Hard for me to not see Perkins making this team. He’s essentially the best teammate in the clubhouse, switch-hitting is important, and he is a better defender than Lockridge. Lockridge made multiple defensive misreads and miscues last year, diving at the wrong times, misjudging balls in gaps, that Perkins hasn’t done at all in 3 years. That doesn’t mean Lockridge isn’t a great defender, but Perkins might just have the ability to be a platinum glove winner if he was an every day player.
I am excited about this newfound offensive ceiling for Lockridge. I want to see him continue to prove it in AAA, as spring training results mean…..absolutely nothing.
Also, Mitchell was terrible last year. Although I do believe he’s a guy that’ll put up good numbers if he has time to get in rhythm, he never has that time. So I believe there’s a pretty big chance that even if he doesn’t have a season ending injury, his playing time may end up being limited by ineffectiveness at some point this year.