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Following his spring training debut on Sunday, Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara speaks with the media about his frustrating results against the Washington Nationals and the process of developing better command of his sweeper.View the full article

Speaking to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi at spring training, Blue Jays manager John Schneider addressed his contract status. The team exercised its option for his services in 2026 last spring, but he will become a free agent next winter without a new deal. “We're talking,” Schneider told Davidi, regarding the possibility of an extension. He went on to express that there is "nowhere else" he'd rather be – and the team knows how he feels. "We've had some discussions about it, and if there's a way to do it for both sides that makes sense, that'd be great...We'll continue to talk, and there's no place I'd rather be than with this group," said Schneider. After the World Series, general manager Ross Atkins told reporters he was discussing an extension with Schneider. Evidently, those conversations are still ongoing. As Davidi notes, Atkins is also in the final year of his contract, while president Mark Shapiro recently signed a five-year extension. Given the Blue Jays' success in 2025, and their aspirations for the coming year, it would be highly surprising if Shapiro lets his GM and manager go through the season in a lame duck position. However, Schneider said that he is currently "focused on right here, right now," rather than worrying about his status for 2027 and beyond. View the full article

In the middle of 2022 I became hooked on a unique facet of Major League Baseball fandom: the road trip. After experiencing a Twins away series in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks, I discovered several unique perks to road game attendance: 1) You get to see your team participating in batting practice when the gates open. 2) If you wear your team's gear, you become a magnet for stray baseballs being tossed into the stands after an inning, or pre-game interactions and autographs. 3) If you play your cards right, you can score great seats at low, low prices due to an absolute lack of interest in Twins games at most ballparks! 4) If nothing else, win or lose, you get to experience another ballpark and all of its quirks and food and drink and amenities...along with memories and stories for a lifetime. As my road-tripping gained momentum into 2023 and 2024, some "glass is half empty" moments did begin to reveal themselves. For instance, the Twins (and all teams) typically lose the majority of their away games. 2023 was a boom year with a 40-41 record on the road, but 2025's 32-49 record is more typical. So if your heart is set on "best chance to see a Twins win" then the home game is still the way to go. But if you want a change of pace, and an excuse to observe how other teams operate so that you can see if your complaints about the Twins organization still resonate, or if you simply don't live anywhere near Target Field and want to watch your team live and in person – nothing beats a road trip. In past seasons I've presented all 13 road trips that the Twins take as individual articles. I honestly just have been so depressed about the offseason that 13 articles felt like torture for you and for me. Instead, I'm going to present the top trips for each two-month segment of the 2026 season based upon three main variables: 1) approximate off-market ticket price, 2) city ad stadium amenities, 3) chances of victory. The March/April/May stretch of the season takes the Twins to the following locations: March 26-29 - @ Baltimore March 30- April 2 - @ Kansas City April 10-12 - @ Toronto April 21-23 - @ New York Mets April 24-26 - @ Tampa Bay May 5-7 - @ Washington May 8-10 - @ Cleveland May 22-24 - @ Boston May 25-28 - @ Chicago White Sox May 29-31 - @ Pittsburgh So here's your Best Twins Road Trip options for the kickoff to the 2026 campaign! #3 - April 24-26 - @ Tampa Bay This season marks the return to Tropicana Field after a hurricane-induced season spent at the minor league Steinbrenner Field. While watching from the literal outfield wall at that little ballpark was fun, it was very much a minor-league stadium. Now is the Trop an actual big-league ballpark? Most people would argue that it isn't, but on the flip side, ticket prices due to increased seating and no increase in fan interest mean great seats for low prices! Amenities aren't great at the stadium, but it does bring back a "Metrodome" vibe, and the fast-paced turf should make for interesting ballgames. Tropicana Field boasts the notorious label of being “unattractive” and “nondescript.” A concrete dome, with Astroturf (that even the Astros stopped using…), optical illusions from the seating arrangement, and catwalks that giveth (Jason Kubel in 2010) and taketh away (Miguel Sano in 2015). Tropicana Field defines “quirky.” Will the Twins be able to emerge victorious in the series? Minnesota is 4-8 at the Trop since 2021, so the outlook is murky at best. #2 - May 22-24 - @ Boston I was tempted to consider either of the first two series, since they involve home openers for their respective clubs in Baltimore and Kansas City. The inflated price tags of those games, and the reality that this year's Twins team will most likely stumble out of the gates, led me to aim later in May. Memorial Day weekend takes place in Boston this year, and no greater baseball experience can be found on the road than at Fenway Park. What it lacks in variety and contemporary charms, it more than makes up for in nostalgia and ambience. The fans are there to watch baseball, and that makes a huge difference compared to most other road stadiums. Prices will be higher, because you will be most likely in a packed house. But you can still find Green Monster seats off-market the day of the game, and if you can...you must. Travel to and from Fenway will require more planning than a Tampa trip, with the train being the best door to door option probably. Will the Twins win while you are there? They've gone 7-9 at Fenway since 2021, and took the series from the Red Sox on their home turf last year! So there is hope that the squad performs up to the competition in such a historic setting, and that Royce Lewis can rip 10 doubles off of the Monster while he's at it. #1 - May 29-31 - @ Pittsburgh Word on the street is that PNC Park is one of the gems of Major League ballparks. While I personally haven't yet entered its gates, I plan to this season. Call it the Derek Shelton (or Josh Bell) revenge tour, or the Paul Skenes awesomeness tour, or the battle for the number one draft pick in 2027 tour...this series should matter more than most in late May. Twins fans in attendance should stand out well, and not have too many enemies (forgot to mention that factor in the Boston paragraph). Prices should be reasonable, with not a bad seat in the house. When it comes to competitive balance and chance for victory, the Twins don't have much to go by in way of previous meetings. Minnesota has only traveled to Pittsburgh once since 2021, and that was a 1-2 series loss in 2024. Outside of the Nationals, the Pirates look to be the weakest link on the early calendar, and since Twins fans only get a chance to travel to Pittsburgh to see their favorite squad every other year, this series gets my stamp of approval for the Best Road Trip in the first third of the season. Now its your turn Twins Daily faithful. Which road series do you plan on attending, or think ranks highest when factoring in cost, amenities, and chance for victory? Are there other factors in road trip planning that you would add to your calculations? View the full article

In a key at-bat last September, Nico Hoerner sat on a fastball and got one in his wheelhouse. He had the advantage of being ahead 2-0 on the Rays' Bryan Baker, and there were two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the eighth inning. The score was 4-4. Never have all the incentives been more aligned for a player to swing from his heels, and Hoerner did just that. The ball was a searing line drive into the left-field corner—a double, not a homer, but only because he hadn't lifted it enough. That was the hardest Hoerner had hit a ball all season, by a good margin. It jumped off his bat at 108.1 miles per hour; he hadn't hit any other ball even 106 miles per hour all season. Locked in, sitting on one pitch and one location and looking for extra-base juice, he set a new season high for batted-ball ferocity. akQ5NEFfWGw0TUFRPT1fVlFVSFYxQUdYMVFBQVFNS0JRQUhBZ0VEQUZsV0FsSUFCUU1CQkZCVUJBcGNBbFFB.mp4 Three days later, he nearly matched himself, although the result was much less impressive. Again, he was trying to ambush something—this time, a first-pitch splinker from Paul Skenes of the Pirates. Michael Busch had just hit a leadoff homer, and Hoerner was trying to catch Skenes reeling a bit. He nearly did it, too. The ball had more of the plate and stayed up more than Skenes probably would have liked. However, it had just enough run and dip to catch the underside of Hoerner's barrel. He rapped it sharply to shortstop, 107.3 miles per hour off the bat, but this time with no luck. NnkzN1dfWGw0TUFRPT1fQWdBQ1Z3RldWbE1BREFSV0JBQUhBRmRlQUZrRVZsWUFCVmNHVVZjRkNBSUVBQVJS (1).mp4 Maybe you're worried about me, right now. Maybe you're thinking I mistakenly headlined this Nico Hoerner article with something about Jefferson Rojas. Calm your fears, though. This is very much a Jefferson Rojas article. See, those two batted balls were the only ones Hoerner produced that topped 106 miles per hour last season. On Saturday, in the second game of Cactus League play, Jefferson Rojas matched that number. First, he scalded a line drive to center field to drive in a run, as clean a single as you'll ever see. It perfectly matched Hoerner's maximum exit velocity from 2025, at 108.1 MPH. Two innings later, he hit another rocket, this time at 106.2 MPH. It had too little air under it, and became a groundout, too, but it's a nifty match for the ball Hoerner hit against Skenes. In Friday's Cactus League opener, he'd also smashed a single at 100.3 MPH, against the White Sox. So far, Rojas only hits the ball hard, and all three of the pitchers against whom he made such solid contact (Kumar Rocker, Cal Quantrill, and Tyler Schweitzer) pitched in the majors last year. This is not meant, of course, to directly compare Rojas to Hoerner. They're very different players. Besides, Hoerner managed to pull a ball at 98 MPH from Baker for that double; that makes his hit more impressive than Rojas's. The young shortstop prospect has a lot left to learn. He hit .236/.343/.387 in High A and Double A last season for a reason. Still, this is a very pleasing proof of concept. Hoerner has 30-grade game power; it's his only weakness. Rojas, whom FanGraphs nonetheless ranked as the Cubs' top prospect entering this season, is only listed as having 30-grade game power at present. The prospect team at FanGraphs does give Rojas a 50 future grade on power, though, and having seen him step into the box two months shy of his 21st birthday and hit three balls the way he's hit them this weekend, it's fair to say that he's making progress toward that eventual ceiling. It's important not to get carried away with this kind of comp, but Rojas should remind you a bit of Starlin Castro. There's the same blend of quick hands and sinewy strength as Castro brought right to the big leagues in 2010, at age 20. Massive makeup issues (and, perhaps relatedly, an overly aggressive approach at the plate) stopped Castro from reaching his full potential, but the athleticism of Rojas is very similar, and so far, there are no reports of Rojas being similarly immature and dangerous off the field. Given the calamitous .164/.279/.205 line he put up in 39 games with Double-A Knoxville last summer, Rojas is surely slated to head back there this spring. However, his upside is beginning to shine against even big-league competition. He could well get back onto the fast track to the majors, with a strong start in Knoxville begetting a June promotion to Iowa. He'll be Rule 5-eligible this fall, so the Cubs have no reason not to let him force his way to the big leagues if this season goes the way he hopes. It's only been two spring games, but he's one of the most important players in the organization, and he's off to a great start in a pivotal season. Heck, since the infield picture in Chicago is crowded and Hoerner is a free agent this fall, maybe this is kind of a Nico Hoerner article, after all. If this keeps up, Rojas is coming for a spot that currently belongs to Hoerner, but showing he can match Hoerner on the veteran's weakest front is just the first small step toward supplanting him. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins lost a member of their extended family this week with the passing of former outfielder and coach Joe Nossek. While his time as a player may not stand alongside some of the more recognizable names in franchise history, his role in one of the most important seasons the organization has ever experienced ensures that his impact will not be forgotten. Nossek joined the Twins during their early years in Minnesota and quickly became part of a club that was building toward something special. The 1965 season remains a defining moment in franchise history, and Nossek was a member of that American League pennant-winning team. That group, led by stars like Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva, captured the imagination of baseball fans across the Upper Midwest and helped solidify Major League Baseball in Minnesota following the franchise’s relocation just a few years earlier. Nossek appeared in 87 games for the Twins during that 1965 campaign, serving primarily as a depth outfielder and defensive replacement. While his contributions did not always show up in the box score, his presence on a roster that went on to win the American League pennant connected him forever to one of the greatest teams the organization has fielded. During Game 7 of the 1965 World Series, Nossek was involved in a controversial play. AL MVP Zolio Versalles singled with one out in the sixth inning and tried to steal second base. As Nossek swung, Versalles broke and had the base stolen easily, but umpire Ed Hurley ruled that Nossek had interfered with catcher John Roseboro’s throw. Versalles had to return to first base, and Nossek was called out for interference. Nossek denied that he interfered: “I just went for an outside pitch. I tried to duck when I heard Roseboro coming.” The Dodgers, behind Koufax’s three-hit, 10-strikeout performance, defeated the Twins 2-0 to win the World Series. Following his playing career, Nossek remained involved in the game and returned to the Twins organization in a coaching capacity. He served as the third base coach during the 1976 season but was released following a disappointing season (85-77, 3rd place in the AL West). Nossek bounced around to multiple other organizations during his coaching career, including the Indians, White Sox, Brewers, Mariners, Royals, and Astros. Baseball is built on more than just the stars who dominate headlines. It is shaped by role players, coaches, and lifelong contributors who help create a culture inside the clubhouse and maintain continuity across eras. Nossek’s career represented exactly that type of impact. His connection to the 1965 pennant winners ensures that his name will always be part of Twins history. As the organization reflects on the legacy of that era, Nossek’s passing serves as a reminder of how many individuals helped build the foundation that still exists today. His contributions to the Minnesota Twins, both on the field and in the dugout, remain an important chapter in the story of baseball in Minnesota. View the full article

In 2025, the Brewers’ starting rotation was a shambles for the first few weeks of the season due to injuries. It got so bad that the team dealt minor-league phenom Yophery Rodriguez, a competitive balance A pick, and John Holobetz to Boston for Quinn Priester. By the end of 2025, the rotation was so deep, early-season hero Chad Patrick was first sent to Triple-A Nashville, then kept hidden in the bullpen. How will it shake out in 2026? 2025 In Review The Brewers overcame early-season injuries to DL Hall, Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, Tobias Myers, and Aaron Ashby – all of whom were contenders for starting rotation spots – as well as the continued convalescence of Brandon Woodruff and Robert Gasser and Jose Quintana’s delayed signing in spring training. Part of that was by embracing the worst-case scenario in trading for Priester, who became a mainstay in the Milwaukee rotation, while Patrick stepped up huge in the early part of the season. Combined with top prospects Logan Henderson and Jacob Misiorowski contributing, while Freddy Peralta became the team’s ace, and Woodruff returned in a new form that still dominated, the rotation became a strength, so much so that after they’d recovered, Myers, Ashby, Hall, and Patrick spent their time in the bullpen, while Cortes and Civale were dealt mid-season. Current Roster Situation Jose Quintana is still a free agent. Peralta and Myers were traded to the Mets. Yet despite those departures, the Brewers still have a lot of options. Woodruff, Misiorowski, Patrick, Priester, Gasser, Henderson, Ashby, Hall, and Carlos Rodriguez return to Maryvale, joined by acquisitions Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, Brandon Sproat, and (possibly) Angel Zerpa. Then there is prospect Cameron Crow, added to the 40-man to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. Non-roster invitee Tate Kuehner is a top prospect who’s been dominating in the minors, while Drew Rom could be an emergency option. Bishop Letson is the only other starter on the Brewer Fanatic Top 20 Prospects list, but the team’s pitching prospects who reached Double-A Biloxi or Triple-A Nashville in 2025 include Alexander Cornielle, Brett Wichrowski, K.C. Hunt, Tyson Harbin, Bishop Letson, and Manuel Rodriguez. We’re not even talking about some high-ceiling prospects further down like Melvin Hernandez, Bryce Meccage, Ethan Dorchies, Jayden Dubanewicz, Steven Duran, and Joan Pena. Milwaukee is stacked in the rotation, despite the trades. Best-Case Scenario The Brewers settle in with a six-man rotation of Woodruff, Misiorowski, Priester, Gasser, one of Patrick or Sproat, and Harrison for the bulk of the season. The team’s depth could be leveraged in two ways: First, it reduces the strain on Woodruff and Gasser, both of whom are not-that-far removed from their return from extended absences due to arm trouble. Second, it would give Milwaukee very fresh pitchers down the season. The Brewers have a lot of ways to make their rotation work out and work out well. One or two injuries will not disrupt the team horribly, especially with the depth in the minors added to what is already on the 40-man roster. The big challenge will be managing the options and figuring out a way to cash in on some of the pitchers who lack the roster flexibility the Brewers may need. Worst-Case Scenario The Brewers make a panic trade for a starter in the early weeks of the season. As was the case in 2025, it would mean that the team’s rotation has been riddled with injuries. With the team’s incredible depth in the rotation just on the 40-man roster, not to mention the prospects at Biloxi and Nashville, a trade for a starting pitcher really should not be occurring in the early part of 2026. Milwaukee’s model is to have a large stockpile of talent and depth to address injuries and ineffectiveness internally, while cashing in on the pitchers they have developed or rebuilt. Panic trades tend to deplete that stockpile at times and in ways not of Milwaukee’s choosing. Overview Oddly enough, after dealing Peralta and Myers while letting Quintana walk, the Brewers came into the 2026 season with more depth and some very clear talent in the rotation. There are arguably 14 legitimate options for spots in the rotation, perhaps as many as 16. Brewers fans should not be surprised to see one or two get moved in a deadline deal if the Brewers want to bulk up for another run in October. View the full article

It’s a shame that physical tickets don’t exist anymore. Their branded designs and omnipresence made them easy mementos. When I was a kid, my dad had a 20-game Royals season ticket package, and all of our tickets and parking passes came in a bound book. Dad would tear off each game’s necessities, and away we went, making the drive from Liberty to the K. We took alternate routes and backroads in September and October 2014, as we joined thousands of other fans watching the team’s first playoff run in 29 years. In this series at Royals Keep, I’m looking back on Royals history from this century through the lens of memorabilia. Dad’s season ticket package was just a quarter of the team’s home games, but it allowed him the ability to purchase postseason tickets. Our regular seats were section 232, row BB, seats 3, 4, 5, and 6. I will remember those numbers for the rest of my life! For the playoffs, however, we shifted to the third base side and section 223. We barely sat in our seats during the Wild Card Game, forever the best baseball game I will ever watch in person. In 2019, the Royals switched from paper tickets to the MLB Ballpark app. “If a fan wants a paper copy of their ticket, the ticket office will print a stub for a $5 fee,” according to this KSHB 41 release announcing the change. My family and thousands of other Royals fans are lucky that this adjustment occurred years after the 2014-15 playoff runs. I’m so fortunate to have had that shared experience, for it produced my favorite baseball gift I’ve ever received. My mom took our playoff tickets and had them matted and framed, turning each collection of tickets into a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift. For my dad, she combined her tickets with his and included the parking passes, while my brother and I got our tickets to the Wild Card Game, ALDS Game 3, ALCS Game 3, ALCS Game 4, and World Series games 1, 2, 6, and 7. What’s your favorite baseball gift you’ve ever received? Because I watched those games in person, I think I actually have more affection for the 2014 American League champions than the 2015 World Series winners. Does anyone else feel this way? I still cried when Wade Davis struck out Wilmer Flores to end World Series game 5, but that 2014 team was incredibly special. Ten years later, the 2024 Royals shocked baseball by improving by 30 games and sneaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card team, just as they did in 2014. Before 2024 kicked off, I asked my brother if we should take our dad to the next Royals home playoff game, whenever that may be. Now grown adults who still love baseball, my thought was we can begin to pay back our dad for the literal hundreds of Royals games he took us to in the summer heat. Little did I think we’d make it to the K that October! Aaron and I bought upper-deck tickets for us and our dad to attend ALDS Game 3, where the mighty Yankees beat the Royals 3-2. Too bad we don’t have a paper ticket, although we have this great photo and memories of saying hi to Jeff Passan before the game. Bonus: I remain shocked by the amount of niche baseball memorabilia available online. Upon searching “Royals season ticket book” on eBay, this gem popped up: a 2014 Royals season ticket book. This can be yours for the low price of $24.99 plus shipping. View the full article

Matt Waldron is in contention to be the San Diego Padres’ fifth starter for the 2026 season. He will need to be consistent during spring training to earn that spot, and the Padres’ catchers will need to learn how to handle a knuckleball pitcher. That may be a lot to ask in what's become a suddenly crowded competition, but that knuckleball is Waldron's key back to San Diego. Waldron and Padres manager Craig Stammen were never on the same pitching staff. Waldron spent the entire 2021 season in the minor leagues during his first year in the Padres organization. Stammen was on the major league roster and had 63 relief appearances and four starts. For reference, Stammen didn’t pitch poorly in his 2021 starts. Padres manager Jayce Tingler utilized multiple “bullpen days” and Stammen was the formal starter while Tingler had no intent of having Stammen pitch more than once through the order. Those bullpen days, along with Tingler's habit of removing effective starters before the sixth inning resulted in eventual bullpen fatigue, and Maxwell’s silver hammer came down on the Padres’ head late in the season. Had the Padres’ rotation in 2021 included a knuckleball pitcher who could last into the sixth or seventh inning, the Padres might have obtained a wild card berth in the National League playoffs. The success of the 2026 Padres will be based in part on whether the team’s fourth and fifth starters can last long enough into the game to give the bullpen sufficient rest for subsequent outings. In 2021, Waldron made 20 starts for the Padres’ Class AA and High-A farm teams. He threw 103 2/3 innings in those outings, an average of more than five innings per start. Waldron’s 25 Triple-A and Double-A starts during 2022 totaled 113 2/3 innings, which still created an average of lasting into the fifth inning. Waldron pitched in 20 Class AAA games in 2023, starting 18 of those. On multiple occasions, he was briefly called up to the Padres, and on August 28 of that year, he was recalled by the Friars and stayed with the major-league team after the roster limit expansion took effect in September. In his first major league start, he was removed after 4 2/3 innings, but his other five starts that year were between five and six innings. He came to the mound from the bullpen twice in 2023, pitching five innings in his first relief appearance and 4 2/3 frames in the other one. Waldron began 2024 on the Padres and stayed with the major-league club until being sent to El Paso on August 22. His 26 starts totaled 142 2/3 innings for an average of more than five once again. In his worst 2024 outing, he allowed eight runs in three innings. On two other occasions he was removed after four innings. On seven occasions he pitched at least five innings; there was also a streak in there where he allowed three or fewer hits including three consecutive starts in which he allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings, three hits in six innings, and three hits in seven innings. The two starts sandwiched around those three games were both seven-inning outings. Waldron had streaks of six and four starts in which he pitched at least six innings. In seven of his 26 starts during 2024, Waldron lasted less than five innings. The final one of those, a 4 1/3-inning outing on August 21, was the 32nd career start for the second knuckleball pitcher in Padres history and broke Joe Niekro’s team record for most starts by a knuckleball pitcher. An oblique muscle strain delayed Waldron’s 2025 debut to the second half of May, when he pitched in three rehabilitation assignments. Waldron was activated from the 60-day disabled list June 1 and sent to El Paso. His 18 starts with the Chihuahuas totaled 82 1/3 innings for an average of, you guessed it, more than five frames. He was called up to the Padres for a June 30 start in which he allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings before being returned to El Paso. Martin Maldonado, who is no longer with the club, was Waldron’s catcher during his one major-league appearance last year. Waldron’s career major league totals of 179 innings in 33 starts average out to him pitching into the sixth inning. Stammen, who experienced first-hand the Padres 12-34 finish in 2021, recognizes the value of a pitcher who can avoid overtaxing the bullpen. If Waldron can regain his consistency and if the Padres’ catchers can figure out how to handle a knuckleball, there may be a dark horse yet for that fifth starter job in camp. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins are looking for pitchers in their gutted bullpen and now in their rotation, which had its depth shaken up by the now-official news that Pablo López will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. That leaves a prospect like Andrew Morris in a unique place. With the subtraction of López, Morris moves up the starter pecking order, but if the darts thrown at veteran relievers don’t work out, should Morris be considered as a reliever? The 24-year-old right-hander has drawn plenty of comparisons to fellow Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews. Both have added considerable velocity to their four-seam fastball, and both had a quick ascension through the minor league system. In 2024, Morris began the season at High-A and closed it out at Triple-A St. Paul as he threw 133 innings across three levels. His 2025 season was interrupted by a forearm strain, but he threw 94 ⅔ innings with a 4.09 ERA and still showed encouraging developmental signs. Two aspects of Morris’ game that are clear positives for him are that he has a good four-seam fastball and has been good at limiting walks. Morris also has a vast pitch mix in addition to his four-seamer (sinker, cutter, curve, slider, and change), which could help him continue to develop and profile as a starter as long as each of those pitches performs well against MLB hitters. The effectiveness of Morris’ entire arsenal seems to be something the Twins still need more confidence in before he can make the jump to the majors. His fastball has average pure vertical break at 16.33 inches and vertical run at 5.36 inches. Morris’ four-seamer is his most used pitch at 29.8% last season, sits at 94-96 MPH, but has touched 98 MPH when needed. While Morris’ fastball looks like his best pitch in many ways, it is also the pitch that has been hit the hardest, with a 47.67% hard hit percentage. The rest of Morris’ mix outside of his sweeper seems to fall within the pitching “dead zone” when it comes to movement, making them much less deceptive and easier for opposing batters to hit. Across the board, Morris would be well served if he could develop more shape to his pitch mix, helping him as he mixes and matches against opponents. Image from Prospect Savant The site Prospect Savant gives Morris an overall good score, but in its ranking of each pitch individually, that ranking gets interesting. The site uses a psStuff+ stat, which mimics the Stuff+ stat we're all more familiar with. Using psStuff+, only Morris’ cutter (104) and sweeper (103) rank above the 100 threshold. This makes Morris’ cutter a very interesting pitch. As psStuff+ highlights, the cutter may have the best characteristics of any of Morris’ pitches, but it has produced some of the worst expected results of any of his pitches. This seems like an immediate area where improvement could yield big gains for the right-hander and boost his ranking as a starter in the Twins system. If Morris were to move to being a one-inning reliever, we could expect the velocity on his fastball to improve, and he would also likely focus on trimming down his pitch mix and could lean into his sweeper, which is the one other good movement pitch outside of his four-seamer and the aforementioned cutter. Completely cutting out the other secondary pitches wouldn’t be absolutely necessary, as other starters turned relievers have kept their full arsenal to help them with their effectiveness. There's a chance that cutting some of those secondary pitches may negatively affect how he attacks left-handed hitters. Based on the recent developments in the Twins free agency activity and Lopez’s injury, it doesn’t make sense at this point to move the 24-year-old Morris away from starting. If the time came later in his career or late in the season where the team needed a talented arm to move into the pen, Morris is a pitcher who could follow a long line of one-time starters to make that transition, whether it would be permanently or for a shorter stint. For now, more time starting in St. Paul makes the most sense for Morris. What would be your plan for handling Morris going forward? What role do you believe will unleash his maximum effectiveness? View the full article

The Royals are 1-1 so far in the Cactus League in 2026. After winning their Spring Training opener against the Texas Rangers, Kansas City had a much rougher day on Saturday, losing 10-3 to the Padres. One pitcher that stood out in the Royals' first couple of games was Stephen Kolek, who started Kansas City's Cactus League opener on Friday. In two innings of work, he allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two. He threw a total of 36 pitches in his first Spring Training start of the season. When it came to his advanced metrics, Kolek did a decent job of finding the zone, but struggled when it came to generating chases and whiffs. And yet, his TJ Stuff+ metrics were decent overall, especially considering it was his first Spring Training start and his diverse pitch mix. Below is a look at what his outing looked like via his TJ Stats summary from Friday's outing. Kolek posted a 102 overall TJ Stuff+ with four of his pitches sporting TJ Stuff+ marks over 100 (his sinker, changeup, sweeper, and slider). His sinker and changeup graded 68 and 75, respectively. However, that didn't translate much into his other metrics, as his 16.7% chase rate, 7.1% whiff rate, and .387 xwOBACON were mediocre marks, to put it nicely. Still, stuff is what one wants to see from early Spring Training starts, especially as pitchers get ramped back up after a long offseason. Kolek showing solid TJ Stuff+ marks demonstrates that he's ready to go, and could put up better numbers in Cactus League play once his command irons out over more outings. Nonetheless, one has to wonder where Kolek fits on this Royals pitching staff for 2026. The 28-year-old had a solid debut for Kansas City in 2026, posting a 1.93 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.9 fWAR in 33 IP after coming over from San Diego at the Trade Deadline. That said, he has a lot of competition for a spot on the pitching staff, especially with the rotation that consists of Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, and Noah Cameron. In addition to that projected five, Kolek also will be competing with Ryan Bergert (who started today), Mason Black, Ben Kudrna, Luinder Avila, and Mitch Spence. Despite all that competition, Kolek has a chance to break with the club at the conclusion of Spring Training. Here are three pitch-related trends to pay attention to with Kolek this spring, as they could determine his chance to make Kansas City's Opening Day roster. Kolek's Four-Seamer vs. Sinker Kolek's primary two pitches are his four-seamer and sinker. He threw the pitches 26% and 24% of the time, respectively, last season. When it came to the metrics on those pitches, this is how they fared, according to his season-long TJ Stats summary. Kolek's sinker rated as a better offering than his four-seamer a season ago. The sinker had a 99 TJ Stuff+ and 58 grade, and produced a 58.5% zone rate, 31.4% chase, and a .308 xwOBACON. Conversely, the four-seamer had only a 92 TJ Stuff+ and 41 grade, and produced a 52.5% zone rate, 17.1% chase rate, and .446 xwOBACON, all worse marks in those categories than the sinker. That said, the four-seamer had a slightly better whiff rate (15.4%) than the sinker (13.1%). Below is the heatmap data of the four-seamer, which also includes split results, in addition to heatmaps against hitters from each side of the plate. Kolek threw the four-seamer more against lefties and tended to locate the pitch up and away. While the four-seamer CSW numbers against lefties (26%) were similar to those against righties (26.7%) and the chase rate was slightly better (17.4% to 16.4% O-Swing%), he also had a lower whiff rate (13.1% to 22.2%) and a higher xwOBACON (.452 to .428). Thus, one has to wonder if that four-seamer usage gap (15.8%) will close a bit in 2026. Now, let's take a look at the TJ Stats heatmap data with the sinker below. The sinker was less of a whiff-inducing pitch than the four-seamer overall. Furthermore, it produced a 26.9% CSW against lefties and a 26.4% mark against righties. Those rates are not all that different from his four-seamer. However, his sinker was a much better chase-inducing offering, producing a 34.1% O-Swing% against righties and 23.9% mark against lefties. Thus, it's not surprising that his xwOBACON was .274 against righties, as hitters had a hard time squaring up against a pitch they chased nearly 35% of the time. His xwOBACON was less stellar against lefties at .422. However, he also threw the sinker 30% less against lefties (11.2% against lefties; 41.2% against righties). It appears that his sinker is his go-to fastball offering against righties, and his four-seamer is his go-to against lefties. However, I wonder whether closing that gap a bit and mixing more sinkers against righties could be beneficial in the long term. Granted, the sinker is a more horizontal offering, which makes it less of a whiff-inducing pitch compared to the more vertical four-seamer. That said, it's intriguing how Kolek locates both pitches and how they can work effectively when commanded effectively, as seen in the clip compilation below. How Kolek's sinker and four-seamer usage fare this spring should be watched closely by Royals fans. If changes in this mix lead to better results (especially in chase and whiff), he could find himself stealing a rotation or bullpen spot by Opening Day. Mixing the Changeup In Effectively Kolek's changeup was one of the most impressive pitches, stuff-wise, in his 2026 Spring Training debut. It sported a 75 grade and 113 TJ Stuff+. However, it had a zone rate of 16.7%, a chase rate of 20%, and a 0% whiff rate. In 2025, the pitch had a 102 TJ Stuff+, a 60 grade, and a .270 xwOBACON. However, the zone (29.1%), chase (31.7%), and whiff (24.7%) rates were all a bit meager. It would also be nicer to see that chase rate up, especially if the zone is going to remain low. Here's the heatmap data on his changeup, and how it was thrown against lefties and righties last season. His changeup was primarily thrown against lefties, as it had an 18.3% usage against lefty hitters compared to a 2.8% usage against righties. Regardless, it was primarily a pitch designated to generate chase, as it was thrown in the chase zone 35.8% of the time and waste zone 13.6% against lefties. While it didn't produce a ton of CSW (19.3%) against lefties, hitters didn't do much against Kolek's offspeed offering either, as evidenced by the .225 xwOBACON. Below is a clip of his changeup located in that chase zone, effectively against left-handed Twins hitter James Outman. Kolek forces Outman to not only chase but also whiff badly. Kolek's changeup is a unique weapon, even if it doesn't generate many called or swinging strikes. It would be nice to see him utilize this offering more with the sinker, especially since they sport similar movement. The changeup's 6.1 MPH difference from the sinker could lead to more whiffs on the offspeed pitch this spring and in 2026. Which Breaking Offering is More Effective? Kolek sports a slider (16.6% usage) and a sweeper (6.8% usage) as his primary breaking pitches. The slider has produced better results, especially in terms of xwOBACON (.378 to sweeper's .461) and chase (32.6% to sweeper's 20.7%). That said, the sweeper had slightly better stuff, with a 103 TJ Stuff+ (the slider had a 102). Here's a look at the slider's heatmap data via TJ Stats. The encouraging characteristic with Kolek's slider is that he generates strong chase against lefties (29.3%) and righties (36.2%). While the pitch is a better whiff-inducing offering against righties (23%), the whiff rate isn't that bad against lefties, as it is only 3.3% lower. When Kolek is able to locate the slider knee high and into lefties, he can produce effective whiffs like this one below against Freddie Freeman. That said, the sweeper is an intriguing pitch, and I think it could be a more worthwhile offering, especially against righties. Below is a look at his sweeper heatmap data via TJ Stats. He only threw the sweeper 9.2% against righties last year. However, it induced a 27.8% O-Swing% and a .265 xwOBACON. That xwOBACON was 93 points better than his slider's xwOBACON against righties. The sweeper is a much "loopier" breaking offering, averaging 82.5 MPH last year, 1.9 MPH slower than his slider. That said, the sweeper shape and velocity may make it a nice change of pace, especially when paired with the sinker and four-seamer. Below is an example of Kolek pulling the strings on Angels catcher (and former Royal) Sebastian Rivero last year on a sweeper. Rivero whiffs because he's sitting on a four-seamer or sinker. I don't think Kolek needs to add a traditional curveball to his pitch mix. He has a slider, a harder cutter, and a sweeper in addition to the sweeper. However, utilizing his sweeper more could help make his breaking offerings more effective in 2026. The sweeper is the kind of pitch that can really get right-handed hitters swinging out of their shoes badly, as Rivero demonstrated in the clip above. Kolek threw the sweeper 13.9% of the time in his first Catcus League start, which is 7.1% more than his sweeper usage in 2025. Thus, pitching coaches Brian Sweeney and Mike McFerran may also believe that Kolek should be throwing his sweeper more in 2026 and are getting that process started with Kolek in Arizona. View the full article

Gabriel Gonzalez was one of the best all-around hitters in the Twins farm system last year. He earned himself a 40-man spot in the offseason and has a real shot to make the majors in 2026, but can he maintain the same success in the Majors and become a dependable top of the lineup hitter for the Twins once he makes it to the majors full-time? View the full article

Gabriel Gonzalez was one of the best all-around hitters in the Twins farm system last year. He earned himself a 40-man spot in the offseason and has a real shot to make the majors in 2026, but can he maintain the same success in the Majors and become a dependable top of the lineup hitter for the Twins once he makes it to the majors full-time? View the full article

There was little question that Pat Murphy remained the best fit to manage the Brewers beyond 2026, but it's now official. Instead of managing this season as a lame duck, Murphy and the Brewers signed a new three-year contract with a club option for 2029. "I feel lucky. I feel fortunate," Murphy said from his office at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Friday morning. "I know how tough it is to get here, but I think with it comes a responsibility. I didn't need to be certain that I was wanted. I didn't need this to happen. I just felt like it probably is the best to get it done, and I don't want to be with any other organization. I feel really connected. Going on my 11th season, I feel really part of it, and I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be." In two seasons under Murphy, the Brewers have gone 190-134 in the regular season and won a franchise-record 97 games last season. The 67-year-old moved into the manager's chair in November 2023 after Craig Counsell signed with the division-rival Cubs and has kept the club highly competitive amid what could have been more tumultuous turnover. "Things didn't change a ton when he took over," said Christian Yelich. "Obviously, him and 'Couns' have different personalities and different ways of going about things, but he was familiar with us and the way we did things. I was glad that he was the one that was taking over. Obviously, it went really well for a couple of years." Murphy has been specifically hailed for his leadership in the clubhouse, balancing his trademark humor with a no-nonsense, straight-shooting approach to the game that has resonated with players. "I think players know when it's time to have fun with him and joke around, but know when it's time to lock it in, and you have to do your job," Yelich said. "There's high expectations, and you have to meet those expectations, or there's going to be some discussions if you don't. I think it's fine knowing where you stand with the manager and knowing that you don't ever have to wonder. With Murph, he's going to tell you good or bad." A longtime college coach before joining the professional ranks, Murphy's reputation as an old-school coach seemed to clash with a forward-thinking front office that relies heavily on analytics. However, he has proven he understands the modern game enough to effectively blend his perspective with the information he receives from the ivory tower. "I think there's value in the old school mentality, absolutely," president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. "But he's not completely old school. He's not closed-minded. There's a difference between those two. I think he's very open to ideas and continuing to get better. I think that's the goal here for all of us. We all want to get better." "I've learned so much about how the game is run," Murphy said. "How the game is run from the top down. I'm constantly growing myself. I think of myself coming out of college, trying to be a college coach, and then turn into a major league coach, like, wow. The education that I needed in order to do that, I've learned so much." Some of those college elements are still evident in Murphy's style. Because those players are far less polished than professionals, the college playing environment is an unpredictable bloodbath condensed into a 60-game season. Coaching in that setting for nearly 30 years solidified Murphy's "win tonight" approach, which often prompts him to green-light aggressive player workloads, even as many teams set strict usage guardrails as part of load-management plans. "Every game might be the difference between a seeding in the postseason," Murphy said. "Every game, no matter where it is and what the environment. It's a good thing to build into your computer, you know? And I can't shake it. So that's why every game means so much. "Sometimes, perspective-wise, that's not the best, but I think as a core value, I think it really rubs off, and it resonates with people that these all matter. There's no reason to believe that you can give anything away. It's that competitive. So I think that part. But the season is so much longer, it really challenges you." Murphy acknowledged last October that such a hard-nosed approach may have worn some players down by the postseason, where the Brewers were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. Finding the right balance between winning tonight and planning for the future may still be his greatest weakness, but he's been self-aware and open to feedback. "That's part of the job," he said. "You've got to try to stay the course in the right way. I'm hungry. I'm still hungry. I still want to learn. I still want to impact people." He could have the opportunity to continue impacting people in Milwaukee for up to four more seasons. "I think it's important to know where you're going to be. I really didn't have any doubt that this was going to work out, and I'm really grateful, really thankful." View the full article

For years, the Minnesota Twins have largely played a station-to-station brand of baseball. They’ve relied on power, damage in the gaps, and waiting for the big swing. The Twins have never really built their game around stealing bases; it’s always been more of an afterthought. That could change in 2026. With Derek Shelton stepping in as manager, there’s real reason to believe the Twins are going to force the issue more on the basepaths. Shelton has a reputation for being more aggressive than most managers, and he hasn’t exactly hidden his intentions for the upcoming season. “I think the first thing is, I’m going to build off what happened in September,” Shelton told reporters in the early days of camp. “I really like what happened in September. Ultra-aggressive on the bases. Started to push the envelope a little bit. I think we have to continue on that. That’s proven to be good.” That’s a very clear directive: continue what worked, and put pressure on opponents. So, who can you expect to be aggressive on the basepaths this year? There are a couple of very safe bets to start with, beginning with Byron Buxton. We’ve known about Buxton’s speed for over a decade. Even as injuries have forced adjustments to his game, the speed has never disappeared. Last season, he stole 24 bases without being thrown out once. That’s elite efficiency, and efficiency is what earns a consistent green light. If Buxton is healthy, he’s going to run. It’s that simple. And hitting near the top of the lineup means more chances to turn a walk or single into immediate scoring position. Shelton’s philosophy, paired with Buxton’s track record, feels like a natural match. Then there’s Luke Keaschall, who might have the most upside in this entire conversation. Keaschall stole 14 bases in 49 MLB games last season. He added 11 more in just 28 games at Triple-A before his call-up. The speed translated instantly, but more importantly, the aggressiveness did too. He wasn’t waiting around to see how the league would adjust; he was forcing the issue. Here’s what really stands out: Keaschall has played exactly 162 minor league games in his pro career. In those 162 games, he stole 45 bases on 53 attempts. That’s an 85% success rate over what amounts to a full season. You don’t have to project anything – he’s already shown he can maintain that pace over time. The Twins haven’t had a player steal 40 bases in a season since Ben Revere did it in 2012. Keaschall is the type of player who could end that drought. If he and Buxton are batting one-two, expect movement, and expect action. That alone changes how opposing pitchers operate from the first inning on. The potential uptick doesn’t stop there, though. The next name, however, comes with a major caveat: Royce Lewis. Lewis has never been a high-volume base stealer in the majors. From 2022 through 2024, he stole just six total bases. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he swiped nine just in the month of September. For his career, he’s 18-for-21 in stolen base attempts. That tells you he’s capable. The instincts are there, and his athleticism is obvious. The question isn’t whether he can run, it’s whether he’ll be healthy enough to attempt it consistently. That’ll be the tricky part. Staying in the lineup doesn’t automatically mean he’s physically able to explode out of a lead and slide aggressively into second. If he’s fully healthy, Shelton could absolutely encourage more attempts. But that hinges on durability. Another intriguing piece is Austin Martin. Martin isn’t likely to be an everyday player, and is not even a lock for the Opening Day roster, but he’s one of the better pure athletes in the team's mix. He stole 11 bases in 50 MLB games last year. Earlier in his minor league career, he swiped 35 bases in 2022, followed by 19 in 2023 and 15 in 2024 before totaling 14 between the minors and majors last season. The attempts have dipped, which likely reflects role more than ability. If he’s used as a platoon option against lefties or as a late-game pinch-runner, Shelton could weaponize him situationally. That’s where aggression can show up in smaller, but meaningful, bursts. And then there’s the pipeline. Emmanuel Rodriguez stole 10 bases in 65 games last season and could see time in the majors this year. Walker Jenkins has the athleticism to contribute on the bases when he arrives. Kaelen Culpepper stole 25 bases on 29 attempts in the minors last season. The larger point is this: the roster will have some speed. It’s just a matter of philosophy. The Twins haven’t been a high-volume stolen base team in recent years. Even when they’ve had individual speed threats, the overall approach has leaned conservative. That’s not necessarily wrong. But in today’s MLB environment, with rules that favor runners and limit pickoff attempts, being selectively aggressive can create a tangible edge. Encourage Buxton and Keaschall to run at the top. Mix in opportunistic aggression from Lewis when healthy. Use Martin strategically. Sprinkle in contributions from Rodriguez, Jenkins, or Culpepper as the season unfolds. It doesn’t require the Twins to suddenly lead the league in stolen base attempts, as they did after the deadline last year. It just requires them to make pitchers uncomfortable and defenses rushed. This feels like the year that could change. Not because the Twins are trying to become the fastest team in baseball, but because the manager and the personnel finally align with a more aggressive style. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays start this spring with some clarity at shortstop and unusual luxury in their succession plan. In the wake of Bo Bichette’s free agent departure this offseason, the Jays opted for Plan B (though really, it seemed like their plan all along) of having the sure-handed Andrés Giménez take over as the club’s everyday shortstop. Ernie Clement, who will get most of his starts at second, will also serve as the backup at short, while Davis Schneider will likely fill in for him at second base from time to time, depending on matchups. Giménez is under guaranteed contract through 2029, with a club option for 2030 as part of the seven-year, $106.5 million deal he signed with the Guardians. The decision to cement Giménez at shortstop works largely because of his defense. In Cleveland, he stacked three straight American League Gold Gloves at second base from 2022 through 2024 and added the 2023 AL Platinum Glove as the league’s top overall fielder. His elite run prevention metrics, like Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average, illustrate why he earned those accolades. His first step, angle, exchange and arm accuracy translate well to shortstop. For the front office, the expectation is that having a stronger defender at short will complement a deeper run-producing lineup. It is challenging to directly compare Giménez and Bichette, especially when it comes to offensive output. For everyone hoping that Giménez would return to his 2022 level, his 2025 was a disappointment at the plate (.210/.285/.313). However, the Jays don’t need him to replicate Bichette’s production (.311/.357/.483 in 2025). According to FanGraphs, Bichette was worth 3.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in 2025, compared to Giménez, who was worth 1.0. However, he only played 101 games. In his last full season (2024) he racked up 2.8 fWAR, and he earned 3.8 the year before that. In 2026, Giménez will be responsible for converting balls in play into outs, reaching a league‑average batting line, and letting the bigger bats shoulder the run creation. The occasional explosive swing, like his home run in Game 4 of the ALCS, will be considered a bonus. The Jays never wavered in their support for Giménez to be the Opening Day shortstop. There were no rumours about anyone but Bichette, and those talks just never seemed to gain momentum. When the team signed Kazuma Okamoto, the infield seemed set. Okamoto will primarily play third, Giménez will stand to his left at short, and Clement will play second and float around as the infield’s connective tissue. Whether Toronto’s strategy of having a glove-first shortstop works will be totally reliant on the rest of the lineup producing. If that doesn’t happen, a queue of middle infielders is beginning to form in the team’s minor league pipeline. These replacements are untested at the major league level but could offer more offensive upside. Josh Kasevich is the Jays' 11th-ranked prospect, with a handful of other infielders ahead of him, but he is the oldest among that group and probably the closest to being MLB-ready. The 2022 second‑rounder out of Oregon reached Triple‑A Buffalo in 2024 and did exactly what his Oregon resume forecast: .325/.382/.433 in a 41‑game sample, for a .296/.348/.385 line across Double A and Triple A combined that year. He has elite zone contact and low chase that he pairs with a 90th‑percentile exit velocity hovering in the 103–104 mph band. His lack of power might hold him back, as might his health. Last season, he battled back and ankle issues and struggled badly when he took the field. The real focus for the Jays is their younger prospects. Arjun Nimmala is embracing the spotlight. A first‑round pick in 2023 out of Florida’s Strawberry Crest, the 19-year-old spent last season at High‑A Vancouver. His .224/.313/.381 line with 13 home runs and 17 steals across 120 games might not seem overly impressive, until you figure in that he was consistently one of the youngest players on the field. Independent scouting grades him in the 55 range for power, field, and arm, with quick‑twitch bat speed and a knack for pulling the ball in the air when sequencing and approach cooperate. Although he is Toronto’s third-ranked prospect, most estimates suggest he won’t be ready for prime time until 2028 at the earliest. Nimmala arrived early to camp this spring, roughly 15 pounds heavier after losing weight over the grind of 120 games last year. He has been attached to Giménez during infield reps. That connection has resulted in Nimmala following Giménez’s example of using a smaller, pre-game glove to sharpen pocket awareness and transfers. That small learning is exactly the kind of detail that helps a teenage shortstop’s defense take the next step while the bat matures and makes the “upper minors by mid‑summer” path a real possibility. Regardless of the level Nimmala starts at this year, if his chase rate stabilizes and he builds upon his exit velocity, he’ll be pushed into Double A and even Triple A by late in the season. A late 2027 debut with the Jays would be a successful outcome for a player who was one of the youngest first‑rounders in his class and has retained true shortstop traits throughout. JoJo Parker, selected eighth overall in 2025, is the second pillar and the complement to Nimmala, especially if Nimmala doesn’t meet expectations. Parker is the left‑handed hit‑tool archetype: a 60‑grade bat with strike zone control, 55 power that should grow into 20–25 homers, and enough arm for the left side. The Jays definitely feel he could play an important role in the future. They signed him for $6.19 million and began the transition plan that mirrors their prior work with top shortstop prospects. The open question with Parker is not the bat, but whether the better long‑term defensive fit is second or third base. That open question does not diminish the probability he becomes an everyday player; it simply frames the infield chess Toronto can play if the bat is as advertised. The other name that matters, and might matter quickly, is Leo Jiménez. Once a top‑10 prospect in the system, Jiménez debuted in 2024 and showed the outline of a bench piece. Across 63 games, his line was .229/.329/.358. The structural reason he’s in this conversation is roster status, as he is out of options. He’ll either be on the Opening Day roster, traded, or potentially lost on waivers. At this point, he is basically a short‑term defensive safety net at shortstop, allowing the Jays to absorb an injury or two without pulling Kasevich or asking Parker or Nimmala to cut the developmental line. He won’t raise the position’s offensive ceiling, but he can keep the floor where Toronto needs it in a 26‑man roster world. The beauty of where the Blue Jays find themselves is that they don’t have to choose between present and future. They can win the run‑prevention battle at shortstop in 2026 and build a deeper run‑creation mix in the years that come. The plan holds up even when you stress‑test it. If Giménez’s defense remains elite and the bat sags, the most likely outcome is that Toronto simply stays the course, relying upon others offensively to carry that load. If the club loses Giménez to injury, Clement or Jiménez can handle the workload, and Kasevich or the newly-claimed Ben Cowles becomes the next man up if it stretches longer than expected. Only a full-season, underperformance scenario would necessitate a larger structural change, such as sliding Giménez back to second while Clement, Kasevich or Cowles shoulder shortstop innings, or an unexpected mid‑season leap from Nimmala if he forces the issue for months in the upper minors. Shopping for a short‑term external rental at the deadline is another option in this scenario. They say defense wins championships, but a consistent bat never hurts. In 2026, there will be plenty of eyes on Giménez and those knocking on the door. View the full article

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL—Miami Marlins baseball returned on Saturday as they faced off against the New York Mets. The teams combined for four total hits in the 2-1 Marlins exhibition game win. We were able to see Robby Snelling make his first spring training start, Christopher Morel play first base and the automated ball-strike challenge system in play. Snelling makes first spring start Fish On First's number three prospect Robby Snelling took the mound for the first inning. He threw 10 pitches, setting the top of the Mets order down in 1-2-3 fashion. That included Marcus Semien, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette. Snelling went with a fastball/curveball combo, with his fastball topping out at 96.4 mph and generating one swing with the curveball. "It's always tough getting one inning, small sample sizes, only 10 pitches through the entire inning," said Snelling. "I go back and look that I didn't get to show the entire repertoire, but being able to go out and have a scoreless inning to start the spring, that is a big confidence builder. Even happier to be in the zone, like I was against a really good starting three." Snelling, who isn't on the 40-man roster, still enters spring with a real chance at cracking the Marlins Opening Day rotation. "If you don't go into spring with that mindset, I don't want to say you don't belong there, but you got to have a little competitive fire in you," said Snelling. Early on in camp, it's been the "nine pockets," which are meant to help you target certain spots in the strike zone. "This helped me big time last year," Snelling said. "I've been doing that throughout spring and I think if you fall 2-0 to a really, really good hitter, you can't leave anything middle-middle in the danger zone. Being able to know where your stuff's going to end up is throwing it into the nine pocket. I pictured a nine pocket back there, and (Agustin Ramirez) was my nine pocket." Marlins "bullpen" After Snelling, the following pitchers each threw one inning: Ryan Gusto, Tyler Phillips, Cade Gibson, Zach Brzykcy, Jack Ralston, Josh Ekness, Nigel Belgrave and Stephen Jones. Gusto recorded the first strikeout of the spring for the Marlins, getting MJ Melendez to swing on a 95.0 mph fastball. This offseason, Gusto tweaked his sweeper and added a completely new changeup. "We were really moving the pointer finger on the sweeper, just figuring out a way for me to get to the front of the ball a little bit better, make that spin a little bit tighter and more efficient, so it can help them move and be more consistent," Gusto said following his outing. He threw the sweeper twice, generating one whiff with it. After attempting many different changeup grips, Gusto has finally settled on one that "will be able to work with the way that I leverage the ball individually for me." Before using it in game action, he was able to throw is in his most recent live and hitters told him it was "moving a lot, just wasn't locating it well enough." On Saturday, he threw it three times, generating three whiffs. "He got a little bit everything too," McCullough said. "It was nice that first one, he had a deep at-bat, was able to finish that off. To get some working out of the stretch and probably most importantly, he felt healthy. He came into camp feeling good and then to have this first one go that way, it's a good start." Phillips struck out Marcus Semien swinging with his splitter. His fastball topped out at 97.8 mph, which was faster than any pitch of his MLB career. The Marlins expect to stretch Phillips out given his prior experience as a starting pitcher and extensive pitch mix. "We talked last year on even the potential of him starting," McCullough said. "I think he has those capabilities and we'll see how that plays out. I think we'll just want to continuously increase him, whether that's giving us really good length out of the ‘pen and you can certainly pitch him in short bursts, and as crazy as things can get during the season, also the ability to even go through the lineup a couple of times." Plan at first base On Saturday, free agent signing Christopher Morel started at first base with Griffin Conine playing right field, both for five innings. That will be the plan until the Marlins feel comfortable with Conine playing first base in a game. Morel will move around the field as well, per McCullough. Morel looked comfortable in his first ever start at first base, making a couple of nice plays, specifically in the bottom of the first inning to get the final out. He finished the day hitless, but was able to drive in the Marlins’ second run of the game on a sac fly in the top of the sixth inning, scoring Jakob Marsee. "Probably in a lot of ways couldn't have been any better for Christopher (Morel)," said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. "Not only making the plays, but some of them were not just your garden variety, leaving the first, the high chopper that takes him kind of going into foul territory, get himself under control and make a nice read. He attacks some other ones very well and gave himself some good hops to play with. He's looked great on the backfields, and certainly knew that he was going to prepare himself as best he could coming into camp for this and I'm glad he got a lot of chances, and hope he just continues to get more of those in spring training." ABS challenge system strategy New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told his players to "be aggressive" with the ABS challenge system this spring—that way they can create a strategy for the regular season based on who’s getting calls overturned. McCullough plans on using it in a similar way, at least with the position players. "I've told our position players that they have the ability to challenge in spring training," McCullough said pregame. "You need to meet a percentage threshold that you feel pretty certain that this is. If you get it wrong, there'll be a tax you have to pay me and if you get it right, then you don't get anything from me, other than you get to build some equity and trust in myself and the staff. “If a guy goes 5-for-5 in spring training, what does that mean for the season? I think everyone will look at the samples in their own way. We're talking through actively some more team philosophy and some team things that we'll be thinking about rolling out for the season." On Saturday, each team challenged once and both were unsuccessful. Brian Navarreto, who entered the game in place of Agustín Ramírez, challenged for Miami. Mets catching prospect Kevin Parada challenged while batting in the bottom of the ninth inning. What's next? The Marlins begin a stretch of four straight games at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, located in Jupiter, Florida. Sandy Alcantara will take the mound for the Marlins on Sunday, as they welcome the Washington Nationals. First pitch is slated for 1:10 pm. The game will not be televised, but you can listen to it on MLB.com. View the full article

Designated hitter has long been handled in one of two ways by the Brewers: Either it’s been filled by one-year deals for a “primary” DH (Andrew McCutchen, Jesse Winker, and Gary Sanchez being recent examples) or it was handled “by committee” (multiple players with over 25 starts as the DH). The Brewers took a rare approach in 2025, using Christian Yelich as their DH 131 times. Will that be the case in 2026? 2025 In Review Yelich put together arguably his best season since 2019 as the Brewers’ primary designated hitter, leading the team in homers and RBI and generating 3.1 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. It was an excellent recovery from a 2024 season where he missed over half the games due to back issues. The only other Brewer to see significant time at DH was catcher William Contreras, who served in that role for 22 games, often when Yelich was playing some left field or needed a day off. Jake Bauers saw seven games at DH, but nobody else reached five appearances at the position. Designated hitter was one position where things went well for the Brewers. Current Roster Situation Yelich is under contract through 2028, with a 2029 mutual option. He will likely be the primary DH for as long as he is in Milwaukee – not because he can no longer field, but because the Brewers have multiple capable options for all three outfield spots. Contreras and 2024 primary DH Sanchez are also options for when Yelich may need a day off or when he is patrolling left field, but those should be few and far between. Players who are behind the “break in case of emergency” glass include Tyler Black and Jake Bauers, with a few of their regular players from other positions as options. Best Case Scenario Yelich handles 85-90% of the starts at designated hitter and produces at his 2024 level, being another year removed from back surgery. If Yelich is “relegated” to designated hitter, it means that the Brewers are getting solid, if not better, production from the other positions on the field, particularly the corner outfield spots and first base, and that the team has avoided injuries. Against left-handers, Sanchez can step in occasionally and be an effective DH against southpaws. In this case, it should be noted that Yelich at DH is not so much a bad thing, particularly when it is seen as a statement of the depth and talent the Brewers have in the outfield. If he gets 140-150 starts on “partial rest,” the Brewers are likely to be doing very well in 2026. Worst Case Scenario Christian Yelich is somehow not the primary designated hitter. If Yelich is on the injured list, it means one of Milwaukee’s best hitters is on the shelf – and their $26 million a year man is one of those they can ill afford to lose. If he’s in the field for more than 10 starts, then it’s likely because of injuries or ineffectiveness from other players – unless Black has performed in such a manner than the Brewers decide to move Yelich to left field or first base on a semi-regular basis, but that’s about as likely as a stray unicorn walking onto American Family Fields at Maryvale and having triplet foals. Seriously, though, if Yelich is broken free from the DH role to play the field, then the Brewers are in for a rough time – not just because of other players being hurt, but because in the field, Yelich is more likely to re-injure his back – or something else. Overview If things go well for the Brewers, Christian Yelich may etch himself another claim to history: As one of the best, if not the best, primary designated hitters in team history. As we’ve discussed years earlier, Dick Davis is the Brewers ' player with the most seasons as the team’s primary starter at the position, with three, as the team has often rotated the position among its starters. While there are other players who could be very competent at the position, including Contreras, Sanchez, Black, and Bauers, and while Milwaukee also retains the option to rotate players, how much time Yelich spends as the DH will perhaps be the best indicator of how Milwaukee’s 2026 season is progressing. View the full article

FORT MYERS - The Twins kicked off their spring training Grapefruit League season with a home opener against the crosstown rival Red Sox. Besides the disconcerting news about Joe Ryan's scratched start, here are some other things the nearly 8000 fans at Hammond saw: Royce’s Work Paying Off In the first inning, Royce Lewis made a nice play on a bouncing ball up the third base line, reminding everyone that, despite his offensive struggles last year, he at least put to rest some concerns about his defense at third base. Then, in the fifth inning, his throw to first base was wild and resulted in an error. This last week on Twins Daily’s Live show from Fort Myers, I was asked if it was possible that Royce Lewis would grade out as the second-best defender on the Twins this year, behind only Byron Buxton. I don’t think that’s unlikely at all. That’s partly damning of the Twins' overall defensive level, but I also think that the work he put in last year paid off and will continue to do so. The work he put in this latest offseason around his swing looks like it might pay off, too. He drilled a 96-mph fastball from southpaw Payton Tolle into left-center field to give the Twins a 1-0 lead in his first at-bat. Simeon’s Splitter Simeon Woods Richardson finished the year with a 4.04 ERA over 23 starts, his second year of providing solid production in the rotation. But while he clearly tired late in the season in 2024, he finished the 2025 season with a 2.33 ERA in September. This coincided with him leaning into his splitter more. It looks like he plans to do the same this season. View the full article

Following his Marlins spring training debut on Saturday, first baseman Christopher Morel speaks with the media about his comfort level at his new position and where he can still improve before the regular season begins. View the full article

Following his Marlins spring training debut on Saturday, first baseman Christopher Morel speaks with the media about his comfort level at his new position and where he can still improve before the regular season begins. View the full article

Following Saturday's scoreless start against the New York Mets, Marlins left-hander Robby Snelling speaks with the media about his main takeaways from the outing and competing for a big league job.View the full article

Following Saturday's scoreless start against the New York Mets, Marlins left-hander Robby Snelling speaks with the media about his main takeaways from the outing and competing for a big league job.View the full article

Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. How do the Twins move forward? In this video, I discuss the Plan B options for both the rotation and the bullpen. I also previewed this year's class of top contenders for Sire of Fort Myers down in spring training. View the full article

The Twins were gearing up to face the Boston Red Sox in their first Grapefruit League game on Saturday afternoon when, around 10 minutes before the scheduled first pitch, the team shared news that scheduled starter Joe Ryan had been scratched. Soon after, we learned the reason: lower back tightness on the right side. No further information was available as of game time, but Twins Daily's John Bonnes is live on the scene in Fort Myers and will update this article (or a new one) with additional details and quotes from team officials, so be sure to check back in a bit. During the minutes in between the announcement of Ryan being scratched and the revelation of the cause, a wide range of possibilities passed through the minds of bamboozled Twins fans – still reeling from the bombshell of Pablo López going down the 2026 season due to elbow surgery. A trade? Another injury? Turns out it's the latter, although initial indications don't necessarily point to anything overly serious. The fact it's not an arm issue is, on its own, fairly relieving. That's not to say one can safely dismiss or downplay any back-related discomfort, but naturally, the Twins are going to be taking every precaution at this early stage of spring training. Ryan has generally proven extremely durable for the Twins, rarely missing a start or facing any limitation outside of a teres major strain in 2024 that cost him most of the second half. Last year, he set a career high with 171 innings pitched over 31 outings (30 starts). With López going down, the Twins are counting on him to be the steady, dependable workhorse atop their rotation. This isn't a great first step, and the timing is almost surreal coming just days after López suffered a season-ending injury in his first live BP. The Twins came into this spring with that duo as the foundation of their faint contention hopes. But at this point there's no reason to panic, and I'd suggest mentally separating this situation from any lingering López-related despair, even if it feels tempting to lump it all together. With that said, Ryan's planned participation for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic would certainly seem to be in doubt. We'll have more info for you as it becomes available. For now, feel free to sound off with your reactions to the early-spring health woes for the top of the Twins rotation. View the full article

On Friday, the Royals acquired free-agent catcher Elias Diaz, signing the 35-year-old to a Minor League deal. He is not expected until next week, according to the announcement on the Royals' social media account. Diaz made the All-Star team with the Rockies in 2023. That season, he hit 14 home runs and collected 72 RBI, but only posted an 82 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR. Last year, he played 106 games with the Padres and had nine home runs, 29 RBI, a 74 wRC+, and a 0.4 fWAR in 283 plate appearances. In terms of Statcast, Diaz didn't excel in any particular areas, though he is aggressive on pitches in the strike zone, as illustrated in his Statcast summary below. Since debuting with the Pirates in 2015, he has played 830 career games and had 2,800 plate appearances at the Major League level. In that time span, he has 71 home runs and 326 RBI, but a career 78 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR. At this point in his career, he may be a Major League backup catcher, at best. The Royals seem set at catcher with Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen on the big league roster. Perez showed he is ready for the upcoming season in Kansas City's first Spring Training game of the year, hitting a 441-foot home run on Friday against the Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi. However, the Royals may need some catching depth this spring, as they have been down a couple of catchers. Jorge Alfaro has not been able to report yet due to visa issues. Luke Maile hasn't reported due to personal reasons. Thus, Diaz likely was acquired due to the issues with those two catchers, who both were signed on Minor League deals in the offseason. Diaz will likely start the year in Triple-A Omaha, though he may opt out of his deal if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. It is unlikely Diaz will have a shot at making the active roster unless an injury happens to Perez or Jensen in Spring Training. View the full article