SARASOTA (SNN-TV) – One week after the MLB, MLBPA came to an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, MLB Spring Training is now underway with players reporting to camp.
Four MLB teams base their Spring Training on the Suncoast, here’s a breakdown from Day 1.
Tampa Bay Rays
Rays camp somewhat got under way today with a little housekeeping left to do.
Tuesday marks the first official workout day. Nonetheless, two main stories came out of Port Charlotte today.
One, Rays veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was listed today as having a stiff neck that kept him limited in his participation today.
Secondly, Rays minor league starter Tyler Zombro made his first appearance today in a game since being struck on the side of the head by a ball while playing for Durham last summer. He pitched one inning, threw 13 pitches, 9 for strikes, had one strikeout, and two ground ball outs in the intersquad outing.
Baltimore Orioles
From Port Charlotte we head to Sarasota, where many of the Baltimore Orioles strolled into camp today.
Baltimore coming off an MLB worst 52 win, 110 loss season, aim to take the next step in progression in 2022.
With stars like Cedric Mullins and Trey Mancini, and new additions like Robinson Chirinos, manager Brandon Hyde sees the elevation happening quickly, though he worries about the timeline.
“Spring Training’s already a challenge to keep guys healthy all the way through anyways, and now to only have a certain amount of time. We’re starting games on Friday. To only have four or five games before games start, it makes you nervous.”
Pittsburgh Pirates
In Bradenton, the Pirates are also coming off a tough season, tallying only 61 wins.
In Ben Cherington’s third season as GM, there are just seven players who remain on the 40 man roster from his first season.
The roster could continue to see turnover as one of those originals, Bryan Reynolds, is a potential trade chip.
2022 is set to determine if these young players could be part of that future core or not.
One new addition, former Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez, is adjusting to his first Spring Training in Florida.
“Florida, its different. Everybody I talk to says its different, so we’ll see how it goes. It seems pretty chill here, good people around, so that makes it easier.”
Atlanta Braves
And lastly, in North Port the Braves were on eggshells to begin the day, concerned for the future of franchise staple, former NL MVP, Freddie Freeman.
By the end of the day, it seemed a new era had begun, as Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos struck a deal with the Oakland A’s for 1B Matt Olson in exchange for OF Cristian Pache, C Shea Langeliers and SP’s Ryan Cusik and Joey Estes.
Olson, the Atlanta native, has been a target of the Braves since prior to the lockout.
One of Freeman’s closest friends, teammate Austin Riley, spoke to the effect Freeman has had on him, prior to the Olson trade’s completion.
“What he’s meant to my career, the professional that he is. I’ve learned so much [from him]. If I could continue to learn from him I would be ecstatic. I think everybody wants him here, and hopefully he is.”
With the Olson addition, in all likelihood, this means Freddie Freeman will leave the Braves after 12 seasons. The Dodgers, Yankees, Rays and Blue Jays remain as teams interested in Freeman.