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After the Royals' 4-1 victory over the Braves in the series finale, the Royals made an announcement on social media regarding the future of outfielder Drew Waters, who was designated for assignment last Wednesday. Waters has struggled at the Major League level with the Royals, who acquired him in a 2022 MLB trade with the Atlanta Braves, who initially drafted him. Last year, as a 26-year-old, he produced a .243 batting average, .604 OPS, and .268 wOBA in 219 plate appearances with the Royals. Over his career, he has an 84 wRC+ and accumulated 0.7 fWAR in 684 plate appearances. As a result of his mediocre campaign in 2025, Waters had to earn his spot on the Royals roster this spring, especially with him being out of Minor League options. However, he didn't impress in Cactus League play. In 36 plate appearances, he hit .188 with a .531 OPS and struck out 22.3% of the time. His Statcast percentiles weren't impressive either, especially in the batted-ball and plate-discipline categories. Waters likely will have a regular role as an outfielder in Omaha. He will compete for at-bats with John Rave, Kameron Misner, and Gavin Cross. Rave and Misner are on the 40-man roster, while Cross is not, but is trying to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. The Storm Chasers struggled in their Opening Series of 2026, getting swept by the Louisville Bats, the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A affiliate. View the full article

Series Nutshell Hopes were high for the Royals as they began the 2026 season in Atlanta, eager to improve upon their 82-80 record this offseason. While 2025 was just their second winning season since their 2015 World Series, offensive inconsistency cost them the postseason after they went to the ALDS in 2024. With some shrewd acquisitions this offseason and some faith being put in their young, established, and budding stars, the Royals were hoping to get off to a strong start in 2026 by taking the series against the Braves. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the series that the Royals hoped for. They lost two out of three games in Atlanta, including the home opener, in which they were shut out. That said, they salvaged things with a victory on Sunday to avoid the sweep, and they found some life offensively on Sunday after only scoring two combined runs in games 1 and 2. There are some questions about the bullpen, especially in the wake of Carlos Estevez's disastrous outing in game two, which saw him blow a two-run lead in the ninth. However, those questions may have been answered in game three, and there's more hope on the horizon, both on the pitching and hitting end, especially with a much easier (hopefully) opponent lined up for the Royals' home opener at Kauffman Stadium. Record this Series: 1-2 Run Differential: -7 Standing: 4th place in AL Central (1.0 GB) Game 1: ATL 6, KC 0 The Royals are shut out and stymied by Chris Sale on Opening Day, as he holds them to three hits in six innings of work. Kansas City only gets five total hits, all singles. Cole Ragans struggles, giving up four runs on six hits in four innings of work. Game 2: ATL 6, KC 2 The Royals hold a 2-0 lead for eight innings, thanks to a strong performance by Michael Wacha and relievers Lucas Erceg and Matt Strahm. However, Kansas City blew the lead in the ninth, with Estevez giving up a game-winning grand slam to Dominic Smith. Game 3: KC 4, ATL 1 Kansas City secures its first victory of 2026. Seth Lugo pitches 6.1 innings of shutout ball, and Erceg shuts the door in the ninth on Atlanta for his first save of the season. Carter Jensen hit his first home run of the season, and Bobby Witt Jr. collected his first RBI with an opposite-field single. News and Notes After his game two loss, Estevez had X-rays done after he got hit in the ankle by a Michael Harris II line drive. The X-rays turned out negative, but the Royals' closer was wearing a walking boot on Sunday, as reported by MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers. No word has been made if Estevez will land on the IL. However, it's a situation to monitor, especially since his velocity still isn't where it needs to be by his standards (more on that later). Michael Massey, Stephen Kolek, and James McArthur were three players put on the IL before Kansas City's Opening Day game on Friday. All are making progress back in Arizona, according to Rogers. McArthur, who missed all of last season due to injury, is progressing slowly, though that seemed to always be the plan for him this spring, according to Rogers. However, Rogers did point out that he's pitching in Arizona (Minor League games) and could be due for a rehab stint sooner rather than later. McArthur saved 18 games for the Royals in 2025 in 56.2 IP. While he had a 4.92 ERA, his 4.17 FIP was much better, and he could thrive in lower-leverage situations in the bullpen. Highlights After a Game 1 loss in which Ragans struggled on the mound, Kansas City got excellent starting pitching performances from veterans Wacha and Lugo. Though he had an uneven Spring Training (6.89 ERA in 15.2 IP), he stepped up and had an excellent performance, dominating an Atlanta lineup that teed off for four runs and three home runs against Ragans. In six innings of work, Wacha struck out seven and allowed no runs on three hits and only one walk. He also posted excellent whiff and chase rates against a pretty vaunted Braves team. Wacha posted a 50% chase rate, a 38.6% whiff rate, and allowed a .245 xwOBACON on 80 pitches. His four-seamer and cutter were both up in velocity from 2025, and his changeup was producing 4.3 more inches of iVB than a season ago as well. His four-seamer and changeup were his best pitches whiff-wise, as evidenced by his 42.9% and 44.4% whiff rates, respectively. If Wacha continues to produce metrics and outings like this, he could be a mainstay in the No. 2 spot in the rotation, making the extension he signed last year even more of a bargain. As for Lugo, he is coming off a subpar 2025 after finishing second in the AL Cy Young race in 2024. He posted a 4.15 ERA in 145.1 IP, but his FIP was much higher at 5.05, and his 1.29 WHIP was 20 points higher than his mark in 2024. Even though he earned a contract extension from the Royals at the end of the 2025 season, there was concern that Lugo would continue trending downward in 2026. So far, the 36-year-old seemed more like his 2024 self on Sunday against the Braves. In 6.1 IP, he allowed no runs, five hits, and didn't walk a single batter. He also struck out three and maintained some strong chase and zone rates in his 2026 debut, illustrating a control and command that wasn't as consistent this spring or a year ago. Here's a look at his TJ Stats summary from his winning effort against Atlanta. Sunday was a vintage Lugo effort: a lot of different pitches (nine types thrown), a "raid the zone" approach (55.8% zone rate), and generating the kind of chase (35.3%) that led to ineffective contact. Though he did benefit from the weather conditions on Sunday, he didn't let up in attacking Braves hitters all game long. That aggressiveness wasn't always present in 2025, so it's nice to see him get back to that approach, which made him so successful in his first season in Kansas City. In addition to Lugo and Wacha, the Royals got solid contributions from many arms in the bullpen. Bailey Falter and Alex Lange looked solid in their Royals regular-season debuts. Falter gave up a couple of runs on five hits, but he struck out four, didn't walk any, and generated a good amount of whiff and weak contact in three innings of work. The TJ Stuff+ profiled well at 102 on Friday, a sign that he may be a nice fit in the long relief role. In addition to Falter and Lange (who had a scoreless inning of work in game 1), Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg locked things down in the late innings. Both produced scoreless outings not just on Saturday, but on Sunday as well in the Royals' lone win, with Erceg notching the save. Manager Matt Quatraro mentioned before Sunday's game that they may give Estevez more time to ramp up his velocity, which may mean pitching in lower-leverage situations. If that's the case, then Strahm and Erceg may be splitting duties in high-leverage situations in the ninth for the time being. The offense didn't really stand out much, even in their victory on Sunday. The Royals' offense was primarily led by Salvador Perez on Saturday, as he launched his first home run of the year against Reynaldo Lopez, who was dealing for six innings prior to Salvy's bomb, the Royals' first run of 2026 (after 15 innings, unfortunately). In addition to Salvy's home run, Jac Caglianone had a solid day at the plate in his 2026 debut (he did not play on Friday due to the matchup against the lefty Sale). He went 2-for-3 with a double, a nice start considering his issues at the plate a year ago. On Sunday, the main star was Carter Jensen, the Royals' top prospect. In his first start behind the plate, not only did he help Lugo have a stellar outing, but he also went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and had an RBI sacrifice fly. His home run was not an easy one, especially considering the windy conditions of Truist Park on Sunday. Jensen is only hitting .125 with four strikeouts in 10 plate appearances this season. That said, he's shown good power with a .500 slugging and .700 OPS. Jensen has been known to start slow and turn it up once he adjusts to the pitching at a particular level. While the average isn't high now, he seems to be looking comfortable and not overwhelmed at the plate, even against a good pitching staff like Atlanta's. Lowlights The main "concerning" story from this series is Estevez, whose velocity issues this spring continued into his first outing of 2026. It was a complete disaster for Estevez, who only recorded a single out on 27 pitches. In that outing, he allowed six runs on four hits and two walks. The cherry on top of his putrid outing was allowing a grand slam on a 3-2 count that Smith absolutely mashed. The stuff was just not good for Estevez in his 2026 debut. He averaged only 91.2 MPH on the four-seamer, and his overall TJ Stuff+ was 96. Furthermore, not only were his chase, whiff, and xwOBACON marks poor, but his zone rate was as well, leading to his two walks. It's likely that without his usual velocity, Estevez was trying to be too fine with his control, which led to him missing more spots than usual. He only generated an 11.8% chase and 11.1% whiff, so it was obvious that Braves hitters were locked on him on Saturday. That was further confirmed by his .599 xwOBACON allowed, with his four-seamer and changeup allowing xwOBACON marks of .720 and .836, respectively. Estevez was in a walking boot on Sunday, which makes one wonder if he will be seeing some time on the IL when they return to Kansas City. However, Quatraro didn't comment on Estevez's outlook, though he did mention to Rogers before Sunday's game that they would pursue other closing options even if Estevez was available. Thankfully, the Royals have enough bullpen depth to absorb Estevez's removal from the ninth for the time being. They also have a few good options in Omaha, with Luinder Avila, Steven Cruz, Eli Morgan, and Mason Black all being possible options to replace Estevez if the Dominican closer lands on the IL. Speaking of pitching concerns, Ragans had a forgettable performance on Opening Day against Atlanta. It was the kind of outing that was far too typical for him in 2025, which explains his 4.97 ERA. He generated a lot of strikeouts and whiffs, but he struggled with command and gave up way too many barrels. His lackluster zone rate and high xwOBACON overshadowed his strong TJ Stuff+ and whiff rate. I talked about Ragans more thoroughly in a recent post on Royals Keep written after his outing on Friday. It's too early to panic with Ragans, and he has shown some command issues and pitch inefficiency in previous Opening Day starts. However, his zone rate and xwOABCON trends will be important to follow in his next starts. A disappointing development in the Atlanta series was the struggles of the lineup, especially with hitters expected to be key secondary performers at the bottom of the order in 2026. Jonathan India is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. Isaac Collins is 0-for-7 with two strikeouts and a caught stealing. Starling Marte went 0-for-3 on Opening Day with a strikeout. Lane Thomas is 1-for-9 with four strikeouts. The Royals were hoping that at least 1 or 2 of these hitters would have an impact on the Kansas City lineup and raise the floor of this group. After three games, the early results have been good with this group. Thankfully, Quatraro has been quick to adjust the lineup this year. Collins, Marte, and India were not in Sunday's lineup. It wouldn't be surprising that Thomas isn't in Monday's lineup after his 0-for-4 performance in the series finale. Looking Ahead In their Opening home series, the Royals play a Twins team that is 1-2, but has scored 11 runs and has a run differential of zero. Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Trevor Larnach have gotten off to good starts this year, with Lewis hitting his first home run of the season on Sunday in their 8-6 loss to the Orioles. Also, Tristan Gray played at shortstop instead of Brooks Lee on Sunday, and the move paid off. Gray went 2-for-4 with three RBI. The pitching seems to be a source of inconsistency. They held the Orioles to two runs in game 1 and one run in game 2, thanks to strong performances from starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. However, Bailey Ober and the Twins bullpen struggled on Sunday, giving up eight runs in the series finale. The Twins' 3.96 staff ERA is better than the Royals' 4.62. However, six of those 13 total Royals runs were tagged to Estevez in his meltdown in the ninth inning on Saturday (his ERA is 162.00, which doesn't feel real). Take that Estevez outing away, and this Royals pitching staff only has seven runs allowed. Minnesota and Kansas City both know this series will be a big one, especially if they want to re-establish themselves after disappointing Opening weekend performances. The Royals will face Simeon Woods Richardson, who is susceptible to the long ball, as evidenced by his 1.37 HR/9 and 10.8% HR/FB rate. It would be nice for the Royals to get off to a hot start against Woods-Richardson on Monday, especially with the long ball at Kauffman with the new dimensions. A strong performance on Opening Day could make things easier for the Royals in this series, especially with Ryan and Bradley slated to go in games 2 and 3, according to Roster Resource. View the full article

Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-0 (Overall: 3-0) Run Scored Last Week: 29 Runs Surrendered Last Week: 10 Standing: 1st in NL Central (1.0 GA STL & CIN) *** Game 1 (3/26) | MIL 14, CHW 2 Game 2 (3/28) | MIL 6, CHW 1 Game 3 (3/29) | MIL 9, CHW 7 *** Game 1 | Brewers 14, White Sox 2 MIL Starter: Jacob Misiorowski (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 K) Top Performers: Jake Bauers (2 H, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI) Joey Ortiz (2 H, 2 R, 2 RBI) Sal Frelick (H, HR, 2 BB) The Brewers opened their 2026 campaign on Thursday by handing the ball to Jacob Misiorowski, who, despite surrendering a leadoff homerun to Chase Meidroth, rewarded the club’s decision by breaking franchise records. His 11 punchouts of White Sox hitters set a new franchise watermark for strikeouts on Opening Day, while the team behind him lit up the scoresheet by tallying 12 hits and drawing 10 walks in a 14-run outburst. William Contreras’ bases-clearing double (+23 WP%) Game 2 | Brewers 6, White Sox 1 MIL Starter: Chad Patrick (4.1 IP, 5H, 1 ER, 4 K) Top Performers: Brice Turang (3 H, 2 R, 2 2B) Christian Yelich (3 H, R, RBI) Garrett Mitchell (2 H, R, 2 RBI) Chad Patrick took the ball on Saturday, and despite not putting up the numbers Misiorowski did in the game previous, his 4.1 innings of one-run ball were more than enough to propel the Brewers to their second straight victory. On the offensive side, the Brewers played small ball, tallying up 12 more hits, with only two going for extra bases, and stealing 7 bases. Garrett Mitchell’s 2-run single (+8.7 WP%) Game 3 | Brewers 9, White Sox 7 MIL Starter: Brandon Sproat (3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 7 ER, 3 K) Top Performers: Christian Yelich (H, HR, 3 RBI) Gary Sánchez (2 H, HR, 2 RBI) Brewers Bullpen (Combined: 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 9 K) Sunday's series finale against the South Siders didn't have the start the Brewers might've imagined, with White Sox SS Colson Montgomery rudely greeting Milwaukee starter Brandon Sproat with a first-inning grand slam. Sproat never recovered, allowing three more runs and finishing his day with just three innings of work, exiting with the Sox up 7-2. The Brewers bullpen held the game there, though, and finally, in the eighth, the Brewers broke through. An RBI single from Brice Turang brought the game within three, and shortly after, Luis Rengifo's first Brewers hit brought the game within one. Sensing the moment, skipper Pat Murphy summoned Christian Yelich to pinch hit, who responded with a go-ahead three-run homer to cap the six-run 8th, and put Milwaukee up for good. Trevor Megill then capped the excellent day for the bullpen with a save in the 9th, and with that, the Brewers wrapped up their opening weekend with a sweep of the White Sox. Christian Yelich's go-ahead pinch-hit home run (+62 WP%) Transactions: 03/28/26 - Placed 1B Andrew Vaughn on the 10-day injured list with a left hamate fracture. (Retroactive to March 27, 2026) 03/28/26 - Recalled C Jeferson Quero from AAA Nashville. 03/26/26 - Placed CF Jackson Chourio on the 10-day injured list with a left hand fracture. (Retroactive to March 25, 2026) 03/26/26 - Recalled CF Blake Perkins from AAA Nashville. Notes: Jackson Chourio’s injury stems from an exhibition game while playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. The team's estimate is that Chourio will miss 2-4 weeks. Blake Perkins took the place of Chourio on the roster. Andrew Vaughn’s hand fracture occurred on Opening Day. Milwaukee expects Vaughn to miss 4-6 weeks while he recovers. Jefferson Quero’s recall was the corresponding move to Vaughn’s injury, with Gary Sánchez and Jake Bauers being expected to fill time at 1B while Vaughn recovers. Looking Ahead: Monday, 3/30 - Rays @ Brewers - 6:40 pm CDT Tuesday, 3/31 - Rays @ Brewers - 6:40 pm CDT Wednesday, 4/1 - Rays @ Brewers - 12:40 pm CDT Friday, 4/2 - Brewers @ Royals - 6:45 pm CDT Saturday, 4/3 - Brewers @ Royals - 3:10 pm CDT Sunday, 4/4 - Brewers @ Royals - 1:10 pm CDT View the full article

After almost nine years in Toronto's organization, Leo Jiménez is heading to Miami. Jiménez made a valiant effort to break camp with the Blue Jays, but ultimately, he failed to make the Opening Day roster. As he was out of options, the team had no choice but to designate him for assignment. On Sunday, the Marlins decided to take a chance on the 24-year-old infielder, sending a 23-year-old infielder (and $250,000 of international bonus pool money) to the Blue Jays in return. Miami selected Dub Gleed in the ninth round of the 2024 draft, and he made his affiliated debut in 2025. He rose through the Marlins' system quickly, finishing his season with one game at Triple-A Jacksonville. The corner infielder walked almost as often as he struck out, helping him post a 124 wRC+ across four levels. View the full article

Hours after the Miami Marlins completed a series sweep of the Colorado Rockies, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix went right to work adding to his roster. The club announced on Sunday night that they've acquired infielder Leo Jiménez from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infield prospect Dub Gleed and $250k in international bonus pool money. Francys Romero was first to report the full transaction. Jiménez, 24, played a total of 26 games during the 2025 minor league season where across three levels, he slashed .296/.404/.370/.774 with seven RBI and a 122 wRC+. He also saw 18 games at the big league level, but struggled, posting a -19 wRC+. Jiménez had a longer run in the majors in 2024, where in 63 games he slashed .229/.329/.358/.686 with four home runs, 19 RBI and a 101 wRC+. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter is a glove-first player. He spent most of his minor league career at shortstop, but also has played second base. The Blue Jays designated Jiménez for assignment prior to Opening Day because he is out of minor league options. As for Gleed, the Marlins selected him in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. In his first full professional season, he slashed .252/.391/.347/.737 with two home runs, 26 RBI and a 124 wRC+ with nearly as many walks (43) as strikeouts (48). Recently highlighted on an episode of Fish Unfiltered, he was set to begin this season with Double-A Pensacola. To clear a 40-man roster spot for Jiménez, the Marlins DFA'd right-handed reliever Garrett Acton. He made his organizational debut on Friday, working a scoreless inning for Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins will still need to make a corresponding 26-man move prior to Monday's game. View the full article

MIAMI — The last time the Marlins started a season 3-0 in 2009, they were still the Florida Marlins. Fast-forward 17 years, and after a name change, a new stadium, and two improbable playoff appearances, the Miami Marlins have joined them along with the 1997 World Series-winning team with three consecutive season-opening victories. The third such win, Sunday's 4-3 defeat over the Colorado Rockies, proved the most meaningful. Entering the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2, Miami started off the inning with an Xavier Edwards single. Liam Hicks, a late-game replacement and one of the protagonists in Saturday's win, lined out to former Marlin, first baseman Troy Johnston, who turned an unassisted double play. Now down to their last out, Javier Sanoja would keep the dream alive with a two-out double that split the gap in left-center, bringing Owen Caissie, already 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles in this series, to the plate. After taking a first-pitch changeup from Colorado's Victor Vodnik, the Rockies reliever doubled down. Caissie made him pay for it, sending the pitch over the right field wall for a walk-off, two-run homer. "I mean, I kind of blacked out...I don't know if kids imagine that, but it was awesome," said Caissie. "Safe to say Owen Caissie will be in the lineup tomorrow," noted smiling Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. I think it goes without saying that 2026 is a make-or-break year for Max Meyer. The club's first-round pick in 2020, Meyer entered his fourth big league season the owner of a 5.29 ERA in his 25 starts. So, when his first inning of the season yielded three runs, it felt like more of the same. "I was just way too nonchalant out there for the first, and my arm just wasn't on time," said Meyer. "I looked at some video in the third...and I just kind of never got my arm through, and then I was able to pick up the pace a bit, so I felt better in the last couple of innings, for sure." Following that three-run top of the first, Meyer would hold the Rockies scoreless for the next four innings, allowing just a pair of hits. In his five innings of work, Meyer, who threw 81 pitches, walked two and struck out four. Relying primarily on his secondary pitches, Meyer only threw 28 percent fastballs in his season debut, failing to generate a single whiff on his heaters. His slider, though, proved greatly effective, generating whiffs on nine of the 13 swings, averaging just 71.7 miles per hour when put in play. A narrative defining the Marlins' early-season triumphs has been the resilience their players have shown following moments of adversity. Take shortstop Otto Lopez, whose throwing error in the top of the first allowed TJ Rumfield to score Colorado's third run. Batting in the bottom of the inning, Lopez hit an RBI double that saw Miami begin its clawing back. While it may be early, there appear to be signs of something potentially special beginning to blossom here in Miami. "This group is kind of creating their own identity a little bit. This is a new year, but the same type of mentality—just the resiliency," noted McCullough. The Fish would plate another run in the following inning on a sacrifice fly from the newly minted Austin Slater. Advancing to third on that play and making his major league debut, Deyvison De Los Santos made an impact early, doubling in his first career at-bat. Acquired from Arizona in the trade that shipped out A.J. Puk, De Los Santos' calling card is his 70-grade power, something the Marlins should rely on in the absence of Christopher Morel and Kyle Stowers. The comeback, Miami's third one-run win in a row to begin the season, could not have been possible without the help of the bullpen, which fired four scoreless frames in relief of Meyer. In the season's opening series, Marlin relievers combined to throw eight scoreless innings and strike out 15. Looking Ahead The Marlins will continue their opening homestand on Monday, hosting the Chicago White Sox. Chris Paddack will make his Marlins debut in the series opener. Miami and Paddack agreed to a one-year, $4M deal before the staqqrt of spring training. Davis Martin will oppose him for Chicago. The first pitch at loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST. View the full article

Fish On First staffers react to the latest Miami Marlins series and prepare you for what lies ahead. Sunday's show was hosted by Jeremiah Geiger and featured panelists Ely Sussman, Kevin Barral and Louis Addeo-Weiss. The following topics were covered: Owen Caissie's walk-off home run and outstanding all-around series Length provided by the Marlins starting rotation and scoreless work by the bullpen The first game in the Marlins' teal Sunday alternate uniforms The major league debut of Deyvison De Los Santos Chicago White Sox series preview and predictions You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our next FOF LIVE episode will be Wednesday at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET following the Marlins-White Sox series finale. View the full article

TRANSACTIONS Wrote about the Twins signing Drew Smith to a minor-league deal. Sunday he was added to the Saints roster. Catcher David Banuelos was placed on the development list to make roster room. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 4, Indianapolis 1 Box Score Saints Complete 3-Game Sweep Jenkins Returns The plan for Walker Jenkins’ playing time has been laid out through next weekend. He played seven innings on Friday night. He didn’t play on Saturday. On Sunday, he played seven innings. In the top of the eighth frame, his spot in the lineup came up with two outs in the top of the eighth inning. Kyler Fedko pinch hit for him and took over in center field. Jenkins led off the game with a double off of the wall just to the left of dead center field. A couple of batters later, his hamstring was tested. Kaelen Culpepper lined a single to left. Jenkins rounded third and sprinted home. He dove in but was easily out. More importantly, Jenkins was just fine. He walked in his next plate appearance and lined an RBI single. He flew out to right field in his final at-bat. Morris Makes 2026 Saints Debut The goal when the game started was for Morris to go about four innings, and then John Klein would come in and hopefully go three innings. Well, Morris went 3 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits. He had one walk and one strikeout. He was at 57 pitches, likely within a handful of his Start #1 limit. Certainly Morris was not in mid-season form. No one would expect him to be. But he only had three whiffs over those 57 pitches. Per StatCast, Morris threw 23 four-seam fastball (40%). He averaged 95.7 mph with the pitch and got nine called strikes. He maxed out at 97.3 mph. So velocity-wise, he’s where he needs to be and has been. He also threw 10 curveballs (18%), eight sinkers (14%), six changeups (11%) and five cutters and five sweepers (9%). Saints Score First Again, Take Early Lead Noah Cardenas led off the top of the second by being hit by a pitch. Tanner Schobel walked. With one out, Jenkins walked to load the bases. Gabriel Gonzelz grounded toward second. Jenkins was out at second, but Gonzalez beat the throw to first and the Saints had their first run. With one out in the third inning, Ryan Kreidler doubled to left. With two outs, Schobel walked again. Aaron Sabato followed with a single to left to drive in the second run. Jenkins followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Klein Time Indications and some quotes indicate that Minnesotan John Klein will be used in the three-to-four inning, twice per week role for the Saints this year. The goal for this game, his first outing of the season, was to go about three innings. He went 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, walked two, and had four strikeouts. He threw 48 pitches and 31 of them were strikes (64.6%). Half of his 48 pitches were four-seam fastballs. He averaged 95.6 mph with a max of 96.9 mph. He threw 14 curveballs (29%). That pitch averaged just under 81 mph, a really nice velocity drop. Same thing with his seven changeups (15%). It averaged 86.8 mph, about nine mph less than his fastball. Finally, he added three cutters. However, he was only able to record four whiffs. I Can Hit Too, Really! We’ve all seen Ryan Kreidler’s career number in MLB. Simply, he hasn’t hit. He has a .138 batting average and .208 on-base percentage over his 188 big-league at-bats. However, it doesn’t take watching him play all over the diamond that you appreciate just how terrific he is defensively. And (Alert: Small Sample Size Warning), Kreidler hit his first double and first home run of the season. Through the first three games, Kreidler is 5-for-10, hitting .500/583/.900 (1.483). The 28-year-old from UCLA has good size. He’s 6-4 and about 210 pounds. New Vets Get Their First Chance When the Twins bring in a new veteran on a minor-league contract, they get them in the game right away! John Brebbia came in for the sixth inning. He got two outs relatively quickly. Then came Dominic Fletcher. 15 pitches later, Brebbia won that mini-battle and ultimately tossed a 1-2-3 inning. He threw eight four-seam fastballs and eight sliders. StatCast said that he threw two cutters and one sinker, one changeup, and one sweeper. Drew Smith came in and pitched the eighth inning. He faced just three batters, but he definitely used his defense. Konnor Griffin led off the inning with a double to the gap in right-center field, but with a perfect relay from Fedko to Culpepper to Kreidler to nail Griffin at third base. A huge play in a three-run game. Smith followed it up by walking a batter, but he followed by getting a double play to end the inning. Grant Hartwig got a strikeout to end the eighth inning on Friday. He came and despite two walks tossed a scoreless inning to record the save. Defensive Alignment It’s only been three games, and the lineup may look different starting Tuesday at CHS Field when the Saints take on the Woo Sox for six games. Here’s a quick look (again, just three games): Saints Players 3/27 3/28 3/29 Walker Jenkins CF DNP CF Kaelen Culpepper SS 3B SS Gabriel Gonzalez DH LF RF Emmanuel Rodriguez RF CF DH Alan Roden LF RF LF Orlando Arcia 2B SS DNP Eric Wagaman 1B 1B DNP Ryan Kreidler 3B 2B 3B Alex Jackson C DNP DNP Kyler Fedko DNS (CF) DH DNS (CF) Noah Cardenas DNP C C Tanner Schobel DNP DNP 2B David Banuelos DNP DNP Dev List Aaron Sabato DNP DNP 1B WIND SURGE WISDOM The Wind Surge season begins on Friday, April 3rd, when they play host to the NW Arkansas Travelers for three games. KERNELS CHRONICLE The Kernels also begin their 2026 season on Friday. They will host Peoria for three games. MIGHTY MATTERS Fort Myers will also begin their season with a three-game home series. They will host the Clearwater Threshers. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter of the Day Ryan Kreidler (St. Paul): 2-for-4, 2B(1), HR(1), 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Pitcher of the Day John Klein (St. Paul): 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 48 pitches, 31 strikes (65.6%%) PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. #1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - 2-for-3, BB, 2B(1), RBI (played CF, batted 1st) #2 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 1-for-5, K (played SS, batted 4th) #3 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, BB, 2 K (DHd, batted 5th) #4 - C Eduardo Tait (TBD) - DNP #5 - LHP Connor Prielipp (St.Paul) - DNP #6 - LHP Dasan Hill (TBD) - DNP #7 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-for-5, RBI (played RF, batted 2nd) #8 - LHP Kendry Rojas (St. Paul) - Injured List (hamstring) #9 - SS Marek Houston (TBD) - DNP #10 - RHP Charlee Soto (TBD) - Injured List #11 - RHP Riley Quick (TBD) - DNP #12 - RHP Andrew Morris (St. Paul) - 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 57 pitches, 36 strikes (63.2%) #13 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (TBD) - DNP #14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (TBD) - DNP #15 - RHP Marco Raya (St. Paul) - DNP #16 - OF Hendry Mendez (TBD) - DNP #17 - 2B/OF Kyle DeBarge (TBD) - DNP #18 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (TBD) - DNP #19 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (TBD) - DNP #20 - RHP James Ellwanger (TBD) - DNP UPCOMING PROBABLES Tuesday: Worcester @ St. Paul (6:37 pm CT) - LHP Christian MacLeod CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 1-2 St. Paul Saints: 3-0 Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! View the full article

Matt Shaw will never be the Chicago Cubs' starting second baseman, shortstop or third baseman. When the team signed Alex Bregman to a five-year deal this winter, Shaw was asked to start learning the outfield, and when they struck a deal with Nico Hoerner that will keep him in the fold at second base through 2032, that became the only imaginable way in which Shaw will find consistent playing time for the team, barring injuries. Of course, Pete Crow-Armstrong is also locked in as the team's center fielder for the foreseeable future, so Shaw essentially has to become a competent corner outfielder to be more than a utility man for the Cubs. That could, of course, mean that the Cubs will soon look to trade Shaw, who remains under team control through 2031. For the moment, though, let's focus on the implications of the team's recent moves should he stay in town, and let's further assume that Bregman, Hoerner and Dansby Swanson are healthy enough to force him to be an outfielder. That leaves two questions to answer: Can Shaw become sufficiently adept in the outfield itself to avoid causing major damage to the defense? Can he hit enough to justify giving him regular playing time in positions where the team will need significant offensive production? The first answer is likely to be 'yes'. Shaw is a good athlete, and though he's small and has a weak arm, he's shown decent aptitude in limited opportunities there this spring. With speed and skills, he should be able to offset his deficiencies and play average or better defense in (especially) left field. He played a couple of balls quite well in right field on Opening Day, despite gusting wind. Offensively, though, the standard in either corner is quite high, and Shaw hasn't yet shown the ability to meet it. He batted .226/.295/.394 last year. There was a prolonged period in the second half in which he tapped into much more power and it was possible to envision him being a valuable bat in a corner spot, but even then, his plate discipline was shaky and he was too whiff-prone. The big leg kick he brought with him to the majors had to be adapted, but even after he did so, he seemed to be overstriding. He wasn't well-balanced, and he wasn't keeping his head still enough to see the ball well. To be a useful right or left fielder, Shaw has to be better and more consistent at the plate this year. The league figured him out after his July/August power binge, and countered his adjustments; he'll have to adjust again. This spring, he hit .320/.417/.500 in the Cactus League, but all that matters is what happens once the games count—and that, in turn, will be determined by whether Shaw can make adjustments that yield better pitch selection, more contact, and/or more power. In that regard, there's good news and bad news, so far. Shaw has made a major adjustment this spring to shorten his stride and (thereby) improve his stability in the box. That should mean better pitch recognition and a better contact rate, over time. Here's a comparison of his stance and stride for 2025 with the one he's shown (in an extremely limited sample, of course, but the difference is real and intentional) in 2026. As you can see, he's dramatically reduced the length of his stride, and he's also a bit closer to the plate and a bit deeper in the batter's box. All of these things are good, in the long run, for his odds of making good swing decisions and making contact on swings. The sample is too small for the results to say anything meaningful about the efficacy of the changes yet, but for this, we don't really need stats. We just need proof that he's changing the math—the physics, the geometry, and the algebra—of his duel with opposing pitchers. We have it. For what it's worth, Shaw is also swinging a bit more steeply this season. That's a noisier thing, over a sample of a game or two, and it might not remain true, but it's noteworthy because his swing appeared to have that extra tilt even in the spring. A steeper swing would yield a greater amount of damage at the same bat speed. That, alas, brings us to the bad news: Shaw's bat speed so far is dreadful. On 14 competitive swings, Shaw's average bat speed is 65.8 miles per hour. Last year, his monthly bat speeds ranged from 68.4 MPH to 70.5. Again, it's too early to treat this as something lasting and real, but directionally, it makes a sad sort of sense. Shaw's highest bat speeds last year were when he was striding most aggressively; he got a lot of bat speed from the sheer momentum of his attack. Shortening the stride increases control but lowers momentum. Increasing tilt improves the chances of squaring the ball up but decreases sheer torque. Shaw will, surely, swing faster than this as he settles in and gets going this year. Still, if he doesn't get back up to at least that 69 MPH range, he has little hope of having average power. That applies extra pressure to control the strike zone well, minimizing strikeouts and increasing walks. He might well prove able to do that; those are the things his tweaks this spring should augment. It's just a troublesome signal, for a player whose value will have to come in large part from his bat for the foreseeable future. View the full article

Box Score: Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (56 Pitches, 37 Strikes, 66 %) Home Runs: Royce Lewis (2) Bottom 3 WPA: Mick Abel (-0.59), Matt Wallner (-0.17) Byron Buxton (-0.15) Win Probability Chart (Via FanGraphs): The Twins entered the third game of the new season with a chance to take two of three games from the Orioles in Baltimore. The bats have been predictably inept thus far, but the pitching had been decent, and the team managed to manufacture four runs despite just four hits in Saturday's 4-1 win. On Sunday, Bailey Ober took the mound looking to fight back against allegations that he is "cooked," working with lower velocity, struggling to reach 90 MPH in spring training, and coming off a brutal 2025 season. He shied away from the fastball early, throwing a barrage of changeups and sweepers to keep the Orioles hitters off balance, inducing numerous grounders and pop-ups. The fastball didn't return to his 2023-2024 peak by any means, but the exit velocities were low, and he was efficient early. The Twins hitters were up against Shane Baz, who has been a hot prospect for approximately 15 years, first sent to the Rays in the Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows-for-Chris Archer trade of 2017. He was dealt to Baltimore this winter and signed a five-year, $68-million contract extension this week, a big bet on his potential despite just one healthy season in his five years in the big leagues. He throws hard and has a wicked breaking ball. He showed his upside in a 1-2-3 first inning, including two weak fly outs from Kody Clemens and Luke Keaschall and a challenged strike three call to Byron Buxton that was upheld. The Twins got to work in the second inning, however. Matt Wallner roped a single to center, Josh Bell was hit by a pitch, and Victor Carratini checked in with his second hit as a Twin. The much-maligned Trevor Larnach bounced a ball to the hole between first and second, reaching an infield single to score the game's first run. Royce Lewis then got ahead in the count before striking out looking for Baz's 99-MPH fastball; it was a well-located 92-MPH cutter instead. No matter, Tristan Gray was up next and clobbered a 107-MPH double to right, clearing the bases and giving the Twins a surprising 4-0 lead. Gray, 30, is a journeyman who has shown some power in the minors but hasn't gotten much run in the big leagues. If the Twins are planning to outperform logic and reason this year and actually compete, it will take a couple of Willi Castro-style success stories to provide the necessary variance. Maybe Gray can be that. Who knows? Ober took that four-run lead into the fourth inning, but the Orioles were ready for him the second time through the lineup. Pete Alonso singled, as did Samuel Basallo. The hulking Tyler O'Neill then worked the count to 3-1 before unloading on an 88.8-MPH fastball at the top of the zone from Ober. His 391-foot blast cut the Twins' lead to one run. Baz struggled with his command in his tragic second inning, but otherwise was sharp with his knuckle-curve, tying Twins hitters into knots. The most the Twins could muster were bloop doubles from Bell, Larnach and Buxton in the fourth and fifth innings, but Bell was cut down unnecessarily trying to advance on a grounder to short in the fourth, and Buxton overran second base and was caught trying to scamper back in the fifth. Mick Abel made his 2026 debut in the bottom of the fifth, a major yin to Ober's yang. He began by striking out Jeremiah Jackson on a challenge fastball and dotting another 97-MPH fastball on the corner to catch Taylor Ward looking (after a nice ABS challenge by Caratini). The sixth was more of a struggle, as Abel was unable to put away numerous Orioles hitters with two strikes, letting O'Neill come back from 0-2 to draw a walk; getting ahead of Coby Mayo before allowing a bloop double; and seeing Dylan Beavers rope a 3-2 changeup into right field for a two-run double to flip the game. That lead would not last long, as Royce Lewis jumped all over a breaking ball from Yaramil Hiraldo, launching a 377-foot home run to tie the game. He'd also given the Twins the lead in Saturday's tilt with a two-run blast. That WPA is looking pretty good early on. Perhaps a bit shaken by that, Hiraldo proceeded to walk the bases loaded for Wallner, who showed there is something worse than a typical strikeout in 2026: a strikeout where you challenge the call on an obvious strike, costing your team the ability to challenge the rest of the game. That proved costly right away, as Abel walked Gunnar Henderson in the bottom half of the inning on a clear strike to put two men on with no outs following a Ward single. Alonso then poked a single just over Keaschall's outstretched glove to reclaim the lead. Adley Rutschman delivered a pinch-hit double off the wall in dead center field to further the unraveling. The Twins didn't quit, at least. Bell walked and Caratini singled against righty Tyler Wells to bring the tying run to the plate, but that tying run was James Outman. He walked somehow, which brought up Lewis—who struck out on a high change. Gray then singled up the middle to keep the line moving and add to his legend. Clemens struck out, bringing up Buxton with two down to face old friend Yennier Cano. It was a lengthy battle, but Buxton ended up swinging over the top of that patented sinker Cano throws to end the inning. Running on fumes, Abel was brought back for the eighth and allowed a single and a walk, bailed out by Blaze Alexander getting caught stealing by Caratini. Anthony Banda was finally brought in to face Henderson with one on and one out. He was able to retire Henderson on a fielder's choice, then caught him taking off early from first to end the frame. Keaschall led off the ninth against All-Star closer Ryan Helsley with a single, but the rally fizzled from there, despite a Henderson fielding error. Things to Watch: -Brooks Lee sat in favor of Gray after starting the year 0-6 with three strikeouts. -Trevor Larnach made his second straight start in left field, as Twins manager Derek Shelton has shown his preference early on is to have Josh Bell DH against righties with Clemens at first base. I question the defensive upgrade of DH-ing Larnach over Bell, since Clemens could conceivably play a better left field than Larnach, but what do I know? -Abel began warming up in the top of the fourth, with Ober having not had much trouble to that point. That invited the question of how much the Twins trust Ober even when he is "cruising." Was the intention to get Abel some work with all the early-season off days, or is Ober getting the Simeon Woods RIchardson treatment, i.e., not being trusted to go through a lineup more than twice? On that note, Abel was allowed to stay in the game and take a beating, throwing 71 pitches over his three innings, allowing multiple runs in two of those. With the game hanging in the balance, it was a little surprising a fresh reliever was not brought in for the seventh, and again when Abel got into trouble that inning. But wait, there was more! Abel came out to start the eighth for some reason, his velocity dropping down to 94 MPH with the fastball. He didn't get anyone out outside the caught stealing, and ended up with twelve baserunners allowed in 3 1/3 innings. -Josh Bell reached four times with two doubles. He runs hot and cold, so it's nice to see him coming out of the gates getting results. -Austin Martin pinch-hit for Larnach in the sixth, and was pinch-hit for by Outman in the eighth. This could be Shelton getting cute with the logic of playing the platoons and improving his left field defense more as the game went on. The problem is that Outman can't hit, and are we even sure Outman is an upgrade defensively at this point? What’s Next: The Twins head to Kansas City for the first time in 2026 with Simeon Woods RIchardson (7-4, 4.04 ERA in 2025) opposing Kris Bubic (8-7, 2.55 ERA). SWR finished 2025 on a high note, perfecting his new splitter and showing the ability to put away hitters for the first time in his career on a consistent basis. Bubic was dominant for Kansas City, with nasty stuff from the left side, his only weakness being health, never surpassing 130 IP in his six years in the majors. Postgame Interviews: (Coming soon) Bullpen Usage Chart: WED THU FRI SAT SUN TOT Abel 0 0 0 0 81 81 Topa 0 18 0 12 0 30 Funderburk 0 17 0 13 0 30 Orze 0 0 0 21 0 21 Banda 0 0 0 15 3 18 Sands 0 0 0 16 0 16 Rogers 0 10 0 0 0 10 Laweryson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 View the full article

The 2025 season was a downer for Minnesota Twins fans. The losses piled up, the roster was stripped down at the trade deadline, and the club limped to the finish line as one of baseball’s worst teams over the final two months. Somewhere in that mess, Byron Buxton put together one of the most impressive seasons of his career. As the 2026 season begins, it is worth revisiting his 2025 campaign and highlighting a few things that may have flown under the radar. 1. His Speed Was All the Way Back (No, Really) It's easy to assume that Buxton’s elite speed had faded. Injuries have a way of chipping away at explosiveness, and for a player whose game is built on athleticism, that decline can come quickly. That was not the case. Buxton posted a 30.2 mph sprint speed, virtually the best in baseball. He was tied for the second fastest mark in the sport alongside Bobby Witt Jr. and Victor Scott II. Only Trea Turner came in higher, at 30.3. For a player who has battled leg and lower body injuries throughout his career, that number matters. It's not just about stolen bases or highlight plays in center field; it's also about getting to a few more balls without diving or going first-to-home on a double. That part of Buxton's game remains intact. 2. September Surge By September, the Twins were playing out the string. The games had little meaning in the standings, and the focus had already shifted to the future. Buxton never let up. Over his final four games, he collected five hits—four of them home runs—to finish the year on a tear. His final stat line told the story of a complete and dominant season: 126 games, 542 plate appearances, 97 runs, 35 home runs, 83 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, a .264 average, an .878 OPS, and 4.9 WAR. That combination of power and speed placed him in rare company in franchise history. The only other player in Twins history to post a 30 home run and 20 stolen base season is Kirby Puckett. Even in games that no longer mattered, Buxton played like they did. 3. Rare Air Among the Game’s Best The American League MVP conversation was dominated by Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, and rightfully so. Both delivered massive offensive seasons that carried their teams. Buxton didn't receive the same level of recognition. He finished outside the top 10 in MVP voting and missed out on a $3 million bonus tied to his placement. Still, his production stacked up with the very best hitters in the league. Buxton ranked fifth in the American League in OPS+, trailing Judge, Raleigh, George Springer, and José Ramírez. That's elite company, and it becomes even more impressive when considering defensive value. Among that group, Buxton and Raleigh are the only players who regularly man premium up-the-middle positions. Buxton wasn't just hitting like a superstar. He was doing it while playing a demanding defensive role. Other Moments That Defined the Season Beyond the numbers, Buxton delivered a collection of highlight reel moments that reminded everyone just how unique his skill set is. He recorded the first cycle in Target Field history, a milestone that felt almost inevitable for a player capable of impacting the game in every possible way. From stretching hits into extra bases to launching balls into the seats, it was a single-game snapshot of his full offensive arsenal. He also provided one of the most jaw-dropping defensive plays of the season against the Chicago White Sox, making a walk-off catch in the gap to secure a victory. It was vintage Buxton, gliding into position before timing his leap perfectly. Few players in baseball can end a game with their glove in that fashion, and it served as another reminder of the value he brings beyond the batter’s box. Buxton’s performance earned him a spot on the national stage as well. He represented the Twins in the MLB All-Star Game and participated in the Home Run Derby in his home state of Georgia, showcasing his power and athleticism to a broader audience. For a player whose career has often been interrupted by injuries, it was a well-deserved opportunity to display his talents among the game’s brightest stars. Buxton’s career has always lived in the space between what is and what could have been. Since debuting in 2015, he has shown flashes of being one of the most electrifying players in baseball, only for injuries to interrupt the momentum. The 2025 season offered a glimpse of what a more complete version of Buxton looks like. The speed was there. The power was undeniable. The production placed him among the league’s elite. If he can carry that version of himself into 2026, the Twins may finally have the consistent superstar they have been waiting for. And after everything the organization endured last season, that might be the most important development of all. What are your expectations for Buxton in 2026? What will you remember about 2025? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

There is no doubt that 2025 was disappointing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They seemed to be hit by a lot of injuries, including to their prized free-agent signing that offseason in ace right-hander Corbin Burnes. They offloaded a few pieces at the trade deadline, but even in September still had a chance to make the postseason, finishing 80-82, three games out of the final spot. Diamondbacks' Notable Offseason Moves While there wasn't much in terms of volume to accomplish this offseason, there were a couple of big holes that the D'backs needed to fill. And they did it with familiar faces. Zac Gallen remained with the team even after receiving and rejecting the $22.025 million qualifying offer, and fellow right-handed starter Merrill Kelly, who was dealt to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline, returned on a two-year, $40 million contract. As a bonus, they also signed right-hander Michael Soroka to a one-year, $7.5 million contract just before they added Kelly. First baseman Carlos Santana inked a one-year, $2 million contract. In the most surprising acquisition, the D'backs were the landing spot for third baseman Nolan Arenado, who was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals. It only cost them right-hander Jack Martinez, last year's eighth-round draft pick. Finally, right-handed reliever Paul Sewald stuck around on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Projected Diamondbacks Lineup Geraldo Perdomo, SS Ketel Marte, 2B Corbin Carroll, RF Gabriel Moreno, C Pavin Smith, DH Nolan Arenado, 3B Carlos Santana, 1B Jordan Lawlar, CF Alek Thomas, LF The D'backs had the fifth-best OPS in MLB last year, but that was a lineup that included third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who hit 36 homers and drove in 87 runs before being dealt to the Seattle Mariners, as well as first baseman Josh Naylor, who had a .292/.360/.447 before separately being traded to the Mariners. Will being on a contender after wallowing with the St. Louis Cardinals rejuvenate Arenado? Soon to turn 35 years old, he has a .261/.312/.413 slash line with 54 homers and a combined 6 fWAR over the last three seasons, which is basically MLB average, after putting up a .293/.358/.533 mark with 30 homers for a 7.9 bWAR in 2022. While he still has a pretty good eye, Arenado likes to chase a lot (16th percentile) and his exit velocity is down to 86.8 mph (10th percentile). Santana, meanwhile, is about to turn 40 and has played for seven teams over the last four seasons, putting up a .226/.318/.392 slash line, including 76 homers. But the lineup still does have Carroll, Marte and Perdomo at the top of the lineup. The middle of the lineup looks a little soft with Moreno, Smith, Arenado and Santana, while the D'backs are hoping a move from the infield to center field helps to unlock Lawlar's offensive potential. Projected Diamondbacks Rotation RH Zac Gallen RH Ryne Nelson LH Eduardo Rodriguez RH Brandon Pfaadt RH Michael Soroka Kelly is starting the season on the 15-day injured list due to an intercostal nerve irritation. It is expected to be a short stay. That paves the way for Soroka to begin the season in the rotation. This figures to be the strength of the team this season, but that depends on Gallen, Rodriguez and Pfaadt improving upon their 2025 numbers. Nelson had the best 2025 of this bunch; he posted a 3.73 FIP in 33 appearances, 10 of which came in relief. If the D'backs can stay in the thick of things, 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes could be back sometime around the All-Star break. The Verdict There are definitely some questions that will need to be answered before this team can contend. If Arenado visits the Fountain of Youth and becomes even a solid offensive force, that will boost the offense, which feels a little suspect with Moreno and Smith hitting fourth and fifth. Gallen was once a staff ace but has lost that luster in recent years. Perhaps healthy returns from Burnes and Kelly will key a run for this team. The D'backs stayed in contention after selling at the deadline, so there is some magic fairy dust floating around the desert. View the full article

Every season, there is something new about the Miami Marlins organization, and that's an understatement. There have been turbulent times where barely anything stays the same from year to year. Witness the turnover and enjoy a broad overview of the franchise's history by browsing this collection of annual media guides. Fish On First has compiled digital copies of more than half of all the media guides ever published by the Marlins, from 2009 to the present. Following most of those seasons, they also published a season summary/season in review/postseason guide. Guides from the last five seasons are free for all. Everything pre-2022 is exclusive for SuperSubs at the bottom of this page. Download the 2026 Media Guide Download the 2025 Media Guide Download the 2025 Season in Review Download the 2024 Media Guide Download the 2024 Season In Review Download the 2023 Media Guide Download the 2023 Postseason Guide Download the 2022 Media Guide SuperSubs, continue scrolling for links to download all of the available pre-2022 Marlins media guides and season summaries... View the full article

Marlins catcher Liam Hicks speaks with the media following Saturday's game about catching Eury Pérez's quality start and mashing his first home run of the season. View the full article

There were several hitting stars for the Brewers in their 6-1 win over the White Sox Saturday night at 'The Ueck.' Brice Turang was 3-for-5 with two doubles. Christian Yelich stroked three singles in five trips. David Hamilton continued his impressive start by getting on base twice and stealing two bases. But the player who put the biggest smile on manager Pat Murphy's face tonight was Joey Ortiz. Ortiz came into camp with 15 pounds of newfound muscle, a full beard, and a new, aggressive attitude. The shortstop collected two hits for the second straight game, but more than that, his swing appears to be much improved over last year's version. No, he hasn't really pulled anything yet, but he has been more on time with his swing, hitting two hard grounders up the middle tonight. He drove in Garrett Mitchell in the seventh and stole two of the team's seven bases as the Brewers ran wild on former Brewer (if only for a short time), Reese McGuire. So far this year, Ortiz is leading the Brewers with a .571 batting average, banging out four hits in seven at-bats while knocking in three runs. With the Brewers leading 5-1 in the top of the seventh, Ortiz showed his defensive chops. Colson Montgomery was perched on first with two outs as the White Sox were looking to rally. Austin Hays lined a shot to left field as Brandon Lockridge moved to his right to field the bounding ball. In his haste, he bobbled it, and Montgomery was waved home by the Sox's third base coach. Down four runs, it was an ill-advised move as the run meant little at that point. Lockridge recovered and pegged a perfect strike to Ortiz, who turned in one motion and fired a laser from 150 feet away that catcher William Contreras caught shin high as Montgomery slid into the tag. End of rally, end of inning. Ortiz appears to be more confident early this season, and last year's swing that seemed to result in pop-ups to the right side of the infield is hopefully a thing of the past. No, Ortiz won't hit .300, and he won't hit 20 homers. But if he can hit .270, draw a few walks, steal 20 bases, hit 12-15 jacks, and play his usual sterling defense, the Brewers have no reason to replace him at the '6' spot. View the full article

Prospect evaluation is not just about what happens in the batter’s box. As organizations continue to emphasize run prevention, defensive ability has become just as important when projecting future big leaguers. With updated rankings rolling out across the industry, it is a good time to take stock of which Twins prospects bring the most value in the field. Defense can often be the separator for players working their way through the system. A strong glove can keep a prospect in the lineup during offensive struggles and open the door to multiple roles at the next level. For Minnesota, that versatility and reliability in the field has become a noticeable theme throughout the farm system, especially among players up the middle. The tools below are graded on the traditional 20 to 80 scouting scale, where 50 represents the big league average. Every player listed appears on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Twins prospects, with a focus here on those who stand out most for their defensive ability. Fielding Tool Rankings Honorable mentions go to Quentin Young, Brandon Winokur, and Enrique Jimenez. Each of these players is still developing in the lower levels of the minors, but all three already show an average defensive profile that could improve as they gain experience. 5. SS Kaelen Culpepper: 50-grade field tool Current Position: SS, Future Position: 3B Culpepper remains an interesting case when it comes to defensive projection. He has spent most of his time at shortstop and has the arm strength needed for the position, but there are still questions about whether he will stick there long term. His reactions and range are not elite, which could push him to a different spot on the infield as he climbs the ladder. The Twins have already started to test that versatility, giving him opportunities at second and third base. That flexibility could ultimately become a strength, even if shortstop is not his permanent home. 4. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez: 50-grade field tool Current Position: CF, Future Position: LF/RF Rodriguez brings athleticism to the outfield and has shown he can handle center field at a solid level. His speed allows him to cover ground, and his arm strength stands out as a clear asset no matter where he plays. That said, there is a growing sense that his best long-term fit could come in a corner role. He has seen time in right field recently, and that transition would allow his arm to play up while still providing above-average defense. His offensive skillset is also more closely aligned with a corner outfield role, making the defensive downgrade easier to accept. 3. OF Walker Jenkins: 55-grade field tool Current Position: CF, Future Position: LF/RF Jenkins is known for his bat, but his defense should not be overlooked. He moves well in the outfield and reads the ball off the bat with confidence, traits that have allowed him to handle center field during his development. As he fills out, a shift to right field could make even more sense. His arm strength fits the profile there, and his instincts would still allow him to be an above-average defender. A healthy season in the upper minors should give a clearer picture of just how impactful he can be on that side of the ball. 2. INF Kyle DeBarge: 55-grade field tool Current Position: UTL, Future Position: UTL DeBarge plays with energy that shows up in every phase of the game, especially defensively. He has already been recognized for his work in the field, earning a Minor League Gold Glove at second base while also showing the ability to slide over to shortstop when needed. What makes him particularly valuable is his versatility. He has even logged time in center field, giving the Twins multiple ways to deploy him. That kind of defensive flexibility raises his floor and could make him a valuable piece at the next level. 1. SS Marek Houston: 60-grade field tool Current Position: SS, Future Position: SS Houston stands out as the best defensive prospect in the system. He looks the part of a long-term shortstop, combining smooth actions with excellent range to both sides. His ability to make difficult plays look routine separates him from others in the organization. His arm strength is more than enough for the position, and his overall defensive consistency gives him a strong foundation. Even if his bat develops into something closer to average, his glove alone could carry him to the big leagues and keep him there for a long time. While much of the attention in prospect circles tends to focus on offense, the Twins have quietly built a group of players who can impact the game defensively. From up the middle infielders to athletic outfielders, there is no shortage of players who can save runs and provide stability behind the pitching staff. The next step for many of these prospects will be proving they can pair that defensive value with enough offensive production to carve out everyday roles. If they do, Minnesota could have a wave of well-rounded players ready to contribute in the coming seasons. Other rankings in the series: Hit Tool Do you agree with the rankings above? Who else should make the list? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Transactions: Milwaukee Brewers recalled C Jeferson Quero from Nashville Sounds. C Andrick Nava reinstated from Nashville's Development List We also learned that RHP Joe Corbett had been placed on the Sounds' Development List to start the season. Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Norfolk (Orioles) 7, Nashville 6, ten innings Box Score and Game Log Via the Sounds, game details and postgame notes/analysis, and we always encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Lose in Walk-Off Fashion to Norfolk - Leonard Shines with Three Hits, Falls a Home Run Short of the Cycle Not enough innings Friday (rain), agony in an extra inning Saturday. Just watched MLB Network's Saturday night edition of "Quick Pitch" begin with six walk-off games. Add this one to the list. It's not often we do this, but with a single game, why not take the Sounds' game summary details and mix in the accompanying video. Here goes: Norfolk struck first in the bottom of the second inning. After retiring the first two batters, Sounds starter Coleman Crow issued a walk to Will Robertson and allowed a single to Willy Vasquez to put runners on the corners. Following a stolen base, Jud Fabian delivered a two-run double to left field, giving the Tides an early 2–0 lead. The Sounds responded in the fifth inning to even the score. Eddys Leonard led off with a walk, and after a flyout, Freddy Zamora and Ramón Rodríguez hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Jett Williams followed with a clutch base hit, driving in Leonard and Zamora to tie the game at 2–2. Crow turned in a solid outing, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six over 4.2 innings. Easton McGee took over in relief and worked out of trouble in the fifth but ran into issues in the sixth. After hitting the leadoff batter, McGee surrendered back-to-back singles to bring in a run, and a groundout later in the inning extended Norfolk’s lead to 4–2. The Tides added another insurance run in the eighth inning on a solo home run off Blake Holub, stretching their advantage to 5–2. Facing a three-run deficit in the ninth, Nashville mounted an impressive rally. Eddys Leonard sparked the comeback with a leadoff triple, and Greg Jones followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to two. After Jones stole third, Rodríguez brought him home with a soft single to right, making it 5–4. The rally continued as Jett Williams drew a walk and Cooper Pratt reached on an infield single to load the bases. Tyler Black then delivered a game-tying RBI on a fielder’s choice, sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, the Sounds took their first lead of the night. Leonard singled to put runners on the corners, and Jones came through again with an RBI hit to give Nashville a 6–5 advantage. However, the Tides had the final answer. In the bottom of the tenth, Norfolk rallied with two runs, capped by a walk-off blooper into center field to secure the 7–6 victory. Norfolk Tides on X: "WESTON WILSON WALKS OFF FOR THE TIDES!!! https://t.co/BjM5uUNkot" / X (Oh, 'X', why must your platform be fussy...) The link above could not be embedded because x.com does not allow embedding of that tweet. We are used to Luis Lara getting to, well, everything. The Tides announcer mentions a late jump by Lara on that game winner, perhaps by a hair, that may have been the case. If you hadn't already, read that full game summary because the Sounds always include cool postgame notes on the tail end of the report. There are more videos to view, like a sweet Black-Williams-Crow DP. More defense with Brock Wilken flashing third base leather. Speaking of defense, how about Rick Sweet making sure he's maximizing flexibility: Game 1 vs. Game 2 defensive position for: Jett Williams: 3B, then SS Cooper Pratt: SS, then DH (well, you get the point...) Tyler Black: LF, then 1B Brock Wilken: DH, then 3B Luke Adams and Ethan Murray sat after their respective 1B and 2B debuts Friday. As for Saturday debuts, Eddys Leonard (LF), Freddy Zamora (2B) and Ramon Rodriguez (C) combined to reach base ten times. Add in Greg Jones (as his highlights emphasized) and the bottom four in the Nashville order finished 10-for-18 with two walks. Quite a few folks seemed puzzled as to why Eddys Leonard, a minor league free agent signee out of Atlanta's system, was such a quick exit from Brewers big league camp. Oh wait, did we not share additional videos from the unheralded lower half of the lineup? More clicking for you! Greg Jones RBI single Eddys Leonard triple - so wait, now we have to learn to pronounce Leonard's last name correctly, too? Ramon Rodriguez RBI single For a second night, it was a struggle for most of the bullpen. LHP Drew Rom had a 1-2-3 7th, and fellow southpaw Brian Fitzpatrick worked around a walk and soft single to keep things knotted in the bottom of the 9th. Your box score review will reveal struggles by others. Probably should not have waited this long to point things out in this regard, but there some painful AB's here, and despite our season-long efforts to emphasize the positive, we'll note these "less than two out" failures with RISP: Cooper Pratt's shallow fly to RF with one out and a man on 3rd (Rodriguez) in the 4th Brock Wilken K'd on a foul tip with the bases loaded and one out in the 9th, just as the Sounds had tied the game in the prior at-bat Freddy Zamora with a bunt popout after the first two reached in the 10th Jett Williams popped out foul to first base with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th Wilken netted the season's first Golden Sombrero, and you are compelled to note the season sample is miniscule, 0-for-8, five K's. Shame on me for noting it. Sorry Brock, you'll kick butt moving forward. I am officially very concerned that you'll expect this level of game detail from myself, Daniel (Ro), and Ben going forward this year. Please don't, though we'll always be concisely thorough. These one-game report are exceedingly rare. LHP Tate Kuehner gets the start Sunday, 12:05 PM Central, before the Sounds come home to begin a six-game set with Charlotte (White Sox) on Tuesday. Enjoy your day, everyone! Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View the full article

For Michael Massey, the 2026 major league season will begin in a place he doesn’t want to be — on the injured list, where the Kansas City Royals placed him when they set their Opening Day roster earlier this week. That the dreaded IL isn’t a good way for anyone to start the season is especially true for Massey, a promising player whose previous time there has hampered his otherwise good chances of becoming a regular fixture in the Royals’ lineup. And being sidelined for Friday night's club opener in Atlanta could mark the beginning of a make-or-break season for Massey. While another campaign marred by trips to the IL might not end his professional career, it could spell trouble for his future in Kansas City. Is time with the Royals running out for Michael Massey? That’s an important question facing the team and players as the new season kicks off. After the 15 homers he hit in 2023 helped dampen concerns about his disappointing .229/.274/.381 line and 74 wRC+, and he posted a serviceable +3 OAA in 118 games at second base, Massey appeared headed for a decent run at the keystone for the Royals. But Massey’s health became an issue the following season. Back tightness ended his Cactus League season in mid-March, landed him on the IL to start the season, and kept him off the big league roster until late April. More back trouble sent Massy back to the IL in late May; he returned for good almost a month later, but the 53 days he spent out of the big league lineup constituted an unfortunate feature of his season. Still, he finished with 14 homers and a respectable 104 wRC+ and .259 average in 100 games, but the Royals needed more playing time from him. Unfortunately, they didn’t get it in 2025. Instead, the ankle he sprained in early June kept him from playing in the majors until late August; the long spans spent on the IL and minor league rehab assignments distracted from the .375/.412/.484 he slashed during his down-the-stretch return. That late-season hot streak gave the Royals hope Massey was ready for a stellar 2026. His sizzling .364/.417/.545 eight-game start to the Cactus League campaign intensified that hope, but Massey went down once again when he suffered an early March calf strain. He’s on the 10-day IL retroactive to March 22. Whether Massey will be recovered and primed for play by the time those 10 days are up remains to be seen. It’s a good bet he’ll serve a stint in the minors on a rehab assignment before rejoining the Royals. Whenever he returns, though, questions and concerns about his health will surround him. They are unavoidable. And well-placed. Massey’s situation hasn’t reached Adalberto Mondesi-type proportions, but it feels like it could. That’s why this may well prove to be that ominous make-or-break season for Massey. If he’s healthy, look for him to contribute. If he’s not, it might be time for the Royals to make a move. View the full article

While Tarik Skubal has been a runaway force in the AL Cy Young race as of late, could 2026 be Garrett Crochet's year? In this video, we analyze Crochet's advanced analytics, his advantages, and why he could only get more dangerous as his time as a starter progresses. View the full article

Jays Centre is counting down the top 50 Blue Jays in franchise history. Check out prior entries in the series here: Introduction 50 to 46 45 to 41 40 to 36 35 to 31 30 to 26 25 to 21 20 to 16 15 to 11 10 to 6 5 to 3 Every participating writer had these players as their top two. Not everyone had them in this order, but it was always this pair. There are arguments that can be made for flipping the order, and I made those same arguments myself, but I’m less interested in knocking one of these guys to build the other one up – I just want to celebrate them both. I even considered cheating the process and leaving the top two unranked, but that felt a little underhanded, and I wouldn’t want to deny those that have been following along of the payoff. For full transparency, I submitted my ballot with these two in the order they appear today. If we did it again a year from now, there is no guarantee I wouldn’t flip them; it’s that close. These two pitched in different eras but had a beautifully poetic moment of overlap. It also feels very quintessentially Torontonian that both players were the absolute peak of performance for multiple seasons, but the teams they were surrounded by couldn’t elevate them to allow for some of the playoff heroics we’ve documented with other players on this list. Not to say that these pitchers don’t each have a signature game to point to – in fact, I think one of them is pretty obvious – but with these two, we can talk about a few special moments. No. 2: Dave Stieb 1979-1992, 1998 7x All-Star Franchise All-Time #1: bWAR (56.9), wins (175), innings pitched (2873), strikeouts (1658), games started (408), complete games (103), shutouts (30), quality starts (244) Single Season #1: Innings pitched (288.1), complete games (19), shutouts (5) The Legend of Stieb is almost more outsized than his accomplishments, and considering how many franchise #1 spots he occupies, that’s saying something. He played college ball as an outfielder and was pressed into service as a pitcher when his team was shorthanded. It turned out he was a pretty good pitcher. Drafted by the Jays in June of 1978, he would make his major league debut in June the following year. He would go on to be the best starting pitcher of the 80s and would lead the league in bWAR for three consecutive seasons from ‘82 to ’84. That stretch of dominance hadn’t happened since Lefty Grove in the 1930s. He was selected as an All-Star seven times (more than any other Jay), so within the context of the Toronto team, he was recognized for his performance. A look at the Cy Young voting in his peak years suggests that maybe he was underrated (or unfairly penalized for being on an up-and-coming team) on the larger scale. Similarly, the lack of Cy Youngs – there’s an easy argument for him deserving three (or more) – combined with his delayed eligibility for the Hall of Fame, may have conspired to knock him off of the ballot in his first year, receiving only 1.4% of the vote. Twelve players that shared space on the ballot with Stieb are now in the Hall – we’ll save the debate about how many of them Stieb was better than for another day – but none of them (including two former Jays) are on the Level of Excellence. The Moment(s): If you were going to pick a single game or moment for Stieb, it would have to be the no-hitter. On September 2, 1990, Stieb achieved the feat that no other Blue Jay, before or since, has been able to do. He got his elusive no-hitter. Jon Bois and the good people at Secret Base did an incredible job with their four-part documentary chronicling Stieb’s chase for this accomplishment and the absurd number of times he was *that close* to it before finally getting his white whale. No one in the franchise’s history has as many complete games or as many shutouts as Stieb, and everyone else is tied for second when it comes to no-hitters. The moment I’d like to shine a little light on comes after the no-hitter. That 1990 season marked the final time Stieb would throw 200+ innings in a year. He had averaged 222 innings per season for 12 straight years, so it’s hard to say that injuries cut his career short, but Stieb always felt like a guy who could pitch forever – until he couldn’t. In 1991, he had pitched just under 60 innings through April and May (adding another complete game along the way) until a collision while covering first base led to a back issue requiring surgery and ending his season. In 1992, he would make it almost to 100 innings (one more CG mixed in) before again ending his season prematurely in August. By this time, the chronic back and shoulder issues he was battling were too much to overcome, and after missing out on the ‘92 playoff and World Series run, he was released by Toronto in the offseason. The less said about his 22.1 innings in Chicago, the better. He would return to the organization as a spring training coach in 1998. While throwing and coaching, Stieb noticed that his old injuries weren’t bothering him like they used to and that he was able to pitch again – at age 40. This wasn’t just a ‘franchise great re-signs with former team to announce retirement’ kind of move. Like he did throughout his career, Stieb put in the work. He threw 81 innings in the minors, working himself into a position where he fully deserved the call-up. He would pitch just over 50 innings in the majors, mainly in a relief role, but making three spot starts along the way. Most importantly, it allowed Stieb to retire on his own terms. No. 1: Roy Halladay 1998-2009 6x All-Star, Cy Young, Hall of Famer Franchise All-Time #1: fWAR (48.6), WPA (29.8) Single Season #1: Wins (22), BB/9 (1.08) Roy Halladay would make his debut with the Blue Jays on September 20, 1998. He would start the game and pitch five innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out five. The first line in the box score for the bottom of the sixth inning reads: “Dave Stieb replaces Roy Halladay pitching,” and while that was true for the game, the opposite was happening for the franchise. A week later, Halladay would make his next start and give the most Stieb-like performance possible. A complete game, one-hitter. That one hit came with two outs in the ninth inning and blew up Halladay’s no-hit bid and shutout with one swing. The most poetic part of the whole thing was that the ball landed in the Blue Jays' bullpen and was grabbed by Stieb. “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” doesn’t feel like it cuts it, but it does feel notable that we had both of these pitchers here together, if only for a brief time. Halladay was once described as pitching with “grim determination,” and that was a phrase that always stuck with me. It often felt like he didn’t necessarily want to be pitching, but that he had to be pitching. Again, much like Stieb before him, Halladay hated to give the ball up. Where Stieb has the franchise lead for wins, strikeouts and shutouts, Halladay is the next up. How close he came to never appearing on any of these lists is a hard thing to quantify, but in the 2000 season, he struggled. “Struggled” is really putting it mildly, and a bit of a disservice to every pitcher that has ever struggled to find ‘it’ on the mound. Halladay was bad. Where Stieb’s story is one of almost immediate and lasting greatness, Halladay’s is that of the phoenix rising from the ashes. Gord Ash(es), the Toronto GM at the time, made the call to demote Halladay. Rather than send him to Triple A as would be the usual move, Halladay was sent all the way down the ladder to Single A. By July of 2001, he would work his way back into the big league rotation, having changed his delivery and regained his confidence, ending the ‘01 season with a complete game shutout. The next two seasons, Halladay would lead the league in bWAR, and in 2003, his greatness would be recognized with his first Cy Young Award. From the time Halladay made his debut in 1998 until his departure after the 2009 season, the Blue Jays teams he was a part of only finished better than third in the division one time (a second-place, 10-games-back finish in ‘06). With the likelihood of playoffs on the horizon seemingly dim, Toronto made the difficult decision to trade Halladay, sending him to the Philadelphia Phillies for Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor. This trade felt different than any other I can recall. It was like setting the genie free at the end of Aladdin, or what I imagine parents feel like when their kids move out and start a life on their own. It was a trade made to help the Jays rebuild for the future, sure, but it also gave Halladay something he wasn’t going to get here: postseason baseball. When Halladay went out there and threw a no-hitter in the first postseason start of his career, Toronto fans watched with a mix of pride and sadness. It was a similar mix of pride and sadness when he was posthumously elected into the Hall of Fame in 2019. His addition to the Level of Excellence came the year before, along with the retirement of his No. 32. His legacy lives on throughout the city with Roy Halladay Field in Scarborough, the first fully accessible field in the city. The Moment(s): That second start, the near no-hitter, is certainly one. His final two starts with Toronto were both complete game shutouts and a fitting way to end his tenure with the franchise. The game(s) I’d like to look at, though, came at the end of his Cy Young-winning season in 2003. That September, Halladay made six starts. Five of them were complete games. Two of them were shutouts. You can take your pick of which was most impressive, but for me, it's the 10-inning game against the Tigers. He threw 10 frames, faced 35 batters, gave up only three hits and did it all on 99 pitches to win 1-0 (shoutout to Bobby Kielty for the walkoff). If you want to take the game before, where Halladay struck out 10 Yankees in a complete game win, or the game after, where he only needed 93 pitches in a complete game against Tampa, I wouldn’t quibble with you. You could take the last game of the month too – another complete game win to give Halladay his franchise-record 22nd win. It was the most dominant month by the most dominant pitcher this franchise might ever see. View the full article

Marlins outfielder Owen Caissie speaks with the media following Saturday's game. Caissie has gone 4-for-8 at the plate with a clutch RBI single through his first two games of the season. View the full article

Just called up by the Marlins on Saturday, first base prospect Deyvison De Los Santos speaks with the media about receiving the big news and developing a more mature approach over the past year. View the full article

The Saints played their second game of the 2026 season on Saturday. It was a game with several lead changes, clutch hits, and more firsts. In a game with 16 total runs scored, there were some very good pitching performances. Check out what happened throughout this game. TRANSACTIONS Yesterday, we pointed out the interesting pathway to St. Paul that Matt Bowman and John Brebbia took. Dan Altavilla had a similar path; it just involved a stint with Team Italy in the WBC. On Saturday, the Twins announced that they had signed 32-year-old veteran Drew Smith to a minor league deal and assigned him to the Saints. A 2015 third-round pick, he pitched for the Mets each season back to 2018 (with the exception of missing 2019 due to injury). SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 9, Indianapolis 7 Box Score Fast Start in the Second On Friday, the Saints jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the first. On Saturday, they went 1-2-3. However, in the second inning, Eric Wagaman led off with a single and stole second. After a ground out, Orlando Arcia walked. Ryan Kreidler and Kyler Fedko followed with RBI singles to give the Saints the 2-0 lead. Zebby Struggles in 2026 Saints Debut Zebby Matthews made his first start, and things started OK. Sure, he walked Konnor Griffin and Ronny Simon singled, but he got a fly out and a double play to end that threat. He followed with a 1-2-3 second inning. The third inning was a rough one. It started with a solo home run by Dominic Fletcher. With one out, Griffin hit an infield single and stole second. He scored on another Simon single which tied the score. In the fourth inning, he began by walking Enmanuel Valdez. Following a sacrifice bunt, Esmerlyn Valdez singled. Fletcher drove in a run on a double. Nine-hitter Alika Williams drove in two more runs to make it 5-2 Indianapolis. However, Matthews responded by striking out Griffin and getting Simon to ground out. That concluded his day. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He had just two strikeouts. According to Baseball Savant, Matthews threw six different pitches: four-seam fastball (27%), slider (29%), cutter (19%), Splitter (10%), curveball (8%), sinker (7%). His average velocity on the four-seamer was 95.3 (95.7 on the sinker), and his max velo was 96.6. He got just one whiff on his 15 four seamer strikes. Likely, he’s being tasked with finding and being more consistent with those other pitches on another cool, Indiana afternoon. Comeback Adults A 2-0 lead became a 5-2 deficit after four innings, but this team, through two games, has shown a spark, and it’s not just the Top Prospects coming up with big hits. Kyler Fedko led off the top of the fifth inning with a single which was followed by another single by nine-hitter Noah Cardenas. That brought Kaelen Culpepper to the plate, and he didn’t waste any time. On the first pitch he can from Nick Dombkowski, he hit a mammoth home run to the berm beyond the wall in left field to tie the game at five a piece. Then in the top of the sixth, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Orlando Arcia got things started with back-to-back singles. A third consecutive single, this one by Kreidler, drove in the sixth run, and Fedko followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Saints a 7-5 lead. The Bullpen Got the Job Done Andrew Bash came in to start the fifth inning for the Saints. He went 2 1/3 innings and gave up no runs on three hits and a walk. Bash was the 30th round pick of the Angels in 2019 out of California Baptist. The Angels released him in May of 2020. When minor league baseball started up again in 2021, Bash was with the Blue Jays. He pitched in their organization through the 2025 season. He made his Triple-A debut for Buffalo back in 2022 with seven games. In 2023, he went 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA over 13 games (9 starts) and 48 2/3 innings. In 2024, he pitched in 27 games (16 starts) and 78 2/3 innings. He was 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA. In 2025, he pitched in 40 games (5 starts) and in 84 innings, he went 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA. As a free agent, he signed with the Twins quickly. Dan Altavilla came in on back-to-back days. In this game, he faced two batters and got them both out. Trent Baker made his first appearance of the season. He came into the eighth inning with a two-run lead. Things can happen quickly in baseball. The inning started with back-to-back-to-back singles which loaded the bases and brought Konnor Griffin to the plate. Maybe luckily, Baker walked him to make it 7-6, but still no outs. Ronny Simon came up and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game. However, he really responded well. He struck out The Password (Jhostynxon Garcia) and got a ground out to end the inning with the game still tied. We’ll Play Hero, Again In the top of the ninth, Culpepper worked a one-out walk. Gabriel Gonzalez lined a double to right field. It would appear that the ball was lost in the sun, but if you’re a Twins/Saints fan, that’s OK. Culpepper advanced to third base. In the season opener on Friday night, Alan Roden went 1-1 with four walks. He drove in two runs with a first-inning single. Fast-forward to Saturday, and this was definitely a big spot. Roden calmly drilled a double to the gap in left-center field to put the Saints back up by two runs. Marco…. Raya. Marco… Raya… Marco Raya was set up for the ninth inning save situation. His spring training performance wasn’t terribly encouraging as he had some bouts of wildness. However, you could see the immense potential, a big fastball and a sharp slider. On Saturday afternoon, Raya was really strong and mixed his pitches well. He threw 19 total pitches and mixed in five different pitches. He threw just three four-seam fastballs including one at 97.0 mph. His most-used pitch was his sweeper. He threw six sweepers, two were called strikes and he got whiffs on three of the other four sweepers. He also threw five curveballs. One was a called strike and two were whiffs. He added one more whiff on one of the two cutters he threw. He gave up a double to left-handed Termarr Johnson. Raya got ahead of him 0-2 on a couple of cutters on the inside corner. He then threw him a fastball on the outer part of the plate. Johnson reached his bat out and lined a double down the left-field line. You just tip your cap to the hitter on that one. Raya struck out the other three batters. Jenkins Sits, Kyler Fedko pinch hit for Walker Jenkins in the eighth inning of Friday night’s season opener. That was as planned. On Saturday, he did not play. Also, part of the plan. As a reminder, he injured his hamstring, so they have a plan for how much playing time he will get early in the season. It is likely that he will play on Sunday, maybe even as the DH, and certainly depending upon the weather. Multi-Hit Games The Saints had 12 hits in this game. All nine starters had at least one hit. Alan Roden had two hits and two RBI. Ryan Kreidler was 2-for-3, a walk, and two RBI. Kyler Fedko was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, two RBI, and a stolen base. Challenges Can Be Good Through the first two games, the Saints have been successful on just one of four challenges (25%). BC: Ball Confirmed Saints Player 3/27 3/28 BOS: Ball Overturned to Strike Alex Jackson C 2 (1-1, BOS-BC) SC: Strike Confirmed Noah Cardenas C 1 (0-1, BC) SOB: Strike Overturned to Ball Em. Rodriguez 1 (0-1, SC) Versatility is Good The goal of a Triple-A team is to prepare a player to be ready for the big leagues. That means many things from approach to skill development, to self-confidence, to fundamentals and more things. One of those things is having players ready to play a couple of different positions. Sometimes prospects get called up and take over a position. Maybe that’s ideal in some cases. But I would think that most of the time players are promoted to fill a need. So, giving players actual playing time at a variety of positions is important. It’s only been two games, and the lineup will look different again on Sunday, but we have already seen players playing multiple positions. Here’s a quick look (again, just two games): Saints Players 3/27 3/28 3/29 Walker Jenkins CF DNP Kaelen Culpepper SS 3B Gabriel Gonzalez DH LF Emmanuel Rodriguez RF CF Alan Roden LF RF Orlando Arcia 2B SS Eric Wagaman 1B 1B Ryan Kreidler 3B 2B Alex Jackson CF DNP Kyler Fedko DNS (CF) DH Noah Cardenas DNP CF Tanner Schobel DNP DNP David Banuelos DNP DNP Aaron Sabato DNP DNP WIND SURGE WISDOM The Wind Surge season begins on Friday, April 3rd, when they play host to the NW Arkansas Travelers for three games. KERNELS CHRONICLE The Kernels also begin their 2026 season on Friday. They will host Peoria for three games. MIGHTY MATTERS Fort Myers will also begin their season with a three-game home series. They will host the Clearwater Threshers. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter of the Day Alan Roden (St. Paul): 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RBI, K (GW RBI). Pitcher of the Day Marco Raya (St. Paul): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, Save (1), 19 pitches, 14 strikes (73.7%) PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. #1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - DNP (planned day off) #2 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, BB, HR (1), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K (played 3B, batted 1st) #3 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 1-for-5, R, K (played CF, batted 5th) #4 - C Eduardo Tait (TBD) - DNP #5 - LHP Connor Prielipp (St. Paul) - DNP #6 - LHP Dasan Hill (TBD) - DNP #7 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 1-for-5, 2B(1), R, K (played LF, batted 2nd) #8 - LHP Kendry Rojas (St. Paul) - Injured List (hamstring) #9 - SS Marek Houston (TBD) - DNP #10 - RHP Charlee Soto (TBD) - Injured List #11 - RHP Riley Quick (TBD) - DNP #12 - RHP Andrew Morris (St. Paul) - #13 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (TBD) - DNP #14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (TBD) - DNP #15 - RHP Marco Raya (St. Paul) - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, Save (1), 19 pitches, 14 strikes (73.7%) #16 - OF Hendry Mendez (TBD) - DNP #17 - 2B/OF Kyle DeBarge (TBD) - DNP #18 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (TBD) - DNP #19 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (TBD) - DNP #20 - RHP James Ellwanger (TBD) - DNP UPCOMING PROBABLES Sunday: St. Paul @ Indianapolis (12:35 pm CT) - RHP Andrew Morris CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 1-1 St. Paul Saints: 2-0 Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! View the full article

MIAMI, FL — Earlier this month, Liam Hicks and Owen Caissie were teammates on Team Canada during the World Baseball Classic, helping their country advance to the quarterfinals. On Saturday afternoon, they shared the field as Miami Marlins players for the first time and made a massive impact, combining to drive in four runs to defeat the Colorado Rockies, 4-3. Miami’s starting catcher for this game, Hicks’ sac fly in the bottom of the third inning tied the game early, 1-1. Hicks also hit the team’s first home run of the 2026 season, taking Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen deep for a two-run homer that re-tied the game, 3-3. Hicks, a former Rule 5 draft pick, played in 119 games last season where he slashed .247/.346/.346/.693 with six home runs, 45 RBI and a 98 wRC+. Prior to the game, McCullough was asked about Hicks, saying he "is going to have a really nice year." "Historically, he has always controlled the strike zone, makes a ton of contact and he moves the ball all around the field. I think we've seen him make a real commitment to moving faster, stronger and building a bigger engine. Now, the type of contact he's making, you get a little bit more output, pulling the ball in the air, trying to get to some power and don't think that's going to take away from his ability to hit. Think that there's a lot more untapped in Liam from an offensive perspective, and it starts with some really good ingredients under the hood." Fish On First (@fishonfirst) • Instagram photos and videos WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 54 likes, 0 comments - fishonfirst on March 28, 2026: "Liam Hicks delivers the moment ?⚾️... You couldn't ask for a better start to a Marlins career than the one Caissie has gotten off to, going 4-for-8 with two RBI and only two strikeouts. On Friday night, Caissie hit a 104.1 mph RBI double to get the Marlins on the board for the first time in 2026, and on Saturday, along with hitting a 111.7 mph double in the bottom of the second inning, Caissie drove in the Marlins go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Scoring that run was Otto Lopez, also a member of Team Canada in the past World Baseball Classic. "I was swinging at pitches pretty outside and high," Caissie said. "I just called time, gathered my thoughts and just stuck with my plan of staying on the fastball and I got one. It was really just trying to move Otto over to third and it went up the middle instead." Caissie is already showing the power that he possesses, hitting three balls over 100 mph in just the first two games of the season. He was the centerpiece of the Edward Cabrera trade return and was coming off a season in Triple-A where he hit 22 home runs and posted a 139 wRC+. He is Fish On First’s No. 4 prospect, but will be graduating soon. Sandy Alcantara, who started on Opening Day, and Eury Pérez, who took the ball on Saturday, are the fourth pair of Marlins starters to open a season with back-to-back starts of at least seven innings. The others are: Josh Beckett and Brad Penny (April 6-7, 2004); Ryan Dempster and A.J. Burnett (April 2-3, 2002); and Kevin Brown and John Burkett (April 1-2, 1996). "Helping them shorten the game with how effectively they threw and early on now we got some relievers who are probably chomping at the bit to get in. We can save some innings and appearances from those guys right now. It's going to pay dividends as we continue to go along. I think the length they gave us, but the quality of that length as well." Pérez, who went seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits (two home runs), one walk and struck out eight. The 22-year-old's fastball hit 100 mph on four separate occasions, topping out at 100.4 mph. His fastball generated six total whiffs and five of the eight strikeouts came on that pitch. This offseason, Pérez added a sweeper, which he threw nine times, and generated four whiffs on that pitch, striking out Kyle Karros swinging in the top of the fifth inning. Overall, the young starter threw six different types of pitches, generating a whiff at least once on all of them. Last season, Pérez only completed seven innings once, which came on 7/13/25 against the Baltimore Orioles. With no restrictions now a year removed from undergoing and rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Pérez was able to complete seven innings of work in his first start of the season. "This is going to be a very important year for me because there's no limits," Pérez said. "Higher pitch counts, working deeper into games and being able to help that bullpen. I take a lot of pride in that." For a second straight day, Pete Fairbanks came in to close things out, only needing to throw nine pitches. TJ Rumfield popped out, Ryan Ritter struck out swinging and Brenton Doyle flew out. Fairbanks fastball topped out at 98.1 mph and he struck Ritter with a cutter. Fairbanks became the second pitcher in Marlins history to record a save in each of his first two appearances with the club, joining Armando Benítez, who recorded a save in each of his first six appearances with the club from April 6-15, 2004. The undefeated Marlins have begun a season 2-0 for the first time since 2014. They will look for the series sweep against the Rockies on Sunday as Max Meyer will make his first start of the 2026 season, going opposite of left-handed starter José Quintana. Deyvison De Los Santos, who the Marlins called up after Christopher Morel landed on the 10-day IL, will make his MLB debut at first base. First pitch is at 1:40 p.m. View the full article

After just one game of the regular season, the Milwaukee Brewers are suddenly down two of the primary nine position players they expected to begin 2026 with. First, on Opening Day, left fielder Jackson Chourio was ruled out for two to four weeks after he sustained a fractured left hand with Venezuela in a March 4 World Baseball Classic exhibition game and exacerbated the injury in the final tune-up games to begin this week. Then on Saturday, first baseman Andrew Vaughn followed Chourio to the 10-day injured list with a fractured left hamate bone. Vaughn is expected to miss four to six weeks following surgery, which is scheduled for Monday. The hamate bone is a small, relatively useless bone at the base of the ring and little finger bones. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had surgery to remove his left hamate bone on Feb. 11 and returned to play a spring training game on March 15. Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Corbin Carroll broke his right hamate bone on Feb. 11, had surgery the same day, and was back in action March 11. Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday had his right hamate bone removed Feb. 12 and began a rehab assignment Friday. Those cases show the ends of the four- to six-week recovery. Generally, there are no long-term effects to hitters who have their hamate bone removed, although there could be some short-term negative impact. So what do the Brewers do now? It is a little complicated, but that is what the Brewers do. This is where their positional versatility will come into play. It just depends on how manager Pat Murphy wants to execute the plan. With catcher Jeferson Quero, Brewer Fanatic's No. 7 prospect, called up to take Vaughn's spot on the roster and set to make his MLB debut, there are two obvious solutions. Jake Bauers, a left-handed hitter who plays first base and left field and was expected to be the top bat off the bench this year, started in left field on Opening Day in place of Chourio. Bauers went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in the Crew's 14-2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox. Bauers is a good defender at the position and had a tremendous spring that carried over to the season's first game. If Bauers is at first base, that would put Brandon Lockridge, a right-handed hitter, or Blake Perkins, a switch-hitter, in left field. On Saturday, Bauers started at first, and Lockridge was in left. The other top option, considering Quero was called up, would be backup catcher Gary Sanchez, a right-handed hitter who could be in the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers. Bauers could still be in the lineup in left field, with Sanchez at first base and William Contreras behind the plate. Sanchez doesn't have a wealth of experience at first, having made four of his seven MLB appearances at the position in 2024 in his first stint with the Crew. Those two choices provide Murphy with the ultimate flexibility. But there are other pieces to the plan. Contreras, who wants to play every day, could slide over to first base, where he made his lone appearance last year in the ninth inning of a 14-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 12. That would come into play when Quero starts behind the plate. A bit out of the box, infielders Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton could try their hand at first base. Neither has played the position in the majors or minors, but both have played third base and should be able to adjust to the mechanics of first base, at least in an emergency. Bauers at first and Lockridge in left feels like the most likely configuration, but the Brewers do have the flexibility for other combinations. Vaughn and Chourio were big parts of the Brewers' offense entering the season, but now must deal with the absence of the hitters for a good chunk of April, a month where they have a season-high five days off (not including July's All-Star break). View the full article