MLB

Zack Cozart is nearly nine months removed from undergoing season-ending knee surgery, but the Cincinnati Reds shortstop has been working his way back to full strength in spring training. 

Continue for updates. 

Wow.

During a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training game Saturday in Kissimmee, Florida, one fan put on his Superman cape and saved the day.

An errant bat came within an outstretched hand of drilling a poor little kid in the head. Luckily, the guy to his right knocked it away.

Pittsburgh beat the Atlanta Braves, 9-6, but the bigger story was the kid's health.

Just…wow.

Colorado Rockies reliever Jairo Diaz will miss the 2016 season after suffering a right ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow, which will require Tommy John surgery.

Continue for updates.

Free-agent center fielder Austin Jackson signed a one-year contract on Sunday with the Chicago White Sox, confirmed MLB Roster Moves on Twitter.  

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported the deal is for $5 million. 

A foot injury cost Ryan Zimmerman a somewhat significant chunk of the 2015 season due to plantar fasciitis, and MLB.com's William Ladson reported Sunday the Washington Nationals are taking Zimmerman's recovery slowly, with manager Dusty Baker hoping the 31-year-old returns in a few weeks.

Continue for updates.

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley will not be forced to serve a two-game suspension for purposefully sliding into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada after the league lifted its ban Sunday.  

Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard may have trotted into spring training for the New York Mets atop horses, but neither the players nor their steeds are what we'd call a dark horse.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday is dealing with lower back tightness suffered on Saturday. It's unclear when he'll return to the field.

Continue for updates.

Holliday Scratched vs. Astros

Saturday, March 5

Manager Mike Matheny told reporters Holliday wouldn't play on Saturday due to his back issue. 

Chicago Cubs players may refer to 38-year-old teammate David Ross as "Grandpa Rossy," but the veteran catcher showed Friday he is still young enough to make some pretty nice plays.

In the case of MLB's star players, two important factors determine how they are expected to perform.

Past success and the value of their contract.

Both serve to set an expectation for their on-field product. Each year, there are those whose surprisingly stellar play increases their stardom and others whose poor play brings their status among the game’s elite into question.

Both cases are rampant each baseball season. The 2015 season was no different.