Spring Training Game Perspectives

What Matters Most To Players, Coaches and Front Offices During Spring Training Games?

By Dan Kaplan

Photo credit: MLB.com Person

Let The Games Begin! 

Right now is the most exciting time of Spring Training for Baseball fans, players, coaches and front office employees alike; and that is the halfway point when games are in full-swing! For the first week or so of games, every day players get one or two at bats and then leave, while starting pitchers only pitch one to two innings. The reason for this is to ease them back into the challenges of facing true competition for the first time since the previous season, which means their adrenaline and competitiveness come rushing back, and physical exertion is more than what they’ve been doing in the winter to stay in shape. 

Once Spring Training hits the second week of March, we now start to see players playing much longer into the game, and see pitchers start to get their pitch counts back up to what they can expect to do once the season begins. Managing workload like this is key in preventing injury, and ensuring that the players gain their timing and feelings of a real game they need so that on day one of the season, they are ready to go. 

At the same time; while the everyday players are working on these parts of the game; once they come out of spring training games, it’s time for the bench and Minor League players to shine and make an impression. During Spring Training, teams will sign or trade for new players who may be granted an invitation to MLB Spring Training or already be on the MLB Roster. Teams will also invite minor league players from within their organization to attend MLB Spring Training for a chance to add roster depth and to make an impression on MLB Coaches and staff. All of these players have a role to fill within the organization, and Spring Training is their time to try to climb as high as they can to their goal of being an everyday MLB player. 

A Day In The Life 

Unsung Heroes		Playing Catch With Intent
Catchers are widely known as the unsung heroes of spring training; as with so many pitchers attending camp, they need someone to throw to in order to get their work in! Catchers fill many roles as they themselves are trying to make a team, needing to work on hitting, throwing, blocking and framing, and catching bullpen or live BP sessions for pitchers is a very important role during spring.		If you happen to visit a Spring Training complex, you very well may see dozens of pitchers all throwing to each other in the outfield. While this may look like a simple game of catch; know that catch, or “Catch Play” as we call it in the industry, is an essential part of preparation. Catch Play involves throwing with intent, throwing all of your pitches on flat ground, having a target, working on feeling your release, and many more aspects that prepare a pitcher to compete the next time he is on the mound.

“I’ve always approached Spring Training as I have something to prove.”

— Jamie Moyer, Retired MLB Pitcher

Roster Construction

During Spring Training, Front Office personnel will have ongoing discussions on filling out the 26-Man Major League Roster. Most of the players, let’s say 23, are surefire locks for being on the roster due to being under contract, on rookie deals, etc. However, there are often several spots that will have a competition during Spring. This could be looking for who will be the fourth outfielder, backup first baseman, utility infielder, bullpen arm, etc. These are the most exciting conversations to have as it comes down to watching these spring training games and how the candidates for these roles carry themselves, and perform on the field. 

Teams will watch for how that player shows his work ethic with elements such as the weight room, attitude with other players and coaches, professionalism, and of course most importantly, on-field performance. Spring can be cruel, as the sample size of games and at bats is rather small; but by nature that is what teams have to evaluate on. If a player has a great start to spring and collects a few hits and home runs, their batting average and all offensive numbers will look extremely inflated and go a long way in putting a positive image in the team officials minds that he can help the big league club. On the other hand, if a player gets off to a slow start out of the gate, this can make offensive numbers look worse than they should be, and can quickly lead to that player being passed over for one of these coveted spots on the roster. 

It is important to note that while so much emphasis is put on the notion of “Making the team out of Spring Training”, teams all are aware that it is far less of an important aspect to the season. Very often, the roster that you take to Opening Day will be different before the end of the first week or two of the season. For this reason, teams often preach to players not to be too concerned if they don’t make the team initially, because injuries and transactions happen so often, a player never knows when his name will be called next. 

If You Stay Ready, You Don’t Have To Get Ready

With all of this in mind, the single most important thing a player can do during Spring Training is to be ready. Players can’t control what happens during the game, but they can control themselves being in shape, practicing their strengths and shoring up their weaknesses, staying healthy, and being a good teammate. These elements all stick out to teams, and go a long way in putting the thought in their minds that this particular player is close to being ready for a call up to The Show. 

So keep these things in mind when watching your favorite team during Spring Training. When the starters leave the game, pay attention to that number 97 player and how he plays on offense, defense, on the mound, and anything you see that stands out. Odds are, you’ll be seeing the same thing that the MLB Coaches and Front Office see, and that player just might end up playing every day in the big leagues.