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The journey for Walker Buehler will continue with the San Diego Padres. The right-handed starter, signed to a minor-league deal at the beginning of spring training, has been told he is making the Padres' Opening Day roster, Kevin Acee of the San Diego-Union Tribune reported Friday. Buehler was facing an opt-out decision Saturday if not assured of making the major-league roster. Buehler's original deal called for him to make $1.5 million when on the Padres' roster. The Friars currently have two openings on their 40-man roster, so adding Buehler will not necessitate another move. Buehler was a no-brainer. He has been very good this spring, posting a 3.39 ERA in 11⅔ innings, walking four and striking out 13. He struck out seven and allowed three hits in five shutout innings Monday vs. the San Francisco Giants in his most recent start. Buehler, a former Los Angeles Dodgers star, had a rocky 2025, mostly with the Boston Red Sox before being released and signing with the Philadelphia Phillies and having better results. He will join Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Randy Vasquez in the rotation, with German Marquez likely the final piece of what will be an all-righty rotation. Infielder Ty France, like Buehler, a non-roster invite to camp, is also facing a Saturday deadline to be on the Padres' roster, according to the Union-Tribune. View the full article

Entering the top 10 of Brewer Fanatic's top prospects for the Milwaukee Brewers, we look at players ranked six through 10. Jeferson Quero struggled to stay on the field in 2025, but how much will that impact his ranking? Discussed in this video are Marco Dinges, Bishop Letson, Andrew Fischer, Jeferson Quero, and Logan Henderson. 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 Third Base Toronto Blue Jays Left Fielders at a Glance Starter: Jesús Sánchez Backup: Davis Schneider Depth: Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, George Springer, Eloy Jiménez, Jonatan Clase Prospects: Yohendrick Pinango, RJ Schreck Blue Jays LF fWAR in 2025: 13th out of 30 (2.6) Blue Jays LF FGDC Projection for 2026: 11th (2.4) This was an oft-told joke before MLB adopted the universal designated hitter: Young child: Dad, what do they call the player who can't field but hits? Dad: In the American League, that player is called the designated hitter. Young child: What do they call that player in the National League? Dad: The left fielder. For the 2021-2025 period, Toronto’s fWAR production from left fielders ranks 10th-highest (10.9 fWAR). The best fWAR during these seasons was Milwaukee’s 17.9. During those seasons, the Blue Jays' highest ranking was in 2021 (seventh), and their lowest was in 2023 (22nd). Overall, solid performance. So, what does 2026 look like for Toronto’s left fielders? The Good I have tables! The first is a summary of the FanGraphs Depth Charts’ 2026 projection for Toronto’s left and right fielders. 2026 Projected fWAR LF RF Corner Jesús Sánchez 1.2 0.2 1.4 Addison Barger 1.0 1.0 Davis Schneider 0.4 0.4 Nathan Lukes 0.6 0.4 1.0 George Springer 0.1 0.6 0.7 Myles Straw - - - Projected 2026 total 2.4 2.3 4.5 2025 total 2.6 1.9 4.5 Toronto's Projected Rank - 2026 11 12 13 Toronto's Rank - 2025 13 13 11 Source: Depth Charts courtesy of FanGraphs According to the FGDC estimate, Blue Jays left fielders will produce the 11th-highest fWAR among MLB teams. That projected performance for the Blue Jays lags three of Toronto’s American League East rivals: the Red Sox (3.6), Orioles (2.8), and Yankees (2.6). However, Toronto’s 2.4 fWAR estimate is in the ballpark of their division foes. The newest member of Toronto’s left field crew is Sánchez. Notably, of the 4,127 innings he has spent in an MLB outfield, only 14% of those innings were as a left fielder. Most of his innings have been in right field (67%), where he has posted career OAA/1200 and FRV/1200 marks of 5 and 4, respectively. Despite Sánchez’s above-average defence in right field, it is understandable why Toronto has slated Addison Barger to roam right field, given his projected 107 wRC+ and career +4 FRV/1200 as a right fielder. The second table shows the career and 2025 OAA and FRV values for each of Toronto's left fielders, including Sánchez. (Please note that for comparison purposes, I converted each player's OAA and FRV totals, regardless of the number of innings they've played in left field, into OAA and FRV per 1,200 innings.) The first matter to note is that none of these players has accumulated many MLB innings in left field. Accordingly, their OAA and FRV per 1200 scores are not reliably predictive of future performance. However, Straw’s record as a center fielder strongly suggests that he would excel in left field. Also, given his right field record, Sánchez should be at least average after he accumulates more left field innings under his belt. However, Schneider and Lukes are open questions. Schneider did not perform well as a left fielder last season (-2 FRV in 347 innings), but he was fine in his previous 650 innings stationed in left (+1 FRV). Given that he produced a +4 OAA and a +5 FRV in 446 innings in right last season, Lukes should be able to handle left field duties adequately. For the record, Jiménez has not played in an MLB left field since 2021. In 1,957 innings in left field, his career OAA and FRV per 1200 are -11 and -13, respectively. Not good. Lastly, I expect Springer will see limited innings in the outfield in 2026, most of them in right field. Left Field Innings Left Field OAA Per 1200 Left Field FRV Per 1200 Career 2025 Career 2025 Career 2025 Jesús Sánchez 583 191 2 0 2 6 Davis Schneider 997 347 2 -3 1 -7 Nathan Lukes 353 249 -3 -10 7 0 George Springer 88 85 0 0 -14 -14 Myles Straw 165 121 29 20 22 20 Source: FanGraphs The Bad In 2025, Toronto batters took 6,180 plate appearances, 1,680 (26%) of which were against left-handed pitchers. Blue Jays’ left fielders produced an 88 wRC+ (21st-highest) versus lefties. Overall, Toronto’s left fielders posted a 111 wRC+ (10th-best), including a 120 wRC+ when facing right-handers (MLB’s seventh-best). A final table for your reading pleasure. Because he has produced a 111 wRC+ in spring training, I included Jiménez's wRC+ in my analysis. Jiménez, who does not have an MLB contract, will presumably start the year at Triple A. Career Plate Appearances Career wRC+ LHP RHP Total LHP RHP Overall Jesús Sánchez 378 1,681 2,059 41 111 98 Addison Barger 126 601 727 53 104 95 Davis Schneider 320 502 822 105 112 109 Nathan Lukes 72 488 560 83 109 106 George Springer 1,672 4,702 6,374 134 128 130 Eloy Jiménez 527 1,599 2,126 99 116 112 Myles Straw 707 1,572 2,279 74 83 80 Source: FanGraphs When facing right-handed pitchers, the career wRC+ numbers of Sánchez, Schneider, Lukes, and Jiménez are solid. The concern is the performance of Toronto’s projected group of left fielders when facing left-handed pitchers. Only Schneider’s 105 wRC+ and Jiménez’s 99 are near or above average. The others (Sánchez, Lukes, and Straw) have been well-below-average hitters versus lefties, which is a concern, especially because Barger has a 53 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. On days when opposing left-handers start, only when Schneider and Springer are the corner outfielders can the Blue Jays expect to have above-average bats in left and right field. If Hitting Master David Popkins and his band of hitting gurus can work their magic, career underperformers could improve their numbers when confronting left-handed pitchers. However, as of today, Toronto’s left fielders do not project to excel at the plate when a lefty is on the mound. The Last Word "It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future." -Yogi Berra FanGraphs Depth Charts projects that Toronto’s left field crew will be solid in 2026. Manager John Schneider has many left field options to choose from when putting together his starting lineup or making an in-game change. The defence should be at least cromulent, and the bats above average when facing a right-handed pitcher. One concern is that, other than Springer, Toronto lacks a lefty masher who can play left field. 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There's no mystery surrounding second base in San Diego -- Jake Cronenworth is the Padres' everyday option there. He returned to full-time duty at the position in 2025 after getting a lot of work at first base in 2023 and 2024. He shouldn't be needed at the cold corner in 2026 because Gavin Sheets, Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos and others are all available. Cronenworth's name was attached to trade speculation in the offseason, but it would be difficult for the Padres to deal him. He's in the third year of a seven-year, $80 million contract extension and is entering his age-32 season. His 2.9 fWAR in 2025 represented a marked improvement from his previous two seasons, but it still was just starter-class production. Offseason signee Sung Mun Song will be the backup to begin the season, assuming he's healthy. He is primarily a third baseman, but he did play a fair amount of second in the KBO -- 194 games (149 starts) over nine seasons. Holdovers Mason McCoy and Will Wagner entered the final stages of spring training as the Triple-A reinforcements. Padres Second Basemen At A Glance Starter: Jake Cronenworth Backup: Sung Mun Song Depth: Mason McCoy, Will Wagner Prospect: Marcos Castanon Padres' fWAR Ranking Last Year: 13th out of 30 Padres' fWAR Projection This Year: 19th out of 30 The Good Cronenworth will contribute at the plate against all pitching. The lefty swinger's platoon splits last year were nearly identical: a 118 wRC+ and .334 wOBA against right-handers vs. a 116 wRC+ and .331 wOBA against left-handers. His strikeout rate against lefties was two points lower than his K rate vs. righties (19.4 percent to 21.4 percent). His plate discipline led to a career-high 13.4 percent walk rate. Song, 29, is coming off two huge offensive seasons in the KBO and has displayed some power in his first MLB spring training. Second base will be one of his positions as he fills a utility role. McCoy, 30, is a glove-first player who can bounce between second and shortstop. Wagner, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline, has youth on his side at 27. Castanon, 26, has shown pop in his minor-league career. He slugged three home runs in 16 games for Triple-A El Paso last year following a late-season promotion from Double-A San Antonio. He was a 12th-round selection by the Padres in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Cal Santa Barbara. The Bad Cronenworth's reputation for durability has taken a hit after his injuries in 2023 and 2025. Last year, he missed a month with a rib fracture. When he came back, the pop in his bat was lacking. His 32 extra-base hits, .377 slugging percentage and .130 ISO were all full-season career lows. His fielding was not inspiring, either. He was a below-average second baseman according to the advanced metrics: minus-8 defensive runs saved (DRS), by far a career-worst figure, and minus-1 outs above average (OAA). His fielding run value (FRV) clocked in at minus-2. Song's offensive potential is a big unknown. His KBO numbers in '24 and '25 were outliers, and now he'll be a part-time player trying to adjust to much tougher pitching. Likewise, he's got injury concerns of his own, as he's currently fighting a nagging oblique injury that could hold him off the Opening Day roster. McCoy has a career .494 OPS in 84 big-league plate appearances. Wagner spent most of his time at Triple-A after coming over from Toronto. He got just 17 PAs with the Padres. Castanon isn't on Padres Mission's list of the top 20 prospects in the organization, despite his power potential. In other words: Without Song, the depth in the middle infield is lacking. The Bottom Line The Padres need Cronenworth to stay healthy and make the majority of the starts at second. Song is unproven and the players behind him do not look like viable everyday options. View the full article

As spring training winds down, the competition for Minnesota’s final bench spot is one of the most intriguing roster questions. The Twins appear to have most of their position player group set, but the backup shortstop job is still unsettled. With Brooks Lee expected to be the team’s primary shortstop, Minnesota needs a reliable defensive option behind him. That competition currently centers on two players with very different profiles. Ryan Kreidler is already on the 40-man roster and offers defensive versatility, while Orlando Arcia brings a decade of big league experience and a past All-Star selection. Neither player is expected to contribute much with the bat, which places even greater pressure on Lee to produce at shortstop in his age-25 season. Why Kreidler Should Make the Roster Kreidler appears to have the inside track entering the final week of spring training. The biggest reason may have nothing to do with his on-field performance. He is already on the Twins’ 40- man roster, making the decision much simpler from a roster management perspective. Teams often prefer to keep depth options they already control, especially when the alternative requires adding a non-roster player. That factor alone could give Kreidler the edge. Defensively, Kreidler offers the type of versatility that managers value on the bench. He has experience at all three infield spots to the left of first base and has also logged time in both center field and left field. That ability to move around the diamond could make him a valuable late-inning defensive replacement. Kreidler has also flashed some offensive potential in the minor leagues. Across 1,963 career minor league plate appearances, he has posted a .236/.342/.401 slash line with a 106 wRC+. His most recent season produced a .238/.363/.389 line and a 109 wRC+ in 401 plate appearances. Those numbers suggest that if even a portion of his minor-league production translates to the majors, Kreidler could develop into a useful utility player. Why Kreidler Could Be Left Off the Roster While Kreidler’s minor league numbers offer some optimism, his major league track record has been extremely limited and largely unproductive. He has appeared in parts of four big league seasons but has accumulated just 211 plate appearances during that span. In those opportunities, Kreidler has struggled to make consistent contact, owning a slashline of .138/.208/.176. The strikeouts have been particularly concerning. Kreidler has struck out in 31.8 percent of his major league plate appearances, contributing to an overall .383 OPS. Even if the Twins primarily value his defense, it becomes difficult to justify a roster spot when the offensive production has been so minimal. If Minnesota decides they need even marginally better offense from the final bench spot, Kreidler could lose ground in the competition. Why Arcia Should Make the Roster Arcia represents the veteran alternative in this battle. The 31-year-old is entering his 10th major league season and brings a wealth of experience compared to Kreidler. At one point in his career, Arcia was a reliable everyday shortstop and even earned an All-Star selection with the Atlanta Braves. While that version of Arcia may be in the past, the Twins could value the presence of a seasoned player on their bench. He appeared in 76 games during the 2025 season, splitting time between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies. After Atlanta released him in May, Colorado quickly signed him to a major league deal and used him in a variety of roles. Arcia’s versatility has grown in recent years. Once known strictly as a shortstop, he played all four infield positions in Colorado, including the first appearance of his career at first base. That expanded defensive role could make him an appealing utility option. If Arcia proves capable of handling multiple infield spots, he might provide more flexibility for manager Derek Shelton when constructing the bench. Why Arcia Could Be Left Off the Roster Despite his experience, Arcia faces significant challenges in earning the final roster spot. His offensive production has declined sharply over the past two seasons. In 214 plate appearances during the 2025 season, Arcia hit just .202/.238/.291. His 33 wRC+ ranked as the lowest mark of his career and the second-worst among players with at least 200 plate appearances last year. The decline has also extended to his defense. During his early years with the Milwaukee Brewers, Arcia was considered an excellent defensive shortstop. In recent seasons, however, his glovework has graded closer to average. Age and roster logistics could also work against him. As a non-roster invitee, Arcia would require the Twins to make a corresponding move to add him to the 40-man roster. In contrast, Kreidler already occupies a spot and can be added to the Opening Day roster without additional maneuvering. If the Twins prioritize roster flexibility and long-term depth, Arcia may ultimately fall short in this competition. The battle for the final bench spot reflects two different approaches to roster construction. On one side, Kreidler offers youth, defensive versatility, and the convenience of already being on the 40-man roster. Additionally, his glove could make him a useful late-inning option even if the bat never fully develops. Arcia brings experience and a track record, including years as a starting shortstop in the majors. Even if his best seasons are behind him, the Twins may believe the veteran still has something left in the tank. Regardless of who ultimately earns the job, the situation underscores the importance of Lee’s development. With limited offensive expectations from either backup, the Twins need their young shortstop to anchor the position throughout the 2026 season. Who will win the backup shortstop role for Opening Day? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Kody Clemens is putting together a really impressive spring, and it’s starting to raise some real questions for the Twins. If he keeps swinging it like this, it might be impossible to keep his bat out of the lineup. View the full article

The clock is ticking down for the Milwaukee Brewers toward Opening Day. Some guys are in a groove, while others are still looking to get untracked. There are just three games left in Arizona before the Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds for two exhibition games at American Family Field on Monday and Tuesday. As a reminder: Don't take anything too seriously in this recap. It is only spring training, where exhibition games often devolve into minor-league scrimmages. The information below is meant as basic information, not necessarily hardcore analysis. The Brewers are 11-14 in Cactus League play after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 24-9 Monday, then dropping a pair of split-squad games Wednesday to the Seattle Mariners 7-3 and the Los Angeles Angels before beating the Texas Rangers 11-4 Thursday. Who's Hot? 🔥 Brandon Lockridge In a game that may have locked up his spot on the Opening Day roster, the center fielder capped off a 10-run fifth inning against the Dodgers by hitting a grand slam. It was part of a 3-for-5 day with three runs scored. His fourth homer of the spring, a shot to center field, came off veteran reliever Blake Treinen. He followed that up with a 1-for-4 against the Mariners and a 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs vs. the Rangers. The Rangers game came just hours after the Crew optioned fellow center fielder Blake Perkins to Triple-A, paving the way for Lockridge to be there on Opening Day. Andrew Vaughn The first baseman has been as consistent as any player this spring, which may be why he hasn't appeared in this feature until now. Vaughn went 4-for-7 with a pair of RBIs in the last two games. That put him at a nice .400/.478/.625 slash line with two homers and RBIs in Cactus League play. He leads the team with 16 hits to go along with five walks, while striking out only seven times. If the Crew can get anything close to what Vaughn produced last year after coming over in a trade from the Chicago White Sox, the offense should be just fine. Aaron Ashby It feels like the left-hander doesn't care what role he is in; he just wants to pitch. Could the Brewers be seriously thinking of Ashby in the rotation? He has pitched at least two innings in all three of his Cactus League appearances, allowing one run, while walking four and striking out six. The latest was a two-inning effort against the Angels in which he did not allow a hit in an efficient 22 pitches. Regardless of his role, Ashby will be a big part of the Crew's pitching staff in 2026. Who's Cold? 🧊 Brandon Woodruff The good news was the right-handed starter made his second appearance of the spring with a scheduled four-inning outing against the Rangers. The bad news was that Woodruff only made it through three batters in the fourth as velocity took a noticeable dip. He hit 93.7 mph with his four-seamer in the first inning and was routinely at 92 mph in the second and third innings. But in the fourth, his fastest pitch was 88.8 mph, and he gave up a pair of homers. It is possible Woodruff pitches the second of two exhibition games at American Family Field, but that also depends on how he bounces back from Thursday's outing. Getting three innings out of Woodruff to begin the season might be acceptable with the depth and length the Brewers have in their bullpen. Otherwise, the injured list could be where he begins Opening Day. Garrett Mitchell It may have been more surprising that it was Mitchell who was stuck in camp while Perkins was optioned. The talented center fielder has not gotten anything going this spring and just had back-to-back 0-for-4, three-strikeout games. Having endured a handful of injuries that have curtailed his playing time since making his MLB debut in 2022, Mitchell has now struck out a team-worst 18 times in just 29 at-bats. He has just two hits, one being a homer, that have resulted in a paltry slash line of .069/.206/.207. Mitchell could be a dynamic part of the Crew's offense if he gets going. Chad Patrick Locked into the starting rotation, perhaps as the No. 2, the right-hander struggled with his control against the Dodgers. Patrick walked four and allowed five hits while surrendering six runs to a lineup featuring a number of Dodgers regulars. He threw 83 pitches, which is good as he gets ready for the season, with just 48 strikes. There might not be anything to worry about, as you never know what the pitchers might be working on in any specific spring start. Patrick feels lined up to start the second game of the season, March 28, vs. the Chicago White Sox. View the full article

There’s no sense beating around the bush on this. We all know exactly what Pete Crow-Armstrong has to do in order to become a successful hitter. The man himself seems to know what he has to do in order to become a successful hitter. “It’s definitely the swing decisions. I know what I do well. I know what I don’t do well. I know that I chase. I know I can get away with hitting bad balls and doing damage on bad balls, but there is no consistency there. It’s very sporadic,” he told Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic last month. In fact, according to Baseball Savant, the young center fielder swung at 41.7 percent of pitches outside the strike zone last year, the fifth highest rate in baseball. That alone doesn’t make you an unsuccessful hitter. It just doesn’t give you a whole lot of room for error. What’s neat about this preseason, and the World Baseball Classic, is that we have a small set of meaningful games that we can point to in order to give us a basis of a guy’s improvement from the offseason. Crow-Armstrong, in particular, had a very successful tournament for Team USA. After starting pool play as a late-game defensive substitute, he injected the team with some sorely needed energy with a two home run performance against Team Italy, stealing the primary center field job from Byron Buxton in the process. The Cubs’ slugger ended up being one of eight core guys for Team USA that logged 20 plate appearances. He hit .263/.333/.632, and of those eight guys, his .402 wOBA trailed only Kyle Schwarber and Brice Turang. Was anything different under the hood? Of course, I wouldn’t be writing this article if it wasn’t! Crow-Armstrong saw 40 pitches outside of the strike zone in this tournament, and he swung at 13 of them. That is a chase rate of 32.5 percent. The league average last year, for what it’s worth, was 28.2 percent. So, we’re still not talking about Juan Soto here. Still, that is a meaningful decline, enough to pull him from fifth-worst among qualified hitters to 28th-worst, which is an area where plenty of successful hitters live. It’s the difference between Crow-Armstrong striking out on uncompetitive pitches routinely and working himself back into a few plate appearances. This backs up what we have seen in the less meaningful games, too. Per FanGraphs, he has swung at 30.8 percent of pitches outside of the strike zone in 14 Cactus League plate appearances. Whether all of this will continue into the season remains to be seen. A 162-game season is a long grind, and when you are in the middle of a slump, it’s hard to stick to a process like this. And after all, it should be noted, this is all based on small sample sizes. What is encouraging to me, though, is that the youngster has both acknowledged what needs to change, and has shown a willingness to change it. A more mature Pete Crow-Armstrong would be a terrifying threat against the rest of the league. View the full article

Heading into the 2026 season, one could argue that the center field position for the Boston Red Sox is toward, if not at the top, of the list of positions the team and fans should have the fewest amount of questions about. Finally a Gold Glove winner after a phenomenal defensive campaign in 2025, Ceddanne Rafaela looks to not only repeat the success that earned him his well-deserved hardware, but also find some more consistency at the plate. Red Sox Centerfield At A Glance Starter: Ceddanne Rafaela Backup: Jarren Duran Depth: Nate Eaton, Kristian Campbell, Braiden Ward Red Sox fWAR Ranking Last Year: 13th out of 30 Red Sox fWAR Projection This Year: 8th out of 30 The Good It’s no secret the Red Sox’s outfield has been, and will continue to be, under the microscope as the season gets underway and Alex Cora tries to figure out how he’ll position the likes of Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Masataka Yoshida, and his reigning Gold Glove winners Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela across the outfield and at designated hitter. Perhaps no more than just two seasons ago, the light-hitting and overly aggressive Rafaela, who owned a 2.6 BB% and 46.4 Chase% in 2024, both of which were in the 1st percentile league-wide, may have found himself heading for a platoon/super-utility role if Cora had found himself in a similar predicament heading into the 2025 campaign. As we turn the page to 2026 however, there is no doubt in Cora’s mind or anyone else's in the Red Sox organization that anyone other than Rafaela should be their man in center. It may seem like an impossible task, but Rafaela will look to build off a phenomenal defensive season a year ago, one that saw him lead all American League centerfielders in Outs Above Average (21), which he would have led all of baseball in if it wasn’t for the Cubs young phenom Pete Crow-Armstrong. And if the World Baseball Classic and Spring Training has been anything to show for, including recently this past week in games against the Twins and Braves, Rafaela is picking up in his defensive prowess right where he left off a season ago. With Rafaela however, defense is never going to be lacking. His questions have always stemmed from his bat, and more specifically the inability to work counts and lay off pitches. The 2025 season saw Rafaela not only improve on those numbers, getting his BB% to 4.8 and Chase% to 42.2, but also drastically decreasing his K% from 26.4% (22nd percentile) in 2024 to 19.9, good to place himself in the 56th percentile. Red Sox fans also had the pleasure (and maybe displeasure, as we’ll get to in a moment) of finding out throughout last season that when Ceddanne gets hot, he gets REALLY hot. Those who follow the team will surely remember his stretch in June and July where he made NESN’s Jonathan Papelbon’s prediction of an MVP candidacy in Rafaela’s future not seem so farfetched, accumulating a .284/.312/.547/.859 slash line with 11 HRs and 29 RBIs across 49 games and 189 plate appearances. No moment was more impressive than his thunderous walk-off home run prior to the All-Star break off then Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, to which NESN’s Dave O’Brien appropriately described as “Rafaela killed it.” The Bad Unfortunately for Rafaela, the baseball season doesn’t just take place in just June and July, and for just as hot as he was in those two months, he was just as cold in April, March, and August. Those three months saw Rafaela finish with a line of just .210/.272/.318/.590 with 3 HRs and 22 RBI in 56 games and 213 plate appearances. Take it a step further and look at Rafaela’s first and second half splits, where he slashed .271/.314/.483/.796 in the first 92 games and .218/.268/.319/.587 in the final 64 of the regular season, and you’ll see the inconsistencies can still rear their ugly head for the 25-year-old. And while it was important to shed light on Rafaela’s improvements from 2024 to 2025 in terms of much-needed plate discipline, his numbers there still aren’t anything to write home about. That previously mentioned 4.8 BB% and 42.2 Chase% still only puts him in the seventh and second percentiles, respectively. While his defense will continue to be his calling card and almost certainly be what should have him in the lineup on a nightly basis, you can’t help but wonder what another cold streak would mean for his playing time given the logjam still clogging up the depth chart. The Bottom Line It is worth briefly touching on the possibility that could be on the table if Alex Cora wants to get completely crazy and keep Rafaela in the lineup while not having to sit anyone. When Jarren Duran was putting together his MVP-caliber season back in 2024, he manned the position 105 out of the 160 games he played that year, to the tune of a career-best 8.7 WAR. The reason for his abundance of play there was Trevor Story’s early season shoulder injury that saw Rafaela move into the infield and help stabilize the shortstop position, where he played 82 of his 152 games that season. While you could argue there is a slight chance of that happening, as Rafaela did appear at second base 24 times last year, one would think an absolute doomsday scenario of injuries combined with massive underperformances would have to occur for Cora to go back on his word when he met with the media early in Spring Training and said it would be unlikely that Rafaela played second base this season. We will obviously have our answers on how the Red Sox outfield situation will shape up once the first pitch is thrown in Cincinnati on March 26, but it doesn’t feel too outlandish to say the Red Sox’s most effective lineup will be the one that features the reigning Gold Glove winner staying put in center field and looking to build off a strong 2025 campaign. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals' prospects dominated the 2026 Spring Breakout against the Texas Rangers' prospects on Friday in Surprise. The Royals won 9-2 and were never threatened after getting up 6-0 in the fifth inning. Carter Jensen didn't play, as expected, with him likely making the Opening Day roster and getting ready for the 2026 MLB season. Furthermore, pitchers David Shields and Frank Mozzicato, our No. 3 and 20 prospects, didn't pitch either. They may have already pitched in previous Minor League Spring Training contests, which explains their absence (those aren't as widely publicized as Major League ones). That said, many still participated and delivered solid performances in the Royals' win over the Rangers. Let's look at six Royals prospects (three pitchers and three position players) who stood out on Friday afternoon and what that could mean for the upcoming season. Justin Lamkin, LHP Lamkin was a competitive-B-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft for the Royals out of Texas A&M. He didn't pitch at all in the Minors last year, but he was stellar in his final season with the Aggies. In 15 starts and 84.1 IP, the 21-year-old lefty posted a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 3.41 FIP. He also had a 28% K% and a 22.6% K-BB% in his final season in College Station and posted a 15-strikeout complete-game shutout in Athens against the Georgia Bulldogs. Lamkin got the nod for the Royals on Friday afternoon, and he was efficient in his three innings of work. He allowed no hits, no runs, and only one run while striking out six on 47 pitches (31 strikes). Here's a look at what his TJ Stats summary looked like from his Royals debut. The TJ Stuff+ wasn't eye-popping at 97 overall. However, his four-seamer was excellent with a 104 TJ Stuff+ and a 59 grade. The pitch not only averaged 94 MPH, but also had a 17.6 iVB and generated a 33.3% whiff rate. His zone rate was a little inconsistent at 44.7%. That said, he generated a 34.6% chase rate, a 57.1% whiff rate, and a .247 xwOBACON. Safe to say, there wasn't much to complain about in Lamkin's first outing in a Kansas City uniform. He wasn't on our Top-20, and he went a bit under the radar last year because he didn't pitch professionally in 2025. However, he could be part of a really good Quad Cities rotation and make some major gains in the system this year. Gavin Cross, OF Cross missed out on our Top-20, mostly because he regressed in a repeat of Double-A Northwest Arkansas. After posting a 115 wRC+ in 436 plate appearances with the Naturals, he had a 92 wRC+ in 507 plate appearances in 2025. On a positive note, he still hit 17 home runs and stole 23 bases, and looked much better in the second half of the season. In the Spring Breakout, the former first-round pick went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run that helped the Royals pull away from the Rangers in this contest. His home run was hit 404 feet and had an exit velocity of 110.1 MPH. If that wasn't enough, the former Virginia Tech Hokie made a sensational play on a hard-hit ball at first base. Cross has taken some innings at first base this year, a sign that the Royals may be interested in him developing some defensive versatility to make him a more intriguing call-up candidate. After a disappointing 2025 season that saw him left off the 40-man roster this offseason (he went unselected in the Rule 5 Draft), he's been holding his own in Cactus League play. In 37 plate appearances, he is hitting .286 with a .810 OPS, and he has two home runs and seven RBI. He is still striking out a lot (14 strikeouts) and not walking much either (2 walks), but he's producing some intriguing exit velocity and hard-hit metrics this spring in Arizona. Cross is far from a "sure thing" by any means, and he may not make enough contact to be anything more than a fringe Major League player, at best (he has a 73.3% Z-Contact% this spring, which ranks in the 8th percentile). However, with his sudden positional flexibility and budding power, he may be a sleeper for a midseason call-up. Kendry Chourio, RHP Chourio was probably the most anticipated Royals prospect to play in Friday's game, especially with all the hype he's received this offseason from prospect experts. In his Spring Breakout debut, Chourio looked solid in two innings of work. He allowed no runs, one hit, no walks, and struck out three on 30 pitches (19 strikes). While those results were encouraging, the TJ Stuff+ metrics weren't as impressive, as illustrated below. There are some encouraging signs in the TJ Stats summary from Chourio's outing today. He flooded the strike zone with a 56.7% zone rate. He also limited hard contact with a .274 xwOBACON. Those are two mature tools that aren't typical for teenage pitchers. On the other hand, he only had a 15.4% chase rate and 9.1% whiff rate. He located more of his pitches down in the zone, especially his four-seamer. Additionally, the four-seamer, despite averaging 97.1 MPH, had only a 95 TJ Stuff+ with an 11.5 iVB. Those aren't exactly great metrics, especially for a prospect of Chourio's caliber. Granted, Chourio produced results, which is what one wants to see in a showcase like this. However, for those fans thinking that Chourio is knocking on the door of the Royals' rotation soon, they may need to cool their jets. Chourio still has a bit of work to do with the shape of his pitches, especially his four-seamer. Blake Mitchell, C Despite the Jensen hype, Mitchell is proving this spring that Royals fans and prospect experts shouldn't sleep on Mitchell's outlook for 2026. The 2023 first-round pick had a nice day on Friday at the plate. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a three-run home run, which he launched in the top of the fifth off Rangers lefty Josh Trentadue. That kind of easy power, especially against a lefty and to the opposite field, is why the Royals drafted him eighth overall out of high school in 2023. In fact, his power has been a nice development this spring for the Royals in limited Spring Training action. In 11 plate appearances, he has a double and a home run and is posting an OPS of 1.031 and an ISO of .444. He still isn't hitting for a high average (.222), and he continues to show issues with contact and whiffs. That said, the exit velocity and hard-hit numbers have been off the charts for Mitchell this year in limited action. Mitchell knows what he is as a hitter, and he has done a good job this spring of not chasing (97th percentile O_Swing%) while generating walks and maintaining a powerful stroke. Will that approach hold in Double-A (his projected starting level), or will he get exposed? Royals fans will find out in 2026, but right now, it's looking more like the former. Blake Wolters, RHP Wolters didn't have a great performance in the Spring Breakout. In 1.1 IP, he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks and didn't strike out anyone. It was the typical Wolters performance: some intriguing stuff, but not many consistent results. Still, I was intrigued by his outing because one of his pitches really stood out on a TJ Stuff+ scale, as illustrated below. Yep, I'm sure you saw it too. That cutter. Wolters threw his cutter 14 times, good for a usage rate of 43.8%, his second-most thrown offering of the day. However, while he threw his four-seamer more (46.9% usage), his four-seamer only had a 93 TJ Stuff+ compared to the cutter's 110 TJ Stuff+. In terms of results, the cutter had a 33.3% whiff rate and .040 xwOBACON. That's much better than the zero percent whiff and .510 xwOBACON from his four-seamer. In terms of his other offerings, he didn't throw much else. He threw his sinker only twice and his changeup once. His changeup had a decent 99 TJ Stuff+ and 54 grade, but it was only thrown once, so not much could be taken away from that offering today. Wolters is definitely still a project who may be a reliever long-term unless something dramatic happens. He's a two-pitch pitcher, and he doesn't have much of a third offering, something critics have pointed out in the past. That said, Wolters is still 21, not Rule 5 eligible until December of 2027, and will be joining a loaded rotation in Quad Cities that will include Lamkin, Chourio, and Shields. I think Wolters could be in a situation where he could tap into his profile better, with the cutter being the pitch he builds around. Yandel Ricardo, 2B Ricardo was all the rage as a Royals prospect early in 2025, especially after he came out on fire in the Arizona Complex League. In 145 plate appearances, the Cuban-born teenager hit .342 with a 151 wRC+. He also had two home runs, scored 26 runs, collected 21 RBI, and stole 17 bases in 33 games. He also posted a 0.51 BB/K ratio, showing a mature approach for a hitter so young in the Complex League. As expected, the Royals promoted Ricardo to Low-A Columbia, and it was a more humbling experience. In 200 plate appearances with the Fireflies, he hit .212 with a 61 wRC+. He stole 14 bases and scored 24 runs in 50 games. However, he showed no power, with zero home runs and a .064 ISO. His plate discipline also waned a bit, as he only had a 0.32 BB/K ratio in Low-A ball. As a result, Ricardo went from a possible Top-10 or even Top-5 prospect midseason to No. 11 in our rankings. That said, Ricardo showed in the Spring Breakout that he may be bouncing back in 2026, likely in a repeat of Low-A ball. On Friday, the 19-year-old infielder went 1-for-1 with two walks and a double. He showed strong play in the field and had a mature approach at the plate. If that wasn't enough, he has also shown solid metrics in Spring Training, albeit in an extremely limited sample (three plate appearances). What can we tell from his TJ Stats Summary? Ricardo doesn't chase; he's selective with his swings, and he has power potential for a 180-pound teenager. Once he gains more experience and strength, he could be a monster, especially with his raw tools and athleticism. Royals fans shouldn't be surprised if he takes a step forward in Low-A ball and looks more like his Complex League version from 2025. View the full article

The story of Francisco Lindor in Queens has been one of high stakes and even higher production. Since arriving in 2021, he has evolved from a player meeting skeptical boos into the heartbeat of the Mets' roster. Over the last three seasons, he has turned into a statistical Swiss Army knife, slashing .265/.342/.479 with 95 home runs and 91 stolen bases. When you pair the resulting 129 wRC+ with his trademark Gold Glove-caliber defense, you aren't just looking at a good shortstop; you are looking at one of the premier anchors in the sport. He is a rare breed of consistency, missing just 15 games over those three years. Usually, predicting a 32-year-old superstar in his prime is a straightforward exercise. However, Lindor’s 2026 outlook hit a snag on February 11 when he underwent surgery for a hamate bone stress reaction in his left hand. It is a race against the clock to make the Opening Day lineup, and while he is already playing spring training games, the real question is how hard he can swing it. Hamate injuries are notorious for being the ultimate power thieves, often sapping a hitter’s ability to drive the ball long after they have been cleared to play. Even as he checks boxes in mid-March, the ghost of this injury tends to haunt the box scores for months. Mets Can Learn From Francisco Alvarez's Injury To understand the potential frustration ahead, we only need to look at the other side of the plate for the Mets; Francisco Alvarez dealt with a similar ordeal in 2025. While Alvarez suffered a clean break and Lindor a stress reaction, both required surgical intervention. Alvarez went under the knife in March and was back in the lineup by late April, even hitting a home run in his second game back. But that early blast was a bit of a mirage. The young catcher soon hit a wall, looking like a shell of himself as he struggled to a .236 average and a meager .333 slugging percentage over 35 games. The lack of pop eventually forced the team to send him to the minors in June just to find his rhythm again without the bright lights of New York magnifying every weak fly ball. It wasn't until July 21 that he earned his way back to the MLB roster. From that point until the end of the season, Alvarez hit a stellar .276/.360/.561 with a 157 wRC+ in 139 plate appearances. He was so good that he managed to be an above-average hitter over the course of the entire season, per his 124 wRC+. However, those early weeks were a stark reminder of how a hand injury can turn a powerhouse into a contact hitter. Think of a hamate recovery like trying to drive a car with a misaligned steering wheel. You can get from point A to point B, but you can’t really open it up on the highway without feeling the vibration. Lindor might be back on the field quickly, but his grip strength—the literal engine of his power—requires time and patience to recalibrate fully. The Mets’ shortstop is a fast healer and famously durable, but biology has its own schedule. History suggests that while these injuries aren't career-enders, they demand a mental toughness to handle the "gap year" in power numbers. Fans should temper their expectations for those first 150 plate appearances or so. If Lindor starts the season with too many singles and just a few extra-base hits, don't spend too much energy fretting over a supposed decline. Let the strength return naturally, and the star who has defined this era of Mets baseball will eventually find his stride again. View the full article

With the Royals looking to return to being competitive in the AL Central, we wanted to take a look around at the other teams in the division and what moves they made this offseason. This is a look at what to expect from the Chicago White Sox this season. The White Sox finished last in the division with a 60-102 record, marking their second straight season with over 100 losses after setting an MLB record with 121 in 2024. Here is a look at some notable additions and subtractions for the White Sox this offseason. White Sox Subtractions OF Luis Robert Jr. SP Martin Perez RP Tyler Alexander OF Michael A. Taylor RP Miguel Castro OF Mike Tauchman White Sox Additions INF Munetaka Murakami, 2 years, $34 million RP Seranthony Dominguez, 2 years, $20 million SP Anthony Kay, 2 years, $12 million, mutual option for 2028 SP/RP Jordan Hicks (trade w/Red Sox) OF Austin Hays 1 year, $6 million, mutual option for 2027 2B Luisangel Acuna (trade with Mets) SP/RP Sean Newcomb 1 year, $4.5 million OF Jarred Kelenic (minor league deal) P Erick Fedde, 1 year, $1.5 million Chicago made headlines this offseason with several notable changes. The addition of infielder Munetaka Murakami, signed from the NPB in Japan, is expected to bring significant power to the lineup despite a tendency for strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez was signed as the new closer to help improve a bullpen that has struggled for the last couple of years. Just as notable as their signings, the White Sox made a major move by trading former All-Star and Silver Slugger OF Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets. In return, they acquired infielder Luisangel Acuna—brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.—along with pitching prospect Truman Pauley. The White Sox also acquired veteran pitcher Jordan Hicks in a trade with the Red Sox. Hicks is expected to either join the starting rotation or be used as a high-leverage relief pitcher, depending on team needs. Although the additions seem to outweigh the subtractions for the South Siders, the overall impact will depend on how the team manages the new direction and whether young players can take a step toward being more consistently competitive. Here is a look at a few injuries and the players who should have the biggest impact on the White Sox's success in 2026. White Sox Injuries LHP Ky Bush, Tommy John surgery RHP Drew Thorpe, Tommy John surgery 1B Tim Elko - Torn ACL - expected return June/July RHP Prelander Berroa - Recovering from Tommy John surgery in March 2025 Losing two pitchers to Tommy John surgery—Ky Bush, a top thirty prospect, and Drew Thorpe—depletes pitching depth. Tim Elko and Prelander Berroa have gotten a cup of coffee, but they will be out to start the year, which will limit options in the lineup and out of the bullpen. Key White Sox Players SS Colson Montgomery - 3.3 bWAR SP Adrian Houser - 3.0 bWAR RP Mike Vasil - 2.9 bWAR SP Shane Smith - 2.3bWAR C Kyle Teel - 1.9 bWAR 3B Miguel Vargas - 1.9 bWAR Other players include starting pitcher Davis Martin, infielder Chase Meidroth, outfielder Andrew Benintendi, and utility player Lenyn Sosa (2B/OF). Notably, SS Colson Montgomery finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting and led the team in bWAR in 2026. Starting pitchers Adrian Houser and Shane Smith will anchor the rotation, with Smith displaying front-line potential thus far in his career. Catcher Kyle Teel and third baseman Miguel Vargas are also young players aiming to build on strong 2025 campaigns and step into more prominent roles at their respective positions. With a team looking to return and become more competitive, there will be opportunities for several young players. Young players can help speed up a rebuild and quickly return a team to competitiveness if they are called up and succeed. The White Sox system boasts five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 100, led by OF Braden Montgomery, whose advanced approach and athleticism make him a potential everyday outfielder. LHP Noah Schultz, a power lefty, is expected to contribute to the major league rotation as early as 2026. LHP Hagen Smith projects as high-upside rotation depth. Both SS Billy Carlson and SS/3B Caleb Bonemer show promise but may need more seasoning in the minors before contending for roster spots. Spring White Sox Storylines (and beyond) Early in the year, attention will rest on how the team's catcher and designated hitter roles take shape. With three catchers—Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee—vying for playing time both behind the plate and at DH, and potential contributions from Murakami, Andrew Benintendi, and Lenyn Sosa in the DH role, this competition will be something worth keeping an eye on. Like many teams, the White Sox will hope their young players take a step forward and provide the next core to build around when they return to contention. Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith will headline the position players and pitchers as young players with high upside. Munetaka Murakami signing with the White Sox was a bit of a surprise, and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to MLB. Transitioning leagues can present challenges, and the evaluation will focus on both his adjustment to Major League pitching and how opponents approach him. Murakami brings considerable potential, especially in the power department. With all of the additions shaping the roster for this year and into the future, here is a look at the projected lineup, rotation, and expected record for the White Sox in 2026. Projected White Sox Lineup Chase Meidroth - 2B Kyle Teel - C Colson Montgomery - SS Munetaka Murakami - 1B Miguel Vargas - 3B Austin Hays - RF Andrew Benintendi - LF Edgar Quero - DH Brooks Baldwin - CF Projected White Sox Rotation Shane Smith - RHP Davis Martin - RHP Anthony Kay - LHP Erick Fedde - RHP Sean Burke - RHP Projected White Sox Record PECOTA: 5th place, 69-93 FanGraphs: 5th place, 69-93 While the projections may temper White Sox fans' expectations, the roster features intriguing talent and some interesting storylines to keep an eye on this year. Both PECOTA and Fangraphs see improvement over last year, making it worth watching whether the team can surpass forecasts and build momentum throughout 2026 and beyond. While not projected as favorites, the White Sox are positioned to offer stronger competition in the AL Central this season than in recent seasons. Progress this year could spark renewed division rivalries and signify important steps toward contending for the division crown in the near future for the South Siders. View the full article

On Thursday, Mick Abel took the mound for the Twins and — as has often been the case this spring — he put on a show. Averaging 96.2 MPH with his four-seamer and 88.1 with his slider, Abel piled up six strikeouts in 4 ⅔ innings, with Red Sox hitters whiffing on 11 of 42 swings. One day later, it became all but official that Abel will head north with the big-league club, with Zebby Matthews being optioned to Triple-A. A month ago, I wrote that Pablo López's season-ending injury at the start of camp swung the door wide open for Abel to step up and seize a spot on the Opening Day rotation. He went and did just that, with his Grapefruit League numbers reflecting dominant form in five starts: 18 IP, 4 ER (2.00 ERA), 1 HR, 23 K, 3 BB. That last number is perhaps the most important. Control has been Abel's main sticking point as he looks to get over the hump and establish himself in the majors. He walked seven in 14 innings with the Twins last year, and has averaged 5.1 BB/9 in Triple-A. This spring, the right-hander has done an excellent job of staying in the zone; up until he issued a pair of free passes in the fourth inning on Thursday, he'd walked only one hitter through 16 frames. Acquired alongside catching prospect Eduardo Tait (who showed well in the Spring Breakout game earlier on Thursday) in exchange for Jhoan Duran at the 2026 deadline, Abel is one of the biggest reasons for excitement around Minnesota's future rotation outlook. The 24-year-old has been widely viewed as a top pitching prospect in the game, and his high-powered arsenal grades out beautifully according to pitch profiling models. Matthews entered camp with an ostensible leg up on Abel due to his more extensive MLB experience, but at no point has he quite looked like the best version of himself. His stuff is down and he's been hit hard, with seven earned runs allowed on 12 hits in 11 innings. He also issued four walks, straying from his signature strength. Coming off a 2025 season where he struggled and missed time with a shoulder injury, it'd be nice to see Matthews dialing up his peak velocity and missing bats again, but that hasn't really been the case in March. He'll head to Triple-A where he figures to be the top rotation reinforcement waiting in the wings. As Twins fans are all too aware, it usually doesn't take long for a need to emerge in the starting rotation. We could easily see Matthews back up before the end of April. But either way, Abel should have some runway to find his footing in the majors and I'm here for it. The 6-foot-5 righty finished his up-and-down 2025 season on a brilliant note with six shutout innings against the Phillies. He'll now have a chance to pick up where he left off right out of the gates. Abel's talent is such that we could be looking at him as Minnesota's No. 1 starter by year's end, but with a 6.23 ERA through 39 MLB innings thus far, he's got plenty to prove in (hopefully) his first full season in the bigs. How are you feeling about the Twins' rotation? Is Abel over Matthews the right choice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. View the full article

Jays Centre is counting down the top 50 Blue Jays in franchise history. Check out prior entries in the series here: Introduction 50 to 46 45 to 41 40 to 36 35 to 31 No. 30: Álex Ríos 2004-2009 2x All-Star Álex Ríos was selected by Toronto in the first round (19th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft. He would make his debut at the end of May 2004 and stick with the team for five and a half seasons. Before we started working on our lists for this project, I had already penciled a handful of names in: most of the guys still to come on our countdown, and a lot of the ones already covered (plus a few personal favourites that fell outside of the aggregated top 50). I didn’t initially have Ríos on my list. Maybe it was unfair expectations set on Ríos to begin his career that have tainted my recollection, but I just didn’t remember him being as good as he was. He entered that ‘04 season as the No. 1 prospect in the organization and No. 6 in all of baseball (future Hall of Famer Joe Mauer was No. 1). Bobby Crosby would win the Rookie of the Year award that season, but Ríos received the second-most votes amongst position players. He is a two-time All-Star, but almost cruelly didn’t make it off of the bench in the 2006 game and only came in as a ninth-inning defensive substitution in 2007 (though he finished second in the ‘07 Home Run Derby, behind Vladimir Guerrero Sr.). The Jays teams he was a part of never made the playoffs, and at their peak, finished 10 games back of the division (‘06). It’s not Ríos’ fault that he was here for some of the lean years. On top of being a great defender, in ‘07, he led the team in runs (114) and stolen bases (17) and was behind only Frank Thomas for homers (24) and RBI (85). In ‘08, he led the team in runs (91), SB (32) and RBI (79). Those match his two best seasons by Baseball Reference’s WAR with a 5.6 and 5.9, respectively, which rank as the 24th and 28th best seasons for position players in Jays history. It wasn’t all sunshine and daisies, however. Ríos is also the only Blue Jay in history to strike out five times in a (nine-inning) game on more than one occasion. The second time he ‘accomplished’ that feat came in 2009 during a particularly cold streak that was highlighted by an off-field encounter with a fan after a charity event. That it came the year after he signed the second-most lucrative contract in franchise history, making it all the more unpalatable. Ríos would arguably get the last laugh; as a member of the Kansas City Royals in his final season, he would have a hand in eliminating the Jays from the 2015 playoffs, going on to become a World Series champion (though his negative WPA through those playoffs suggests he may not have been the catalyst). Whether you look back at Ríos’ time with the Jays fondly, or with a twinge of disappointment (or worse), you can’t argue that he didn’t command a spot on our list. No. 29: Fred McGriff 1986-1990 Hall of Famer, Silver Slugger, Crime Dog Fred McGriff was selected by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the 1981 draft. He was traded in a package to the Jays the following year, when I was just a few months old, and would make his debut in May of 1986. I had McGriff at No. 16 on my list and was worried that I might’ve been ranking with nostalgia-tainted eyes. Not to say that some of my colleagues don’t suffer from the same bias, but I wasn’t even the highest on McGriff, so I feel justified in my opinion. Fred McGriff was the first Blue Jays player I ever loved. I was young, so a player with a nickname based on an animated crime-fighting dog was right in my wheelhouse. The fact that he could effortlessly crush upper-deck home runs from the left side of the plate was a bonus. His 36 home runs in 1989 were the most of any Toronto player in the '80s not named Barfield or Bell. It was also enough to lead the league that season and helped propel McGriff and the Jays to the only playoff appearance of his tenure and McGriff’s first Silver Slugger Award (he would win one in Toronto and two more elsewhere). McGriff wouldn’t get another shot at the playoffs with Toronto; after missing out in 1990, he was traded in the offseason, in what is still the biggest trade in franchise history. The four-player deal included two future Hall of Famers, two (and at one time three) members of the Level of Excellence, and four guys that were easy fan-favourites while they played here. As a young fan, I absolutely hated the trade, though by the end of the ‘93 playoffs, I had softened on it slightly. Those early '90s Jays teams were powerhouses, and I’d like to think they still win the back-to-backs with McGriff here, but as things worked out, he would only have to wait a couple of extra years before winning a World Series of his own with the Atlanta Braves. Somewhat poetically, McGriff's Hall of Fame bid would go the same way: he fell off the ballot initially, only to be enshrined later by the Contemporary Era Committee in 2023. McGriff is one of a small handful of Hall of Famers whose plaque does not have an identifying team. You could make an argument for him wearing a Jays cap, but either way, his journey started as one of Toronto’s best. He’s 13th all-time for home runs (125) and 12th for walks. That combination of power and eye has McGriff sitting third all-time for both on-base and slugging percentages, and he has the highest mark of any Toronto player for adjusted OPS+ at 153. No. 28: Kelly Gruber 1984-1992 2x All-Star, Gold Glover, Silver Slugger Kelly Gruber is an interesting case. He played nine seasons in Toronto, amassed over 3,000 at-bats (19 more than Bo Bichette and good for 21st all-time), and was the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle – but when I hear his name, there are only two moments that come to mind. The first is being the guy left holding the ball at the end of the ‘triple play that wasn’t (but really was)’ in Game 3 of the 1992 World Series. The way Gruber ended that play really exemplified his style as a player. It wasn’t nearly as flashy as Devon Whyte’s start to the play (I’m sure we’ll cover him shortly), but it was gritty – a single pump fake and a sprint towards the runner followed by an all-out head-first dive to tag Deion Sanders (Gruber would later reveal that he tore his rotator cuff in the dive, making his bottom of the inning home run all the more heroic). The other play came in the very next game. With Gruber standing on second base and Whyte at the plate, a hit into left field gave Gruber the opportunity to score. The throw was cut off, so there was never a play at the plate, but Gruber, who would rank higher on an ‘all intensity’ list, again went all-out and head-first in a leaping dive towards home plate that would make Vladdy proud. The dive was less than textbook (partly because of that damaged rotator cuff) and resulted in a bloody chin (and probably a concussion) for Gruber, but it was also the winning run for the Jays. And we made it this far without mentioning the mullet! All-time great flow. As one of the longest-tenured Jays, Gruber's name is also littered across the career counting stats leaderboards. He’s 23rd all-time for hits (800), 22nd in runs scored (421), 20th for total bases (1335), 19th for home runs (114), 16th for RBI (434) and 14th for stolen bases (80). Somewhat like Ríos, Gruber’s time in Toronto also ended with some negative feelings after a lucrative extension. In 1991, Gruber signed a three-year, $11 million deal that made him the highest-paid third baseman in the league. In that run to the ‘92 World Series, there was a stretch of the regular season that Gruber spent on the IL with a knee injury. There were also reports that during his time away from the team, he was spotted water skiing and playing tennis near his Muskoka cottage (reports that Gruber denies). Whether there was any truth to those rumours, or if it was just a matter of the accumulated injuries, Toronto cut ties with Gruber after that first championship, sending him to the California Angels in the off-season. Gruber would only play 18 games with the Angels before calling it a career (Luis Sojo, who he was traded for, would only play 19 games with Toronto). We’ve lamented the fact before that there isn’t a standout lifelong Jay. Gruber could have been one. No. 27: Russell Martin 2015-2019 All-Star The 21st Canadian-born player to suit up for Toronto was the most impactful. Russell Martin was born in Toronto, but it wasn’t until he was almost a decade into his illustrious career that he was able to connect with the Jays and join the team in 2015 after signing as a free agent. He would represent the Blue Jays at the All-Star game in his first season with the club and be a large factor in one of the most memorable innings in team history. Everyone remembers Jose Bautista’s bat flip, but it was Martin behind the plate in the top of the inning who had his throw back to the pitcher freak-ricochet and allow an absolute dirtbag to score and tie the game. Martin has commented publicly that he was thankful to be leading off the bottom of the inning, allowing him to atone for the error. Facing starter Cole Hamels, who was approaching 100 pitches, Martin hit one back up the middle in what could have been a groundout, but in the first of soon to be several errors by the Texas infield, Martin beat out the (lack of a) throw. His hustle on the next grounder helped force another error and allowed him to be subbed out for a pinch-runner. That gave him a front row seat to watch the Bat Flip – a moment Martin has tipped as his favourite in a Jays uniform. Martin ranks third all-time amongst Jays catchers for fWAR (11.1) and is second all-time for win probability added, lending to the argument that he was the most clutch Canadian this franchise has seen. No. 26: Paul Molitor 1993-1995 Hall of Famer, World Series MVP, 2x All-Star, Silver Slugger Over a 12-game stretch in the fall of 1993, Paul Molitor racked up 21 hits (four doubles, three triples, three home runs), 17 runs, 13 RBI, a 244 wRC+ and a stolen base. With the exception of the stolen base, all those other stats were the best on the team and propelled the Jays to the second of their back-to-back World Series wins and earned Molitor the second WS MVP in franchise history. Molitor signed as a free agent for that ‘93 season, replacing Dave Winfield as the team’s designated hitter – and hit he did. Molitor led the entire league with 211 hits (he would lead the league three times in his career, once with each team he played for) and finished the season with the fourth best bWAR on the team. The righty batter was with Toronto for three seasons and “only” 1,615 at bats, so he lags behind slightly in some of the career counting stats, but his .315 BA over those three seasons is the best the Jays have ever seen. Those 211 hits in ‘93 are the third-best the team has ever seen in a single season. The 121 runs he scored that same year are tied for the fifth best mark. Molitor would move on ahead of the 1996 season, vacating the DH spot for a player we’ll be covering a little higher up the list, but his impact was felt in the time he was here. It’s hard to look at the playoff run in ‘93 and find a way for the Jays to prevail without him. View the full article

On Friday afternoon, a couple of new stories broke that seemed to clarify what the Kansas City Royals' pitching staff will look like on Opening Day in Atlanta, which is one week from Friday. The Royals have seven days until their 2026 opener and 10 days until their home opener at Kauffman Stadium. Thus, the news with pitching is expected, especially as Kansas City tries to juggle the rotation and pitching matchups for these final spring contests. Kansas City Options Avila and Cruz to Omaha Shortly before the Royals' Spring Training contest against the San Francisco Giants, the Royals announced the optioning of pitchers Luinder Avila and Steven Cruz to Triple-A Omaha. The move brings the Royals' Major League Spring Training roster to 47. The Royals' decision to option both pitchers isn't totally surprising. Both pitchers have Minor League options and didn't have clear roles going into Spring Training. The Royals still view Avila as a potential starter, and he didn't get a ton of work as expected this spring due to his participation with Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Still, his numbers were pretty stellar when he did pitch in Spring Training. In six innings of work, he had a 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 1.82 FIP with 30.4% K% and 21.7% K-BB%. He also had solid TJ Stuff+ metrics, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary below. In addition to having a 101 TJ Stuff+ this spring, he had a 33.9% chase rate and 35.3% whiff rate. His .443 xwOBACON was a bit high, and his 43.3% zone rate was the lone blemish on his performance this spring. In a piece posted by Rogers shortly after the Royals announced the moves, the Royals plan to have Avila stretched out so he can seamlessly rotate between the rotation and the bullpen. Furthermore, manager Matt Quatraro emphasized the need for Avila to throw more innings, and that would be easier to do in Omaha than in Kansas City. As for Cruz, it seemed like he was the victim of an option "crunch" in the bullpen, especially with Alex Lange and Bailey Falter being out of options, according to Quatraro. In seven innings of work, Cruz posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 1.72 FIP. He also had a 27.6% K% and 20.7% K-BB% and generated some excellent TJ Stuff+ metrics, as seen below. Cruz sported some of the best stuff on the Royals' pitching staff this spring with a 104 overall TJ Stuff+, which included a four-seamer with a 105 TJ Stuff+ and a slider with a 108 TJ Stuff+. The 26-year-old didn't generate the most chase (26.1%), but he flooded the zone well (51.1%), generated whiff (27.1%), and limited hard contact (.226 xwOABCON). If Carlos Estevez isn't ready for Opening Day (and he may not be, especially with his velocity so down), Cruz could be an option to fill in the bullpen if the Royals elect to begin Estevez on the 15-Day IL to begin the 2026 season. First Turn of Royals' Rotation is Set Earlier in the afternoon, before the Spring Breakout game between the Royals and Rangers top prospects, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reported that the Royals had set their first "turn" of the rotation. That included the Opening Day series in Atlanta and the one against Minnesota in Kansas City. The rotation is not a surprise, especially since this was the expected projected group before Spring Training began. After Ryan Bergert was optioned to Omaha, it seemed like a done deal that Noah Cameron would have the last spot in the Royals' rotation. There was some concern from fans about having three lefties in a row go in the Twins series (Kris Bubic, Cameron, and Cole Ragans). However, Quartraro seemed to downplay those notions and was more concerned about having their best pitchers go, regardless of matchup or order. The Royals' rotation had the seventh-best ERA in baseball in 2025. With a healthy Ragans and Bubic returning, and depth with Bergert, Falter, and Stephen Kolek (who will start the year on the IL), they certainly will have a chance to perform better than last year's mark, even with the changed ballpark dimensions. View the full article

WEST PALM BEACH — Connor Norby joked after Friday’s game that he felt “like a wild horse that they let run free.” It was the 25-year-old’s first game in the outfield as a Miami Marlin, an experiment the team is trying out in order to keep Norby’s bat in the lineup. Norby, a full-time third baseman since arriving in Miami in 2024, has been lackluster in that spot. In each of his last two seasons, he recorded five outs below average at the hot corner, according to Baseball Savant. On Friday against the Houston Astros, he caught all three fly balls hit to him, including one off Jose Altuve on the first at-bat of the game. “You kind of just let your athleticism take over a little bit, and it also helps when you have (center fielder Jakob Marsee) covering your back too,” Norby said. 66rp4p.mp4 It’s that increased freedom of movement that has seemingly injected some life into an already-enthusiastic Norby. “I've had maybe two or three days out there, and I've loved every day so far,” Norby said. “I treat it like recess, almost.” Norby, who was traded from the Baltimore Orioles at the 2024 trade deadline, last played the outfield in 2024 while with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. He played 77 games between left and right field in 2023 and 2024. Norby's primary position used to be second base, and he had never played third until he joined the Marlins organization. He has also played two games at first base this spring. Despite the struggles at third base and the willingness to play the outfield, Norby maintains he feels most comfortable at third. “I feel great at third,” Norby said. “I feel like my feet are really good right now…I feel like last year, I made really good strides in learning the position and getting better with it. And that's the goal, is to be better there. We have a really good defensive team, especially a defensive infield, and I gotta do my part as well.” Notes -Kyle Stowers left the game in the fourth inning with right hamstring tightness. He missed games earlier in spring with a Grade 1 strain of that same hamstring. -Eury Pérez allowed two runs and four hits in five innings against a Houston Astros lineup that featured most of their starters. -Dillon Lewis hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning. View the full article

With the Milwaukee Brewers optioning Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville, the following outfielders are left: Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Brandon Lockridge. Perkins and Lockridge were essentially fighting for that final spot; this video breaks down what Lockridge did to separate himself and how much wiggle room he has at the position with Perkins waiting in the wings. View the full article

As the Twins close in on the end of spring camp, it seems a few more of the veterans brought in on minor league deals won’t find their way onto the team. First reported by Dan Hayes of The Athletic, left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin and former Twin infielder Gio Urshela were released from their contracts after learning they would not make the team. This follows on the release of Liam Hendricks this morning. March 20th is the final day for some minor league invites to make the team as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement for players with six years of service time. The Twins can either add the player to the 40 man or release into free agency. Though they have 48 hours to decide, it seems that Jeremy Zoll and the rest of the front office have other ideas and are ready to move on them. Though the bullpen options for the Twins still seem murky, releasing Chafin makes sense for a team with three other left-handed options in Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, and Kody Funderburk. Chafin struggled to reach even the high 80s on his fastball while in camp. While the top-line stats looked okay, Chafin’s spring appearances included a 35% hard hit rate, which one would only expect to rise through the season. Veteran presence is always welcomed, but there seemed little reason to have a third, much less a fourth, lefty in the pen. Urshela’s appearance in camp may have made sense a year or two ago, but his lack of defensive prowess as he enters his age 34 season left little space in the infield. While the Twins likely did not need to look at any offensive numbers, Urshela managed five hits in 26 plate appearances and only one for more than a single. With Royce Lewis’s improved role at third base, a defensive back up seemed less necessary than the other options who could also play shortstop—which still includes Ryan Kreidler and Orlanda Arcia, both of whom remain in camp as of publication time. We'll always remember the walk up song. View the full article

With only seven days and four Grapefruit League games to go until Miami Marlins baseball begins its 34th regular season, it’s time for one final Opening Day roster prediction. There have been a few notable changes since Kevin Barral's mid-spring projection. These are the 26 men who I expect to break camp with the big league club on March 27. Position Players Starting nine: Agustín Ramírez (C), Christopher Morel (1B), Xavier Edwards (2B), Connor Norby (3B), Otto Lopez (SS), Kyle Stowers (LF), Jakob Marsee (CF), Owen Caissie (RF), Heriberto Hernández (DH) Bench: Esteury Ruiz (OF), Javier Sanoja (UTIL), Liam Hicks (C/1B), Graham Pauley (INF) Stowers (hamstring) and Pauley (forearm) are both expected to be fully recovered and ready for Opening Day, manager Clayton McCullough said. Nevertheless, with left-hander Kyle Freeland starting the season opener for the Colorado Rockies, I expect Connor Norby to be in the lineup and manning third base. As of late, Norby has been swinging a hot bat, going the other way frequently and raising his spring batting average to .316 (he has yet to draw a walk, however). After positive showings for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Otto Lopez and Owen Caissie returned to big league camp with confidence. Lopez will be the everyday shortstop, while Caissie is expected to see most of his reps against right-handed pitching. Despite Ruiz’s dreadful spring at the plate, it still feels like he has an inside track to break camp. He offers a right-handed bat in a mostly left-handed-hitting outfield. Additionally, he’s the only other player on the projected roster who can play center field. Sanoja could handle it in a pinch, but the Marlins prefer him in the infield. The four Marlins who I consider to be true everyday players are Edwards, Ramírez, Lopez and Marsee. Just missed: Griffin Conine In a vacuum, it's hard to deny that Conine is more deserving of a big league job than Ruiz. Unfortunately for him, his skill set may be redundant on the Marlins to begin the season, as Stowers and Caissie are expected to lock down the two corner outfield spots. Pitchers Starting Rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Chris Paddack, Max Meyer, Janson Junk Bullpen: Pete Fairbanks, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar, Anthony Bender, John King, Cade Gibson, Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips The first four spots in the rotation are essentially locked up. The fifth spot was a battle between Junk and Garrett. Even before the Marlins made it official, I foresaw the job ultimately going to Junk. The right-hander is out of minor league options, which worked in his favor. The six bullpen “locks” I identify are Fairbanks, Faucher, Gibson, Bender, King, and Phillips. Bachar suffers from inconsistent control. However, he’s missing plenty of bats and provided some pivotal outs for Miami last season. Petersen, who opted to forego the World Baseball Classic to focus on making the team, has also had a strong spring (3.52 ERA in 7 ⅔ innings). Just missed: Andrew Nardi, Braxton Garrett As McCullough explained on Friday, Garrett has "worked his butt off to get back. He's put in a lot of time to get himself healthy, was throwing the ball well this spring and just felt like to start the year that we had a five that I wanted to go with." Nardi has looked sharp in his return to competitive games after missing the entire 2026 season. Still, I expect Miami to ease him back in by starting him either in extended spring training or with Triple-A Jacksonville. View the full article

JUPITER, FL - On Friday, the Miami Marlins announced that left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett has been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. Janson Junk will round out the Marlins rotation as the fifth starter. "I will say that it was a very difficult, and in some ways it's a good thing that it was so difficult," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough told the media. "It means that a high number of our potential starters that came into this camp, outside of Adam (Mazur), have stayed healthy, and they've performed well. We like where a lot of our guys are at. (Braxton) has worked his butt off to get back. He's put in a lot of time to get himself healthy, was throwing the ball well this spring and just felt like to start the year that we had a five that I wanted to go with." Garrett, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, made two Grapefruit League starts. After a shaky first one, surrendering two runs on one hit and walking two, he bounced back against Team Israel where in three shutout innings of work, he struck out two. The Marlins never saw Garrett in the bullpen, so it'll allow him to continue building up as a starting pitcher. One caveat is that in Triple-A, it is typically a six-man rotation, so that is something "that will be discussed," per McCullough. "There will also be a number of individuals there that we see as potential bulk options that might not be starting who also need to stay stretched out," McCullough said. "I actually look at this as a good problem to have." Garrett has one minor league option remaining, which will be used up if he spends at least 20 days in the minors this season. It'll be an all right-handed rotation to begin the season with Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Max Meyer, Chris Paddack and Janson Junk. Meyer will throw in a sim-game on Tuesday to begin his final build-up and both Paddack and Junk will pitch in Miami before Opening Day on Friday. "Janson (Junk) deserves a chance to be in our rotation to start the season," McCullough said. "Max Meyer as well. I think this move today adds some clarity as to where we're at with starting the year with Sandy, Eury, Max, Paddack and Janson in the rotation. As much that we think Janson can start, if we get to a point where performance or things dictate that we pivot, then we will. That's how I've kind of seen this spring play out." It's a split-squad day for the Marlins on Friday, with Paddack starting in Jupiter (7:10 p.m. first pitch) and Pérez starting in West Palm Beach (6:05 p.m.). View the full article

On Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers hosted a New Food, Beverage, and Hospitality event, providing updates on how the organization plans to enhance the game day experience at American Family Field. The primary focus of the event was the vending experience, in particular, with Vice President of Consumer Experience Tom Hecht announcing new food items and collaborations with local establishments. The organization is expanding its 3rd St. Market Hall Annex and Food Truck Park, promptly titled “The Alley.” The 3rd St. Market Hall is inspired by the downtown Milwaukee food hall of the same name. The 3rd St. Market Hall is one of the nicest parts of downtown Milwaukee, and the Brewers are hoping to replicate those vibes at American Family Field. One of the headlining new restaurants joining the 3rd St. Market Hall Annex is Bebe Zito, a Minneapolis-based ice cream and burger joint that opened its first Milwaukee location less than a year ago. Bebe Zito owner Ben Spangler is excited to expand his business to American Family Field and Milwaukee, saying, “Milwaukee is like all the great parts of Minnesota crammed into one beautiful city.” The company’s menu options include four ice cream flavors (Breakfast Club, Blackberry Butter Birthday Cake, Dat Malt Dough, Strawberry Fields 4 Ever), a variety of dirty sodas, burgers, honey butter chicken tenders, and pistachio chocolate strawberry cups (the honey butter chicken tenders and pistachio chocolate strawberry cups were incredible! I highly recommend them). Another local venue making its American Family Field debut this season is K&L’s BBQ. Their primary menu items are their Brisket Sandwich, Brisket Loaded Waffle Fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich, K&L Smoked Brisket Burger, Brisket Mac, and Pulled Pork Elote. K&L BBQ’s standout dish was their Brisket Mac. It was my favorite item there and genuinely one of the best things I have eaten this year. I will definitely be buying it the next time I visit American Family Field. The other headlining new vending option was “Fair Foods,” a fair-food-themed stand constructed in collaboration with Delaware North Executive Chef Alex Beronja. The headlining Fair Food menu items are Corn Dogs, Cream Puffs, Fried Kringle, and a Nacho on a Stick. I strongly recommend trying the Nacho on a Stick and Fried Kringle. The organization also provided us with Diet Coke, which was very nice of them. Against my best interests, I love diet soda. I drank two of them. Regardless, American Family Field has one of the most expansive and creative vending experiences in MLB, with the 3rd St. Market Hall and Food Truck Park among the more recent, revolutionary in-stadium developments. Milwaukee begins its 2026 campaign against former Brewers pitching prospect Shane Smith and the Chicago White Sox on Mar. 26. Make sure to try the new venue options at American Family Field and let Brewer Fanatic know what you think! View the full article

A week away from Miami Marlins Opening Day, the roster battles are finally getting settled. AJ Ramos, Kevin Barral and Ely Sussman react to the news of Janson Junk earning a starting rotation spot at the expense of Braxton Garrett, who's been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. They also discuss the importance of the Jupiter Academy's recent renovations and AJ's memories of making his first career Opening Day roster in 2013. 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. Garrett, 28, has one minor league option remaining, while the 30-year-old Junk is out of options. Junk is scheduled to make his final Grapefruit League start on Saturday afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals. View the full article

Minnesota’s most notable right-handed bullpen addition of the offseason is no longer in camp. The Twins have granted Liam Hendriks his release, allowing the veteran to pursue an opportunity elsewhere just days before the regular season begins. Hendriks’ contract always made this a possibility. He carried multiple opt-out dates, including one a week before Opening Day, another on May 1, and a final date on June 1. Once triggered, the Twins had a 48-hour window to either add him to the 40-man roster or release him back into free agency. Minnesota ultimately chose the latter, ending what had been a quietly intriguing spring storyline. On the surface, that decision feels a bit surprising. Hendriks showed legitimate progress throughout camp. He allowed just two earned runs across six innings while striking out four and walking three. More importantly, his velocity ticked upward as the spring progressed. After sitting in the low 90s early, he began reaching the mid-90s in his most recent outings, a sign that his arm strength was trending in the right direction. There was a path for Hendriks to matter here. At times, it even felt like more than that. Given the uncertainty surrounding the bullpen, there had been speculation that he could factor into late-inning situations or even work his way into the closer conversation if everything clicked. Instead, the Twins will move forward without him, and the relief picture becomes significantly more complicated. For now, Taylor Rogers appears to be the default option to handle the ninth inning. That alone speaks to the current construction of this group. Rogers is joined by fellow left-handers Kody Funderburk, Anthony Banda, and non-roster invitee Andrew Chafin, giving Minnesota an unusually left-heavy mix of bullpen candidates. The right-handed side offers far less certainty. Cole Sands is positioned to handle the bulk of the late-inning work to open the season, while Justin Topa and Eric Orze project more naturally into middle-inning roles. There are depth options like Travis Adams *(currently hurt) or Zak Kent who could factor into multi-inning spots, but those are hardly proven solutions for a team whose ownership has insisted will be competitive this year. That is what makes this decision linger a bit. Hendriks may not be the dominant force he once was, and there is a fair argument that his best days are behind him. Still, this is a bullpen lacking established right-handed options and defined roles. Passing on a veteran who was showing signs of life in March is a gamble, especially when the alternatives come with just as many questions. Stepping back, the Twins bullpen looks less like a finished product and more like a collection of maybes. There is an imbalance in handedness, limited late-inning experience, and no clear hierarchy beyond Rogers by default. Teams rarely carry four left-handed relievers, let alone a group without elite track records, and yet that is the direction Minnesota appears to be heading. Perhaps the Twins have another move in the works. The week before Opening Day can bring trades of players on the fringes of the roster. There is also a chance that a right-handed reliever will be placed on waivers, and the Twins could claim him for nothing. Still, the Hendriks decision seems short-sighted. Hendriks might be older and past his peak, but he also represented something this bullpen currently lacks: a potential answer. Instead, the Twins will head into the season with a relief corps that feels unsettled, unproven, and, at least for now, a bit of a mess. What are your thoughts on the Twins releasing Hendriks? Can this bullpen be successful as currently constructed? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins made a notable decision as camp winds down, reassigning Zebby Matthews to minor league camp and effectively handing the final rotation spot to Mick Abel. Coming into spring, Matthews looked like the logical favorite. He had more experience at the big league level and appeared poised to build on that foundation. Instead, the right-hander ran into trouble. Over 11 innings, he allowed seven earned runs while striking out nine and walking four. The results were not disastrous, but they were not convincing enough to lock down a job. Abel, on the other hand, forced the organization’s hand. Despite having fewer than 40 innings of major league experience, Abel delivered one of the most electric performances in camp. Across 13 1/3 innings, he gave up just two earned runs while racking up 17 strikeouts against a single walk. It was dominance paired with control, the exact combination teams want to see when evaluating young arms. That showing also served as a reminder of why Minnesota targeted him in last summer’s deal involving Jhoan Duran. The raw stuff has always been there, but this spring offered a glimpse of a pitcher beginning to harness it. With Abel now in place, the Twins’ Opening Day rotation appears set. Joe Ryan will take the ball first, followed by Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, and Abel, rounding things out. Of course, spring decisions rarely tell the full story of a season. Matthews may be heading to Triple-A, but it would be surprising if he stayed there long. Pitching depth is tested early and often, and Minnesota already has questions to monitor. Ober’s velocity has been one of the biggest storylines of camp. The right-hander failed to crack 90 miles per hour in his most recent outing, raising concerns that are difficult to ignore. While the Twins will give him the opportunity to start, it is fair to wonder how sustainable success can be with diminished velocity and no clear explanation. That uncertainty only reinforces a simple truth across the league. Teams do not just need five starters. They need eight or ten. Matthews figures to be at the front of that next wave, and he will not be alone. Arms like Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, and Kendry Rojas are waiting in the wings at Triple-A. Each brings upside, and each could find themselves taking meaningful innings as the season unfolds. The Twins made their choice for Opening Day, but the reality is that this rotation is far from finished. It is simply the first version of what will be an evolving group all summer long. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins will hand the ball to Joe Ryan when the regular season begins on March 26 in Baltimore, the club announced Friday. It is a decision that felt inevitable at times this spring, yet briefly seemed uncertain as Ryan worked through an early health scare and an unexpected detour involving Team USA. Ryan’s spring did not begin smoothly. While warming up for his first Grapefruit League start, he experienced lower back tightness that forced Minnesota to pull him before taking the mound. The cautious move not only delayed his buildup but also altered his trajectory for the World Baseball Classic, where he had been in the mix for Team USA consideration. An MRI revealed no structural damage, offering immediate relief for both Ryan and the organization. Still, the timing proved costly. Ryan remained hopeful he could rejoin Team USA later in the tournament and was prepared to do just that. He had his car packed and was ready to drive to Miami in anticipation of pitching in the semifinal or championship round. Ultimately, Team USA informed him that he would not be used, a decision that caught Ryan off guard. He later expressed surprise at the call, while also emphasizing his appreciation for the Twins’ support throughout the process. In a twist that now benefits Minnesota, Ryan’s absence from the international stage allowed the club to keep his schedule intact. That alignment made him the clear choice for Opening Day, especially in light of the circumstances surrounding the rest of the rotation. Ryan is no stranger to the assignment. He previously started Opening Day in 2022 against the Seattle Mariners, allowing two runs across four innings. A first-inning home run by Mitch Haniger proved to be the difference in a narrow 2-1 loss. The outing was brief, but it provided Ryan with an early taste of the spotlight that comes with setting the tone for a season. This time around, he enters with a much stronger résumé. Ryan is coming off his first All-Star campaign, posting a 13-10 record with a 3.42 ERA. He struck out 194 hitters while issuing just 39 walks across a career-high 30 starts, cementing his place as one of the most reliable arms in the American League. The path to this year’s Opening Day assignment became even clearer when Pablo López was ruled out for the season following Tommy John surgery. With the staff ace sidelined, Ryan quickly emerged as the logical choice to lead the rotation. The only lingering question was his health, and that concern has largely been put to rest. After a brief 17-day pause, Ryan has looked increasingly sharp in recent outings. His latest start showed noticeable improvement, with his fastball velocity ticking upward and his command returning. He recorded six strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates after failing to register a punchout in his spring debut, a clear sign that his rhythm is coming back at the right time. What once looked like a disrupted spring has come full circle. Ryan enters the season healthy, aligned, and positioned at the front of Minnesota’s rotation. For a team navigating early adversity, that stability could prove invaluable as the Twins open their season on the road. View the full article