Ortiz Pounds Three-Run Blast; McLouth in Mid-Season Form for Atlanta

Players of the Day for Monday, February 28, 2010

American League

Notorious for slow starts, David Ortiz may have gotten the message from the fans and the front office in Boston. The slugging 1st baseman/DH belted his first home run of the Spring, a three-run, third inning blast that got Boston on the board in their 7-6 win over the Twins.

"Big Papi," as he is known to his fans and teammates, also singled, going 2-for-2. Ortiz has had slow starts each of the past two years and was actually benched for a short time last season before he started producing.

National League

On the last day of February, Atlanta's Nate McLouth was playing like it was the first day of July as the Braves wiped the Astros, 13-3, for their initial Grapefruit League victory.

McLouth went 2-for-2, with a single, double and a stolen base, scoring three times and driving in a pair.

After joining the Braves mid-season in 2009 from the Pirates, McLouth batted only .190 in 85 games in 2010.