Jose Reyes Leads Blue Jays; Franklin Gutierrez Drives in 4 for Blazing Mariners

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 2, 2013

Grapefruit League

Reyes: 3-for-3, HR

After a failed experiment by the Marlins resulted in a mass exodus, the acquisition of Jose Reyes from Florida by the Blue Jays might just be the key to Toronto winning the weakened AL East this season.

The scintillating shortstop had it all going on in Toronto's 11-6 runaway win over the Phillies, clubbing his first home run of the Spring while going 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs.

Reyes had an OK 2012 in Miami, batting .287 with 40 steals, but he will surely add speed and spark to the leadoff spot for Toronto in 2013. He's off to a blistering start, going 9-for-13 (.643) in his first five games.

Cactus League

Gutierrez: HR, 4RBI

Center field in Seattle appears to already be a settled position, as Franklin Gutierrez clubbed his third home run of the preseason in the Mariners' 9-5 win over the Dodgers.

Gutierrez played just 40 games for Seattle in 2012, sidelined by injuries most of the season, but has come to the Arizona training facility in great health and ready for a full campaign.

Homering and singling in three at-bats, Gutierrez drove in four runs, upping his total to seven. He's batting .364 (4-for-11) with all but one of his hits going over the fences.

Seattle is off to a swell start in Cactus league play, with an 8-1 record. Only 8-0 Kansas City is ahead of them in the standings.