Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants third base Matt Chapman (26) takes infield practice during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images As the calendar turns to March, the Scottsdale Giants are well into their Cactus League slate.

On a sun-drenched morning early in camp, Hayden Birdsong stepped onto a bullpen mound at Scottsdale Stadium and found himself surrounded by the usual array of teammates, coaches, front office members and analysts.

Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and ... Yankees: Spencer Jones, OF Domínguez seems to have a lock on New York's left-field job, while Jones is more laying the groundwork to fill in if injuries ...

The ball parks at spring training are packed, in a cozy and relaxed setting which is refreshing and downright uplifting emotionally. It is as much fun to sing baseball’s anthem, “Take me out to the ball game,” as it is when you attend a regular season matchup when every game counts.

In the bottom of the second inning with one runner on and two outs, Soto, facing Nationals pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara, took a curveball low and away for a ball. Then, perhaps expecting a fastball on the second pitch, Soto instead got a changeup in the zone and was a tad bit early on the swing, fouling the pitch off.

They’re the two words that herald the coming of spring, the promise of warm sunshine and long days, the sound of bat-on-ball and the return of the boys of summer: Play ball!

The hype for SF Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge has been undeniable. That hype is only going to continue after the first baseman hit an absolute bomb of a ho