Scanning the key major leaguers seeking a fully healthy 2015

As Grapefruit and Cactus league games get started, the Nationals hope that Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth can stay healthy. Also, the area's other local nine, the Orioles, needs health in Manny Machado's knees and Matt Wieters' elbow.

Here's a look at other teams with similar concerns:

* Wil Myers, San Diego: The all-pitch, no-hit Padres from a year ago have revamped their outfield with Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and the 24-year-old Myers, who was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2013 with Tampa Bay. Of the three, Myers is the biggest question mark. Does he lack a work ethic? Can he bounce back from a fractured wrist last season that cost him his power and left him with a .320 slugging percentage? He'll be moving to a bigger ballpark in San Diego, and while his home run total may go down, the Padres think he'll be a productive gap hitter.

* Joe Mauer, Minnesota: At 32, Mauer, an AL MVP and three-time batting champion, was moved from catcher to first base in hopes that his injuries and run production would perk up. Mauer has battled back injuries and concussions the last few seasons, but this offseason, he was able to train injury-free. The Twins are hoping that's going to make a difference in helping the first baseman hit .300 with double-digit home runs. What a boost that would be for a lineup that finished fifth in the AL in runs scored last season. Mauer hit .277 last season with four home runs.

* Prince Fielder, Texas: After a trade from Detroit, Fielder's first season with the Rangers was cut short with a neck injury that required surgery. His last game with the Rangers was May 16. The Rangers expect him to be in their opening day lineup on April 6 at home against Oakland, but whether his elite power stroke comes back is another story. The Rangers expected 40-homer power from Fielder when they traded second baseman Ian Kinsler to Detroit for him.

* Joey Votto, Cincinnati: At 31, Votto, the Reds first baseman is the constant center of debate in Cincinnati: Should Votto, a left-handed batter, be hitting with more power? Should he not be so selective at the plate? Chances are Votto isn't going to change, and he's not going to hit a lot of home runs even though he plays in a power-friendly home ballpark. Votto's 2014 season was wiped away by a quadriceps injury in the second half. Votto has led the National League in walks three times. He's also had at least four seasons when he's hit at least 24 home runs and one season where he hit 37.

* Ryan Braun, Milwaukee: Braun, the Brewers right fielder, is a game-changing bat when he's healthy, but that wasn't the case in 2014. He hit career lows in virtually every offensive category, including a .266 average with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs. The good news for Brewers fans is that he had offseason surgery to repair a thumb injury that made it difficult for him to swing a bat last season.

* David Freese, Los Angeles Angels: Last season, the Angels ran away with the AL West with 98 wins even though they had struggles at third base. Freese, a World Series hero for St. Louis, gets a second chance to solidify the position for the Angels. Freese plays good defense, but last season, he struck out 124 times and he had only a .383 slugging percentage. Josh Hamilton is out. Albert Pujols, who had 105 RBIs with 28 home runs last season, is in decline, so it's important for Freese to step up.

* David Wright, New York Mets: At 32, Wright is trying to come back from a string of injuries. He's missed 144 games since 2011 because of a variety of injuries. Last season, a shoulder injury made his season miserable and he finished with eight home runs. If Wright can stay healthy and outfielder Curtis Granderson can hit better than in his first season with the Mets, they have a chance to push toward 85 victories. Wright's career average dropped to .298 last season after he finished at .269.

* Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees: The switch-hitting first baseman, who was born in Annapolis, is coming off a season where he hit 22 home runs, but the Yankees weren't happy with the .216 average. And he's hardly been on the field. In the last three seasons, he's played in 123, 15 and 123 games. And he's just one of the Yankees' injury concerns when you consider CC Sabathia (knee), Masahiro Tanaka (elbow), Ivan Nova (elbow) and Carlos Beltran, 38, (knees). Looks like Alex Rodriguez, Beltran and Teixeira will be used as designated hitters.

* Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado: The Rockies' team-defining shortstop would be considered the best shortstop in baseball - if he could stay healthy. But, he hasn't played in 150 games since the 2009 season and this season, he's coming back from hip surgery. He's 30 years old and he's a dangerous hitter when he's playing. Consider that he hit .340 with 21 home runs last season despite getting 315 at-bats. The Rockies tried to trade him during the winter, but the injuries kept teams from wanting to make a deal for him.

* Michael Bourn, Cleveland: The Indians need his speed at the top of the order, but at 32, the center fielder's best speed days are likely behind him. Bourn is coming back from a season where he landed on the disabled list twice with hamstring injuries. Bourn has won three stolen base titles with 61, 52 and 61 steals, but in his last three seasons, his totals have been 42, 23 and 10.




Notes from today's final full workout
Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the pitching ...
 

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