WINNIPEG — Spring is a time of renewal – especially for the aspiring ballplayers who recently reported to 16 spring training sites in Florida and another 14 in Arizona. Among them you can find enough Jewish players to at least form a minyan.

Boston’s Kevin Youkilis

Boston Red Sox first sacker Kevin Youkilis enjoyed a banner season in 2008, and in January, management showed their appreciation by giving the Cincinnati native, who turns 30 this month, a four-year, $41-million (all figures US) contract extension.

The 6’1, 220-pound slugger batted .312, whacked 29 homers and drove in 115 runs last year. He added 43 doubles, and as a result of his stellar performance, Youkilis won the American League Hank Aaron Award for best offensive performance of the year.

And he can field, too. He holds the major league record of 238 straight games at first base without an error, a streak that ended last June.

Ryan Braun of the Brewers, the son of an Israeli father, chosen the fifth player overall in the 2005 Major League baseball draft, is in the second year of an eight-year pact with Milwaukee. Small wonder his club locked him up for so long a stretch, since he has helped turn the franchise around.

Described as a future perennial all star, Braun, 25, who was 2007 rookie of the year in the National League, batted .285 in 2008, hit 37 homers and drove in 106 runs. Due to his defensive shortcomings, Braun was switched from third base to the outfield last season and adapted well to his new position.

Texas Rangers’ second sacker Ian Kinsler, 26, excelled in 2008, hitting .319 along with 18 homers and 71 RBIs to go along with 41 doubles. He also stole 26 bases and was voted to the Major League all-star team. The son of a Jewish father played his last game on Aug. 17, when an MRI revealed a sports hernia injury that required surgery.

In early January, the Colorado Rockies added depth to their rotation, acquiring durable right-hander Jason Marquis, 30, from the Chicago Cubs. The former Brave and Cardinal had an 11-9 record with a 4.53 ERA in 2008. The Jewish hurler, described as a workhorse, has had double-digit wins in each of the last five seasons, surpassing 190 innings four times. An added bonus is that for a pitcher he’s a more-than-decent hitter, managing five homers and 40 RBIs in his nine-year career. The almost $10-million-a-year athlete is on occasion summoned as a pinch hitter.

Solid reserve outfielder, Gabe Kapler, 33, has found a new home. In 2007 the fitness buff retired and took a managerial job in the minors. Deciding that he could still play at the major league level, he signed a one-year pact with Milwaukee in 2008. Coming off the bench – in only 229 at bats – he hit .301, with eight homers and 38 RBIs.

Kapler’s season ended in September when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder after making a hard throw to the plate. Again in demand as a spare part, Kapler, a lifetime .273 hitter, signed a one-year pact for $1 million with the Tampa Bay Rays in January.

Also on the move is veteran catcher Brad Ausmus, who turns 40 in April. He has caught more than 1,800 games in the majors and will act as a backup receiver and mentor this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who signed him as a free agent to a one-year pact.

Last season, Ausmus completed his 10th year with the Houston Astros. A .251 lifetime hitter, Ausmus hit .218 to go along with three homers and 24 RBIs. His strength is his ability to call a game and handle pitchers well. There are few ball clubs who won’t offer Ausmus a coaching job when he retires.

Relief pitcher Josh Grabow, 30, enjoyed a banner season in 2008 with a poor Pittsburgh Pirates team. The left-hander had an impressive 6-3 record and an ERA of 2.84 in 74 appearances. The Arcadia, Calif. native, who stands 6’2 and weighs 250 pounds, is heading into his eighth season. He has a fastball in the low 90s, a strong change-up and curve, and works well with runners in scoring position.

Hawaii-born pitcher Scott Feldman, 26, of the Texas Rangers can start or relieve. Last season, he went 6-8 with an inflated ERA of 5.29 in 25 starts. In 151 innings, he managed only 74 strikeouts and walked too many batters. At 6’5 and 210 pounds, he is a formidable figure on the mound and gives right-handed batters fits due to his unorthodox delivery.

Left-handed reliever Craig Breslow, 28, already has the label of a journeyman hurler. Now with the Minnesota Twins after being claimed off waivers last May from Cleveland, he has also played with Boston and San Diego. Last year he fashioned a 0-2 record but with a sparkling ERA of 1.91 in 49 appearances. Craig is a decent strikeout artist, but sometimes gets himself into difficulty with an occasional lack of control. The New Haven, Conn., hurler is especially tough on left-handed batters.

Watch also for 26-year-old Brian Horwitz, an outfielder in camp with the San Francisco Giants, who hit .277 with seven homers and 29 RBI s in only 264 at bats with AAA Fresno, as well as Colorado Rockies right hander Jason Hirsh, 27, who was out most of last year with a strained right shoulder, and right-handed relief pitcher Mike Koplove, 32, who was signed by the Phillies and invited to spring training.