Spring Training: 3/29

Spring Player Outlook: Hyun-Jin Ryu

Stat Line: 2-2, 3.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 27 K's in 27.1 innings.

Hyun-Jin Ryu was signed for $36 million having never thrown a major league pitch, and so far, he is living up to it.  In seven games (six starts) in spring training, he is 2-2 with a 3.29 ERA, having limited opponents to a .183 average.  His best game of the season came yesterday, when he tossed four perfect innings and struck out four.  In fact, he's given up just one hit over his past two starts, encompassing eleven innings and just two earned runs.  This bodes well for someone who is facing major league hitters for the first time, and should translate into major league success.

News

Mets starter Johan Santana tore his left rotator cuff for a second time, most likely ending his 2013 season... and possibly ending his career.

Teams are packing up and heading north.  The Nationals, Phillies, Astros, Brewers, Diamondbacks (if you consider a 21 minute drive to Chase Field significant), Dodgers, and Giants will be hosting games at their home ballparks today.

Game Scores: SS=Split Squad

Nationals (14-17) beat the Mets (14-14) 5-1.

Red Sox (16-16) beat the Twins (16-15) 6-1.

Pirates (13-18) beat the Yankees (13-18) 2-1.

Phillies (16-15) beat the Blue Jays (14-17) 7-2.

Rays (15-16) tied the Orioles (18-9) 4-4 (10 innings).

Dodgers (SS, 12-19) beat the Angels (9-19) 3-0.

Rancho Cucamunga Quakes (High Class A) beat the Dodgers (SS) 4-3.

Astros (SS, 14-16) beat the Tigers (18-14) 11-4.

Mariners (21-11) beat the Cubs (16-18) 6-4.

Brewers (12-17) beat the Rockies (16-14) 6-2.

Top Scorer: Rangers beat the Diablos Rojos 12-1.

Standings

Grapefruit League: Top: Orioles (18-9, .667 WPCT).  Bottom: Yankees and Pirates (13-18, .419).

Cactus League: Top: Royals (24-7, .774).  Bottom: Angels (9-19, .321).

Nationals: 14-17, .452, t-11th in Grapefruit League.

Spring Leaders

Offensive: AVG: Bryce Harper (Nationals), .484 (31-64).  Home runs: Michael Morse (Mariners), 9.  RBI: Brandon Belt (Giants), Billy Butler (Royals), and Justin Upton (Braves), 19.  Stolen bases: Ezequiel Carrera (Indians), 11.

Pitching: Wins: 7 tied with 4.  K's: Julio Teheran (Braves), 35.  ERA: Jon Lester (Red Sox), 0.75 (24 innings, 2 earned runs).  Saves: Heath Hambree (Giants), 4.

Top Performers

Offensive: Jonathan Singleton (Astros): 2-3, 2 home runs (2), 3 RBI, 3 runs, walk, AVG up .157 from .143 to .300, hitting streak to 1 game (2-3, .667 AVG).

Pitching: Hiroki Kuroda (Yankees): No decision, 6 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 5 K's (15), ERA drop: 0.78 runs from 2.31 to 1.53.

Worst Pitching Performance: Anibal Sanchez (Tigers): Loss (0-1), 5 innings, 9 earned runs, 11 hits, 1 walk, 3 K's (6), ERA jump: 4.04 runs from 3.27 to 7.31.

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Teams followed in this update: Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers

If your team is not included, please leave a comment.

HR: home runs.  RBI: runs batted in.  AVG: batting average.  SB: stolen bases.  ERA: earned run average. WHIP: walks/hits per innings pitched.  K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage

Zack Silverman