Even Tomatoes Are Charting Jeremy Hermida’s Progress as Red Sox’ Fourth Outfielder

Spring is the time of year associated with rebirth. Fittingly, baseball’s spring training offers teams, players and their fans a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance that this year could the year.

Spring is also a time of great beauty and wondrous images, both in nature and in the ballparks of Florida and Arizona. As such, take a look at 10 amazing images from spring training in our new photo feature, Big Shots.

Official major league baseballs are pictured at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ spring training facility in Tucson, Ariz. (Ed Andrieski, AP)

Brewers infielder Casey McGehee signs autographs for fans before a March 6 spring training game against the Giants in Phoenix. (Morry Gash, AP)

Red Sox left fielder Jeremy Hermida catches a fly ball in front of an eye-catching sign on the outfield fence in Fort Myers, Fla. (Nati Harnik, AP)

Milwaukee’s Rickie Weeks goes sliding into third base on a steal attempt but is tagged out by Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval during the teams’ spring training game March 4 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Eric Risberg, AP)

Tigers players are reflected in the sunglasses of Detroit manager Jim Leyland during a practice session at spring training in Lakeland, Fla. (Eric Gay, AP)

Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez stretches with some teammates during practice at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz. (Mark Duncan, AP)

A toad ventures onto the practice field as members of the St. Louis Cardinals work out nearby in Jupiter, Fla. (Jeff Roberson, AP)

Padres players run in the batting cage during a spring training workout in Peoria, Ariz. (Charlie Neibergall, AP)

Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez tosses the ball back to the infield after making a catch against the Mariners in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin, AP)

Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario dances for his teammates prior to Colorado’s first full-squad workout in Tucson, Ariz. (Ed Andrieski, AP)