Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper made his much anticipated Spring Training debut in a 9-3 victory over the Mets on Monday afternoon and struck out twice. It was Harper's first professional game since he played in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .343 with a home run and seven RBIs in nine games for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Harper entered the game against the Mets in the fifth inning as a pinch-runner for designated hitter Matt Stairs. "I would have preferred if Bryce's first at-bat was against a righty, but you don't know what order people are going to pitch in," manager Jim Riggleman said. "It's the big leagues, 40-man roster guys, closers and setup men. There are going to be tough at-bats. He is going to meet the challenge." In the ninth, Harper fanned against right-hander Ryota Igarashi on a curveball. "I'm very pleased with what I saw [from Harper] and how he conducted himself," hitting coach Rick Eckstein said. "He is going to be fine. His mentality is to be aggressive. There are times when you are attacking the ball and your front side tends to leak a little bit. "He is in the process of knowing what he needs to do. But he was really amped up today. He was real excited. There are things that we talked about on the bench that we are going to get back to."

Josh Beckett was struck in the head with a ball during batting practice. After being examined by a doctor at City of Palms Park, Beckett was diagnosed with mild concussion symptoms. "He's got a headache," Terry Francona said. "He's been evaluated already. We'll get somebody to look at him tonight, and then, when he comes in [Tuesday], we'll check on him again to see what level, if any, of a workout he could do -- or should do."

Matt Joyce is ready for Tampa Bay to give him an everyday job. "He finally feels comfortable in his major-league skin; he knows he belongs here," Joe Maddon said. "He knows he can do this." Joyce made 63 starts last season.

Bob Nightengale of the USA Today reported that the New York Yankees are keeping a "close eye" on Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins. Similarly, the Twins are "keeping tabs" on Yankees prospects in case they decide to trade the 27 year old starting pitcher. Liriano is under team control until the end of the 2012 season.

Carlos Beltran has told Mets manager Terry Collins that once he is healthy enough to play he can make the move from center field to right field. Collins gave Beltran the chance to show that he had the mobility to play the position after his surgery in January of 2010, but it appears Beltran has made the decision himself to move over. Beltran has played a total of three games in RF over the course of his career, each of which occurred in 2000 as a member of the Royals. Beltran is in the last year of a seven year, $119 million contract and Angel Pagan will take his place in center field.

For the first time this spring, Miguel Cabrera will be in the lineup for the Detroit Tigers. After being arrested on February 16 for suspicion of driving under the influence, Cabrera missed the first week of Tigers' camp. Cabrera hit in batting practice before Sunday's game against Toronto and will be the Designated Hitter in Monday's game against the New York Yankees. Last season, Cabrera finished second in American League MVP voting.

Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton exited Sunday's exhibition game in the second inning with a right quad strain. "I think the next couple of days will [give us] a better feel on a time frame," Stanton said when asked how long he might be out. "We really won't know for at least 24 or 48 hours." Stanton noted that he never experienced a quad injury before. "This is new territory for me," he said.

The Yankees are keeping an eye on left-hander Francisco Liriano, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Minnesota is also keeping tabs on New York's prospects in the event a deal is struck.

Jody Gerut is retiring after six seasons in the major leagues. Gerut played for five teams before being invited to spring training as a non-roster player by the Mariners. He appeared in 574 games in stints with Cleveland (2003-2005), the Chicago Cubs (2005), Pittsburgh (2005), San Diego (2008-2009) and Milwaukee (2009-2010). "Physically I'm fine," Gerut said in a statement from the Mariners. "But mentally my reasons for wanting to be in uniform have become so thin and narrow that I refuse to disrespect the game that has provided so generously for my family by playing it in a halfhearted way."

Rangers pitcher Brandon Webb had a "good" mound session on Sunday and can finally see the finish line. Webb has only pitched a handful of innings over the last two seasons. Asked if Sunday's 26- to 28-pitch session was a breakthrough, Webb said, "I think so. I think it was a good day. It's definitely a step in the right direction." He tried to come back too quickly last season and was constantly hit with setbacks, which is why Sunday's session with no pain or glitches was so encouraging for him. "It was good. Zero issues. Felt really good," Webb said. "Threw some changeups. Felt fine, didn't want to stop so that was good."