The Latest Breaking News from Cactus League

“Player development probably increases because there is a lot more at stake here,” Grifol said.

“Weird things happen in spring training.”

“Sometimes it’s not the worst thing to get punched in the face, get you going,” Cease said. But obviously not ideal.”

“It doesn’t give you too much time to think or overanalyze,” Giolito said after his first Cactus League game of 2023.

“It’s actually good for the game,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “It just brings alertness and focus to the game.”

“Every time we had good communication, everybody was on the same page and we [got] results, we won,” outfielder Eloy Jimenez said, referring to last season.

“There’s a level of respect to the game for people who pay to watch the game,” Grifol said.

Montgomery is expected to see his first Cactus League action on Wednesday.

The start of Cactus League play in Arizona this weekend reminds us the daily grind of the baseball season is underway and opening day is on deck.

“Fundamentals are important, details are important,” Pedro Grifol said. “It’s like I said from Day 1. I want to see some mistakes.”

LOS ANGELES — Manny Machado's locker in the San Diego Padres' spring training clubhouse is prime real estate: at the main entrance, next to the three-foot tall speaker pumping the music into the room. Friday morning, hours before their Cactus League opener, it was tuned to laidback oldies.