1 spring training standout for each MLB team

With spring training set to wrap up, we review the best player on each team from the exhibition schedule.

Arizona Diamondbacks - Josh Naylor: Since being acquired in an offseason trade, Naylor's made quite the impression. He's got 16 hits in 39 at-bats to go along with seven walks and just three strikeouts.

Athletics - Miguel Andujar: The 30-year-old appears to have locked up a bench role following a tremendous spring where he's tied for the team lead in hits and posted a 1.045 OPS with six extra-base hits and five walks.

Atlanta Braves - Grant Holmes: He's quietly outpitched the Braves' bigger names to cement his spot in the rotation, allowing just three earned runs across 15 1/3 innings.

Baltimore Orioles - Ryan Mountcastle: He's been tearing the cover off the ball in Sarasota, posting a .778 slugging percentage with five homers and 14 RBIs in 36 at-bats. He should get most of the playing time at first base for the O's this season.

Boston Red Sox - Trayce Thompson: The 33-year-old has been one of the best hitters on any team this spring with six homers, 13 RBIs, 10 walks, and a 1.280 OPS. Thompson's done everything in his power to impress the coaching staff after signing a minor-league deal, but it still might not be enough to crack Boston's loaded roster come Opening Day.

Chicago Cubs - Pete Crow-Armstrong: The soon-to-be 23-year-old is hitting a ridiculous .519 with three home runs, 11 RBIs, and two stolen bases. A dynamic athlete, he should thrive as the Cubs' everyday center fielder.

Chicago White Sox - Brandon Drury: The veteran utility man looks like a shoo-in to make the Opening Day roster after a fantastic spring where he has 11 RBIs. Ten of his 16 hits have been of the extra-base variety. He could wind up being a nice trade chip at the deadline.

Cincinnati Reds - Brady Singer: The ground-ball specialist did his best this spring to show the Reds why they traded for him. Singer pitched to a 2.25 ERA in four starts with a surprisingly high 13.5 K/9.

Cleveland Guardians - Kyle Manzardo: Trading Naylor won't hurt so much if Manzardo keeps raking like he has this spring. The 24-year-old is slashing .326/.367/.609 with 15 hits in 16 games, including three homers.

Colorado Rockies - Nick Martini: Martini stirred up some competition for a bench role by posting a 203 wRC+ with two home runs. He could earn some at-bats on a Rockies team sorely in need of competent hitters.

Detroit Tigers - Casey Mize: The right-hander is beginning to show glimpses of the dominant pitcher the Tigers drafted first overall in 2018. Mize seems destined for the rotation after posting a 1.13 ERA this spring while striking out 18 in 16 frames.

Houston Astros - Cam Smith: Are the Astros going to win the Kyle Tucker trade? Smith, who came back from the Cubs in the deal, is making a strong case for the Opening Day roster thanks to a .419/.500/.871 spring slash line with four homers and 11 RBIs.

Kansas City Royals - Jac Caglianone: The 2024 sixth overall pick will begin the season in the minors, but he's proven he can hang with the big boys. Caglianone owns a ridiculous 1.235 slugging percentage and 1.871 OPS in 13 spring games.

Los Angeles Angels - Jorge Soler: The Angels traded for Soler in hopes he'd provide their lineup with some punch. He's done exactly that in camp, crushing four homers while slugging .651, but his all-or-nothing approach has also led to 18 strikeouts.

Los Angeles Dodgers - David Bote: The former Cub leads all qualified Dodgers hitters with a 1.171 OPS this spring - just like everyone expected, right? Bote's helped himself out by walking 11.8% of the time.

Miami Marlins - Sandy Alcantara: The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner appears to have fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. Alcantara hasn't allowed an earned run in 12 1/3 innings pitched and his fastball velocity has frequently touched the upper 90s.

Milwaukee Brewers - Rhys Hoskins: After a tough 2024 season, the 32-year-old has looked more like himself this spring. Hoskins has hit six home runs, recorded eight RBIs, and walked six times in 38 plate appearances.

Minnesota Twins - Matt Wallner: The outfielder isn't hitting for much average, but he's showcased a lot of pop this spring. Wallner is tied for the preseason lead in homers (six) and RBIs (14).

New York Mets - Clay Holmes: Holmes made the reliever-to-starter transition look easy this spring, allowing two earned runs in 14 innings pitched while striking out 15. He performed so well that manager Carlos Mendoza named him the team's Opening Day starter with Sean Manaea sidelined.

New York Yankees - Cody Bellinger: First impressions are everything, and Bellinger's made a good one on the Yankees. The offseason trade acquisition is slashing .465/.511/.791 with a team-leading 20 hits this spring.

Philadelphia Phillies - Max Kepler: The Phillies brought in Kepler to hit, and that's what he's done all spring. The longtime Twin has slugged three home runs with a 1.150 OPS while walking nearly 18% of the time.

Pittsburgh Pirates - Jared Jones: Paul Skenes isn't the only exciting young starting pitcher in Pittsburgh. Jones, who authored a strong rookie campaign of his own in 2024, has compiled an impressive 2.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched this spring. However, he's dealing with an ominous case of elbow soreness.

San Diego Padres - Gavin Sheets: No other Padre came close to Sheets' power numbers this spring. He leads the team with six home runs and a whopping 12 RBIs, and his production earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster.

San Francisco Giants - Hayden Birdsong: Birdsong hit all the right notes this spring to lock down a rotation spot. The 23-year-old right-hander has allowed one earned run through four starts while striking out 18 batters and walking none.

Seattle Mariners - Mitch Garver: The veteran DH/catcher's first campaign with the Mariners didn't go well, but Year 2 should be better if he can stay close to his spring pace. Garver owns a .310/.364/.621 slash line, and one-third of his hits have been homers.

St. Louis Cardinals - Iván Herrera: Herrera, 24, doesn't look like he's at risk of losing the starting catching job anytime soon. He's put up a gaudy .379/.474/.724 slash line thanks in part to seven walks.

Tampa Bay Rays - Curtis Mead: The 24-year-old Australian has been sensational this spring, slashing .543/.628/.657. He looks bound for a bench spot on the Rays with 19 hits in 13 games.

Texas Rangers - Kyle Higashioka: The Rangers will employ a dangerous catching tandem of Jonah Heim and offseason addition Higashioka, who's been one of their best hitters this spring. The veteran backstop is tied for the team lead in homers and RBIs.

Toronto Blue Jays - Alan Roden: The 25-year-old is making a serious push to be on the Opening Day roster thanks to a spring slash line of .391/.545/.739 with more walks than strikeouts in 17 games. He's a left-handed hitter and versatile defender, which makes him an asset coming off the Blue Jays' bench.

Washington Nationals - James Wood: The promising 22-year-old outfielder has been a monster at the plate, hitting four runs and four doubles in 43 spring plate appearances. His video-game level OPS (1.132) and slugging percentage (.737) rank among the best by all hitters.