Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS BY ANDREW OWENS S pring training annually represents optimism and change across Major League Baseball. For four former Irish athletes, roles will be determined this spring, while another hopes to follow up on his 2013 success. Here's an overview of former Notre Dame baseball players after the open- ing month of spring training: DAVID PHELPS, NEW YORK YANKEES Phelps, a right-hander, posted a 6-5 record and a 4.98 ERA in 22 appear- ances (12 starts) for the Yankees last year before he was shut down for three months with a right forearm injury. This spring, he's battling with Mi- chael Pineda, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno for the Yankees' fifth spot in the starting rotation. In Phelps' first three starts of the spring, he allowed 10 hits and one walk in nine and two-thirds innings pitched while giving up two earned runs. He struck out seven bat- ters in that stretch. "I'll leave [speculation on the fifth spot in the rotation] up to [reporters]," he said in early March. "I've said it time and time again. My job is to throw strikes and get guys out, regard- less of if I'm pitching in the fifth spot or in the first spot. It's not going to af- fect the way I treat a game or prepare. "I think you could ask any guy in this clubhouse, we're all trying to make the team. We're just trying to go out and win ballgames at this point." A.J. POLLOCK, ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Pollock has already posted two tri- ples while scorching the ball early this spring. In his first 11 games of spring training, Pollock batted .400 with a .483 on-base percentage while adding Opportunities Abound In Spring Training Yankees pitcher David Phelps is out to earn the club's fifth spot in the starting rotation after an injury prematurely ended his 2013 season. PHOTO COURTESY NEW YORK YANKEES