Spring training is underway, with games starting in two weeks down in Clearwater.
There are a handful of position battles, most for a bench spot or bullpen slot — as well as several talented prospects looking to make a surprise breakthrough. But at this early juncture we wanted to take a crack at projecting their opening day line up and roster. Here’s an early guess:
Lineup
1. Cesar Hernandez 2B
2. Howie Kendrick OF
3. Odubel Herrera OF
4. Maikel Franco 3B
5. Tommy Joseph 1B
6. Michael Saunders OF
7. Freddy Galvis SS
8. Cameron Rupp C
Rotation
1. Jeremy Hellickson
2. Aaron Nola
3.Clay Buchholz
4. Vincent Velasquez
5.Jerad Eickhoff
Bullpen
Hector Neris
Jeanmar Gomez
Pat Neshek
Joaquin Benoit
Luis Garcia
Michael Mariot
Bench
Jorge Alfaro C
Tyler Goeddel OF
Andres Blanco SS
Chris CoghlanUtil
Cody Asche OF
Aaron AltherrOF