Three teams will start entire outfields of players 26 and younger, and the youth trend is permeating the Major Leagues.

After falling well below expectations last season, Hanley Ramirez, Carl Crawford, Adam Dunn, B.J. Upton and Jayson Werth are all looking to rebound in a big way in 2012.

It is an odd sight from afar: rows and rows of Minor League pitchers raising their arms in the air while simulating a session of playing catch with a partner several yards away.

The typical reaction to being sent down to Minor League camp is disappointment, sometimes even anger. For Chris Archer, though, it was a welcomed move.

The payoff on the Cardinals' two-year, $14-million investment in Rafael Furcal is primed to be measured by his presence.

The biggest mystery in Clearwater this spring is Chase Utley. Why isn't he playing? Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said after Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins at Bright House Field that Utley could see his first game action in the near future.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a pair of home runs and J.P.
Arencibia added one of his own as the Blue Jays extended their Grapefruit League unbeaten streak to nine games with a victory over the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Drafted in 2005 as a pitcher, Brian Bogusevic hasn't had much time to adjust to his new role as a position player. But the 28-year-old has made sure to make the most of the little time he has had since the switch.

The Indians are doing the best they can to simulate a Spring Training setting for pitcher Roberto Hernandez while he remains sequestered in the Dominican Republic. That much has been acknowledged by the ballclub. The rest of the details surrounding his situation remain sketchy at this point.

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left Wednesday's game against the Rockies with a jammed right heel.

Jeff Beliveau, Andrew Cashner, DJ LeMahieu and Chris Carpenter all played in the Arizona Fall League last year, and when the season ended, the four players — who were all in the Cubs organization at that time — decided to take a vacation to the Bahamas.

That loud cracking sound heard throughout the Valley of the Sun on Wednesday afternoon was Albert Pujols announcing his official arrival as the Angels' new slugger.

For the second time in three days, the Mets came to Joker Marchant Stadium with a shorthanded lineup and put up runs. However, the Tigers had a strong offensive showing of their own, culminating with Quintin Berry's walk-off single that gave them a 7-6 victory in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon.

Yankees right-hander Freddy Garcia exited Wednesday's 7-5 loss against the Blue Jays with a right hand bruise. Garcia left Florida Auto Exchange Stadium for Tampa, Fla., to undergo precautionary X-rays, which came back negative.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson decided to play Bryce Harper in center field against the Braves on Wednesday night.

While Freddy Garcia left Wednesday's game against Toronto with a bruised right hand, the Yankees did receive some good news on the injury front, including Nick Swisher and David Robertson

Edinson Volquez might not have been the centerpiece, or even second on the list, of the December trade that saw the Padres trade pitcher Mat Latos to the Reds. But Volquez might well be the most important piece for 2012.