Spring Training: 3/6

Spring Player Outlook: Bryce Harper

Stat Line: 1 HR, 1 RBI, .474 AVG, 0 SB.

Perhaps nobody in Nationals camp is more excited for 2013 than Bryce Harper.  All the rookie jitters will be gone (though it's hard to imagine that the mohawk-sporting teenager ever had them), and for the first time ever, he is all but guaranteed a starting spot on the major league team on Opening Day.  This Spring, after declining an opportunity to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, he has hit the ground running at the plate.  In seven games, he is batting .474 with a home run, a pair of doubles, and a trio of runs scored.  He was 6-8 (.750 AVG) with both his doubles in his first three games.  I foresee a great season from Harper, possibly 25-30 home runs and an average around .280 or .290.

News

WBC teams Japan, Korea, The Netherlands (my favorite team), and Cuba have advanced to the second round.

The Dominicans pounded Cole Hamels and the Phillies, knocking Cole Hamels, Ethan Martin, Jonathan Pettibone, and Justin Friend for 15 runs on 28 hits.

Royals won their tenth straight game.

WBC Scores

Cuba (3-0) beat Japan (2-1) 6-3.

Game Scores

Nationals (5-3) beat the Astros (5-5) 7-1.

Braves (6-6) beat the Yankees (3-8) 2-0.

Rays (8-4) beat the Twins (6-5) 8-5.

Padres (7-6) beat the Dodgers (4-5) 7-3.

Rockies (6-5) beat the Cubs (5-7) 6-3.

Hybrid Games (All Exhibition)

Red Sox beat Puerto Rico 4-3.

Dominican Republic beat the Phillies 15-2.

USA tied the White Sox 4-4.

Canada beat the Brewers 7-4.

A's beat Italy 4-3.

Marlins beat Venezuela 6-5.

Mexico beat the Diamondbacks 1-0.

Pirates beat Spain 10-0.

Standings

Grapefruit League: Top: Orioles (7-2, .778 WPCT).  Bottom: Yankees (3-8, .273).

Cactus League: Top: Royals (10-0, 1.000).  Bottom: Reds (2-11, .154)

.Nationals: 5-3, .625, 3rd in Grapefruit League.

Spring Leaders

Offensive: AVG: Brett Gardner (Yankees), .579 (11-19).  Home runs: Nolan Arenado (Rockies) and Ryan Raburn (Indians), 4.  RBI: Ryan Howard (Phillies), 10.  SB: Ezequil Carrera (Indians) and Desmond Jennings (Rays), 5.

Pitching: Wins: 8 tied with 2.  K's: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), 12.  ERA: Michael Wacha (Cardinals), 0.00 (7.2 shutout innings).  Saves: 8 tied with 2.

Top Performers

Offensive: Hanley Ramirez (Dominican): 4-6, 2 doubles, home run, 3 RBI, 3 runs (in exhibition game).

Pitching: Zach Duke (Nationals): Win (1-0), 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 K's (5), ERA drop: 0.00 runs from 0.00 to 0.00.

Worst Pitching Performance: Cole Hamels (Phillies): Loss, 2.2 innings, 8 earned runs, 12 hits, no walks, 3 K's (in exhibition game).

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

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

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

Zack Silverman