īlden Gonzalez: I'm psyched about the upcoming World Baseball Classic, which will run simultaneously with spring training. A game is bound to be won and lost on a pitch clock violation, and that will not sit well with people. If you didn't happen to see it in play in a minor league game last year, big league games this year are going to look almost foreign: crisp, clean and - dare I say - fast-paced? Here's the thing: It's going to take some time for players to get used to, especially considering how many will be playing in the clock-free World Baseball Classic. Some of the early feedback I've heard from club coaches and managers is that they believe the larger bases will change the game to a degree that is unforeseen, because the geometry of the sport has always been so precisely ingrained in how the game is played. To celebrate the sport's return, we asked our MLB experts to weigh in on the teams, themes and stars they can't wait to check out as spring training begins.Īfter last year's lockout led to a rushed frenzy to start the season, what is the one thing you are most excited about as a full spring training begins?īuster Olney: Baseball officials, staffers and players have been talking about the potential impact of the rules changes for years, but now we get to see the actual effects on the field. The start of camp means a first chance to view stars such as Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Trea Turner in their new uniforms, and this year we'll get to see MLB's 2023 rule changes in action as soon as Cactus League and Grapefruit League games begin. With pitchers and catchers reporting to major league camps across Arizona and Florida this week, baseball is officially back - and for the first time since 2019, we have a full spring training ahead of us. MLB, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies He’s still a longshot to make the Opening Day roster or be one of the first few call-up arms the Braves rely on.Īs a side note, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Justin Toscano recently caught up with Jordan Luplow, who does have a pretty good shot of making the Opening Day roster as an outfielder, and reported that the latter is dealing with some oblique soreness.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĢ023 MLB spring training is here! What we can't wait to see ![]() He had a nice 45-inning Texas debut later that year driven almost entirely by a teeny HR/FB rate, but has seriously scuffled since - that’s why he was the return for a salary dump.Īllard doesn’t have a huge shot of contributing to Atlanta’s aspirations early in the year, at least on paper - but in all honesty his projections for a swingman aren’t particularly awful. The Braves’ first-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft (14th overall), Allard made his major league debut for the Braves in 2018, and was dealt to the Rangers at the 2019 Trade Deadline for reliever Chris Martin. Kolby Allard will start Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener for the Braves.- Justin Toscano February 23, 2023Īllard was acquired in exchange for the services (salary dump) of Jake Odorizzi early in the offseason. ![]()
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