Tuesday morning update

Astros pitchers and catchers hit the field Tuesday morning at Osceola County Stadium for the first official workout of Spring Training. They’ll be joined on Saturday by the rest of the position players, many of whom are already in Kissimmee and working out.

Among those to arrive Tuesday were outfielders Rick Ankiel and Fernando Martinez, who said he has decided not to participate in the World Baseball Classic. Manager Bo Porter is thrilled to see so many position players in the field.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “We’ve had great participation in our offseason program and had guys in Houston working out throughout the offseason. You look around from a position-player standpoint, and I want to say we had about 15 players, position players, out yesterday doing a voluntary workout. It shows their anxiousness and excitement to get this thing started.”

Porter plans to address the team prior to Saturday’s workout, but he did have a few words before pitchers and catchers hit the field Tuesday.

“We talked about change,” he said. “You can look around and tell things are changed. We talked about the opportunities that present themselves in this organization. I told them, ‘Embrace both of them. Embrace change and embrace the opportunity,’ and we’re looking for guys to take the bull by the horn and take the opportunity to become Houston Astros.”

Here are some early photos:

Bullpen coach Dennis Martinez and Oklahoma City manager Tony DeFrancesco talk.

Astros catcher Max Stassi is all smiles.

Pitcher Rhiner Cruz hits the field.

Jason Castro talks to bullpen assistant Jeff Murphy.

Bo Porter and Brett Obertholzer.

Pitcher C.J. Fick shares a laugh with teammates.

Jose Veras and Dennis Martinez shake hands.

Pitchers and catchers listen to instruction prior to first workout.