A Couple of Firsts

When I found out Phillies pitching phenom Spencer Howard was going to pitch today, I made sure to set my DVR so I could see what the fuss is about. Here's the fuss–the kid looks really, really good.

He's a right-hander and can throw in the upper 90s. There was no radar reading on the telecast, but he sure looked to be throwing smoke.

The first pitch he threw was a fastball toward the inner half of the plate, which promptly got smacked into the hole between short and third for a single. The next hitter also connected on the first pitch, another fastball, and lined out to center for the first out of the inning.

Part-time Twins catcher Willians Astudillo was up next. Howard started him with a strike right down the middle of the plate. Strike two was a nice curveball that had Astudillo looking back at the umpire as if to say "really?" The third pitch was another fastball that got lined to left for a single.

He started the next hitter with a breaking ball in the dirt for a ball, followed by a two low fastballs. The next fastball was a called strike, followed by a foul ball on another heater. The sixth pitch, another fastball, was lifted down the right field line for an out.

His last hitter took a fastball outside for ball one, and then another fastball in on the hands that splintered the bat on a foul ball. Another fastball for another foul ball, and a sharp, breaking curve that was taken low for a ball. Another curve was fouled off and then a called third strike on a fastball on the outside corner.

So his day featured 17 pitches, two hits, one strikeout, and a handful of impressive curves. He'll start the year in the minors, but expect to see him at some point this season.

Our other first featured free agent shortstop Didi Gregorius, who finally got his first hit of the spring after going 22 at-bats without a hit. Ouch.

Bryce Harper was hit on the foot by a pitch and left the game early. Harper later said he was "totally fine" and was only going to be in the game for two at-bats.