Nestor Cortes made his first spring training appearance for the New York Yankees against Minnesota, showing promise despite allowing two runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. Cortes, who had a challenging 2023 season due to a rotator cuff injury, expressed satisfaction with his performance and emphasized the importance of staying healthy.
Yankees' DJ LeMahieu also returned to the field, shrugging off a bad hop infield RBI single that hit his face. LeMahieu, who battled a foot injury last season, felt positive about his performance and readiness for the upcoming games.
Giancarlo Stanton, another Yankees player with injury struggles, went 0 for 3 as the designated hitter but showed promise with a solid hit to center field.
Shohei Ohtani is set to make his exhibition debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers after recovering from elbow surgery. The Dodgers are cautiously optimistic about Ohtani's progress and hope he will be available for the upcoming season.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a new addition to the Dodgers, is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut, bringing his talent from Japan to the team.
Kiké Hernández agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers, marking a homecoming for the utility player who had a productive 2023 season.
The Boston Red Sox are eyeing left-hander Jordan Montgomery as a potential addition to their pitching rotation, following his impressive performance with the Texas Rangers last season.
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and Alec Bohm are expected to make their spring training debuts, with Harper transitioning to first base full-time.
Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins is set to return to the field after offseason knee surgery, aiming for a successful comeback after previous injury setbacks.
Several other players, including Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals and Roansy Contreras of the Pittsburgh Pirates, faced minor setbacks or challenges in their spring training appearances, highlighting the competitive nature of the preseason games.
