Tom Brennan: Hitters from Last Spring That I’m Glad Aren’t Back

Vientos rightly had the most ABs in 2023 spring training. 

Too many 2023 Spring Training ABs went to filler and finished hitters, though.

Will it repeat in 2024?

The Bible says, “Be thankful in all things.”

I am a thankful dude. Thank you for asking. I’m thankful you did.

I am, among other things, thankful that many hitters aren’t back for this year’s spring training. Here are the hitters from 2023 that I am happy are not here, hoovering up other hitters’ important spring at bats:

Eduardo Escobar - a really nice guy, but he hit 4 for 34. Didn’t like that.

Darin Ruf - his 5 for 30 dreadfulness reinforced that “he was all washed up, Mom, and ready for dinner.”

Daniel Vogelbach - I had a pipe clog at home last year and didn’t like it. DV? He clogged base paths like no one else ever.

Lorenzo Cedroia - meh.

Danny Mendick - his 5 for 26 in ST was a sign he was also washed up.

Tim Locastro and Jose Peraza - had decent Fla. springs, but indecent seasons.

Jaylin Davis, Jonathan Arauz, Honest Abe Almonte, and Michael Perez  - those four are now starring in “The Old and the Marginal” soap box series.  No one watches it. I understand why.

Kidding aside, just on actual at bats alone last spring, those 11 sluggers had 312 ABs in spring training 2023.  With walks, maybe around 340 PAs.  That’s about 10 full spring games’ worth of plate appearances.  

WAY too many for a serious team to be wasting in Spring Training.

Let the real vets and real kids here now get the ABs in spring training 2024. 

For starters, Jett, Gilbert, and Acuna should combine for 100, or even 150 ABs.

Rhylan Thomas, JT Schwartz, Kevin Parada, and slugging Stan the Man Consuegra, who hit 17 HRs in his last 56 games in the minors in 2023. May they get their hacks, too. (BTW, .328 Rhylan was 1 for 1 last spring.) 

Matt Rudick? Yes, if he has recovered. And a few at bats each from young, fine prospects like Jacob Reimer and Nick Morabito.

And, as regards all the veterans in camp, enough are good, and deserving of ST ABs, that the marginal ones ought to get few at bats.

I thankfully sense this spring training should be a lot more fun. Because, from a hitting standpoint, the guys who will get the vast majority of ABs in the next 5 weeks really should be a combo of mostly good veterans who will be on the opening day team and quality kids who comprise the real future.