7 players turning heads in spring training

For baseball's stars, spring training games often appear to be something of a nuisance. Pull in, get your one at-bat, and by the sixth inning you're on the golf course.

Players who aren't necessarily household names, however, need the springtime tune-up. Across the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, many lesser players - often nameless career minor-leaguers - use the meaningless exhibitions to stand out among their well-known peers, and perhaps force their way into one of their team's last roster spots. There's also the occasional more-established names who fought through injury-plagued seasons and are using this month to prove the disabled list is in the rear-view mirror.

Here are seven players, both known and unknown, who are turning some heads with their 2016 spring performances:

Maikel Franco, Phillies 3B

Franco's .280/.343/.497 line over 80 big-league games last year left little doubt he'd be heading north with the Phillies to start 2016, and his eye-popping spring training has erased whatever doubts may have remained. The 23-year-old's seven homers and 17 RBIs lead all preseason hitters, and he's even flashed some sweet leather at the hot corner. Like Kris Bryant last year, Franco's March performance is putting him on the baseball map.

Matt Moore, Rays LHP

Moore had a disappointing return from Tommy John surgery last July, posting a 5.43 ERA over 12 starts. This spring has been an entirely different story. The 26-year-old has looked like his old self, holding opponents to a .211 average while striking out 11 and walking none in 10 1/3 innings. The Rays have to be thrilled by Moore's rebirth since the success of their rotation behind Chris Archer will likely determine the course of their 2016 season.

Travis Taijeron, Mets OF

Perhaps the best of the no-name hitters this spring, career minor-leaguer Taijeron is making the most of his big-league camp invite. The Mets' 18th-round pick in 2011 is hitting .385/.433/.654 over 10 spring games, mashed a long home run, and scoring six runs. He's not on New York's 40-man roster, and the team's glut of outfielders likely means he's headed back to Triple-A. Still, his play has undoubtedly left an impression on the Mets heading into the season. They'll remember No. 73 when injuries strike.

Michael Saunders, Blue Jays OF

The Blue Jays tried to trade their injury-plagued outfielder - who only played nine games in 2015 thanks to an ailment sustained last spring - as 2016 camp started, but the proposed deal fell through. Saunders' performance since then has probably left Toronto thanking its lucky stars he's still with the club. The 29-year-old has slashed .320/.393/.720 over 10 spring games and his wonky knee has held up, all but ensuring he'll be starting in left field on Opening Day.

Jason Gurka, Rockies LHP

Gurka's 2015 big-league debut consisted of a 9.39 ERA, and one odd inning in right field. The Rockies removed him from the 40-man roster over the winter, but invited him to big-league camp anyway. He's shown improvements, allowing only four hits over five innings while striking out 12 - and nailing down a rare four-K inning to boot. Gurka's a lefty, which means he'll always be able to find at least a depth job somewhere. The Rockies will surely give him a ring at Triple-A when they need a fresh left arm in the bullpen.

Travis Shaw, Red Sox

Shaw looked good during his first taste of big-league ball in 2015, and he's been even better this spring, pacing Boston in all three slash categories with a .419/.455/.677 line. The 25-year-old is primarily a first baseman and is blocked there by Hanley Ramirez, but at this point the Red Sox are trying anything to take his hot bat north. He's going to play some left field this month, and has some experience at third base should Pablo Sandoval's struggles continue.

Juan Nicasio, Pirates RHP

Nicasio was quietly non-tendered by the Dodgers in December after a decent but unspectacular season in the bullpen. He was quickly scooped up by Pittsburgh, where he's thrived over the spring. In 10 innings, the 29-year-old's struck out 16 hitters - 10 of which came in a four-inning start on March 16 - while walking just three, and he's yet to allow a run. If this trend continues, Nicasio could become a valuable weapon for the Pirates, and add himself to a growing list of pitchers who've resurrected their careers in the Steel City.