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He wasn’t quite as flashy as his 6-foot-7 fellow rookie, but don’t get it twisted: Chad Patrick played a significant role in Milwaukee’s success in 2025. He posted a 3.53 FIP (the best figure of anyone on the Brewers with more than 80 innings pitched) and accumulated 2.6 fWAR, second only to Freddy Peralta on the team’s pitching staff. To those who didn’t get a chance to follow him very closely, this might come as a surprise, since none of his peripherals are particularly impressive. Outside of a 25.2% strikeout rate, his Statcast metrics are pretty average across the board. So, can he continue his success in 2026, or will opposing hitters finally figure him out, necessitating a decrease in workload or leverage? Chad Patrick’s Strengths Patrick’s primary pitch was his cutter, which he threw 41.1% of the time. Unlike the famous cutter of former Milwaukee ace Corbin Burnes, it’s more of a hard slider than a fastball, coming in at an average velocity of just 87.9 mph. As a result, though, it gets significantly more movement than your typical cutter, which allowed him to get a whiff rate of 27.2% on it. It did run into a few barrels here and there, but overall, a hard-hit rate of 39.7% isn’t bad. For context, Drew Rasmussen had the most valuable cutter by Run Value last year, and it had a hard hit rate of 42.3% and a whiff rate of 26.8%. To complement this pitch, Patrick also threw a sinker and a four-seam fastball, which were remarkably similar in both usage (23%) and velocity (94.1 mph). His heater was particularly effective due to its 16.6 inches of induced vertical break and his ability to consistently command it at the top of the zone. His sinker didn’t miss many bats, but it was great at generating soft contact, as is expected. It didn’t stand out compared to other sinkers around the league, but it was an effective tool nonetheless, especially for getting double plays when needed. His trio of fastballs was responsible for most of his production last year. He typically attacked right-handed hitters with sinkers and left-handed hitters with four-seam fastballs, while doling out cutters to everyone. Chad Patrick’s Weaknesses His fastballs are dandy, but his secondary pitches fail to meet the same lofty standard. For the majority of his time in the big leagues, he used his slider against righties and changeups against lefties, but his offspeed stuff was getting battered. He held onto it through the end of the season, but ended up slowly phasing out his slider in favor of a slurve that had encouraging results over a small sample. One of the most challenging aspects of being a starting pitcher is needing to face the entire lineup multiple times. At minimum, a six-inning appearance requires facing everyone in the lineup twice, so the ability to give hitters different looks is necessary for long-term success. This is where Patrick’s lack of a truly effective arsenal of breaking balls really hurts him. When facing hitters for the second time in a game, he holds them to just a .597 OPS. When facing them for the third time, this balloons to an .875 OPS. It’s a significant issue that eventually pushed the team to option him later in the season. If the slurve ends up sticking around for the long haul (and if he’s able to refine his offspeed offerings, in general), he could have a very compelling five-pitch mix. If he enters 2026 still holding onto the stuff that worked in 2025, it may be tough for him to hold down a stable spot in the Brewers’ rotation. What Should Chad Patrick’s Role Be In 2026? In 2024, there was a young hurler by the name of Tobias Myers who posted similarly strong numbers in his rookie campaign, keeping an injury-battered rotation afloat. The next year, he pitched just 50 ⅔ big-league innings, spending the rest of the time in roster purgatory with 12 starts in Triple-A. He was eventually included in the Freddy Peralta trade, the final signal that Milwaukee simply didn’t believe in his ability to sustain the success he found in his freshman season. The possibility that Patrick follows a similar path isn’t out of the question just yet. Milwaukee has an excess of starting pitchers, and most of them are younger than Patrick is, with more upside. Given the return from the Mets and Red Sox trades this offseason, acquiring young starting pitching depth seems to have been the guiding theme for the front office this winter, giving guys like Patrick more competition for a coveted spot in the rotation. For starters (see what I did there?), he probably won’t be in the bullpen. There’s no room there, either, especially since the Brewers already have two long relievers in Aaron Ashby and DL Hall. He’s more than likely going to be a starter, but whether it’s in Milwaukee or in Nashville depends on how he stacks up against his teammates in spring training. With even a slight step forward, he’d be a solid back-of-the-rotation arm, but regression or stagnation could push him far enough down the roster to spend a significant portion of the season in the minor leagues. Thanks to his strong numbers last year, he’s starting (ohp, did it again) with a good reputation, but baseball—like all sports—runs on “what have you done for me lately?” It’s an inquiry that only Patrick can answer, but there’s no doubt that he has the pieces and wherewithal to prove himself at the big-league level. View the full article

Before diving into this article, we recommend reading previous entries in this series, along with an introduction in part one. With that said, let's look at the gold standard Padres starting rotation. Part one: Gold Standard Padres, Infield Edition Part two: Gold Standard Padres, Outfield Edition Part three: Gold Standard Padres, Bench Edition Part four: Gold Standard Padres, Starting Rotation The Bullpen: The Guardians of the Lead This is where the game is won in the late hours. The arms that emerged from the shadows of the left-field fence to shut the door. These aren't just relievers; they are the high-leverage souls who carried the weight of the city on their shoulders when the lights were brightest. RP Mark Davis "The Hammer" "Uncle Charlie" 1989 (4.4 WAR) The Curveball Crown W-L: 4-3 | ERA: 1.85 | SV: 44 | G: 70 | IRS%: 78.4% | WHIP: 1.05 | IP: 92.2 | SO: 92 | K/BB: 2.97 | K%: 24.9% | K-BB%: 16.5% | ERA+: 191 | WPA: 6.1 | aLI: 2.14 NL Cy Young Award Winner | 2x NL All-Star (1988, 1989) | Padres Team MVP | Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year Award | NL Saves Leader | NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year | NL Pitcher of the Month (April 1989) | NL Player of the Week (Sept 10, 1989) | Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year The Five Pillars of Uncle Charlie Innovation: Davis relied on a heavy fastball that sat in the mid-90s—dominant velocity for 1989—paired with a sharp vertical snap on his breaking ball, nicknamed Uncle Charlie. That elite command of his signature pitch provided him the rare conviction to throw it for strikes in any count, including high-leverage situations. The innovation lay in the pitch's deadly movement; Davis threw his curveball with the same aggressive arm speed as his fastball. This created a tunneling effect in which the ball stayed on a fastball plane for the first 50 feet, making the two pitches indistinguishable to the hitter before the ball fell off the table in the final 10 feet. This approach kept hitters off balance, as they couldn't simply sit on his high-velocity heat in late-inning situations. By mastering this speed differential, he neutralized both left and right-handed threats. Impact: Davis served as the ultimate safety net for the 1989 Padres, transforming late innings into a foregone conclusion. His presence allowed the starting rotation to pitch with aggression, knowing that any lead handed to "The Hammer" was essentially a guaranteed victory. The statistical weight of his impact is anchored by a then-franchise record 44 saves and an elite 78.4% Inherited Runners Stranded rate. His 6.1 Win Probability Added (WPA) led the entire National League, meaning he shifted the outcome of more games than any other pitcher in the league. This dominance is further highlighted by a 2.14 Adjusted Leverage Index (aLI), which confirms he was consistently deployed in situations more than twice as intense as the league average. By maintaining a 1.05 WHIP and a 191 ERA+, Davis performed 91% better than his peers, holding opponents to a staggering .540 OPS while allowing only 5.9 hits per nine innings (H/9). Legend: In 1989, Mark Davis put together one of the most dominant seasons ever by a relief pitcher, becoming one of the few bullpen arms to ever win the Cy Young Award. By leading the league with 44 saves—a franchise record that stood for nine years until it was finally broken by Trevor Hoffman in 1998—he joined an elite group of only nine relief pitchers in MLB history to earn the honor. His performance was so significant that he finished 6th in the National League MVP voting, a rarity for a closer. This run began in late 1988, when he earned his first All-Star selection and recorded 28 saves, laying the foundation for his historic 1989 campaign. He led the National League with 65 games finished and posted a 1.85 ERA across 92.2 innings. His legendary status was cemented during the final month of the season, where he went a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities and stranded all 19 runners he inherited, transforming into the most feared arm in the game for a single, historic summer. Iconic Look: Standing a lanky 6'4", he was most recognizable for a high leg kick that brought his lead knee nearly to his chest before he delivered from a straight over-the-top arm slot. When the bases were empty, he worked from a full, deliberate windup, but he maintained that same motion even when he had to work from the stretch with runners on. He is best remembered in this season for his signature "Uncle Charlie" curveball, which looked like it was falling off a table as it reached the plate. He anchored the bullpen in the 1989 home white jersey with brown pinstripes and the solid brown cap with the orange "SD," often wearing a dark brown leather glove that matched the team’s classic colors. The sight of his frame in those brown and orange tones, using that kick to bury the curveball which gave it its nickname, is the image that defines his 1989 Cy Young season. The "Did You Know Factor": His 1989 season was so dominant that he captured 19 of the 24 first-place votes for the Cy Young Award, beating out legendary starters like Mike Scott and Orel Hershiser. During that campaign, he became the first pitcher in Major League history to record a save on five consecutive days, a record that stood alone for nearly a decade. While he remains the only left-handed reliever in National League history to win the award, his success also triggered a massive shift in how the league valued the closer position. Immediately following his win, he signed a landmark contract with the Kansas City Royals that briefly made him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball. This deal set a new financial ceiling for bullpen specialists, proving that a closer could command the same respect as the league’s most elite starting pitchers. RP Trevor Hoffman "Hell’s Bells" "Hoffy" "Trevor Time" 1998 (4.1 WAR) The Changeup King W-L: 4-2 | ERA: 1.48 | SV: 53 | G: 66 | IRS%: 81% | WHIP: 0.85 | IP: 73.0 | SO: 86 | K/BB: 4.10 | ERA+: 269 | WPA: 5.5 | aLI: 2.04 2x NL Rolaids Relief Man Award Winner (1998, 2006) | 6x NL All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007) | 2x NL Saves Leader (1998, 2006) | 3x Sporting News NL Reliever of the Year (1996, 1998, 2006) The Five Pillars of Hoffy Innovation: Hoffman was the ultimate master of the palmball, a grip that redefined late-inning dominance after a 1994 shoulder injury forced him to reinvent his power-pitching approach. While he began his career as a high-velocity thrower touching 95 mph, his success in 1998 was built on a mid-70s off-speed delivery that looked identical to his 91 mph fastball in both arm speed and release. This created a devastating tunneling effect where the ball stayed on a fastball plane for the first 50 feet before the bottom fell out in the final ten feet. The pitch was so deceptive that it earned the nickname the Bugs Bunny changeup from teammates and broadcasters alike, as hitters would often be halfway through their swing before the ball reached the plate. Opponents described the sensation as the ball having a parachute on it, forced by the way Hoffman pinched the seam with his thumb and middle finger to kill the rotation and create late, vertical sink. Impact: Trevor was the Padres' competitive anchor for over a decade, but 1998 stood as his statistical peak. He posted a career-best 5.5 Win Probability Added (WPA), meaning he personally shifted the outcome of more games than any other pitcher in the National League that year. Hoffman successfully converted 53 of 54 save opportunities—a 98.1% success rate—and held opposing hitters to a microscopic .165 batting average. This consistency produced an incredible 0.461 OPS against, essentially turning every hitter into a liability. In save situations specifically, his ERA dropped to 0.49, and the Padres finished with a 62-4 record in games he appeared in. Beyond the box score, his 269 ERA+ meant he performed 169% above the league average, making the 9th inning a foregone conclusion for the opponent and providing the edge that fueled the franchise-record 98 wins and a World Series berth. Legend: 1998 was the year Trevor Hoffman transitioned from an elite closer to a true baseball icon. On July 25, 1998, the "Hell’s Bells" phenomenon was born at Qualcomm Stadium; as the opening toll of the AC/DC track echoed through the park, Hoffman emerged from the bullpen to convert his 41st consecutive save, tying the then-MLB record. His dominance that season was so undeniable that he finished 2nd in one of the most controversial NL Cy Young races in history. Hoffman actually received more first-place votes (13) than the winner, Tom Glavine (11), but lost the award on total points because several voters left him off their ballots entirely. Along with finishing 7th in the NL MVP race, he became the face of the franchise’s "Keep the Faith" era, leading the team through the NLCS and into the World Series. This season didn't just cement his Hall of Fame trajectory—it turned "Trevor Time" into the most intimidating entrance in the history of the sport. Iconic Look: During the 1998 season, Hoffman rotated between the Padres' classic navy blue pinstripes, the road greys, and the season’s signature navy alternate jerseys, all topped with the navy cap and its white and orange interlocking "SD." On the mound, his trademark goatee look and intense stare from beneath a low-pulled brim were as recognizable as his entrance music. His mechanics were anchored by a signature high leg kick that created a sense of tension before he broke toward the plate, allowing him to hide the ball behind his body until the last possible second. This made his devastating changeup appear identical to his fastball until it was too late. The sight of Trevor emerging from the bullpen as the Qualcomm Stadium lights flickered and the first toll of the bells rang out remains the definitive visual of San Diego’s most celebrated season. The "Did You Know Factor": Hoffman was a trailblazer in the record books, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to reach both the 500 and 600-save milestones—a feat so rare that only Mariano Rivera has ever joined him. Remarkably, his path to greatness began as a complete pivot; originally drafted as a shortstop, he possessed a rare 80-grade arm—the highest rating a scout can give—which convinced the Reds to move him to the mound after he struggled as a light-hitting infielder. This transition to a first-ballot Hall of Famer is even more impressive considering he had a kidney removed as an infant, a condition that once made many teams hesitant to recruit him. His dominance was so defining that Major League Baseball eventually renamed the National League Reliever of the Year Award in his honor: The Trevor Hoffman Award. RP Rollie Fingers "Rollie" "The Handlebar" "The 'Stash Man" 1978 (3.9 WAR) The Baron of the Bullpen W-L: 6-13 | ERA: 2.93 | SV: 37 | G: 67 | IRS%: 69.2% | WHIP: 1.15 | IP: 107.1 | SO: 82 | K/BB: 2.41 | ERA+: 120 | WPA: 2.1 | aLI: 1.85 2x NL Saves Leader ('77, '78) | NL Rolaids Relief Man | NL All-Star | Sporting News NL Fireman of the Year The Five Pillars of The Handlebar Innovation: Fingers was a master of the "sinker-slider" combination. At a time when many relievers just threw as hard as they could, Rollie used precision and late movement to induce weak contact. He was often called upon to pitch two or three innings at a time, redefining what it meant to "close" a game by being the ultimate high-leverage weapon. His innovation relied on a unique finger-pressure technique on his sinker that created a "heavy" ball, resulting in an elite groundball rate that allowed him to navigate the inherited jams that defined the "Fireman" era. While modern closers specialize in the clean 9th inning, Rollie innovated by "pitching to the floor," using a low three-quarters arm slot to make his slider "tilt" late. This created a devastating tunneling effect; by the time a hitter realized the pitch wasn't a sinker at the knees, it had already slid off the plate, forcing the weak, rollover contact that allowed him to pitch 107.1 innings of high-stress relief. Impact: His presence gave the 1970s Padres immediate credibility. He was a professional who knew how to finish games, and he helped a young franchise learn how to win close contests. He remains a rare Hall of Fame icon who cemented his legend by dominating for the Padres during his prime years in San Diego. Beyond the box score, Rollie was the essential "safety net" for a roster that had never experienced a winning season, providing the veteran stability required for the franchise to finally break through with 84 wins in 1978. His impact was felt most by appearing in 67 games and throwing 107.1 innings; he acted as a bridge for the entire staff, often entering in the 7th or 8th inning to protect a lead for hours. By posting an elite 2.1 WPA (Win Probability Added), he proved that a dominant reliever could single-handedly change the entire win-loss trajectory. Legend: Rollie Fingers brought a championship pedigree to San Diego, arriving after winning three World Series rings with the A's. In 1978, he was an absolute workhorse, leading the National League with 37 saves while pitching over 100 innings entirely out of the bullpen. He was the anchor of the staff during the same year Gaylord Perry won the Cy Young, creating a legendary veteran duo that led the Padres to their first winning season in franchise history. Iconic Look: You cannot talk about Rollie Fingers without mentioning the most famous mustache in sports history. His impeccably waxed handlebar mustache, paired with the vibrant 1978 yellow-and-brown "all-gold" uniforms, created one of the most recognizable and beloved images in the history of the game. Did You Know Factor: During his 1978 season in San Diego, Rollie appeared in 67 games. Despite his "losing" record that year, his 4.1 WAR proves just how dominant he was in keeping the Padres in games—most of those losses came in extra-inning marathons where he was pushed to his physical limit to protect the lead. RP | Rich Gossage (1984) "The Goose" WAR: 3.4 | Saves: 25 | ERA: 2.90 | W: 10 | IP: 102.1 NL All-Star | 5th in NL Cy Young | 1984 NL Champion Legend: When the Padres signed Rich "Goose" Gossage in 1984, they weren't just getting a pitcher; they were getting a Hall of Fame force of nature. Goose was the final piece of the puzzle for the '84 squad, providing the veteran "been-there-done-that" attitude that helped lead the franchise to its first-ever World Series appearance. Innovation: Goose was the pioneer of the "power closer" role. Unlike modern closers who pitch one inning, Goose was a "fireman" who would often enter in the 7th or 8th inning and blow hitters away with a blistering fastball. He used a raw, aggressive delivery that made his high-90s heat feel even more overwhelming to hitters at Jack Murphy Stadium. Impact: His arrival changed the culture of the Padres overnight. He brought an intense, win-at-all-costs mentality that rubbed off on the younger players. In the 1984 NLCS against the Cubs, his presence at the back end of the bullpen gave the city the confidence that no lead was safe for the opposition. Iconic Look: With his legendary horseshoe mustache and a glare that could freeze a hitter in the box, Goose was the most feared man in baseball. Seeing him stomp off the mound in the classic brown and gold after a multi-inning save is one of the definitive images of the 80s era in San Diego. Did You Know Factor: In 1984, Goose pitched over 100 innings entirely in relief—a feat that is almost never seen today. Despite the heavy workload, he maintained a sub-3.00 ERA. He famously said that the San Diego fans were some of the best he ever played for, and his performance in '84 remains the benchmark for veteran leadership in the bullpen. RP | Kirby Yates (2019) "The Surgeon" | "Yatesy" WAR: 3.4 | Saves: 41 | ERA: 1.19 | SO: 101 | WHIP: 0.89 NL All-Star | MLB Saves Leader | All-MLB First Team Legend: In 2019, Kirby Yates transformed from a journeyman into the most feared closer in the game. He led the National League with 41 saves and posted a microscopic 1.19 ERA, making him virtually unhittable for the entire season. His 3.4 WAR is one of the highest marks ever for a Padres reliever, proving he was the definition of elite consistency during his time at Petco Park. Innovation: Yates relied on what many consider the best "splitter" in modern baseball history. He threw it with the same arm speed as his mid-90s fastball, but the ball would abruptly drop off the table just as it reached the plate. This "ghost" pitch resulted in a staggering 15.0 strikeouts per nine innings, as hitters consistently swung at air. Impact: During a transitional period for the team, Yates was the ultimate "shut-down" presence. He gave the bullpen a fierce identity and ensured that any lead held after eight innings was a guaranteed victory. His breakout season earned him his first All-Star nod and solidified his place among the greatest single-season performers in franchise history. Iconic Look: Yates had a calm, almost icy demeanor on the mound that contrasted with his explosive stuff. Wearing the navy blue and white or the popular brown and gold "Friday" alternates, he would finish his delivery with a low, athletic stance, staring down hitters after another swinging strikeout. Did You Know Factor: Kirby Yates didn't become a full-time closer until he was 31 years old. His 2019 season was so dominant that he became the first Padres pitcher since Trevor Hoffman to lead the National League in saves. He famously earned the nickname "The Surgeon" because of the clinical precision with which he dissected the best lineups in the league. RP | Heath Bell (2010) "Heater" WAR: 2.5 | Saves: 42 | ERA: 2.71 | SO: 71 | WHIP: 1.21 NL All-Star | NL Rolaids Relief Man | NL Saves Leader Legend: After serving as the apprentice to Trevor Hoffman, Heath Bell stepped into the spotlight and proved he was a superstar in his own right. In 2010, he delivered a massive 3.3 WAR season, converting 47 saves with a blistering 1.93 ERA. He was the emotional heartbeat of a Padres team that fought until the very last day of the season for a playoff spot. Innovation: Unlike the finesse of his predecessor, "Heater" was a power closer in every sense of the word. He challenged hitters with a heavy, mid-90s fastball that seemed to get faster as the game got tighter. He paired that heat with a devastating 12-to-6 curveball that left many of the game's best hitters looking helpless at the plate. Impact: Bell took on the impossible task of following a legend and made the 9th inning his own. His high-energy entrances and "all-out" pitching style made him a massive fan favorite. He provided a bridge of stability for the franchise, ensuring the "closer" tradition in San Diego remained the best in baseball. Iconic Look: Heath Bell was known for his "sprint" from the bullpen. Unlike most relievers who jogged in, Bell would charge toward the mound at full speed, sliding into the dirt or jumping over the foul line to fire up the crowd. Clad in the navy blue and sand pinstripes of the era, he was a ball of pure energy. Did You Know Factor: Bell’s 2010 season was so consistent that he converted 34 consecutive save opportunities at one point. He is famously remembered for his 2011 All-Star Game moment, where he sprinted in and did a belly flop slide onto the mound—a perfect reflection of the fun and passion he brought to the game every single night. We’ve reached the end of this first volume, but the echoes of these legends never truly fade. They are stitched into the very fabric of this city. From the grass at Petco to the saltwater breeze off the bay, we remember that their legacy isn’t just found in the Cooperstown plaques or the retired numbers swaying in the breeze. You can find it at the coolest intersection in the world: the corner of Tony Gwynn Drive and Trevor Hoffman Way. That’s where the past meets the present, and where the roar of the crowd never quite stops. In the immortal words of the legendary Jerry Coleman, whenever a player did something truly spectacular, he would exclaim, "You can hang a star on that baby!" For these 26 icons, their stars are permanently hung in something sacred. They played with a "soul" that box scores can't fully capture, defining what it means to wear the brown and gold. "Oh, Doctor! You can hang a star on that one!" View the full article

The 2025 season marked a significant step forward for the Miami Marlins. After losing 100 games in 2024, the club improved to 79-83 and remained in playoff contention until the final series of the year. The 17-win jump represented the largest year-to-year improvement in franchise history. The Marlins ranked in the top five among all MLB teams in attendance percentage growth, highlighted by five sellouts—the most in loanDepot park history. Yet even with that uptick, the franchise had the third-lowest overall attendance across MLB. From a business perspective, enticing fans to show up is especially important moving forward as Miami's revenue from local television is projected to decrease after leaving cable behind. Enter new Chief Brand Officer Alex Parker. Upon reviewing extensive fan feedback gathered by the organization, he believes there is room to enhance the in-game and overall ballpark experience. The Marlins initially brought Parker in as a consultant last winter following a 10-year tenure with the Miami Dolphins, where he oversaw digital marketing and sponsorship initiatives. He also played a pivotal role in securing the naming rights agreement for Hard Rock Stadium. Still, Parker says baseball has always been his true passion. Growing up, back when the Marlins and Dolphins shared that venue, he was in the stands as a baseball fan. "We used to get the $3 Fish Tank tickets in the top level—that's where I spent my childhood,” Parker told Fish On First in an exclusive interview. “This brand specifically has meant everything to me for a very long time,” he added. Parker and the Marlins are taking what he describes as a “data-driven, survey-focused” approach to improving the in-game experience at loanDepot park. The overarching goal of the upcoming changes is to place the spotlight squarely on Major League Baseball and the Miami Marlins—where the focus belongs. “I want to make this all about the game and all about the team and its rich history,” Parker added. To help accomplish that, the in-game host and overall entertainment elements will be more toned down, placing a greater emphasis on the action on the field. In short, the baseball will be able to breathe. Billy back on top As Fish On First reported in early February, the Rooster Race at loanDepot park has been discontinued. The mid-game tradition was originally introduced on August 1, 2023, and featured Pepito, Charlie, and Bobby. While the rooster mascots will continue engaging with fans around the ballpark, Parker acknowledged fan feedback suggesting that Billy the Marlin should take center stage instead of being overshadowed. “For me, Billy needs to be the star—and he will remain the star,” Parker said. “We’re going to do a better job of making him the lead mascot, with the roosters not having as prominent a presence this year as they have in years past.” While cheerleaders have traditionally been a staple of football and basketball game presentation, the Marlins introduced the Mermaids, who performed dances on the field and atop the dugout during select game breaks. According to sources, they will no longer continue in that on-field role. However, the Mermaids have been invited to return in a fan-facing capacity, serving as brand ambassadors and remaining an active part of the overall fan experience. A differentiated ballpark playlist Over the past few seasons, it was no secret that the in-game entertainment playlist leaned heavily toward Latin-style rap and reggaeton. While those genres certainly have a place in baseball—especially in Little Havana—many fans voiced their displeasure over the lack of variety. That approach will shift moving forward, Parker told Fish On First. “The playlist will be more differentiated this year,” he said. “You can’t try to be everything for everybody. But for us, you need to differentiate that part of the experience so you’re connecting with a lifestyle audience, a hyper-local audience, fans coming in from Broward, and families alike—there needs to be something that resonates with all of them.” If FanFest was any indication (Parker confirmed that it was), traditional baseball anthems such as "Centerfield" and "Sweet Caroline" could take on a more prominent role. “That lines up with some of the persona work we’ve done and where we see opportunities for growth,” Parker added. On a related note, in years past, the Marlins have collaborated with prominent artists on team-specific anthems. Most recently, “Just Gettin’ Started,” featuring DJ Khaled and Poo Bear was released to usher in a new era under Derek Jeter. Before that, “Marlins Will Soar” went viral, performed by Scott Stapp. Pitbull and Gloria Estefan have also partnered with the organization in the past. However, it appears unlikely the club will pursue another collaboration of that nature in the near future. “For me, it’s about bringing back who we are as an organization and owning our own voice,” Parker noted. “The issue I see with large brands working with major influencers or doing collabs is some of that can come off as inauthentic, or as trying to drive more eyeballs into pockets and audiences, which is where you feel this disconnect.” With an emphasis on authenticity, Parker said any partnership would ideally be baseball-centric and Marlins-oriented. Less gimmicks, more baseball In years past, it often felt as though the action on the field was competing with—and at times, interrupted by—the in-game entertainment. Moving forward, the intent is to reverse that dynamic. Across Major League Baseball, some of the sport’s most respected venues—such as Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and even newer ballparks like Citi Field—prioritize the game itself, with minimal distractions. That appears to be the model the Marlins are aiming to follow. While the in-game host will still address the crowd during select breaks, the focus will shift squarely to the product on the field. Several themed segments and promotions including “Cafecito Time,” the Fruit Roll-Up contest, and the Family Feud-style feature will not return. Opening Day on Friday, March 27, will include a Kyle Stowers bobblehead giveaway, along with postgame fireworks. “Again, we’re trying to make it about baseball and bringing it back to what baseball culture has meant, which is a huge part of our ethos.” View the full article

Gabriel Gonzalez carries himself a little differently this spring. The same easy smile is there, and the appreciation for the opportunity has not changed, but there is a noticeable sense of confidence that comes from settling in and proving to himself that he belongs. After a rocky introduction to the organization in 2024, Gonzalez settled in last season and reminded everyone why he remains one of the farm system’s top prospects. Now, as camp unfolds under the watchful eyes of big-league coaches and the Minnesota development staff, Gonzalez is thinking bigger. “First of all, thank God. I had an incredible year last year, and I’m happy for that," he said. "I want to build off last year, and I’ve got some goals that I want to achieve for this year. I’m incredibly lucky to be a part of this team right now, and I look forward to the staff helping me get better.” That perspective did not come overnight. Gonzalez came to the Twins as part of the Jorge Polanco trade, and that transition came with some bumps. A new clubhouse. New coaches. New expectations. Even for a highly regarded prospect, that can be overwhelming. “At first, it was a little difficult for me coming to a new team, not knowing anybody," Gonzalez recalled. "It was all new to me. Thank God that my teammates were helpful, the staff was helpful, and I’m getting better. I found my rhythm. I’m looking forward to this year.” Finding that rhythm changed everything. His bat speed returned. His approach sharpened. The natural ability that made him such an intriguing addition began to show consistently over a full season. Now the focus shifts toward 2026, a year of high stakes for both Gonzalez and the organization. While he is unlikely to break camp with the big-league club, the expectation internally is that he could force the conversation before long. The Twins have leaned heavily on young talent in recent seasons, and Gonzalez fits the timeline of a roster that continues to blend cost-controlled upside with competitive expectations. His goals for the upcoming year are grounded but telling. “First of all, I would like to stay healthy," he said. "That’s number one. Then I’d like to help the team with whatever they need. Control the controllables.” Health is foundational. Consistency follows. But Gonzalez knows that if he is going to make the leap from promising minor leaguer to everyday contributor at Target Field, there is one area that demands attention. “I think first and foremost, I need to work on my defense, and make it a huge emphasis. At the big-league level, people play good defense. The game speeds up on you. Everything is hit harder and further. So, I need to focus on my defense.” That self-awareness matters. The bat has long been his calling card, but modern roster construction demands versatility and reliability in the field. For a young outfielder hoping to carve out a role in Minnesota’s long-term plans, sharpening routes, reads, and arm accuracy could be the difference between being a contributor and being a cornerstone. And he has already allowed himself to dream a little. “It's definitely crossed my mind. We [he, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Walker Jenkins] played together in Triple-A, shared the same outfield, and we get along very well. But it's definitely crossed my mind that in the future we could share the same at Target Field. That would be an incredible experience.” The image of a young, homegrown outfield growing together at Target Field is exactly what the organization hopes to build toward in 2026 and beyond. Gonzalez is not guaranteed anything, but the path is visible. Continued offensive production. Defensive growth. A healthy season. If those boxes are checked, the timeline accelerates quickly. For now, Gonzalez remains focused on the daily work. The drills in the Florida sun. The conversations with coaches. The steady climb that every prospect must navigate. Last year was about finding his rhythm. This year is about proving it was not a fluke. If he does that, 2026 could be the year Twins fans finally see Gabriel Gonzalez turn potential into presence on a major league stage. What should the expectations be for Gonzalez in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Michael Conforto and the Cubs have agreed on a minor league deal for 2026. This comes a year after Conforto regressed on a one-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers. The veteran outfielder logged a career-low .199 batting average with 12 homers and 36 runs batted in. If Conforto turns back the clock in 2026, who is left out? We answer this and more in this video. Enjoy! View the full article

It seems that the Red Sox's infield depth has already taken a massive blow before the season has even begun. On Wednesday morning, it was revealed by Romy Gonzalez that the infielder will likely not be ready for Opening Day, a revelation many were not surprised by, considering the infielder's current situation. Dealing with a shoulder he aggravated back in January after originally injuring it near the end of the 2025 season, González has yet to get into any regimen during spring training. González had previously undergone a PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injection in late January, but things have not progressed to the point he had hoped. Per MassLive’ Christopher Smith, González said on Wednesday morning “at this point, I think the ramp-up would be a little too quick and it’d be a disservice I feel like to myself and the team if I’m not ready to roll and have a good build up.” González will have an evaluation done by the training staff next Friday, but the infielder feels he won’t be able to begin hitting by then. With González likely headed to the injured list to begin the season, a battle for the utility infield spot on the roster is likely to come down between Nick Sogard and Andruw Monasterio, with the latter having earned praise from manager Alex Cora. View the full article

JUPITER, FL—On Tuesday, the Miami Marlins welcomed the Philadelphia Phillies all the way from Clearwater, Florida. Two of the Marlins four major league free agent signings took the mound in what ended up being a 6-1 win for the Fish. Chris Paddack, John King make spring training debut Chris Paddack, who signed with the Marlins on February 12, made his first start of the spring. In his lone inning of work, he threw 21 pitches (13 for strikes), allowing one run on one hit, one hit by pitch and one strikeout. Johan Rojas struck out swinging on Paddack's 94.5 mph four-seam fastball, which was his top velocity of the outing. On top of the fastball, he threw his curveball, changeup, slider and sinker. In total, he generated two whiffs on nine swings. "I felt like we got a lot of good work, especially with runners on first and second right away," Paddack said ."A lot of good, stressful pitches out of the wind or out of the stretch, early and often. I felt like with the pitch-calling, that was something that we're going to use spring to get used to, but I made a joke to (assistant pitching coach) Rob (Marcello Jr.) that he gets to play MLB The Show every day, just a live version, so we have fun with it. Thought me and (catcher Joe) Mack back there worked really well today." Paddack's top priority was working on his sinker (he refers to it as his two-seamer). He threw it twice. One of those hit Trea Turner, which the veteran right-hander apologized to Turner about. The other one to Johan Rojas was fouled off. The slider was thrown five times (24% of the time) on Tuesday. His usage of it was only 5.9% last season. He landed it twice for a strike, but didn't generate any whiffs on that pitch. "Got some good feedback from Mack and our pitching coaches in the dugout that they liked what they saw," Paddack said. In relief, John King also made his first appearance of the spring, throwing 18 pitches, working a 1-2-3 inning where he struck out two in the process. His fastball topped out at 91.9 mph and both of his strikeouts came with the slider. The first one was originally called a ball, but got overturned after a successful ABS challenge. "The sinker is a terrific pitch, and just continuing to use this time to put into place some of the work you're doing on the arsenal side of things that are going to pay big dividends for him versus left and right this year," said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. Joe Mack makes his first start Fish On First No. 2 prospect Joe Mack made his first start of the spring, catching Paddack and King among others, but his most notable moment was the grand slam he hit in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Andrew Walling. The ball left the bat at 97.3 mph and went 336 feet to left field. "I think coming into camp this year, just the comfortability around everyone and knowing that Joe's very close, and he's incredibly talented on both sides of the ball," said McCullough. "I think coming to this camp off a really solid year in Triple-A gave him a lot of confidence coming in. I think a lot of it also stems in the offseason. He stayed here in Jupiter most of the offseason and really committed himself to trying to prepare his body and mind as well as he could for for this upcoming season." Fish On First Prospects (@fofprospects) • Instagram photos and videos WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 125 likes, 1 comments - fofprospects on February 24, 2026: "Alexa, show me a top five catching prospect in all of baseball. ✨ #Marlins". Last season in Triple-A Jacksonville, Mack slashed .257/.338/.475/.813 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI and a 120 wRC+, cementing himself as one of the best catching prospects in the entire sport. He also won the Minor League Gold Glove at his position in 2024. Uncharacteristically, the only Phillies run of the game scored on a wild pickoff attempt by Mack (he was charged with an error and the run was unearned). "It's probably still the most demanding position on the field," McCullough said regarding catchers. "In some ways, any type of offense you get from that position, you look at as a real bonus. We believe the chance to impact on both sides of the ball. He's a terrific thrower, there's a lot of athleticism and creativity with how he can throw. The confidence he has back there to do that as well as layering on the type of receiver that that he is." Quick Notes - In addition to Paddack and King, the following pitched on Tuesday: Nigel Belgrave, Zach Brzykcy, Josh Ekness, Dax Fulton, Cade Gibson, John King, Adam Mazur and Jack Ralston. - Liam Hicks made his first start of the spring at first base, going 2-for-2 at the plate. - Hicks and Kyle Stowers were hit by pitches, but both of them felt fine after exiting the game. - Graham Pauley (right forearm) received "good news" after undergoing imaging and he hopes to play in games at some point this week. - Braxton Garrett will make the trip to Dunedin and start Thursday's game. He will go just one inning. Fish On First No. 1 prospect Thomas White will also make the trip to and make his Grapefruit League debut in relief. - Robby Snelling (FOF #3) is expected to pitch on Friday in Clearwater. - On the World Baseball Classic front, Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols announced that Sandy Alcantara will face Venezuela in pool play. That game will take place on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 pm in loanDepot park. What's next? The Marlins play another game in Jupiter, welcoming the Houston Astros for a 1:10 pm first pitch on Wednesday. Tyler Phillips will start the game for the Marlins and Pete Fairbanks will be making his spring debut. Hunter Brown starts for the Astros. The game will not be televised, but you can listen on MLB.TV. View the full article

The days of Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman, and Kenny Lofton are over when it comes to what many grew up with as prototypical leadoff hitters. All you have to do is look at Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani now taking over what had been a table-setter role. Now, it is more of a tone-setting spot in the lineup, able to open the game with a home run as much as a double off the wall. That is a long way from a single (perhaps via bunt), a stolen base, and scoring on an ensuing hit. So the San Diego Padres, using Fernando Tatis Jr. in the leadoff spot in 2025, while perhaps out of necessity instead of convenience, made a lot of sense. He has the speed-power combo that feels ideal for that role. This spring, however, new Friars manager Craig Stammen unveiled a new top of the lineup, with Tatis moving down to cleanup. The rest of the top four have been Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, and Manny Machado. This is still a work in progress and could be different before Opening Day. Tatis said the leadoff role wasn't necessarily something he wanted. Could it unlock more from the Padres' offense? Particularly from a power perspective, it could. The Friars famously finished 28th of 30 MLB teams with 152 home runs. Yes, even less than the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins. From 2023-25, after missing all of 2022 due to injury and a performance-enhancing drug suspension, Tatis has hit 25, 21, and 25 home runs, scored 91, 64, and 111 runs, driven in 78, 49, and 71 runs, and stolen 29, 11, and 32 bases. Injuries limited him to 104 games in 2024. While Tatis would have about 20 fewer plate appearances by hitting cleanup as opposed to leadoff, he would have more opportunities to drive in runs and, perhaps, free himself up to be more of a power hitter. After all, he would go from hitting behind the Friars' 7-8-9 hitters to hitting after the top three in the lineup, including immediately after Machado. That would also benefit Machado, given the threat of Tatis following him. Cleanup was a rotation of hitters in 2025. Some of this adjustment to the lineup has to do with the departure of Luis Arraez, whose ability to make contact was ideal at or near the top of the order. Tatis made great strides in 2025 with his walk and strikeout rates. His walk rate jumped up from 8.3% in 2023 and 7.3% in 2024 to a career-best 12.9%, while his strikeout rate went down from 22.2% to 21.9% to 18.7% in 2025. His 18.7% was well below the MLB average of 22.5%. That is the type of discipline improvement you want to see from a player entering his prime years. Tatis is, after all, just turned 27 years old to begin 2026. And let's face it. Tatis at cleanup is a much bigger threat than Merrill, who had a subpar 2025 and batted there occasionally throughout 2025 and all three postseason games. Tatis at the cleanup spot could produce a 30-homer season and improve the Friars' 4.33 runs per game in 2025, which ranked 18th in MLB. Even another 65 runs total, less than one run every two games, would put the Friars in the top 10. This is also dependent on the top two spots in the lineup being productive. Bogaerts will have to make the biggest transition. Even back to his Boston Red Sox days, Bogaerts has been a middle-of-the-order bat. In his three years with the Padres, Bogaerts has had on-base percentages of .350, .307, and .328. His career walk rate is 8.4%, right on the MLB average of 8.3%. His strikeout rate with the Friars is 16.8%, nearly 6 points better than the league average. Both are good traits for a leadoff hitter. While not currently the power threat that Tatis is, hitting 19, 11, and 11 homers with the Padres, Bogaerts did steal a career-best 20 bases in 2025. Merrill's bounce back is perhaps the most important part of this top four working. Entering his third season, Merrill was plagued by injuries in 2025 (strained hamstring, concussion, sprained ankle), which led to his slash line dropping from .292/.326/.500 to .264/.317/.457. While his strikeout rate of 19.4% is a few points better than the MLB average, his walk rate of 5.8% needs improvement. That might make him a really good candidate to hit second, ahead of Machado, as he will see better pitches. Protection for Tatis as the cleanup hitter will also be important, which is why the Padres need the acquisitions of Nick Castellanos and Miguel Andujar, in particular, to pay off, as well as left fielder Ramon Laureano to be somewhat close to his 2025 production. Castellanos being able to handle first base, with early reviews promising, would allow a platoon at designated hitter with Andujar, Gavin Sheets, and perhaps Sung Mun Song. That combo hitting fifth and sixth would definitely ramp up the production, particularly from a power perspective, to this lineup. View the full article

The Twins work hard to forge organizational depth, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield. Pitching prospects might be harder to predict than position players because of the variability in how pitchers develop, as well as whether pitchers can stick as starters or if and when they transition to a bullpen role. When Derek Falvey was hired, the idea of creating a pitching pipeline was widely discussed. Was he able to do this, between taking over in 2017 and leaving the team last month? Let’s do a deeper dive into the pitching prospects the Twins have, beyond the members of the 40-man roster. Here is the list of starting pitchers not on the 40-man roster the Twins have in their farm system. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level at which they played last season. Trent Baker Acquired: Triple-A Rule 5 Draft, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Baker was drafted in the 9th round in 2021 out of Angelo State, by the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched in the Cardinals organization through 2024, reaching Double-A. After that season, Baker was selected by the Twins in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft. In 2025, he pitched at Double-A Wichita and earned a call-up to Triple-A St. Paul. He pitched both as a starter and as a reliever, making the majority of his appearances at Triple-A as a reliever. Between the two levels, the 27-year-old pitched in 35 games, starting 15 of them and accumulating 95 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate was decent, at 24.0%, and he put up an ERA of 3.86 and an FIP of 4.16. Baker is a non-roster invitee to big-league camp this year, so keep an eye on whether he gets big-league hitters out. As any team will tell you, you can never have enough pitching depth. Christian MacLeod Acquired: 5th round, 2021 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A MacLeod is one of many college pitchers taken by the Falvey-led front office in the middle rounds of drafts. The left-handed pitcher pitched at Mississippi State for two seasons, where he started all 23 of his appearances. He put up solid numbers there, in the country's most competitive collegiate baseball conference. Since being drafted, MacLeod has pitched at every minor-league level, reaching Triple-A St. Paul last year. He's shown the ability to keep the ball in the park throughout his minor-league career, which is always a good sign. While he started most of his games early in his career, he had more relief appearances at Triple-A in 2025 and did not perform well. A repeat of the level will be good, to see if he can continue to make adjustments. MacLeod will be playing his age-26 season in 2026, and we'll see if he continues to rely on his slider, which he threw 48.3 percent of the time. His fastball is below average, averaging 90.6 mph over his minor-league career. Time will tell if he can develop into the stereotype of a crafty lefty who can be a weapon, either in the rotation or out of the bullpen. He's a non-roster invitee, too. Cory Lewis Acquired: 9th round, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A If you pay attention to prospects, you've probaby seen clips of Cory Lewis, heavily featuring his knuckleball. The 25-year-old signed out of UC-Santa Barbara, where he was the school's top starter. Unfortunately, he was shut down as spring training began, and will miss significant time with a subscapularis strain. Last season, he pitched at Triple-A after getting a sneak peek at the level at the very end of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, the larger dose of that level did not go down as smoothly as he had hoped. His walk rate skyrocketed, and his homer rate jumped up quite a bit. Previously, he had much better numbers, so the hope was that he could find what made him successful at other levels and get back to that for 2026. With the injury, the non-roster invitee will likely not get as many chances as he had hoped. As long as the shoulder injury doesn’t keep him out too long, the plan for 2026 will be to continue to make adjustments and start anew, after a disappointing 2025 season. The clock is ticking on him, though. Matt Canterino Acquired: 2nd round, 2019 Highest Level in 2025: Did not pitch, shoulder injury Canterino was an extremely intriguing prospect out of Rice University back in 2019, but unfortunately, his professional career has been marred by injury after injury. The 28-year-old is no longer a top prospect, but if (and this is a big if) he can stay healthy, he has the makeup to make some noise out of the bullpen. Because of his injury history, he will no longer be used as a starting pitcher. He’s still recovering from shoulder surgery in 2025, and probably won't pitch this year. He hasn’t pitched in a game since 2022, when he pitched mostly at Double-A. There, he showed flashes of greatness, with a 34.8% strikeout rate and a 1.95 ERA. While his days of starting are over, he could yet turn into a weapon out of the bullpen. The big question will be whether he can stay healthy enough to do so. C.J. Culpepper Acquired: 13th round, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Another pitcher drafted in the later rounds, Culpepper came out of California Baptist University in 2022, where he pitched for three years. He pitched mostly in relief until his final year of college, when he made 14 starts out of 16 appearances, throwing to a 3.26 ERA over 69 innings. He's pitched almost exclusively as a starting pitcher in his minor-league career, making 53 starts in his first four years. The 24-year-old has steadily climbed the rungs of the professional ladder, pitching with Double-A Wichita last season. He had very promising results over 59 1/3 innings (17 starts), with a 2.43 ERA. While his FIP was not quite as great, it was still a solid 4.27. The one thing to watch was that his strikeout rate dropped quite a bit once he hit Double-A, from 26.8% in 2024 to 21.2% in 2025. As many young pitchers do, he will continue to refine and develop his pitches. His fastball averages about 94 mph, but has reached 98. His other pitches include a plus slider, a curveball, a cutter, and a changeup. He’s an intriguing pitcher to keep an eye on, as he might still have another level to unlock with some adjustments this season. Jose Olivares Acquired: International Free Agency, 2021 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Signed out of Venezuela for $100,000 in 2021, Olivares has pitched well early in his professional career. The 23-year-old pitched at High-A in 2025, where he had a solid strikeout rate but issued way too many walks—hardly an unexpected wrinkle to need smoothing, for a young arm. He's shown the potential for three or four above-average pitches. His fastball has reached 97 mph, with a gyro slider that has also shown the ability to miss bats. He also throws a curveball and a changeup, so he has a nice repertoire in the making. With the right adjustments, Olivares could move up the ladder relatively quickly, and we could see him at Target Field within the next couple of years. He’ll likely get his first chance at the high minors this year, so keep an eye on him as he continues to develop in his age-23 season. Ryan Gallagher Acquired: Trade, Chicago Cubs, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A One of two prospects the Twins received from the Chicago Cubs in return for Willi Castro at the trade deadline, Gallagher is a former 6th-round pick who split his 2025 campaign between High-A and Double-A. He threw over 100 innings for the first time in his professional career, totaling 121 2/3, and posted a 3.84 FIP, which was better than his 4.07 ERA. He’s shown the ability to miss bats at Double-A, with a 26.1% strikeout rate last year. He doesn’t walk many hitters, either. He has three above-average pitches and a fourth that grades out as fair. His fastball is solid, working in the low 90s and topping out at 95, with a high-70s changeup that misses some bats. He also throws a slider and a curveball to complete his mix of pitches. He doesn’t have the upside of a front-line starter. However, he's a safe bet as a back-end guy, and could make an impact on the Twins' rotation in short order. Darren Bowen Acquired: Trade, Seattle Mariners, January 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Bowen was acquired as part of the Jorge Polanco deal in January 2024, wherein the Twins also acquired Justin Topa. Seen at the time as more of a lottery ticket than a headliner, Bowen pitched last season with Double-A Wichita, where he struggled to a 5.14 ERA over 84 innings. He struggled with the long ball, allowing 17 home runs. Now 25 years old, Bowen will have to show he can get hitters out in the upper minors to be considered an option in the rotation, or (maybe more realistically) out of the bullpen. He did have 11 relief appearances in 2025, so a transition to the pen may allow his stuff to play up. This will be a key year for his development. Alejandro Hidalgo Acquired: Trade, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, November 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Hidalgo was acquired from the Angels in return for Gio Urshela, whom the Twins recently signed to a minor-league deal. Hidalgo signed with the Angels for $30,000, so he was not a highly touted prospect at the time of signing. He pitched at High-A and Double-A last year, where he struggled mightily but posted solid peripherals, including a 25.6% strikeout rate and an xFIP of 3.94. While he hasn’t had great results, the soon-to-be 23-year-old will continue to develop, make adjustments, and see if he can get his actual results closer to his expected ones. Still being used as a starter, it’s possible he moves to the bullpen down the road. I would expect the Twins to continue to develop him as a starter this year, but he'll have to show rapid improvements in outcomes. Sam Armstrong Acquired: Trade, Chicago Cubs, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Acquired along with Gallagher in the swap for Castro, Armstrong is a former mid-round pick who has steadily climbed the minor-league ladder, pitching at Double-A for the entire 2025 season. At 25 years old, this will be a key year in his development, but he had promising results last year, over 130 innings. He finished with a 4.15 FIP and a 3.98 xFIP, which was better than his 4.71 ERA. He’s more of a pitch-to-contact pitcher than many of the other names listed here. While he doesn’t have as high a ceiling as others on this list, he could still prove to be a quality option down the road, and he has stayed healthy, throwing over 100 innings each of the past two seasons. Ricky Castro Acquired: Free Agent, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Signed in 2024 out of independent ball, Castro first pitched three years at Purdue and one at Tulane during his collegiate career. It's not hard to see why he wasn't drafted out of college; he pitched to a 6.22 ERA with 143 strikeouts over 147 2/3 innings at those schools. After the Twins signed him, he pitched at Single-A, High-A, and in Double-A for the entire 2025 season. Early in his minor-league career, he had a high strikeout rate, topping out at 27.0% in 2024. In 2025, it came down a bit, as it often does with a move up in levels; his results didn’t match his peripherals. He finished the year with a 5.48 ERA, but his FIP and xFIP were 4.45 and 4.13, respectively. An intriguing arm, Castro still has adjustments to make, but he is intriguing enough to keep an eye on, to see if he can continue to develop into an option down the road. He was used both as a starter and as a reliever last year, so a move to the bullpen might be in the cards for the 26-year-old. With the list of pitchers being quite long, we decided to break this up into two parts. We’ll take a look at the pitchers who were in the lower minors this past season in the next article. Which of these pitching prospects are you most excited or intrigued by? View the full article

On Fish Unfiltered, AJ Ramos discusses the combination of stuff, confidence and quirkiness that make Pete Fairbanks and Tyler Phillips so important to the 2026 Marlins bullpen.View the full article

On Fish Unfiltered, AJ Ramos discusses the combination of stuff, confidence and quirkiness that make Pete Fairbanks and Tyler Phillips so important to the 2026 Marlins bullpen.View the full article

Minnesota Twins relievers Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, and Cole Sands made their spring training debuts against the Baltimore Orioles. Can we draw any conclusions from the order in which they debuted? On the other side of the ball, is Luke Keaschall pegged as the everyday second baseman? View the full article

Minnesota Twins relievers Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, and Cole Sands made their spring training debuts against the Baltimore Orioles. Can we draw any conclusions from the order in which they debuted? On the other side of the ball, is Luke Keaschall pegged as the everyday second baseman? View the full article

If you merely consult a spreadsheet that shows the guaranteed dollars for which the Chicago Cubs are on the hook, you might think that they've walked right up to the competitive-balance tax threshold, but declined to step over the line. If that were true, it would be a complication for them, as they stare down two key decisions this spring: whether to put non-roster free-agent signing Michael Conforto on the Opening Day roster (thus guaranteeing him $2 million), and whether to extend star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Frustrating though it might (rightfully) be to many fans, the CBT line is a real and important factor in teams' decision-making. All teams have budgets, and those budgets aren't technically anchored to the CBT line, but going over the line (especially in consecutive seasons) means higher costs, draft-pick and international free agency penalties. It has to be part of the calculation about marginal spending whenever a team is hovering near the line between not being a payer and being one, or between two of the several thresholds at which penalties and tax rates rise. Here's the thing, though: the Cubs are already over the tax line. It's not that close, either. They have not only Conforto, but a handful of other experienced non-roster invitees in camp, from outfielders Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson to relievers like Trent Thornton and Kyle Wright. Christian Bethancourt, who's likely to go to Triple-A Iowa if both Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya are healthy at the end of camp, will make $1.6 million if added to the big-league roster at some point to backfill because of injuries. Any dollar over the league minimum earned by any of the above pushes the Cubs closer to (or, in actuality, well past) the line, since they're currently just under $500,000 below the threshold. Even if none of those players makes the roster and the team rolls with guys who play for the minimum (say, Kevin Alcántara and Ryan Rolison), though, they're going to end up over the line. Kelly and Matthew Boyd signed two-year deals last winter that included up to $500,000 per year in performance bonuses based on playing time, and each maxed out those bonuses in 2025. It's unlikely they'll do so again in 2026, but they'll get another $200,000 or more from the team based on those clauses. Then, the team signed five free-agent relievers this winter to deals that include substantial performance bonuses. Hunter Harvey, alone, can earn over $1 million in bonuses. Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner can each earn about $250,000 more than their base salaries. Those guys won't max out their earning power, but to push the Cubs over the line, none of them has to. In some wild scenario in which none of those bonuses have to be paid, the team will be in scramble mode early, and will end up spnding money on someone else to patch holes in their pitching staff. No, the Cubs are already over the CBT line. That's good news. With the CBT not really an active consideration (but the second threshold a solid $12-15 million in guarantees away), the Cubs could go scoop up another starter before the season starts, to bolster a strong but injury-shadowed starting rotation. They can also freely negotiate with Crow-Armstrong, who sounds very interested in a long-term deal with the club. Signing him for the long haul would earn the team tons of good will with their fans, and they'd also have cost certainty for the next handful of years, rather than risking his salary skyrocketing via arbitration. Locking up Crow-Armstrong would mean giving him a boost in salary ahead of schedule, albeit a modest one, in 2026. It would also mean a signing bonus, which would be spread over the life of the deal but would be a cost incurred up front. Crow-Armstrong's CBT hit would rise sharply, because it would reflect the annual average value of the deal. That's why not having to think about staying below that line matters. Last season, the Cubs couldn't seriously consider any expensive extensions, because they didn't have clearance to surpass the CBT threshold or the breathing room to increase their number at the last second. Things are much more conducive to that kind of spending this spring. One way or another, the Cubs probably aren't done spending money this offseason. Be it a team-friendly extension for a young player or a market-rate one to keep one of Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki from becoming free agents in November, there will be lots of conversations around the team's existing players—and there's still room to spend a bit on more pitching help, if they decide that they need it. View the full article

The depth in the Brewers' system means many players outside the top 10 would make the majority of teams' top 10, if not their top 5. Let's take a look at prospects 11-15, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic writers. #15 3B Brock Wilken (Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 344 61 17 0 18 .876 159 .413 27.0% 20.1% 9.4% 29.1% 55.3% 24.6% 20.1% 21.6% 35.2% 43.2% 22.4% 2 0 100% 106.0 Several challenges marked Wilken's 2024 season. He was hit in the face by a pitch early in the year, which led to lingering vision issues that affected him throughout the season. Off the field, he and his wife also welcomed their first child. That's a positive personal milestone, but at the same time, balancing professional responsibilities with family life added another layer of adjustment during the season. He spent the offseason focused on recovery and on restoring his vision. The early results in 2025 were very encouraging, highlighted by an outstanding May in which he hit nine home runs and posted a 170 wRC+. However, a knee injury suffered while celebrating Biloxi's first-half playoff clinch limited him to just 14 games the rest of the year, and he did not appear fully healthy during that stretch. Even so, his first 280 plate appearances showed clear signs of offensive improvement. Power production remains a defining part of Wilken's profile. Despite playing roughly two-thirds of a full season, he finished third in the Southern League with 18 home runs. His plate discipline was a strength, reflected in a 20% walk rate, though he did allow a notable number of hittable pitches in the zone to pass by, and it's fair to question whether the overall approach is a bit too passive at the moment. Swing-and-miss remains part of the profile, with elevated whiff and strikeout rates contributing to a definite power-over-contact approach. Defensively, Wilken has shown steady progress at third base. While some evaluations have graded him below average at the position, his play has suggested the potential to develop into a serviceable defender. His arm strength is a clear plus, and he has generally handled routine plays well. At times, he has shown some difficulty charging softly hit balls, which seems to be tied more to his reads off the bat than to any athletic limitations. Wilken is expected to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A, and may have reached that level earlier if not for the knee injury. With the Brewers continuing to evaluate long-term options at third base, his performance and defensive development could position him as a major-league option in the near future. #14 1B Blake Burke (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 567 143 27 2 16 .832 139 .393 23.8% 11.5% 12.9% 27.9% 34.3% 26.8% 39.0% 22.7% 49.6% 27.8% 21.4% 15 5 75% 108.8 Drafted in Competitive Balance Round A (just after the first round) of the 2024 draft, Burke got off to an interesting start at High-A in 2025. He posted a 124 wRC+ across 95 games at the level, but the power production did not match the underlying contact quality. Despite consistently hitting the ball hard (highlighted by an elite 108.8-MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity), he produced just five home runs in 408 plate appearances—a shockingly low total, given his size and raw power. That changed following his promotion to Double-A. Burke's ground-ball rate dropped from 52.4% at High-A to 42.4%, and the shift in batted-ball profile quickly translated into more over-the-fence production. He had been making hard contact throughout the season, but a lack of consistent elevation limited his power output earlier in the year. With Biloxi, he hit 11 home runs in just 159 plate appearances. Even during the stretch in High-A when the power had not yet emerged, Burke did show the ability to hit for average and make a reasonable amount of contact, pointing to the potential for an average hit tool paired with above-average or even plus power. Defensively, Burke's glove work at first base has generally translated well from his time at Tennessee. He shows reliable hands and solid instincts around the bag. While his mobility may not stand out, he has shown more athleticism and reaction ability than many players with a similar build. His overall defensive profile is that of an average first baseman, perhaps even a tick better. That athleticism also shows up in subtle ways. Burke is not a traditional speed threat, but he moves well once he gets moving and shows strong instincts on the bases. He was successful on 15 of 20 stolen base attempts and regularly shows awareness, taking extra bases on balls in play. As Josh Naylor showed this year, you can be a good baserunner without being very fast, though you probably won't see Burke go on any stolen-base binges akin to what Naylor did in the second half of last year. As a first base-only prospect, Burke's long-term value will depend heavily on his offensive production. If his late-season power surge at Double-A proves sustainable, his overall profile could rise significantly, with the potential to position himself as a major league option as early as 2026. He's more likely to have an impact on the 2027 season. #13 1B Luke Adams (Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 315 54 15 0 11 .853 158 .413 20.3% 16.5% 7.1% 23.5% 52.9% 22.7% 24.4% 25.0% 37.2% 37.8% 40.0% 10 3 77% 104.3 A 12th-round selection in the 2022 draft, Adams is one of the more interesting players in the system, with a profile that continues to produce despite some unusual characteristics. At the plate, Adams presents a unique offensive profile. He has gradually simplified his swing mechanics in pro ball. While some unconventional elements remain, the overall operation is more controlled than earlier in his career, though it still has more moving parts than most players. Despite this, his production has consistently been strong at every level. That production continued at Double-A, where he posted a 159 wRC+ across his first 278 plate appearances. Power production also took a step forward this season, as Adams accessed his in-game power more consistently and posted a .218 isolated slugging at the Double-A level, the highest mark of his career. His plate discipline remains a defining strength, though his extremely passive approach (33% swing-rate) will require adjustment against the highest levels of pitching. Increased aggressiveness on pitches in the strike zone, particularly earlier in counts, could help maximize his offensive impact as he advances. His defensive home has been a notable part of his development. While he has the tools to play third base at an average level, he saw limited time there this season, spending the majority of his time at first base. While his defensive profile suggests he could develop into an above-average defender at first but merely average at third, there's more value (all else equal) in being passable at the hot corner than in being a grade better at the cold one. If he's to stick at the hot corner, continued refinement of his footwork and throwing mechanics will be important, as he's shown a tendency to throw off-balance at times when there is no real need to. Adams appears ready for a move to Triple-A, though roster construction could result in a return to Biloxi to begin the season. He will become Rule 5 Draft-eligible next winter, making this a big year for him to show he'll be ready to contribute at the big-league level in short order. #12 2B Josh Adamczewski (Carolina Mudcats, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 308 81 18 5 5 .910 155 .434 17.2% 14.0% 12.1% 26.6% 46.9% 20.8% 32.4% 21.1% 41.7% 37.3% 17.1% 7 1 88% Both Adams and Adamczewski were Day 3 draft picks, with Adamczewski going in the 15th round in 2023. Committed to Ball State at the time, he was a great find by area scout Ginger Poulson. Adamczewski has been an intriguing offensive prospect since entering pro ball, with his swing mechanics standing out early and pointing to a strong overall hitting foundation. He showed some increased swing-and-miss during a brief stint with the Timber Rattlers to close out the 2025 season, as well as during his time in the Arizona Fall League, but his overall approach at the plate remains a clear strength. He consistently makes strong swing decisions and shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields. The underlying power and contact quality have been encouraging. Adamczewski has recorded exit velocities above 110 MPH in the minor leagues and reached 109.6 MPH in the AFL. While he hit just five home runs during the regular season, he added four more in the Fall League, further highlighting his power potential. The offensive profile points to the possibility of an above-average hit tool with power production that could develop into at least the 20-home run range. Defensively, his long-term position remains less certain. He has primarily played second base, though his defense at the position continues to draw mixed evaluations and may not fully align with the defensive expectations typically associated with the Brewers' middle infield. He also saw significant time in left field during the Arizona Fall League, where his above-average speed and athleticism translated well despite limited experience. A move to the outfield remains a realistic long-term possibility. Adamczewski experienced some struggles in a 16-game sample at High-A late in the 2025 season. He's likely to return to Appleton to begin the year, with the opportunity to move quickly to Double-A if his offensive production returns to the level he showed in Carolina. #11 CF Luis Lara (Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 612 132 32 3 2 .712 117 .348 16.2% 14.1% 6.7% 17.3% 38.0% 20.8% 41.1% 22.1% 50.9% 27.0% 20.7% 44 7 86% After slipping down the rankings in 2024, Lara quickly moved back up the board following a strong 2025 season at Double-A, where he was one of the youngest players at the level and did not turn 21 until November. The switch-hitter showed meaningful offensive growth, lowering his whiff rate by roughly three percentage points in a more challenging hitting environment while also increasing his walk rate by nearly six percentage points. Lara's power production remained limited, with just two home runs, and he's listed at 5-foot-8, so it's never likely to be a plus tool for him. However, he still demonstrated the ability to impact the baseball. He recorded multiple exit velocities of 110 MPH, suggesting more underlying strength than the traditional power numbers indicate. Speed has long been a key part of his profile, and he took another step forward in that area in 2025, posting plus-plus run times. Improved instincts and better jumps on the bases helped him convert that speed into production, as he went 44-for-51 on stolen base attempts. His 86% success rate represented a clear improvement over the 75% and 76% marks he posted in 2023 and 2024. While the offensive development was encouraging, Lara's defense remained the most impactful part of his game and reached another level in 2025. He earned a Minor League Gold Glove, a result of his highlight-reel plays, but also his improved reads and routes. Those improvements allowed his athleticism to play up even further, and he regularly showed a willingness to make aggressive plays in the field, running into walls or laying out to make plays. Already a plus defender, he has the tools to develop into one of the premier defensive outfielders in the game. He also features a strong, accurate arm, which adds to his value. Lara could return to Biloxi to begin the season. However, his performance suggests he's ready for a move to Triple-A. He could position himself as a depth option at the major-league level with continued success. His combination of speed, defense, and improved offensive approach provides a high floor, and continued development at the plate would further elevate his overall profile. A median outcome for Lara could be a Blake Perkins-type fourth-outfield profile. On the higher end, you could be looking at a switch-hitting Sal Frelick, who's consistently playing center field. What stands out from 11-15 in this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Royals announced on social media that Bobby Witt Jr. received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for the 2025 season. He becomes the third Royals player in franchise history to earn the award, joining Hall of Famer George Brett and current captain Salvador Perez. For those unfamiliar with the award, it is defined as follows, according to the press release found on MLB.com. Witt earned the award through his various charitable contributions to the Kansas City community, as highlighted in the article. His most prominent work was raising funds and awareness for research and support in the fight against ALS. That includes hosting camps and clinics that raised $45,000 to financially support those suffering from ALS, including Sarah Nauser, a local Kansas Citian who has developed a close relationship with Witt and the Royals organization over the years. In the press release, Perez highlighted Witt's work in the fight against ALS, as well as the leadership he demonstrates in the clubhouse and the community. Salvy pointed out that Witt deserves to be the next Royals captain after he retires (though no date has been set on that yet). In addition to his work in the fight against ALS, Witt was also involved in increasing youth participation in baseball through MLB's Play Ball initiative, serving as the first-ever Play Ball Ambassador. Furthermore, Witt volunteered as a Royals Literacy League Classroom champion to improve literacy rates in elementary schools across the Kansas City Metro. All these different causes contributed to him earning this prestigious award in the MLB community. What Witt Means to the Royals and Kansas City In the press release, Royals President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo commented on Witt's honor and how the Royals superstar embodied the spirit of Gehrig with this award, and in his work in the Kansas City community. Hopes were high when Witt was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. While still a high schooler, many Royals fans envisioned Witt when he was selected as someone who could become the kind of franchise player the organization hadn't really had since Brett retired after the 1993 season (which included Brett hitting a walk-off home run in his last game). There have been players post-Brett who have been anointed as the heir apparent to lead the Royals franchise. That includes highly-drafted players like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon, Carlos Beltran, and even Johnny Damon, with the latter starring in a commercial with Brett that almost hinted at Damon being the next "face" of the Royals franchise. However, while all those players had their moments and highs, they have never touched Brett's aura. Witt isn't quite there just yet, but he's closing the gap quite quickly. In just four seasons, Witt has collected 105 home runs, 403 runs, 373 RBI, and 148 stolen bases. In 2,722 career plate appearances, he has a .290 average, .357 wOBA, 129 wRC+, and 26.7 fWAR. Since 2010, Witt has accumulated the most fWAR of any Royals player, surpassing Gordon this past year, who accumulated 26.2 fWAR since 2010, according to Fangraphs. The dynamic Royals shortstop has also earned hardware during his four-year tenure. In addition to the Gehrig award, he's also a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner, and a one-time Platinum Glove winner and American League Batting champion. He's finished in the Top-5 in AL MVP voting twice, including second in 2024 (behind the Yankees' Aaron Judge). Lastly, he's been on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic twice and should be a key part of their lineup in this year's edition. (It's amazing how he was buried by Team USA manager Mark DeRosa in the last WBC for Tim Anderson, who's pretty much out of baseball now.) Amazingly, Witt has also earned all these honors under the age of 26. What's even more incredible is that Witt isn't satisfied with his career just yet. He believes he has even more room to grow, as discussed in a recent interview with MLB Network. All of Witt's on-field honors, combined with the Gehrig award, show how important and special Witt is to the Royals community and in Kansas City sports history. Because the Royals are a small-market franchise in a game where big markets rule, it seemed likely that Witt's tenure with the Royals would be brief. That was the case with former "stars" before Witt like Damon, Beltran, and Hosmer (at least Hosmer helped the Royals to two pennants and a title). After all, Witt's dad played for the Texas Rangers, a big-market franchise in his home state. Many pessimistic Royals fans assumed Witt would eventually return to Texas once he became a free agent. Heck, there was even a point where some from that Royals fanbase thought it would be beneficial to trade Witt for a super prospect package, similar to the one the Nationals got from San Diego in exchange for Juan Soto. And yet, the Royals not only held onto him, but also inked him prior to the 2024 season to an 11-year, $288.778 million deal that would guarantee him to be in Kansas City until at least 2030. Since signing that contract, Witt has not only achieved monumental individual success but has also led the Royals to two winning seasons and a return to the postseason. Remember, prior to 2024, the last Kansas City team to win a World Series was the 2015 team. Witt winning on the field would be enough for Royals fans. And yet, he has done more than that. He's been active in the community. He's a hit with kids like Roy Hobbs in "The Natural" (the movie, not the book, which is more depressing). He's been a major supporter and advocate in the fight against a disease like ALS. Witt doesn't have to do these things. He could be a superstar who could carry himself in a bigger city or market, hang out with all kinds of celebrities, and make more money in endorsements for more national brands (or Kalshi; hopefully Witt never goes down this route like some athletes). However, that's not Witt. There's something genuine about Witt. Something wholesome and unique that fans don't often see in many baseball players, especially those paid vast sums of money per year. Witt has something special that makes him the exact right fit for the Royals franchise, which has been in the doldrums for decades. This fanbase and city not only needed winning baseball after years of brutal play in the wake of former owner Ewing Kauffman's death and Brett's retirement. They needed a hopeful face. Maybe not a savior, but something close to that. Witt has been everything and more to Kansas City in his four seasons with the Royals. And the best part? There is more to come, both on the field and off. The Gehrig award is just the beginning for Witt's legacy with the Royals, as crazy as that sounds. View the full article

The depth in the Brewers' system means many players outside the top 10 would make the majority of teams' top 10, if not their top 5. Let's take a look at prospects 11-15, as voted on and compiled by the Brewer Fanatic writers. #15 3B Brock Wilken (Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 344 61 17 0 18 .876 159 .413 27.0% 20.1% 9.4% 29.1% 55.3% 24.6% 20.1% 21.6% 35.2% 43.2% 22.4% 2 0 100% 106.0 Several challenges marked Wilken's 2024 season. He was hit in the face by a pitch early in the year, which led to lingering vision issues that affected him throughout the season. Off the field, he and his wife also welcomed their first child. That's a positive personal milestone, but at the same time, balancing professional responsibilities with family life added another layer of adjustment during the season. He spent the offseason focused on recovery and on restoring his vision. The early results in 2025 were very encouraging, highlighted by an outstanding May in which he hit nine home runs and posted a 170 wRC+. However, a knee injury suffered while celebrating Biloxi's first-half playoff clinch limited him to just 14 games the rest of the year, and he did not appear fully healthy during that stretch. Even so, his first 280 plate appearances showed clear signs of offensive improvement. Power production remains a defining part of Wilken's profile. Despite playing roughly two-thirds of a full season, he finished third in the Southern League with 18 home runs. His plate discipline was a strength, reflected in a 20% walk rate, though he did allow a notable number of hittable pitches in the zone to pass by, and it's fair to question whether the overall approach is a bit too passive at the moment. Swing-and-miss remains part of the profile, with elevated whiff and strikeout rates contributing to a definite power-over-contact approach. Defensively, Wilken has shown steady progress at third base. While some evaluations have graded him below average at the position, his play has suggested the potential to develop into a serviceable defender. His arm strength is a clear plus, and he has generally handled routine plays well. At times, he has shown some difficulty charging softly hit balls, which seems to be tied more to his reads off the bat than to any athletic limitations. Wilken is expected to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A, and may have reached that level earlier if not for the knee injury. With the Brewers continuing to evaluate long-term options at third base, his performance and defensive development could position him as a major-league option in the near future. #14 1B Blake Burke (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 567 143 27 2 16 .832 139 .393 23.8% 11.5% 12.9% 27.9% 34.3% 26.8% 39.0% 22.7% 49.6% 27.8% 21.4% 15 5 75% 108.8 Drafted in Competitive Balance Round A (just after the first round) of the 2024 draft, Burke got off to an interesting start at High-A in 2025. He posted a 124 wRC+ across 95 games at the level, but the power production did not match the underlying contact quality. Despite consistently hitting the ball hard (highlighted by an elite 108.8-MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity), he produced just five home runs in 408 plate appearances—a shockingly low total, given his size and raw power. That changed following his promotion to Double-A. Burke's ground-ball rate dropped from 52.4% at High-A to 42.4%, and the shift in batted-ball profile quickly translated into more over-the-fence production. He had been making hard contact throughout the season, but a lack of consistent elevation limited his power output earlier in the year. With Biloxi, he hit 11 home runs in just 159 plate appearances. Even during the stretch in High-A when the power had not yet emerged, Burke did show the ability to hit for average and make a reasonable amount of contact, pointing to the potential for an average hit tool paired with above-average or even plus power. Defensively, Burke's glove work at first base has generally translated well from his time at Tennessee. He shows reliable hands and solid instincts around the bag. While his mobility may not stand out, he has shown more athleticism and reaction ability than many players with a similar build. His overall defensive profile is that of an average first baseman, perhaps even a tick better. That athleticism also shows up in subtle ways. Burke is not a traditional speed threat, but he moves well once he gets moving and shows strong instincts on the bases. He was successful on 15 of 20 stolen base attempts and regularly shows awareness, taking extra bases on balls in play. As Josh Naylor showed this year, you can be a good baserunner without being very fast, though you probably won't see Burke go on any stolen-base binges akin to what Naylor did in the second half of last year. As a first base-only prospect, Burke's long-term value will depend heavily on his offensive production. If his late-season power surge at Double-A proves sustainable, his overall profile could rise significantly, with the potential to position himself as a major league option as early as 2026. He's more likely to have an impact on the 2027 season. #13 1B Luke Adams (Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 315 54 15 0 11 .853 158 .413 20.3% 16.5% 7.1% 23.5% 52.9% 22.7% 24.4% 25.0% 37.2% 37.8% 40.0% 10 3 77% 104.3 A 12th-round selection in the 2022 draft, Adams is one of the more interesting players in the system, with a profile that continues to produce despite some unusual characteristics. At the plate, Adams presents a unique offensive profile. He has gradually simplified his swing mechanics in pro ball. While some unconventional elements remain, the overall operation is more controlled than earlier in his career, though it still has more moving parts than most players. Despite this, his production has consistently been strong at every level. That production continued at Double-A, where he posted a 159 wRC+ across his first 278 plate appearances. Power production also took a step forward this season, as Adams accessed his in-game power more consistently and posted a .218 isolated slugging at the Double-A level, the highest mark of his career. His plate discipline remains a defining strength, though his extremely passive approach (33% swing-rate) will require adjustment against the highest levels of pitching. Increased aggressiveness on pitches in the strike zone, particularly earlier in counts, could help maximize his offensive impact as he advances. His defensive home has been a notable part of his development. While he has the tools to play third base at an average level, he saw limited time there this season, spending the majority of his time at first base. While his defensive profile suggests he could develop into an above-average defender at first but merely average at third, there's more value (all else equal) in being passable at the hot corner than in being a grade better at the cold one. If he's to stick at the hot corner, continued refinement of his footwork and throwing mechanics will be important, as he's shown a tendency to throw off-balance at times when there is no real need to. Adams appears ready for a move to Triple-A, though roster construction could result in a return to Biloxi to begin the season. He will become Rule 5 Draft-eligible next winter, making this a big year for him to show he'll be ready to contribute at the big-league level in short order. #12 2B Josh Adamczewski (Carolina Mudcats, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 308 81 18 5 5 .910 155 .434 17.2% 14.0% 12.1% 26.6% 46.9% 20.8% 32.4% 21.1% 41.7% 37.3% 17.1% 7 1 88% Both Adams and Adamczewski were Day 3 draft picks, with Adamczewski going in the 15th round in 2023. Committed to Ball State at the time, he was a great find by area scout Ginger Poulson. Adamczewski has been an intriguing offensive prospect since entering pro ball, with his swing mechanics standing out early and pointing to a strong overall hitting foundation. He showed some increased swing-and-miss during a brief stint with the Timber Rattlers to close out the 2025 season, as well as during his time in the Arizona Fall League, but his overall approach at the plate remains a clear strength. He consistently makes strong swing decisions and shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields. The underlying power and contact quality have been encouraging. Adamczewski has recorded exit velocities above 110 MPH in the minor leagues and reached 109.6 MPH in the AFL. While he hit just five home runs during the regular season, he added four more in the Fall League, further highlighting his power potential. The offensive profile points to the possibility of an above-average hit tool with power production that could develop into at least the 20-home run range. Defensively, his long-term position remains less certain. He has primarily played second base, though his defense at the position continues to draw mixed evaluations and may not fully align with the defensive expectations typically associated with the Brewers' middle infield. He also saw significant time in left field during the Arizona Fall League, where his above-average speed and athleticism translated well despite limited experience. A move to the outfield remains a realistic long-term possibility. Adamczewski experienced some struggles in a 16-game sample at High-A late in the 2025 season. He's likely to return to Appleton to begin the year, with the opportunity to move quickly to Double-A if his offensive production returns to the level he showed in Carolina. #11 CF Luis Lara (Biloxi Shuckers) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 612 132 32 3 2 .712 117 .348 16.2% 14.1% 6.7% 17.3% 38.0% 20.8% 41.1% 22.1% 50.9% 27.0% 20.7% 44 7 86% After slipping down the rankings in 2024, Lara quickly moved back up the board following a strong 2025 season at Double-A, where he was one of the youngest players at the level and did not turn 21 until November. The switch-hitter showed meaningful offensive growth, lowering his whiff rate by roughly three percentage points in a more challenging hitting environment while also increasing his walk rate by nearly six percentage points. Lara's power production remained limited, with just two home runs, and he's listed at 5-foot-8, so it's never likely to be a plus tool for him. However, he still demonstrated the ability to impact the baseball. He recorded multiple exit velocities of 110 MPH, suggesting more underlying strength than the traditional power numbers indicate. Speed has long been a key part of his profile, and he took another step forward in that area in 2025, posting plus-plus run times. Improved instincts and better jumps on the bases helped him convert that speed into production, as he went 44-for-51 on stolen base attempts. His 86% success rate represented a clear improvement over the 75% and 76% marks he posted in 2023 and 2024. While the offensive development was encouraging, Lara's defense remained the most impactful part of his game and reached another level in 2025. He earned a Minor League Gold Glove, a result of his highlight-reel plays, but also his improved reads and routes. Those improvements allowed his athleticism to play up even further, and he regularly showed a willingness to make aggressive plays in the field, running into walls or laying out to make plays. Already a plus defender, he has the tools to develop into one of the premier defensive outfielders in the game. He also features a strong, accurate arm, which adds to his value. Lara could return to Biloxi to begin the season. However, his performance suggests he's ready for a move to Triple-A. He could position himself as a depth option at the major-league level with continued success. His combination of speed, defense, and improved offensive approach provides a high floor, and continued development at the plate would further elevate his overall profile. A median outcome for Lara could be a Blake Perkins-type fourth-outfield profile. On the higher end, you could be looking at a switch-hitting Sal Frelick, who's consistently playing center field. What stands out from 11-15 in this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

When you look at the names on the depth chart listed below, one thing sticks out: none of the players who are expected to get significant playing time at first base are internally developed. And that's nothing new. Last year, Minnesota's primary first baseman was free agent acquisition Ty France. In 2024, it was free agent acquisition Carlos Santana. In 2023, it was free agent acquisition Donovan Solano. This year, top free agent acquisitions Josh Bell and Victor Caratini figure to mix in with Kody Clemens and Eric Wagaman, who were more or less waiver wire pickups. I suppose this reflects an organizational philosophy that first base is a position easily supplemented by low-cost external plugs — thus development efforts and resources should be focused elsewhere. There's a validity to this mindset, but it hasn't always paid dividends for Minnesota in the past — e.g. last year, when the Twins ranked 22nd in fWAR at first base despite having a Gold Glover on hand for the first four months. How will this year's patchwork solutions work out? TWINS FIRST BASEMEN AT A GLANCE Starter: Kody Clemens Backup: Josh Bell Depth: Victor Caratini, Eric Wagaman, Aaron Sabato Prospects: Hendry Mendez, Billy Amick Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 22nd out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 24th out of 30 THE GOOD In a lineup that is loaded with question marks, the Twins needed to add a dependable bat this offseason, and they got just that in Bell. He has posted an above-average OPS in every season, sans the abbreviated 2020 campaign, and has a career 114 OPS+ over a decade in the big leagues. He's a switch-hitter who takes quality at-bats, puts the ball in play and reliably delivers good-not-great power production. A fine fit at first base. Except, it's not clear Bell will play first base all that often, nor that he should. With the Twins placing an emphasis on improved defense, they'd be doing themselves no favors by using Bell in the field regularly. His defensive shortcomings have persistently dragged down his overall value, and in 2025 with Washington he saw far more time at designated hitter (98 starts) than first base (33 starts). I'm not sure the split will be quite so extreme with Minnesota, but I'd bet they're planning — or at least hoping — to use Bell more at DH than first. That would leave a sizable share of playing time for Clemens and Caratini, as well as Wagaman if he's on the roster. It's a group that provides some matchup functionality and a few intriguing skillsets, albeit not a ton of upside. Clemens seemed to be in line for the starting first base job at the start of the offseason. That was based on remarks from Derek Falvey — "We want to give Kody a lot of runway there," he said at the GM Meetings — and before the Twins signed Bell and Caratini. Part of me is kind of curious to see Clemens get that runway to show what he can do, because he flashed real power last year and he does offer relatively good speed and defense at first base on a team that needs all it can get of both. I've still got him penciled in atop the depth chart but the position is very fluid and, as things stand, I would expect a somewhat even distribution of starts. Bell and Caratini are going to play a lot, and there will only be so many ABs available for them at DH. Collectively, these three along with Wagaman as a RH platoon option give the Twins a decent amount of depth at first, even if it's not the highest-quality depth. THE BAD If the Twins could combine Bell, Caratini and Clemens into one player, it'd be the full package at first base: experience, proven production, solid athleticism and defense. Unfortunately, they can only use one of them at a time, and on their own, each of these players brings major limitations when they're manning the position. Bell is the best hitter of the bunch, but a major defensive liability. Caratini hits well for a catcher, enabling him to command $14 million in free agency, but his average-ish offense is much less impactful at first. Clemens runs and fields better than those two, but he's got a career OPS+ of 81 and finished at 94 in last year's "breakout." These factors dampen the upside offered by each when at first base, and unfortunately, I'm not sure how much upside there is to detract from. Clemens and Caratini are both substantially below-average hitters in their careers, and Bell hasn't been a great hitter since 2022. Wagaman played the most first base of the bunch last year, in Miami, but was one of the worst regulars in all of baseball. It feels like the best you're hoping for at first base is competent offense and non-disastrous defense. Which is more or less the same blueprint as last year when the Twins went with Ty France. It wasn't good enough then, and if the 24th-out-of-30 projection from FanGraphs is at all accurate, it won't be good enough now. The lack of short-term vision would be more palatable if there were a promising pipeline in place on the other side, but right now it's anyone's guess who might step in at first base down the line. The Twins have talked about working in outfield prospect Hendry Mendez, acquired in the Harrison Bader trade last year, but that experiment is only beginning. No other prospects in the system's upper tier currently play first base primarily. Which can change, of course — the nature of a position near the bottom of the defensive spectrum — but as we've seen, the Twins have not shown much ability to develop impact big-leaguers at the position. The Billy Beane-esque "anyone can play first base" mentality has not proven out practically for Minnesota, at least not since the days of Luis Arraez and Miguel Sanó. THE BOTTOM LINE Maybe the worst and most rudderless position on the roster as we size up the Twins in their current state. I do see things to like about each of the main candidates for playing time, but first base doesn't bring out the best in any of them. Bell is best suited for DH, Caratini for catcher, Clemens and Wagaman for roving platoon bench roles. There's no great first baseman on this team or readily available in the minors. I'm interested to see how the usage patterns take shape under Derek Shelton, but not terribly optimistic about the sum result. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher View the full article

On Saturday afternoon, I found myself in an all-too-familiar situation: genuinely excited to watch TV. It wasn’t reruns of Parks and Rec or Sportsnet’s Misplays of the Month. It was Blue Jays baseball. And for a moment, it was pure euphoria. It felt like I was sitting on a baseball-shaped cloud, with the voices of Ben Shulman and Madison Shipman ushering in another season. Once the first pitch was thrown, my baseball brain was back. I started watching the radar gun after every pitch, tracking Eric Lauer's pitch mix, and watching Alejandro Kirk frame pitches like the maestro he is. In the bottom of the first, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped in for his first professional at-bat since Game 7 of the World Series. He looked locked in immediately. He took a Bryse Wilson cutter inside for ball one. Wilson came back with a curveball that just missed the outside edge, a pitch close enough that Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan challenged via the ABS system. Vlad won. It was ball two. That's when Shulman said this: “Part of Guerrero’s success has been this, he just is not going to expand, he’s going to make you come after him.” When the plate appearance ended, Vlad had worked a five-pitch walk. He took four balls out of the zone, and took a healthy cut at the only one he got in the zone and fouled it back: It’s exactly the type of approach you want to see from any player, but especially Vlad. Swing at the pitches you can do damage with, and take the ones you can't. I got curious and wanted to look deeper into what Guerrero’s approach at the plate looked like under new hitting coach David Popkins. After doing some digging, I found it was still phenomenal, but different. Let me explain. My main takeaway was that Vladdy was swinging less often than ever before: What's more fascinating, though, is that swinging less didn't dramatically change his results. From 2019-2024, he swung at 48.5% of the pitches he saw and produced a .367 wOBA. In 2025, he swung at a career-low 42.2% of the time and posted a .366 wOBA. On the surface, nothing changed. The production was nearly identical. But the way he got there was different. First things first, it's plate discipline that matters. Swinging less is good, as long as you’re swinging less at pitches out of the zone, but swinging less at the ones you should be swinging at can be a problem. To evaluate swing decisions, I like to use Baseball Prospectus’ SEAGER metric (named after Corey Seager). It measures the value of a hitter's decision to swing or take based on count and pitch location. It rewards hitters who attack pitches they can do damage with and who lay off the unhittable ones. Guerrero's career SEAGER is 22.4, and in 2025, it dipped slightly to 20.4. The dip wasn’t about chasing more. It was about attacking less. In 2024, Vlad punished pitches in the heart of the zone. In 2025, he let more of those go by. When you pass on pitches you can drive, even elite hitters like Guerrero are leaving production on the table: Compare this to his wOBA per zone from 2024 and 2025: Now we can dive even deeper into his 2025 season and find more information. Here is a chart that shows Guerrero's Swing% and wOBA over the 2025 season: The data shows something fascinating: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. actually does more damage when he swings less. This doesn’t mean he needs to become more passive. It doesn't mean taking more strikes just for the sake of it. Passivity can be dangerous. Once pitchers learn that you’re unlikely to swing, they attack the zone and count leverage moves in their favor. So, for Vlad, it's not about passivity. It’s about eliminating the swings that don’t lead to damage. When he trims his swing decisions, he avoids weak contact and forces pitchers back into the zone. And when pitchers are forced into the zone against him, he attacks. When he attacks, he’s special. October was another sign of this philosophy. His Swing% dropped to 42.9%, and the wOBA rose to a stunning .517, showing that when Guerrero was swinging less, the damage was coming with him. It nearly led to a World Series banner being hung in Toronto. There’s more to it than just swinging. Vlad, like many others on the roster, was swinging harder than ever before, especially when he was ahead in the count. So, what does this mean entering 2026? Well, it seems like it's going to be more of the same. On MLB Network's "30 Clubs, 30 Camps," Guerrero explained his shift in philosophy: “In the season, if I see a man on second and no outs, I try to hit the ball the other way, and now [the Blue Jays] told me let's go to home plate and do damage, and that’s what I do this spring training… they tell me to bring him in, so I bring him in.” That sounds like a hitter who learned something in October. With Bo Bichette gone, there's no more debate. This is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s team now, and manager John Schneider has the utmost confidence in his superstar, saying, “[Bichette's departure] allows Vlad to have a louder voice, and to understand this has been his team and will always be his team.” Guerrero hit just 23 home runs last season, but if he can maintain the changes he made into the postseason and the selective, damage-first version of Vlad carries into 2026, then the 48 home runs he hit in his MVP-caliber 2021 season don't seem out of reach. And that sounds much more like must-watch television than any Parks and Rec rerun could ever be. View the full article

Prior to the 2024 season, the Boston Red Sox were marketing the future through a collective group of prospects that had the public excited. Roman Anthony, Kyle Teel, Marcelo Mayer, and Nick Yorke (with Kristian Campbell replacing him during the season) were being advertised as the “core four”; in a sense, being seen as the future of the organization. Fast forward two seasons, and while they aren’t being marketed in the same vein, the Red Sox may have their next quartet, but this time from a pitching standpoint instead of hitters. Since taking over, Craig Breslow has revamped the Red Sox pitching development system and, through the drafts, has focused on pitching as 28 of his draft selections have been pitchers. The team has used the influx of pitchers to completely overhaul its depth, and the surplus of pitching has allowed it to move multiple pitchers to improve its major league roster. Despite that, both Breslow and the Red Sox have decided upon four pitchers that are seemingly high on their list. Of the four, three of them were taken in last year’s draft. Kyson Witherspoon, Anthony Eyanson, and Marcus Phillips were taken with three of the first four Red Sox picks. The final member of the quartet, Juan Valera, was signed as an international free agent back in 2023. Together, these four have the potential to become the team’s next “Big Four” once Payton Tolle and Connelly Early graduate from prospect status. Though that’s not to say they haven’t already been making headlines for themselves within the first week of spring training. Kyson Witherspoon Witherspoon, viewed highly by the organization, has already turned heads since the offseason began, thanks in part to his work ethic. Having spent time with Driveline over the winter, Witherspoon was able to learn a sweeper to add to his arsenal. What makes his new sweeper fascinating is that he was able to get 20” of horizontal break on it, something that no other Red Sox prospect was able to do in 2025. Along with that, there were fewer than 10 pitchers in all of minor league baseball who had a sweeper with at least 20” of horizontal movement. Add to it a fastball that averages in the mid to upper 90s, and Witherspoon could fly through the minors in a way similar to Tolle. So far in spring training, Witherspoon has thrown live at-bats twice, getting his fastball up to 97 mph in the first session back on February 13 and hitting 98 mph on February 20. In the latter, he pitched against Roman Anthony, getting him to ground out. Now, spring training is still young, and it makes sense for pitchers to be ahead of hitters, but the Red Sox are high on him. As reported by Alex Speier, there’s a real possibility that Witherspoon could start the season in Double-A instead of High-A like most first-round picks with the Red Sox. Witherspoon is viewed as a Top 100 prospect for several publications, and his work ethic and growth in just under a year with the organization are remarkable. Juan Valera Joining Witherspoon in conversations about dominant, intriguing, young pitchers is Valera. Valera, who won’t turn 20 until the middle of May, has been viewed as one of the better Red Sox pitching prospects since 2024, when he made his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League. After throwing 40 1/3 innings with a 1.79 ERA, he was promoted to Salem, where his dominance continued with 28 strikeouts in 23 innings. The team was impressed with his performance across the two levels and was slated to open 2025 with Greenville. Unfortunately, Valera struggled at times to pitch deep into games, making it into the fifth inning only three times. Despite that, he was dominant at times and only allowed more than two earned runs twice. The hard-throwing right-hander missed most of the season after dealing with elbow soreness in May. Despite that, Valera showed up to spring training ready to show what he could do. Backed with one of the hardest sweepers in all of minor league baseball (thanks to it having a spin rate over 2,700 rpm and a fastball that can top out at 100 mph, Valera has two deadly pitches to work with. Much like Witherspoon, Valera has also cracked some Top 100 prospect lists, ranking 90th in ESPN’s selections. Valera is a prospect whose value will be tied to his health. Through his first three professional seasons, the right-hander’s max number of innings thrown was 63 1/3 in 2024. How he handles a full season’s workload will help tell what kind of pitcher he could end up becoming. Currently, though, it’s one with extreme talent, as backed by Anthony. Much like with Witherspoon, Valera faced Anthony in a live at-bat. In it, Valera attempted to attack Anthony, and while the outfielder managed to make contact and foul a pitch off, he would eventually be struck out while looking at strike three. After the at-bat, he asked SoxProspects’ Andrew Parker what level Valera was at, eventually saying, “This kid is really good”. For him to reach his potential, however, it’ll be about going deeper into games. Already, he’s shown an ability to strike batters out and generate whiffs, but he needs to learn how to get batters to hit for soft contact instead of attempting to strike everyone out. Marcus Phillips The third member of the quartet may be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect of the group, as Phillips has a high ceiling thanks to his size and athleticism paired with his fastball’s velocity. Drafted with the pick acquired in the Quinn Priester trade, Phillips already topped out at close to 101 mph in college. The right-hander demonstrated two potentially above-average pitches in college with his fastball and slider, while his changeup could potentially be an average pitch. Unfortunately for Phillips, the biggest issue with his delivery that could see him become a bullpen arm is his ability to throw strikes. Despite those concerns, Phillips had a walk rate of 9% in his first season as a starter in 2025, and his build alone will lead the Red Sox to begin his development in the starting rotation. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 245 pounds, he is another big and strong pitcher that Breslow has craved since overhauling the organizational pitching development. 2026 will be huge for Phillips to determine the path the Red Sox decide to take with him. Phillips very likely could be the equivalent of Nick Yorke in this scenario and end up traded due to others passing him on the organizational depth chart, or he could end up being the best of the four pitchers. Anthony Eyanson The final member, Eyanson, could end up being the best because teams overlooked him at the draft. Taken by the Red Sox in the third round, there’s no debate that Eyanson could have been a first-round pick with his potential, especially after finishing third in Division I in strikeouts and previously being a consensus top 50 prospect before falling to the Red Sox in the third round. While it can be argued that Eyanson could very well be a high-floor, low-ceiling pitcher, his attitude to improve and his chip on his shoulder after falling in the draft could lead him to push past those projections. Last week, Eyanson threw a live at-bat on Friday, February 20, and in that session, he was told he topped out at 98.4 mph. When he was in college, he was averaging 92-94 mph, already showing improvement in his velocity. From a visual standpoint, he also looks stronger, having put on muscle since being drafted, as he aims to prove all the doubters wrong. His pitch arsenal alone seems to have three potentially above-average pitches in his fastball, slider, and curveball, while his changeup could end up being an average pitch at the major league level. Eyanson is likely to stick in the rotation thanks to his athletic frame, strong makeup, and his tendency to be a hard worker. The Red Sox have managed to surround their lower levels of the minors with intriguing pitchers who could very well help the major league team as soon as the 2027 season, depending on their development. Over the last few years, fans were able to watch minor league hitters with excitement, and now it’s flipped to the pitching side as the team very likely has its new Big Four. It’ll be a fun season watching these four pitchers develop and move through the minor leagues, as fans can’t help but visualize a pitching staff featuring them. View the full article

We are ridiculously excited to welcome you to this new era of the Fish On First podcast! In our debut with the Foul Territory Network, Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and Ely Sussman are joined by AJ Ramos. The former Marlins closer and current TV/radio broadcaster is also Fish Unfiltered's new co-host. The guys revisit the club's biggest offseason moves, project the 2026 starting rotation, and get AJ's take on pitching in high-leverage situations and adapting to various Major League Baseball rule changes. 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. A 21st-round draft pick of the Marlins in 2009, Ramos pitched parts of six MLB seasons for the Fish at the major league level (2012-2017). He ranks third in franchise history with 325 pitching appearances and tied for fourth with 92 saves. He was selected to the 2016 National League All-Star team, posting a 2.90 FIP (2.81 ERA) with 40 saves that year. The right-hander later pitched for the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels. Ramos announced his retirement in April 2022 and has since made the pivot to broadcasting. In addition to weekly appearances on the FOF podcast, you can find him on MLB Network Radio, Marlins.TV and the Marlins Radio Network. Follow AJ (@theajramos), Kevin (⁠@kevin_barral⁠), Isaac (⁠@IsaacAzout⁠), Ely (⁠@RealEly⁠) and Fish On First (⁠@FishOnFirst⁠) on Twitter. Join the ⁠Marlins Discord server⁠! Complete Miami Marlins coverage at ⁠FishOnFirst.com⁠. View the full article

Before he could make his first official appearance in spring training, left-hander Ricky Tiedemann suffered a setback: soreness in his pitching elbow. Thankfully, an MRI did not find any structural damage, but the top prospect will not throw for at least the next week (per Sportsnet). Tiedemann, 23, sat out all of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was expected to slowly build up his strength and compete for a role in Toronto's big league bullpen at some point this season. This latest news doesn't necessarily change that, but it's hard not to be worried about an update like this concerning a hard-throwing young pitcher. The latest update on right-hander Chay Yeager is even less encouraging. According to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, the 23-year-old met with Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday, and he could require surgery. Meister is a well-known specialist when it comes to UCL reconstruction. Yeager is coming off a strong season in which he pitched to a 2.75 ERA and 3.45 FIP in 55.2 innings between High-A and Double-A. He was invited to MLB spring training for the first time this year. View the full article

With the spring exhibition season underway, there isn't a ton for the Chicago Cubs to figure out—at least when it comes to their regulars. Their lineup is largely set and, with the exception of the Alex Bregman signing, really has been all winter. Instead, the positional focus this spring is on who will round out the positional half of the roster from the bench. We know that Matt Shaw will assume a utility role on the infield and get occasional outfield work. We also know that Miguel Amaya will serve as the de facto no. 2 behind the plate (though it's likely to be a relatively even timeshare with Carson Kelly). If we're to assume Tyler Austin gets the third bench spot as a right-handed complement for Michael Busch at first base and occasional designated hitter, that leaves just one spot. We know that spot will go to an outfielder. Which outfielder, however, is arguably camp's most active question. It's not just that the Cubs have a set outfield. They have a trio of which each figures to log heavy playing time (barring injury). At present, FanGraphs projects Ian Happ for 93 percent of the time in left field, Pete Crow-Armstrong for 92 percent of it in center, and Seiya Suzuki in right field 76 percent of the time. That workload further supports the idea of the fourth spot going to someone from the outfield mix, which means you're looking at four names for one opening. Kevin Alcántara and Justin Dean are the options currently on the Cubs' 40-man roster. They're joined by non-roster invitees Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick. On Monday, the Cubs added Michael Conforto to that latter group. The foursome enter the picture at very different stages of their respective careers, the nuance of which could inform the choice that Craig Counsell and company make about who resides on the roster by the end of March. The following is what each produced at the level at which they spent the most time in 2025: Kevin Alcántara (Iowa Cubs): 430 PA, .266/.349/.470, 29.8 K%, 11.2 BB%, 110 wRC+ Chas McCormick (Astros): 116 PA, .210/.279/.290, 26.7 K%, 7.8 BB%, 62 wRC+ Dylan Carlson (Orioles): 241 PA, .203/.278/.336, 22.4 K%, 8.7 BB%, 74 wRC+ Michael Conforto (Dodgers): 486 PA, .199/.305/.333, 24.9 K%, 11.5 BB%, 83 wRC+ Justin Dean (Oklahoma City Comets): 347 PA, .289/.378/.431, 23.6 K%, 11.2 BB%, 110 wRC+ It's not a particularly inspiring group. But they all have at least a history of upside. Even Dean, a late bloomer who wasn't even a high draft pick when he entered pro ball years ago, has defensive value and put up good enough numbers in Triple-A to earn a place with the eventual champion Dodgers during October. Alcántara's case is a little bit different than the others. In a perfect world, his best days are ahead of him. He's done solid work in the minors and is capable of holding down all three spots, but his strikeout rate remains concerning. Meanwhile, McCormick missed a good chunk of last season with an oblique injury and is two years removed from a 22-homer, 19-steal season with Houston. Carlson has never quite lived up to his billing as a prospect, with health issues of his own playing their part since a third-place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting back in 2021. Conforto has his own spotty history but a longer track record, with his approach remaining a steady component of an otherwise deteriorating offensive skill set. Before we can determine which outfielder may best serve the Cubs' needs off the bench, though, it's important to determine exactly what profile they may be looking for. The starting outfield features a nice mix of skill sets. Happ brings a switch-hitting, on-base-driven approach. Crow-Armstrong offers significant power and speed from the left side of the plate, if the contact can come through enough for each to be maximized. Suzuki blends patience with power as a right-handed hitter. However, it's also not so much a need to supplement the outfield group itself as it is to supplement the rest of the lineup. The Cubs are a righty-heavy group. They have Suzuki, Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and both Kelly and Amaya. Moisés Ballesteros could balance things somewhat if he wins the first crack at the DH gig, but the possibility exists that he spends at least a little bit of time in Iowa to start the year. That means Crow-Armstrong and Busch are the only lefties projected to get regular work at present. With one of Kelly or Amaya, Shaw, and Austin on the bench, it's a group thin on lefties—which automatically begins to point us in a particular direction. Interestingly, the one that feels the easiest to eliminate from the discussion is the one who performed at the highest level in 2025, albeit in the minor leagues. Alcántara presents decent power, 10-15 steal potential, and athleticism to hold down any of the three spots. At the same time, he'd worsen that rightward lean for the overall group. Besides, the Cubs would probably want to ensure that he's playing as close to an everyday capacity as possible. Unless the Cubs find themselves in a situation where Ballesteros isn't ready and the DH remains more in flux, the assumption should be for Alcántara to start the year back in Iowa until a consistent spot at which to play opens up. McCormick also feels unlikely to be a part of the Opening Day roster. His power vanished entirely last year, and his splits against lefties (137 wRC+) are considerably better than they are against pitchers of the same handedness (93 wRC+). Even as a steady fielder—30 Outs Above Average in his career at all three spots—the fit just isn't apparent. Dean is McCormick, without the pop McCormick once showed. That leaves us with Carlson and Conforto. Carlson, at least, offers a presence as a switch-hitter. He has prospect pedigree and a steady approach, the latter of which he was able to parlay into a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio and consistently squared-up contact. Then, you look at the splits. Against right-handed pitching, Carlson's career wRC+ is just 83. His career average (.217) is nearly 60 points lower than it is against lefties. The power is consistent on both sides, but the strikeouts and walks are also each slightly worse. If the purpose of a hitter capable of swinging lefty is to combat tougher righties or swing in as a designated hitter, Carlson's probably not your guy. That means that the Cubs could very well find themselves in position to rely upon Michael Conforto as their bench bat, to start the season. Conforto does have some things going for him. His chase rate (23.2 percent) was in the 82nd percentile, which begot an 84th percentile walk rate. However, his quality-of-contact metrics regressed in 2025. His barrel rate fell by about two percentage points, and his hard-hit rate did about the same. While that is an obvious decrease, though, it also doesn't justify a 30-point drop in batting average on balls in play, to .247. Despite his own checkered history on the health front, Conforto has shown offensive chops more recently than his counterparts in this discussion. His barrel rate in 2024 (11.8%) was in the 80th percentile, and his hard-hit rate was in the 77th (46.0%). If the Cubs think they can make the tweaks to get him back in that direction, then his being a left-handed bat should, automatically, give him the edge. At that point, though, the Cubs would have to account for the fact that he hasn't appeared in center field since 2019. With Conforto on the bench, you're looking at Suzuki or Shaw sliding over when Crow-Armstrong needs a day off. Regardless, one imagines that the team would prioritize the bat over the glove. In a lineup that leans so heavily to one side, that feels like the more immediate concern. Given what we're looking at with this group, Conforto is the leading candidate for the final bench spot. With the ability to option Dean and Alcántara to Iowa, the team can afford to let them wait in the minors. View the full article

There's an argument to be made that the most important games the Minnesota Twins will play this decade are the ones scheduled between Opening Day and the All-Star break in 2026. That may sound dramatic for a franchise just a few years removed from postseason relevance, but recent history has shown how small the margin for error has become. In both 2024 and 2025, Minnesota found itself playing from behind almost immediately. In 2025, the club limped to a 13-20 record and sat eight games out of first place on May 2. A 13-game winning streak briefly revived belief inside the clubhouse and across the fan base, but it ultimately masked deeper roster flaws that resurfaced over the final four months. The 2024 season followed a similar script. The Twins were 7-13 entering play on April 22, before a 12-game winning streak shoved them back into contention. Those bursts were impressive, but unsustainable. Minnesota was forced to play nearly perfect baseball for weeks at a time just to erase the damage of a slow start. Needless to say, it didn't work out that way. Following the same path in 2026 might mean a full-fledged freefall. This version of the Twins does not have the same depth to weather injuries or prolonged slumps. The lineup is thinner, the bullpen is weaker, and the rotation does not feature the same high-ceiling leaders. Falling six to eight games under .500 in April could be the difference between buying at the deadline and beginning a more aggressive sell-off. To that end, trade speculation will not wait for clarity. Joe Ryan remains one of the more valuable controllable starters in the American League. A healthy Byron Buxton is still a dynamic, game-altering talent. Ryan Jeffers has developed into one of baseball’s best-hitting catchers, but is a pending free agent. All three heard their names in rumors over the last year, and that has only increased since last July’s trade deadline sell-off. Another sluggish first half would intensify conversations across the league. Ownership expectations complicate the picture. Tom Pohlad has consistently communicated that the expectation is to contend and play meaningful games in September. That likely requires the Twins to hover around .500 at the trade deadline, while hoping the American League Central underperforms relative to the rest of baseball. If the division remains tightly packed and flawed, a team sitting a game or two out of first place in late July could justify adding, rather than subtracting. But if Minnesota enters July buried in the standings, the calculus changes. At that point, the front office must decide whether holding onto veteran talent serves the long-term vision or delays an inevitable reset. What makes this first half uniquely fascinating is the wave building in the upper minors. Minnesota expects several of its top prospects to open the season at Triple-A, including Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Kaelen Culpepper, and Connor Prielipp. Each brings a different element. Jenkins profiles as a middle-of-the-order presence. Rodriguez offers impact power and on-base ability. Culpepper has quickly climbed, with advanced bat-to-ball skills. Prielipp, if healthy, has the type of stuff that can alter a rotation’s ceiling. The environment they enter matters. If the Twins are within striking distance in July, those call-ups could feel like reinforcements for a legitimate postseason push. Young talent arriving to supplement an already competitive roster can energize a clubhouse and a fan base. On the other hand, if veterans are moved at the deadline, those same prospects could debut in a far more developmental setting, tasked with learning on the fly while the organization prioritizes growth over wins. That fork in the road will be determined by the first 81 games. There is also a business reality layered into the baseball conversation. After back-to-back disappointing seasons, the Twins are actively trying to re-engage a frustrated fan base. The organization has announced promotions ranging from discounted beer to free ice cream for kids to create a more inviting ballpark experience. Those initiatives matter, but history has shown that the most effective marketing strategy is winning. Compounding the pressure is a payroll that has dropped from $160 million in 2023 to just over $100 million in 2026. Even that number requires context. Minnesota is paying the Houston Astros $10 million toward the salary of Carlos Correa, and Pablo López will not throw a pitch this season following Tommy John surgery despite carrying a $21.5-million salary. In other words, the margin is thin on and off the field. A strong first half could stabilize everything. It would quiet trade rumors, justify ownership's patience, energize the fan base, and create a pathway for prospects to join a competitive core. A poor start could accelerate difficult conversations and reshape the organization’s timeline for the remainder of the decade. The Twins do not need to dominate April and May. They simply need to avoid the kind of early hole that has defined recent seasons. Because this time, there may not be another 12 or 13-game winning streak waiting to save them. How important is the first half of the 2026 season for the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Jamie, Jeremy, and Theo begin breaking down their top 20 Twins prospect lists, and Walker Jenkins remains the top guy for all of them. They break down why he remains the top prospect, what he still has to develop in 2026, and what a successful season could look like for him both in the minors and the major leagues. View the full article