DiamondCentric

After an impressive MLB debut, Logan Henderson looks like a rotation piece for the Brewers, but he needs to refine his secondaries to reach his ceiling. View the full article

Arjun Nimmala turned in a below-average offensive season as a 19-year-old in High-A, but he still showcased intriguing tools across the board that give him a well-rounded outlook at shortstop. View the full article

Arjun Nimmala turned in a below-average offensive season as a 19-year-old in High-A, but he still showcased intriguing tools across the board that give him a well-rounded outlook at shortstop. View the full article

The guys react to Brandon Woodruff's slow build-up and analyze some early standouts from the Brewers' first few spring training games. Also discussed are Logan Henderson, Coleman Crow, Jesus Made, Luis Rengifo, and others. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

With 60% of their projected starting rotation either out for the year or questionable for Opening Day, the one acknowledged strength of the 2026 Minnesota Twins is now in question. Twins Daily is fortunate to have access once again to The Injury Gods, Jontu of the Poison Wind and Cnathol the Endless. They sat down with us to discuss their approach to this year’s squad and the exquisite ache of a long-suffering fanbase. TWINS DAILY: When did you know you were going to turn your attention to the rotation? JONTU: That’s a great question, mortal. Honestly, we’ve taken a hands-off approach to your unloved franchise. They’ve been doing the work for us! What is one ACL when your ownership refuses to spend money and reneges on selling the team? We can only remove our thorny, awful crowns in admiration. CNATHOL: That kind of wickedness is special. It’s special. JONTU: But then they got to spring training and talked about how they expected the rotation to carry them. In a division like the AL Central, I’m sorry to say that made a lot of sense. CNATHOL: We saw how confident they were in the starting pitching. That’s when we got to work. TWINS DAILY: Did you always know you were going to start with Pablo Lopez (out for the season after UCL surgery)? CNATHOL: (chuckling, emitting a faint hint of sulfur) Yes, yes. JONTU: The timing, Cnathol. The timing! CNATHOL: Tom Pohlad had given his little inspirational speech to the team before the first Lopez appearance. They may as well have put his UCL on a tee. TWINS DAILY: Was Joe Ryan’s back issue supposed to be minor, or was that a misstep by the Gods? JONTU: THE GODS DO NOT PLAY DICE, MORTAL. YOU’D DO WELL TO REMEMBER YOUR PLACE. TWINS DAILY: I apologize. CNATHOL: WE’LL HAVE YOU WRITING FOR ROCKIES DAILY IN THE BLINK OF MY LIDLESS EYE. TWINS DAILY: Very well. Allow me to rephrase: Was it your intention to give Joe Ryan what looks like a minor injury? JONTU: Yes. A little panic for the suffering masses. CNATHOL: Then they think they dodged a bullet, and we drop (David) Festa’s shoulder impingement on them. Boom! (Actual thunder rolls in the background) JONTU: (giggling) It feels good to laugh again, you know? TWINS DAILY: Are you considering lending your dreadful touch to the bullpen? CNATHOL: What kind of gotcha journalism is this? JONTU: Even your puny mortal mind knows that this team hasn’t a bullpen. TWINS DAILY: Forgive me, yes. What about the rest of the team. There are some promising young players in the pipeline. JONTU: Walker Jenkins, correct? TWINS DAILY: Yes, he appears to be the jewel of the system, should be in the majors this season. JONTU: We haven’t really explored the “injuries that ooze” space of late. It feels like we could really stretch ourselves, as well as Jenkins’ tender, yielding flesh. CNATHOL: Those Fanatics jerseys are already horrible, imagine them soaked through with pus. JONTU: Did we design those? CNATHOL: I think Zyzmoz, The One Who Waits did a consult. TWINS DAILY: Any final thoughts to share with Twins Territory? CNATHOL: That ache you feel right now? You’ll wish for it come June. JONTU: Consider getting into MMA. We just let those goons pound each other. View the full article

With a full week of Cactus League games now under their belt, Milwaukee Brewers players are starting to settle into routines. The fake games can beget unrealistic enthusiasm, as starters play a few innings, then give way to the minor-leaguers trying to see if they can hang. The Brewers finally allowed a pitcher to go more than one inning, but they continue to take it slow to begin the exhibition season. 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 news, not necessarily hardcore analysis. For the Brewers as a whole, they won three of the four games to improve to 3-4. They fell to 0-4 after dropping a 7-5 decision to the Padres on Monday, before bouncing back by beating the A's 10-0 Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants 13-12 Wednesday and the Texas Rangers 5-1 Thursday. Who's Hot? ? Brandon Lockridge: Could he be making a push to start Opening Day in center field? If he continues to hit this way, you have to consider it. Lockridge went 4-for-8 while starting three games in center and right. He homered, doubled, was hit by a pitch and scored four times. Lockridge figured to be a lock as a backup outfielder, but depending on how Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins do, he could have a bigger role come Opening Day. Tyler Black: I like to distribute the kudos evenly whenever possible, but when you have two games like Black did, it is impossible to set him aside. Black went 3-for-3 with a double, a homer, a stolen base and six RBIs vs. the A's, then followed that up two days later by going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two more RBIs. That made him 8-for-12 this spring, a sizzling .667. He started at first base in both games. Black's homer came off A's right-hander Mason Barnett, who has five games of MLB experience. Black, who does have a minor-league option remaining, is competing for a bench spot and is a younger version of Jake Bauers, a left-handed hitter able to play first base and left field. Craig Yoho: After being a cult figure as a prospect, Yoho lost a little luster with one really bad inning in his debut season, in which he made eight appearances in four call-ups. But after two Cactus League appearances, the changeup specialist is off to a good beginning to his spring. He faced the minimum three hitters in a perfect inning against the Giants, throwing 12 pitches (nine strikes), then facing five batters against the Rangers, allowing a single and a walk on 16 pitches (seven strikes). Who's Not? ? Jackson Chourio: This is actually a mixed result. Chourio went 0-for-5 in two games to drop his spring performance to 2-for-12 (.167). But Chourio, who famously hasn't shown enough patience to draw walks, earned three free passes in those two games, all against pitchers with MLB experience, two of whom are veterans. Pat Murphy was "excited" about one of those walks, a 10-pitch grind that showed real engagement. Chourio is set to depart for the World Baseball Classic to play for Venezuela, so his bat is likely to get going while representing his country. David Hamilton: It's impossible to know the upheaval a player goes through when traded during spring training. But Hamilton, expected to be the top backup infielder after coming over from the Boston Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin deal, has yet to find his groove. He went 1-for-9 in three games, getting a double, driving in a run and scoring once, while walking twice and striking out just once. He started twice at third base and once more at short, positions he figures to see a lot of time at this season. Hamilton, who is now 2-for-12 this spring, is known more for his defense anyway, so no reason to hit panic here. Peter Strzelecki: You never can make a judgment on one outing, and I am not doing that here. Just chalk this one up to a bad game. Strzelecki, who has made 66 of his 77 MLB appearances out of the Crew's bullpen, is back after bouncing between three teams last season, all spent in the minors. He was the second pitcher in the Giants game and allowed two runs in his one inning. He hit the first batter he faced, struck out the next, then got Harrison Bader to pop out in foul territory before his second four-seam fastball to top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge was drilled for a homer. He gave up a single to Jung Hoo Lee before striking out former Brewers catcher Eric Haase to end the third inning. View the full article

The Twins could be choosing between Justin Lebron, Drew Burress, Grady Emerson, Carson Boleman, and Jacob Lombard Jr. this July — and each one represents a different draft strategy. Do they go with a fast-moving college bat or bet on the sky-high upside of a prep star? This pick could shape the next era of Twins baseball. View the full article

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but the Chicago Cubs are once again battling the injury bug. Earlier this week, news broke from the club's spring training home in Mesa, Arizona, that the squad's newly acquired backup first baseman, Tyler Austin, suffered an injury to his knee. The injury will require the veteran to undergo surgery, and forecasts have him set for a return no earlier than late May. With this setback, the Cubs encountered their first real speed bump on the road to what they hope is a division title and a long playoff run. Depth at first is quite sparse for the North Siders at the moment, and as such, the club is getting looks at several options, including catchers Christian Bethancourt and Miguel Amaya. Bethancourt last spent time with the squad in 2024, when he held his own as a bench option at catcher with a .301 OBP. Changes to his swing mechanics seemingly changed what Amaya can bring to this ball club. Before injury curtailed his 2025 season, Amaya had 27 hits in 96 at-bats and an OPS+ of 131. He's quietly becoming a fan favorite, and his abilities at the plate and his potential to fill in at first base could help his club make noise—if he, himself, can stay on the field better this season. Rather than counting on Bethancourt or Amaya at first, though, Chicago will leave no stone unturned at forming a contingency plan for every position on the diamond. Certainly, bringing on former Dodger Michael Conforto on a minor-league deal is evidence of this. It should make one feel a stronger sense of security in the team's outlook; they've tried to create the depth needed to survive this kind of injury. There are times when it feels as though sports fans in the modern age get more enjoyment from overreacting than from the actual play on the field. This is no time for overreactions. At a minimum, the actions of the franchise this past offseason have demonstrated that when they break camp in late March, each individual who makes the final cut will be ready. Austin's loss poses some challenges, but Counsell is one of the highest-paid managers ever for a reason, and the team has enough fallback plans to survive without one piece of their would-be bench corps. View the full article

Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estevez made his 2026 Cactus League debut on Tuesday, February 24th, against the Reds in Goodyear. Safe to say, it didn't go swimmingly. In one inning of work, Estevez allowed two runs on two hits, back-to-back home runs by Reds sluggers Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez. He did minimize the damage after those two home runs, retiring Spencer Steer, Will Benson, and Tyler Stephenson in order. However, the 33-year-old Royals reliever allowed four hard-hit balls and an average exit velocity of 99 MPH on batted balls in his lone Spring Training outing thus far. To make matters worse, MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers pointed out that Estevez saw a massive drop in his velocity from a season ago (though she said he also showed a similar drop last season). Of course, Royals fans are solely focusing on every little thing players do right now in Arizona, both good and bad. Hence, some are panicking, thinking that Estevez may be falling off a cliff in 2026 after making the All-Star team and leading Major League Baseball in saves a season ago. Are fans valid in their feelings that the Royals should be concerned about Estevez's ability to repeat his sensational 2025 campaign? Or is that just an example of Estevez getting warmed up and treating Spring Training in a similar way to how a veteran offensive lineman treats NFL Summer Camp? Here are three takeaways from Estevez's first outing of Spring Training and why Royals fans should keep their heads cool for now. Estevez May Have Been Working On A Particular Pitch (i.e., his changeup) When looking at his TJ Stats pitch plot data, his TJ Stuff+ doesn't look great. All three of his pitches registered TJ Stuff+ marks below 95. That is not an encouraging sign, especially considering his limited repertoire. His four-seamer, which he threw only once, received the highest grade, 42. Conversely, his two most thrown pitches, the changeup (55% usage) and slider (41% usage), registered grades of 30 and 32, respectively. Those aren't good trends, especially considering what Estevez's stuff looked like last season, according to TJ Stats pitch plot data. Estevez only threw the changeup 16% of the time last year, and it was a below-average pitch, according to the data. His main offspeed offering sported a 96 TJ Stuff+ and 49 grade, with limited spin at 1,616 RPM. Still, his TJ Stuff+ was 13 points lower on Tuesday than his overall mark in 2025. That said, it's entirely plausible that Estevez was trying something new with the changeup in this Spring Training outing, and the TJ Stuff+ metrics were a casualty. Here are some key differences in his changeup against the Reds and what it looked like a season ago. Last season, his changeup had an iVB of 9.8. On Tuesday, it had an iVB of 11. Thus, it may be that Estevez was trying to get more vertical movement on the pitch, and the quality was inconsistent as he toyed with this difference. A sign of that experimentation could be found in his changeup trends, as shown in both his pitch movement plot and velocity linear chart. The former, which can be seen in the Spring Training plot above, showed three pitches that are WAY off from the previous group, illustrating "gross mistake" pitches (i.e., super-waste ones). The sheer difference in movement profile from the main group of changeup pitches demonstrates that he tried something different, and it didn't work out (or he couldn't quite get a grip and lost command of it). In the latter, the changeup shows major dips at a few points in the velocity chart, as shown below. Those illustrate to baseball fans that Estevez messed up with his control against Cincinnati while trying something different on his changeup. Estevez had three changeups that hovered around 80 MPH or slightly below. That is a far cry from the rest of his changeup pitches, which were around the upper 80's. The Dominican-born pitcher, who will be pitching for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming WBC, is a veteran who doesn't need to earn his spot in Spring Training. Thus, Estevez trying to tweak his mix mid-game is something a pitcher of his status can afford to do, even if it produces lackluster results. He's not going to lose his closer job after one rough Cactus League game. Estevez May Be a Slow Starter The right-hander may just be a slow starter, whether it's in Spring Training or the start of the season. Therefore, this may be something Royals fans just have to get used to with him, or at least pay attention to, in his appearances in Arizona. Since 2021, Estevez has posted ERA marks in the double digits twice: 2021 with the Rockies (12.38 ERA) and 2023 with the Angels (10.57 ERA). While that looks bad, it's Spring Training, and the sample sizes are so small. One bad outing can sink a player's Cactus League campaign. Vice versa, a good Spring Training outing can correct itself in March/April with more innings and against better competition. This is what happened to Estevez last year in his first year in Kansas City. After posting a 1.80 ERA in five IP in the Cactus League, he struggled out of the gate, recovering from a minor back injury. He had a 2.77 ERA in 13 IP in April, but his WHIP was slightly higher than expected at 1.23, and he had eight walks to only 11 strikeouts. He struggled to get strikeouts, and his lackluster fastball velocity in the first two months (April and May) was likely a reason. Here's what his four-seam velocity looked like by month last season, and notice how in July, he looked like his best self, velocity-wise. Obviously, there's a desire for more with Estevez, especially with him signed in free agency last season and making slightly over $11 million this season in the last year of the two-year deal he signed prior to the 2025 MLB season. However, given his size and age, this may just be a sign that things are taking longer for Estevez to get ready for the upcoming season. A positive difference in this Spring Training, compared to a year ago, is that Estevez is healthy. A healthy Spring Training could help him avoid a slow start in the regular season, especially in April, as was the case in Estevez's first season in Kansas City. Could Normal Regression Be Happening? Estevez has become a fan favorite, especially for his Dragon Ball Z-inspired celebration after each and every save. It's becoming a popular trend for Royals fans to follow (and Royals broadcasters to revel in) after a Kansas City victory. However, while Estevez impressed last season with a 2.45 ERA, his FIP was 3.67, xERA 3.69, and xFIP 4.95. Furthermore, his strikeout rate dropped from 23.6% in 2024 to 20.1% in 2025, and his K-BB% declined from 17.9% to 11.9% over the same period. Hence, it's not a surprise that Estevez had only a 1.1 fWAR last year, which was the same amount he produced in 2024 with the Angels and Phillies, but in 11 fewer innings. The TJ Stats summary from last year also illustrates a closer with good stuff, but struggles to generate chase and whiffs on a regular basis. Estevez had a TJ Stuff+ of 103 overall, with pitch grades of 57 (slider) and 60 (four-seamer). That said, his chase was only 23%, his whiff was only 19%, and his xwOBACON was .386. All of those were below-average marks for Estevez last year, with his whiff rate rating especially low. ATC is projecting 32 saves in 65 IP for Estevez in 2026, according to Fangraphs. That also includes a 4.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, a 21.4% K rate, and 13.1% K-BB%. There are some improvements from last season expected for Estevez in those projections, especially in terms of K-BB% (his mark last season was his lowest mark in a single season since 2017, his second year in the Majors). Conversely, every other category in ATC's projection of him is a regression, suggesting that Estevez is unlikely to be the 42-save, sub-3.00 ERA reliever he was a year ago. The struggles this Spring Training may show that some regression is due to Estevez in this upcoming year. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean that Royals fans should automatically give up, especially after one bad outing. Even with a slightly down season, Estevez could still be a 3 to 3.50 ERA pitcher and collect 30+ saves in 2026. That's how good the stuff is (even if the chase and swing-and-miss aren't as good). This bad performance from Estevez isn't something for the Royals to freak out about just yet. Instead, it should be eye-opening and a sign that he may regress and look more mortal (i.e., less lucky) in 2026. However, he isn't going to fall off a cliff statistically for the Royals. Rather, he will just need to receive more help from other pitchers in the bullpen. With newcomers Matt Strahm, Alex Lange, and Nick Mears, as well as returners Lucas Erceg, John Schreiber, and Daniel Lynch IV, the Royals have the help Estevez may need more often than a year ago. View the full article

#9 Bishop Letson (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers) Bishop Letson brings one of the highest-upside pitching profiles in the Brewers’ system, and showed why during his limited time on the mound in 2025. The 11th-round pick from the 2023 draft, signed by area scout Ginger Poulson, delivered dominant results when healthy, showcasing a rare blend of swing-and-miss ability, ground-ball induction, and overall stuff. Although shoulder fatigue limited him to just 41 1/3 innings, his performance during that stretch was extremely impressive. ERA FIP xFIP IP G GS CG ShO K% BB% K-BB% HR/9 SwStr% Whiff% WHIP BABIP LOB% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% HR/FB 2.40 2.59 2.70 41.1 11 9 0 0 30.8% 7.5% 23.3% 0.44 12.6% 28.0% 1.04 0.305 72.8% 14.7% 52.6% 32.6% 9.7% 6.5% What to Like Letson ranked in the 90th percentile across Minor League Baseball in both strikeout rate and ground-ball rate. This combination highlights both his ability to overpower hitters and generate weak contact. His fastball serves as the foundation of the arsenal. While the average velocity sits around 94 MPH, the pitch plays well above its radar gun reading due to elite extension and release characteristics. Letson generates approximately 7.5 feet of extension, helping the fastball to get on hitters quickly and giving it additional perceived velocity. That level of extension compares favorably to some of the most dominant power arms in the game, and it allows the pitch to miss bats consistently while also setting up the rest of his repertoire. The sweeper stands out as another potential plus offering and serves as a key secondary weapon. The pitch averages around 16 inches of glove-side movement and shows consistent shape and command against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. Letson demonstrates confidence in using the pitch in multiple counts and situations, making it a reliable swing-and-miss option, especially against righties. Beyond those two primary pitches, Letson features a deep, well-rounded mix. His sinker and changeup both project as above-average offerings. The sinker generates roughly 17 inches of arm-side run, producing significant movement and helping generate ground-ball contact. The changeup shows similar horizontal movement with roughly 18 inches of run, but adds additional vertical depth, giving it strong deception and effectiveness against opposite-handed hitters. While further separation in movement profiles between the two pitches could enhance their effectiveness, both offerings already provide value within his arsenal. During a stint on the injured list in 2025, Letson also developed a cutter that sits around 90 MPH. The pitch currently grades as average but shows encouraging traits, and given how new it is, it could also develop into an above-average offering. The presence of five usable pitches gives Letson multiple ways to attack hitters and supports a long-term starting profile. In addition to the quality of the arsenal, Letson’s delivery and overall mechanics add to his appeal. He features a fluid, repeatable motion that allows him to generate that big extension and consistent movement profiles across his pitches. What to Work On Health and durability remain the most significant areas to monitor moving forward. Shoulder fatigue limited Letson’s workload in 2025, and building the ability to handle a full-season starter’s workload will be an important step in his development. Establishing consistent availability and maintaining his stuff over longer outings will be key to reaching his ceiling. Command and overall pitch consistency also remain developmental priorities. While his walk numbers were strong in 2025, the underlying command is still developing and may face greater challenges against more advanced hitters. Continued refinement of his control within the strike zone would maximize the effectiveness of his arsenal and improve his ability to work through lineups more than two times. Separating the shape of his sinker and changeup further could also enhance the overall effectiveness of his pitch mix. While both pitches feature strong arm-side movement, adding more vertical differential between them could make each offering more difficult for hitters to recognize. Continued development of his cutter will also be important, as turning that pitch into a reliably average offering would strengthen an already deep arsenal and make him more platoon-proof. What’s Next Letson’s development in 2026 will largely center on health. If he remains healthy, can throw more innings, and builds on the dominance he showed in 2025, while beginning the year in Double-A, he has the potential to jump much higher on not only this list, but also the Top 100 lists nationally. The long-term profile points toward significant upside in a major-league rotation. With a five-pitch mix that includes multiple potential plus offerings and a delivery that features elite extension, the ingredients are present for a high-impact starter if things continue to go well—and if he’s consistently on the mound. What are your thoughts on Letson? What are you hoping to see from him in 2026? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Part one: #16-20 15. Marco Raya, RHP Age: 23 2025 Stats (AAA): 98.2 IP, 6.02 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 5.2 BB/9 During his rise through the minors, Raya has been a consistent fixture in our rankings despite several things working against him: workload restrictions, shaky control, and results that never quite matched up to the quality of his stuff. But any observer could see that quality on display — hard, high-spin breaking balls that gave older and more experienced hitters fits. Last year, Raya's momentum came to a halt in Triple-A. For the first time in his pro career, he was the one looking overwhelmed as walks, wild pitches and laborious outings piled up. It's a stumble we can excuse, given that Raya arrived in Triple-A as a 22-year-old who was promoted aggressively through the Twins' system. But now he has to rebound and prove his brutal 2025 was merely a bump in the road. He'll be aiming to do so in the bullpen. Given how little interest the Twins have shown in building up his stamina for a starting workload, this has long appeared to be the plan, but now his conversion to a reliever is all but official. That's a spot in which Raya has a very good chance to thrive, and perhaps blossom in a late-inning role — as long as he can throw strikes. For what it's worth, he's looked excellent in early spring action. 14. Quentin Young, SS Age: 18 2025 Stats (A): 22 PA, .118/.227/.118, 0 HR, 3 RBI The Twins were thinking big — literally and figuratively — when they used their second-round pick, 54th overall, to select Young in last year's draft. Turning 19 in a few days, the former prep star is already a massive specimen at 6-foot-6 and 225 lbs. His throwing and swinging strength are immense, casting the potential for a star slugger at third base or an outfield corner. (There's no way he's sticking at shortstop, even if it's technically his current position.) The question with Young is simple: Will he make enough contact to produce? That was the universal knock on him entering the draft. Baseball America describes his swing as "long, with a pronounced hitch," and such issues are not always easily solved for a guy his size. Young struck out nine times in 22 plate appearances during a brief debut at Low-A Fort Myers last year, but it says something about the team's belief in him that they sent him there directly. He will be a fun one to follow this year. 13. Brandon Winokur, SS/CF Age: 21 2025 Stats (A+): 529 PA, .226/.304/.388, 17 HR, 68 RBI It's fitting that Winokur is right next to Young in these rankings because his story and traits are remarkably similar. He's a huge right-handed hitter (6-foot-6, 210) drafted highly out of high school (third round in 2023) on the basis of his tantalizing raw tools. Like Young, Winokur shows uncommon defensive ability for a player his size, and spent a majority of his time at shortstop or center field in Cedar Rapids last year, though he did start to break in more at third. Winokur hardly dominated in his first exposure to High-A, posting a sub-.700 OPS in 122 games, but staying healthy and holding his own against more advanced competition was a win in its own right. His 17 homers and 26 steals (on 30 attempts) demonstrate what his athleticism makes possible, and his 24.7% strikeout rate — while still on the high side — was a solid improvement over 2024 (28%). 12. Andrew Morris, RHP Age: 24 2025 Stats (AAA): 94.2 IP, 4.09 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 A fourth-round draft pick out of Texas Tech in 2022, Morris enjoyed moderate success in his first full season before experiencing a full-on breakthrough in 2024. He started in High-A and finished with an effective seven-start stint at Triple-A, posting a 2.37 ERA across three levels and positioning himself for a potentially imminent big-league call-up. The 2025 season didn't quite go as planned. He got off to a pretty good start with the Saints, but in late May he started getting hit noticeably harder, and in June he went on the injured list with a forearm strain. That can be an ominous development for pitchers, but Morris came back healthy after six weeks in pitched well down the stretch, with a 3.45 ERA and 29-to-4 K/BB ratio in 31 ⅓ innings. Boasting a six-pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball, Morris doesn't get tons of whiffs and projects as more of a mid-rotation option than future ace. There's an argument for eventually having him follow Raya into a relief role, but for now Morris is an important piece of starting pitching depth for the Twins. 11. Riley Quick, RHP Age: 21 2025 Stats: DNP Quick is the third player among the five highlighted here who's listed at 6-foot-6, but the first who takes that size advantage to the pitching mound. Minnesota selected the big righty out of Alabama with their supplemental first-round pick last year, 36th overall, after he struck out 72 hitters in 60 innings with a 3.95 ERA for the Tide in his return from Tommy John surgery. He didn't make any official appearances upon joining Twins system last year, but figures to be unleashed in Single-A this year and it'll be interesting to see how he fares. No one would be surprised to see the hulking hard-thrower blow away young hitters with a fastball that reaches the upper-90s and some legit secondary offerings. Quick may be one of the best-kept secrets in the minors ... but not for long. View the full article

Spring training is never time for one's expectations to get too high or too low, and no group knows that better right now than the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays. Every team in Major League Baseball uses spring training to instill its "way" of playing. In the 1950s, Dodger executive Al Campanis famously penned the book The Dodger Way to Play Baseball that outlined the team's overall philosophy of being fundamentally sound and disciplined. To build on last year's success, the Jays will be looking to foster the attributes that made them successful in 2025: solid defence, consistent contact, aggressive baserunning and contributions from across the lineup. While these attributes aren't being described as the "Jays Way" just yet, they do align with the team's culture that continues to flourish. According to team sources, the Jays are preaching process and repetition as they gear up for the regular season, a mantra that has mattered even more following the emotional whiplash of their 2025 ride that ended two outs short of a championship. In Florida, the daily scoreboard is background noise. The foreground is footwork around the infield, the finish on a slider, the length of a secondary lead and the spring-long auditions that will inform decisions far more than any Grapefruit League standings ever could. Spring training is all about big scores and hard-to-follow box scores. Manager John Schneider has license to substitute everyone, roll innings, test matchups and even accept a tie if it keeps his arms on schedule. The results are less important than getting players reps and evaluating talent. With Sportsnet broadcasting nearly every spring training game on TV and radio, it is hard not to follow every box score and start making assumptions about how the regular season will unfold. The Jays themselves know better. Their schedule is all about workload and evaluation, not a set of mini-season verdicts. It is planned with intention, including everything from back-to-backs that test recovery to night games that simulate travel-day routines. Even split squads let the staff see twenty pitchers in the same seventy-two hours. The presence of a broadcast truck doesn’t change much for the coaching staff or front office. One front office employee recently told me that spring training is the only time during the season when the collective brain trust is all in one place at one time. They aren't just discussing what's happening that day or week, but looking into options across seasons. Following a busy offseason, spring training for the Jays is less about discovery and more about calibration. The infield is pretty well set, but after a handful of games, there might be more question marks in the outfield and pitching staff. The rotation conversations are a perfect example. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage make up the top three of the rotation. What camp must sort out is the arrangement and approach beyond those three. Even starting Eric Lauer, fresh off his arbitration case, in spring game number one shouldn’t be overly analyzed. Cody Ponce, José Berríos and Shane Bieber are all part of the discussion, not to mention Ricky Tiedemann (depending on his health) and the recently signed Max Scherzer. The other preoccupation is the bullpen. Nearly all the new arms in camp, including Tyler Rogers, Chase Lee and Angel Bastardo have seen action in the first few games. Questions persist about Yimi García’s elbow timeline, which of the pitchers who aren’t in the starting rotation will get bumped to the bullpen and whether Jeff Hoffman’s role will change in 2026. Social media has had plenty of coverage of bullpen sessions with an arsenal of coaches standing behind the pitcher, fixated on strike percentages, groundball profiles and how quickly a reliever can repeat his delivery after a throw over. Beyond the expected configuration of the roster, the team is weighing its immediate goals and longer arcs. The club invited a meaningful cohort of non-roster players to camp, many of whom could impact the 2026 club directly or serve as credible depth by mid-summer. Arjun Nimmala is a good example. Only 20, he’s getting the at-bats and infield reps that the major league coaching staff needs to see to determine where he is in his development (and the trajectory the team will set for him). RJ Schreck, Charles McAdoo, Gage Stanifer, Chad Dallas and others populate the daily work groups, creating the kind of internal pressure that is supposed to make veterans lock in a little harder on everything from their swing to their defensive footwork. Spring is an ecosystem in which star names are the focus, but the subplots are almost more enticing. For the defending American League champions, there is an external impulse to treat spring as a referendum on whether the team is serious about a repeat performance. The Jays’ offseason won't end with a ring ceremony. It ended with the quiet building of a roster to prevent runs more efficiently up the middle, spread power throughout the order and lengthen a pitching staff whose postseason usage revealed both strengths and stress points. Camp is where the deepening of the outfield and internal improvements can be pressure-tested to see what works and what might still need to be upgraded or tweaked. Multiple studies have found that spring training results, whether at the team level or for individual hitters, rarely correlate with regular season outcomes. One analysis put the correlation between spring records and regular season win totals at roughly five percent. Even attempts to dig deeper, like looking at big spring slugging spikes to forecast power breakouts, seem to fizzle when tested rigorously. Scores and stats in the spring are somewhat irrelevant when it is all said and done. Take, for instance, the 2012 Blue Jays who posted the best record (24-7) in the Grapefruit League and finished 16 games under .500 that season. If this year’s edition starts 10–15 in camp or rips off 10 wins in two weeks, it has little to no impact on the 90 to 100 actual decisions they’ll win or lose following Opening Day. As a fan, you might want to take a closer look at how Davis Schneider or Addison Barger are controlling the zone and carrying high-quality contact regardless of who is on the mound. For Andrés Giménez, the conversation should not be about his March slash line but about his first-step reads to his right, the 90th-percentile throw on a backhand behind the bag, his communication with Clement on feeds they’ll repeat 400 times during the year. Spring is where those read-and-react patterns become muscle memory. In Kazuma Okamoto’s case, he’s looking to transfer his NPB success to MLB through timing, angles, and adjustments, so spring offers a lower-consequence lab for that process. Spring training is also where a clubhouse culture begins to take shape. And don’t forget that everyone needs to work out the kinks of the new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system. One thing is for sure: Opening Day is right around the corner, and that’s when the results really matter. 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Enjoy new episodes of our Miami Marlins livestreams throughout 2026 spring training. Every week, Fish On First staffers answer your questions and provide in-depth analysis of the team leading up to Opening Day. Thursday's show was hosted by Jeremiah Geiger and featured panelists Ely Sussman, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral. The following topics were covered: Braxton Garrett's first spring start and the projected starting rotation Liam Hicks thriving, Owen Caissie struggling early Injury updates on Janson Junk, Andrew Nardi, Graham Pauley and Anthony Bender Is there room for Josh White in the Opening Day bullpen? The Marlins have a 3-3 record so far in Grapefruit League play. They've used a total of 82 different players. Starting rotation candidates are getting built up for multi-inning appearances beginning with Robby Snelling on Friday. World Baseball Classic participants will be leaving this weekend to report to their respective country's training camp. Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic), Owen Caissie (Canada), Liam Hicks (Canada), Otto Lopez (Canada), Jakob Marsee (Canada) and Agustín Ramírez (Dominican Republic) are among the Marlins competing in the tournament. View the full article

The very early indications are that Liam Hicks will be more of a power threat in 2026. Fish On First LIVE discusses what that could mean for his fit on the Marlins roster.View the full article

DUNEDIN—Back in November, the Miami Marlins began the annual revamp of their social media and marketing approach. While it might have been easy to miss the new fonts, designs, etc., to those who don't pay attention to those sorts of things—unlike some nerds out there— they have fully leaned into one particular phrase for the 2026 season: "Fightin' Fish." The term was popularized decades ago shortly after the team's inception, but it got real legs again a season ago when Kyle Stowers said it to a stadium full of Marlins faithful following his Opening Day walk-off. "Fightin' Fish" picked up more steam as the season rolled on. MLB's youngest roster was projected to finish near the 100-loss mark scratched, only to claw to a 79-83 record on the backs of absurd comeback wins and all-around team performances to take down giants across the league. As observed during Thursday afternoon's 8-7 win in Dunedin against the reigning AL champion Toronto Blue Jays, the mantra indeed carried over from 2025, and it doesn't stop at the big league level. Miami's starting nine combined for only six hits and two runs. The improbable, late-inning rally was fueled by spring training non-roster invitees and even minor league camp players. "The group that came in for the back half of that game for them to come out and play the way, it just shows a lot about not just what we saw a lot at the major league level last year, but also how guys go about it, I think just organizationally," said Marlins skipper Clayton McCullough postgame. "We have a lot of players that just love to compete and play the game the right way." In the top of the eighth inning, a couple of walks, a hit by pitch and a single set the table for Jesús Sánchez trade acquisition Chase Jaworsky, and the 21-year-old delivered with a bases-clearing triple. An inning later, a Bennett Hostetler single and Chris Arroyo RBI groundout put the Marlins on top, and for good, to clinch their third win of the spring. "Fightin' Fish," added McCullough with a smile. "Our guys are proud of the fact that what we get known for is that you just hang in there and you play, you play every game out all the way 'til the end, no matter what. That's your job. But, also it becomes you find yourself in some situations like today, where you do enough to find a way win games that didn't look so so great there towards the end." Brax is Back It would be common practice to assume that once you've done anything 65 times, you would be quite comfortable doing said action. Alas, when said task is stepping on a major league mound and going opposite the best players in the world for the first time in nearly two years, it's not that easy. "I was definitely a little nervous," said southpaw Braxton Garrett minutes after his first big league outing since June of 2024 and spring training appearance since 2023. "Adrenaline was going. I say nervous, but I'm really excited. It's been a long time pitching on the big league mounds, where I've dreamed of my whole life. It's been a long time, so I definitely felt some nerves getting back out there for the first time." The first-round pick from a decade ago enjoyed a sound 2023 campaign, making 31 starts while boasting a 3.66 ERA. Then the injury bug bit him repeatedly, just as he began to find his footing. Garrett didn't make a start in the spring of 2024 due to a shoulder impingement before being sidelined a few months later with what ended up turning into his second Tommy John surgery in December 2024. Although Garrett allowed two runs to pass due to shaky defense and back-to-back walks to kick off his start, there was much more gratitude than frustration once removed. The southpaw ended up going just one inning, allowing two hits and notching one strikeout looking. "It felt awesome. It was really cool," Garrett added. "Getting in front of the fans again, facing big league hitters. It's a lot of fun, a lot of adrenaline—stuff I haven't been used to in the last year. I was trying to get aggressive in the zone. I wasn't very successful with that early. I'm not happy about that, but trying to keep good perspective. It's been a long time since I've been out there. We got some stuff to work on, but we have a lot of time to do it." Notes and Quotes - Fish On First's #1 and #13 prospects in Thomas White and Karson Milbrandt, respectively, made their spring debuts following Garrett's departure. Like Garrett, White allowed two runs to score in contrast to Milbrandt's two-strikeout, one-hit frame. A visibly frustrated White told the media his "mechanics felt off" with his four-seam, but something that will be focused on and corrected. - Continuing a trend from a year ago, Liam Hicks produced with two outs and runners in scoring position in the third, plating Miami's first run of the afternoon. "He had a great offseason," said McCullough. "Right now, Liam just looks physically different, and we're seeing the great early signs with he is getting some balls, and the authority which he's hitting them to the full side is a great sign that's going to give us a chance to see Liam tap into some more power and some more slug to go along with already what is a really good ability to discern the strike zone and put the ball in play. And I think now he's just gaining more confidence." - Stowers recorded his first Grapefruit League hit of 2026, a single up the middle against two-time All-Star Kevin Gausman in the first. - Joe Mack picked up his third hit of the spring with a knock to right. The backstop is up to .429 with a grand slam in three games. - Thursday's matchup between Miami and Toronto was the first time the two have met in spring since 2009, and the first since at least 2003 that the Fish have traveled to TD Ballpark. Up Next The Fish wrap up their once-a-year west coast trip down the road in Clearwater on Friday afternoon against the division rival Philadelphia Phillies. Robby Snelling is lined up to make his second start of the spring, coming off a 1-2-3 inning in game one against the New York Mets. First pitch from BayCare Ballpark is slated for 1:05. View the full article

While he was on a limited workload, LHP Dasan Hill impressed many over his first season in pro ball. He made it up to High-A Cedar Rapids to end 2025, but will he remain there for all of 2026 to improve his command of the strike zone? View the full article

The Minnesota Twins announced on Thursday that they have claimed right-handed reliever Zak Kent off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals after he was designated for assignment earlier this week. In a corresponding move, Pablo López was transferred to the 60-day injured list following the internal brace procedure that will sideline him for the entirety of the 2026 season. Kent is now on his third organization since the start of spring training and his fourth of the offseason after previously bouncing between the Cleveland Guardians, Texas Rangers, and back to St. Louis before landing with Minnesota. He is clearly viewed as a fringe player for the 40-man roster, but the Twins have a bullpen need, and Kent has one minor league option remaining. The 28-year-old made his big league debut during the 2025 season with Cleveland, logging 17 2/3 innings with a 4.58 ERA to go along with a 21.1 K% and a 10.5 BB%. He spent the bulk of the year at Triple-A, where he posted a 2.84 ERA and struck out an impressive 31.4% of opposing hitters despite a disappointing 13.2 BB%. Kent does not overpower hitters with velocity as his four-seamer averaged 93.1 miles per hour last season, but his mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball helped generate plenty of swings and misses at the upper levels of the minors. Across parts of four Triple-A seasons, he owns a 3.74 ERA with a 26 K% and a 12 BB%. Kent is entering what will be his final minor league option year after being granted a fourth option due to injury history and developmental timeline. He now becomes another name in what is shaping up to be a wide-open bullpen competition that currently has Cole Sands, Anthony Banda, Taylor Rogers, and Justin Topa penciled into roles. Other relief options include Liam Hendriks, Eric Orze, and Andrew Chafin. There was a glut of left-handed relievers, so adding a righty to the mix could help to balance the roster. With López out for the season, Minnesota will need to find value on the margins, and Kent represents the type of low-risk addition that could pay dividends over the course of a long season. If his swing and miss stuff translates consistently at the big league level, the Twins may have quietly added a bullpen arm capable of providing meaningful innings in 2026. View the full article

With players from all around MLB getting ready to leave for their World Baseball Classic camps, there is one member of the San Diego Padres who will be sticking around. Left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui, who sustained a minor left groin strain a week ago, will not participate in the WBC with Japan, Matsui said Thursday. His status for Opening Day with the Friars is to be determined. Matsui is a key member of one of MLB's best bullpen's. “It’s pretty disappointing,” Matsui told assembled media through interpreter Ike Ogata. “Especially since I didn’t do so well at the last WBC and I was looking forward to playing in this one. But that’s not the only thing. It’s baseball. I’m trying to move on, to get the best preparation for the season and to play for the Padres.” View the full article

One of the Royals' best pitching prospects, Drew Beam, is quietly one of the more reliable arms in all of Minor League Baseball. After logging over 130 innings in High-A Quad Cities, the former Tennessee Volunteer showed the baseball world what he's capable of from the get-go. This video breaks down Beam's strengths, his shortcomings, and his projected big league debut date. View the full article

Prospect lists serve as both a roadmap and a reminder. They highlight what an organization hopes to become, while also documenting just how unpredictable baseball development can be. When Minnesota Twins fans looked at the top 20 prospects entering the 2021 season, the belief was that the next core of contention was already on the way. Some of those players have delivered on that promise. Others have fallen short of even modest expectations. A few took entirely different paths than anyone could have envisioned at the time. Outside the top 10, there were notable hits and misses as well. Bailey Ober checked in at 20th amid questions about his long-term upside, but has become a steady member of the rotation. Matt Wallner was ranked 13th and has likely exceeded what most projected when he joined the organization. Brent Rooker landed at 12th and eventually developed into a multi-time All-Star. Unfortunately for Minnesota, that growth happened elsewhere. The back half of the top 10, by contrast, has not aged particularly well. Blayne Enlow, Matt Canterino, Aaron Sabato, Keoni Cavaco, and Jordan Balazovic each had intriguing ceilings on draft day. None managed to reach those lofty expectations in a Twins uniform, and collectively, they serve as a cautionary tale about betting on projection over polish. Let’s look at Twins Daily’s top five from 2021 to see what was said at the time, and what has happened over the last five years. 5. RHP Jhoan Duran What was said at the time: An intimidating force on the mound with high-90s heat. Will he start? What happened: No, he did not start. In fact, the Twins moved him to the bullpen after making only five appearances in 2021. He became one of baseball’s most dominant closers. His fastball and splinker reached triple-digit velocities in shorter appearances, something that wasn’t hard to imagine when he started. His tenure in Minnesota ultimately ended when the club dealt him to the Philadelphia Phillies at last year’s trade deadline, in exchange for Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait. 4. C Ryan Jeffers What was said at the time: Showed his value as a polished two-way asset in MLB breakthrough. What happened: Jeffers has developed into an above-average hitter, especially when compared to others at his position across the league. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged a 113 OPS+, and his 117 wRC+ ranks second among AL catchers. Defense remains a question, but the Twins appear committed to giving him the bulk of the workload behind the plate in 2026, which will be his final season under team control. 3. OF Trevor Larnach What was said at the time: Looks the part of a near-ready, well-rounded bat for the heart of the order. What happened: Larnach’s offensive development hasn’t met the expectations he had as a first-round pick. He posted a 116 OPS+ in 2024, but saw that total dip to 99 in 2025, a rate of production that is unacceptable for a corner outfielder. Injuries and limited defensive value have complicated his role, and his name has consistently surfaced in trade rumors. He has become the embodiment of the post-hype prospect the Twins are waiting to take the next step. 2. SS Royce Lewis What was said at the time: Twins believe he will stick at short. Stardom is easy to envision. Born leader. What happened: Multiple serious knee injuries altered that trajectory and pushed him to third base. He has flashed star-level ability, but struggled to maintain consistency as the physical toll has mounted. Over the last two seasons, he's posted a 93 OPS+. Still, he remains firmly embedded in the organization’s long-term plans, especially after revamping his swing during the winter. 1. OF Alex Kirilloff What was said at the time: Prolific bat is big-league ready. High ceiling seems imminently reachable. What happened: There were moments when that optimism looked justified, but injuries ultimately derailed his career. Kirilloff retired following the 2024 season, at only 26 years old. In parts of four seasons, he posted a 99 OPS+, but he leaves behind one of the biggest “what-ifs” in team history. Prospect rankings are inherently optimistic snapshots. For every success story like Duran or Jeffers, there are several players whose paths never quite align with their potential. Minnesota’s 2021 top 10 illustrates both sides of that reality, and underscores just how difficult it is to translate minor-league promise into sustained major-league production. What stands out about the team’s 2021 top prospect list? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

He'll be overshadowed all season, by the likes of Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe. He won't always even fit onto the active 26-man roster; being eligible to be optioned to the minor leagues is a mixed blessing. After a 2025 season in which he finally established himself in the majors, though, Grant Anderson is feeling comfortable and ready for 2026. He became a father this winter, and earlier this week, he became a peddler of a fine South Texan delicacy. "He tried to get me to eat raccoon [Monday]," said manager Pat Murphy in a daily meeting with reporters in Maryvale, and he was serious. Anderson is from Beaumont, Texas, just east of Houston, and he still lives there during the offseason. He's relatively soft-spoken and isn't taking the big-league life for granted, but he's become more at ease in the clubhouse. "It was a good offseason," the 28-year-old right-hander said. "I think I got a good amount of time off to rest the arm, so I felt pretty prepared coming into camp." He needed a chance to recharge, after appearing in 70 games in 2025: 66 in the regular season with the big-league team, another two during a stint at Triple-A Nashville, and two in the playoffs. He'd pitched just 49 times in the majors before last year, but he won over the Brewers and became a key piece of a deep bullpen. "He was really super dependable at times. I mean, we used him in all situations," Murphy said. "That's the thing about our staff. You don't have guys that are going six and seven, everybody's got to pitch, so 13 guys of the staff, pitchers No. 11, 12, and 13 are gonna pitch in a variety of situations. He consistently kept answering the bell, so yeah, I think he's earned a lot in our minds. We'll see how he throws his spring." If that final sentence seems to threaten a negation of the rest of the paragraph, your antennae are working. Anderson was great last season. He's won the team's trust. Because they have so much depth, though—and because Anderson can still be optioned to the minors—he won't be automatically handed a roster spot when the team breaks camp next month. Last year, he had to fight hard to win that trust at all, because Murphy was acutely aware of his history as a punching bag for left-handed batters. Murphy is a staunch believer that (while it's important to play matchups) every reliever in a modern bullpen has to be able to get out batters of each handedness, and Anderson entered 2025 having been shelled to the tune of a 1.200 OPS by lefties in the majors. Last year, he held them below .700. How? Firstly, he raised his arm angle. Though famously a sidearmer, Anderson said that he came to feel he could execute his arsenal better by slightly raising his slot. In particular, that made it easier for him (with his unusual hand position, as well as the arm slot) to throw a running two-seamer, as opposed to a plunging sinker. "Yeah, that was intentional. Sometimes, the lower the arm gets, the pitch shapes can kind of change slightly. and I didn't really like the huge, you know, straight-down sinker," Anderson said. "I felt like it was maybe okay to throw it to righties, but if you ever wanted to throw it to lefties, it was just not a good pitch, not that I would throw it a ton to lefties anyways, but it was just—it [also] made the sweeper better, bringing the arm back up. That was one of the things we talked about when I got here, was making the breaking ball better, so that was part of it. The grip was the biggest part, but also kind of raising the arm back up, too." The result was, indeed, a change in movement profile, albeit a subtle one. Anderson saw slightly more run and slightly less heavy sink on the sinker. His four-seamer ran a bit less, but maintained its carry, and he and the team transformed his slider into a true sweeper, as we documented last spring. The seemingly slight change in slot was also part of a plan to allow Anderson to work more athletically down the mound, whence came his uptick in velocity. Taken together, the changes meant he was no less deceptive, but much more versatile. The heavy lifting of this particular pitching development project, therefore, is done. Anderson said his arsenal will remain relatively stable this year, and expects to cleave to the same mechanics he worked out last year. The adjustments, now, are more granular. "I think that, you know, obviously the arsenal stayed the same," he said. "It's just a matter of, you know, usage in certain counts and maybe a slight adjustment to last year, what we might have done ahead in the count or behind in the count, just to kind of prepare for the adjustment hitters might make." Changing angles opened up all of those changes to his arsenal, and indeed, most of the benefits redounded against left-handed batters. Here's an animated proxy for what righty batters saw against Anderson in 2024 and in 2025. The higher slot allowed Anderson to become one of the pitchers who throws the highest percentage of their four-seamers above the belt, and to lean on that four-seamer even against righties. Anderson said he was comfortable with the four-seamer even from the lower slot, but tended not to use it to righties until the small tweak made it possible to attack the top of the zone with the pitch. (This is one area, he acknowledged, where he and the team might do things slightly differently in 2026.) More importantly, in those matchups, the sinker was able to be confined to the inner edge, because the four-seamer worked any time he needed to go for the outer half. Against lefties, the changes are more obviously beneficial. As Anderson mentioned, changing the slot made him more comfortable throwing the sinker to lefties, which made him much less predictable. It also made disguising his changeup and sweeper easier. This was the key to the lock for Anderson against lefty batters. That's a specialty of Chris Hook and Jim Henderson, whom Murphy has dubbed the "H & H Carwash" this spring, an homage to a beloved landmark from his time in the minors that also captures the systematic way the duo shines up new arms as they arrive in Milwaukee. However, as Murphy hastened to note, that doesn't always mean giving a pitcher something entirely new. "Sometimes it's something they already have, but they haven't emphasized," Murphy said. "You know, say, we're gonna throw a little more two-seamer. And here's why. They do a great job; they really do. But again, left-handers, [Anderson]'s got enough in there to make it really uncomfortable for them, too, in a different type of way. It's not the angle that’s gonna get you—or it's not the same-side angle, it's gonna be that there’s a different way the ball comes to you." That's exactly what's happened with Anderson. He's unlikely to step into any closing or high-leverage setup role, but he looks like a medium-term answer in the middle innings, capable of getting out both lefties and righties. He's as likely to make another 60 appearances this year as not, given good health, thanks to the Crew's carwash—and to his own open-minded approach to making small adjustments with big payoffs. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins made a small but notable adjustment to their spring training lineup on Thursday when Royce Lewis was scratched before first pitch. In late February, even minor changes draw attention. According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Lewis was removed from the lineup after experiencing tightness on his right side while running the bases during pregame work. The Twins’ media relations department labeled the move as being made out of an abundance of caution. For an organization that has spent the winter publicly elevating Lewis, there was little incentive to push him through discomfort in a Grapefruit League game. The new regime has been intentional about its messaging, and protecting one of its most talented players in February aligns with that philosophy. Since being hired, manager Derek Shelton has made it clear that Lewis is central to the Twins’ vision. Lewis was reportedly one of the first players Shelton sought out after taking the job. In radio interviews at the GM Meetings and Winter Meetings, Shelton did not shy away from calling Lewis a “superstar.” That is not language this organization has historically thrown around lightly. Lewis spent the offseason working with an outside hitting coach recommended by Bobby Witt Jr., another young star who has navigated early expectations with poise. The emphasis this winter has been on simplifying Lewis’s offensive operation. Observers this spring have noted fewer moving parts and a calmer pre-swing setup. The mechanical work has focused on getting Lewis into the best possible position before the swing even begins. The idea is repeatability. If Lewis can consistently win the pre-swing phase, the athleticism and bat speed take care of the rest. Early returns have been encouraging. His posture looks quieter. The leg kick appears more controlled. There is less wasted motion and more direct intent. That makes Thursday’s scratch feel more like a pause than a setback. Still, the Twins are well aware of Lewis’ history and the importance of availability. Even minor tightness becomes headline material when attached to a player who has battled lower-body injuries in previous seasons. Spring training is about preparation, not proof of toughness. Behind Lewis, the depth chart at third base is serviceable but uninspiring. Ryan Kreidler offers defensive versatility and contact skills. Gio Urshela brings veteran steadiness and familiarity. Tanner Schobel represents more of a developmental option than an immediate solution. None of them carries Lewis’ upside or middle-of-the-order presence. That reality underscores why caution is the correct play. For now, the Twins appear to be choosing patience over panic. And if Lewis is indeed the superstar Shelton believes him to be, a quiet afternoon in February will be long forgotten by the time the games start to matter. View the full article

An important step in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett speaks with the media after starting Thursday's spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays.View the full article

As I've started putting together my position-by-position previews of the Twins roster this spring (check out the catcher and first base installments from this week), I've been challenged to figure out how playing time will actually shake out for a team with an unsettled bench and some seemingly incongruent parts. It's a fairly illuminating exercise, so let's walk through it. Personally, I still feel like this roster is in line for more change before the start of the season. But, based on the current makeup of players, here's a look at how four potential versions of the 2026 Twins lineup — two against righties two against lefties — could take shape, along with the pros and cons of each. Ignore the order of batters, because I'm sure there's room to quibble there. The point here is to focus on who plays where and how the pieces fit together. LINEUP A vs. RHP Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Bell, DH Wallner, RF Lewis, 3B Larnach, LF Jeffers/Caratini, C Clemens, 1B Lee, SS NOTES: I consider Byron Buxton (CF), Luke Keaschall (2B), Matt Wallner (RF), Royce Lewis (3B) and Brooks Lee (SS) all locked into their primary positions on a more or less everyday basis. The room for fluidity and flexibility is around them. This lineup supposes that Josh Bell was mostly signed to play DH, and that the Twins are interested in seeing more of Kody Clemens at first base, where he started 33 of 55 games last year after Ty France was traded. PROS: Bell is most valuable at DH, where the positive impact of his bat isn't diminished by his defensive shortcomings. Clemens is a solid fielder at first, and brings an extra bit of speed to a lineup that is short at positions like shortstop and the outfield corners. This is probably the primary lineup I'd favor myself, as things stand. CONS: Unless he takes another big step forward, Clemens has a very low-caliber bat for a regular first baseman. His .307 wOBA last year was a career high at age 29, but still would have ranked 24th out of 26 qualified players at the position. Also, the defensive improvement gained by using Bell at DH is offset by having to run out Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner in the outfield corners. LINEUP B vs. RHP Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Bell, 1B Wallner, RF Lewis, 3B Larnach, DH Jeffers/Caratini, C Outman/Roden, LF Lee, SS NOTES: Using Larnach instead of Bell at DH allows the Twins to put a speedier player in left field. Depending on which one makes the roster as a fourth outfielder, it could be either James Outman or Alan Roden. PROS: Either Outman or Roden would represent a big fielding upgrade over Larnach, whom the Twins preferred to use at DH last year (team-leading 78 starts) for defense and durability reasons. CONS: In reverse fashion from above, the defensive improvements in left field are now offset by a substantial downgrade at first base, where Bell rates as one of the league's worst defenders. I also sort of wonder what purpose Clemens serves on the roster in this scenario. His utility off the bench would be pretty limited. LINEUP A vs LHP Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Lewis, 3B Jeffers, C Wallner, RF Bell, 1B/DH Caratini, 1B/DH Martin/Wagaman, LF Lee, SS NOTES: This is a setup that would see Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini in the lineup at the same time. It creates some risk of losing the DH in case of an injury to the starting catcher, but that's something Rocco Baldelli often proved willing to do with Jeffers and Christian Vázquez. This same grouping would work with Caratini catching and Jeffers at DH. PROS: Eight right-handed bats in the starting lineup against a left-handed pitcher. That's good. Depending which one makes the roster — and, like with Outman and Roden, I believe it's an either/or — Eric Wagaman or Austin Martin replace Larnach in left. CONS: The slow-footed Wagaman, who spent a vast majority of his time at first base last year, would be a pretty brutal defensive left fielder. Martin's a much better glove, but hasn't proven to be an impact bat against lefties. Meanwhile, Caratini loses much of his value when starting anywhere other than catcher. LINEUP B vs. LHP Buxton, CF Keaschall, 2B Lewis, 3B Bell, DH Jeffers/Caratini, C Wallner, RF Wagaman, 1B Martin/Roden, LF Lee, SS NOTES: This would be good. Can they make it work? PROS: Best-case defensive alignment and probably the best all-around lineup Minnesota can run out against a lefty if both Martin and Wagaman are on the roster. CONS: I don't think there's a practical way to have both Martin and Wagaman on the roster. Is there? It would leave the Twins sparse in center field depth behind Buxton, unless the Twins suddenly trust Martin out there now, and would mean no Roden our Outman. So then you're losing the platoon advantage in left by having to go with Roden, or Outman or Larnach. Having two lefty-swinging corner outfielders in the lineup against a left-handed starter is extremely sub-optimal. In reviewing these different scenarios, you can probably see why I arrive at the conclusion that further shaking up of this position player corps feels inevitable. Right now, the Twins are making important sacrifices no matter which roster and lineup decisions they make. At the risk of beating a dead horse, removing Larnach from the equation would simplify things considerably, but I'm not someone who favors losing him for nothing, and neither does the front office it seems. So, unless and until things change, I guess the plan is: accept the trade-offs, keep as much talent as you can (regardless of how it fits together), and let injuries dictate how some of these things play out. What say you? Do you have any preferences among the lineups presented above, or are there scenarios or possibilities I'm missing? Sound off in the comments. View the full article

#10 Marco Dinges (Carolina Mudcats, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) The Brewers drafted Marco Dinges in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft, giving him $500,000 to join the organization. Having mostly functioned in a designated hitter role at Florida State, Dinges was announced as a catcher on draft day. He briefly debuted in Carolina at the end of the 2024 season and caught a couple of games there, before returning to Carolina to begin his 2025 season. Dinges performed extremely well in Carolina, and was moved up to High-A Wisconsin by mid-May. PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 317 77 12 2 13 .930 161 .437 19.2% 15.5% 12.5% 28.3% 40.8% 24.4% 34.8% 20.3% 40.6% 39.1% 23.4% 5 1 83% 107.2 What to Like Dinges showed one of the more intriguing offensive profiles in the system in 2025, producing at a high level despite missing time due to multiple soft tissue injuries. Considering the broader context of his development, simply appearing in regular game action was a significant step forward. Just two years prior, he was battling hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening condition that required extensive treatment. His ability to get back on the field relatively consistently and perform at a high level represented a notable milestone in his progression. When healthy, Dinges demonstrated middle-of-the-order offensive potential. He finished the season with a .930 OPS, 161 wRC+, and .437 wOBA, all strong indicators of impact production. Power is the defining trait of his offensive profile. The swing is built to do damage. Dinges generates some of the best bat speed in the organization, allowing him to drive the ball with authority. His 107.2 MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity reflects legitimate plus raw power, and his 13 home runs in 317 plate appearances highlight his ability to get the power to show up in games. His offensive approach also shows encouraging signs beyond power production. Dinges posted a strong 12.5% walk rate, demonstrating a willingness to work counts and avoid expanding the zone. For a hitter with this level of power and bat speed, maintaining strong plate discipline is an important foundation for future development. While his offensive profile currently leans heavily toward power, the underlying approach gives him a chance to remain productive even during stretches when the power output dips. There's also notable upside tied to his defensive ability. Catchers with this level of offensive potential are difficult to find, and Dinges shows the athletic traits necessary to remain behind the plate. He possesses good overall mobility for the position and flashes advanced defensive ability. His arm strength is a clear asset, grading as plus and giving him the tools needed to control the running game once his mechanics improve. The combination of offensive upside and the potential to stick at catcher significantly raises his overall profile and long-term value. What to Work On Swing-and-miss remains the most significant area of weakness in Dinges’ offensive profile. His aggressive, power-focused swing produces considerable impact, but also leads to empty hacks, as reflected in his 40.8% whiff rate and 29.2% strikeout rate. While he showed some ability to manage strikeouts relative to his power output, improving contact consistency will be important against higher-level pitching. Continued development in understanding when to prioritize contact over maximizing power could stabilize his offensive production, without sacrificing his impact potential. Defensively, Dinges does show plenty of moments where it’s obvious that he’s still relatively inexperienced at the catcher position and will need to refine the technical aspects. Much of his development behind the plate centers on improving consistency in receiving, blocking, and throwing mechanics. His caught-stealing rate of 17.8% reflects a need for improvement in footwork and overall throwing efficiency, rather than arm strength, which is already a clear positive. With cleaner mechanics, his defensive performance could take a meaningful step forward. Improving his durability will also be important. While it’s not a huge deal that Dinges missed some time in 2025, demonstrating the ability to handle the physical demands of regular catching duties over a full season will be an important step in his development. What’s Next Dinges is likely to return to Appleton to begin the 2026 season, where he will have the opportunity to build on his offensive production while continuing to refine his defensive skills. If he remains healthy and shows improvement in his receiving and throwing consistency, a promotion to Double-A Biloxi could come relatively quickly. His long-term outlook will largely depend on the balance between offensive impact and defensive development. If he continues to produce at the plate while making steady progress behind it, he could emerge the top catching prospect in the system. The combination of power production and the potential to remain at catcher gives him a particularly high ceiling, relative to many prospects at the level. What are your thoughts on Dinges? What are you hoping to see from him in 2026? Let us know in the comments! View the full article