Cactus and Grapefruit League Nuts: The latest updates on Lugnuts in Spring Training
Major League Baseball spring training officially started on Thursday, March 17. We'll keep this space updated as more former Lansing Lugnuts players take the field in the Grapefruit League (Florida) and the Cactus League (Arizona). March 17: The first Nut to see action this year was 2013 outfielder Dwight Smith,
Major League Baseball spring training officially started on Thursday, March 17. We'll keep this space updated as more former Lansing Lugnuts players take the field in the Grapefruit League (Florida) and the Cactus League (Arizona).
March 17: The first Nut to see action this year was 2013 outfielder Dwight Smith, Jr. (pictured above), who batted fifth and played left field for the Chicago White Sox against the Cubs. Dwight finished 0-for-2 with a walk.
There were also a couple of recent Lugnuts signings: 2010 right-hander Ryan Tepera joined the Angels, and 2014-15 right-hander Chase De Jong signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates.
Hagen Danner showed great power but struggled at the plate for the Lugnuts in 2019. It looks like his transition to pitching is going much better.
Charlie Montoyo says he was impressed with Hagen Danner today during live ABs.
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) March 17, 2022
He was 97-98 mph with a sharp slider.
Added to the 40 last winter, definitely a chance he impacts #BlueJays pen this season.
March 19: One at-bat into Grapefruit League play, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. is ready for the season.
Welcome back, Vladdy. We missed you. pic.twitter.com/qPDrd1I1u1
— MLB (@MLB) March 19, 2022
March 20: The biggest swing of the day was supplied by Christian Lopes, who blasted a dramatic late grand slam in the Athletics' 9-9 tie with the Guardians. Kevin Smith also homered for Oakland.
11 former Lugnuts took part in the Blue Jays/Pirates game, won 10-4 by Toronto, namely pitchers Maximo Castillo, Hagen Danner, Tayler Saucedo and Graham Spraker, and position players Jordan Groshans, Danny Jansen, Leonardo Jimenez, Alejandro Kirk, Otto Lopez, Joshua Palacios and Chavez Young.
Alejandro Kirk's performance stood out the most, delivering a pair of resounding swings; a home run and a double.
I'm telling y'all, Alejandro Kirk is gonna be a PROBLEM this year 💪 pic.twitter.com/mrbhHUUoQR
— The Game Day MLB (@TheGameDayMLB) March 20, 2022
Elsewhere, Josh Winckowski and Taylor Cole delivered scoreless innings for the Red Sox; Edward Olivares doubled and tripled for the Royals; Yan Gomes started at catcher for the Cubs against the Dodgers, who used Andy Burns and Ryan Noda off the bench; Carlos Pérez subbed in at catcher for the Rockies against the White Sox, who watched Dwight Smith, Jr. pinch-hit and draw a walk; Richard Ureña went hitless for the Nationals; Miguel Castro and Sean Reid-Foley each appeared in relief for the Mets;
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The Lugnuts open the 132-game Midwest League season at home against the Lake County Captains on Friday, April 8. Click here to purchase your tickets now.
For more information on the Lugnuts, call (517) 485-4500.
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