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Bold predictions are always a tricky exercise. What feels bold to one person might seem completely reasonable to another. Think back to last season. Predicting a career year for George Springer after a .674 OPS would have raised some eyebrows. Predicting a team that won just 74 games to go from worst-to-first and push a World Series to Game 7? That would have sounded even more unlikely. That's the beauty of baseball: We can analyze rosters, project breakouts, and map out every potential storyline, but something unexpected is always going to happen, especially during (or after) a 162-game season. For this exercise, we’ll use a definition inspired by Ben Clemens of FanGraphs: A bold prediction is something you know might not be likely to happen, but you believe has a better chance of happening than most people think. Rather than keeping all the fun to myself, I asked the Jays Centre staff to share their own bold predictions for the 2026 season. The results were a great mix, including some Blue Jays taking home end-of-season hardware, dominant pitching performances, and prospect breakouts. Let's dive in. Michael Coyle: Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease both throw over 200 IP and strike out over 200 batters. We’ll start with a big one. The 200-inning threshold has decreased dramatically over the past few seasons, with just three pitchers reaching it in 2025. Chris Bassitt was the most recent Blue Jay to hit that number, doing so in 2023, and the last time the team had two pitchers do it in the same season was in 2014, when R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle each eclipsed that mark. Both Gausman and Cease have come close to these numbers in the past, but neither has quite gotten there. In order for this to come true, both pitchers will need to be healthy all season and maintain at least one strikeout per inning; the latter is something that Gausman hasn’t quite done the past two seasons. It's bold for a reason, but the Blue Jays' pitching staff would be in great shape if this one comes true. Matthew Creally: Brendon Little will have a sub-2.50 ERA. Little faded down the stretch last season to the point where he was barely used in the World Series; he was likely overworked and, frankly, had some of the worst command/control in the league. But turning the page to 2026, he’s shown a new four-seamer in camp (touching as high as 98.1 mph), and the added depth in the bullpen will take some pressure off him. It's a bet on the stuff, which is probably a bit underrated. If he can make an improvement to his command, then he can shake off the rough postseason and be a true anchor out of the bullpen. Mike LeSage: Kevin Gausman will finish second in Cy Young voting. Most predictions would have a player ultimately winning the Cy Young Award, but predicting a second-place finish feels bolder in a way. Gausman has come close before. Back in 2023, he led the AL in strikeouts and finished third in the Cy Young race, behind Gerrit Cole and Sonny Gray. Since then, the strikeout numbers have dipped slightly, but he’s remained highly effective. For this to happen, Gausman will need to rediscover that strikeout form while continuing his run of durability as he enters his age-35 season. He’ll also need a bit of luck, with either Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, or any of the other elite AL arms taking a step back. If there’s anyone who can thread that needle, Kevin Gausman is as good a pick as any. Bryan Jaeger: Daulton Varsho finishes top three in AL MVP voting. Varsho has changed his approach at the plate this spring, and it's paying off tremendously. He is letting the ball travel deeper and hitting the ball to all parts of the field. Letting the pitch travel more has also helped his plate vision. He's reduced his strikeouts from 28.4% last season to 7.4% this spring. Take spring training stats with a grain of salt, but it looks like he’s been making some cognitive changes with his approach. The center fielder has an astounding 1.246 OPS and .440 ISO over 54 plate appearances with five home runs, 12 runs, and 14 knocked in. He's doing all this while maintaining his ability to hit the ball hard. Varsho's 54.3 hard-hit% would be a career-high. Pair all this with his elite center field defence and smart baserunning, and you don’t have to squint too hard to see it all come together. The key to making this prediction come true is if he can stay healthy, which is a massive ask, but there is a real path to this becoming a reality. Simon Li: Austin Cates jumps into the top 15 in the Blue Jays system. Currently, Cates isn't ranked among Jays Centre's top 20 prospects, and he was outside of FanGraphs' top 40 Blue Jays prospects as well, but there is lots to like about the 22-year-old right-hander. If you look at the pitch characteristics, he gets elite ride on the fastball (21+ inches of induced vertical break) and pairs it with a devastating splitter, a pitch the Blue Jays have used effectively over the past few seasons. He’ll still need to sharpen up the breaking ball, but if he can make progress with that offering, then he’s got a legitimate three-pitch mix. Cates got the start in the Jay's Spring Breakout game this year and sat at 93 mph after showing increased velocity from the year prior. He’s a name to watch on the prospect side going forward. Sam Charles: The Blue Jays will not win more than 80 games. Not every bold prediction has to be optimistic. Sometimes, saying the unpopular answer may be the right one, all things considered. You don’t have to look too hard to see how this could be possible. The Blue Jays' lineup isn't certain to just mash. Kazuma Okamoto could struggle in his first year against MLB pitching, Alejandro Kirk and George Springer could revert to their 2023/2024 stat lines, and the surprise performances from Nathan Lukes, Tyler Heineman, and Myles Straw could easily disappear. As always, injuries would be a factor here, too. The pitching staff has lots of question marks as well. Three potential starters are already on the injured list. Dylan Cease has all the tools in the world but has had ERAs north of 4.50 in two of the last three seasons. It could happen again. The bullpen has several question marks, and on the whole, the Blue Jays' pitchers are getting old; only Trey Yesavage and Mason Fluharty are currently projected to be on the roster and under 25. Pair that with an AL East that got significantly better in the offseason, and one team is going to disappoint – and there is a chance it could be the Blue Jays. Edward Eng: Jeff Hoffman figures out the home run issues and becomes the shutdown closer the Blue Jays need. One of the many question marks surrounding the Blue Jays in 2026 will be Jeff Hoffman's performance. In 2025, he had stretches of dominance and stretches where he struggled with consistency. Consistency in the closer spot is paramount, and the Jays weren’t always getting that last season. The home runs were always an issue; his 15 allowed were second in baseball by a reliever, and the HR/FB ratio of 20% was his worst since he was a starting pitcher in Coors Field. If he’s able to figure out how to keep the ball in the ballpark, then there is enough dominance in the arm that he can be a lock-down closer. That is going to be important if the Jays wish to remain on top of the division. Leo Morgenstern: Two Blue Jays will make their first all star game this summer. Dylan Cease (somehow) has never made an All-Star Game and seems to be a likely candidate to get there this summer, but what makes this bold is finding another one. Daulton Varsho is a prime candidate to get to the Midsummer Classic for the first time, but there is a path where Kazuma Okamoto, Addison Barger, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, or Louis Varland end up there as well. Last season, the Blue Jays sent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk to the All-Star Game, and with John Schneider set to manage the AL team in Philadelphia this year, having some extra Blue Jays on the roster is never a bad thing. Owen Hill: José Berríos makes more starts than Max Scherzer. This is a prediction about two things: Berríos' durability and Scherzer showing his age. This prediction is certainly bold, as right now, Berríos isn't throwing and is dealing with elbow inflammation that will have him start the season on the IL. For his career, Berríos has been a model of consistency, even after an uneven 2025 season; his ability to log innings has been a strength. Scherzer, on the other hand, has looked sharp in camp and is currently locked into the starting rotation, but there are always going to be durability concerns that come with a pitcher in his forties. While the upside remains, predicting a full, healthy season may be optimistic. The Blue Jays are almost certain to use more than five starters over the course of the year, and the rotation in September is rarely the same as it is in March. This prediction comes down to trusting that Berríos will be available more often in the long run, even though that is not the case at the moment. Bob Ritchie: Andrés Giménez steals 25+ bases and has a wRC+ above 114. Both these numbers are something Giménez has accomplished before, but never in the same year. He reached the 25 stolen base mark in 2023 and 2024, and hit the wRC+ number in his All-Star 2022 campaign, but that feels like it's well in the rearview mirror. However, these numbers aren’t necessarily out of reach. The stolen bases may be the hardest number to reach, as no Blue Jay even reached 20 last season, but Giménez has done it before and will be locked in as the everyday starting shortstop, so he could approach this number once again. If he does reach these numbers, he’ll join a list that in 2025 would have included names like Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll, and José Ramírez. Jesse Burrill: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will set the record for the hardest hit ball in the Statcast era Personally, I have been rooting for this record for a long time. The current mark was set by Oneil Cruz just last season at 122.9 mph. Vladimir Guerrero Jr has come close before, with his best being 120.4 mph, also recorded last year. Here’s why it could happen: Guerrero is entering his age-27 season, which is historically right in the heart of a player's prime. Pair that with the fact that several Blue Jays made noticeable improvements in bat speed during the second half of last season, and you’ve got a recipe for some serious ferocious exit velocities. If everything clicks, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Guerrero claim the top spot. Now, will any of these predictions actually come true? Probably not, but baseball has never been predictable. Over 162 games, the unexpected is inevitable, but that’s what makes it fun, and all that fun starts tonight at Rogers Centre. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox have been searching for stability at the shortstop position for quite some time. You can trace it all back to December 2022, when mainstay Xander Bogaerts departed for the sunny climate of San Diego. With that, the surprising signing of Trevor Story a few months earlier became a lot more important. Story was looking for a fresh start after toiling away in Colorado. Unfortunately, Story's tenure in Boston has been volatile, but he represents the Red Sox's best hope at the six in 2026. Story's health was a major concern from the moment he signed a six-year, $140MM contract. There were issues with his throwing arm in Colorado, and he has only appeared in 320 out of a possible 648 games to this point. Luckily, 2025 finally represented the best version of Story. The Red Sox are optimistic that he and other options can help alleviate this troublesome spot on the diamond. Red Sox Shortstops At A Glance: Starter: Trevor Story Backup: Isiah Kiner-Falefa Depth: Andruw Monasterio, Marcelo Mayer Prospects: Franklin Arias, Dorian Soto The Good: Trevor Story is a tough-minded individual. He arrived in Boston and immediately became a target of Red Sox fans. It's easy to understand why when considering the amount of money he's making and his lack of production. Still, the 32-year-old played 157 games and slashed .263/.308/.433 with 25 home runs, 31 steals, and 96 RBIs last season. That production was equivalent to 3.0 fWAR. His defense slipped (-9 Outs Above Average), but that course should be reversible. He may never match his defensive production in Colorado, but he's been above average since arriving in Boston. Plus, depth options like Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio, and even Mayer are all adept with their gloves, which should give Alex Cora plenty of options to mix and match at shortstop late in games even if Story can't right the ship. The Bad: The injury bug has bitten Story hard. He's obviously missed a ton of games in recent seasons, but those injuries have also hurt his production. Peak under the hood and his 2025 numbers don't look so hot. Story has a below average bat speed and a sky-high 26.9% strikeout rate while only drawing walks at a 5.0% clip. His arm strength ranking sat in the 36th percentile of baseball as well. Shortstop is a difficult position that requires steady defenders up the middle. Story's throwing arm has always been a focus and needs to be on target. If health is an issue again, it's no sure thing that any of Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio, or Mayer can hit well enough in the major leagues to start on an every day basis. The floor at the position is high enough, but there's no guarantee the Red Sox will get much more than replacement-level production if Story goes down again (or slows down due to age). The Bottom Line: Story will make or break the shortstop position in Boston in 2026, though the team has wisely brought in valuable depth on the bench. Another 25-25 season may be asking for a lot from someone in their age-33 season, but another strong offensive season paired with better defense would go a long way toward helping this team reach their goals. View the full article

Recent history tells us that the Miami Marlins are difficult to predict, but that won't stop us from trying. Welcome to a new season of Prediction Time. Once again in 2026, I will be monitoring the prognostications from our valued SuperSubs, Fish On First staffers and livestream guests. Individual article pages like this one will be created prior to every Marlins series and featured prominently on the FOF site. Consistent participation is key if you want to win this annual contest. Submissions only take a few seconds. Scoring system A "perfect" series is worth three points: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) Here is a reminder of what the 2025 season leaderboard looked like, topped by @Alec Chao. The 2026 leaderboard will be posted on Sunday night and updated between every Marlins series. If you are a SuperSub, leave a comment with your Prediction Time picks on this page, or join the Marlins Discord Server and submit there. We'll feature them on the upcoming Fish On First LIVE episode and track your points throughout the season! Any picks submitted prior to the first pitch of the series opener will be counted. If you are not a SuperSub, please consider signing up here to support the FOF staff. All Fish On First podcasts are brought to you by Jet Ski Rentals of South Florida—offering Miami’s best jet ski and boat adventures. With six jet ski locations and over 120 boats, there’s something for every style and every budget. They’re reservation-based only. To inquire, call 305-990-2192, or check them out online at SFJetskiRentals.com. Make sure to use promo code FISHONFIRST to receive 10% off your next booking. View the full article

Twins Daily Social Club, it’s time to mark your calendars again. Before the Minnesota Twins return home to Target Field for the Home Opener on Friday, April 3, against the Tampa Bay Rays, we’re kicking things off the right way: with a pregame party at Smorgie's. Located only steps from downtown action and within easy reach of the ballpark, Smorgie’s is built for exactly this kind of gathering. The space blends a modern tavern feel with a lively, social atmosphere – perfect for reconnecting with fellow fans, talking ball, and getting into that Home Opener day energy. Expect a full Twins Daily vibe: giveaways, plenty of Twins spirit, and no shortage of baseball talk as we gear up for first pitch. Whether you’re breaking down the lineup, predicting the season ahead, or just soaking in the return of baseball in Minnesota, this is your spot to do it. And while yesterday’s result didn’t go our way, it doesn’t change the excitement of being back at the ballpark. There’s nothing like a Home Opener game at Target Field – the optimism, the crowd, the fresh start – and we’re ready to celebrate it together. Smorgie’s brings the added bonus of game-day-friendly food and drinks, with a menu full of affordable comfort favorites and a welcoming, high-energy setting designed for groups. From shareable bites to cold drinks, it checks all the boxes for a perfect pregame hangout. So rally your friends, throw on your Twins gear, and join us on April 3. Let’s pack the place, fire up the season, and head over to Target Field together. Baseball is back, and it starts here. View the full article

Box score SP: Joe Ryan: 5 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 85 pitches, 58 strikes (68.2%) Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Justin Topa (-.023), Ryan Jeffers (-.015), Royce Lewis (-.014) We’re back. Opening Day has arrived, and within a few innings, it already felt familiar. Not just because baseball was back — but because of how the game actually unfolded. For the Minnesota Twins, it looked a lot like a version of last season: good pitching, missed opportunities, and a game that felt like it was waiting to be taken. But it never was. RYAN LOOK ACE-LIKE Joe Ryan got the ball to open the season, and there wasn’t much more the Twins could have asked from him. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, and didn’t give up a run while striking out seven. More importantly, he controlled the game. From the first inning on, the Orioles never really looked comfortable. His fastball was working, he got ahead consistently, and he piled up 16 whiffs, keeping Baltimore’s hitters off balance the entire way. This wasn’t one of those outings where the line looks good after the fact — it looked good the whole way through. And it should have been enough, but it wasn’t. On the other side, Trevor Rogers matched Ryan pitch-for-pitch through seven innings, allowing just three hits and four walks while striking out five. Minnesota’s hitters made some contact, but nothing came of their baserunners until later. RISP-Y BUSINESS The Twins finished the afternoon 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and that doesn’t even fully capture how the game felt in real time. There were chances early, including a bases-loaded opportunity in the second inning that went nowhere. Traffic in the middle innings never turned into anything. And then there were the double plays; all three of them. It wasn’t just frustrating, it was historic. The Twins tied a franchise Opening Day record that had stood since 1963. It wasn’t one rally that died, it was multiple. Every time something started to build, it disappeared just as quickly. That’s just baseball sometimes. Once Ryan exited, the Twins turned to the bullpen. Kody Funderburk came in and recorded two outs while allowing one hit, one walk, and the go-ahead run. Justin Topa followed with one inning, giving up two hits and one earned run. Between them, both Orioles runs were scored, putting Baltimore ahead 2‑0 but keeping Minnesota within striking distance. The Twins got one back in the eighth. After a Byron Buxton triple, Luke Keaschall hit a sac fly, cutting the deficit to 2‑1 and giving them a glimmer of life late in the game. There were a few moments that stood out as the game unfolded. Kody Clemens pinch-hit for Austin Martin as soon as a right-handed pitcher entered and stayed in left field. Early in the season, getting players into games matters, but it was still a noticeable move given the other options available. Then in the ninth, Royce Lewis was lifted for Trevor Larnach with two outs, and Larnach ended the game with a strikeout on a slider that caught the plate. That sequence will get talked about, and on Opening Day, every decision feels a little louder. But it’s worth remembering what this actually is: Game 1 of 162. Early in the season, part of the process is getting guys into games, seeing what things look like, and figuring out what might work over time. Not every decision is about maximizing that one moment, even if it feels that way when it doesn’t work. Byron Buxton tripled and scored for the first time in a season opener in his career, providing Minnesota’s only run. Opening Day Eight Twins players enjoyed their first Opening Day in the big leagues. Kody Clemens made his first career Opening Day appearance. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth and stayed in left field. Kody Funderburk made his first career Opening Day appearance on the mound for the Twins. What’s Next? The Twins and Orioles will enjoy a day off on Friday before returning to the diamond Saturday. Taj Bradley will take the hill for Minnesota, with Kyle Bradish on the mound for Baltimore. First pitch is set for 3:05 PM. Postgame Interviews Twins manager Derek Shelton - "Yeah, Rogers did a good job. I mean, we were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, we have to be better than that. When he needed to put the ball on the ground, he did, and then we had two innings where [Coby] Mayo made a really nice play and Gunnar [Henderson] made a really nice play. You know, those two balls and then the fact that, give them credit; they hit two balls where we were not standing and it ended up being the determining factor in the game." Bullpen Availability Chart SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Topa 0 0 0 0 18 18 Funderburk 0 0 0 0 17 17 Rogers 0 0 0 0 10 10 Orze 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sands 0 0 0 0 0 0 Laweryson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banda 0 0 0 0 0 0 View the full article

Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara speaks with the media about his Opening Day routine and what would make Friday's start a success for him. View the full article

Opening Day did not start out well for the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago leadoff batter Chase Meidroth worked a full count on Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski and then slammed a 417-foot homer to the second level in left field to give the White Sox an early 1-0 lead. That was one turning point in the first Opening Day start for The Miz. He promptly struck out the side to shut down the South Sider’s hopes. A Historic Day for The Miz After the home run in the first inning, Miz allowed one hit and three free passes while striking out 11 batters, bettering the previous mark for Brewers Opening Day pitchers by three, set by Freddy Peralta (twice) and Ben Sheets. Misiorowski struck out the side twice and gave up one more hit in his five innings on the mound. The second turning point came when Miz allowed a one-out walk to Meidroth and had a 2-0 count on Colson Montgomery in the third inning with the Brewers leading 4-1. Pitching guru Chris Hook came out and had a little chat with his pitcher. Misiorowski then settled down and struck out Montgomery on three pitches and then set down Miguel Vargas on four pitches. Miz retired the side in order in the fifth inning, and his day was done after 94 pitches and a very solid effort. Game, set, and match. Crooked Numbers, Over & Over Milwaukee scored two or more runs in an inning five times today, effectively demoralizing the White Sox. Joey Ortiz came through with the sacks jammed in the second with a looper past a diving Meidroth to tie the game at one. Then, William Contreras ripped a three-run double two batters later to put the Brewers up 4-1. The White Sox had three base runners in the next two innings but failed to score. The Brewers scored two runs each in the fourth and fifth, and then upped their game by scoring three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Sal Frelick hit a two-run blast in the fifth, and then Jake Bauers continued his spring hot streak by hitting a roof-scraping three-run homer in the seventh that just cleared the fence in right field to account for the final Milwaukee scores. Hamilton Lives Up To Murphy Praise David Hamilton came over in the Caleb Durbin/Andruw Monasterio/Anthony Seigler trade from Boston and immediately won over Brewers fans, as he reached base four times, stole a base, and scored two runs. He also made a play on a slow roller by Luisangel Acuña in the fifth, bare handing the ball and firing to first to retire the speedy brother of Ronald Acuña, Jr. Recently acquired reliever Jake Woodford came into the game in the ninth and gave up the first major league hit to Munetaka Murakami when the former Japanese star blasted a home run to make the score 14-2. Woodford then struck out the side on 13 pitches to end the successful day for Milwaukee. One Down, 161 Games To Go A win over Chicago today is a lot better than last year’s debacle at Yankee Stadium, when the Brewers got swept in three games by a combined score of 36-14. Losing Jackson Chourio to a broken left hand will be a setback for the Brewers, but it will allow manager Pat Murphy to see what Bauers, Brandon Lockridge, Garrett Mitchell, and Blake Perkins can do. All in all, it was a great day for the 43,001 fans at ‘The Ueck’ and the people who watched from the comfort of their couches. Let’s hope the Brew Crew can keep it up. View the full article

On Thursday, the Omaha Storm Chasers shared their 2026 Opening Day roster. Their Opening Day will be on Friday in Louisville against the Bats, the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A affiliate. The Storm Chasers roster has a mix of veteran talent trying to reach the Majors and prospects looking to make gains in the Minor Leagues before making their MLB debuts. Omaha has ten players on the Royals' 40-man roster, with eight of those being pitchers. Pitching may be the strength of this Omaha team. The rotation is deep with Luinder Avila, Ryan Bergert, Mason Black, Ben Kudrna, and Mitch Spence all in the mix. Those five pitchers are all on the 40-man roster and have MLB experience, with the exception of Kudrna. They also have some crafty veterans looking to take one last shot in the Major Leagues. Aaron Sanchez was once an "ace-level" arm with the Blue Jays, and he had a decent spring with the Royals. In 10 IP, he posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 4.55 FIP, and 4.7% K-BB%. While he didn't generate a ton of whiffs or chase, he was effective in terms of limiting hard contact this spring. Jose Cuas is also a former Royals reliever who had some fleeting success in Kansas City not too long ago. He will provide bullpen depth in addition to a veteran presence in the clubhouse. In terms of young arms, Steven Cruz is the most accomplished bullpen arm, having posted a 3.74 ERA and 4.11 FIP in 45.2 IP last season. He has a big fastball, and this spring, he had a 17.4% K-BB% and 108 overall TJ Stuff+. Other arms to watch in Omaha include Shane Panzini, Brandon Johnson, Eric Cerantola, Ryan Ramsey, and Beck Way. It would not be surprising to see one of these young pitching prospects emerge as a possible candidate for mid-season call-up, especially if an injury besets a reliever on the Royals' active roster. In terms of bats, many of the expected producers for the Storm Chasers are veterans. Catcher Elias Diaz was a late addition to the Spring Training roster, but he had a solid spring in a limited sample. In 15 plate appearances, the former All-Star Rockies catcher had a .533 average, and he sported excellent Statcast percentiles, especially in terms of exit velocity and hard-hit rate, as illustrated below. The infield is flush with veterans, as Brandon Drury, Josh Rojas, Kevin Newman, and Abraham Toro will all compete for playing time in the Omaha infield. The lone infield prospect is Peyton Wilson, who had a good 2025 in Double-A but struggled in his transition to Triple-A. In terms of the outfield, Gavin Cross is the lone prospect, though he needs to have a better season in 2026 to stay relevant in the Royals system. In 39 plate appearances, Cross hit .270 with a .767 OPS. He showed strong skills this spring, especially in terms of exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate. However, the former Virginia Tech product still struck out and whiffed way too much in Arizona. Cross's whiff% ranked in the 12th percentile, and his K% ranked in the second percentile. Thus, it would be nice to see Cross show some progress in those areas in Omaha, especially since the power has seemed to tick back up this spring. Lastly, Kameron Misner and John Rave are outfielders who got cups of coffee with the Rays and Royals last season. Both have some upside, but are likely fourth outfielders at the Major League level. Misner has more upside than Rave, especially with Misner posting a .455 xwOBA and .808 OPS this spring. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals are set to open their 2026 campaign at Truist Park on Friday, after a one-day weather delay. While the Atlanta Braves are perennial powerhouses, the Royals enter this matchup with a unique window of opportunity. Here are the three keys for the Royals to secure an Opening Day victory and start the season 1-0. 1. Capitalize on the "Next Man Up" Rotation The Braves' rotation has been decimated by injuries early this spring. With Spencer Strider (oblique) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) both starting the year on the IL, the Royals have managed to avoid two of Atlanta’s most electric arms. While veteran Chris Sale remains a formidable Opening Day opponent, the Royals' lineup, led by Bobby Witt, Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino, must stay aggressive early. If the Royals can chase Sale before the fifth inning, they’ll force a Braves bullpen that is still settling into its 2026 roles to carry the load. 2. Let Cole Ragans Set the Tone The Royals have their own ace ready to go. Cole Ragans has evolved into one of the most dominant left-handers in the American League. To beat Atlanta, Ragans needs to utilize his high-velocity fastball to neutralize the power of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson. Atlanta’s lineup is notoriously aggressive. If Ragans can establish his changeup for strikes early, he can keep the Braves' hitters off-balance and prevent the "big inning" that Truist Park is known for. 3. Minimize Damage from the Bottom of the Order The top of the Braves' lineup is a gauntlet, but their depth has been tested by recent injuries and offseason departures. Projections suggest the bottom third of the Atlanta order could be a "wasteland" compared to their usual standards. The Royals' pitching staff must avoid "gift" baserunners to the 7-8-9 hitters. By forcing the bottom of the order to earn their way on, the Royals ensure that when the lineup flips back to Acuña and Riley, there are fewer runners on base for them to drive home. Game Info Matchup: Kansas City Royals vs. Atlanta Braves View the full article

You can safely get used to this Cubs core. It's going to be here a while. The team agreed to a six-year extension with (formerly) impending free agent Nico Hoerner Thursday, according to multiple reports. Jesse Rogers of ESPN was first with the news, on Twitter. Hoerner, 28, was due to become a free agent at the end of this season, at the conclusion of the three-year extension to which he and the Cubs agreed almost exactly three years ago. Instead, he'll stick around through at least 2031, locking in a fourth member of the team's positional core for the medium term. Unlike the deal Chicago agreed to with Pete Crow-Armstrong earlier this week, this one is a major surprise, and a game-changer for the team's future. Hoerner was much closer to free agency, and his possible departure made it easy to see how a number of players' futures with the organization might go. Dansby Swanson could have moved to second base as soon as 2027. Jefferson Rojas, the team's burgeoning shortstop prospect, could have taken over at short. Alternatively, Matt Shaw could have taken over for Hoerner next year, since he's been displaced from third base by the arrival of Alex Bregman. Now, none of that is in play. Swanson's contract runs through 2029, as he heads into his mid-30s. Hoerner, Swanson, Bregman and Michael Busch are overwhelmingly likely to make up the team's infield for the next four seasons, which could get the trio of Swanson, Hoerner and Busch close to 1,000 games together before Swanson or Busch hits free agency. Meanwhile, the pathway to playing time for Rojas and Shaw just got murkier, and the likelihood of a similar extension for Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki plunged toward zero. Hoerner is, by every account, a great fit in the clubhouse and an asset in the community. He plays with energy and smarts, and became the best version of himself last year, providing hope that he might be entering his prime as a perennial All-Star-caliber second baseman. This extension introduces some tough questions, since there will be defensive degradation to consider and the team needs ways to develop and install new blood, but it's an exhilarating moment, too. Hoerner, Busch, Swanson, Bregman, and Crow-Armstrong will be the spine of this team for the majority of a decade, by the time they're done playing together. Moisés Ballesteros could end up being a sixth in that collection of talent, and Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera and Daniel Palencia offer a pitching-side reflection of that abundance. Suddenly, the Cubs' future is much more clear, and even if there are some reasons to be wary of locking them all in, there is also much reason to celebrate. From a fan's perspective, keeping a group with such a history of and dedication to winning together for such a long time augurs well for the organization. View the full article

Chase Meidroth did his level best to assert the seriousness of the 2026 White Sox's improvement. He took Jacob Misiorowski deep to lead off the game Thursday, putting Chicago ahead 1-0, and Shane Smith pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the first to keep the score that way. Even as that was all happening, though, you could feel it coming. Once Meidroth's homer woke him up, Misiorowski went about mowing the visitors down ruthlessly. In the bottom of the second inning, though, the Crew really reminded the baseball world who they are. It started innocuously. Smith struck out Jake Bauers to begin the second, and got ahead of Sal Frelick 0-2. Then, Frelick simply refused to help him get to the end of the at-bat. He took four straight pitches outside the zone and trotted to first base. Smith was ahead of David Hamilton, too, but the new third baseman fouled off two two-strike pitches and then reached via catcher interference. It was typical Brewers scrappiness, and it didn't have to lead anywhere, really, but inevitably, it did. Smith wobbled, walking Garrett Mitchell in a non-competitive at-bat, and suddenly, the home team had the bases loaded and the crowd buzzing. Catcher Edgar Quero did everything he could to thwart the Brewers and their relentlessly patient approach. He challenged a first-pitch call of a ball low and away, and got his second overturn in as many innings. Smith then came up and in on Ortiz, though, and Ortiz—with the same inside-out swing he used to hit many similar balls last year—poked a flare over the slightly drawn-in infield and into shallow right, for a game-tying single. Smith recovered admirably, then, as he and Quero found the edge of the plate to which his command was stronger (the first-base side) and conspired to strike out Brice Turang. Because Turang worked the at-bat well, though, it took another six pitches to get that out. Up came William Contreras, with the bases still loaded and two outs. Smith had a bit of confidence and control back, but he was also tiring out there. Even in the middle of the season, an inning in which a hurler throws 30-plus pitches is rare and troublesome. Smith was already at 30 pitches for the frame when Contreras stepped into the box. On a 1-1 pitch, Quero earned what looked like another huge, pivotal strike, with another astute challenge on a pitch that nipped the outside corner. Contreras stayed in the fight, though, and ended up in a 2-2 count, waiting on Smith's 36th offering of the inning. Smith and Quero had the right idea. They went to a right-on-right changeup, one of the few reliable ways to get Contreras out in such a situation. That pitch has to be well-executed to work, though, and with the workload piling up too fast for a game in late March, Smith made a mistake. Contreras was all over it, lining the left-up change into the left-field corner for a bases-clearing double that virtually settled the game, then and there. Smith's day was over, and the rout was on. Milwaukee went on to win 14-2. This is what the Brewers do. They force mistakes, and then capitalize on them. No team in baseball is more opportunistic, even though (or, perhaps, because) no team in baseball is more patient. Smith threw a pitch it would have been a crime not to smash, but hitters miss their pitch all the time. Contreras didn't. For that matter, Smith didn't throw that pitch simply out of incompetence. The Brewers had worn him down over the course of the inning. They earned their moment, then seized it. In just the fourth half-inning of the season, it was a lovely microcosm of what has made them great for years, now. It also served as a declaration to the rest of the league: there will be no reprieve in 2026. View the full article

The Nationals pulled off a shocking Opening Day blowout against the Chicago Cubs Thursday, winning 10-4. They chased starter Matthew Boyd in the fourth inning, and tacked on runs via late long balls to put away the much better Chicago club. For Boyd, the problem was not an inability to miss bats, but a fatal attraction to the Nationals batters' barrels. Five Washington batted balls against Boyd were 103.8 MPH ore harder, including three crucial hits that contributed to their scoring against him. He was a bit lucky that the line wasn't worse, given how hard the visitors were hitting him when they made contact. Some good defense and a bad baserunning play gave Boyd three of the four outs recorded on balls in play. That wasn't because of a lack of sheer stuff. Boyd's fastball was right in line with last year in terms of velocity, and his changeup, slider and curve all showed similar movement to their norms. In fact, Boyd got whiffs on over half the swings Nationals batters took against him, leading to seven strikeouts. Washington's plan was extremely guess-heavy; they were locking in and sitting on specific pitches in specific counts and situations. When they were wrong, Boyd fooled them badly and racked up whiffs. When they were right, though, they were all over him. Boyd got barreled up on a first-pitch fastball to CJ Abrams and on an 0-1 slider to Daylen Lile. He also got burned trying to sneak a fastball past Brady House on a 2-2 count, and Joey Wiemer took advantage of a good but guessable changeup in a 1-1 count to hit a long home run. Boyd doesn't have unusually intense stuff, but he's hard to read and his pitches have a wide variety of movement. What they don't have is unexpected movement. Thus, if you carefully plan to commit to a given pitch type from him and you get it—especially if it's roughly in the location you expect—he becomes hittable. Of course, if you're wrong, you won't merely slightly mishit the ball, but come up empty altogether. The gameplan worked for the Nationals Thursday. Boyd will have to make some adjustments for his next start, to be less predictable in both sequence and location. This problem isn't entirely new. In the second half of last season, Boyd ran into it somewhat often, and was vulnerable to just this kind of roughing-up. He and Carson Kelly might need to collaborate to develop a different strategy. Last year, opponents had a .620 OPS when either Miguel Amaya or Reese McGuire worked with Boyd, but a .673 mark when the southpaw was paired with Kelly. Opponents hit 16 oif their 22 homers on the year off Boyd in the starts in which he and Kelly worked together. It's just one game, and one loss. For Boyd and the Cubs, though, every game has to be precious this year. The loss Thursday served notice that while much of what he does still works, he'll have to make further adjustments to stop the league from guessing right often enough to hurt him. View the full article

MIAMI, FL — On Thursday, the Miami Marlins announced their Opening Day roster for the 2026 season. Here are the 13 pitchers and 13 position players who will be active for Friday night's regular season opener against the Colorado Rockies: .marlins-roster { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; max-width: 900px; margin: auto; border: 2px solid #00A3E0; border-radius: 10px; overflow: hidden; } .marlins-header { background-color: #000000; color: #00A3E0; text-align: center; padding: 15px; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; } .roster-container { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .roster-column { flex: 1; min-width: 300px; padding: 15px; } .column-title { background-color: #00A3E0; color: #000; padding: 10px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; border-radius: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; } .player { background-color: #111; color: #fff; padding: 8px; margin: 5px 0; border-left: 4px solid #00A3E0; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 14px; } .player span { color: #00A3E0; font-weight: bold; } Miami Marlins 2026 Opening Day Roster Position Players Agustín Ramírez (C) Liam Hicks (C) Jakob Marsee (OF) Griffin Conine (OF/1B) Owen Caissie (OF) Heriberto Hernández (OF) Otto Lopez (INF) Xavier Edwards (INF) Graham Pauley (INF) Javier Sanoja (INF/OF) Connor Norby (INF/OF) Christopher Morel (INF) Austin Slater (OF) Pitchers Sandy Alcantara (RHP) Eury Pérez (RHP) Max Meyer (RHP) Chris Paddack (RHP) Janson Junk (RHP) Pete Fairbanks (RHP) Calvin Faucher (RHP) Tyler Phillips (RHP) Anthony Bender (RHP) Andrew Nardi (LHP) John King (LHP) Lake Bachar (RHP) Michael Petersen (RHP) Starting rotation Sandy Alcantara (starting Friday) Eury Pérez (Saturday) Max Meyer (Sunday) Chris Paddack (Monday) Janson Junk (Tuesday) For Alcantara, this will mark his franchise-leading sixth Opening Day start. His last one start was coming off of Tommy John surgery, where in 4 ⅔ innings of work, he surrendered two runs on two hits, walked four and struck out seven in what was a walk-off winner for the Fish. This will be the first time that Pérez is included on the Marlins Opening Day roster. He broke through to the big leagues in the middle of the 2023 season. He missed all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John, and in 2025, rehabbing from surgery kept him on the injured list until June. In 20 starts last season, Pérez pitched to a 4.25 ERA and 3.67 FIP in 95 ⅓ innings pitched. Meyer will be the team's third starter. He got off to an amazing start in 2025, posting a 2.10 ERA through his first five starts of the season. However, in his final seven starts before landing on the injured list with a left hip impingement which later required season-ending surgery, he posted a 7.10 ERA. This spring, the former first-round pick tossed seven shutout innings, striking out 12 in the process. Last season between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, Paddack had a 5.35 ERA and 5.03 FIP in a career-high 158 innings pitched. This spring, the 30-year-old made five spring training starts and allowed one earned run in 13 innings of work, while striking out 12. He will get the series opener against the Chicago White Sox. Junk, who won the fifth spot in the rotation over Braxton Garrett (optioned to Triple-A), threw a pitch design session on Thursday at loanDepot park for his final tune-up. This spring, Junk dealt with a ankle injury that kept him out for a bit, but still made four starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned), with most of those coming in his final start against the St. Louis Cardinals. Bullpen Pete Fairbanks (closer) Calvin Faucher Tyler Phillips Anthony Bender Andrew Nardi John King Lake Bachar Michael Petersen Petersen is the lone reliever who's making his first Opening Day roster. Acquired from the Atlanta Braves last season, he posted a 3.97 ERA in 11 ⅓ innings pitched for the Marlins. This spring, Petersen struck out seven in 8 ⅔ innings of work. He is likely will be used in lower-leverage situations, but the fastball, which has topped out at 100 mph, will be a big weapon this season. This will mark Fairbanks' sixth Opening Day, but his first as a member of the Marlins. This spring, Fairbanks made six appearances, allowing just one hit and striking out eight in the process. John King, the second reliever Miami signed this offseason, quietly had a great spring, throwing eight innings of one-run ball, while striking out nine. Position players Catchers: Agustín Ramírez, Liam Hicks Infielders: Christopher Morel, Connor Norby, Xavier Edwards, Javier Sanoja, Graham Pauley, Otto Lopez Outfielders: Jakob Marsee, Austin Slater, Griffin Conine, Owen Caissie, Heriberto Hernández Ramírez was called up in April of last season and in 136 games, he slashed .231/.287/.413/.701 with 21 home runs, 67 RBI and a 91 wRC+. He participated in the World Baseball Classic, representing the Dominican Republic, so he only played in eight Grapefruit League games, collecting two hits. Similar to Ramírez, Hernández did not make the Opening Day roster in 2025, but was called up soon after. He slashed .266/.347/.438/.784 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI and a 118 wRC+. The Marlins will likely make room in Friday's starting lineup for Hernández since lefty Kyle Freeland will get the start for the Rockies. Norby missed Opening Day last season after suffering a left oblique strain. This season, he will play a combination of third base, first base and left field. Clayton McCullough told Fish On First that Javier Sanoja will be the starting third baseman on Friday. Norby had an encouraging spring, slashing .310/.326/.476/.802 with two home runs and three RBI. Still prospect-eligible, Owen Caissie was acquired in the trade that sent Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs. He spent some time in the World Baseball Classic for Canada, where he went 7-for-17 with a home run and five RBI. Injuries Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz were both expected to break camp with the team before suffering a right hamstring strain and left oblique strain, respectively. They will begin the season on the 10-day IL (retroactive to March 22). Stowers told the media on Thursday that he is progressing well. Ruiz will be out for 6-8 weeks and no recent update has been provided on him. View the full article

The St. Paul Saints will open their 2026 campaign on the road in Indianapolis, but the spotlight will follow them wherever they go. This is not just another Triple-A roster. It is a collection of impact prospects, near-ready contributors, and experienced depth that could significantly shape the Minnesota Twins' season. With a new manager at the helm and one of the most talent-rich groups in Minor League Baseball, St. Paul enters its sixth season as the Twins Triple-A affiliate with expectations that stretch well beyond development. Brian Dinkelman takes over as manager after earning a promotion from Double-A Wichita. He steps into the role previously held by Toby Gardenhire, who joins Derek Shelton’s major league staff with the Twins. Dinkelman will be supported by a coaching group that includes hitting coaches C.J. Baker and Shawn Schlechter, as well as pitching coaches Carlos Hernandez and Ryan Ricci. The continuity in player development remains strong, but the voice leading the clubhouse will be new. The roster itself is what demands attention. St. Paul opens the year with 27 players, just one shy of the league limit, and features four Top 100 prospects recognized by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Twins Daily’s own rankings are even more telling, with eight of the organization’s top 20 prospects assigned to this club, including the top three names in the system. 2026 St. Paul Saints Opening Day Roster (Twins Daily Prospect Rankings in parentheses) Starting Pitchers (5): RHP Andrew Morris (#12), LHP Connor Prielipp (#5), RHP Zebby Matthews, RHP John Klein, LHP Christian MacLeod The starting rotation brings both upside and immediate relevance. Prielipp headlines the group and is lined up to take the ball on Opening Day. His combination of stuff and pedigree makes him one of the most intriguing arms in the system. Last season, he posted a 4.03 ERA (3.52 FIP) with a 27.0 K% and 8.5 BB%. Matthews narrowly missed a spot in the Twins rotation to Mick Abel and now serves as high-end depth, ready if the big-league club needs innings. Morris may not carry the same hype, but his steady progression could earn him a look in Minnesota this summer. In 2025, he had a 4.09 ERA (4.27 FIP) with a 22.4 K% and a 7.0 BB%. Klein offers flexibility as a starter or long reliever, and it helps that he is a member of the 40-man roster if the Twins need him. MacLeod provides experienced depth and finished last season with the Saints. Relief Pitchers (7): RHP Dan Altavilla, RHP Trent Baker, RHP Andrew Bash, RHP Matt Bowman, RHP Raul Brito, RHP Grant Hartwig, RHP Marco Raya (#15), RHP Eduardo Salazar In the bullpen, the Saints could function as a pipeline for a Twins relief corps that still has questions. Raya, now transitioning into a full-time relief role, is the top-ranked prospect in the group and could move quickly if his stuff plays up in shorter outings. Veterans like Altavilla and Bowman bring big league experience and were on the fringes of the roster this spring. Altavilla pitched well for Israel in the WBC, and that could help him earn a call-up early in the season, while Baker continues to position himself as a viable option. This unit may not remain intact for long, given the likely need for reinforcements in Minnesota. Catchers (3): David Bañuelos, Noah Cardenas, Alex Jackson Behind the plate, Jackson stands out as a key depth piece. Acquired in the offseason in a trade with Baltimore, he gives the organization a strong defensive option at Triple-A. There was some question about whether the Twins could carry three catchers to start the year. Instead, Jackson will be the next man up if Ryan Jeffers or Victor Caratini gets hurt. Bañuelos and Cardenas round out the group, offering stability and familiarity with the pitching staff. Infielders (6): Orlando Arcia, Kaelen Culpepper (#2), Aaron Sabato, Tanner Schobel, Eric Wagaman, Ryan Kreidler The infield mix is a blend of upside and opportunity. Culpepper jumps to Triple-A after less than 60 games at Double-A, a clear signal of how highly the organization views him. He was the organization’s minor league player of the year in 2025 when he posted a 138 wRC+ between High- and Double-A. If Brooks Lee struggles early, Culpepper could force the issue quickly. Sabato, a former first-round pick, returns with his power potential still intact and has shown flashes at the Triple-A level. Schobel continues to provide defensive versatility as he can play nearly every position. Arcia, Kreidler, and Wagaman are all veterans who hovered on the edge of the big-league roster during camp and could each see time in Minnesota at some point this season. Outfielders (5): Kyler Fedko, Gabriel Gonzalez (#7), Walker Jenkins (#1), Alan Roden, Emmanuel Rodriguez (#3) The outfield might be the crown jewel of the entire roster. Jenkins and Rodriguez headline the group as two of the best prospects in baseball, both with the potential to impact the Twins' lineup in the near future. Jenkins reached Triple-A during his age-20 season while posting a 135 wRC+. Rodriguez has played parts of the last two seasons in St. Paul, where he had a 134 wRC+ in 2025. Injuries are the only thing that has held either of them back in their professional careers. Gonzalez and Fedko are coming off strong seasons and add further depth. Gonzalez was Twins Daily’s Minor League Hitter of the Year after he moved from High-A to Triple-A with a 148 wRC+. Fedko hit 28 homers and stole 38 bases in 130 games last season. Roden’s impressive spring suggests he may not be in St. Paul for long. It is a collection of outfield talent rarely seen at the Triple-A level, and it gives the Saints a lineup capable of overwhelming opposing pitching on any given night. There are also notable names sidelined to begin the year. Matt Canterino continues his recovery from shoulder surgery, while Cory Lewis (right rotator cuff), Kendry Rojas (right hamstring strain), and Julian Merryweather (left hamstring strain) are working back from their own injuries. Their eventual returns could further strengthen an already deep roster. The Saints open the season at Victory Field against the Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates) on Friday, March 27 at 5:35 p.m. (CT). The Saints home opener is Tuesday, March 31 against the Worcester Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) at 6:37 p.m. While the wins and losses in Triple-A matter, the bigger picture is clear. This roster is built to support the Twins, and it would not be surprising if many of these names play meaningful roles in Minnesota before the season is over. What stands out about the Saints' roster? Who will be the first player called up to the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers speaks with the media prior to Opening Day to provide an update on his injury rehab.View the full article

Pitching is an art and a science, but even more so, it's a game of adjustments. Getting ahead and staying ahead of hitters requires constant self-awareness from pitchers with respect to their strategy and plan of attack. Tinkering with one's arsenal can permanently alter the course of one's career for the better, like it did, for example, when former Blue Jay R.A. Dickey picked up a knuckleball in the 2000s. More often than that, learning to throw different pitch types can be just the subtle change pitchers need to stay competitive: Sweepers, cutters, and kick changeups became trendy for a reason. With a month of spring training games having come and gone, here is a profile on every new pitch of note that we saw down in Dunedin in 2026, and how it affects the outlook of those that deployed them. Dylan Cease: Changeup It took until his final preseason start on Sunday, but we finally saw the changeup that Dylan Cease has wanted to add to his arsenal for a long time. According to Statcast, he threw 11 of them on Sunday in the Blue Jays' 14-1 drubbing of Tampa Bay, and it returned a 57% swing-and-miss rate to help him cap off a spring training that saw him record a 0.93 ERA, 30.8% K rate, and a 7.7% BB rate in 9.2 IP. Think he's ready to go? Assuming Cease is comfortable enough to take this pitch with him into the regular season right away, it won't be your conventional changeup. It has the vertical carry of a fastball (17.7" iVB) but averaged 87 MPH, a velocity he'll no doubt be happy with, considering every other attempt he has made at a changeup at the MLB level has been around 20 MPH slower than his four-seamer; too big of a gap to fool anyone. It averaged ~9" of arm-side movement, which, again, isn't notable for a changeup but notably separates from the cutting action on his fastball. Another good sign from Sunday was his ability to command it: 8 of his 11 changeups landed in the strike zone, a promising development for a starter who has been plagued by location issues before. As expected, we've seen Cease divert away from the fastball-slider combo that was nearly exclusive for parts of 2025. His combined usage of those two pitches was just 62% this spring, down from 83% last year. The knuckle curve he began toying with in his final starts with the Padres is now a clear tertiary pitch for him against left-handed batters, and against righties, he was throwing a lot more sinkers and sweepers, relying on the four-seamer much less. Cease has always had strong peripherals because the specs on his hard fastball and bullet slider are excellent in a vacuum and allow him to miss plenty of bats. To this point, he has had trouble living up to them because of the lack of diversity in his arsenal. This spring was the least predictable Cease has been since his early days in Chicago. His much-anticipated regular season debut will come Saturday vs the A's. Dylan Cease Usage Splits, 2025 by Half vs. Spring Training (Statcast) Pitch Type First Half 2025 Second Half 2025 2026 ST FF 41.0% 43.4% 31.8% SL 47.2% 33.8% 31.2% Others 11.8% 22.8% 37.0% Brendon Little: Slider, Four-Seam Fastball The Blue Jays bullpen's lefty workhorse has long had the kind of stuff that perplexes batters, but he tapered off in a bad way to end 2025 after losing the strike zone and running out of gas in general. Even if a reliever has two distinct offerings with plus-plus bat-missing potential, it becomes compromised when hitters know he can't consistently throw them for strikes and doesn't have another weapon to turn to. Naturally, then, Little showed up to camp with a repertoire that effectively doubled in size: He'll still be the sinker-curveball guy we've come to know, but he now boasts a gyro slider and a traditional four-seamer as well. Many instances of a pitcher adding to their arsenal happen because the pitcher is looking to address a specific platoon matchup, often opposite-handed hitters. This is not the case with Little; in fact, his approach against lefty hitters changed more drastically this spring than his strategy against righties. Specifically, he used his new slider almost in perfect tandem with his sinker against same-handed opponents, essentially removing the curveball from the picture entirely. It's already obvious that stuff models are going to love this pitch: It sat 90-91 MPH with plenty of spin and true bullet action. That's not far off from the specs of Tarik Skubal's slider for the sake of comparison. As we know, though, it would be premature to mention anything else about those two sliders in the same breath unless Little can throw it for strikes. Against lefties, it had a 33% zone rate, which is around the same as his knuckle curve was last year. However, he also used it sparingly against righties, a situation where he was able to find the zone more (50%). Overall, it generated a 73% (!!!) swing and miss rate this spring. Intriguing, to say the least. Brendon Little Usage vs. LHB, 2025 vs. Spring Training (Statcast) Pitch Type 2025 2026 ST Sinker 52.8% 40.5% Knuckle Curve 41.9% 9.5% Slider - 35.7% Four-Seam Fastball - 14.3% Cutter 5.3% - The four-seamer was, along with the slider, a tertiary weapon against righties but also saw some occasional left-on-left usage. Even after considering its lower arm slot, its movement patterns won't be surprising for hitters (13.4" iVB, 6.8" arm-side), but it did average 97 MPH and touched 98 during game action. If this pitch ends up being successful, it won't be on account of its raw traits. There's nothing too special about an upper-90s fastball with dead zone movement in today's MLB. What it does have is big-time trajectory separation from his sinker, and it will also force hitters to think about the upper half of the strike zone when Little is on the mound. Having a nasty sinker, curveball, and slider is great, but it also tells the hitter he's about to see a lot of pitches down, which doesn't leave much to have to guess on. If Little uses this fastball occasionally and can steal a strike to keep opponents off balance, it will make the rest of his arsenal play up. Mason Fluharty: Changeup Much like Brendon Little, Fluharty is a lefty reliever and a recent graduate from the Jays' prospect ranks with a 2-pitch arsenal (lacking a traditional four-seam fastball) and impressive stuff but less impressive command. He could throw strikes more frequently than Little by the end of the season, so he was squarely within the circle of trust by the time the World Series rolled around, but his cutter-sweeper repertoire lacks diversity. It's pretty rare for any MLB reliever to not have a pitch that moves arm-side, and while Fluharty was a unicorn that way in 2025, he flashed a changeup for the first time during camp this year. Initially classified as a sinker by Statcast, Fluharty's changeup sat at 88 MPH with ~5" of iVB and ~11" of run and became his new secondary against righties. He threw his cutter 67% of the time in that situation last year, but the changeup gives him another path to go down early in counts and forces hitters to stay on top of both sides of the plate. The movement and spin characteristics of this pitch compare pretty closely to the changeup that now-AL East rival Ryan Weathers threw when he was with the Marlins in 2025, which generated a swing and miss rate over 40%, an xwOBA under .300, and got above-average grades from both Stuff+ and PitchingBot's stuff model on Fangraphs. Mason Fluharty (2026) vs. Ryan Weathers (2025) changeup specs comparison (Statcast) Pitcher MPH iVB Arm-side HB RPM Mason Fluharty 87.3 4.9" 11.1" 1,980 Ryan Weathers 88.2 2.7" 12.5" 1,862 It should be noted that only five of the 15 changeups Fluharty threw this spring were in the zone (33%), but it got a 40% chase rate in a small sample, so hitters, at least for now, haven't figured out how to handle it. It was responsible for the lone preseason extra base hit he gave up, but on balls in play, it had the lowest exit velocity of the 3 pitches in his arsenal, and generating weak contact was already something he was great at in 2025. Louis Varland: Changeup Varland throwing changeups is not a completely new development. He leaned on it more down the stretch after getting traded to Toronto at the deadline, and by the postseason, it was a clear tertiary pitch behind that lethal fastball-curveball combo. This year, though, he has made significant adjustments to its shape: It now profiles more like a kick change, with more downward movement and less spin than the 2025 iteration. Louis Varland Changeup Specs, 2025 vs. Spring Training (Statcast) Category 2025 2026 ST MPH 91.8 91.8 iVB 4.7" 1.5" Arm-side HB 14.1" 12.2" RPM 1,741 1,563 Unsurprisingly, lefties saw their fair share of these new-and-improved changeups from Varland over the course of the spring. While it was delightful seeing him unleash adrenaline-fueled mid-90s changeups in the postseason, this newer variant got outstanding preseason results (50% swing and miss, .233 wOBA, -20° launch angle). From a usage perspective, he won't look all that different from the end of 2025, nor does he have to: Varland already has excellent stuff that he can throw for strikes, and refining one of his secondaries to give him another viable strikeout pitch in weak side matchups is a low-risk, high-reward maneuver. Braydon Fisher: Cutter At the very start of camp, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon reported that Braydon Fisher was looking to add a cutter in response to the lack of chase his curveball got from lefties as the season went on. While this would've been an interesting development, the jury is out on whether it will actually come to fruition in the regular season because he threw just 3 cutters out of the 110 total pitches he threw in the spring. Of course, this isn't to say Fisher is the same guy he was at the end of 2025. He's pushed his fastball usage against lefties by quite a bit, using it and the slider at a combined rate of over 70% in those matchups, a stark contrast to last year when he used the curveball 50% of the time. Competition for bullpen reps will be steep early in the season in Toronto, but Fisher is doing his part to ensure that last year was no mirage. View the full article

Our final pre-Opening Day episode of Fish Unfiltered is an absolute banger. AJ Ramos, Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral break down the Miami Marlins' Opening Day roster. Then, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough joins for an exclusive interview, covering his spring training takeaways, lineup decisions, leadership style and more. 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. Among the nuggets that McCullough shared with us, Javier Sanoja will be Miami's starting third baseman on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. He and Graham Pauley will platoon at the hot corner for the near future, with Connor Norby mainly playing first base on days that he starts while also contributing at the corner outfield spots. View the full article

After a very encouraging finish to spring training, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough explains how he plans to utilize Connor Norby at the start of the regular season.View the full article

Those Twins debuts from last year included position players Carson McCusker, Luke Keaschall, and Ryan Fitzgerald, while Pierson Ohl, Cody Laweryson, and Travis Adams did so as pitchers. In a bit of an odd year as far as these predictions go, only Keaschall and Adams were detailed in this column before the start of last season. Keaschall was one of the standouts of spring training in 2026, and Cody Laweryson won one of the last Opening Day bullpen spots. Adams looks like he’ll start in St. Paul, Carson McCusker chose to continue his baseball career in Japan, Pierson Ohl was traded to the Colorado Rockies, and Ryan Fitzgerald latched on with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. While the star power present in those 2025 debuts could be considered a little lacking, I have good news. Many of the Twins' top prospects sit at the top of their farm system heading into 2026 and could provide jolts of excitement into Target Field throughout the summer. So, who are some of the prospects who could make their MLB debuts this year and become the Next Minnesota Twins? ON THE 40-MAN ROSTER: After undertaking one of the largest sell-offs of major-league talent in MLB history at last year's trade deadline, the Twins' 40-man roster includes several new additions, all poised to contribute in the majors for the first time. There is a plethora of both pitching and hitting reinforcements, as well as potential star power included. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF (23 years old on Opening Day) - Twins Daily’s #3 Prospect Despite dealing with injuries that have kept him out of action for significant periods of time over the past two seasons, Rodriguez has been pushed up the ladder aggressively thanks to his loud tools. Those include almost unheard-of plate discipline (20.6% walk rate in 2025), light-tower power (peak exit velocity of 117 MPH), and athleticism to play center field at a high level in the majors. While all those walks have produced elite on-base percentages when he’s played (.429 with the Saints last year), he does have the caveat of it being tied to a strikeout rate that is worrisome (31.8%). Is he an Adam Dunn or Joey Gallo type player who can play solid outfield defense? Or more like Edouard Julien? The Twins likely will start finding out if he stays healthy in 2026. John Klein, RHP (23) The big right-hander and native of Brooklyn Park, Minn. put his name on the prospect map with a solid 2025 season, operating as a swing-man with the Wichita Wind Surge. In 24 double-A appearances that included 11 starts, he posted a 3.12 ERA and struck out 95 hitters over 80 2/3 total innings. After being promoted to the Saints, that ERA took a big hit, but some of the underlying metrics still stood out, including a 3.30 FIP and nearly 30% strikeout rate after moving up. His fastball sits in the 95 MPH range and his slider has shown improvement while in the system. There’s a solid reliever profile in here and perhaps even more velocity to be unlocked after settling fully into that role. Connor Prielipp, LHP (25) - TD’s #5 Prospect Prielipp resided in the “Dark Horse” category of this list last year as he entered the season finally healthy after a second elbow procedure. While he didn’t reach the majors, the most important thing was that he didn’t miss a start and eclipsed his entire innings total since being a freshman at Alabama. While his numbers won’t pop out at you from his time in major-league camp this spring, the “stuff” I talked about in his prospect profile linked above is still the calling card. The addition of a curveball also sounds like another weapon that could push his ceiling further up. There will still be some form of innings limit on Prielipp in 2026, so unless he’s dominant from the jump in Triple-A, his debut is more likely to happen as a reliever. That’s also not a bad thing, if the outcome is another Glen Perkins. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF (22) - TD’s #7 Prospect If Twins fans were disappointed by the season Gonzalez put together in 2024 after coming over from the Seattle Mariners in the Jorge Polanco trade, they should be equally excited by what he did in 2025 when he took home Twins Daily’s Minor League Hitter of the Year award. Starting with Cedar Rapids, he improved his OPS by over 200 points from the prior year to earn a promotion to Wichita. Then he hit even better there, to get bumped to St. Paul for the final 34 games of the season. He batted well over .300 at each stop, and tallied 38 doubles and 15 home runs in 123 total games, good for an OPS of .909 overall. It was a year-long hot streak and one of the standout hitting performances in all of the minor leagues. He is limited to the corner outfield and won’t impress any more there than current Twins options, but he is a right-handed hitter among the glut of lefties the Twins currently deploy. If he keeps hitting, he will find a role with the Twins in 2026. Andrew Morris, RHP (24) - TD’s #12 Prospect Morris was a solid pick to make his debut last year after a breakout 2024 season, but was derailed early in the summer by a forearm strain. He came back and ended the season with a solid stretch in Triple-A, pitching to a 3.45 ERA and 29-to-4 strikeout to walk ratio over his final 31 1/3 innings. There may be a better relief pitcher here than a starter. He reminds me a lot of Louis Varland, who made his debut as a starter before evolving into a legitimate relief option in the majors. However, Pablo López's and other starter injuries opened a bigger door for opportunity in the rotation, and Morris should begin the season high on the pecking order for rotation reinforcements. Marco Raya, RHP (23) - TD’s #15 Prospect Poised to be unleashed as a reliever after spending almost all of his time in the farm system as an innings-limited starter, Raya will look to thrive in a new role this year. He has always shown glimpses, with a mid 90s fastball that could tick up further in shorter stints and an excellent breaking ball to fool hitters. The issue, like many young hurlers, has been controlling it consistently. He will need to cut down the walks to truly break through, but the hope is that being able to focus on his best pitches as a reliever will assist in that department. Kendry Rojas, LHP (23) - TD’s #8 Prospect The Twins targeted the talented lefty as the main part of their return for Varland at the 2025 trade deadline, but got mixed results after he came over. He was perhaps pushed to Triple-A too early by both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Twins after coming over, but there is a lot to like about the 23-year-old. He has demonstrated an increase in velocity this spring (averaging 96+ MPH), and his slider and changeup show signs of being above-average offerings. He will start the year among a potentially solid Saints pitching rotation, giving him the chance for spot-start opportunities from day one. Hendry Mendez, OF/1B (22) - TD’s #16 Prospect Mendez was having a solid season in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system before being traded to the Twins for Harrison Bader. Then he turned it up to 11 after joining the Wind Surge. In 33 games for Wichita, he slashed .324/.461/.450, good for a 159 wRC+ that rivaled the aforementioned Gonzalez in the Texas League. For his career, he has walked nearly as often as he has struck out, displaying a plus hitting aptitude. He also had an excellent, albeit brief, appearance in the Arizona Fall League last year, collecting six hits, including the first home run of the AFL season. While he has been a corner outfielder, the intent in 2026 appears to be to give him time at first base and some potential position flexibility. TOP PROSPECTS: While I’ve already written about seven players who reside in Twins Daily’s Top 20 Prospect Rankings because they are on the 40-man roster, it is the two names below that sit atop that list at number one and two. Fans of the St. Paul Saints will see them both starting the season at CHS Field in 2026. Walker Jenkins, OF (21) - TD’s #1 Prospect Jenkins is the obvious crown jewel of the Twins farm system, ranking universally in the top 20 of national rankings and as high as fifth heading into 2026. The only thing holding him back has been the familiar injury bug, which again has reared its head during spring training with a hamstring issue. When he is on the field, he is a special talent. Jenkins is built for the game of baseball, standing at a listed 6-foot-3 and a strong and lean 210 pounds. He has the speed, instincts, and arm to stick in center field, but would also profile as a plus defender in a corner. But that’s not why he is so highly regarded. It’s the smooth left-handed swing, natural power, and contact profile that put him into elite prospect territory. If you were building a No. 3 hitter in a lab, Jenkins could be the blueprint. Those are lofty expectations and the power potential does have legitimate questions, but a hitter is a hitter. That would be my best explanation for what I have seen from Jenkins. In a purely Twins comparison, he is more of a pure hitter mold of Joe Mauer than the power potential of a Justin Morneau. A bit of a middle-ground there is where I think Jenkins can end up, which is a cornerstone player to usher in this next wave of players. Kaelen Culpepper, SS (23) - TD’s #2 Prospect Culpepper began last year with some questions to answer as the 21st pick of the 2024 MLB draft. Could he stick at shortstop? Could he hit for power? Would the athleticism carry him? Consider those questions answered. Starting in Cedar Rapids, he posted a 147 wRC+ that ranked in the top five in the Midwest League among players with at least 240 plate appearances, before being promoted to the Wind Surge. He barely slowed down, posting a 129 wRC+ mark in his 59 games there, batting .285/.367/.460. That performance pushed him into national top 100 lists heading into this season. In addition to the hitting, his defense also took a step forward and quieted any concerns about his ability to stick at shortstop. If he wasn’t impacting a game with a big home run, he was probably doing something slick on defense. TRIPLE-A DEPTH: If you haven’t already gotten the gist by now, there is a ton of prospective talent sitting at the top of the farm system heading into this season. The St. Paul Saints could truly have a special Triple-A roster in the early going. But there are plenty of other names filling out their lineup and pitching staff that are one call away as well. Christian MacLeod, LHP (25) This big left-hander has been a favorite of mine since shoving for the Kernels and Wind Surge during the 2024 season. Zebby Matthews (and Andrew Morris) got most of the hype for pitching at the top three levels of the farm system that year, but that is also something MacLeod accomplished. During the 2025 seasons he continued that dominance with Wichita for half the season (2.63 ERA), before finally being promoted to St. Paul. He pitched mostly in a bullpen role there, and that looks like the plan for 2026, which gives him a good opportunity as the Twins look to build a new bullpen from scratch. Kyler Fedko, OF (26) A late bloomer who had a true breakout season last year, finishing second in Twins Daily’s 2025 Minor League Hitter of the Year voting. No matter who you are, 28 home runs in a season will get you noticed, and that tally ranked seventh in all of the minor leagues. In addition to the power, Fedko also displayed great patience (14.2% walk rate) and surprising speed on the basepaths (38 steals in 46 attempts). DARK HORSE: The best recent example of a true “Dark Horse” I can provide is Zebby Matthews, from the 2024 season. He rose all the way from Cedar Rapids to pitch for the Twins late in the year behind a massive uptick in performance from prior seasons. It’s certainly a long shot that anybody in this section makes their debut, but there always seems to be a surprise or two. Riley Quick, RHP (21) - TD’s #11 Prospect Following the footsteps of Connor Prielipp as a prospect from the University of Alabama who has had Tommy John surgery, Quick was selected by the Twins in the first round of the 2025 draft. Like his lefty counterpart, Quick has big “stuff”, including a high-90s fastball and a plus slider. He is a “helium” type prospect who, if nothing else, could rise a lot higher on prospect lists as the season goes on if things fall into place. DON’T FORGET ABOUT: This section is for prospects that may have been lost in the shuffle. They were perhaps highly regarded at one point, missed time due to injury, or lost some of their luster for whatever reason. Despite any of that, they have shown flashes and could be an option to fill in gaps during the long MLB season. Kala’i Rosario, OF (23) A former Midwest League MVP and AFL Home Run Derby champion, Rosario finished second in the Twins system to Fedko with 25 homers during the 2025 season. The month of August was an especially high note, where he slugged 11 home runs in 27 games, good for a 1.135 OPS over that timeframe. Aaron Sabato, 1B/DH (26) Former first-round pick hit .305 with nearly a 1.000 OPS in Wichita to earn promotion to Triple-A in 2025. However, a path to major-league playing time is severely limited as a pure first baseman or designated hitter. Tanner Schobel, IF (24) Infielder was the Twins’ 2nd-round draft pick in 2022 after a breakout performance with Virginia Tech, where he hit .362 with 19 home runs. That type of power hasn’t translated to pro-ball, but he can play multiple positions and posted an OPS of .837 in Wichita before finishing the 2025 season with the Saints. Cory Lewis, RHP (25) A prospect darling in prior seasons, thanks in part to his unique knuckleball, Lewis had a rough introduction to Triple-A last year and is dealing with a shoulder injury this spring. Perhaps the two were connected, but if he can come back healthy and rediscover his form, he could find himself in the mix for bullpen or spot-start roles. These names are all part of the next wave of Twins prospects that fans could see at Target Field for the first time during the 2026 season. When do you think the top prospects could make their debuts? Who are some other names that I may have missed? Let’s go Twins! View the full article

Spring training is supposed to be about ramping up, refining mechanics, and building momentum toward Opening Day. For David Festa, it has instead become another exercise in patience. Festa felt discomfort in the back of his right shoulder during a bullpen session on February 24, a moment that immediately raised concern given the neurological thoracic outlet syndrome that cut short his 2025 campaign. This time, however, the news carried a different tone. An MRI revealed that the issue is unrelated to last fall’s diagnosis. Instead, Festa is dealing with a rotator cuff impingement, a far more familiar and, importantly, manageable obstacle. According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Festa remains several weeks away from leaving Florida as he continues his recovery process. That timeline is not insignificant, especially for a Twins club already navigating early-season pitching uncertainty, but the right-hander’s outlook provides reason for encouragement. “Honestly, it feels better than I probably expected,” Festa said. “I never want to make too much of it because it’s light catch from a shorter distance, but I feel like the arm’s moving cleaner.” At the moment, Festa is playing catch at 90 feet, a modest but meaningful step in the progression. The long-term plan remains fluid. Festa intends to build up like a starting pitcher, which aligns with how the organization has developed him to this point. There have been no formal discussions about a defined role, but the reality is difficult to ignore. The Minnesota Twins are already dealing with the loss of Pablo López for the season, and pitching depth will be tested early. That creates an interesting tension. On one hand, Minnesota would prefer to preserve as much starting depth as possible. Festa, once viewed as arguably the organization’s top pitching prospect, fits into that equation when healthy. On the other hand, shoulder issues have a way of reshaping development paths. If the Twins need immediate innings and Festa proves healthy but not fully stretched out, a move to the bullpen could be a practical solution. It is not as though Festa lacks the tools to succeed in that role. Over the last two seasons, he has posted a 5.12 ERA with a 4.27 FIP, backed by a strong 25.7 K% and a manageable 8.3 BB%. Those numbers suggest a pitcher whose underlying skills are more intriguing than the surface results. Shorter outings could allow his stuff to play up while limiting exposure and workload. Still, the organization will not rush that decision. Health comes first, and Festa will need to demonstrate that he can handle a consistent throwing program before anything else is considered. For now, the focus remains simple. Keep progressing. Keep building. Keep listening to the arm. If Festa continues on his current trajectory, he could still factor into Minnesota’s plans at some point this season. Whether that comes as a starter or in a relief role will depend on timing, health, and organizational need. What matters most is that the early signs suggest this setback is just that, a setback, not a turning point. In a season where pitching depth is already under strain, the Twins will take every bit of good news they can get. Festa’s recovery may not solve everything, but it is a step in the right direction at a time when those steps are especially important. View the full article

After an offseason of waiting, Opening Day is finally here. The Milwaukee Brewers will host the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. CT at American Family Field, to begin the 2026 season. The Brewers have high expectations, having won the last three NL Central championships, but they also enter the season with several questions. As such, here are three reasons why the Brewers will again finish atop the Central—and three reasons they could fall short. The Brewers will win the Central because ... The young starting pitchers step up With a recent history of pulling the most out of pitchers, the Brewers' four young starters—Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, Brandon Sproat and Kyle Harrison—will elevate their performances and carry the Crew to a fourth consecutive Central championship. Misiorowski has the ability to become an NL Cy Young contender with his 31.9% strikeout rate, which is nearly 50% better than the MLB average. The key for Misiorowski will be his control, as he walked 11.4% of hitters as a rookie, a full three percentage points worse than the MLB average. He did have a nice opponent batting average of .214. Patrick feels like the most stable of these four, so simply repeating last year's 3.53 FIP and improving his .248 opponent batting average would suffice. Sproat has the potential to be surprising. He was very good from a metrics point of view in his four-game MLB debut with the New York Mets, not only limiting hard contact but also inducing groundballs. That fits into the Crew's defensive scheme very well. But the biggest step will be taken by Harrison. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the six-player Caleb Durbin deal, Harrison unveiled a kick-change late last year and took another step with it this spring, notching eight strikeouts in his first spring outing. That pitch will turn into a monster for the left-hander, who will finish behind only Misiorowski on the club in strikeouts. All of this by the young starters will also invigorate veteran Brandon Woodruff. Jackson Chourio becomes a superstar Jackson Chourio has had a very nice first two years, becoming the youngest player in MLB history with back-to-back 20-homer, 20-stolen base seasons. His slash lines have been remarkably similar, going .275/.327/.464 as a rookie to .270/.308/.463 in his sophomore season. But there is more to unlock in Chourio. He has a quick bat and speed that reminds many of Ronald Acuña Jr. He also plays with the joy of a Julio Rodríguez. Dreaming on Chourio being a 30-30 player isn't hard. But what if Chourio ramped up his game to 35 homers and 40 stolen bases? That would also come with taking his batting average up to the .290 or .300 level. Chourio has shown more discipline this spring in drawing walks, which will force pitchers to attack him more, leading to more hits and being able to utilize his speed on the basepaths. Chourio has an electric smile and talent to match. It is time to put that on display for all of MLB to see. Hopefully, his hand injury will be only a brief and unimportant setback on that journey. Garrett Mitchell plays 145 games The wait for the Garrett Mitchell breakthrough has been agonizing, because the reason he hasn't been on the field is for what feels like a series of unrelated injuries. But 2026 is the year in which Mitchell avoids any health issues and more than doubles the number of games he has played in his first three-plus seasons with the Brewers (141). The center fielder with the sweet swing can be a dynamic force for the Brewers with his power and speed combination. In 2024, when he played in a career-high 69 games, he hit eight homers and stole 11 bases. That would put him around a 20-20 pace if he played in 145 games and hits in the .275 range. Combine that with what Chourio and William Contreras can do offensively, and the Brewers will be lighting up scoreboards around MLB this year. The Brewers won't win the Central because ... Brandon Woodruff's shoulder falls apart It gives me no pleasure to write this. Yet, it is the thought that every one of us has as Brandon Woodruff begins 2026 with the Brewers. The sturdy right-hander hasn't had a full spring training, only making two starts and going five innings as he makes his way back from the strained right lat that knocked him out of commission in mid-September. The Brewers signaled early in spring training that Woodruff was going to be slow-played this season, not emphasizing getting him to full speed for Opening Day. Instead, they're making sure (as much as they can) that he will be around for Game 162 and the postseason. Of course, the lat injury followed the right shoulder surgery (anterior capsule) he had at the end of the 2023 season and which kept him out all of 2024. His 2025 debut was delayed by other injuries, including being drilled by a comebacker in a minor-league rehab game. While he deserves a much better ending considering his performance history, his season, probably his final one in Milwaukee, will come to an end early as his right shoulder gives out one more time. Brice Turang and Sal Frelick regress offensively One of the keys to the Crew's offense in 2026 was that second baseman Brice Turang and right fielder Sal Frelick, both 2024 Gold Glove winners, were no longer black holes with the bat. Turang, in particular, has shown remarkable progress at the plate in each of the last two seasons. Turang jumped from .218 as a rookie in 2023 to .254 in 2024 and up to .288 last year—not to mention the late-season power surge he experienced with 10 blasts in August and six homers in 2023 and seven in 2024. He finished with 18 in 2025. Frelick, meanwhile, has gone from .246 to .259 to .288. While not as dramatic as Turang's climb, the growth of both offensively was why the Brewers clicked last year. But if Turang goes back to hitting single-digits in home runs and he and Frelick drop down to .260 or less, the Crew's offense will be in trouble in 2026. Luis Rengifo is a bust at third base If things go right for the Brewers, they just need Luis Rengifo to be himself in 2026. They don't need him to shoulder the burden of the offense, just match his career slash line of .250/.307/.382 with maybe 10 homers. That was close to the output of Durbin last year. But Rengifo has played more often at second base than third base in his career, and he will be at the hot corner only with the Crew. Last year, he had a career-high 76 appearances at third, as well as 74 at second. At third, Rengifo had -5 Defensive Runs Saved, which ranked 166th out of 176 MLB third basemen. He had a poor season at the plate last year with the Los Angeles Angels, slashing .238/.287/.335 and striking out 19.2% of the time. While that strikeout rate is just a bit worse than the MLB average, it was his highest since going down on strikes 20% of the time in 2021. Rengifo struggled this spring, hitting .244 (11-for-45) while hitting three homers and driving in five. If he struggles to the point of needing to release him, that could pave the way for Jett Williams to possibly come up—but a lot of damage could be done before then, and the NL Central is unforgiving. View the full article

As confirmed by New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Carson Benge not only made the roster, but he also will be the starting right fielder against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day. The Mets are placing a lot of trust in the 23-year-old rookie to hold down the right field spot for the 2026 season, especially after it was announced that offseason signee Mike Tauchman will undergo surgery following a meniscus tear. Benge now has the job security and all the tools to put together a strong rookie season in 2026. The only question is how good (or bad) could this season be for him? Carson Benge's Optimistic 2026 Outlook It is not crazy to say that Benge has one of the best foundations a rookie could have: plus defender, 60-grade arm, and a 60-grade hit tool. He has the potential to be a five-tool player in this league. In the spring, Benge slashed .366/.435/.439 with a .874 OPS in 46 plate appearances. According to Prospect Savant, in the minor leagues last year Benge had a 94th percentile xSLG, 94th percentile barrel rate, and he finished in the 92nd percentile in spring speed. In the best-case scenario, you are looking at a potential Gold Glove candidate who can finish with a 20 homers and 20 steals. In said scenario, Mendoza would have flexibility to bat Benge anywhere in the lineup. The top prospect certainly has proven in the minors and spring training that his hit tool is consistent enough to produce in the majors. This spring, Benge had a 140 WRC+. In the minors last season, Benge produced a 150 WRC+ in 116 games across A+, AA and AAA. He has positively affected every team he has been on, consistently getting on base, playing good defense and not striking out. It's the profile of a mature veteran, one which will hopefully translate right away. Carson Benge's Pessimistic Outlook There are three potential flaws that could sink his rookie campaign.. The first being that he has proven to be a slow adjuster. Through his first five games in Double-A, he went 3-21 for a .142 batting average. Likewise, his promotion to Triple-A did not end up going well for him. For the Syracuse Mets, he slashed .178/.272/.311 in 103 plate appearances. For Benge to be the five-tool player he is believed to be, he would need to produce power, something which has been inconsistent throughout his professional career. He had one lone home run this spring, and in 519 plate appearances in the minors last year, he produced 15 home runs. While his hard-hit rates are high, he has been unable to get under the ball enough to put balls over the fence. According to Prospect Savant, Benge had a 73rd percentile Max Exit Velocity and a 31st percentile Pull Air %. There's clearly some untapped potential in that department. My last point, and the common question the Mets community has about Benge, is his habit of hitting on top of the ball. Benge posted a 70% groundball rate this spring after sitting at 42% last year. In conjunction with the discussion about power, there's clearly an evolution that needs to take place in his contact profile. If there's no evolution on that front, though, is his current form sustainable? Now that is a major question and definitely something to follow this season. We see Luis Arraez consistently have 40% or higher groundball rates and he wins batting titles. We have also seen Brett Baty really struggle with getting on top of the ball and rolling over for outs, a problem Baty (mostly) fixed last season. Benge’s main criticism across advanced metrics sites has been that while he can be a five-tool player, none of his tools are great. However, to have five good tools is really impressive. You can count on four of them right out of the gate: speed, fielding, arm strength, and hitting for average. That fifth tool, hitting for power, could make or break whether we get best-case scenario Carson Benge, or the worst case. View the full article

What can you expect from the 2026 Red Sox? Luke Fitzpatrick breaks down the squad and makes some predictions for the season. Two players to hit 30+ bombs? Only one starter with a sub-3.50 ERA? An All-Star season from Wilyer Abreu? What about Marcelo Mayer? Will fans be disappointed in Caleb Durbin in 2026? All that and more right here. View the full article

The San Diego Padres entered the 2025-26 offseason with questions abounding throughout several aspects of their roster. Corner outfield was not among those questions, however. On one hand, it helps when you have Fernando Tatis Jr. holding down one side of the outfield grass. While it didn’t come without frustrating stretches, Tatis reestablished himself as one of the premier players in Major League Baseball courtesy of a 6.1 fWAR figure that ranked 10th among big league regulars. The other side of the outfield remained a struggle for much of the year. What began as a platoon between Jason Heyward and Connor Joe quickly devolved. Neither was long for the roster, and the Padres spent much of the rest of the first half watching the adventures of Gavin Sheets and a rotating cast of other reserves. At the trade deadline, A.J. Preller was able to address the spot with a move that stabilized the position in the form of Ramón Laureano. While Laureano would miss the postseason because of a finger injury, he turned in strong enough numbers down the stretch that made exercising his $6.5 million club option an easy call. That’s the duo bookending Jackson Merrill for much of 2026. Unlike last year, though, the team actually boasts some depth. Each of Sheets, Miguel Andujar, and Nick Castellanos can handle a corner for a spell, with the team also aiming to expand the versatility of Sung Mun Song to get his bat in the lineup as frequently as possible. As far as positional groups on this roster go, the brass shouldn’t have a difficult time feeling confident about this group. Padres Corner Outfielders At A Glance Starters: Ramón Laureano (LF), Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF) Backups: Gavin Sheets, Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos, Bryce Johnson Depth: Alex Verdugo, Sung Mun Song Prospects: Tirso Ornelas, Braedon Karpathios LF fWAR Ranking Last Year: 21st (1.3) RF fWAR Ranking Last Year: 5th (6.1) LF fWAR Projection This Year: 19th (1.8) RF fWAR Projection This Year: 2nd (5.4) The Good The outfield corners might just represent the most stable aspects of the 2026 roster. Everywhere else you look, there are significant question. The infield has them. The pitching staff certainly has them. Outside of the bullpen, you have to feel the best about what this duo in the corners offers the team. Tatis finished a season healthy. While he may have been held back by a nagging injury or two in the summer, he appeared in 155 games, hit 25 homers, stole 32 bases, and brought elite defense to right field. If he can recoup some value on the power side — and indications are that some mechanical settling should help him to do just that — then the momentum he built up for Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic could very well carry over into the regular season. The same could be said of Laureano. His 2025 season was his best across the board since 2019, including an isolated power figure that was 35 points better than any individual mark he'd posted in the years since. If his growth in the approach is for real, it could yield real power dividends for a team that needed to scrape it from anywhere they could find it last season. The improved depth also marks a positive for this group. The following is a list of players that appeared in either corner for the Padres in 2025 beyond their two projected starters: Gavin Sheets (64 games in LF) Jason Heyward (30 games in LF, four games in RF) Brandon Lockridge (30 games in LF, three games in RF) Bryce Johnson (26 games in LF, 10 games in RF) Tyler Wade (17 games in LF, three games in RF) Oscar González (14 games in LF, five games in RF) Tirso Ornelas (five games in LF) Trenton Brooks (two games in LF) Jose Iglesias (one game in LF) Connor Joe (one game in LF) Three of those players remain in the organization. The combination of Sheets, Andujar, and Castellanos may not offer much on the defensive side, but each raises the floor of this position group significantly in the event of an injury or a day off. There's also a chance that Sung Mun Song could provide a higher quality of defense once he gets a little more work on the grass, as the team has expressed a desire to maximize his versatility. The Bad As stable as the group looks on paper, there's a certain streakiness and a mild uncertainty that could manifest for the Padres' corner outfielders in 2026. After a torrid start to last year, Tatis' wRC+ in May was just 74. He recovered some offensive value in June, but with an ISO of just .102. He repeated the trend between July and August before tapping back into his aggression and posting big power numbers in September. While Laureano wasn't prone to the same type of month-to-month variance, he did bookend the year with a brutal showing. His wRC+ with Baltimore in April was 74 before posting an 83 in September, after which point the finger injury shut him down. Any player is prone to a stretch of poor production. That's not unique to Tatis or Laureano. The reason you worry is because neither has a recent track record of genuinely sustained success. In fact, their career paths are somewhat similar given injury and prior suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs. You feel good about Tatis given where the upside was before 2022 and what the skill set has always been. You feel less sure about Laureano given the career stagnation that unfolded between 2019 and 2025 before he broke back out in the latter season. The defense represents a much more tangible concern, at least in left field. Laureano's metrics don't look nearly as favorable as they did early in his career, bottoming out with a -9 Outs Above Average that sat in just the second percentile. Only five outfielders graded worse by way of OAA than Laureano did, even if his arm strength remains potent. Perhaps even worse is the fact that Nick Castellanos was one of those five, tying Juan Soto's -12 OAA as the work mark among all outfielders that qualified. If we were to expand that to a minimum of 50 outfield attempts, Andujar's -3 led the group in being ranked 135th out of 183, while Sheets' -5 ranked 160th. It's not as if the Padres are a reputable defensive club to begin with, but it'll be interesting to see how well the offensive upside can compensate for the defensive shortcomings. The Bottom Line That the concerns are rooted in the abstract and hypotheticals more than any tangible concern speaks to the strength the San Diego Padres feature in the corners of their outfield, especially in comparison to what the situation looked like last year. Corner outfield defense doesn't bear the same negative impact that it may in other areas, so even that doesn't represent a significant reason for worry over what the pair of starters and their trio of reserves could look like in 2026. Ultimately, when you're talking about a position that features one of the 10 or so best players in baseball and another coming off a breakout season, you're in a good spot. The Padres are, in fact, in a good spot here. Fernando Tatis Jr.'s stock is pointing up after a good season and an even stronger showing in the WBC, while a full season with a healthy Laureano should be massive for the lineup at large. View the full article

Jays Centre is taking a close look at every position on the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the series here: Catcher First Base Second Base Shortstop Third Base Left Field Right Field DH Toronto Blue Jays Center Fielders at a Glance Starter: Daulton Varsho Backup: Myles Straw Depth: Nathan Lukes, Jonatan Clase Prospects: RJ Schreck, Jace Bohrofen Blue Jays Center Field fWAR in 2025: 4th out of 30 (4.4) Blue Jays Center Field FGDC Projection for 2026: 12th (3.0) For the 2021-2025 period, Toronto’s fWAR production from center fielders ranks sixth-highest (16.2 fWAR). The best fWAR during these seasons was generated by the Mariners (23.8); the next-closest was the Yankees (22.3). During those seasons, Toronto’s highest ranking was fourth place in 2025; the lowest in 2024 (21st). Overall, exceptional performance. So, what does 2026 look like for Toronto’s center fielders? The Good Oh, yes, there are tables! The first is a summary of FanGraphs Depth Charts' 2026 projection for Toronto’s outfielders. According to Depth Charts’ estimate, Blue Jays center fielders will produce the 12th-highest fWAR among MLB teams. That projected performance lags two of Toronto’s American League East rivals: the Yankees (3.9) and Red Sox (3.7). There are good reasons to believe that Toronto’s center fielders will perform better than the projected 3.0 fWAR. More on this later. 2026 Projected fWAR LF RF CF OF Daulton Varsho 2.7 2.7 Nathan Lukes 0.6 0.4 0.2 1.2 Myles Straw - - 0.1 0.1 Jesús Sánchez 1.2 0.2 1.4 Addison Barger 1.0 1.0 Davis Schneider 0.4 0.4 George Springer 0.1 0.6 0.7 Projected 2026 total 2.4 2.3 3.0 7.7 2025 total 2.6 1.9 4.4 8.9 Toronto's Projected Rank - 2026 11 12 12 14 Toronto's Rank - 2025 13 13 4 7 Source: Depth Charts courtesy of FanGraphs The second table shows the career and 2025 OAA and FRV values for the center fielders. Last season, due to injuries (shoulder and hamstring ailments), Varsho accumulated 550 innings in center field for the Blue Jays. That innings number was 38% of Toronto’s center field total (1,438). Defensively, Straw was superb, as evidenced by his 16 OAA/1200 and 16 FRV/1200 scores. Concerning Lukes, his OAA in center field was -1 in 214 innings, but his FRV was zero because his throwing added one run. Hence, Lukes’ overall center field performance was average. Center Field Innings Center Field OAA Per 1200 Center Field FRV Per 1200 Career 2025 Career 2025 Career 2025 Daulton Varsho 2,375 550 16 20 17 13 Nathan Lukes 246 214 -15 -6 -15 0 Myles Straw 4,695 532 9 16 9 16 Source: FanGraphs Regarding Varsho, his decline in arm strength was an issue in 2025. Consider the next table. Please note that the innings shown for each player reflect innings played at all positions (Baseball Savant does not separate the Arm Value numbers by position). However, the Arm Strength numbers shown in the table concern only center field play. After the 2024 campaign, Varsho underwent shoulder surgery and did not play again until April 29, 2025. Upon his return, it was evident that Varsho’s arm strength, which was below average before 2025, was weaker. His Arm Strength was 83.7 mph in 2024, but averaged 73.7 mph in 2025. Among the 44 center fielders with at least 100 throws, Varsho’s 2025 73.7 mph ranked last. In 2024, his arm strength ranked 50th out of 54 center fielders. Outfield Innings Arm Value Per 1200 Fielder Runs Arm Strength (mph) Career 2025 Career 2025 Daulton Varsho 4,330 550 2 -4 -2 73.7 Nathan Lukes 1,150 909 6 5 4 87.0 Myles Straw 4,931 698 0 0 0 82.9 MLB Center Fielder Average 89.6 Source: FanGraphs & Baseball Savant More Good In 2025, Toronto batters had 6,180 plate appearances, 1,680 (26%) of which were against left-handed pitchers. Blue Jays’ center fielders produced a 103 wRC+ (ninth-highest) versus lefties. Overall, Toronto’s center fielders posted a 113 wRC+ (fourth-best), including a 116 wRC+ when facing right-handers (MLB’s 10th best). At the player level, when playing center field, the details are as follows: The standout was Lukes, who posted a 141 wRC+, followed by Varsho (125) and Straw (88). Concerning plate appearances when facing left-handed pitchers, Lukes, Varsho, and Straw had plate appearances totals of 10, 55 and 94, respectively. Their wRC+ scores were 132, 101, and 105, respectively. Regarding wRC+ results against right-handed pitchers, Lukes, Varsho, and Straw generated wRC+ scores of 142, 131 and 88, respectively. They produced their wRC+ numbers in 99, 209 and 123 plate appearances, respectively. For the three center fielders, those 2025 wRC+ numbers are noticeably better than their career splits (when playing all positions). Consider the next table. Career Plate Appearances Career wRC+ LHP RHP Total LHP RHP Overall Daulton Varsho 532 1,855 2,387 90 101 99 Nathan Lukes 72 488 560 83 109 106 Myles Straw 707 1,572 2,279 74 83 80 Source: FanGraphs Let’s look on the bright side. It would be nice if Lukes and Straw replicated their 2025 wRC+ numbers this upcoming season. However, the critical center field bat for the Blue Jays is Varsho. Suppose we are witnessing the emergence of Varsho as an above-average MLB hitter. Before 2025, Varsho generated career wOBA, xwOBA and wRC+ scores of .308, .295 and 96, respectively. In 2025, he produced a .345 wOBA, .327 xwOBA and 123 wRC+. The Depth Charts projected fWAR includes a .315 wOBA for Varsho (in 2025, the MLB average wOBA was .313). Suppose the new Varsho produces a .327 wOBA (his 2025 xwOBA) in 2026; his fWAR estimate rises from 2.7 to 3.2. Furthermore, the Depth Charts' 2.7 fWAR figure includes a 4.5 Def for Varsho. Suppose Varsho plays 1,220 innings in center field in 2026, which corresponds to a 2.0 Positional Adjustment. Accordingly, Varsho’s projected Fielding Runs number is 2.5 (4.5 Def less 2.0 positional adjustment). That Fielding Runs number seems low. In 2025, Varsho’s Fielding Runs figure was 3.9 in 550 innings. In 2024 and 2023, his Fielding Runs were 13.7 and 11.4, respectively. If Varsho’s 2026 Fielding Runs are, for example, 10.0, his projected 2026 fWAR increases from 2.7 to 3.5. Together with the estimated 0.5 fWAR bump from the .327 wOBA, Varsho’s 2026 fWAR would be 4.0 (all other things being equal). Suppose Varsho’s 2026 fWAR is 4.0. Toronto’s estimated total center field fWAR rises from 3.0 to 4.3. A 4.3 fWAR would move the Blue Jays’ center field group back up to the fourth-highest fWAR ranking, which it held in 2025. The Bad The key to Toronto’s 2026 center field success is Varsho. If his arm strength does not return to its 2024 level, Varsho’s defensive production will suffer. Furthermore, if Varsho does not remain a very good MLB hitter this season, as he was in 2025, Toronto’s center field crew will underperform at the plate. The Last Word FanGraphs Depth Charts' 2026 center field projection places Toronto at 12th (3.0 fWAR), which lags the team's fourth-best ranking from 2025. I believe the FGDC estimate is on the low side. If Varsho plays a full season and replicates his 2025 hitting and fielding performance, the Blue Jays should have one of the top center field crews in MLB. Defence, particularly with Varsho and Straw, should be elite. The critical question is whether their bats can excel like they did last season. View the full article