5 big storylines from Spring Training

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Are the Braves winning the World Series?

Yeah, while you've been watching the World Baseball Classic, we can't really blame you.

You missed a lot in spring training.

We'll get you caught up on five big storylines from the cactus and grapefruit leagues,

now that we're about a week away from opening day.

Plus, Spring Breakout starts today.

We'll preview some fun prospect matchups to look forward to.

And the great Shohei Otani returns to the mound.

Let's get to it.

Spring training is nearly over with opening night Yankees vs. Giants happening next Wednesday,

March 25th.

So, what stories have dominated this spring?

And will they matter once the season starts?

Well, they could.

Here are five we wanted to call out.

We're in the right center.

Gotta can a two dinner day from Matt McLean locked and loaded early this spring.

Since an ad his Matt McLean leads all of MLB in nearly every statistical category of this spring.

Six homers, a five fall batting average, a 1589 OPS, 15 runs.

You name it, he leads it.

McLean, who a couple years ago was given the nickname Robin to Ellie Dela Cruz's Batman.

That's not really lived up to that superhero designation the last couple years,

due to injury and injury recovery.

But the 26th road seems to maybe be on the verge of a breakout and has one of five at the top of

the order for the Reds.

Manager Terry Francona even joked, quote, he might hit second, third, and fourth.

That would be some superhero stuff.

Our second storyline, how about those braves?

They have the best overall record this spring at 17 and six.

And that's without stars like Ronald Acunia Jr. being around a lot.

New veteran additions, Ben Gamal and Mikey Stremsky both have four homers.

Good for a tie for second overall this spring among hitters.

Yes, also as a 1507 OPS.

And catcher Drake Baldwin has the highest hard hit rate this spring at 87%.

That's even more than king of hard hit rates.

Giancarlo stands 80%.

Also, two pitching prospects.

Didier Fuentes and J.R. Ritchie have looked fantastic for Atlanta.

A good sign for a team in need of good starters.

A pair along with Sion contender Chris Sale.

Number three storyline this spring.

The old dudes are still doing it.

And my coaching hits it hard on a line to deep left field.

That is a fair ball.

Brado is at third.

Vasey is going to be waved on home.

And my conscience first hit in a major uniform.

Is it RBI gobble?

I'm sure Andrew McCutchen was keeping himself ready.

And certainly showed there.

39-year-old Andrew McCutchen is seven for 12 since joining the Rangers with four RBI's.

39-year-old Chris Martin holds a 2.25 VRA in four games in Texas.

38-year-old Kirby Yates also has a 2.25 VRA for the Angels.

And 41-year-old Max Scherzer has thrown 82-thirds shut up innings with six Ks in two

stars for the Blue Jays.

How far can these old dudes?

They're really not that old.

Only old for baseball.

Keep it going during the grind of 162 games season.

And how many of them will be playing slow pits off all by July?

Time will tell.

Our fourth storyline.

What about that really, really young dude?

Out of Griffin leads off.

He's struck out and grounded down.

Live all to center.

Going back.

He's melted to the wall.

Leaps up.

It's a home run to hit off the top of the wall.

And apparently carved off that boardwalk.

So a home run for Connor Griffin is fourth of the spring.

Before spring games even started,

there seemed to be grainy beat reporter videos of baseball's number one

prospect launching dinger after dinger of park cars and hot dogs days.

Hundreds of feet away every day.

And now he's showed to get also to it in live game action.

The 19-year-old Connor Griffin has four homeers and nine RBI's and just 13 games.

A freak athlete, some of call it him.

The Pirates got a good one.

And he could be the shortstop in Pittsburgh for a long, long time.

Number five spring story with the stolen base king of spring.

There goes the runner from first and a pitch taken down.

And then they'll let the ward have second base.

One ball and one strike.

You probably can't tell by only listening to the enthusiasm of the announcer

or not watching the highlight on YouTube.

But the Red Sox's Braden Ward stole his 17th base of the spring last week,

setting a new record for steals and spring training.

Afterwards, he lifted up the base Ricky Henderson style.

Oh, I am the greatest of all time.

Thank you.

Ward now has 19 total steals and a 480 on base percent.

He's a bunting, running, leaping Jack Rabbit, who has 211 steals in the minors.

Boston is hoping he can transfer those same skills to Fenway this season.

Coming up, it's time to break out.

Spring Breakout.

We'll discuss a few fun matchups in the prospect bananza that starts up later today.

That's after the break.

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Spring Break is pretty cool.

But do you know what's cooler?

Spring Breakout.

The prospect extravaganza created by M.O.B.

Pipeline, Brainiac, Jason Rathlin.

That'll take place over the next four days in Arizona and Florida.

16 games where prospects will be heavily featured.

So fans and organizations can get a good look at what the future may hold.

The rosters are stacked.

Highlighted by 55 players on M.O.B. Pipeline's top 100 prospects list.

15 number one prospects from team lists are scheduled to participate.

As are another 16 ranked number two in their respective organizations.

Four of the top five prospects on the top 100 lists are slated to play.

Led by that pirate shortstop Conor Griffith at number one.

Brewers Infielder Hazus Mane at number three.

A shortstop Blue Debris at number four.

And Carlos Infielder J.J. Weatherhole at number five.

A couple cool matchups to watch.

Griffin and the pirates will face off against number 10 overall prospect Max Clark

and the Tigers on Friday.

Clark nicknamed Sparky Griswold to bring his fantastic athleticism and

raw speed to a dynamic matchup with baseball's number one prospect.

Here's the O2 pitch and Clark gives it a ride to ride field.

Castro takes a look.

And this ball has left the ballpark.

Max Clark has now homered and backed to back at bats.

On Sunday, the number three and number four top prospects in baseball were square off.

From my day of the Brewers placed devries of the A's.

Perhaps a battle for who the Dominican Republic's top prospect currently is.

Not a future likely number one prospect is just 18 years old.

And has already drawn comparisons to Jackson choreo and junior commonero.

Brutal throws again and this one hit high to right.

It's back. It is on the top of the wall.

My day is the second base.

Not stopping is on his way to third.

Here comes the throw.

It's late. It's a triple for my day.

But watch every game.

There's six on today and they're all available on Moby.tv.

Read more about the games and star prospects playing on Moby.com.

And tune in to see how good your team might be in a year or two

with these guys up in the majors.

And some other news from baseball on Wednesday.

Sound of the stretch, Otani.

Kicks and fires and throws a rocket right past the domes for strike three.

Fastball at 99.

So he Otani made his cactus league debut for the Dodgers.

And wouldn't you know, he did pretty well.

He struck out four over four scoreless innings.

Giving up just one hit on one hard hit ball.

He looks ready to go.

Garrett Cole made his first start against live batter since October 2024.

Throwing his scoreless first inning against the Red Sox,

he hit 98 miles per hour with his fastball.

Cole has been recovering from Tommy John's surgery

and will likely join the Yankees rotation in late May, early June.

That's all for today's morning lineup.

We'll lead you'll be back on tomorrow.

Remember to check out some of those spring breakout games.

It's a glimpse into your team's future.

Basically, like going into a time machine.

How cool is that?

And as always, please don't forget to leave us a rain in our view.

Share this episode with the baseball lovers in your life.

Enjoy your day.

Two teams.

One cup.

The prime time stage is set for the TGL presented by SoFi finals.

Los Angeles Golf Club versus Tigers Jupiter links.

Keep up. It's playoffs.

Tune in Monday, March 23rd, 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN 2

and Tuesday, March 24th, 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN

and on the ESPN app.