Early-spring performances can be the biggest mirage in baseball, a function of games that feature mismatches between major leaguers and minor leaguers. Still, with spring training now in full swing, pitchers beginning to stretch out and hitters finding their swings, there can be signal amid the noise.

Since Feb. 20, spring training has been taking place at various different ballparks in Arizona and Florida with 15 teams competing in each state. Spring training in Florida is known as the Grapefruit League while the one in Arizona is called the Cactus League.