Mets’ Long impressed with Wilmer Flores: ‘He just doesn’t miss’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:49 am ET) Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores is batting .414 (12 for 29) with one home run, four doubles, five RBI and five runs in nine spring games.

New hitting coach Kevin Long has only been working with Flores for a little while, but the 23-year-old infielder has already left a strong impression.

“Wilmer Flores, he just doesn’t miss,” Long said, per the New York Post. “If you throw a strike, he’s going to do damage.”

Mets’ Long feels David Wright can restore power swing
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:39 am ET) David Wright, who was bothered by a left shoulder injury in 2014, provided the team and Mets fans with an encouraging sight Saturday when his first spring home run cleared the batter’s eye in center field at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla., which is 410 feet away from home plate.

“It’s always fun to hit a home run,” Wright said, per the Associated Press. “It’s good, especially this early in spring, to make good contact and get good results. When you see the results from work, it’s fulfilling and nice.”

Mets hitting coach Kevin Long was also pleased to see the team’s star third baseman getting his confidence back after a down year in 2014.

“That ball he hit was impressive,” Long said, per the New York Post. “If he hits a couple more like that, he should be off and running.”

Long, who is in his first year with the Mets, said he went back to look at some old tape of Wright from 2006, when he was in midst of a power surge that saw him regularly hit more than 20 home runs and slug better than .500.

“We’re just trying to get that muscle-memory back again,” Long said. “If he stays healthy, there’s no reason he can’t have that kind of power.”

Orioles’ Ryan Flaherty back in the lineup after HBP in the head
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:30 am ET) Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty backed up his promise that he would return to action on Thursday. He was back in the lineup for Baltimore’s Grapefruit League contest against the Pirates — just two days removed from being hit in the head with a pitch, per MASN Sports.

Flaherty underwent a SCAT-3 test after the incident, and was cleared to play on Thursday. He has three hits in his first 18 at-bats this spring.

Rockies’ CarGo: I felt like I was flying around the bases
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:21 am ET) Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez made his sixth appearance this spring since his return from August knee surgery, which ended his 2014 season early. Gonzalez had a double and one run in three at-bats against the Diamondbacks, but the most encouraging thing was how he felt after the game.

“I felt like I was flying,” Gonzalez said about his fourth-inning double, per The Denver Post. “I thought I was going to catch (Troy Tulowitzki) at third base. He took a triple away from me.

“I felt really good coming out of the box. I would have gone to third base on that play. It was a hard line drive. And when you’re running from first base like Tulo did, you have to make sure that ball is past you first and then start running. Especially with no outs, you don’t want a double play right away. It was a good read for me. It was nice to see him run too, from first base.”

Gonzalez is batting .308 (4 for 13) with two doubles, two walks, one strikeout and one run this spring.

“I’m feeling a lot better now,” he said. “I’m not thinking about my legs anymore. Just go out there and compete and concentrate on putting good swings to the ball and in the outfield, trying to get a good jump. It’s getting better. Mentally, I feel really good to go. Physically, things are going well.

“The last couple games, I feel like I can take extra bases. That’s a really good sign. It’s only been four or five games. Feeling like that is a huge thing for me. I put a lot of work in this offseason to get to this point.”

Blue Jays’ Aaron Sanchez will likely break camp as starter
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:19 am ET) Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that Aaron Sanchez will likely break camp as a starter, according to Sportsnet.com.

Sanchez, the 34th overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft, made his Blue Jays debut in July. He finished 2014 with a 1.09 ERA, a 0.70 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB ratio over 33.0 innings of work in the majors. The 22-year-old went 3-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 22 appearances (20 starts) between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo last season.

Rays’ Longoria feeling good this spring as he connects for first HR
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:08 am ET) Rays third baseman Evan Longoria homered for the first time this spring Wednesday against the Blue Jays. He also had a single in three at-bats, raising his spring average to .364 (8 for 22). 

Longoria also has one double, two runs and four RBI in nine spring games.

“Maybe it was me, maybe they were trying to keep me feeling good, keep my legs healthy, but I feel like it’s worked out a little bit better this year for me personally in terms of the way I feel,” Longoria said, per The Tampa Tribune. “Now it’s just trying to build on that the rest of the spring, play deeper in the game and get three or four at-bats.”

Mets’ Josh Edgin undergoes Tommy John surgery
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:00 am ET) Mets pitcher Josh Edgin underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, and is expected to miss the entire 2015 season. He rejoined the clubhouse on Thursday with a bandage on his elbow.

Edgin registered a 1.32 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings last season. He’s expected to be fully recovered for the start of the 2016 season.

Braves release reliever Jose Veras
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:56 am ET) The Braves announced Thursday they have released reliever Jose Veras.

The former Astros closer, who was in camp on a minor-league deal, had an 11.81 ERA through six relief appearances. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and seven walks in 5 1/3 innings. He also has four strikeouts, three wild pitches and two hit batters.

Nationals’ Jayson Werth to play defense in minor-league game
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(9:55 am ET) Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters that outfielder Jayson Werth will likely see some action in a minor-league spring game on Friday, per the Washington Post. With the Nationals managing the game, Werth will only play defense, and will be prohibited from throwing during the game, according to MASN Sports.

Werth is pushing to be ready for Opening Day on April 6, as he continued to work his way back from January shoulder surgery.