Maicer Iztuis, Melky Cabrera Lead Toronto's Rout of Yankees; Mike Trout Tuning Up for Angels

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 14, 2013

Grapefruit League

Melky Cabrera

Despite their 8-10 exhibition record, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking like the class of the AL East, especially after bashing the Yankees, 17-5, at their Spring home in Dunedin, Florida.

Maicer Izturis

Leadoff batter, Maicer Izturis was 2-for-3 with three runs and five RBI to pace the Jays. Further down the order, Melky Cabrera singled and doubled twice in three at-bats, driving in four runs and scoring twice.

Izturis was acquired from the LA Angels in the off-season. Cabrera came to the Jays via Oakland.

The Blue Jays totaled 13 hits in the rout, but were helped by nine walks by Yankee pitchers and three errors by New York infielders.

Cactus League

Mike Trout

LA's Mike Trout was the talk of the baseball universe last season, taking home rookie of the year and silver slugger honors after posting incredible numbers (.326, 30 HR, 83 RBI) in his inaugural season as a major leaguer.

Trout is tuning up for another season atop the Angels' lineup, already boasting a .407 average, despite LA's struggling 4-11 start.

In Thursday's 12-5 clobbering of the White Sox, Trout had one of his better days at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a homer (his first) a double, a stolen base, two RBI and three runs.