DiamondCentric

With spring training in full swing and the World Baseball Classic underway, it is time to check in on some more of Jays Centre's top 20 Toronto Blue Jays prospects. We covered No. 16-20 last week, and today, we will be looking at the next group of five. There are a lot of new prospects in this section, so let's get to know something about each of them. 15. SS Josh Kasevich (FCL, Dunedin, Buffalo) table.stats { border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; } table.stats th, table.stats td { border: 1px solid #333; padding: 8px 12px; } table.stats th { font-weight: bold; background-color: #f2f2f2; } PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ K% BB% 160 31 2 0 0 0.574 70 15% 13.10% Josh Kasevich was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 during the second round of the MLB draft. He is now a 6-foot-1, 200-pound, 25-year-old shortstop who is one call from the major leagues. Since being drafted, he has shown an ability to thrive as a defense-first prospect, but one who can produce the necessary numbers as a hitter as well. In his first three seasons following being drafted, he would routinely hit near .300 and not strike out a lot. His strikeout rates ranged from 7.4% at Single A to 14.5% at Triple A. In 2024, his slash line at Triple-A was .325/.382/.433, with a 120 wRC+. 2025 was a lost year for Kasevich, as he only managed to play in 42 minor league games, 13 of them on rehab assignments between Rookie ball and Single A. In his 29 Triple-A games, he would slash .173/.272/.184, for a 34 wRC+. It was a year to forget for him, but the good in all of this is that he appears to be healthy and having a good spring training. Gearing up for a potential rebound year in 2026, he is hitting .333 over 13 spring training games (as of March 12). 2026 should see Kasevich start back out at Triple-A Buffalo, where he will need to show he is healthy and back to having a plus hit tool. When everything is going well for him, he is an Ernie Clement clone, who will provide plus defense and do enough with the bat to stick in the lineup if needed. He won't show much power, but a bat that will limit the strikeouts is right in the Blue Jays’ wheelhouse nowadays. 14. OF Blaine Bullard (N/A) Blaine Bullard is a 19-year-old, five-tool outfielder who the Toronto Blue Jays took in the 12th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, 352nd overall. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, he has room for projection left on his frame and is likely somewhere in between Jake Cook and Tim Piasentin in terms of a hitting profile. He doesn't have Cook's speed, but he should be above average. Also, he doesn't have Piasentin's power, but should develop at least a league-average to above-average ability to launch baseballs over the fence. Currently, he has more gap-to-gap doubles power, which should improve as he ages and fills out his frame. 2026 should see him start with the FCL Blue Jays and move up to Single-A Dunedin at some point. 13. OF Jake Cook (N/A) Jake Cook was a late bloomer in college and eventually switched from pitching to hitting in his senior year at Southern Mississippi. He would be drafted in the second round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, 81st overall. His last year at Southern Mississippi, he ended up hitting .350/.436/.468, launched only three home runs, swiped three bases, but had a 10.9% walk rate and a 6.7% strikeout rate. Cook didn't play in any games after being drafted, so 2026 will be his debut year in the minor leagues. He will be a project hitter, but he does a lot of things well to give him a solid floor to his profile. He gets on base, and he doesn't strike out much, for example. He has an advanced hit tool for his level of experience and could make big leaps once the season begins. His calling card is definitely his speed, as he may be one of the fastest players in the minor leagues from day one. He, too, will likely begin with the FCL Blue Jays and move on up to Single-A Dunedin at some point. How he develops as a base stealer and whether or not he adds power will shape how fast he moves through the minor leagues and where his profile's ultimate outcome will land. 12. 3B Tim Piasentin (N/A) Tim Piasentin was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays with the seventh pick in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft. After going 143rd overall, he would sign for $747,500. He is a Canadian kid and is well on his way to being a breakout prospect hitter in 2026. At 18 years old, Piasentin is already 200 pounds and boasts one of the top power potential profiles among 2025 MLB draftees. He has quick hands and a fast, smooth swing, which is geared toward lifting the ball and doing damage. The question mark will be his hit tool, but he is already showing high exit velocities and should be able to make enough contact to let his power shine through. 2026 could be a big year for him as he starts to make his name known, likely beginning with the FCL Blue Jays and eventually at Single-A Dunedin. 11. SP Silvano Hechavarria (FCL, Dunedin, Vancouver) table.stats { border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; } table.stats th, table.stats td { border: 1px solid #333; padding: 8px 12px; } table.stats th { font-weight: bold; background-color: #f2f2f2; } IP G GS ERA FIP xFIP K% BB% 86.2 19 14 2.28 3.55 3.69 23.70% 6.60% Silvano Hechavarria was a late signing out of Cuba in June of 2024. Even though he was older, he still made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) later that year. He would get into 10 games and pitch 49 innings on the season, showing a very good strike-throwing ability against the younger competition. He ended the season with a sparkling 1.84 ERA, to go with a 29.4% strikeout rate, and only an 8.4% walk rate. In 2025, he would get the bump stateside and begin in Rookie ball, although his stint there was short (just 17 innings). Hechavarria showed an even better ability to limit walks, this time only allowing free passes in just 5.9% of plate appearances. That advanced command saw him quickly get pushed up to Single-A Dunedin, where he would spend the majority of the season. Over 47.1 innings pitched, he would dominate Single-A hitters to the tune of a 1.90 ERA, a 28.5% strikeout rate, and a 5.9% walk rate again. His FIP was even a solid 3.17. Ultimately, he would get the jump up to his third level of the season, moving to High-A Vancouver. In just four games and 22.1 innings, his strikeout numbers dipped to a 20.7% rate, but he again didn't walk many batters (8.7%). Hechavarria is a big-bodied pitcher, standing 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds. He primarily used a cutter and four-seam fastball in 2025, with a sinker, changeup, and slider getting occasional use. He gets a good amount of induced vertical break on his fastball (17.8 inches at Single A), but will need to keep improving the pitch shape and hopefully gain some needed velocity. He is a sneaky pick to be a breakout prospect for the Blue Jays in 2026 and could get to start the year at Double A. He has quickly settled into the minor leagues, and if his swing-and-miss ability catches up to becoming actual strikeouts, he could take that next leap soon. He had a 15.61% swinging strike rate last year, which was good enough for the 93rd percentile in the minor leagues. If he could improve his strikeout rate to around 30%, he would be a big bet to have a breakout season and possibly finish at Triple A. View the full article

Following just one start in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello decided to return to camp in Fort Myers and will not pitch anymore. "We only need three more starters, and he needs to throw, so we sent him back to camp with the Red Sox," said Dominican Republic manager Nelson Cruz. "We know that he needs to be ready for his season, and on Sunday, he will rejoin the team." His lone start of the WBC came against Israel, where in five innings of work, he allowed one run on one hit (home run), didn't walk anyone, and struck out seven. He will be making another start with the Red Sox on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. Through two spring training starts, Bello has surrendered nine runs on eight hits (one home run), walked two, and struck out three. Along with his start on Saturday, Bello likely makes one more start for the Red Sox before the start of the season. Although he will rejoin the team, the likelihood that he will throw again in the World Baseball Classic is unlikely, given the amount of pitches he will need to throw in his start, and it may just not give him enough time to recover for a potential appearance on Tuesday in the championship game if the Dominican Republic were to make it. “It will depend on that number [of pitches with Boston] and the days of rest before his next appearance, according to the rules of the Classic,” Cruz said. If the Dominican Republic advances to the semifinals, the expectation is that Luis Severino will start that game, which would be against the United States or Canada, who face off on Friday. Sandy Alcantara would be lined up for that championship game if they make it that far. Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric. View the full article

Representatives for four groups still in the running to purchase the San Diego Padres visited the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., this week. According to a report by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday, the new target for completing a sale by the Seidler family is by the end of April. Acee reported the sale price is now expected to be at least $2.5 billion with the potential to go over $3 billion. The current record for the purchase of an MLB team is $2.42 billion by Steve Cohen for the New York Mets in 2020. Five groups had submitted initial bids by late February. None of the four finalists has been publicly named. Previously, the reported contenders included Jose E. Feliciano, whose ClearLake Capital is based in Santa Monica and holds ownership stake in the soccer team Chelsea of the English Premier League; San DIego-born Dan Friedkin, CEO of The Friedkin Group that owns auto dealerships and hotels, while he also has ownership shares of soccer teams Everton in the EPL and Roma in Serie A; and Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. Another entity, Vuori founder Joe Kudla and former San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees, were thought to be another group trying to buy the Padres, but that was later clarified to state that those two would be helping another group in their bid for the Friars. Kudla is a graduate of the University of San Diego, and Vuori is headquartered in Carlsbad. Brees has been seen over the years as a fan at Petco Park. The Seidler family announced in mid-November that it would put the Padres up for sale. This came after Peter Seider died in November 2024. Following the resolution of legal issues between Seidler's brothers and his widow, the bid process officially began. According to the Union-Tribune, the family owns less than 50% of the team, including a 24% stake that is held by Peter Seidler's trust. Peter Seidler's widow, Sheel Seidler, and their three children are the beneficiaries of the trust. The remaining portion of ownership is between 10 and 12 other entities that are minority owners. Peter Seidler and Ron Fowler led a group that bought the Padres in 2012 for $800 million. View the full article

You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, GleemanAndTheGeek.com, click this link or you can listen to it or watch it below. For even more Twins talk all season long, join Patreon.com/Gleeman and get 20% off an annual membership with the code TWINS2026 through first pitch of Opening Day. View the full article

One of the most exciting teenage bats in the minor leagues, Eduardo Tait offers intriguing power and a rocket for an arm behind the dish. Just how high is his ceiling, and what does he need to iron out in 2026? View the full article

How severe is Quinn Priester's injury? We have more information, as Pat Murphy has come out with relative optimism, considering Priester's nerve pain has led to surgery in other instances. The right-handed pitcher won't throw another bullpen until March 21st, effectively taking him out for Opening Day. Who is left in the Opening Day starter sweepstakes? We go over that today! View the full article

On Thursday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Jose Berríos has been diagnosed with inflammation in his pitching elbow (per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson). Fortunately, no one seems overly concerned, and Berríos will not be shut down from baseball activities. "I've been feeling great and throwing the ball well," Berríos told reporters (including Sportsnet's David Singh). "But the MRI says something, so now we have to take care of that." Indeed, both player and manager seem surprised by the results of the MRI. After all, just a few weeks ago, Berríos spoke about how healthy he was feeling: "Last year, at this time, I had doubt in my mind already. Today, I felt like nothing's on my mind. I'm clear." Schneider was clear to note that it was "different inflammation" than anything Berríos dealt with last season. Whether that's good news or bad news is hard to say. "We're kind of still in the information gathering stage," Schneider explained (per Singh). View the full article

The clock continues to tick on Spring training as Major League Baseball’s open day sits two weeks away. The players are in their routines, teams are making decisions, and it’s just about time for the games to start counting. While statistics in the spring don’t mean a lot, it is still nice to see players finding their groove as the season fast approaches. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Jonathan India Having India be a key piece in the Royals’ lineup could help push this team back to playoff baseball. Through 17 at-bats, India has posted an average of .294, with one home run and three RBI’s. The former Rookie of the Year’s offensive production has really heated up as of late, going 5-for-11 over his last five games. The utility player has also posted four walks and zero strikeouts, showcasing an ability to put the ball in play. Last season, India underwhelmed, batting .233, with nine home runs and 45 RBI’s after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds. Signed to a one-year, $8 million contract to avoid arbitration in the offseason, India looks for better results in year two with the Royals. Mason Black Acquired in November in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, Black has impressed in Royals camp so far. In six appearances, the right-hander has yet to allow a run, throwing eight shutout innings, recording eight strikeouts and three walks. Black has pitched in 10 games across two seasons with the Giants, posting a record of 1-5, a 6.47 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.64. The 28-year-old has worked in the rotation and out of the bullpen, giving the Royals an option for length or spot starts should injuries arise. Helcris Olivárez The 25-year-old has looked good in spring training, making six appearances, totalling a record of 2-0, an ERA of 1.50, and a WHIP of 1.17. Olivárez’s last three outings have all been scoreless, striking out four batters over the three innings. Invited to Royals’ camp as a non-roster invitee, Olivárez is looking to make his MLB debut after spring training stops in Colorado, Boston, and San Francisco. Olivárez has absolutely put his name on the map with this stellar spring. Who’s Not? 🧊 Brandon Drury Drury was signed to a minor league contract in February, but has slumped through large parts of the spring. Through 22 at-bats, Drury has batted .182, totalling only four singles and two RBI’s. The 33-year-old has struck out eight times, failing to make consistent contact. After spending all of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, split between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels organizations, Drury appears poised to return there in 2026. In 53 AAA games last year, Drury batted .214, with three home runs and 17 RBI’s. Kyle Isbel One of the Royals’ outfielders vying for playing time in 2026, Isbel has slumped through the majority of the spring. In 21 at-bats, Isbel has batted .143, with no home runs and only two RBI’s. All three hits this spring have been singles for the 29-year-old. Last season, Isbel appeared in 135 games, batting .255 with four home runs and 33 RBI’s, while also chipping in four stolen bases. With the additions of Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins, and Starling Marte, the Royals’ outfield picture is getting crowded, and Isbel’s struggles are not helping his case. John Rave Rave, like Isbel, is a struggling outfielder in a crowded Royals outfield picture. Through 26 spring training at-bats, Rave has batted .154, with only one RBI. With an OBP of .241, Rave appears destined to begin the season in Omaha. Last season, Rave made his big league debut, appearing in 72 games with the Royals, batting .196, with four home runs, 14 RBIs, and recording seven stolen bases. A left-handed bat, Rave figures to see playing time if a few of the other lefties go down throughout the season. View the full article

Brett Bateman just missed our ranking of the Cubs' top 20 prospects this spring, but his performance in the Cactus League might already be proving us wrong. How close might he be to helping the parent club? Painting the Picture Bateman has already proven to be a steal. Since being drafted out of the University of Minnesota, the 2023 eighth-round pick has ascended into the Cubs’ top 30 prospects list, and he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Bateman currently has 233 minor-league contests under his belt across four different levels. His most recent stop was with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies, where he spent his last 28 games of 2024 and all of 2025. 2025 After wrapping up his 2024 campaign two steps from the big leagues, the rangy outfielder spent all of last season there. Don’t mistake his longer tenure for a flat trajectory, though. He hit .261 with a pair of long balls, 33 runs batted in and 19 stolen bags in 94 contests. He struck out 82 times against 61 walks, showing a keen eye and above-average bat-to-ball skills. Strength: Speed Even when he was viewed as a low-grade prospect in college, no one doubted Bateman's burners. The former Golden Gopher has a 70 speed grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. Without that, he probably wouldn't even have merited a look in pro ball. The speed translates far beyond the base paths, too: Bateman is regarded as a plus defender in center field. However, he also hit .500 in 13 games in the Cape Cod League the summer before he was drafted, so there's some feel for hitting here—amplified by his wheels. With a good eye at the plate, Bateman ranked third in walk rate (15%) and sixth in on-base percentage (.376) among qualified Double-A hitters. Weakness: Lack of Slug As you might guess, Bateman's speed and contact skills were known strengths even when he was in school. He fell to the eighth round because those skills have to compensate for a galling absence of power. In 233 professional games, Bateman has only hit three home runs. That makes a player nearly unplayable, unless they do everything else well. Bateman’s game is mainly about beating the ball into the ground and racing the baseball to first base. It’s the same blueprint major-league talent Chandler Simpson uses, but Simpson is a pretty limited player, and his speed is a grade better than Bateman's. His lack of any power has kept a pretty low ceiling on him throughout his time in the Cubs organization. He's hit five of his 14 batted balls this spring over 100 MPH (including three at 104+), but only one of them was hit at a positive launch angle. That has to change, if he's to have any meaningful offensive impact in the majors. When Will He Debut? With plenty of experience at Double-A already, Bateman could spend this entire season at Triple-A. It'll be his age-24 season, so there's no reason why he can't come up to the big-league team late in the season, if injuries open the door to it. He has to be added to the 40-man roster this November or be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, so if he has a good season, the Cubs could want to get an early look at him against top-level pitchers. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are nearing the end of their contracts, and fellow top prospect Kevin Alcántara has struggled with an above-average strikeout rate. Could Bateman take his cup of coffee at the end of this year? Don’t rule it out. There's still a chance he never plays in the majors at all, but if he stays healthy and can find a way to produce a bit more thump, he could carve out a solid career as a fourth outfielder—beginning as soon as this summer. View the full article

On Tuesday, Joe Ryan made his spring debut, tossing three innings against the Rays, and on paper it was a successful start: no runs allowed on just a pair of hits. A deeper look shows that his stuff in the outing was middling, as reflected by zero strikeouts and just three swings-and-misses (all with the splitter) on 48 pitches. Was it the most encouraging day for a guy who didn't pitch in the first half of camp due to an injury scare, after posting a 4.67 ERA in the second half last year? No, but it's also not that worrisome. Ryan was shaking off the rust, like any other pitcher in his first spring exposure to live competition. Given his lack of a typical build-up, it was good to see him reach nearly 50 pitches. Ryan is apparently feeling good enough to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and potentially pitch in the championship game next Tuesday. It would be cool to see Ryan take the mound in such a high-stakes, high-profile spring setting. I've been enjoying the hell out of watching Byron Buxton take part in the WBC. But I also must admit the Twins fan in me feels a little uneasy about Ryan's unorthodox ramp-up this spring, in which he's coming off a lackluster 2025 finish and his back has already barked at him. I'm sure he's been building up on the side, but what we've seen officially from Ryan this spring is one three-inning appearance, with his stuff playing down. Now he's going to travel and possibly take the mound in a high-intensity environment where he'll surely be going full-bore. Ryan is a vital asset for the Twins, whether as the rotation leader on a surprisingly relevant team, or a trade chip leveraged to bolster the rebuild. Having him participate in the WBC feels to me like playing with fire. That said, it's a lot less concerning than what we've seen from Bailey Ober. Last year, Ober posted a career-worst 5.10 ERA while lamenting his physical impairment and out-of-whack mechanics. He spent the offseason trying to get fully healthy and iron things out. But as soon as he got to camp, Ober expressed frustration that his progress wasn't carrying over. The Twins held him out of games for some time before he finally made his first Grapefruit League start last Friday, finally showcasing under the lights and in front of the radar guns. Like Ryan, Ober posted good results in his spring debut, holding the Braves scoreless in two frames. But here the underlying signs were more troubling: he averaged under 90 MPH with his fastball, down even from last year's reduced benchmark. Ober started again yesterday, and the velocity was down even further, with his fastball averaging 88.8 MPH and only once clocking in the 90s. Ober insists that he's feeling much better than last year, so that's a plus. Spring training velocities can sometimes be overblown, but in Ober's case the fixation is understandable, especially given that he has a history of doing the opposite: showing up in camp with extra ticks of velo, prompting us to dream on what the 6-foot-9 right-hander would be capable of with a peristent mid-90s heater. The idea of Ober trying to get by while topping out in the upper-80s is more of a nightmare befitting his nickname. That's not to say he can't stay afloat with reduced velocity — as Matthew Trueblood wrote yesterday, the key might lie in fully harnessing his changeup — but his margin is thin, and the likelihood of returning to a rotation-fronting level is low. The Twins have seen positive signs this spring from some of their younger starting pitchers like Mick Abel, Taj Bradley and Kendry Rojas. That bodes well for the future of the rotation. But Minnesota's core veteran trio, upon which any plausible notion of short-term competitiveness was propped, is off to a very rocky start. Pablo López suffered a season-ending injury on the first official day of camp. Ryan and Ober sat out the first half and haven't looked like themselves in early action. Now, Ryan is off to the WBC to continue his unconventional build-up, while Ober remains in Fort Myers to try and overcome his velo woes. There's still time for both veteran starters to instill some sense of confidence before the start of the season — a dominant outing from Ryan on the big stage and an uptick for Ober in his next couple outings would go a long way — but the clock is ticking. Less than two weeks to go until the opening series in Baltimore, where Ryan and Ober will theoretically be slated to pitch the first two games. View the full article

Padres Mission's countdown of the top 20 San Diego Padres prospects, as voted on by our staff writers, continues with deeper profiles on the top 10 entering the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the ranking here: No. 7: Humberto Cruz No. 8: Ty Harvey No. 9: Ryan Wideman No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 6: Jagger Haynes (San Antonio Missions) Coming out of a small North Carolina high school in the abbreviated 2020 draft, the Padres selected left-handed starter Jagger Haynes with their final pick, taking him in the fifth round. Due to trades, Haynes is the lone member of that class still with the Friars. Haynes comes from the same remote area of North Carolina where the Padres found MacKenzie Gore. Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff W L W-L% ERA RA9 G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W 2023 20 -1.9 Lake Elsinore CALL A SDP 0 3 .000 3.91 4.62 11 11 0 0 0 0 25.1 22 13 11 2 12 0 29 1 2 1 109 1.342 7.8 0.7 4.3 10.3 2.42 2024 21 -2.1 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 2 6 .250 4.64 4.80 23 22 1 0 0 0 110.2 90 59 57 11 66 0 114 6 0 7 475 1.410 7.3 0.9 5.4 9.3 1.73 2025 22 -2.5 San Antonio TL AA SDP 3 4 .429 4.11 4.81 26 25 0 0 0 0 103.0 83 55 47 12 62 0 101 7 2 13 443 1.408 7.3 1.0 5.4 8.8 1.63 All Levels (3 Seasons) 5 13 .278 4.33 4.78 60 58 1 0 0 0 239.0 195 127 115 25 140 0 244 14 4 21 1027 1.402 7.3 0.9 5.3 9.2 1.74 Now 23, Haynes' pro career got off to a slow start after he had Tommy John surgery, so his debut didn't come until the start of the 2023 season at Low-A Lake Elsinore. That season was slowed by blister and shoulder issues, but he did put up a 3.91 ERA in 11 starts, although he only logged 25 1/3 innings. But he came back strong in 2024. At High-A Fort Wayne, Haynes was healthy enough to appear in 23 games, all but one a start. While the numbers left a little to be desired (4.64 ERA, 1.41 WHIP), the fact he was able to go 110⅔ innings was definitely a positive. He walked 5.4 per nine innings and struck out 9.3. Haynes followed that up with a better 2025 at Double-A San Antonio. In 26 appearances (25 starts), Haynes had a 4.11 ERA and 1.408 WHIP, walking 5.4 per nine innings and striking out 8.8 in 103 innings. The velocity was back for Haynes in 2025, but he still only sat at 91-94 with his four-seam fastball after the pitch was listed at 94 mph coming out of high school. He also throws a sinker, a changeup, and a slider, the latter appearing to be a very effective pitch. The sinker is a pitch that he has developed since turning pro. Walks are definitely an issue, something that he will need to improve upon to make his way to the majors. His career hits per nine (7.3) is solid, but with his softer stuff, limiting hard contact would also increase his chances. Haynes should be moved up to Triple-A El Paso this season, even though he might face a better quality of competition by returning to San Antonio. That is just the natural progression, especially in the aggressive-promotion Padres system, that makes sense. Not that this would necessarily be an aggressive promotion — Haynes is facing a big season relative to service time. He was left unprotected this offseason for the Rule 5 Draft. Even a decent year would force the Friars' hand to put him on the 40-man roster next offseason, leading to the hope that he'll potentially make his MLB debut in 2027. If his numbers don't show progress as a starter, the Padres may experiment with how the stuff plays in a relief role. View the full article

While the decision isn't much of a surprise, we now know more about the injury sidelining Milwaukee Brewers right-handed starter Quinn Priester. The 25-year-old will begin the season on the injured list due to right wrist discomfort, manager Pat Murphy said Thursday. Murphy gave more detail on the ailment, saying it is "in that (thoracic outlet syndrome) family." Priester has not pitched in a game this spring, and beginning the season on the IL had been assumed before Murphy confirmed that move Thursday. Priester first reported discomfort in his right wrist in August. The Brewers are hoping Priester can avoid surgery, with the symptoms being addressed by treatment. Priester threw lightly off a mound Thursday, with a more rigorous session slated for March 21, which is just before the March 26 season opener. "Often, thoracic outlet requires surgery," Murphy said. "But in this case, we’re not there. We’re feeling like there’s a chance that he’s going to come through this.” Priester went 13-3 with a 4.01 FIP (3.32 ERA) in 2025 after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in April. That included a stretch in which the Brewers won 19 straight appearances by Priester, 16 of those starts. He set a club record with a 12-game winning streak. View the full article

A really deep San Diego Padres bullpen just got a wee bit thinner. Right-hander Bryan Hoeing, a candidate to make the Opening Day roster, will miss the entire 2026 season after deciding to have surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday. This comes after the 29-year-old was limited to just seven MLB appearances and 18 in the minors in 2025 due to elbow and shoulder issues. Hoeing was shut down about two weeks ago after experiencing elbow discomfort. He will be put on the injured list before Opening Day and moved to the 60-day IL when the Padres need space on the 40-man roster, which currently sits at 39. Right-handed starter Yu Darvish, who is negotiating a buyout of his contract after having an internal brace procedure on his right UCL, will also need to be put on the 60-day IL. Typical recovery for flexor tendon surgery is nine months, meaning Hoeing should be good to go next spring training. Acquired from the Miami Marlins at the 2024 trade deadline, Hoeing pitched in 18 games for the Friars that season, with a 3.38 FIP (1.52 ERA), with 5.8% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate in 20⅔ innings. Hoeing will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason. View the full article

Boasting one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues, Jaxon Wiggins turned in a really impressive 2025 season and is a few small improvements away from potentially helping the Cubs as soon as 2026. View the full article

Jamie and Jeremy offer up their predictions for the Twins' minor league hitter and pitcher of the year in 2026. The video discusses Khadim Diaw, Riley Quick, Jason Reitz, and Enrique Jimenez. View the full article

With the start of the regular season less than two weeks away, the composition of the Twins roster is still in flux. One thing is for certain, though: they have more than enough bat-first, defense-second, left-handed-hitting outfielders on hand. And one more might be on the way. Multiple media reports indicate the Twins are considering adding another lefty outfielder, preferably "on the slow side" and only playable against righty starters. Spurring this potential roster move? The journalists covering the team. "Pretty much since the last game of 2025, all the reporters and analysts were saying we had too many replacement-level lefty corner outfielders," said a source with knowledge of the front office's thinking. "Then we tendered [Trevor] Larnach and they got even more confused and upset. You have to wonder how they'd react if we brought in another guy. They'd [defecate in] their pants." "We obviously want to make the team competitive and play better baseball," said another team source close to the Pohlad ownership group. "But you can't deny the importance of a good bit." "Those two twerps from The Athletic"—writers Aaron Gleeman and Dan Hayes—"just did another roster projection and spent a good quarter of it talking about the corner outfielders again," said the front office source. "Here's a projection: How about we bring in another 6'3" goon who bats lefty and has to stop and catch his breath running out a grounder? Project that, nerds." The source close to the Pohlads says it's not just Gleeman and Hayes driving the approach. "They're all a little too comfortable getting their jabs in on the outfield situation," said the source. "All the Strib guys, Betsy [Helfand] at the St. Paul paper, [Matthew] Leach at MLB.com, they can't resist pointing it out. Hell, I bet [retired Star Tribune baseball writer] Phil Miller is even saying things." A spokesperson for Miller said he was in his "wonder cave" in rural Washington County with a cooler full of hazy IPAs and enough ayahuasca to see through time, and referred all comments to Miller's third eye. "All are welcome in the wonder cave," said the eye. "Surrender to the inner light; all will be revealed." Image license here. View the full article

Having already examined the top 16 prospects in the Chicago Cubs' system as voted on by our North Side Baseball writers, we now turn to a player that has appeared on the cusp for a couple of years now: Kevin Alcantara. Don't forget to catch up on our previous pieces before you jump into our next installment! Prospects #20-16 Prospects #15-11 Prospect #10 - James Triantos Prospect #9 - Josiah Hartshorn Prospect #8 - Kane Kepley Prospect #7 - Pedro Ramirez Prospect #6 - Ethan Conrad Prospect #5 - Jonathon Long #4 - Kevin Alcántara (Iowa Cubs, Triple-A) Acquired in the deal that sent Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, Alcántara's tools have remained as tantalizing as the prospect of him flashing said tools on the outfield grass at Wrigley. Loaded up on athleticism, it wouldn't be unreasonable to project him for an eventual 20-homer, 20-steal season at some point in the big leagues. As it is, Alcántara remains intriguing but heavily flawed. His .266/.349/.470 line in 2025 was a bit of a decrease across the board, though he did remain an above average hitter at a 110 wRC+. The concerning element was in the strikeout game, where his rate approached 30 percent (29.8) against an 11.2 percent walk rate. He did get an even dozen plate appearances at the top level, where he contributed four hits but where the punchouts followed him as well (33.3 percent). Ultimately, we don't know what the immediate or long-term outlook looks like for Alcántara as part of the Cubs organization. In the interim, though, we know where he looks the part and where he still needs to grow if he's to be a factor in either timeline. What To Like The athleticism highlights what we like about Alcántara. He's capable of driving the ball in those instances where he does make contact; while his average and on-base percentage each fell between 2024 and 2025, he did bump his isolated power from .177 to .203 between the two seasons in Iowa. A 10.9 percent barrel rate (88th percentile) and 46.4 percent hard-hit rate (81st percentile) are further indicative of the type of damage Alcántara can create when he puts the bat on the baseball. One imagines there's more than 17 homers (his current career-high mark) in the tank with more consistent contact. There's a baserunning component to Alcántara's game that drives the intrigue just that much more. FanGraphs has his speed graded a 60, indicating firmly above average. While he's only totaled 17 steals between two years (213 games) in Iowa, the possibility exists that there is more upside to be found there with a more sustained on-base presence. Alcántara also offers a steady glove and strong arm from any of the three outfield spots. Most of his work in Triple-A has come in center and right, with right field being a particularly intriguing position for him based on the arm. What To Work On This is where things get a bit dicey for Kevin Alcántara. It's not so much that he's an overaggressive swinger. Instead, there's a compounding of a long swing and some issues with pitch recognition that are pinning down his overall production. Alcántara's swing rate in Iowa last year was 44.2 percent. That's not out of the ordinary. Even a 29.2 percent chase rate might not be unreasonable for an organization that sends Pete Crow-Armstrong to the plate on an everyday basis. However, the contact rates themselves represent something much more concerning: Everything in Alcántara's percentile distribution is screaming about his approach. He's a bit too patient inside the zone, which exacerbates the problem when he chooses to chase. As a result, he doesn't make nearly enough contact to put his glistening tools to work. It's a visibly comprehensive issue. Alcántara's poor pitch recognition combines with a long swing that leaves him unable to compensate. He finds the walks and the hard contact, sure. But there's no sustainability in anything he's doing. It's difficult to suggest any kind of mechanical changes could be on the horizon given such positive outcomes when he does make contact. Anything that Alcántara needs to fix begins with mental work at the plate. The sooner he can start to dial in his eye, the sooner he becomes a viable piece at the major-league level. What's Next A combination of Alcántara's strikeout woes and a glut of right-handed bats on the current Cubs roster are likely to work in unison to send him back to Iowa to start 2026. Even if we were to strip him of the former, the outfield configuration doesn't leave much space for him to latch onto a spot. Ian Happ has left field on lock. Crow-Armstrong is the everyday guy in center. Seiya Suzuki figures to resume his old post in right field. Even if Suzuki were to factor into the designated hitter role on a consistent basis, it's likely the Cubs want Alcántara getting everyday work rather than sitting around as a reserve outfielder. Beyond 2026, however, it stands to reason that we'll see him holding down an outfield corner — Happ and Suzuki are each free agents to be. Considering the tools, if the Cubs get close to seeing what they want from Alcántara, he could very well get a crack at an everyday gig ahead of the 2027 campaign (assuming there is one). View the full article

When the first night game of the Cactus League happens, you know spring training is starting to wind down and Opening Day is right around the corner. That night game happened Thursday. While wins and losses aren't important in spring training, player performances are. 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 now 8-10 in Cactus League play, having lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 Monday, the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 Wednesday and the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 Thursday. Who's Hot? ? Gary Sánchez The backup catcher, getting more playing time with William Contreras still at the World Baseball Classic, started all three games and went 3-for-6 in the last two. That included his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot against the Reds. Sánchez also doubled against the Reds. He is now hitting .267 (8-for-30) in the Cactus League. Sánchez will be around to start when Contreras gets a day off behind the plate and could see some time at designated hitter. David Hamilton The infielder started twice at shortstop and went 2-for-5. Hamilton started slow this spring following the trade from the Boston Red Sox, going 2-for-12. But he has now hit safely in five of his last six games. He also swiped a pair of bases against the Dodgers, giving him a team-leading four this spring, all in the last six games. Defense will be most important for Hamilton, as he figures to be a late-inning replacement for Luis Rengifo at third base or pinch-hitting for shortstop Joey Ortiz. Jared Koenig After a disastrous first outing this spring, allowing four runs on three hits in one-third of an inning, the left-handed setup man has notched three consecutive scoreless appearances of one inning each. That has lowered his ERA from 108.00 after the first game to 10.80 after his inning against the Reds. He has allowed three hits over those last three outings, with no walks and three strikeouts. Most importantly, his average velocity was back up to 93.8 MPH Wednesday, after it sat closer to 92 in each of his first two appearances of the spring. Who's Not? ? Sal Frelick The spark plug right fielder is having a slow go of it thus far in Cactus League play. Frelick is 0-for-11 in his last three games and is just 4-for-28 (.143) on the spring campaign. Whatever the cause, he still has two weeks to shake it off and turn it around. And these are the games where players tend to lock in and continue the experiments that are working and eschew those that aren't. Certainly, Frelick is one of the first to tell you that spring results don't matter. Robert Gasser The left-hander only has another start or two to impress the Crew's decision-makers into including him in the Opening Day rotation. He certainly didn't do that in his start against the Reds, allowing four runs on five hits in 2⅔ innings. Gasser didn't walk anyone and struck out three. He came back at the end of the 2025 season following Tommy John surgery in 2024, but has allowed seven runs over 6⅓ innings in three Cactus League games. The Brewers can afford to send Gasser to Triple-A to build his confidence. Christian Yelich You tend not to worry too much about veteran hitters getting ready for the regular season. They know when to turn it on as Opening Day approaches. But after going 2-for-2 in his first game this spring, Yelich has gone hitless in his last nine at-bats to drop his average to .182, although he has drawn three walks in those four games. Yelich has struck out in each of his last five at-bats. View the full article

When the Kansas City Royals take a good, long look at the shortstop position, they've got a pretty good player in Bobby Witt Jr. holding that spot down. But there's a little depth at shortstop, too. Royals manager Matt Quatraro, obviously, must smile as he watches Witt dive for balls in the infield. Witt, though, also has proven to be a stellar bat in the Royals' lineup, too. In looking at the Royals' depth chart at shortstop, Witt is No. 1, followed by Maikel Garcia and Tyler Tolbert. Tolbert, though, is more of a utility player as he's also on the depth chart at second base, third base, and center field. Let's take a big-lens look, though, at what Witt brings to the table at shortstop. In the 2025 MLB season, Witt had a slash line of .295/.351/.852 with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases. According to Baseball Savant, Witt's exit velocity at the plate was 93,3 MPH, which placed him among the top 6% in the majors. When looking at Witt's batted ball profile, he pulled pitches 33.3% of the time, hit pitches straightaway at 37.5% of the time, and had a 29.2% opposite field percentage. As for Witt's defense, his fielding run value, which is Statcast's overall metric for capturing a player’s measurable defensive performance onto a run-based scale, converting various metrics like OAA, blocking, framing, etc., he had a run value of 20. Anyone who watches Witt play at shortstop knows that he has quite a range. He's able to go deep into the hole and make strong throws to first base. Witt was the Royals' first-round pick (No. 2 overall) in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft. Over and over again, Witt has proven that the Royals' faith in his abilities has paid off. Now, let's take a look at Garcia and what he brings to the table for Kansas City. In the 2025 MLB season, Garcia put together a slash line of .263/.319/.701 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. He's another speedy player that can give the Royals range at shortstop if Witt needs a day off. Garcia played in 160 games for the Royals last season, proving that he's quite adept as a utilityman for Quatraro. In Garcia's Baseball Savant profile, he's listed as a third baseman. So, according to the Royals' depth chart, it has him in the No. 2 slot at shortstop, too. This, again, shows that Garcia has the ability to provide a steady hand at any position he might play for the Royals. Garcia's spray chart indicates that he's able to hit the ball to all fields, but his power stroke is definitely to left and left-center field. Garcia had a fielding run value of 13 in the 2025 season. Garcia's arm strength, which measures how hard a fielder throws the ball in miles per hour, ranked at 88.7 MPH. So, whether it's at shortstop or even third base, Garcia can get the ball out of his glove and fire it quickly to get an out. Tolbert, who is listed as a second baseman in his MLB.com statistics profile, saw action in 64 games for Kansas City last season. He put together a slash line of .280/.380/.701 with one home run and six RBIs. Tolbert, who played his college ball at Alabama-Birmingham, was a 13-round draft pick by the Royals in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft. While Garcia and Tolbert might see some action at shortstop in the 2026 MLB season, don't be surprised if Witt is over there much of the time. All in all, it looks like the Royals have some depth at shortstop, which will serve them well this season. View the full article

Walker Jenkins has largely lived up to the billing since the Twins selected him fifth overall in 2023. Before his 21st birthday, he had climbed to Triple-A, a sure sign of a top prospect progressing at top speed. Jenkins's has not been a flawless ascent. He's missed chunks of time with lower-body and related injuries. Even with the missed time, though, his production says he's the real deal—and the eye test corroborates that assessment. For a 20-year-old to pair strong Double-A numbers with meaningful Triple-A exposure is rare and important. Jenkins has the frame, the bat path, and the instincts to make evaluators optimistic. He can run, he can play center field, and his approach at the plate is advanced enough to instill confidence, despite the lack of a robust track record. Walker Jenkins Age: 21 (DOB: 2/19/2005) 2025 Stats (AA/AAA): .286/.399/.451 (.850), 17 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 17 SB, 135 wRC+, 84 G ETA: 2026 2025 Ranking: 1 National Top 100 Rankings BA: 5 | MLB: 14 | ATH: 11 | BP: 19 | ESPN: 9 What To Like Jenkins checks almost every box you want from a premium position-player prospect. He pairs a smooth, repeatable left-handed swing with elite pitch recognition and selectivity. That combination produces lots of barrels, a steady walk rate (13.5 BB%), and far fewer strikeouts (20.5%) than you might expect from a player with his size at his age. Though it came in just 58 games, his .292/.407/.454 line in Double-A testifies to his ability to adjust and win the difficult battles within the strike zone. He's a fluid athlete in the outfield. At 6-foot-3, he looks like he was built to cover ground and make plays. Jenkins has primarily played center field in the minors, and his reads and routes have received positive reviews. He's not a straight-line burner, but his instincts and above-average footwork allow him to make the plays that matter. On the basis, he's shown good instincts and graded out as a plus baserunner, in however limited a sample. Speed should be a boon to his offensive value, rather than a limiting factor for it. What’s Left To Work On Power remains the most obvious question. Jenkins has hit plenty of doubles and triples, and he's hit the occasional tape-measure shot. Still, he's totaled 19 home runs in 192 professional games, and true over-the-fence power has been sparse. Part of that is mechanical. His bat head takes a little while to get on plane, which can cap exit velocities and lead more of his best contact to be hit on a line to the opposite field than is strictly optimal. There is room for more bat speed and strength gains as he matures. If those gains come, he could push into the 25-plus home run range. If they don't, his floor still reads as a very good contact-based run producer, but maybe not a perennial All-Star. Durability is the other major worry. Jenkins has missed significant time in nearly every pro season to date because of hamstring, quad, ankle, and other lower-body issues. He’s already missed time this spring with a hamstring injury. Those have not been one lingering malady, but a string of discrete setbacks. The good news is that he has repeatedly come back and produced at a high level. The bad news is that availability matters, and repeated trips to the injured list can slow development and erode a team’s willingness to rely on a young player in high-leverage situations. Finally, there is the matter of consistent hard contact, by big-league standards. Jenkins’s hard-hit rate and peak exit velocities sit around league average. He destroys mistakes, but pitchers have shown they can limit his damage with soft stuff away and spin that keeps him from turning on the ball. If he can continue to tweak his swing plane and get the bat head out quicker, those pitches will get punished more often. What’s Next Jenkins is likely to start 2026 in St. Paul, and he should have a long look there early in the season. The projection is simple. If he stays healthy, a midseason arrival to the big-league club is a real and reasonable expectation. Whether he arrives as a center fielder or moves to right field will be dictated as much by health and team need as by his sheer skill set. The upside is clear. Jenkins looks like an everyday major-league outfielder with the tools to be a middle-of-the-lineup contributor and the potential to be an All-Star if the power and health line up. Jenkins is the kind of prospect who makes you excited about the future of the organization. He blends feel and polish with a physical profile that still has room to grow. The rest of 2026 will go a long way toward telling us whether Jenkins becomes a very good major-leaguer or something closer to a star. For now, he sits at the top of the system, for good reason. Catch Up on the Rest of Twins Daily's Top 20 Prospects (Part 1) 20. James Ellwanger, RHP 19. Khadim Diaw, C/CF 18. C.J. Culpepper, RHP 17. Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS/CF 16. Hendry Mendez, OF (Part 2) 15. Marco Raya, RHP 14. Quentin Young, SS 13. Brandon Winokur, SS/CF 12. Andrew Morris, RHP 11. Riley Quick, RHP 10. Charlee Soto, RHP 9. Marek Houston, SS 8. Kendry Rojas, LHP 7. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF 6. Dasan Hill, LHP 5. Connor Prielipp, LHP 4. Eduardo Tait, C 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF 2. Kaelen Culpepper, SS 1. Walker Jenkins, OF View the full article

Fish Unfiltered describes the extraordinary atmosphere inside loanDepot park for Wednesday's Dominican Republic-Venezuela game. View the full article

At long last, Talk Sox has reached its countdown of the top five prospects in the Boston Red Sox's system heading into the 2026 season. Be sure to check out our previous rankings here: Part 1 (Nos. 16-20) Part 2 (Nos. 11-15) Part 3 (No. 10) Part 4 (No. 9) Part 5 (No. 8) Part 6 (No. 7) Part 7 (No. 6) Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: No. 5 Juan Valera The Red Sox have made a habit of trading away quality pitching prospects, dealing away a small army of young arms this offseason in their myriad of trades aimed to improve the major-league roster. And yet, they made a few names untouchable in trade talks (spoiler alert for the rest of our top-20 rundown): Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kyson Witherspoon, and Juan Valera. That's some lofty company for Valera, 19, to find himself in after just two seasons of full-time ball. But the teenager out of the Dominican Republic has earned the hype, even after a 2025 season that flashed some red flags. Across 10 starts with High-A Greenville, Valera consumed 38 innings while posting a 5.45 ERA and 3.97 FIP. The more advanced hitters at the level were able to square him up frequently, as he surrendered six home runs in just 167 plate appearances. That being said, the underlying metrics are tantalizing. He struck out 27.5% of hitters and walked just 6.0% of them, displaying a mastery of the strike zone you almost never see in young pitchers. That control is even more impressive when you consider that Valera throws a high-90s fastball and a gyro slider with big break both horizontally and vertically. Those offerings play nicely off each other; his fastball features some natural cut action (i.e., movement to his glove side) and his slider displays some sweeping tendencies while still retaining vertical break. To combat his two primary offerings both featuring glove-side action, Valera has been tinkering with a changeup, but it is certainly his weakest offering. It's firm and a little flat, lacking the fading action that he needs to really work both sides of the plate. Still, because the pitch routinely flashes in the low-90s, he's able to use it effectively down in the zone. The bigger concern is health, as is the case for most pitching prospects with elite velocity. He missed multiple months in 2025 while tending to elbow soreness, though he returned to Greenville by the end of the regular season and reportedly had a "normal" offseason in terms of preparation. That's worth monitoring as he climbs further up the ranks, but he and the Red Sox appear to have dodged a bullet for now. Valera's delivery actually reminds me a bit of Nestor Cortes. Though he's less eccentric on the mound that the former New York Yankees southpaw, he's got a simple, repeatable motion that he'll deviate from in an effort to mess with hitters' timing. He doesn't change much more than his tempo — and he certainly doesn't freestyle in the way Cortes does — but the young right-hander does have an advanced feel for his mechanics and isn't shy about altering his style in order to gain the upper hand. He still needs to hit key developmental goals (a third and even fourth reliable offering would be game-changing) and prove that he can handle even a semi-reliable workload (his career high in innings is 63 1/3), but Valera's arrow is pointing upward heading into 2026. Despite not turning 20 until May, he'll likely crash Double-A before the All-Star Break, with a slim chance to make it to Worcester if he remains healthy all year long. By this time next year, he could be the consensus top prospect in the system. View the full article

After being a relatively unknown commodity entering spring training last season, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Mason Fluharty changed his story. Major League Baseball’s 2026 regular season is just two weeks away, and Fluharty is expected to contribute meaningful innings for Toronto. After being invited to Blue Jays camp as a non-roster invitee in 2025, Fluharty impressed, pitching to an ERA of 1.29 across seven innings, holding opposing batters to a .217 average against. That successful spring earned Fluharty a call-up on Mar. 30. He made his debut against the Washington Nationals on Apr. 1, throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout. On the season, Fluharty appeared in 55 games for the Blue Jays, pitching to a 5-2 record, an ERA of 4.44 and a WHIP of 1.14 across 52 ⅔ innings. The fifth-round draft pick from 2022 impressed, mainly relying on a cutter-sweeper combination to limit hard contact and strike out a total of 56 batters. Fluharty’s average exit velocity of 86.6 mph placed him in the 95th percentile of MLB pitchers. His FIP came in at 3.97, backing up the assertion that the left-hander was better than his surface-level numbers showcased. One area of concern for Fluharty was his walks. He issued 28 free passes, which gave him an 11.2% walk rate, ranking in the bottom 10% in MLB. His command remained an issue in the postseason, as Fluharty posted four walks in 6 ⅓ innings. That was certainly a factor in his October struggles, resulting in a 5.68 ERA in 11 appearances. A strength that Fluharty showed was his ability to get both left- and right-handed batters out over the course of last season. Left-handers hit .182 against him, while right-handers could only muster a .202 average. The cutter that he used 58% of the time was effective at getting in on right-handers, while the sweeper helped hold lefties in check. Fluharty’s defining moment in 2025 came at Dodger Stadium in August, against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Blue Jays staked to a 5-4 lead, closer Jeff Hoffman walked three batters in the ninth, loading the bases with one out and the daunting Shohei Ohtani due up. Manager John Schneider made the call for Fluharty, who ended up striking out Ohtani and retiring Mookie Betts on a forceout to third base, earning himself his first career MLB save. Through three appearances this spring (as of March 10), Fluharty has posted a 2.45 ERA in 3 ⅔ innings. The 24-year-old has allowed five hits but has yet to give up a walk, a welcome sign for Blue Jays coaches and fans. His five strikeouts are great to see, as teams are always looking for relievers with the ability to miss bats to slot into key roles in the bullpen. Three southpaws are likely to play key roles for the Blue Jays bullpen in 2026: Fluharty, Brendon Little and Eric Lauer. Little’s late-season struggles were well documented last year, and if those return, Fluharty could possibly become the top left-hander in the bullpen. Lauer looks like he’s going to take on a piggyback type of role, at least to start the year, as the Blue Jays build up Trey Yesavage and Max Scherzer, while Shane Bieber also continues to deal with forearm fatigue. The 2026 season is drawing closer, and Fluharty has a chance to play a key role on a Blue Jays team looking to get back to the World Series and ultimately claim their first title since 1993. View the full article

With only two weeks until Opening Day, it's time for another Fish Unfiltered annual tradition. Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and AJ Ramos make five bold predictions each for the upcoming season regarding individual Miami Marlins players and the team's overall performance. 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. Kevin predictions Jakob Marsee has 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases Xavier Edwards wins National League batting title Chris Paddack earns NL All-Star selection Thomas White does not make his major league debut Robby Snelling wins NL Rookie of the Year Isaac's predictions Max Meyer wins 15 games Joe Mack is NL Gold Glove finalist Kevin Defrank becomes No. 1 Marlins prospect Deyvison De Los Santos hits 20 home runs Heriberto Hernández hits 25 home runs AJ's predictions Kyle Stowers hits 30 home runs Marlins rank top three in MLB in stolen bases Pete Fairbanks converts 25 saves Thomas White debuts and posts 10 K/9 Marlins win at least 80 games Check the replies to this FOF tweet to see the fan-submitted Marlins bold predictions that we have received thus far, and feel free to add your own in the comments below! View the full article

Let's continue our coverage of the Padres' top prospects with the 15th-ranked pipeline talent down to no. 11, as determined by our Padres Mission writers. This is a crash course on the highs, lows, and trajectory of Tirso Ornelas, Garrett Hawkins, Lamar King Jr., Jorge Quintana, and Romeo Sanabria. View the full article