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5 notable absences from spring training

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Spring training begins for all 30 MLB clubs this week as players descend upon both Arizona and Florida to begin workouts.

February is always an exciting time in baseball as players reunite with teammates and friends, while it also offers front offices the opportunity to see the fruits of their hard work over the offseason as new faces arrive.

While spring is a time for new beginnings, it's also a reminder of those who have moved on from baseball, or are no longer with us. Here are five notable absences from spring training this year:

David Ortiz, Red Sox

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For the first time since 2003, David Ortiz will not be on the Red Sox roster when spring training opens. The recently retired slugger called it a career at the end of last season after 20 years in the majors, and the absence of the Boston legend was certainly felt when players arrived to camp Monday.

"It's gonna be different," second baseman Dustin Pedroia told reporters. "He's been here every year I've been here. We have to just try to find a way to do things to overcome his absence."

Hanley Ramirez will likely receive the bulk of Ortiz's DH at-bats, while he was also given Ortiz's locker when he arrived in Fort Myers, Fla.

Yordano Ventura, Royals

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The Royals are still mourning the death of Yordano Ventura. The right-hander's locker remained in the clubhouse when players arrived to camp on Monday, and featured a sign over his stall that read "ACE 30." The Royals will wear special patches to honor the memory of their teammate this season.

"We'll replace (Yordano) on the field. It's just that we'll never be able to replace that smile and personality," Royals manager Ned Yost told Dave Skretta of the Associated Press. "That's what hurts the most."

Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

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A-Rod will be in attendance at Yankee camp at some point this spring, though he'll serve as an instructor rather than a player. Rodriguez hasn't officially retired, but there still isn't any expectation that he'll to return to the diamond this season, and at 41 years old, it's likely that his playing days are behind him. Rodriguez's absence from the roster is likely a welcome sight for manager Joe Girardi, who has spent the last several springs answering countless questions regarding Rodriguez's previous one-year suspension, his eventual return to the majors, decreased playing time, and A-Rod's transition into being a permanent DH.

Jose Fernandez, Marlins

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Much like the Royals, the Marlins enter camp grieving a lost teammate as the club still recovers from the September death of Jose Fernandez. The Marlins will wear No. 16 patches on the front of their jerseys this season to honor Fernandez.

"It will be a few waves of another reality the first few days of camp," Giancarlo Stanton told Scott Miller of Bleacher Report. "We'll take it head on. We already did something as hard as you can do, playing again right after it (Fernandez's death) happened."

Mark Teixeira, Yankees

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The Yankees' clubhouse will look much different this spring, as in addition to A-Rod, Mark Teixeira is also not with the team for the first time since 2009. The three-time All-Star retired at the end of 2016 following a 14-year career and appears to have no regrets.

"If I had to go to spring training in two weeks, I couldn't do it," Teixeira told Neil Best of Newsday earlier this month. "There's a reason I retired."

Teixeira won't be stepping away form baseball completely, however, as he's set to join ESPN as a television and radio analyst.

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