One of the most gratifying things about spring training for general managers is when a player on your team exceeds expectations. It could be a veteran who had been in decline before an unlikely resurgence. It could be a prospect who wasn’t on your radar to make the team out of spring training and suddenly has a shot. It could even be a role player who has made significant adjustments that you weren’t expecting and now could get increased playing time.
I reached out to decision-makers with all 30 teams to identify one player on their club who is turning heads during spring training. Here’s what they said, along with my thoughts on each player.
NL East
Atlanta Braves — AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP
Age: 21
Height: 6-3 Weight: 205
Smith-Shawver is the Braves’ best pitching prospect, and they thought so highly of him that they pushed him last year to the majors, where he made five starts and one relief appearance at 20 years old. He received that promotion after posting a 2.76 ERA over 15 starts in the minors with 79 strikeouts in 62 innings. Smith-Shawver’s command and control, which have been his biggest issues, are starting to improve thanks to adjustments with his delivery. He’ll probably start the season in Triple A but gives the Braves a solid option if and when injuries arise in the rotation.
Alex Anthopoulos, president of baseball operations: “He’s had a great camp so far and is really making strides after debuting with the team last season. Both delivery and stuff have taken a step forward. … It will be exciting to follow his development this season.”
Miami Marlins — Eury Pérez, RHP
Age: 20
Height: 6-8 Weight: 220
Pérez’s stuff is off the charts as he regularly reaches triple digits and wields a wipeout slider and a solid changeup. This spring he has worked on adding a curveball with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. and the early results have been positive. A few years back, I predicted Sandy Alcantara would win a Cy Young Award someday and he did in 2022; I’m making the same prediction now for Pérez. His future is bright as an ace and frontline starter.
Skip Schumaker, manager: “Pérez is 20. His first time out, didn’t throw a pitch under 98 (mph) and learned a curveball to go along with the slider/changeup. He is turning into Sandy 2.0. Eury followed him around for a year. Sandy is in his back pocket in the weight room, bullpens, kitchen, you name it, pushing him to be great. And he has a chance to be just that.”
New York Mets — Starling Marte, RF
Age: 35
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6-1 Weight: 195
Marte has dealt with injuries regularly since 2020, and he hasn’t played more than 120 games in a season since 2019. Last year it looked like age and decline had caught up with him as he slashed .248/.301/.324 with five home runs in 86 games, although he did steal 24 bases in 28 attempts. However, his bat looked much slower. The early returns in spring training look promising. Perhaps the two-time All-Star could become a Comeback Player of the Year candidate in his 13th year in the majors.
David Stearns, president of baseball operations: “Marte has come into camp in a great spot physically. He worked extremely hard this offseason and played winter ball, which prepared him well for camp. He’s moving very well.”
Philadelphia Phillies — Cristopher Sánchez, LHP
Age: 27
Height: 6-1 Weight: 165
Sánchez has made major improvements with his control and command, as he’s reduced his walk rate from 11.9 percent in 2021 to 9.6 percent in 2022 to 4.0 percent in 2023. He made 18 starts and one relief appearance last year for the Phillies, logging a 3.44 ERA over 99 1/3 innings with 96 strikeouts to just 16 walks. His ground-ball rate ranked in the 95th percentile and his chase rate was in the 97th percentile. His changeup was so good last season that…
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