February 23, 2018 Page 1 of 44

Clips

(February 23, 2018)

February 23, 2018 Page 2 of 44

Today’s Clips Contents FROM THE OC REGISTER (PAGE 4)  Angels Nick Tropeano, in return from Tommy John surgery, starts Friday  set for debut with Angels on Saturday FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (PAGE 6)  Shohei Ohtani to get first spring training start, as a pitcher, on Saturday  For Nick Tropeano, the Angels’ spring training opener definitely counts FROM ANGELS.COM (PAGE 10)  Carter among Angels’ dark-horse candidates  Ohtani set for Angels debut on mound Saturday  Tropeano to get first look in Halos’ rotation battle  Angels’ Top 30 improved, and it’s not just Ohtani FROM THE ATHLETIC (PAGE 16)  Who will love (and hate) the new park dimensions in Anaheim the most?  Moura: Ohtani cranks it up as his pitching and hitting schedule comes into focus

FROM MLB.COM (PAGE 19)  Why the Angels’ 6-man rotation won’t last  Halos’ Scioscia praises Rangers reliever Jepsen  Stoneman Douglas honored as spring games begin today FROM ESPN.COM (PAGE 24)  Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to make spring debut as pitcher Saturday FROM SPORTING NEWS (PAGE 25)  Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to pitch in Cactus League debut FROM BLEACHER REPORT (PAGE 25)  Shohei Ohtani to Make Angels Cactus League Debut vs. Brewers as Pitcher  Projecting All 30 MLB Teams’ Next Big Thing  Top MLB Breakout Candidates at Every Position Entering 2018 FROM YAHOO SPORTS (PAGE 40)  Angels set the date for Shohei Ohtani’s spring training debut FROM USA TODAY (PAGE 40)  Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to make Cactus League debut as pitcher on Saturday  Spring training: Five things to watch as Grapefruit and Cactus League’s begin FROM REUTERS (PAGE 42) February 23, 2018 Page 3 of 44

 Angels’ Ohtani to make pitching start on Saturday FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS (PAGE 43)  With Cozart joining Angels infield, the defense never rests FROM KYODO NEWS (PAGE 44)  : Ohtani to make spring training debut Feb. 24

February 23, 2018 Page 4 of 44

FROM THE OC REGISTER

Angels pitcher Nick Tropeano, in return from Tommy John surgery, starts Friday

By Jeff Fletcher

TEMPE, Ariz. — Nick Tropeano’s start in the Angels’ Cactus League opener will mean a little more than the average spring training outing.

It will mark Tropeano’s first appearance in a major league setting since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016.

Although Tropeano pitched in an instructional league last fall, facing minor leaguers on back fields with fans numbering in the dozens is not the same as facing the Oakland A’s at Hohokam Stadium.

“I have been looking forward to this day, working for this day, ever since the injury,” he said. “There will be some nerves obviously, even for a spring training game.”

Tropeano said “results will be a bonus, if they are good,” but the Angels will certainly be evaluating his performance, beyond his health. Tropeano is one of nine starting in camp who could be a part of the 2018 rotation at some point.

At it stands now, Tropeano would appear to be in the mix with Parker Bridwell, who will also pitch Friday, and JC Ramirez for the sixth spot in the rotation. Tropeano and Bridwell both have options, so at worst both could be stashed in -A and called up later, if the need arises.

Tropeano, 27, was enjoying a breakthrough season when he got hurt in 2016. He had a 3.56 ERA through 13 starts.

“I think Trop has kind of flown a little under the radar in a lot of circles,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We know what he can do and we’re excited to have him back healthy.”

Support for Parkland

All major league teams will wear Marjory Stoneman Douglas High caps Friday as a show of support in the wake of the shooting last week in Parkland, Fla. It will have a special meaning for Angels Rene Rivera, who lives in the Stoneman Douglas district and has 4-year-old twin daughters.

“It was a shock,” said Rivera, who has lived in Parkland for three years. “It’s the safest place in . You don’t expect that to happen in that city. It’s sad. Shootings can happen anywhere.”

Rivera said he hopes that this incident leads to change.

“It’s about making somebody do something about it,” he said. “I think that people are tired of school shootings. School should be a place kids go to learn and be safe. It’s good that everyone gets together so we can push and do something about the weapons.” February 23, 2018 Page 5 of 44

Angels players also signed a banner to be sent to Stoneman Douglas High.

Also

— Chris Young is sidelined with what he described as a strained right calf, the first notable injury of the spring for the Angels. Young estimated that he’ll be out another 10 days. Young said he tweaked his calf Tuesday, the second day of full-squad workouts. Young, who signed with the Angels on Sunday, projects as their fourth …

— Outfielder Jahmai Jones, considered one of the Angels’ top prospects, was looking for a second baseman’s glove when a rep from a glove manufacturer was at Angels camp on Wednesday. When word of that reached , it sparked speculation of a position switch. Jones said Thursday morning no one in the organization has suggested that to him, and he has not worked out on the infield. He said he just wanted the smaller glove to do outfield drills. He acknowledged, though, he’s ready for anything. “You never know how the game is changing,” he said. “You could be playing one position day and another position another day. I’m in big league camp as an outfielder. That’s what I’m focusing on now.”

Shohei Ohtani set for spring training debut with Angels on Saturday

By Jeff Fletcher

TEMPE, Ariz. — After completing his bullpen session on Thursday morning — the test before the test — Shohei Ohtani got the official word from Mike Scioscia that he is getting the ball for the Angels’ Cactus League game on Saturday.

“I feel like this is a big step forward, the beginning of my career in ,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “I am really happy at this point.”

Ohtani is scheduled to throw the first two innings against the at noon Pacific time at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The game will be televised on Fox Sports West and in Japan, where it will be 5 a.m. on Sunday.

Although this game is certain to be one of the most watched, and most eagerly anticipated, exhibition games, Ohtani doesn’t seem to be putting much pressure on himself right away.

“This will be my first start in the States; I’m pretty sure a lot of things aren’t going to go my way,” he said. “That’s OK. I just need to find what I need to adjust and feel where I’m at, and it’s going to be enough.”

Ohtani likely won’t be facing the top Brewers hitters, though. The Brewers have two split-squad games on Friday, so most of their regulars will play then, and get Saturday off. February 23, 2018 Page 6 of 44

Ohtani’s debut as a hitter won’t come before Monday, because Scioscia said he will get the day off after he pitches. If his batting practice performance on Thursday is any indication, Ohtani could put on a show at the plate too.

During the team’s first workout of the spring inside the stadium, instead of on the adjacent practice fields, Ohtani blasted several tape-measure homers. One of them carried over the batter’s eye in center field, which is marked at 420 feet from the plate, and 30 feet high, according to the Angels.

Ohtani suggested that the “wind was another factor,” but he acknowledged that he “started to see the ball and the ball a little better.”

After Ohtani’s blast to center field, Angels players cheered and playfully grabbed his biceps.

“I’m enjoying fooling around with my teammates and having a lot of fun,” he said.

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Shohei Ohtani to get first spring training start, as a pitcher, on Saturday

By Jeff Miller

He sent one ball over the scoreboard in right field and one over the batter's eye in center, perhaps the only thing preventing Shohei Ohtani from launching one over a nearby celestial body being the moon's absence in the early Thursday sunlight.

His Angels teammates hooted and thrust their fists into the air and, in one extreme example of awe, rushed over to squeeze the Japanese sensation's biceps.

Yeah, some things are understood without translation.

Ohtani officially will make his Cactus League debut Saturday, at Tempe Diablo Stadium against Milwaukee, as a pitcher.

But he emphatically announced his arrival as a hitter during the Angels' first workout in the park in which they play their spring training games. Well, that is, if rocketing a baseball at least 450 feet is considered emphatic.

About 15 minutes later, upon returning to the clubhouse, the Angels' potential two-way star was greeted by a shout from across the room.

"Ohtani," Martin Maldonado yelled, "you using cork?"

The Angels catcher then approached and grabbed one of Ohtani's bats, playfully pretending to inspect it before acknowledging that the power was as authentic — and perhaps as relentless — as Ohtani's smile. February 23, 2018 Page 7 of 44

The kid already is an attraction and a phenom and most people around here never have seen him play in an actual, you know, baseball game.

That will change Saturday, the event so significant that the people back in Japan will be able to watch it live, the telecast starting at 5 a.m. Sunday, Tokyo time.

"I feel that this is a big step forward," Ohtani said, speaking through an interpreter, of his debut. "I'm really happy at this point."

Asked about the Thursday that cleared the batter's eye, he said that he's "starting to see the ball and hit the ball a little better," but added, "Of course, the wind was another factor."

It should be pointed out here, just for the record, that none of the other Angels managed to use that wind to hit a ball the distance equivalent to a football field and a half.

This game once had a marvel known as "The Say Hey Kid." Now, it has this Shohei kid.

He's such a near-mythical figure that, any day now, someone will be identified as being the Shohei Ohtani of the United States.

On the first day of full-squad workouts this week, Ohtani threw a bullpen session during which his every pitch was charted by the vigilant media chronicling his historic, Ruthian journey.

Those folks, naturally, are being paid to observe everything Ohtani does.

Not far away, however, another interested onlooker stood and stared, appearing to be almost mesmerized. It was , watching in the same manner people generally watch Mike Trout.

Once Ohtani emerges from the clubhouse each morning, the scrutiny is unending. About three dozen reporters and photographers are here to cover him daily and, if there's any time left over, maybe another Angel or two.

Even then, most of the questions are about Ohtani, this entire franchise being viewed through a single player so potentially special that Ohtani will make two debuts.

His first game as a hitter could come as early as Monday, when the Angels travel to Peoria to play San Diego.

This sort of outside attention isn't unusual, not in sports and, especially, not in baseball, Chris Carter having spent last spring with the and explaining that some 3,000 people showed up for the team's first batting practice.

For the Angels, though, these many spying eyes are not common, this team more familiar with going largely unnoticed, despite the presence of players like Trout and . February 23, 2018 Page 8 of 44

"It might make us feel more relevant," pitcher Matt Shoemaker said. "As a West Coast team, we don't get that much media. This might bring a little bit of an edge to guys, in a good way."

Just like in the game of baseball itself, the players are having to adjust. Pitcher concluded a recent interview with a Japanese TV network by stiffly and awkwardly bowing.

Several of the Angels have admitted to finding themselves unsure what to do during the idle time when the cameras are rolling and their words are being translated.

The morning after throwing live batting practice to Ohtani, was summoned for two interviews, it mattering little that Richards had thrown Ohtani one pitch, a pitch at which he didn't swing.

With nothing else to really ask about, a reporter wondered how Ohtani looked standing at home plate.

"He's a big guy," Richards said. "He takes up quite a bit of the box."

Shohei Ohtani is big, all right. Big, and about to get bigger.

For Nick Tropeano, the Angels’ spring training opener definitely counts

By Jeff Miller

It will happen with nearly a week left in February.

In a game that probably will soon be forgotten.

Against an opponent still warming its hamstrings.

Just don't try to convince Nick Tropeano that the Angels' Cactus League opener Friday doesn't count.

"I'm been working for this day ever since the injury," the Angels right-hander said. "I've been looking forward to it. I've been wanting it. There's definitely going to be some nerves."

Tropeano is returning from elbow ligament replacement surgery. His last big-league game was July 18, 2016.

He worked up to six innings and 100 pitches in Arizona last fall, facing minor leaguers toiling in an instructional league.

On Friday, though, in Mesa, he will oppose members of the . Or at least players competing to become members of the Oakland A's. February 23, 2018 Page 9 of 44

With spring training games starting earlier this year, several teams — including the Angels — have indicated they will hold back their regulars for an extra few days.

"I'm just looking to come out of this healthy, prove I'm healthy," Tropeano said. "Just play baseball. I miss playing. Eighteen months is hard to be out of the game."

Even with the Angels preparing to start the season with a six-man rotation — as opposed to the traditional five — the competition figures to be spirited.

As many as eight candidates are lined up to fight for the available spots, with Tropeano one of the pitchers pegged for the second half of that rotation.

"It's an important first step," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think he'll obviously have some butterflies. He's done all the paces here in rehab and working out. He's ready for it, and we'll be excited to get him out there."

Tropeano said that his velocity in recent bullpen sessions has reached 91, 92 mph, while maxing out at closer to 95. So, he appears to be as sound as he has been since making 13 starts for the Angels in 2016. In parts of three major league seasons, Tropeano is 7-7 with a 3.81 ERA in 25 games, 24 of them starts.

"I think Trop has kind of flown a little under the radar in a lot of circles," Scioscia said. "We know what he can do and we're excited to have him back healthy."

Bridwell is ready too

Also pitching Friday will be Parker Bridwell, one of the few Angels starters who hasn't been hurt lately.

Still, Bridwell said he's eager to combat the A's too.

"I didn't sleep last night," he admitted. "I don't want to face our guys anymore."

In his first season with the Angels, Bridwell was 10-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 21 games and 20 starts in 2017.

His ERA was below 3.00 into late August, the right-hander one of the few steady pieces in a rotation scrambled by injury.

In Bridwell's 20 starts, the Angels were 17-3, the .850 winning percentage virtually matching what the Dodgers did in Clayton Kershaw's 27 starts.

"I approach it like I've been DFA'd [designated for assignment] by another team and I have to earn a job," Bridwell said. "That's the way I like to go about it. Even if there's only five starting pitchers in the entire camp, I'm going to make it seem like there's 25."

A native of Hereford, a small town in west Texas, Bridwell returned home in the offseason and, for the third winter in a row, helped instruct kids at Colt 45 Baseball, an academy run by a friend. February 23, 2018 Page 10 of 44

Hereford has roughly 15,000 residents, many of them quite familiar with Bridwell and what he accomplished last season. But he said he was not treated any differently.

"I'm from a small place," he explained. "They're really good about being pretty normal."

Angels to honor victims and classmates

The Angels will send a giant banner signed with well wishes from their players to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla.

"Eagles, we are with you!" read the banner, the accompanying inscriptions including Shohei Ohtani's encouragement to "Stay Strong," his message written in English.

Backup catcher Rene Rivera, who lives in the Parkland area in the offseason, helped coordinate the gesture.

All major league teams are scheduled to wear special caps Friday supporting the school where a mass shooting last week killed 17.

Short hops

Chris Young, expected to open the season as the Angels' fourth outfielder, is sidelined because of a strained right calf. Wearing a walking boot Thursday, he said he'll be sidelined another 10 days or so… Former Angels pitcher arrived in camp as a guest instructor.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Carter among Angels’ dark-horse candidates

Quick jump to spring games creates opening for roster hopefuls

By Maria Guardado

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels will play their first Cactus League game on Friday against the A's in Mesa, with right-handers Nick Tropeano, Parker Bridwell and Osmer Morales scheduled to take the mound for the Halos.

Because Spring Training games are starting earlier this year, most of the Angels' regular position players aren't expected to see Cactus League action until next week, which could create early playing opportunities for those who are competing for jobs this spring.

Here's a look at four dark-horse candidates for the Angels' roster this year: February 23, 2018 Page 11 of 44

1B Chris Carter: The Angels signed Carter to a deal this week, replenishing the first-base depth they lost when trading C.J. Cron to the Rays. Carter, 31, led the National League with 41 home runs in 2016, but he hit just .201/.284/.370 with eight homers and 76 in 208 plate appearances before being released by the Yankees last season.

Albert Pujols and Luis Valbuena are projected to draw most of the starts at first base for the Angels, but an injury to either could open the door for Carter to make the team this spring.

RHP : A Rule 5 Draft selection in December, Bard must be on the Angels' 25-man roster for the entire season or offered back to the Twins, so he'll be given an opportunity to stick with the club. The 27-year-old logged a 2.76 ERA over 65 1/3 innings between -A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester in 2017, averaging 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Blake Parker, Jim Johnson, , Keynan Middleton and Jose Alvarez seem well positioned to earn spots in the Angels' bullpen, but the final vacancies are likely up for grabs. Bard will be among the candidates to fill out the 'pen, but he'll have to outperform holdovers like Blake Wood and Noe Ramirez to nab a spot on the team.

LHP Ian Krol: Alvarez is the only left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster, but he could face some competition this spring from Krol, who recorded a 5.33 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 21 walks over 49 innings with the Braves last season. Krol, 26, is in camp as a non-roster invitee.

INF Colin Walsh: The Angels are expected to carry 13 pitchers on their roster this year, so they're putting a greater premium on versatility, particularly since they'll be limited to a three-man bench. Walsh, who signed a Minor League deal with the club over the offseason, fits that profile, as he is a switch-hitter who can play all four infield positions and left field.

A 28-year-old Stanford alum, Walsh appeared in 38 games for the Brewers in 2016, batting .085 with a .317 on-base percentage, though he has a career .397 on-base percentage in the Minors. Walsh will likely compete with , Jose Miguel Fernandez and Nolan Fontana for the Angels' final bench spot this spring.

Ohtani set for Angels debut on mound Saturday

Two-way phenom to face Brewers in first appearance, live on MLB.TV

By Maria Guardado

Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani will make his highly anticipated Cactus League debut on the mound Saturday at 1:10 p.m. MT, when the Angels host the Brewers at Tempe Diablo Stadium (watch live on MLB.TV). Ohtani is expected to start and pitch around two innings, marking his first career game in a Major League environment. February 23, 2018 Page 12 of 44

"I feel like this will be a big step forward for me and my career in the Majors Leagues," Ohtani said via interpreter Ippei Mizuhara on Thursday. "I'm really happy at this point. This is going to be my first start in the States, so I'm pretty sure a lot of things aren't going to go my way, but that's OK. I just need to find what I need to adjust."

While Spring Training games tend to be inconsequential affairs this early in camp, Saturday's matchup will undoubtedly generate far more buzz given the fascination with Ohtani, who is seeking to become the Majors' first two-way star since Babe Ruth. A horde of media, mostly from Japan, has been intensely tracking Ohtani's every move this spring, and the 23-year-old's start will be broadcast live in his home country, where first pitch will be at 5:10 a.m. on Sunday.

Because he signed a Minor League deal with the Angels in December, Ohtani is technically in camp as a non-roster invitee, though he is a virtual lock to make the club's Opening Day roster. Ohtani, for his part, feels he still needs to prove that he belongs in the Angels' rotation.

"Results do matter to me," Ohtani said. "I've said in the past that I need to prove that I need to earn a spot in the rotation. I just need to see where I'm at and take each step."

Ohtani threw a bullpen session on Thursday in preparation for his upcoming start and also took batting practice for the first time at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The left-handed slugger put on quite the show during his hitting session, launching a home run over the batter's eye and drawing cheers from teammates and fans alike. For perspective, the center-field wall at Tempe Diablo Stadium is 420 feet from home plate, and the batter's eye stands 30 feet high.

Ohtani followed up with another monster shot, crushing a homer over the scoreboard in right field. Ohtani, who is known for his humility, said afterward that the wind was carrying in his favor.

"Of course, the wind was another factor," Ohtani said. "I am starting to see the ball and hit the ball a little better. I'm just enjoying fooling around with my teammates. I'm just having fun out there right now."

Ohtani will not bat in a game on Saturday and Sunday, so the earliest he could make his debut in the Angels' lineup would be Monday.

Tropeano to get first look in Halos’ rotation battle

Right-hander expected to pitch in 2 innings in return from TJ surgery

By Maria Guardado February 23, 2018 Page 13 of 44

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Nick Tropeano will take another key step in his comeback from Tommy John surgery on Friday at 12:05 p.m. PT, when he starts the Angels' Cactus League opener against the A's in Mesa (watch live on MLB.TV). The outing will be Tropeano's first time facing Major League hitters since August 2016.

"I've been working for this day ever since the injury," Tropeano said Thursday. "There's going to be some nerves in there, obviously, even in a first Spring Training game. Results would just be a bonus if they're good, but I'm just looking to come out of there as healthy as possible."

Tropeano will likely pitch the first two innings of the game and will be followed by Parker Bridwell and Osmer Morales.

Tropeano showed promise before undergoing Tommy John surgery, logging a 3.56 ERA over 68 1/3 innings in 2016. The 27-year-old right-hander missed the 2017 season while rehabbing, though he pitched in instructional league last fall and worked up to six innings and 100 pitches.

Tropeano said his velocity has returned to its normal levels, with his sitting in the 91-92 mph range and topping out at 94-95 mph during his latest bullpen session. He is expected to compete with Bridwell and JC Ramirez for the sixth spot in the Angels' rotation this spring.

"I think 'Trop' has kind of flown a little under the radar in a lot of circles," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We know what he can do, and we're excited to have him back healthy."

Young sidelined Outfielder Chris Young said he suffered a Grade-1 right calf strain while doing running drills on Tuesday, his second day with the Angels. He expects to be in a walking boot for about 10 more days before returning to action.

The 34-year-old veteran signed a one-year, $2 million deal on Sunday and will likely serve as the club's fourth outfielder this season.

Angels create support banner for Stoneman Douglas Angels players signed a huge banner that will be sent to Stoneman Douglas High School to show support for the community in Parkland, Fla., after the tragic shooting at the school on Feb. 14. All 30 Major League teams will wear Stoneman Douglas caps before their Spring Training games this weekend, with signed caps being auctioned to raise money for the victims' families.

New arrival General manager Billy Eppler and his wife, Catherine, welcomed a healthy, 8 1/2-pound baby son on Thursday.

"Though mom is resting comfortably, 'negotiations' continue regarding the name," the Angels said.

February 23, 2018 Page 14 of 44

Angels’ Top 30 improved, and it’s not just Ohtani

By Jonathan Mayo

Don't look now, but the Angels farm system is... exciting? And it's not just because of that Shohei Ohtani fellow.

It would be a lie, of course, to claim the two-way phenom didn't have a lot to do with the buzz around the Angels. It's hard to find any baseball fan, or employee, who can't wait to see how all of this works. One only has to look down at the "best tools" section below and see what the fuss is about: Ohtani is the top choice in three position player categories and two pitching spots.

But while he is the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball, there is a lot more going on down on the farm than there has been in a very long time. Gone are the days where it was tough to find 30 prospects to fill out this list.

It may take a while for the impact talent to get to the big leagues; most of those who will contribute this year, with the obvious exception of Ohtani, are more role players in all likelihood. But below that, there is some serious talent brewing and the Angels haven't had high-end athletes come through like this since Mike Trout got started.

Some of it has come thanks to aggressive drafting of late. Yes, the organization did take the college performer in in the first round of the 2016 Draft, but the Angels took the athletic high school outfielder , who started to come into his own in 2017, in the second round. In 2015, it's true they took college catcher , but again, second-round pick Jahmai Jones has an exciting combination of tools and feel for the game. And in 2017, they went all in on the upside with , who absolutely dominated Rookie ball in his pro debut.

The Angels also went after it on the international market. Aside from Ohtani, they were able to bring former Braves prospects Kevin Maitan and Livan Soto into the fold after Major League Baseball returned them to the international market following Atlanta's violations of international rules. And they gave seven figures to Bahamanian outfielder Trent Deveaux, whose athletic upside rivals Adell's. Throw in some arms from Latin America who took huge steps forward in 2017 and things are really starting to get going.

The Angels haven't been to the playoffs since 2014. Perhaps Ohtani can help get them there in 2018, and there's impact talent on the way that could help bring winning baseball to Anaheim for an extended period of time.

February 23, 2018 Page 15 of 44

Biggest jump/fall Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2017 preseason list to the 2018 preseason list.

Jump: Jesus Castillo, RHP (2017: NR | 2018: 11) Fall: Nate Smith, LHP (2017: 3 | 2018: NR)

Best tools Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 55 - Jahmai Jones (Matt Thaiss) Power: 70 - Shohei Ohtani Run: 80 - Trent Deveaux Arm: 80 - Ohtani Defense: 60 - Jo Adell (Jahmai Jones, Connor Justus) Fastball: 80 - Ohtani : 55 - Joe Gatto (Stiward Aquino) Slider: 65 - Ohtani : 60 - Jose Suarez (, Jose Soriano) Control: 60 - Jaime Barria

How they were built Draft: 17 International: 11 Trade: 1 Rule 5: 1

Breakdown by ETA 2018: 9 2019: 5 2020: 5 2021: 9 2022: 2

Breakdown by position C: 1 1B: 1 SS: 6 OF: 7 RHP: 14 LHP: 2 February 23, 2018 Page 16 of 44

FROM THE ATHLETIC

Who will love (and hate) the new park dimensions in Anaheim the most?

By Eno Sarris

You've got 120 yards for a football field; 94 feet for a court; 200 feet for a hockey rink. A baseball field? Depends on what city you are in. Oh, and what year it is.

The Mets, Mariners, and Padres have changed aspects of their parks over the last few seasons. The Braves got a new park. Add that to the fact that players don't play equal amounts in each stadium because of the sport's unbalanced schedule, and accounting for each park's role in the sport is very difficult. Insanely difficult. That's why park factors range wildly from one website to the next.

It's going to get more difficult to analyze park effects this year. Two parks are going to add to the chaos, making for potential winners and losers as the players adjust to their new surroundings.

The humidor in Arizona will be a mess to analyze and is likely to reduce home runs anywhere from 25 to 50 percent, according to the best physics professors. Over in Anaheim, our Pedro Moura reports that they are altering the park a little more conventionally, by lowering the boundary that designates home runs along Angel Stadium’s right-field wall from 18 feet to eight feet. That should improve offense at home for a park that has ranked as the seventh-toughest for lefties when it comes to home runs. Or maybe it's been fine for home runs.

In any case, we can look to the past to help figure this out and be more granular. The Mets recently changed the height of their walls . . . 10 feet. Andrew Perpetua took a look and thinks Angel Stadium could see a similar effect.

When Citi Field lowered their left field fence from 16ft to 8ft the home run rate over that section of wall went up about 38-39%. The home run rate for the stadium as a whole went up about 12%. I think you'll see that same sort of change in Angels Stadium.

Citi did lower the fences and bring them in, but Perpetua attempted to separate those effects. Already you can see that this won't be a uniform effect of increasing homers 10+%, though, since it'll increase homers in that one particular part of the park nearly 40%.

Who will like the changes most on the Angels?

Lefty pull hitters and righty opposite field hitters, most likely — people hitting the ball towards that fence.

Kole Calhoun hit the most pulled fly balls to right field last year among the Angels lefties. He already hit .474 with a 1.632 on those balls, but maybe he'll do even better on those — he was February 23, 2018 Page 17 of 44

only 100th in pulled fly ball production with those numbers, amazingly — or maybe he'll aim for the fences more often next year. Out of 464 players that put 50 balls in play last year, he was 207th in pulled fly ball rate last year and could really benefit from increasing those numbers. He'll likely hit more than 20 homers again for the second time in his career with or without the change in approach, though.

The Angels' leader in pulled fly ball rate from the left side was actually Luis Valbuena, who was 121st on that list. He was probably not the guy they had in mind when they made the change, and he almost found his way out of a job at some points this offseason, but he'll surely enjoy the new walls when he gets to play first base around half the time this year. He might hit 25 again for the first time since 2015, provided he gets the playing time.

Maybe the lefty they had most in mind was Shohei Ohtani, but Ohtani might not be that much of a pull hitter. Players in Japan's NPB league don't go to the opposite field more than players here, but they do pull less often, and Ohtani followed suit. He'll take advantage some, but it's probably Valbuena that benefits the most among lefties.

Opposite field fly balls don't do as well as pulled fly balls — the league slugged .373 on opposite field fly balls, and 1.569 on pulled fly balls — but if you're a slugger with big power to the opposite field, you can make it work.

By volume, was the most prolific opposite-field fly-ball righty on the squad last year. But by quality, it was Mike Trout. They combined to hit six opposite field homers, maybe they'll hit nine or ten combined next year. Because it's the opposite field, it won't change things as much for them.

Which pitchers will fear the new wall the most?

Tyler Skaggs lands the highest on right field, fly ball percentage among starters that gave up 75 or more balls in play last year, at 52nd out of 181; 38% of his balls in play went to that field. While Skaggs gave up a .558 slugging on those balls and was still okay last season — he had an ERA in the mid-fours when that's nearly average production — he may see that number inflate further with the new park dimensions. Parker Bridwell came only three slots lower and gave up a slugging over .700 on those balls, so he'll hate the new walls even more.

As a team, the Angels gave up the ninth-most fly balls to right field — it's probable that the park hurts them in the pitching department as much as it helps some of their hitters. It may not move the needle on their record — that work will come from the new players on the squad.

No team in the slugged as poorly at home as the Angels last year, though. And while park factors are really hard to nail down, it's probably safe to say that won't happen again. Moura: Ohtani cranks it up as his pitching and hitting schedule comes into focus

By Pedro Moura

February 23, 2018 Page 18 of 44

TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani sent a baseball soaring beyond Tempe Diablo Stadium’s batter’s eye on Thursday. In his first-ever batting-practice session in the ballpark, he prompted club officials to call around to learn how tall that batter’s eye is, exactly. Thirty feet, it turns out. And that’s on top of a center-field wall that sits 420 feet away from home plate. Ohtani lifted both his hands to commemorate his achievement. His teammates grabbed his biceps and the accumulated crowd of a couple hundred fans supplied a round of applause. It was a last gasp of low-key life, or something resembling it, before everything Ohtani does becomes even more magnified. The Angels’ Cactus League schedule begins on Friday in Mesa against the Athletics. Based on the team’s prescribed parameters for his schedule, the soonest Ohtani could hit in a game is Monday, when they will play the Padres in Peoria. His pitching schedule is much more clear, as is the Angels’ plan for their starting rotation. The contenders for the season-opening six-man staff all know when they’re scheduled to debut. After he completed one last bullpen session on Thursday, Ohtani’s fate was finalized: He will make his Cactus League debut with a two-inning start on Saturday in Tempe, facing the Brewers, or whatever minor-league contingent the Brewers send at this early stage of the spring. While he iced his right arm after batting practice, Ohtani addressed reporters about the announcement. “I just took another step forward in my big-league career,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. “I’m happy about that.” Standing inside a stadium-adjacent tent the Angels constructed for him to talk to reporters, Ohtani received a query about the Brewers’ lineup. He said he wasn’t familiar. He took a question about Japan’s Koshien tournament for high schoolers, in which he once participated. An Angels employee quashed it. And he was asked how heavily he would weigh the results from this first start. “I’m pretty sure a lot of things aren’t going to go my way,” Ohtani said. “That’s OK. I just need to find what I need to adjust and feel where I’m at, and it’s going to be enough.” Martin Maldonado expects to catch him on Saturday. He, too, has become accustomed to conducting interviews with the Japanese press. He answered a series of questions, then shouted across the Angels’ clubhouse to his teammates that his long-predicted fame was finally near. “The next time I talk to the media,” Maldonado said, “it’s gonna be in Japanese.” Once Ohtani pitches, Garrett Richards, , Matt Shoemaker, Andrew Heaney and JC Ramirez will fill in the next five days, expectedly in that order. What remains unclear is whether they will then start every five days or every six. Before Ohtani, Nick Tropeano will pitch on Friday for the first time since July 18, 2016, when he exited a start with an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. Parker Bridwell will follow him into the game, which makes sense, as it’s unlikely both men will make the Opening-Day rotation. They’re competing for one spot, probably along with Ramirez. Each man will be expected to finish two innings. “I have been looking forward to this day, working for this day, ever since the injury,” Tropeano said. “There will be some nerves, obviously, even for a spring training game.” After his pitching, hitting and talking were done, Ohtani dressed in slim-fitting light jeans, a fitted black sweater, and gray Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. As he walked by, the fashionable attire earned Ohtani praise February 23, 2018 Page 19 of 44

from fellow pitcher Noe Ramirez, who wore a lengthy sweater over a t-shirt adorned with an ankh colored in green, yellow and red. Ohtani stopped and smiled. Through Mizuhara, Ohtani asked Ramirez what the ankh symbolized. Was it Christianity? “No,” Ramirez said. “Rastafarian.” Mizuhara attempted to explain the term to Ohtani. It required a bit of back-and-forth. Eventually, Ohtani seemed to attain a grasp. “Bob Marley?” he asked, grinning. “Yeah, yeah,” Ramirez said. “But more than that. Deeper than Bob Marley.” Ohtani nodded his head twice and walked away. Notes Fourth outfielder Chris Young said he strained his right calf while running on Tuesday. He is wearing a walking boot and expects to wear it for 10 more days. Because position players require less time to prepare for the season, such a timeline does not yet endanger his availability for the start of the season. …New outfielder Jabari Blash, acquired on Wednesday from the Yankees for a player to be named later or cash considerations, arrived in camp on Thursday. …All of the Angels in camp signed a massive banner that will be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., where 19-year-old Nikolas Jacob Cruz is charged with killing 17 people on Valentine’s Day. Backup catcher René Rivera, who lives near the school, put together the effort.

FROM MLB.COM

Why the Angels’ 6-man rotation won’t last

Eppler, Scioscia hoping to offer smooth transition for new ace Ohtani

By Will Leitch

It is difficult to come up with a more ideal situation for using a six-man rotation than what the currently find themselves in. They have the three major ingredients:

1. They have Shohei Ohtani, the best pitcher coming over from Japan (who was apparently driven all the way from there by Mike Trout in a golf cart), a guy who has spent his entire career pitching with what Major League teams consider an extra day's rest. As the team's primary offseason investment, Ohtani is someone for who the Angels will want to facilitate the smoothest transition possible.

2. They have no ace, which means going to a six-man rotation won't force them to take starts away from the best pitcher on the team. More to the point: Their ace is Ohtani, the guy inspiring the idea of a six- man rotation in the first place. February 23, 2018 Page 20 of 44

3. All their other rotation members are, essentially, the same. The No. 2 pitcher is pretty much the same as the No. 6 pitcher. You neither lose nor gain anything by having any of them throw on any particular day.

If you were to invent the scenario that would lead to a team using a six-man rotation all season, this is close to the exact one you'd come up with for Los Angeles. But I'll say it right now: No matter how much they claim they're going to try it, the Angels are not going to end the season with a six-man rotation. No one ever does. I'll be surprised if they make it a month.

The idea of a six-man rotation pops every few years, and in a vacuum, there is some logic to it. Nothing messes with a team's plans more than pitcher injuries, so, theoretically, if you can ease the burden on your starters, you can have them pitch less often. And as starters lose influence in a world of expanded bullpens, de-emphasizing the rotation by adding to it has some appeal as well.

As Angels general manager Billy Eppler told The New York Times last year, "That's been the way the game's been trending, historically, if you look back, if it can help keep guys healthy and you're able to get a little bit more reliability out of your pitchers because of it, I'm all for it."

These stories about six-man rotations are almost always written in the preseason, because they're a battle plan that inevitably evaporates once they come into contact with the enemy: The season itself. The problem with a six-man rotation is obvious: It is difficult enough to come up with five quality starters, and thus exponentially more so to come up with six. What's that old football cliche? If you have two quarterbacks, you have none? If you have six starters, you probably only have five; you just don't know which five yet.

Look at the Angels. Their theoretical six starters are:

1. Ohtani 2. Garrett Richards 3. Andrew Heaney 4. Tyler Skaggs 5. Matt Shoemaker 6. Nick Tropeano, JC Ramirez or Parker Bridwell

Again, this is a situation that would seem to lend itself to a six-man rotation. You have five clear guys; if the Angels had signed, say, Jake Arrieta rather than Ohtani, the rotation would clearly be Arrieta, Richards, Heaney, Skaggs and Shoemaker. Those five are clearly the first five. The sixth spot is a series of question marks that, theoretically, you could use a six-man rotation to figure out. Ramirez is coming off a stem-cell injection in his right elbow; Tropeano missed all last year after Tommy John surgery; Bridwell was surprisingly effective in 2017, but his peripheral stats point to big-time regression. The idea is that you can use that sixth rotation spot as the place for those three to battle it out in a relatively low-stress environment; it is, after all, just the sixth spot. February 23, 2018 Page 21 of 44

But that's the thing about baseball: The sixth spot becomes the fifth spot quickly. Only two teams in baseball history have gone through a whole season using only five starters; last year, only one team (Cleveland) used as few as seven. The Twins had 16 pitchers start a game for them in 2017, and they made the playoffs. Before the Angels signed Ohtani, the primary concern for the team was that they didn't have enough starting pitchers. Now, you're asking them to add one more that they didn't have in the first place.

Richards hasn't thrown more than 35 innings since 2015. Skaggs hasn't thrown more than 85 since '14. Shoemaker threw 77 2/3 last year. Heaney has thrown 27 2/3 innings since '15. And those are the guys you're counting on. Those are the five before you get into that sixth spot (and there is little evidence that six-man rotations keep pitchers healthier).

Sure, the Angels have a lot of interchangeable pitchers, guys with talent but lacking reliability; the argument for the six-man rotation has been that you're not costing a dominant pitcher starts. But a six- man rotation is not a hedge against injury; it actually makes injuries more costly. It leaves you one extra hole to fill. And there will be holes to fill.

These are pitchers you cannot rely upon to give you innings, and now you're taking a bullpen spot away by going to a six-man rotation. It's possible that roster spot can be offset by the two-way Ohtani, but with the trade of C.J. Cron, it actually looks like they're culling the roster to use Ohtani more, not less. You lose some of that positional flexibility if Ohtani is now playing nearly every day. They're going to need to dig into that bullpen regularly, and now they have one fewer roster spot with which to do it.

For all the talk of a six-man rotation potentially being the future, an argument could be made in the opposite direction: It might make more sense, in an age where starters are less valuable and less workmanlike than in the past, to go to a four-man rotation. Get four guys who can get you through the lineup twice and then hand it over to a deep and specialized bullpen.

Many studies have argued that the primary cause of pitcher injury isn't lack of rest between uses; it's overuse on the days they do pitch. If you only ask a guy to give you four or five innings every four days, rather than six or seven every five, you could, theoretically, concentrate on finding a team of swingmen and specialists. It could be easier than finding six quality starting pitchers, or maybe even five.

Either way, a six-man rotation sounds like a wonderful idea in the lab but is highly likely to implode when exposed to the elements. Look, the Angels need to figure out a way to work Ohtani into their staff, and there are ways to do it; Fangraphs' Craig Edwards argued last week that thanks to the number of off-days, roughly two-thirds of Ohtani's starts could be made on five days' rest. But the answer to the Ohtani problem isn't to require the Halos find five other starting pitchers. They'll be lucky to find four. I'm not sure even sure they have three.

What is almost certainly going to happen is that one of the Angels' starters will blow a gasket, and Mike Scioscia, a generally conventional manager anyway, will shrug, say he tried and go right back to the five- February 23, 2018 Page 22 of 44

man rotation he, and everybody else, is used to. The Halos say they're really going to try this. I've heard that before. I'll believe it when I see it.

Halos’ Scioscia praises Rangers reliever Jepsen

Angels skipper impressed with his former pitcher’s demeanor, ability to adjust

By T.R. Sullivan

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Kevin Jepsen had some outstanding years for the Angels as a setup reliever. Now he's in Rangers camp as a non-roster invitee, and Halos manager Mike Scioscia said Jepsen could end up being a good signing for Texas.

"First, his makeup is really suited to a guy you would want at the back end of your bullpen," Scioscia said. "He had some really good years for us, and when he struggled, he made some adjustments and bounced back. He's got a really good arm and some seasoning. He has been up and down, but he keeps the same demeanor on the mound."

Jepsen is trying to make a comeback after not pitching in the big leagues last season. His only action was at Triple-A Syracuse in the Nationals' organization, appearing in 19 games and posting a 5.32 ERA. What attracted Jepsen to the Rangers is he had a 1.65 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 16 innings in his last 13 games.

Jepsen's career path appears to follow a trend that besets many middle and setup relievers. Their performance can rise or fall from year to year, without warning. Jepsen had a combined 1.09 WHIP and a 2.47 ERA over 149 regular-season games in 2014 and '15. Then he posted a 1.67 WHIP and 5.98 ERA while pitching for the Twins and Rays in 2016.

Jepsen admitted his body took a battering during the heavy workload in 2014-15, and he seemed to hit a wall in 2016. But it came back to life late last year, and a mechanical adjustment helped him regain his 95-97 mph velocity. "Now I feel really good," Jepsen said.

"He's a hard worker," Scioscia said. "He really wants to be good."

Stoneman Douglas honored as spring games begin today

Special caps worn, signed, and auctioned with proceeds going to victims fund

By Anthony Castrovince February 23, 2018 Page 23 of 44

Players will take the field in a game designed to be diversion. In most years, the exhibition openers at Major League Baseball's Spring Training camps would qualify as just that -- a welcomed respite from the troubles of the world. But not in this country, and not in this moment of mourning.

What happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this month has left many a soul shaken and searching. To pretend something as silly as a sport should go on without acknowledgment of what's on our minds and in our hearts would be a fool's errand.

So every MLB team with a spring tilt on the Grapefruit and Cactus League schedules Friday will wear black caps with the maroon "SD" of Stoneman Douglas, where 17 people -- including 14 students and three staff members -- were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 14. They'll honor the victims and support the survivors via action and auction, a small but necessary salute at a time when it's important to remember the good we can accomplish together.

Much of the baseball world was watching when Stoneman Douglas alum and Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo returned to the school where the baseball field bears his name and gave an emotional address in which he reminded the people of Parkland, Fla., that "the entire country is grieving with you."

Now, Rizzo's peers will provide a visual reminder of the same.

"I think it's awesome, I think it's cool," Rizzo said. "Obviously, it's deeper ties for me than the rest of the league, but it's really neat that Major League Baseball is recognizing what happened in the country."

It began with the Marlins, who both reside and train less than an hour from Parkland, requesting permission from the Commissioner's Office to wear the caps. The idea soon spread -- as good ideas tend to do -- to all 30 clubs. So every active team and umpiring crew will wear the caps pregame Friday (the Royals and Rangers are off, so will instead don the hats on Saturday) and have the option of wearing them in-game. The caps will then be signed and auctioned off to raise money for the Broward Education Foundation, which will benefit the official Stoneman Douglas Victims' Fund.

Rockies prospect Colton Welker, another Stoneman Douglas alum, is still in shock of the events that transpired. He's happy to help any way he can, even from 2,000 miles away.

"I was taken aback when I heard about [the cap initiative]," said Welker, who will be in uniform tomorrow. "It's going to be beautiful for the people to think of [the school] in a positive way instead of dwelling on the past."

Rizzo, whose Cubs play a 3:05 p.m. ET game at Maryvale Baseball Park against the Brewers, will be the most significant participant in the honor.

"If he's in the lineup, it would be that much more special to wear the caps," said Brewers starter Brent Suter. "He does so much for baseball. It would be big-time emotion." February 23, 2018 Page 24 of 44

And the emotion will extend to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., a mere 50 miles from the school. For their 1:05 p.m. ET game, the Marlins and Cardinals will also wear "MSD" patches over their hearts on their jerseys. Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson, who played at Coral Springs High School -- just five miles from Stoneman Douglas -- will proudly wear the hat and letters of his high school rival.

"I'm honored to wear something like that to represent what happened," Brinson said. "I'm sure my coach and everybody that played with me will be all right for this cause. Obviously, it was a tragic day in Parkland that day. I'd be happy to wear their shirt, whatever we need to do. I'll wear the shirt under the jersey if they'll let us. Just to represent them that day, it will be special."

Mets reliever Anthony Swarzak, who grew up in Broward County, and whose sister and cousins are graduates of Stoneman Douglas, is especially eager to show his support.

"Man, I think that's great," he said. "I think it's going to be a cool thing for the school and for the kids, not just those involved with baseball, just to see that the league is really thinking about them and what they've been through. I hope that they realize that they're not in this alone. That everybody really is reaching out and here for them for any kind of support and anything that they need."

Baseball's show of support may not solve the big-picture issues being discussed in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas shooting, but just because a gesture is small doesn't mean it won't be a step in a positive direction. As we've seen, the school has many students demonstrating incredible poise, strength and unity in the wake of this life-altering experience.

"I think it's definitely important to wear this hat, just to show that we care," Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong said. "We're not living on our pedestals, being professional athletes. We know what's going on in the world."

In the aftermath, many issues will be debated, and baseball may seem insignificant in times like this. But there's no ignoring what happened at Parkland. Not even at the park.

FROM ESPN.COM

Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to make spring debut as pitcher Saturday

Multitalented Japanese pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani will make his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels on the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

"I feel that this is a big step forward," Ohtani told reporters Thursday, via an interpreter. "I'm really happy at this point.

"This will be my first start in the States; I'm pretty sure a lot of things aren't going to go my way. That's OK. I just need to find what I need to adjust and feel where I'm at, and it's going to be enough." February 23, 2018 Page 25 of 44

He threw a bullpen session Thursday. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said then that it would be unlikely Ohtani would make any pinch-hitting appearances early in spring training.

Ohtani also took batting practice Thursday, wowing teammates with home runs over the scoreboard and the batter's eye at Tempe Diablo Stadium, according to multiple media reports.

"I'm enjoying fooling around with my teammates and having a lot of fun," Ohtani said.

FROM SPORTING NEWS

Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to pitch in Cactus League debut

By Bob Hille

Two-way Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani will make his Cactus League debut as a pitcher Saturday against the Brewers in Tempe, Ariz., the Angels announced Thursday.

He is slated to go two innings, according to multiple reports.

Manager Mike Scioscia has said that Ohtani won't hit on the days he pitches or the day after, meaning the soonest the slugger dubbed "the Babe Ruth of Japan" would be in the Angels would be Monday, likely as a .

The Angels plan to use Ohtani, 23, as part of a six-man rotation in the regular season and then, depending on his workload, work him into the everyday lineup as a DH.

"He's going to get the most looks as a pitcher," Scioscia said when camp opened last week (via USA Today). "If he can pitch to his capabilities, that will always influence your team more than what he would do hitting. But that's not to say he won't have a chance to be a difference-maker on the offensive end, too."

Ohtani can touch 100 mph with his fastball, and he hit 22 home runs two years ago in Japan's .

FROM BLEACHER REPORT

Shohei Ohtani to Make Angels Cactus League vs. Brewers as Pitcher

By Tim Daniels February 23, 2018 Page 26 of 44

Los Angeles Angels dual-threat sensation Shohei Ohtani is expected to make his first Spring Training start as a pitcher Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group passed along the update Thursday from Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who also noted Ohtani won't be part of the lineup the day after he pitches, leaving Monday's game with the as his first potential hitting appearance.

Scioscia made it clear earlier in the month the Angels are going to utilize the 23-year-old MLB rookie as a starting pitcher first and foremost. How he handles the workload on the mound as part of the club's six- man rotation will then determine his opportunities as a designated hitter.

"He's going to get the most looks as a pitcher," the L.A. skipper told reporters. "If he can pitch to his capabilities, that will always influence your team more than what he would do hitting. But that's not to say he won't have a chance to be a difference-maker on the offensive end, too."

Ohtani compiled a 2.52 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 624 strikeouts in 543 innings across 85 games (82 starts) with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan over the past five years.

The three-time Nippon All-Star selection added a .286/.358/.500 triple-slash line with 48 home runs in 403 appearances as a hitter.

He's drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth due to his potential wide-ranging impact, but he downplayed that line of thinking during his introductory press conference in December, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com.

"I'm honored to be compared to Babe Ruth, but in no way do I think I'm at his level," Ohtani said. "I think today actually is the real starting point for me, and I just want to get as close to him as possible."

Shortly after his signing, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported a physical showed a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in the rising star's pitching elbow. That hasn't affected his preparations for the 2018 season, though.

Projecting All 30 MLB Teams’ Next Big Thing

By Jacob Shafer

Spring training is upon us. Narratives abound, from injury comebacks to position battles to best-shape- of-his-life yarns.

At the same time, each club will be focused on identifying and developing its next big thing—the youngster or prospect destined for MLB stardom based on pedigree, potential and a path to playing time. February 23, 2018 Page 27 of 44

While players limber their hamstrings and locate their release points in Florida and Arizona, here's a look at the leading candidate to assume the "next big thing" mantle for all 30 teams.

American League West

Houston Astros: OF Kyle Tucker

The outfield of the defending champion is set from left to right with Marwin Gonzalez, George Springer and Josh Reddick. That leaves no room at the moment for top outfield prospect Kyle Tucker.

The 21-year-old could soon change the calculus. He posted an .874 OPS with 25 home runs and 21 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A last season and has the defensive capabilities to stick in center field or slide to right with his plus arm.

Either way, he should get a look with the 'Stros this season and feature prominently in Houston's future plans.

Los Angeles Angels: RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani can dominate on the mound and in the batter's box. He posted a 2.52 ERA with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings and put up an .859 OPS in five seasons with Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters.

Now, the 23-year-old will seek to replicate those results stateside with the Los Angeles Angels. The Halos will slot Ohtani into their rotation but also plan to give him at-bats at designated hitter, especially after trading first baseman/DH C.J. Cron to the , per MLB.com's Michael Baron.

Considering Ohtani's skill set, it's one of the spring's biggest stories.

Oakland Athletics: LHP A.J. Puk

Left-hander A.J. Puk ascended to Double-A last season and could make his debut in 2018 for the budget- conscious Oakland Athletics, who are never shy about giving young players a chance.

The 22-year-old tallied 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings and boasts a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider. He needs to hone his command, but once he does, he profiles as a top-of-the-rotation talent.

Seattle Mariners: 1B Dan Vogelbach

This spring could be a now-or-never moment for Dan Vogelbach. The first baseman boasts prodigious power but has hit a scant .175 in 24 big league games.

With offseason acquisition Ryon Healy undergoing hand surgery and expected to miss four to six weeks, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, the door is open for Vogelbach to earn playing time and translate his .866 career MiLB OPS to The Show. February 23, 2018 Page 28 of 44

Texas Rangers: OF Willie Calhoun

After lighting up the minor leagues with 31 home runs and a .927 OPS in 2017, Willie Calhoun is poised to make his MLB mark.

The 23-year-old was shipped from the to the at the 2017 trade deadline, and now he has an opportunity to win a starting job in the Rangers outfield with an eye- opening spring.

That'll be up to him, but as SportsDay's Gerry Fraley correctly opined, "There is nothing left for him to accomplish in the minors."

American League Central

Chicago White Sox: RHP

After posting a 2.88 ERA with 172 punchouts in 134.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2017, Michael Kopech is pounding on the door of big league stardom.

The rebuilding Chicago White Sox will likely play service-time games and keep Kopech in the minors to start the season, but they won't be able to keep him or his triple-digit heater down for long.

Cleveland Indians: C Francisco Mejia

The Cleveland Indians could roll with the serviceable yet offensively challenged duo of Roberto Perez and Yan Gomes at catcher.

At a certain point, however, the Tribe will turn to Francisco Mejia, who owns a .293/.349/.447 slash line across five minor league seasons and gunned down 30 percent of would-be base stealers at Double-A.

Mejia will need to impress in the spring to earn an immediate place in Cleveland's catching hierarchy, but his moment is coming sooner than later.

Detroit Tigers: 3B Jeimer Candelario

Acquired from the in the trade for reliever Justin Wilson, Jeimer Candelario looks like a foundational part of the ' rebuild.

The 24-year-old hit .330 in an impressive 27-game audition with the Tigers in 2017 and should be Detroit's everyday third baseman this season.

There are painful days ahead in the Motor City. Candelario represents a glimmer of hope.

Kansas City Royals: INF Raul Mondesi February 23, 2018 Page 29 of 44

Yes, you can argue the Kansas City Royals' decision to re-sign Alcides Escobar equals a vote of no confidence in Raul Mondesi.

The 22-year-old is now looking up at Escobar and Whit Merrifield on the Royals' middle infield depth chart. He also posted an .855 OPS with 21 stolen bases and 13 homers in the minor leagues last season.

As K.C. lurches between a reload and a rebuild, it'll afford Mondesi every opportunity to bust out.

Minnesota Twins: RHP Fernando Romero

A 23-year-old who sacrificed two seasons to Tommy John surgery isn't anyone's ides of a sure thing.

The should be high on Fernando Romero, however, especially after he posted a 3.53 ERA with 120 strikeouts in 125 innings at Double-A and dodged injury setbacks.

The Twinkies won't rush Romero in 2018, but a strong showing in the upper levels of Minnesota's system will earn the hard-throwing righty an MLB showcase.

American League East

Baltimore Orioles: C

After Welington Castillo exited via free agency, the ' catching competition comes down to Caleb Joseph and Chance Sisco.

The safe money is on Joseph winning the gig out of spring, but the 32-year-old and his .225 career average are vulnerable.

Sisco, meanwhile, sports a .311/.390/.426 slash line in five minor league seasons and threw out a career- best 23 percent of would-be base stealers at Triple-A Norfolk in 2017. Don't be surprised if he's the Orioles' primary backstop by early summer or sooner.

Boston Red Sox: LHP

Most of the players at the top of the 's farm system are at least a year away from making a big league impact.

Jay Groome fits that description at the tender age of 19, but he's also enough of a talent to warrant mention.

The big southpaw fanned 72 hitters in 55.1 innings in his second professional season and boasts a high- 90s heater and power curveball that could get him to the majors ahead of schedule. comps come with heaps of hyperbole, but these aren't unwarranted.

New York Yankees: INF Gleyber Torres February 23, 2018 Page 30 of 44

After trading third baseman Chase Headley to the San Diego Padres and second baseman Starlin Castro to the , the New York Yankees' infield depth chart is riddled with holes.

Enter Gleyber Torres, who hit .287 with an .863 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A in 2017 before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow in June. Provided he's fully recovered, Torres will be a front-runner to win a starting job out of spring (probably at second) and join New York's cast of glistening young stars.

Tampa Bay Rays: RHP Brent Honeywell

The Tampa Bay Rays are in full-on sell mode, as they've demonstrated by jettisoning third baseman Evan Longoria, outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (via the Arizona Diamondbacks' official Twitter feed) and right- hander Jake Odorizzi (via the Associated Press).

The latter move opens a clear path for 22-year-old screwball artist Brent Honeywell, who struck out 11.3 per nine innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season and now seems ticketed for the Rays' Opening Day roster.

Toronto Blue Jays: OF Anthony Alford

At the moment, Anthony Alford is blocked in the Toronto Blue Jays outfield by Curtis Granderson, and , with Teoscar Hernandez, Ezequiel Carrera and Steve Pearce also in the mix.

The 23-year-old has the skills to break through, however, and showed it by hitting .299 with 19 stolen bases across three minor league levels last season.

The Jays are at a crossroads in the top-heavy AL East and could soon shift into rebuild mode with franchise player Josh Donaldson headed for free agency. If they do, Alford will be a name to follow.

National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Yoshihisa Hirano

The Arizona Diamondbacks will have an open competition for the closer's job after Fernando Rodney left via free agency.

Right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano is in the thick of it after posting a 3.10 ERA with 156 saves in 11 seasons with Japan's and inking a two-year, $6 million deal with the D-backs this winter.

Already, the 33-year-old is drawing high praise from Arizona skipper Torey Luvollo, per MLB.com's Steve Gilbert:

"The thing that stood out for me is that he first established fastball command, and he threw a lot of before he was satisfied and moved on to the split. The split, it's hard to gauge until you have a February 23, 2018 Page 31 of 44

hitter up there, [but] it looked like he was able to throw it, bury it—possibly at two-strike location, and also throw it up there for a strike."

Colorado Rockies: INF Brendan Rodgers

For now, the Colorado Rockies' middle infield is set with Trevor Story at shortstop and DJ LeMahieu at second.

Brendan Rodgers could soon force the issue.

The 2015 third overall pick lit up the minors last season, hitting .336 with a .940 OPS. If the 21-year-old keeps raking like that at Triple-A, the Rocks will clear a place for him at Coors Field.

Los Angeles Dodgers: OF

The Los Angeles Dodgers outfield is an open competition between Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor, Andrew Toles and Matt Kemp.

Will there be room for top prospect Alex Verdugo? Perhaps.

The 21-year-old tasted the big leagues last season after hitting .314 with an .825 OPS at Triple-A. He may soon join shortstop and first baseman Cody Bellinger to form a potent homegrown core for the defending Senior Circuit champs.

San Diego Padres: OF Manuel Margot

Despite a nagging calf injury, Manuel Margot hit .263 with 13 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 126 games with eight in center field for the San Diego Padres.

At age 23, this could be the season he fully breaks through for the Friars and establishes himself as top- shelf MLB outfielder.

Buy stock in this kid.

San Francisco Giants: OF Steven Duggar

The acquired Andrew McCutchen from the and signed Austin Jackson.

McCutchen will slot into right field, with Hunter Pence sliding to left and Jackson serving as the de facto center fielder.

San Francisco could platoon the righty-swinging Jackson with lefty prospect Steven Duggar, who slashed .262/.365/.445 across three MiLB levels in 2017 with superlative defense. February 23, 2018 Page 32 of 44

From a fallow farm system, Duggar offers the Giants much-needed optimism.

National League Central

Chicago Cubs: OF Mark Zagunis

The Chicago Cubs' formerly gilded farm system has been depleted by trades and promotions. But the cupboard isn't entirely bare.

An on-base artist who sports a career .402 OBP and .842 OPS across four minor league seasons, Mark Zagunis could crack the Cubbies' Opening Day roster and play into the hands of mix-and-match manager .

The Cubs have enviable depth, and the 24-year-old Zagunis has the ability to cut through it.

Cincinnati Reds: RHP Luis Castillo

In 15 starts with the , Luis Castillo posted a 3.12 ERA and struck out 98 in 89.1 innings last season. He's an ace in the offing.

Now, the 25-year-old will try to replicate those results over a full season with his high-90s heater and a devastating changeup.

As FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan put it, "He already has the arm. He already has all of the pitches. Eight months from now, it might not be very hard to identify the best starting pitcher in the NL Central."

Milwaukee Brewers: RHP

The 30th overall pick by the Rangers in 2014, Luis Ortiz entered the Milwaukee Brewers system after a trade-deadline swap in 2016.

The 22-year-old can reach the high-90s with his fastball and augments it with a solid slider while displaying plus command.

After some seasoning at Triple-A, it's easy to picture Ortiz slotting into the Brew Crew's rotation— possibly near the top.

Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Austin Meadows

The Pirates waved goodbye to an icon and an era when they dealt McCutchen to the Giants. They also opened up a place for prospect Austin Meadows.

The 22-year-old has wrestled with injuries, but he sports a .292 average and .818 OPS in five minor league campaigns. February 23, 2018 Page 33 of 44

"It's been a tough road, but I feel like that's behind me now," Meadows said of his disabled-list stints, per MLB.com's Adam Berry. The Bucs undoubtedly hope he's correct.

St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Alex Reyes

Alex Reyes posted a 1.57 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. He appeared destined for ace-level stardom.

Tommy John surgery wiped out the right-hander's 2017 campaign, but the 23-year-old is one of the best bets for a 2018 breakout.

Maybe it'll be in the bullpen, maybe it'll be in the rotation. Either way, it'll be worth watching.

National League East

Atlanta Braves: OF Ronald Acuna

Outfielder Ronald Acuna rose from Single-A to Triple-A for the in 2017 while hitting .325 with 21 home runs and 44 stolen bases. He's 20 years old and sits on the precipice of MLB domination.

"He's a better athlete than everybody else," Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson said of his soon-to-be teammate, per David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "You'll just have to wait and see. I mean, it's pretty special."

Miami Marlins: OF Lewis Brinson

Miami Marlins fans have every right to be furious about the team's decision to trade its stars and start from scratch.

Still, the Fish acquired some intriguing pieces, including outfielder Lewis Brinson.

Netted from the Brewers in the trade, Brinson posted a .962 OPS at Triple-A last season and could be Miami's center fielder of the near future.

New York Mets: OF

Brandon Nimmo hit .260 with a .797 OPS in 69 games last season for the and could see time while works his way back from shoulder surgery.

Assuming the 24-year-old slots capably between Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce, it'll be tough for the Mets to keep him off the field.

They already rejected an opportunity to trade him to the Pirates for McCutchen, per Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. February 23, 2018 Page 34 of 44

"It makes you feel that other teams recognize what you can do on the field and help out at the major league level," said Nimmo. "I felt good about that."

Philadelphia Phillies: SS J.P. Crawford

A first-round pick out of high school in 2013, J.P. Crawford wobbled in a 23-game look with the in 2017 and hit only .243 at Triple-A.

Still, the 23-year-old profiles as a plus defender at a premium position and is penciled in as the Phils' everyday shortstop in 2018.

"I just thought to myself that I finally have a chance to start my career and be a part of this team from the get-go," Crawford said after arriving in camp, per Matt Breen of Philly.com. "Hopefully, I can make an impact on Opening Day."

Washington Nationals: OF Victor Robles

Victor Robles is 20 years old and has yet to taste Triple-A after making the jump from Double-A to a 13- game stint with the Washington Nationals last season and a place on the Nats' playoff roster.

Chances are he'll begin 2018 in the minors and bide his time until possibly leaves via free agency.

No matter what, the toolsy, speedy Robles is an indelible part of the Nationals' future in an (ahem) potentially Harper-less universe.

All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.

Top MLB Breakout Candidates at Every Position Entering 2018

By Jacob Shafer

Like every MLB season, 2018 will feature its share of breakout stars.

We won't know who those stars will be until the games are played. In the meantime, as prospects and veterans alike stretch their muscles in Florida and Arizona, here's a look at the top breakout candidates at each position.

For our purposes, we're considering youngsters who've never taken a swing or thrown a pitch in the big leagues as well as players with an MLB resume who are primed to take the next step toward elite status.

Here's what they all share: a path to playing time at the highest level, an as-yet-unreached ceiling and tantalizing talent. February 23, 2018 Page 35 of 44

Catcher

Chance Sisco, Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles might open 2018 with Caleb Joseph as their primary backstop. That said, Joseph is 31 and owns a career .225 average.

The door is wide-open for Chance Sisco, who owns a .311/.390/.426 slash line in five minor league seasons and refined his catching skills at Triple-A Norfolk in 2017, where he threw out a career-best 23 percent of would-be base stealers.

Francisco Mejia, Cleveland Indians

Technically, Francisco Mejia is blocked on the Cleveland Indians depth chart by Roberto Perez and Yan Gomes. Neither possesses the offensive credentials to keep Mejia down for long.

The 22-year-old has slashed .293/.349/.447 in five minor league seasons and sipped his cup of coffee with the Tribe in 2017.

It shouldn't be long before he's shouldering everyday receiving duties for the defending American League Central champs.

Austin Barnes, Los Angeles Dodgers

Austin Barnes took playing time from Yasmani Grandal down the stretch and in the postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but L.A. opted not to trade Grandal this winter.

That sets up an interesting competition this spring and a chance for the 28-year-old Barnes to fully establish himself.

"Yasmani obviously had more opportunities, more at-bats, more playing time [in 2017]—and I see that again," manager Dave Roberts said, per Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. "But Austin has earned the right to get opportunities."

First Base

Greg Bird, New York Yankees

Greg Bird was a sizzling breakout candidate after hitting 11 home runs with an .871 OPS in 46 games with the New York Yankees in 2015.

Shoulder surgery wiped out his 2016 season, and he played only 48 games in 2017 due to an ankle injury. February 23, 2018 Page 36 of 44

Bird finished the season strongly, hitting .379 with four homers in his final 10 games. If he can avoid the disabled list (admittedly a big "if"), he could join the swelling ranks of young Yankees stars.

Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics

Matt Olson turned heads in a 59-game audition with the Oakland Athletics in 2017, clubbing 24 home runs with a 1.003 OPS.

If the 23-year-old can come close to replicating that production over a full campaign, he'll establish himself among the AL's elite power hitters and be a massive, cost-controlled boon to the budget- conscious A's.

Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies

With Ian Desmond sliding to the outfield, the Colorado Rockies have opened a spot at first base for Ryan McMahon.

McMahon hit .355 with a .986 OPS at Triple-A last season and got his feet wet with a 17-game MLB look. The Rockies could add depth from a free-agent pool that includes old friend Mark Reynolds, but for now McMahon appears to be Plan A.

Second Base

Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox

The moment is now for Yoan Moncada. The 22-year-old sensation enters spring as a presumptive starter for the Chicago White Sox and a foundational piece of their accelerating rebuild.

Moncada hit .282 with 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases at Triple-A in 2017 before slashing .231/.338/.412 in 54 games with the White Sox.

Now, he'll be given every opportunity to deliver on the hype that's followed him from Cuba to the Boston Red Sox to the South Side.

Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees

The Yankees have holes in the infield after trading second baseman Starlin Castro and third baseman Chase Headley this winter. One of them should be plugged by top prospect Gleyber Torres.

Torres hit .287 with an .863 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A in 2017 before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow in June. Assuming he's healthy, the Yanks will plug him in at second and watch his star propel into the firmament.

Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves February 23, 2018 Page 37 of 44

At the tender age of 21, Ozzie Albies is ready to make an impact with the Atlanta Braves.

In 57 games with the Braves last season, Albies hit .286 with an .810 OPS. A solid spring will guarantee him a starting gig on Opening Day.

"I feel so good," Albies said, per David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I want to have a better season this year than last year. Just keep my approach the same and make things happen."

Third Base

Jeimer Candelario, Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are in the beginning stages of a painful yet necessary rebuild. Jeimer Candelario could offer a cathartic dose of optimism in the Motor City.

The 24-year-old hit .330 with an .874 OPS in 27 games with the Tigers after coming over from the Chicago Cubs at the 2017 trade deadline.

He's on track to man the hot corner full time for Detroit in 2018 and has the tools to produce.

Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

Maybe already broke out for the Boston Red Sox. The 21-year-old clubbed 10 home runs and tallied 30 RBI in 58 games for Boston.

Now, the Sox are expecting Devers to replicate that success and boost an offense that finished last in the AL in home runs.

Sure, they inked free-agent slugger JD Martinez, but Devers is an indelible piece of Boston's offseason puzzle.

Miguel Andujar, New York Yankees

Speaking of young AL East infielders, the Yankees are hoping for big things from Miguel Andujar, who could win the third base job with a superlative spring.

The 22-year-old hit .315 with an .850 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last season and went 4-for-7 with two doubles and four RBI in an impressive MLB audition.

Shortstop

J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies

A first-round pick in 2013, J.P. Crawford struggled in 23 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 after hitting .243 at Triple-A. February 23, 2018 Page 38 of 44

That said, his range and defense are top-notch, and the Phillies plan to make him their everyday shortstop.

"I just thought to myself that I finally have a chance to start my career and be a part of this team from the get-go," Crawford said after arriving in camp, per Matt Breen of Philly.com. "Hopefully, I can make an impact on Opening Day."

Amed Rosario, New York Mets

If you're sensing a trend of National League East teams giving starting gigs to young , you're not wrong.

The New York Mets are counting on Amed Rosario, who hit .328 with 19 stolen bases at Triple-A and got 165 at-bats with the Amazin's.

"The sky is the limit for this kid," Mets veteran Jose Reyes said, per Newsday's David Lennon. "He can do everything he wants to do."

Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves

Dansby Swanson fell mostly flat in his first full big league season, as he hit .232 with a .636 OPS for the Braves.

The 24-year-old was the first overall pick in 2015. Expectations are calibrated accordingly, and he can live up to them with a needle-moving 2018.

Outfield

Alex Verdugo, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers outfield could be staffed by Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor, Joc Pederson, Andrew Toles, Matt Kemp, etc.

Rookie Alex Verdugo can enter the competition after hitting .314 with an .825 OPS at Triple-A last season and making his MLB debut.

As shortstop Corey Seager and first baseman Cody Bellinger have demonstrated, the defending Senior Circuit champions are ready and willing to give MLB jobs to minor leaguers the moment they're ready.

Manuel Margot, San Diego Padres

Manuel Margot was slowed by a calf injury in 2017 but hit .263 with 13 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 126 games for the San Diego Padres. Tack on eight defensive runs saved in center field, and you're describing a star in the offing. February 23, 2018 Page 39 of 44

Margot turned 23 in September, meaning he's on the edge of his prime. The Friars won't compete in 2018, but they'll enjoy his exploits.

Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies signed first baseman Carlos Santana this winter, which pushes Rhys Hoskins to left field. The 24-year-old hit 18 home runs in 50 games last season for the Phils and is poised for a 162- contest breakout.

FanGraphs' Depth Charts projects 36 homers and a .522 slugging percentage. Philadelphia would take that with a smile.

Pitcher

Alex Reyes, St. Louis Cardinals

Alex Reyes posted a 1.57 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. He was a safe bet to emerge as the game's next ace.

Tommy John surgery erased his 2017 season, but at age 23, he's primed for a comeback.

The Cards may use him out of the bullpen or slot him into the rotation. Either way, he's an arm to bet on.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani posted a 2.52 ERA with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings and an .859 OPS in five seasons with Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters.

The 23-year-old eschewed untold millions by bucking MLB's international signing rules and agreeing to terms with the Los Angeles Angels before his 25th birthday.

Now, we get to watch his triple-digit fastball and fence-clearing power stateside. Get your popcorn ready.

Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are banking on exciting things from right-hander Tyler Chatwood, even after signing ace Yu Darvish.

Chatwood had extreme home/away splits last season with the Rockies, as he posted a 6.01 ERA and .302 opponents' average at Coors Field and a 3.49 ERA and .200 opponents' average on the road.

Wrigley Field isn't a hurlers' paradise, but a move away from the Mile High confines could propel the 28- year-old Chatwood to top-of-the-rotation status. February 23, 2018 Page 40 of 44

All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.

FROM YAHOO SPORTS

Angels set the date for Shohei Ohtani’s spring training debut

By Frank Schwab

The long wait to see Los Angeles Angels pitcher/slugger Shohei Ohtani take the mound in a Major League Baseball game is almost over.

It’s only spring training, but Ohtani is expected to make his Cactus League debut on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers according to Pedro Moura of The Athletic, assuming no complications before the weekend. We can also take a guess on when he’ll be in the lineup as a DH for the first time. According to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Ohtani will not hit the day after he pitches. That might mean Ohtani will DH on Monday, Fletcher said.

It’s hard to recall a more anticipated spring training debut. Because of Ohtani’s ability to pitch and hit, the 23-year-old’s legend has been growing for a while. While we have seen plenty of Japanese players make superstar impacts in Major League Baseball, there’s a little extra curiosity about Ohtani because of his two-way ability. Even seeing video of his first bullpen session with the Angels was exciting.

Ohtani’s batting practice exploits are also buzzworthy.

Saturday’s game is slated to be broadcast on Fox Sports West, and the ratings that blow away any other spring training game in years. Ohtani’s spring training appearances as a pitcher and hitter will be dissected through March before the regular season begins on March 29. While most spring training games are just bland tune-ups for the regular season, Ohtani’s spring starts might feel like events, especially when you factor in his international stardom.

Now we know when Ohtani’s first spring training game is expected to be. Let the hype continue.

FROM USA TODAY

Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to make Cactus League debut as a pitcher on Saturday

The wait is finally over.

Shohei Ohtani, Japan's two-way superstar, will make his Cactus League debut as a pitcher on Saturday when the Los Angeles Angels host the Milwaukee Brewers, the club announced Thursday. February 23, 2018 Page 41 of 44

He's scheduled to go two innings.

On the day he pitches, Ohtani will not hit, said manager Mike Scioscia.

Scioscia also confirmed that Ohtani will not hit on the day after he pitches, meaning his debut as a hitter likely will come Monday.

The Angels plan on using Ohtani as part of a six-man rotation during the season. Depending on his workload, he will work into the offense as a designated hitter.

"He's going to get the most looks as a pitcher," Scioscia said when camp opened Feb. 13. "If he can pitch to his capabilities, that will always influence your team more than what he would do hitting. But that's not to say he won't have a chance to be a difference-maker on the offensive end, too.

"There's a certain novelty to it. You've had Madison Bumgarner swing the bat with the Giants, but not like we're trying to implement with Shohei. I don't think it's going to be that big of an issue. We need him to pitch. He's a big part of our rotation. Secondary to that, when he has an opportunity to swing the bat, we definitely want to take a look at him."

Ohtani, 23, was highly sought after this winter. Known as "Japan's Babe Ruth," he can hit 100 mph on the radar gun and slugged 22 homers as a 21 year old in the Japan Pacific League.

Spring training: Five things to watch as Grapefruit and Cactus League’s begin

By Scott Boeck

The first pitches of the Grapefruit and Cactus League will be thrown on Friday.

Nearly a full slate of games will be played under the Florida and Arizona sun -- with the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers opening on Saturday.

While it's been a slow offseason on the free agent market, there's still been plenty of player movement and news preceding the 2018 season.

What to watch for in this weekend's games:

MLB honoring Florida shooting victims

All 30 teams will be wearing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School caps to honor the Florida shooting victims for spring openers. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said earlier this week there was a "really strong sentiment of the clubs it was the appropriate thing to do immediately."

Enjoy the Sho February 23, 2018 Page 42 of 44

Shohei Ohtani, Japan's two-way superstar, will make his Cactus League debut as a pitcher on Saturday when the Los Angeles Angels host the Milwaukee Brewers. He's scheduled to go two innings.

Bronx Bombers

The Yankees will open the gates three hours before spring training home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, allowing fans to watch and Giancarlo Stanton take batting practice. Last year gates opened two hours early.

Prospect watch

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna, the No. 1 prospect in baseball, just turned 19 years old in December. Gleyber Torres, the Yankees top prospect, is only 21. Can either of these to top prospects force the hand of their respective club by breaking camp? They have a month to prove themselves.

Name association

After years of associating Evan Longoria, Andrew McCutchen and Giancarlo Stanton with the Tamps Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins, respectively, they'll all don new uniforms in 2018.

FROM REUTER S

Angels’ Ohtani to make pitching start on Saturday

(Reuters) - Japanese two-way standout Shohei Ohtani will make his first start for the Los Angeles Angels when he pitches in a spring training game on Saturday, the Angels said on Thursday.

He is the first player in nearly 100 years to attempt to play in the big leagues as a pitcher and hitter and has drawn comparisons with Babe Ruth, who began his career as a pitcher before becoming a Hall of Fame slugger for the New York Yankees.

Ohtani, the former Nippon Ham Fighters player who signed with the Angels in December, is scheduled to pitch two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers at Diablo Stadium, the Angels’ spring training home in Tempe, Arizona.

A right-hander, Ohtani, 23, had a 2.52 in five season with the Ham Fighters and is expected to be part of a six-man rotation for the Angels, who play in the American League.

He is not expected to make his hitting debut until Monday since Angels manager Mike Scioscia has said Ohtani will not hit the day he pitches or the day after.

The left-handed batter hit .332 in 2017 and slugged 48 home runs in 1,035 career at-bats in Japan. He homered in batting practice with the Angels last week. February 23, 2018 Page 43 of 44

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

With Cozart joining Angels infield, the defense never rests

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) The Los Angeles Angels are all about defense.

And by signing Zack Cozart, an All-Star shortstop with Cincinnati last year, to a three-year $38 million deal in the offseason they might now have baseball’s best defensive infield.

For the Angels, Cozart will play third base. He joins two reigning Gold Glove winners in shortstop Andrelton Simmons and catcher Martin Maldonado. Then there’s second baseman Ian Kinsler, who won the award in the American League in 2016 and was a finalist last year.

”We’re going to be good defensively,” Cozart said. ”It’s going to be fun.”

At the plate, Cozart could be the unusual major leaguer who blossoms in his late 20s or early 30s, a path blazed by the likes of Daniel Murphy and Justin Turner.

In seven years with the Reds, he hit .254 with a .716 OPS.

But last year, at age 31, Cozart earned his first All-Star appearance last year by putting together a career season. He finished with a .297 average with 24 homers, 63 RBIs.

Cozart credits a simple adjustment. He used to hold his hands high in his batting stance, which he believes led to over-thinking in his approach to hitting.

”It used to mess with my rhythm a lot,” he said. ”It was tough for me to synch up with the pitcher.”

Last spring, he decided to simply put the bat on his shoulder, which he believes simplified his approach.

”If felt really weird at first,” he said.

Then in his first at bat last spring, he hit a home run.

”I thought, `Man it can’t be that easy, right?”’ he said. ”I took it into the year. I got more and more comfortable with it. It just took off.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said Cozart has the look of, “a guy who is coming into his own.”

”It’s a great sign when a player improves with age and he uses that experience to make some adjustments and become more consistent, particularly on the offensive end of his game,” he said. February 23, 2018 Page 44 of 44

His experience at shortstop is a big plus because he is expected to play the position when Simmons needs a break. This is especially important considering the Angels will have a thin position-player bench because they will carry six starting pitchers and seven relievers.

”If you have guys on the team who are versatile and not one-dimensional – on defense especially – it makes it a lot easier on the manager,” Cozart said.

Cozart chose the Angels after the club re-signed Justin Upton then persuaded Japanese pitcher-hitter Shohei Ohtani to join them. In Cozart’s mind, this meant the Angels wanted to win.

”That was most important at this point in my career,” he said.

Cozart got to play in the postseason in his first two full seasons with the Reds (2012-13), but the team declined thereafter.

”The last four years weren’t so good,” he said. ”I wanted to get back to the playoffs.”

NOTES: Ohtani is set to start the Angels’ spring home opener Saturday afternoon vs. Milwaukee. Ohtani threw a bullpen session on Thursday. Nick Tropeano is scheduled to start the Angels’ opener Friday in Mesa against Oakland. Tropeano, competing for the final spot in the six-man rotation, missed all of 2017 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2016.

FROM KYODO NEWS

Baseball: Ohtani to make spring training debut Feb. 24 Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani will make his spring training debut as a pitcher on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Angels announced Thursday.

The 23-year-old began his official training at the Angels' spring camp on Feb. 14. He needed an invitation to attend the major-league camp as he joined the team on a minor-league contract.

In December, Ohtani signed with the Angels after being posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan's Pacific League. He has both pitched and played a key role in the Fighters' lineup for five seasons.

Despite being a former MVP in Japanese pro baseball, Ohtani is considered an amateur according to the rules governing international signings as agreed to by Major League Baseball and its union.