The Cactus League and Grapefruit League seasons are a week old and so far the baseball feels different, according to a pair of pitchers.

The ball feels softer and the seams a bit higher, more like the 2017 baseball than the one used last year.

"The one we're using right now is pretty similar to what we used in 2017," Masahiro Tanaka said. "But I'll remark here that, it's just how I feel."

Zach Eflin agrees with Tanaka.

"I think it's awesome," he said. "To me, they feel a little softer and you can definitely notice the seams a little more. Last year, it was like throwing a cue ball."

There have been 215 home runs hit in 108 games this spring, or 1.99 per game. Last spring it was 1,141 homers in 470 spring games, or 2.43 per game.