‘Tis the season for catcii and grapefruits — when brief but unfettered flashes of hope strike across the Valley of the Sun and the Florida coastlines. Of course, Spring Training is not about the results and all about the vibes. Maybe we find a few ascending talents to root for as they grind their ways onto Opening Day rosters. Maybe we really like this sport and miss it most in the slushy dregs of late winter. Maybe it’s the optimal backdrop for a Sunday afternoon nap.

Check out the forthcoming weekend’s national TV Spring Training slate. Other select games will be broadcast locally on regional sports networks.

The Dodgers’ 2019 first-round pick, third baseman Kody Hoese, has been smacking the ball in early Spring Training returns. He’s 4-of-13 with two doubles and six RBI in seven games.

The Pirates and Orioles are the Saturday showcase. With Spencer Horwitz shelved by wrist surgery and a fourth outfield spot up for grabs in Pittsburgh, Matt Gorski is making an inspired springtime push. He hit three homers in his first four outings. Top Baltimore prospect Coby Mayo (No. 14 on MLB’s Top 100) is 1-for-11 in his first four.

Sunday wraps up with another Braves look, this time against the New York Yankees. Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna have gone yard for Atlanta so far, and the Braves are the early leaders for team ERA. The Yankees’ lead pipeline talent, Jasson Domínguez, has two hits in his first 10 spring at-bats.

Pittsburgh (C): “In Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, the Pirates have two ace-caliber starters in pre-arbitration — the team-building equivalent of having a very good quarterback on a rookie deal in the NFL. And yet, they remain reluctant to push more than a couple of chips into the center of the table. Despite an offense that ranked 13th in the NL in runs and last in position player wins above replacement last season, Pittsburgh made only small moves to bolster its lineup. It doesn’t help that the biggest addition, first baseman Spencer Horwitz, is already on the shelf following wrist surgery. (While Horwitz is only slated to miss some time in April, many an offensive season has been undone by wrist issues.) That leaves the Pirates banking on further improvements by Joey Bart and Nick Gonzales and the return of prospect Endy Rodríguez.”

Baltimore (B): “The Orioles checked almost every offseason box, but the one miss is a big one. They doubled down on mid-rotation starters — Charlie Morton and Japanese standout Tomoyuki Sugano — but did not add an ace to replace Corbin Burnes (though, to be fair, a healthy Grayson Rodriguez could make a difference, and they traded for Zach Eflin last summer). The team did replace its biggest offensive losses with a pair of right-handed power hitters (Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sánchez) and another right-handed platoon hitter (Ramón Laureano) who fit their left-leaning lineup nicely. The Orioles also signed Andrew Kittredge to maintain bullpen depth. Is all that — plus their talented young core — enough to keep pace in the AL East?

Jim Bowden on Miami prospect Connor Norby: “The Marlins acquired Norby along with outfielder Kyle Stowers from the Orioles for lefty Trevor Rogers at last year’s trade deadline. A second-round pick in 2021, Norby can play both second and third base but Miami is planning to play him at the hot corner for now. Last year at Triple A, he slashed .293/.382/.496 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 16 attempts. Last year in the majors, he hit .236 but belted nine homers in 178 at-bats. Norby ranked in the 94th percentile in sprint speed last season and he posted high sweet-spot and barrel rates.”

On Braves breakout candidate Grant Holmes: “He can start or relieve and was used in both roles last season, but the Braves view him as a future starting pitcher. Last year with Atlanta, Holmes ranked in the 76th percentile in breaking run value, the 97th percentile in chase percentage, the 92nd percentile in whiff rate and the 90th percentile in walk rate. He averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings and just 2.0 walks per nine. A real sleeper.”

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