Ehire Adrianza Leads Twins Over Orioles; Christian Yelich Keeps Brewers On Top Of Cactus League

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 24, 2018

Grapefruit League

Ehire Adrianza

In 2017, the Twins were one of the surprise teams, hanging close enough in the AL Central to capture a wild card berth into the playoffs. Minnesota was almost even with the Indians until the tribe went on their record-setting winning streak in September, leaving the Twins 17 games back.

Minnesota still has the makings of a contender despite a lackluster Spring. Their 12-4 romp over the Orioles on Saturday evened their record at 13-13.

Getting the Twins off to a fast start was shortstop Ehire Adrianza, with a solo homer in the first inning, followed by a two-run double in the second, both hits coming off Baltimore starter, Chris Tillman, who was rocked for six earned runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Adrianza has limited major league experience, but is likely to be riding the Minnesota bench during the regular season as a utility infielder, part-time starter, pinch runner and pinch-hitter. After parts of four seasons with San Francisco, the 28-year-old Venezuelan played 70 games with Minnesota in 2017, batting .265 with two home runs and 24 RBI, but, more importantly, stole eight bases in nine attempts.

Cactus League

Chris Yelich

With a 10-5 road victory over Oakland, the Milwaukee Brewers moved one step closer to cementing themselves as the best team in Arizona this Spring.

The win kept them two games ahead of a trio of pursuers - San Diego, Cleveland, and the Cubs - with three games left to play before breaking for the regular season.

The Brewers took little time to take the edge over the A's, as leadoff batter Christian Yelich whacked a solo home run to start the game and followed up with a bases-loaded double in the second inning, clearing the deck for a 4-0 lead. The next batter, Lorenzo Cain, singled Yelich home for a 5-0 advantage and the rout was on.

Yelich, who is carrying a .356 preseason average, finished 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs. Traded from Miami to Milwaukee in the off-season, Yelich will likely start in center field for the Brewers, the same position he held in Miami. An all-purpose player, Yelich can hit leadoff or just about anywhere else in the lineup. A career .290 hitter over five seasons, Yellich last year socked 18 home runs and drove in 81 with 16 stolen bases.