Spring Training Week 2 – Roster Trends

The Sure Things

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Players in this category are the ones who should be making the 25-man roster coming out of Spring

.  The obvious names will be here… maybe also those who are demonstrably stepping up their game to force a decision.

• Freddie Freeman.  Duh.  Even ignoring his contract, FF is 4 for 8 with a .600 OBP and 1.725 OPS.  Even in Spring those are video-game numbers.  He wants to move north already.
• Andrelton Simmons.  Still hurting, but of course he’s on the 25-man.
• A.J. Pierzynski.  He was hired to hit and catch occasionally.  He’s 3 for 6, .625 OBP, and 1.125 OPS.  All righty, then.
• Jonny Gomes.  Short of insulting Fredi Gonzalez‘ mother, he’s on the team no matter what he does – but at least he’s gotten a couple of hits this week.
• Nick Markakis.  See Gomes.  Only question for Markakis is when he can safely get some games in to get ready for OD.
• Melvin Upton, Jr.  Oh yes – he’ll be on the 25-man roster… via the DL.

• Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Shelby Miller.  Yes, all of these pitchers are locks, though Miller probably scared some after that first outing (ERA 108 – no there’s really not a decimal point in that number).
• Mike Minor.  He is also a lock, though I would not be at all surprised at a month or more of DL time.
• Craig Kimbrel.  Well… yeah.

After this chart, things are starting to get quick interesting…