Angels’ Cron showing good power swing early in spring training
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:50 am ET) Angels 1B/DH C.J. Cron homered for the second straight game during Thursday’s spring game against the Cubs. He went 2 for 4 with two runs and one RBI.

Cron is off to a good start this spring. He is batting .389 (7 for 18) with one double, two home runs, four RBI and four runs in seven games.

Orioles’ Paul Janish progressing toward playing in games
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:25 am ET) Orioles infielder Paul Janish has thrown the last three days and took batting practice on the field Thursday for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery in February.

“That was good,” Janish said, per MASNsports.com. “At this point, the throwing has gone really well. I don’t have a really good estimate in terms of how long the throwing program is going to take, but I don’t think it’s going to be too long, so it looks like I’ll play for the last couple weeks of camp, hopefully.”

Janish is still hoping to make his spring debut March 20 or March 21.

“It’s optimistic,” he said. “That would be next Friday. It’s a feasible option, but like I said, it’s optimistic. But probably, assuming everything goes well over the next week, sometime in that timeframe or next weekend being in the mix to hopefully play in games.

“That’s not entirely my decision, so I’ll be at the disposal of the trainers, but health-wise I’m feeling good and I think we’re going to be in the clear in terms of having the opportunity to play while we’re down here, which ultimately was my goal.”

Orioles’ Norris doesn’t appear too concerned about back issue
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:19 am ET) Orioles starting pitcher Bud Norris, who has pitched through back soreness, said Friday he felt better Thursday against the Cardinals than he did in his previous spring outing, per The Baltimore Sun.

“It’s early in camp, you’re getting your baseball legs back under you, it’s kind of expected that there will be some tight backs,” Norris said, “so you just want to come in and do your hot tub and get some hot packs on it, but I felt fine. You’re body’s going to adjust to getting back to throwing every five days like that.

“It’s more about the up and downs, the half innings when you’re sitting on the bench and staying loose and getting back up. That’s where you’re building up some momentum and pitch counts and getting ready for an eight-inning or a nine-inning game.”

Norris doesn’t appear to be too concerned about his back issue.

“I think over the course of your career you’re back’s going to start getting a little bit worse,” he said. “It was pretty sore after my first spring start, but a lot better yesterday. Nothing too crazy.”

Ichiro getting playing time at all three outfield positions
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:14 am ET) Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki drew the start in left field Friday against the Cardinals. It is significant because Suzuki has now started at all three outfield spots and DH this spring.

“He’s going to have to be able to do that and he knows that,” manager Mike Redmond said of Suzuki’s versatility, per The Palm Beach Post. “That’s the beauty of Ichiro, he can do all those things. He can play all those positions. We talk about ways of getting him in the lineup during the season and that’s how it’s going to be, maybe a day off for (Christian) Yelich, a day off for (Marcell) Ozuna, a day off for (Giancarlo) Stanton at some point maybe. I want to make sure we’re comfortable with him playing all those positions. This is a great time to do it.

“When you start filling out those bench spots you want guys to do and cover as much as you possibly can and I got to feel comfortable (we can) throw those guys out at any position.”

Rays reassign Robertson, Powell to minor-league camp
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:08 am ET) The Rays reassigned shortstop Daniel Robertson and outfielder Boog Powell to minor-league camp Thursday, per the Tampa Bay Times. Both players were acquired in a trade with the A’s in January.

“I don’t know how much you value first impressions, but they couldn’t have been any better for both of those guys,” manager Kevin Cash said.

Astros SP Mark Appel penciled in to start Monday vs. Nationals
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:02 am ET) Astros starting pitcher prospect Mark Appel (forearm) is penciled in to make his first spring start Monday against the Nationals, per MLB.com. Appel was scratched from Monday’s spring game against the Blue Jays due to mild tightness in his right forearm.

Phillies’ Chase Utley (ankle) makes spring debut as DH on Friday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:56 am ET) He might not be ready to play in the field due to an ankle injury, but Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is at least ready to take at-bats in a spring game.

Utley, who has been hobbled since spraining his right ankle, will make his spring debut Friday against the Rays as the team’s DH. He will bat third.

Nationals reassign catchers Severino, Kieboom to minor-league camp
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:40 am ET) The Nationals announced Friday they reassigned catcher Pedro Severino and catcher Spencer Kieboom to minor-league camp.

Nationals’ Rendon to get a few more days off with mild knee sprain
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:35 am ET) Nationals manager Matt Williams said Friday third baseman Anthony Rendon will need a few more days to rest his left knee. Williams said Rendon has a mild MCL sprain.

“It’s mild,” Williams said, per The Washington Times. “It wasn’t getting better as quickly as we thought it would and he wanted it to be. We got an (X-ray) of it yesterday. So, it’s a mild sprain. We’ll shut him down for a few days. Make sure that it’s good.

“It’s odd that he did it on the dive, but it is what it is and we’ll make sure we take care of it. In the next week or so, he’ll be back playing. It’s just an odd injury.”

Rendon is batting .222 (2 for 9) with one strikeout through three spring games.

Padres 3B Will Middlebrooks doing well early in spring games
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:32 am ET) Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks failed to record a hit Thursday against the Dodgers, which was the first time in five spring games he failed to get on base. He struck out twice.

Still, despite the hitless outing, Middlebrooks — who is competing for the starting third base job — is off to a good start this spring. He is batting .467 (7 for 15) with one double, two home runs and four RBI.