SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Things change quickly in baseball, and a year is more than enough time for a drastic shift.
Just look at Royals outfielder Billy Burns.
Last spring, he was with the A's. But changing teams doesn't constitute much.
Last March, Burns was coming off a breakout first full season in the big leagues, during which he finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year Award voting. He was penciled in to be the A's center fielder and leadoff hitter in 2016.
Now, after a slow start last season and a mid-year trade to the Royals, the speedster is just trying to make the Opening Day roster among a crowded group of outfielders.