The Indians opened their Cactus League schedule with a tilt against the Reds on Wednesday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark. About a half-mile down the road from the stadium, Cleveland reliever Vinnie Pestano had a different kind of debut.

Giants president and chief executive officer Larry Baer addressed issues involving two of the franchise’s chief rivals Wednesday, insisting that the club doesn’t need to match the Los Angeles Dodgers’ monstrous payroll and holding the door slightly open for the Oakland A’s to play home games at AT&T Park.

Josh Reddick channeled his inner Spider-Man on two occasions Wednesday, both times against the Giants’ Michael Morse in Oakland’s Cactus League opener at Scottsdale Stadium, robbing the outfielder of at least one home run — maybe two.

On the morning of his first-ever game as a manager, at any level, Bryan Price didn’t have too many butterflies in his stomach Wednesday before the Reds opened their Cactus League schedule against the Indians.

This time last year, the Blue Jays were looking forward to getting measured for 2013 World Series rings. The problem was they gagged on the lofty predictions. The Phillies, after winning the National League East five consecutive summers, came up short in 2012 and opened 2013’s Spring Training determined to prove that the prior season was a mere aberration. It wasn’t.

Michael Morse displayed his hitting prowess and his sense of humor Wednesday. He could have used a little more of the former, and he needed plenty of the latter. Morse crushed two opposite-field drives to right field during the Giants’ 10-5 Cactus League loss to the Oakland A’s that should have been home runs.

Robinson Cano has been through enough Spring Trainings to know that Major League games and jobs aren’t won and lost in February. But that doesn’t stop the newest Seattle star from being eager to get going when the Mariners open Cactus League play on Thursday in their annual charity game against the Padres at Peoria Stadium.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw appeared a little amped during the club’s exhibition-season opener against Arizona, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings.

This is what Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos dreamed about, a chance at a starting role on a Major League team. His family hoped it would be in Detroit.

The long feeling-out process between pitcher and catcher began in earnest on Wednesday for Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova and his new catcher, Brian McCann.

Jose Reyes has been afforded something with the Blue Jays that he never received in Miami: A second chance.

The Angels agreed to terms on an unprecedented one-year, $1 million contract for 2014 with 22-year-old center fielder Mike Trout on Wednesday, setting a positive tone for ongoing conversations regarding a long-term contract.

Three of the team’s prized winter additions made their debuts on Wednesday, with Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran continuing to get acclimated to their new surroundings.

Nori Aoki and Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish both played in Japan, but the Royals outfielder didn’t face his countryman often. The two will go up against each other Thursday.

Nelson Cruz is expected to make his first spring start for the Orioles in Saturday’s Grapefruit League home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

A lumberjack was in the building, a ninja and a Cobra Kai disciple. But what really stood out that October morning in Midlothian, Texas, was 6-foot-6 Noah Syndergaard dressed as Thor, the hammer-wielding, thunder-making god of Norse mythology. Thor stood on a wooden platform beneath a squat bar as he half-scowled, half-smiled at the camera. He hoisted 445 pounds.

Yasiel Puig has the tools for greatness, but there have also been signs that he’s susceptible to baseball’s notorious sophomore jinx. Time will tell if the Dodgers’ Wild Horse can be reined in so he can cash in on his limitless potential.