Jesse Litsch Clicks for Blue Jays; Chris Heisey Showing Power for Hit-Happy Reds

 Players of the Day for Sunday, March 20, 2011

American League

Jesse Litsch

Jesse Litsch missed most of 2009 and came back in 2010 after having Tommy John surgery, going 1-5 for the Blue Jays. But, judging by his work in Toronto's 3-0 win over the Twins on Sunday, the operation and some additional time off seems to have been a successful remedy.

Litsch earned his second win of the exhibition season with 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out seven Minnesota batsmen.

A starter with the Jays in 2007 and 2008, Litsch went 20-18 over two seasons before the arm problems began. The ext two seasons were a lost cause, but he looks like a solid addition to the Blue Jays rotation, which is already in pretty good shape with Ricky Romero, Brett Cecil and Brandon Morrow.

National League

Chris Heisey

The Reds finished 2010 with one of the best-hitting teams in the majors, and they seem to be on a similar path as they tune up for the 2011 campaign.

Leading the charge to become a regular in a crowded outfield is Chris Heisey, who is batting .325 with 4 homers and 10 RBI this Spring. On Sunday, Heisey went 3-for-6 falling just short of the cycle with a single, triple and home run, 2 RBI and 2 scores as the Red outslugged fellow Central Division foe, Milwaukee, 9-8.

Heisey played in 97 games last season, batting .254 with 8 homers but only 21 RBI. With his power numbers up, he could challenge Drew Stubbs for the starting job in center field or fill in at either of the other two outfield positions.