Baseball Notes: Opening Day Tuesday, Former Jayhawks in Spring Training

A quick reminder on a day sure to be dominated by basketball coverage.  KU Baseball has its home opener scheduled for Tuesday at 3PM vs. North Dakota.  The weather should be nice on gameday (mid-50’s and sunny) but I have no idea what shape the field will be in given Saturday’s freakish snow storm.  I’ll post updates and a series preview tomorrow.

There are three former Jayhawks working up a sweat in spring training.  Tom Gorzelanny is trying to comeback from a disastrous 2008 performance.  Reports are that he looks good so far and is penciled in as the Pirates #4 starting pitcher.  Travis Metcalf is fighting for a job in the Rangers camp.  Metcalf has appeared in 80 games for Texas over the last two years, playing good defense at third and hitting for power (.249/.300/.475).  He looked poised for a breakout year before Michael Young moved from shortstop to third this offseason.  Metcalf has a good shot to be on the roster opening day as a backup, plus he seems to have the support of Rangers fans.  Mike Zagurski is in the Phillie’s camp in the last stages of recovering from Tommy John surgery.  It seems unlikely that Zagurski will break camp with the team but, if he is healthy and effective early in the season, there is every reason to expect he will quickly be back in the show.  Les Walrond spent parts of last year with the Cubs and Phillies but will not be back in major league baseball this year.  Walrond signed a contract to play for the Yokohama BayStars back in December.  Good luck to him.