How does MLB Spring Training affect a player’s performance once the regular season begins? It’s an age-old question and one that’s fun to go back in time a few months and see who had a great month of March, as opposed to the first three-plus months of the regular season.
The 2022 Florida Spring Training season was an accelerated one, but still gave players an opportunity to work out, regain their timing at the plate and ready their arms for the regular season.
Here’s the 2022 look back in time from March to July, as the unofficial second half of the season resumes today after the 2022 All Star Game, in Los Angeles, that produced the American League’s ninth consecutive victory.
Best Spring Training Records/Record at All Star Break
Boston Red Sox, 11-8 / 48-45, fourth place in American League East
Philadelphia Phillies, 10-7 / 49-43, third place in National League East
St. Louis Cardinals, 9-5 (.643, best winning percentage) / 50-44, second place in National League Central, 0.5 games behind Milwaukee
On the flip side: Washington Nationals, 4-11 / 31-63, fifth place in National League East
Of Note: Currently four of the six divisions are led by Florida Spring Training teams.
AL East: New York Yankees, 13 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays
AL Central: Minnesota Twins, Two games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians
AL West: Houston Astros, Nine games ahead of the Seattle Mariners
NL East: New York Mets, 2.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves
Most Home Runs in Florida Spring Training/Home Runs at All Star Break
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies, 8 (35 at bats) / 15 (242 at bats)
Kyle Higashioka, New York Yankees, 7 (26 at bats) / 5 (132 at bats)
Leaders at All Star Break
American League: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, 33
National League: Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies, 29
Most RBI in Florida Spring Training/RBI at All Star Break
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies, 14 / 48
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins, 13 (32 at bats) / 43 (273 at bats)
Leaders at All Start Break
National League: Pete Alonso, New York Mets, 78 (344 at bats)
Best Batting Average in Florida Spring Training/Batting Average at All Star Break
Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals, .500 (11-22) / .330, leads National League (112-339)
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins, .469 (15-32) / .216 (59-273)
Leaders at All Star Break
American League: Luis Arraez, Minnesota Twins, .338 (104-308)
National League: Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals, .330 (112-339)
Most Pitching Wins in Florida Spring Training / Wins at All Star Break
Milos Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals, 3, in 3 starts / 7, in 19 starts
Leaders at All Star Break / In Florida Spring Training
American League: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros, 12 / 2, in 4 starts
National League: Kyle Wright, Atlanta Braves, 11 / 0, in 2 starts
Most Strikeouts in Florida Spring Training / Strikeouts at All Star Break
Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox, 22, in 15.2 IP / 104, in 108 IP
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers, 21, in 13.2 IP / 102, in 100.2 IP
While it’s no surprise that Paul Goldschmidt, with a nearly .300 lifetime batting average had a good spring and carried it into the regular season, or that 17-year veteran Justin Verlander did the same, it’s still fun to see them under the March sun in Florida.
Look for the 2023 MLB Regular Season schedules to be release between now and the 2022 World Series, to be followed soon thereafter by the 2023 Florida Spring Training schedules. See you at the Ballpark!