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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

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

Baseball free agency, as we know it, began in 1976, so the 2025-26 offseason is the 50th season of free agent signings. The San Diego Padres have been both on the signing end and the losing end of free agent signings, but many of the free agents the Padres signed would make an impact. The admittedly subjective top ten free agent signings in Padres history consist of five from the era of the Kroc family ownership and five from the Moores, Fowler, and Seidler ownerships. It should be noted that Nick Pivetta, who to date has played with the Padres only in 2025, is omitted from the list since his contributions to the Padres cannot be judged on a single season. James Shields, who was a bust with the Padres and was unloaded in a trade that included Fernando Tatis Jr., was excluded due to Shields’ lack of direct contributions to the Padres, even though his signing indirectly provided the team with Tatis. For some years, a lack of financial resources prevented the Padres from signing desired free agents. Currently, the Padres’ free-agent struggles stem from penalties for violating the luxury tax. It could also be said that free agency hurt the Padres in the beginning, since in 1976 all four of their minor league affiliates won league championships, and the ability of other teams to sign free agents offset the Padres’ player development advantage. The first two free agents the Padres signed, both of whom are on the top ten list, displaced an incumbent catcher who caught Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones in 1976, as well as Rookie of the Year award co-winner Butch Metzger, who was himself displaced by the other initial free agent. Given the displacement factor, it may have been beneficial to the Padres that Reggie Jackson chose the New York Yankees’ offer instead. The Padres’ 1976 outfield included Dave Winfield, Johnny Grubb, and Willie Davis, while the 1977 Padres outfielder Gene Richards would set a rookie record for stolen bases. Richards himself was allowed to become a free agent after the 1983 season when 1981 Padres draft picks Kevin McReynolds and Tony Gwynn had established themselves as major league outfielders. Instead of signing Jackson, the Padres obtained two of his Oakland Athletics teammates on the same day for the Padres’ first two free agent signings. Four years later, those two free agents would be sent to the St. Louis Cardinals in the same trade. Both players remain among the Padres’ top ten free agent signings half a century later. Gene Tenace and Rollie Fingers both signed with the Padres on December 14, 1976. Gene Tenace Gene Tenace first came into prominence in 1972 when he became the first player to hit home runs in both of his first two World Series at-bats. By the time the World Series ended, he had tied the record of four home runs in a single World Series. Between 1973 and 1976, Tenace hit 101 regular-season home runs with the A’s. A dropoff in that home run total with the Padres could have been expected. At the time, the San Diego Stadium outfield fence was 17 feet high, 330 feet away from home plate at the foul lines, 375 feet from the plate to the power alleys, and 420 feet from the batter’s box to center field. Tenace still accumulated 68 home runs during his four years with the Padres, and his 69 doubles from 1977 to 1980 nearly matched his 71 two-baggers during his previous four years in an Oakland uniform. Tenace had 465 hits from 1973 to 1976 and 384 hits with the Padres. He walked 398 times during his final four seasons with the A’s and 423 times as a Padre, which currently ranks fifth all-time among Padres players. His on-base percentage with San Diego was .403, which remains the best figure of all qualifying Padres hitters (Tony Gwynn and Fred McGriff share second at .388) with two seasons above .400 and no season below .392. In 1977, he led the National League with 125 walks and 13 times being hit by a pitch, and his 35 plunkings over four years now rank fourth in team history. The only other time during his Padres career when Tenace would lead the National League in a category was in 1979, when his .998 fielding percentage was the best among the league’s catchers. Tenace played only 94 games behind the plate that year, but also 72 as a first baseman. In 1978, Tenace played more games as a first baseman than as a catcher, and in 1977, he played 14 games at third base, 36 at first base, and 99 behind the plate. Tenace and Fingers were sent to St. Louis in an 11-player trade, which brought Terry Kennedy, who would be the team’s starting catcher from 1981 through 1986, to the Padres, while also giving the Padres backup catcher Steve Swisher. Tenace played two seasons with the Cardinals and one with the Pittsburgh Pirates before concluding his major league regular-season career with 201 home runs and a .388 on-base percentage. The signing of Tenace allowed the Padres to include catcher Fred Kendall, along with Johnny Grubb and infielder Hector Torres, in a trade to the Cleveland Indians for outfielder George Hendrick. Kendall would return to the Padres in 1979 and 1980, and his career batting average was .233 with the Padres and .234 when his seasons with the Indians and Boston Red Sox are included. Tenace had a .237 batting average with the Padres, which, even without the walks, was an offensive improvement over Kendall. Rollie Fingers The exclusion of Nick Pivetta from this list - because a player’s first season doesn’t guarantee long-term success - explains why the Padres signed Rollie Fingers even though Butch Metzger shared Rookie of the Year honors for 1976. Metzger was a September callup both in 1974 with the Giants and in 1975 with the Padres and had 1‑0 records each year. He won his first ten decisions in 1976, matching the record Hooks Wiltse set in 1904 of winning his first 12 career decisions. Metzger finished 1976 with an 11-4 record, 16 saves, and a 2.92 earned run average. His 77 appearances in 1976 broke both the team record and the major league rookie record of 76 appearances in 1974 by Larry Hardy. The 1976 Padres had the distinction of having both the National League’s complete games leader, with Randy Jones finishing 25 of his starts, and the league’s games finished leader, with Metzger closing 62 times. Metzger’s 16 saves in 1976 also set a team single‑season record. Fingers also finished 62 games in 1976 and had 20 saves and a 2.47 ERA in his 70 appearances. Relief pitching was needed even more for the 1977 Padres. Jones had torn a nerve late in the 1976 season and had only one complete game in 1977, which set a still-standing major league record for the shortest night game, which took Jones and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jim Kaat 1:29 to complete. The 1977 Padres set a major league record for fewest complete games in a season with six. Fingers made 78 pitching appearances in 1977 to lead the league, while Dan Spillner and Dave Tomlin made 76 apiece to share second. Metzger, who was traded during the season, had 75 appearances with the Padres and Cardinals for fourth in that statistic that year. Fingers also led the National League with 69 games finished and 35 saves. After the 1977 season, Tomlin was traded for Gaylord Perry, who gave the Padres their second Cy Young Award winner in three years and is the most recent Padres pitcher to win at least 20 games in a season. The 1978 Padres posted the first winning record in franchise history and had 21 complete games, so Fingers only appeared in 67 games and finished 62. The additional Padres leads in 1978 allowed Fingers to tie the National League record of 37 saves in one season. San Diego native John D’Acquisto, whom the Padres acquired when they traded Metzger, was second on the team with 10 saves. Fingers himself was 6-13 in decisions but posted a 2.52 ERA. The 1979 Padres had 29 complete games and 68 wins. Fingers was 9-9 with 13 saves in 54 games, including 41 he finished. Despite not starting a game in 1980, Fingers shared the team lead with 11 pitching victories. His 11-9 record was complemented by 23 saves and a 2.80 ERA. He appeared in 66 games and concluded 46. In his four Padres seasons, Fingers pitched in 265 games and finished 218 of them. He had a 34-40 record with 108 saves and a 3.12 ERA. The seven players the Padres acquired for Fingers, Tenace, pitcher Bob Shirley, and minor league catcher Bob Geren included two relief pitchers who combined for 80 appearances in the strike-shortened 1981 season. Gary Lucas (who was not part of that trade) became thePadres's closer, leading the National League with 57 appearances and the team with 13 saves. Fingers never pitched for the Cardinals; he was sent to Milwaukee in a seven-player trade. Fingers won both the Cy Young Award and the American League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1981 after saving 28 games and posting a 1.04 ERA. A torn muscle kept Fingers out of the 1982 World Series, and he retired in 1985 with 341 regular-season saves in 944 career games. Fingers was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Steve Garvey Before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, general manager and team president Branch Rickey said it was better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late. That philosophy would continue under subsequent Dodgers general managers. The 1970s Dodgers had the consistency of Steve Garvey at first base, Davey Lopes at second base, Bill Russell at shortstop, and Ron Cey at third base. In the 1970s, the Dodgers’ backups included Bill Buckner and Tom Paciorek at first, Lee Lacy at second, Ivan DeJesus at shortstop, and Jerry Royster at third. By 1982, first basemen Mike Marshall and Greg Brock were ready to play for the Dodgers, so the team made little attempt to keep Garvey from leaving as a free agent. Padres general manager Jack McKeon had a philosophy of paying top dollar for a free agent who could take a team from third or second to first but not from sixth to fifth or fourth. A rebuilding effort was beginning to pay off in 1982, when the Padres were competitive for part of the season. On December 21, 1982, the Padres signed Garvey to a five-year contract. Garvey holds the National League record for consecutive games played. During his first month as a Padres player, he tied Billy Williams’ record of 1,117 consecutive games played. Eventually, he played in 1,207 consecutive games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of 1983. Garvey played in exactly 100 games in 1983 and batted .294 with 76 runs scored, 59 runs batted in, 22 doubles, and 14 home runs. The Padres won their first division championship in 1984, and the regulars were rested the day after the team clinched. Still, Garvey played in the other 161 regular-season games as well as the National League playoffs and the World Series. Although he had only eight home runs in the regular season, he batted .284 with 175 hits, 27 doubles, 72 runs scored, and 86 runs batted in. He shared the National League lead with ten sacrifice flies. Garvey also led the National League first basemen with a 1.000 fielding percentage, having made 1,232 putouts and 87 assists without an error (the three Padres who also had innings at first base in 1984 handled a cumulative 130 chances without an error). The Padres faced the Chicago Cubs in the 1984 National League Championship Series. The Cubs won the first two games at Wrigley Field with Garvey batting in a run with a single during Game Two. A 7-1 Padres victory at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium staved off elimination. In the fourth game, the Padres took a 2-0 lead on Garvey’s double in the third inning. The Cubs scored three runs in the fourth. In the bottom of the fifth, Garvey drove in the tying run with a single. Garvey singled in a run during the seventh inning, and a subsequent run gave the Padres a 5-3 lead. The Cubs tied the game with two runs in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, Garvey came to the plate with Tony Gwynn on first and one out. Garvey’s walk-off home run gave the Padres a 7-5 victory. The following day, Garvey singled in the final run of the Padres’ 6-3 triumph. He batted .400 during the playoffs with seven runs batted in, and he was named the Most Valuable Player for the playoffs. During the 1984 World Series, Garvey batted .200 with four hits, including two doubles, in 20 at-bats and scored two runs. Garvey played in all 162 of the Padres’ games in 1985, batting .281 with his 184 hits, including 34 doubles, six triples, and 17 homers. He scored 80 runs and drove in 81. Although he made five fielding errors, Garvey led National League first basemen with 1,442 putouts and 138 double plays. Garvey batted .255 in 1986, although his 21 home runs were his most since 1980. A shoulder injury in May 1987 ended his season and his playing career. In his five Padres seasons, Garvey batted .275 with his 631 regular-season hits, including 107 doubles and 61 home runs. He scored 291 regular-season runs with the Padres while driving in 316. In his 19 total major league seasons, including three games in 1969, Garvey batted .294 with 2,599 hits, 440 doubles, 272 home runs, 1,143 runs scored, and 1,308 runs batted in. Goose Gossage After the Padres traded Rollie Fingers, the closer role was given to Gary Lucas in 1981. Fingers was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in a multi-player deal, which sent outfielder Sixto Lezcano to the St. Louis Cardinals. In December 1981, the Padres and Cardinals executed a six-player trade that sent shortstop Ozzie Smith to St. Louis while sending shortstop Garry Templeton, Lezcano, and pitcher Luis DeLeon to San Diego. Lucas and DeLeon shared closer duties in 1982 and 1983. In December 1983, Lucas was sent to the Montreal Expos as part of a three-way trade that brought outfielder Carmelo Martinez and pitcher Craig Lefferts to the Padres. Three-time American League save leader Goose Gossage became a free agent after the 1983 season, and on January 6, 1984, the Padres signed Gossage. Although Gossage never led the National League in saves while with the Padres, in 1984, his 10 relief wins ranked second in the league. His 10-6 record was complemented by 25 saves in his 62 appearances, including 51 games finished. He posted a 2.90 ERA in 102 1/3 innings pitched. He had one save in his three playoff appearances and pitched twice in the 1984 World Series. Gossage threw 79 2/3 innings in 1985 and had a 1.82 ERA, 26 saves, and a 5-3 record in 50 appearances. He took the mound 45 times in 1986 and was 5-7 with 21 saves. Lance McCullers took over the closer role from Gossage during the 1987 season, when Gossage had 11 saves in 40 appearances, a 5-4 record, and a 3.12 ERA. A four-player trade in February 1988 sent Gossage to the Chicago Cubs. He concluded his four Padres regular seasons with a 25-20 record, 83 saves, and a 2.99 ERA in 197 outings. Gossage retired after the 1994 season with 310 saves in 1,002 games and a 3.01 ERA, and in 200,8 he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Bruce Hurst In 1988, Roger Clemens and Bruce Hurst shared the Boston Red Sox team lead with 18 pitching victories apiece. Hurst was 18-6, and his .750 winning percentage ranked second among American League pitchers. The Cy Young Award voters placed Hurst ahead of Clemens, with Hurst taking fifth in the voting and Clemens placing sixth. Hurst was unable to reach a contract agreement with the Red Sox after the 1988 season. The Padres, whose third-place finish in 1988 was their best since 1984, pursued Hurst. He signed a three‑year agreement with San Diego on December 8, 1988. Although Hurst lost his first start with the Padres, his second start was a one-hit complete game victory. Hurst finished 1989 with a 15‑11 record, shared the National League lead with ten complete games, shared third in the league with 244 2/3 innings pitched, and placed fifth in the league with a 2.69 ERA and with 179 strikeouts. The Padres were 89-73 in 1989 but fell to 75-87 in 1990. Hurst was 11-9 in his second San Diego year, shared the National League lead with four shutouts, and shared second in the league with nine complete games. He was eighth in the league with 162 strikeouts and tenth both with 223 2/3 innings pitched and his 3.14 ERA. An 84-78 team record in 1991 included Hurst’s 15-8 record with the .652 winning percentage ranking fifth in the league. He struck out 141 batters in 221 2/3 innings and posted a 3.29 ERA. Hurst threw four shutouts for the 1992 Padres, who were 82-80. The shutouts included a one-hitter against the New York Mets, and Hurst was 14-9 overall with a 3.85 ERA in 217 1/3 innings. He struck out 131 opponents in 1992. The torn rotator cuff, which hindered Hurst near the end of the 1992 season, limited him to two games with the Padres in 1993. On July 26, 1993, Hurst was traded to the Colorado Rockies. The trade brought pitcher Andy Ashby and catcher Brad Ausmus to the Padres. Hurst started a total of 131 games for the Padres, posted a cumulative 55-38 record, completed 29 games, 10 of which were shutouts, struck out 616 batters in 911 2/3 innings, and had a 3.27 ERA, lower than the 4.23 ERA of his Red Sox years. He retired after the 1994 season with a career record of 145-113, a 3.92 ERA, and 23 shutouts. View the full article

Following his spring training debut on Tuesday, Marlins right-hander Chris Paddack speaks with the media about the specific pitches he's working on and adapting to the club's pitch-calling approach.View the full article

Following his spring training debut on Tuesday, Marlins right-hander Chris Paddack speaks with the media about the specific pitches he's working on and adapting to the club's pitch-calling approach.View the full article

After a career-best season in 2025, Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is showing signs that he could elevate his play a step further this upcoming summer. In this video, we break down Pasquantino's rise throughout last season, his increased slug, and how the talent around him this year could lead to an MVP-like season for the Old Dominion alum. Enjoy! View the full article

After a career-best season in 2025, Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is showing signs that he could elevate his play a step further this upcoming summer. In this video, we break down Pasquantino's rise throughout last season, his increased slug, and how the talent around him this year could lead to an MVP-like season for the Old Dominion alum. Enjoy! View the full article

Right-hander Matt Waldron's chances to make the San Diego Padres' Opening Day starting rotation took a major hit when he had a medical procedure to treat an infection. New Padres manager Craig Stammen said Waldron, who features a knuckleball, is "week-to-week" after the procedure addressed the infection in his "rear end." The 29-year-old spent most of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso and made just one MLB start. But with room in the rotation this spring, Waldron entered camp as one of a handful of candidates for the last two spots. He is out of minor-league options, which means he needs to make the Opening Day roster or go on the 15-day injured list to avoid being designated for assignment. Waldron started 26 times (in 27 appearances) in 2024, putting up a 4.26 FIP. He walked 6.4% of batters and struck out 21.3%, solid numbers. By throwing the knuck View the full article

Unless you are all about sentimentality, the move makes perfect sense. Brandon Woodruff might not be available to start Opening Day for the Milwaukee Brewers, as the right-hander takes his time ramping up this spring following a strained right lat that prematurely brought his feel-good comeback story to an end with less than two weeks to go in the 2025 season. His goal is to be healthy at the end of the 2026 season and be there for any postseason games the Crew may play. That didn't happen in 2023, when a shoulder injury that would require surgery, took him out on the eve of that year's postseason and sidelined him for the entire 2024 season. Then, it happened again in 2025. With 2026 perhaps being Woodruff's final season wearing a Brewers uniform, the 33-year-old would rather throw a pitch in the last game of the season than the first. Still, if Woodruff doesn't begin the season as the Opening Day starter March 26 against the Chicago White Sox, how do the Brewers replace the most veteran pitcher on the staff? His return to the team, after accepting the $22.025-million qualifying offer instead of finding a new home in free agency, was one reason why the Crew were willing to deal Freddy Peralta this winter. Peralta is now with the New York Mets. Woodruff was also the ideal pitcher to lead the staff post-Peralta, providing leadership and production. In 12 starts in his comeback, Woodruff had a 3.17 FIP, walking 5.4% of the batters he faced, while striking out 32.3%. Both marks are the best of his eight-year career. He struck out eight or more batters seven times, including a 10-strikeout performance in his second start. The good news is that the Brewers are in a good position to absorb a short-term loss of Woodruff, but much depends on how the team plans to reintegrate him into the rotation. "What that looks like early on, it could look a little bit different," Woodruff said Monday. "Nothing’s set in concrete, though." One possible scenario would be to handle Woodruff similarly to how the Los Angeles Dodgers brought along Shohei Ohtani last year, following his elbow surgery. As a two-way player, Ohtani didn't have the ability to go out on a rehab assignment without missing the chance to impact games as a designated hitter. Ohtani returned to pitching in mid-June and increased his workload gradually, such that the kid gloves were off by the time the postseason rolled around. He also had more time off between starts. Woodruff made two fewer starts in the regular season than Ohtani, but logged 17⅔ more innings. Of course, Ohtani's situation was made more palatable due to his two-way status, allowing Los Angeles to carry an extra pitcher. The Brewers do not have that luxury with Woodruff. Right-handers Quinn Priester and Jacob Misiorowski are the only other locks at the moment to be in the Crew's Opening Day rotation, with one of those two taking the ball that day instead of Woodruff. That turns what had been a battle royale for two rotation slots into one for three. For those in the competition, it doesn't really change much. None of the candidates wants to start the season at Triple-A Nashville, although more will than won't. As a quick refresher, those in contention include Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, Kyle Harrison, Brandon Sproat, Shane Drohan and Carlos Rodriguez. DL Hall and Ángel Zerpa, more likely to be in the bullpen, could be early-season solutions as well. Henderson is coming back from his own injury, a strained flexor that ended his season in August. But the right-hander started one of the Crew's split-squad exhibition games Sunday. Otherwise, everyone seems healthy at this point. Patrick is the next-closest thing to a lock, due to his performance in 2025. He was in the rotation for 23 of his 27 appearances and posted a 3.53 FIP, with an identical ERA. He was also electric out of the bullpen down the stretch and in the postseason, which will b an alternative for him this year if he doesn't make the rotation. After that, Henderson, Gasser and Harrison are in the next tier. Henderson made his first five MLB starts before being hurt, while Gasser came back from Tommy John surgery to make two quick-hook starts and was on the postseason roster. Harrison, a left-hander, has the most experience of the group, with 37 starts in his 42 MLB appearances. He came to the Crew in the Caleb Durbin trade, after going to the Boston Red Sox in the Rafael Devers deal with the San Francisco Giants. Prospects yet to prove themselves at the highest level are in the next group. That begins with Sproat and includes Drohan and Rodriguez. Sproat was one of the two players the Brewers received in the Peralta trade and got a brief taste of the majors at the end of 2025, with mixed results. Drohan—another lefty picked up in the Durbin deal—has battled injuries but has seen time at Triple-A each of the last three seasons. Rodriguez is homegrown, having been a sixth-round draft pick in 2021, but has struggled in his seven MLB appearances. Would it be surprising to see the Crew go out and sign a veteran to fill in for Woodruff? It depends on the plan the Brewers' medical staff has laid out for their incumbent ace. With a relatively raw group of pitchers who will be part of the team's future one way or the other, it would be a bit surprising. Most of these pitchers are ready to prove themselves in the majors. The starting group after Woodruff is nine deep, and that ignores Hall and Zerpa. While the Brewers might not have Woodruff for one final Opening Day, the team could make the strategy pay off by winning a fourth straight NL Central title and giving the ball to the big right-hander in the postseason. View the full article

Spring training is the season of overreactions. A pitching prospect touches 98 MPH, and suddenly he’s unhittable. A hitter sends one ball over the fence, and we’re rewriting the Opening Day lineup. That’s just how February works. But let’s take a breath. Most Grapefruit League games are about buildup and execution. Starters get their work in, then the game turns into a rolling audition. Results are fun, but the process matters more. This recaps the Twins' first three spring training games. Thus far, they’re 2-1, with a 7-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, an 8-1 win over the Atlanta Braves, and a 3-0 shutout victory over the Detroit Tigers. With that in mind, here’s a quick early-spring temperature check on who’s trending up, and who’s still finding their footing. Who’s Hot? ? Emmanuel Rodriguez: If you’re looking for loud contact, Emmanuel Rodríguez is delivering it. The Twins' fourth-ranked prospect (according to MLB Pipeline) went 2-for-2 Sunday with a home run, jumping on a 2-0 cutter on the outer third and smashing it over the right-field wall. He followed that up on Monday with an absolute tank against Detroit, lefty on lefty, on a sinker over the heart of the plate: 420 feet, 107 MPH off the bat. When he’s healthy and hitting balls that hard, his upside becomes very real, very fast. Kendry Rojas: One of the Twins’ top pitching prospects, Rojas was flat-out dominant against Atlanta. Over two innings, he faced six batters, recorded six outs, and struck out three—and that came against not just any six hitters, but star big-leaguers. He faced Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies, and more than held his own. The stuff backed it up. His fastball topped out at 98.5 mph and sat around 97, generating over 15 inches of vertical break on average. The changeup showed 10.7 inches of horizontal movement and paired beautifully off the heater. There were swings and misses throughout, and both pitches looked like legitimate weapons. He also generated three whiffs on just eight sliders. For a guy who struggled at Triple-A last year, that’s extremely encouraging. Alan Roden: He didn’t ease into his spring. Roden went 2-for-3 Sunday against the Braves, highlighted by a grand slam. The at-bat stood out just as much as the result; it was a seven-pitch battle that ended with a 3-2 fastball at the top of the zone. He didn’t miss it, driving it out to right-center. He also added a hard-hit single into center field. That’s about as clean a start as you can ask for. Mick Abel: The command wasn’t perfect, but the raw stuff was very sharp. He threw three scoreless innings against Detroit’s projected starting lineup, allowing two hits, no walks, and striking out five. After a leadoff triple in the first inning, he regrouped and struck out the side, a nice early sign of poise. His fastball topped out at 97.1 mph while sitting around 95, and he generated a ridiculous 12 swinging strikes on 46 pitches. Detroit simply couldn’t handle his fastball or changeup. The breaking ball command wavered at times, but overall, it was a very strong first outing for Abel. Who’s Not? ? Connor Prielipp: He didn’t allow a run and was credited with the win Monday, but this wasn’t the clean outing you were hoping for from Prielipp. Over 1 2/3 innings against Detroit’s projected starters, he gave up one hit, walked three, and struck out two. The stuff itself was solid. His fastball topped out at 97.5 mph, and both the slider and changeup regularly crept into the low 90s. The issue was location. He threw just 21 strikes on 41 pitches, and when you’re walking three of the nine hitters you face, it’s hard to call it sharp, even if the radar gun looks great. The arsenal is there; the command just has to catch up. Matt Wallner: Through five plate appearances this spring, Matt Wallner is 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. The only ball he’s put in play was a pop-up. It’s five plate appearances, and nobody’s panicking in February. But for a hitter whose profile already includes swing-and-miss red flags, you’d rather see some early contact. Again, this is spring training. These games often turn into minor-league scrimmages by the middle innings. A hot week doesn’t guarantee anything, and a slow one doesn’t doom anyone. But if we’re just taking an early pulse, a few Twins prospects are already making this spring a lot more interesting. View the full article

The season-ending elbow injury to Pablo López has forced a reality check for the Twins before the regular season has even begun. With their ace now set to undergo Tommy John surgery, questions about Minnesota’s direction are surfacing once again. Appearing Monday on Fair Territory, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal was asked whether López’s absence could impact how the organization approaches trade discussions involving key players such as Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan. "I would expect the Twins are going to be sellers, but not just yet," Rosenthal said Monday. Rosenthal pointed to the immediate impact López’s injury has on the club’s competitiveness, especially when evaluating how the roster stacks up against the rest of the division. "Certainly with losing Pablo Lopez, the team is not as competitive as it might have expected," continued Rosenthal. "But their new ownership, or I should say their shift in control people, to a different Pohlad, he's talking like they want to compete, and he keeps saying that, and he keeps coming out saying, 'We intend to be competitive in the AL Central.' So, I don't expect a trade of either of those players, Ryan or Buxton, to happen this spring." Both Buxton and Ryan have remained popular names in trade speculation dating back to last summer’s deadline when Minnesota reshaped much of its roster but ultimately held onto several cornerstone pieces. Ryan recently told The Athletic’s Dan Hayes he was "really happy" to still be in Minnesota after the front office opted against dealing López or Buxton earlier in the process. Buxton, meanwhile, has consistently stated his desire to remain with the Twins, even as rumors have continued to circulate. “All it takes is for somebody at the top to go to the media: ‘We’re not trading you.' Trade rumors stop," Buxton said recently. Ownership, led by controlling owner Tom Pohlad, has been clear in its desire to remain competitive rather than move additional talent. Still, Rosenthal noted that stance may become more difficult to maintain if Minnesota struggles in the standings. "Could it happen down the line, by the deadline? Certainly could happen if the Twins don't contend," Rosenthal reasoned. "And I'm still having a hard time seeing how they will contend. Now, they're in the forgiving AL Central. That will help. But the Tigers should be really good. The Guardians always seem to figure it out. The White Sox are improving. And the Royals, they see themselves as a contender as well." Rosenthal also referenced last July’s deadline decisions and the inherent risk of holding onto players who could have been moved at peak value. “The Twins are a team that, of course, deconstructed in a major way last July at the deadline. You remember all the players that they moved, Correa being the headliner, but a number of others as well, including really their entire bullpen.” “At that time, they chose not to trade Joe Ryan, not to trade Pablo Lopez, who was hurt. And the danger when you do that is you’re risking a player or pitcher getting injured or not performing to his previous norms. The Twins, in this case with Pablo Lopez, they were probably going to trade him at the deadline if he was healthy this year.” “Joe Ryan might have been a trade candidate and still might be a trade candidate for them at the deadline. They talk about competing. The Twins keep saying, ‘we want to compete, we want to be back in the AL Central mix,’ and all that. Well, they haven’t spent enough money to do that, and now they have this question of their rotation without one of their big premier starters.” Whether Minnesota stays the course or pivots later this summer could ultimately depend on how it navigates the first few months of the season without its ace leading the rotation. View the full article

Spring training 2026 is officially underway. Even fanbases of teams that lost 100+ games last season have a reason for their blind optimism: it's a new calendar year, and every team has the same record. One thing to remember is that spring training means virtually nothing, and success does not translate over to the regular season. The stars and consistent role players use this time to get loose and hang out with the boys, while playing sparingly to avoid a potential injury. The most exciting part of spring training, besides baseball being back in general, is getting to watch top prospects and fringe roster players compete for a spot on the team. Whether it be for a starting job or a spot on the end of the bench, these players without a clear path to playing time are going to take this next month very seriously. At North Side Baseball, we will hold a bi-weekly check-in to see who is hot, who is not, and who might be close to earning a spot on the roster. While the Cubs’ starting lineup is set, there’s a bench spot or two up for grabs. Jed’s bargain bin bullpen approach has not changed for 2026, so it's going to be fun to see who makes the cut for Opening Day. As of February 24th, the Cubs are 1-3, losing to the White Sox, Rangers, and Giants while beating the Royals. Let's take a look at some highlights (and lowlights) over the first 4 games. It's worth mentioning that early in Spring Training, a ton of playing time goes to NRIs, so we haven’t seen much action from the studs yet. Who's Hot? 🔥 OF Brett Bateman The 23-year-old is a short, scrappy, left-handed outfielder who ranked as the team’s #19 prospect prior to 2025, per MLB.com. While Bateman will never amount to much of a slugger, he is looking to carve out a role where he can use his speed and ability to put the ball in play in order to put opposing defenses in awkward situations. He has played in all four games so far, and has three singles in seven at-bats, while drawing three walks as well. There is a wide open competition for not one, but potentially two bench outfield spots, and Bateman is proving himself worthy for consideration, even if he is not on the 40-man roster. INF Pedro Ramirez Prospects are being called up earlier and earlier, a league-wide phenomenon. MLB.com projects the 21-year-old Ramirez to make his debut at some point in 2026. Matt Shaw is currently the only non-first baseman infielder with any MLB experience slated for a bench role this season, which is good news if you’re Ramirez, who is on the 40-man roster. Like Bateman, he has three hits (one double) in seven at-bats and has played in every game thus far. He’s played mostly third base thus far, but has experience at second base as well. Ramirez is a switch-hitter, which no other infielder competing for a job can say. INF Jefferson Rojas Rojas is only 20 years old and not on the 40-man roster, but he is one of the top organizational prospects, ranking behind only Jaxon Wiggins and Moises Ballesteros. MLB.com doesn’t project a debut from Rojas until the 2027 season, and he has not played above AA, so he’s here in camp to serve as depth. It's hard to ignore the early results, though. He has three hits in eight at-bats, including a home run that came yesterday versus the Royals. He’s played exclusively shortstop so far this Spring, but can flip over to second in a pinch. RHP Ben Brown Even though he is under team control for a few more seasons, 2026 seems like a real prove-it year for Brown. The stuff is there, but his inability to consistently harness it casts a cloud of ambiguity on his future with the team. Brown started yesterday against Kansas City and pitched two innings, allowing two hits, striking out three, and allowing no runs. He gave up two hits in the first to Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino, two of Kansas City’s best hitters, but ended the inning by striking out Salvador Perez. He had a 1-2-3 second inning, striking out two more Royals. Although Brown got the “start”, he may be more valuable to the Cubs if he can excel in the bullpen this season. RHP Grant Kipp One of the older prospects in the organization, the 26-year-old is with the team as an NRI. He had a multi-inning outing in the spring training opener against the White Sox, and was one of the few bright spots for the Cubs on the mound in a game they lost 8-1. Kipp entered the game in top of the fourth, and immediately got the Cubs out of a jam, getting infielder Sam Antonacci to ground into a double play. He stayed in the game for the top of the fifth and gave up a single to Korey Lee to start the inning, but then retired the next three hitters in a row. With a good spring, Kipp may find himself added to the 40-man roster, even if it's unlikely he breaks camp with the club. Who's Cold? 🧊 OF Justin Dean 2025 World Series Champion Justin Dean was claimed by the Cubs from the Giants earlier in the offseason and is currently one of the reserve outfielders on the 40-man roster. His early spring audition is not going well. He’s played in three games and had nine at-bats; he’s notched one hit but has struck out five times. The 29-year-old has never been a regular contributor in the major leagues. He made his MLB debut last season with the Dodgers and was used almost exclusively as a defensive replacement. He appeared in 18 games, but only got two at-bats, and is still searching for his first MLB hit. With the way spring training has started, he might be one of the first players cut from the 40-man. INF/OF Scott Kingery While the aforementioned Dean has at least one hit this spring, former top prospect Kingery cannot say the same. Throughout his three appearances so far, he is 0-8 with three strikeouts. Last season, he went 4-27 in his first taste of big league action since 2022, so his inability to hit so far should come as no surprise. Even with Kingery’s ability to play all over the field, the Cubs are better off giving more playing time to someone like Ramirez or Rojas. Even James Triantos has contributed with three stolen bases, though he’s gone 2-9 at the plate. LHP Matthew Boyd While the other inclusions on this list have all been fringe guys or prospects, Boyd was arguably the Cubs’ best pitcher in 2025, so his inclusion here is discouraging. It's a good thing that spring training is just a workout for rotation staples like Boyd, but it is worth noting that, including the playoffs, the 35-year-old threw the most innings of his career last season. He got the start on Saturday versus the Rangers and surrendered five hits in 1 2/3rds innings of work. He did strike out four, though, and don’t be surprised if he looks much better his second time out. RHP Porter Hodge As we get further away from Hodge being a dependable reliever in 2024, questions about his future with the team will continue to pop up. After posting a sub 2.00 ERA in two seasons ago, Hodge had an ERA of 6.27 in 33 innings last season, while battling injuries. He took the mound in the opener versus the White Sox and only recorded one out. He gave up one hit but walked four. He looked a lot better in his second appearance versus Kansas City, pitching a scoreless inning while striking out two, but he also issued a walk in that one as well. It would be great to count on Hodge this season, as he was once viewed as a potential closer, but he needs to get the free passes under control. View the full article

As the Red Sox get established in spring training, at least as established as they can be with 14 guys headed to the World Baseball Classic next month, they are looking to assemble the best 26-man roster they can come Opening Day. As fans, we’re on the lookout for the next breakout candidate who shows that he’s ready to take the next step and be a big-league contributor, but this early in the process we need to remember to pump the breaks just a bit and remember that with so many guys about to miss potentially significant portions of camp to represent their countries, that we may not get a full picture of the team until right before spring training ends. Thinking around those parameters, we’re going to take a twice-a-week look at spring training stats to see who is doing well and who isn’t. There’s certainly going to be room for debate with many of the names on here, but try not to get too worked up about where guys may fall over the next four weeks or so. We’re just in spring training, and as we all know, the back half of those games often features guys who won’t even sniff the major league roster this season. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Nate Eaton: The utility man, who is ramping up to represent Great Britain in the WBC, has been arguably the best hitter for the team so far in camp. Through the first three games in Grapefruit League play, he’s slashing .667/.667/1.000. Talk about MVP numbers. I kid, but he’s certainly making a case for himself to be the first guy off the bench come the regular season. Great Britain isn’t expected to make a deep WBC run, but Eaton could prove to be a valuable piece to that team, getting him live game reps on a much bigger stage than he would be getting with the Red Sox in camp. Those reps could translate to an even better spring than he’s currently having, solidifying him for a spot on the 26-man roster come Opening Day. Connelly Early: Early may be the most recent starter to throw a game as of this writing, but he looked really good in that short outing. He tossed two scoreless innings with one walk and one strikeout without allowing a hit or a run. What has placed him on this part of the list, though, was that his four-seam fastball averaged 94.8 MPH, up almost a full tick from 2025. If Early can continue to show that kind of dominance with his fastball, he’s going to be pushing for that fifth starter spot quicker than most people assumed. He got a cup of coffee with the big-league club last season and was trusted enough to start game three of the Wild Card round, so he’s obviously on the short list for the rotation, but a continued strong showing this spring could cause some difficult decisions in Alex Cora’s office as Opening Day approaches. Andruw Monasterio: Acquired as part of the trade package that brought Caleb Durbin to Boston, Monasterio is making a case for himself to be considered for the same bench role that Nate Eaton above is competing for. So far, Monasterio is slashing .500/.600/1.250 with two hits, including a home run, one walk, and no strikeouts. He’s been caught stealing once, but that shouldn’t worry anyone. He’s quick and will swipe bases at whatever level he begins the season at. Alex Cora had this to say about the newly acquired infielder, “…you see him here, it’s like, ‘Oh, shoot. He can move. He’s versatile. He can hit lefties.’” Being on Cora’s radar this early in camp is a great thing, and Monasterio said that those words gave him more energy to come to the field on a daily basis and make himself a better player. Monasterio is working with the team’s hitting coaches to improve his swing path and unlock a new level for him offensively. While he was a name that not many people may have known coming over from the Brewers, so far Monasterio looks like someone who can compete on a major league level this season if given the chance. Who’s Not? 🧊 Brendan Rodgers: It pains me a bit to say this, but Rodgers hasn’t been good at all so far this spring training. He’s had four at-bats that have resulted in zeros across the board. He was brought in as a non-roster invitee to try and compete for the backup second base job, and brings the pedigree of a former Gold Glove winner with him, but so far he’s looked overmatched at the plate and more like someone who could either be cut loose at the end of camp or assigned to minor league camp to try and work on his mechanics as he comes back from a couple of injury plagued seasons previously. With Eaton and Monasterio already looking primed to leapfrog over Rodgers in the pecking order, he’s going to have to turn things around quickly to be able to prove he’s worth a spot on the team as it moves forward. Brayan Bello: I know, it’s one start and 1 1/3 innings pitched, but Bello looked awful in that lone appearance. He faced nine batters, giving up four hits, four earned runs, two strikeouts, and one walk. The main reason not worry too much about Bello, though, is that he reintroduced his changeup to his arsenal this offseason and is working to get it moving like an actual changeup, around 87 or 88 mph, instead of behaving more like his sinker and sitting around 91 or 92 mph. He’s also added a curveball to his pitch mix that should help all of his off-speed offerings play a bit more. He was pulled during the first inning, and those four earned runs, but returned in the second thanks to some funky spring training rules that everyone forgets about, where he looked much more like his 2025 self. He’s one of the many guys headed to the WBC, where he hopes that the live game reps will help set him up for success for the season ahead. These lists are designed to change from the beginning of the week to the end, but a trend to watch for is whether the names at the top continue to stick there throughout the entirety of camp. If that happens, we may get a bit of an early look at who will break camp with the big league club versus the names who remain on the bottom list, who could be on the outside looking in as we get closer and closer to Opening Day. View the full article

Spring training is always about progression, but for David Festa, the climb toward Opening Day may be a little more deliberate this year. According to The Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale, Festa is “gradually ramping up” this spring after ending the 2025 season on the injured list. In September, Festa was diagnosed with a mild form of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, which caused nerve compression in his right shoulder. He underwent treatment that included Botox injections in an effort to avoid surgery. Over the weekend in Fort Myers, Festa took another step forward by throwing live at-bats on a back field. Nightengale reported that his fastball sat between 91 and 92 miles per hour during the session. That mark falls short of last season when Festa averaged 94.1 miles per hour on his four-seamer, but it is also an indication that he is trending in the right direction after previously being limited to bullpen sessions. The nerve issue near his pitching shoulder required a cautious offseason approach, and the Twins are clearly taking the same path this spring. Even so, Festa still has a legitimate opportunity to win a spot in Minnesota’s rotation as camp progresses. Earlier in the winter, there was some speculation that Festa could shift to the bullpen in order to bolster a group lacking high upside right-handed options. However, starting pitching depth has quickly become a priority for the Twins following the news that Pablo López will miss the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Minnesota’s projected rotation currently includes Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Taj Bradley. The final spot could ultimately come down to Festa, Zebby Matthews, and Mick Abel as the calendar inches closer to Opening Day. Whichever two pitchers fall short in that competition will likely begin the year with the St. Paul Saints and serve as early-season depth should injuries arise or performance dictate a change. Festa entered last season as arguably Minnesota’s top pitching prospect after posting a 34.9 K% with a 4.00 FIP at Triple-A in 2024. However, his big-league tenure has matched those upper-minors results. In 117 2/3 innings, he has posted an 83 ERA+, 4.27 FIP, and 25.7 K%. For Festa, Saturday’s live session was not about velocity as much as it was about availability. If the trend continues upward, he could still find himself in the Opening Day conversation even as the Twins take a patient approach to his return. View the full article

Speaking to reporters (including Sportnet's Shi Davidi) after his Grapefruit League debut, José Berríos revealed that he was already pitching through discomfort at this time last spring. He continued dealing with the issue throughout the season, eventually landing on the IL with an elbow/biceps tendon injury. It's no secret that he started to wear down at some point during 2025, but this is the first time he has clarified just how early his troubles started. Thankfully, Berríos is feeling much stronger this spring. "Last year, at this time, I had doubt in my mind already," he explained. "Today, I felt like nothing's on my mind. I'm clear." Berríos gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in his outing on Monday, striking out two Mets batters. He earned five whiffs on 23 swings, and his sinker topped out at 92.7 mph. All told, the righty threw 47 pitches across 2 2/3 innings, plus another 13 in a bullpen session. He said he was pleased with his performance. From 2023-24, Berríos made 64 starts for the Blue Jays with a 3.63 ERA. He had a 3.38 ERA through his first 14 starts in 2025, but struggled to a 4.97 ERA in his final 17 outings (16 starts). According to the pitch models Stuff+ and PitchingBot, his raw stuff declined significantly on four of his five pitches. The drop-off was particularly noticeable over the final three months of the year. Now, however, manager John Schneider says Berríos has regained his best stuff. "His stuff is back to where it was probably two years ago in terms of velocity and his breaking ball," said the skipper, per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Hopefully, Berríos can blame his late-season performance on his injury, and now that he's back at full strength, he can pitch more like the pitcher he was before. As things stand, he's a good bet to make Toronto's Opening Day rotation, but if he continues to struggle like he did late last season, he'll run the risk of losing his job when Shane Bieber comes off the IL. Berríos also gave an update on his chances of pitching in the World Baseball Classic. While initial reports suggested he was denied insurance coverage and wouldn't be able to participate, he was later added to Puerto Rico's designated pitcher pool. On Monday, the veteran seemed optimistic he'd be able to join Puerto Rico if they make it to the next round of the tournament, though he'd still need to pass another physical. His willingness to play in the WBC certainly seems like a good sign that he's feeling healthier than he was last year. View the full article

When it comes to the San Diego Padres' outfield entering the 2026 season, this is the group from which you can expect the most production. Which is saying a lot considering how good the Friars' bullpen is. But that is because of the talent the the Padres have in the outfield. That starts with Fernando Tatis Jr., moves to Jackson Merrill, and concludes with Ramon Laureano. All three figure to play significant roles in the offense, with Tatis and Merrill batting in the top four and Laureano possibly anchoring the bottom four. Who Was Scheduled to Come Back? In addition to Tatis in right, Merrill in center and Laureano in left, backup Bryce Johnson also returns. Thus, that continuity, along with the bulk of the position-player group returning 2025, bodes well for an offense that should be strong (despite some obvious shortcomings). Since Tatis' forgettable 2022, in which he was recovering from a shoulder injury before being suspended for a performance-enhancing drug, the right fielder has bounced back. Not only has he been one of the best defenders in the game, but he's also also producing offensively. Sure, it hasn't been on the same level as his pre-suspension performance, but he has been very consistent in the three seasons since. With his usual flair, Tatis has a combined .266/.344/.459 slash line over the last three years, with 71 homers, 198 RBIs and 72 steals. Take into account that he played just 104 games in 2024 and those numbers would be a few notches higher. Tatis earned down-ballot NL MVP votes in 2023 and 2025, the same years he won the NL Platinum Glove as the best defender, regardless of position, in the league. He fuels that Friars' offense from the leadoff spot, scoring 111 runs in 2025 and 91 in 2023. Tatis also played in a career-high 155 games in 2025, the first he hasn't had to deal with injuries since 2020. Unfortunately, Merrill did deal with injuries in 2025. He went on the injured list three times, once for a strained hamstring (24 games missed), then a concussion (11 games), and then for a sprained right ankle (13 games). How those various ailments affected him throughout the season is probably a contributing factor to his .264/.317/.457 slash line with 16 homers, 67 RBIs and just one steal (three attempts). That, of course, came after he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and received NL MVP votes with a slash line of .292/.326/.500, hitting 24 homers and driving in 90 with 16 steals (19 attempts). He also struck out 108 times in 483 plate appearances in 2025 after whiffing 101 times in 593 plate appearances as a rookie. As a positive, he did walk 33 times in 2025, up from 29 in 2024. Laureano, a right-handed hitter who came over at the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles, had a career year in 2025. He put up a .290/.355/.529 slash line with the Orioles, then dropped to .269/.323/.489 with the Friars. He hit 15 homers with the Orioles in 290 plate appearances, then his nine in 198 plate appearances after the trade. Johnson is back after the Friars reacquired him early in the 2025 season via a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was at Triple-A El Paso until mid-June. From there, the switch-hitter played in 55 games and had a surprising slash line of .342/.383/.434 with one homer and eight RBIs in 84 plate appearances. His role is mainly as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch hitter. Who Was Added? Former Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos joined the fray after being released due to contract and clubhouse issues. His defense in right was not good, ranking 228th of 230 at the position with minus-11 defensive runs saved. He is known for his bat, averaging 21 homers and 82 RBIs over the last four seasons with the Phillies. No other true outfielder was added, but a couple of hybrid players were. That starts with Miguel Andujar, who spent 2025 with the A's and Cincinnati Reds. He will likely be a top pinch-hitter as a right-handed power bat, though he can play both outfield and infield corners. His career has been marked by injuries and sapped a lot of his power, although he hit 10 in 341 plate appearances over 90 games last year. Another option will be Sung Mun Song, a free agent from the Korea Baseball Organization. Song is a third baseman who also plays second base and a bit of first. He will be learning the outfield this spring training with the Padres to increase his versatility, perhaps becoming a super-utility player. Song has some offensive upside if the transition from the KBO goes smoothly. Candidates to Join the Outfield? There might not be another pure outfielder to join the fray. Tirso Ornelas is now gone after being DFA'd. Among non-roster invitees there is Pablo Reyes and Samad Taylor, who both also have infield experience. That will obviously boost their chances to join the Friars' bench. The Bottom Line There are very few questions in the outfield. Tatis is a given, regaining the luster he lost in 2022 and re-establishing his position in the game as a superstar. He is firmly a fan favorite and the gas that drives the Padres' car. Merrill should bounce back assuming he's fully healthy, and Laureano will be in a good situation as the everyday left fielder, motivated by the fact that he's in a contract year. Castellanos may get an occasional game in right, but he seems to be in the mix for time at first base or, at worst, as the designated hitter. Johnson is a solid backup, with Song and Andujar perhaps adding some more flair to this group. Regardless, the starting group will determine just how far this team goes in 2026. View the full article

Sweet Lou, Comrade Cody, and Ol Gregg Chiggins run down the storylines they're watching at spring training, including roster battles and darkhorses. Gregg recounts his embarrassing interaction with a former MVP. Lou loves sunburn, and Cody poured out his drinks. Pots and pans for all! Listen using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twins-off-daily-podcast/id1741266056 Listen using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tb78XlurcPTYYSsARdbD7 Listen using iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-twins-off-daily-podcas-167548600/ Listen using Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/nvclbt0w Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@twinsdaily View the full article

Given his recent injury history, Brandon Woodruff and the Brewers are taking things slow this spring. Woodruff, whose comeback from career-threatening shoulder surgery was truncated by a season-ending lat injury last September, is building up more gradually than most of Milwaukee's starters, to the point that he is not guaranteed to be ready for Opening Day. Both player and team are more interested in having a healthy Woodruff during the stretch run than in April. "We don't want to push him too fast, necessarily, because we want to have those bullets available at the end of the season, for sure, and he is coming off a real injury here," president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said last week. The Brewers expect Woodruff to be available this year, though, and they expect him to be a major rotation piece once he's ready to go. The club affirmed that confidence by extending him the $22.025-million qualifying offer in November, which Woodruff accepted to return to the only organization he's ever known. "In terms of the qualifying offer and accepting it, it was a pretty easy decision for me," he said. "If I had to spend one year pitching somewhere in my career—and fortunately, I've been here my whole big-league career so far—this was easy, I'd love to throw it here. I had a few other opportunities, but nothing that compared to here." For the first time in two years, Woodruff is coming off a normal offseason, a welcome change of pace from a grueling rehab process. The slower buildup is to ensure he stays healthy, and has nothing to do with how he's feeling. "This spring training, compared to last, not even comparable in terms of the way I feel," Woodruff said. As he worked his way back, the question was not only when Woodruff would return to the big leagues, but how he would perform when that time arrived. Unsurprisingly, a major shoulder surgery sapped some of his velocity. His four-seamer and two-seamer averaged north of 96 mph in his prime, but they sat at 93 in his return. Woodruff was no less effective, though, authoring a 3.20 ERA, 2.90 SIERA, and 32.3% strikeout rate, the latter two of which were career bests. He announced his return with authority, tossing six innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts on July 6, 2025, against the Marlins in Miami—the location of his previous big-league start, nearly 22 months prior. "His command was really good," Pat Murphy said. "His poise. He had that same gunfighter mentality. It's precious. That game in Miami, it still gives me chills thinking about it." In some ways, Woodruff still looked like his vintage self. When he threw his four-seamer, he still went right at hitters. It still induced whiffs on 32.1% of swings, essentially the same elite rate as when it sat in the upper 90s. While its horizontal movement bordered on glove-side cut more than it once did, at 17.6 inches of induced vertical break, it still had above-average carry at the top of the zone. It was clear from that first outing, though, that this was an evolved Woodruff. Yes, the four-seamer could still miss bats, but he used it a career-low 30.7% of the time and developed new ways to supplement it. "Last year was a very, very big teaching moment for me in my career and how I can pitch," he said, "how I can go about pitching and doing different things and expanding on my arsenal a little bit, and not having the velo." Throughout that afternoon in Miami, Woodruff repeatedly dotted the outside corner with comeback two-seamers to right-handed batters. He continued doing it for the rest of the season to a greater extent than before his injury, when he almost exclusively used the two-seamer to jam righties inside with running velocity. "I started doing that in '23, too, before having surgery," he said of the back-door two-seamer. "I've always wanted to do it, but I never really needed to do it. That was kind of a different layer for me. So then when I came back and started rehabbing and getting in games, I made sure to kind of keep that in my pocket a little bit." "For the two-seamer to come along the way it has, it's changed him a little bit," Murphy said. Woodruff also added a third fastball to his mix. Leveraging his newfound inclination to cut the ball slightly more, he developed a riding cutter using an offset four-seam grip. Sitting at 89 mph with 13 inches of induced vertical break, it mirrored his four-seamer and sinker out of the hand before cutting a few inches toward his glove side, helping him establish an effective tunnel with those two-seamers on the outside corner. "Just trying to play lanes," Woodruff said. "I think that's a big part of pitching, is understanding how your stuff plays. It's all planes, trying to get a pitch to come out of the same area, the same kind of box, essentially, and have those shapes play together." One of his intended changes didn't stick. Woodruff developed a sweeper during his rehab process to better complement his fastballs and separate from his curveball, but after throwing seven of them across his first two starts, he threw just five the rest of the season. Poor results were part of the reason—the sweeper surrendered a home run in each of those first two outings—but more than anything, Woodruff struggled to throw it consistently. "It's a pitch for me where I have to really get extended out in front and get in front of the baseball," he explained. "It's a pitch for me that's pretty tough to [throw]. I have to really think about throwing this thing way out in front. There might be a couple of good ones in there, but I'm the type of guy – I've always been like that – if I'm throwing something that isn't consistent or what I like, I kind of work around that and then use it when I really need to bring it out. It's kind of a back-pocket pitch for me." Instead, he leaned heavily on that trio of fastballs and a changeup that has improved over the years. How Woodruff deployed those four pitches, however, often varied from one game to the next. "I just kind of went with the flow," he said. "It's one of those things where I try to read the hitter as much as possible, and I throw what they are telling me to throw … I have a plan, and I know my strengths, but I kind of let the hitter tell me everything." Woodruff didn't know what results to expect in his return last year, focusing more on the goal of making it back to a mound. Murphy was also unsure how he would perform, but he was unsurprised that he made the necessary adjustments to retire hitters in new ways. "I don't know that I could have predicted that, but I know that when I watched him attack his rehab and just be so diligent day in and day out, I'm like, 'Man, this guy's hungry. He's hungry,'" Murphy said. "It didn't surprise me totally, because of the way he attacked his rehab, the process to come back." With the 2026 season approaching, Woodruff remains hungry, but just as he learned to expand his arsenal and methods for attacking hitters, he's also navigating changes to his body and how he must approach his workload. "I still have to be smart going forward for this year," he said. "I didn't throw a ton of innings. But as far as right now, physically, I feel really good." View the full article

FORT MYERS—Barring injuries, 10 of the 13 position-player spots on the Twins' projected roster are already locked in: Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, and Royce Lewis will start in the infield. Matt Wallner, Byron Buxton, and Trevor Larnach will start in the outfield. Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini will be the Twins' catchers. Kody Clemens will be a corner utility glove and likely start versus most right-handed pitchers, somewhere. That leaves three bench spots, so let’s look at the candidates, along with my percentage estimation that each makes the Opening Day roster. (Since there are three spots, those percentages have to add up to 300%.) The three spots are: 1. Backup Shortstop In the past, the Twins could look around their starting infield for backup shortstop options. No longer. Willi Castro is in Colorado, and Lee moved into the lead role at shortstop when Carlos Correa was traded. Thus, one of the bench spots has to be taken by a true shortstop who can step in when Lee needs to miss a game—or even needs a short IL stint. One of the following three players will be on the roster, and your guess is as good as mine about which one is in the lead. Tristan Gray (30%) is 29 years old and only has 122 MLB plate appearances with a .634 OPS, but that’s why he’s competing for a bench spot. He also has lots of flexibility in that he can play all over the infield, and his underlying metrics suggest he has the most offensive upside of the three. Ryan Kreidler (30%) has the best glove of the candidates, but he also has a career .383 OPS(!) over four years and 211 plate appearances. His Triple-A numbers (.717 OPS over 1,223 PA) suggest he’s better than that, but I mean, he has to be, right? One other advantage he has over the other two players is that he can also play center field. Orlando Arcia (40%) is the 10-year veteran who was an All-Star as recently as 2023, but has posted a .599 OPS over his last two years. Can the 31-year-old use spring training to show he’s back to his old self and prolong his career one more year? I’m not optimistic, but I’m still giving him a slight edge because he’s the veteran and could probably opt out of the organization if he doesn’t make the roster. Which is similar to the situation for…. 2. Backup Center Fielder Nobody is going to replace Byron Buxton’s impact in this lineup, but despite his last two (mostly) healthy seasons, an insurance policy for him isn’t just wise; it’s a necessity. If he’s out for an extended period of time, his replacement will probably come from Triple A. But for the occasional necessary day off, the Twins will need a Plan B. Even if Kreidler makes the team, I’m almost sure one of these two center field candidates will make the roster, too, for different reasons. James Outman (60%) was acquired at the trade deadline from the Dodgers, but didn’t hit any better with the Twins (.558 OPS) than he did with LA (.487 OPS). That means he hasn’t hit well since he was a 26-year-old rookie in 2023, and worse, he didn’t look very good defensively in center or left field, which was perceived to be his strength. But he does have one thing going for him: he’s out of minor-league options. If he doesn’t make the team, the Twins could lose him to another team without getting anything in return. That’s not something the asset-conscious Twins liked to do when the team was run by Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli, but we’ll see if that’s different under Jeremy Zoll and Derek Shelton. Austin Martin (80%) has several things going for him that make him a likely fit for the Twins roster. He can play center field, he’s right-handed, and he can steal bases. The Twins team needs all of those, and it probably helps that he’s a 26-year-old former top prospect. It makes too much sense for him to be on this roster for it not to happen, one way or the other. 3. Offensive Help The Twins’ offense ranked 23rd in runs scored last year, and a few spots in their lineup could benefit from platooning with a right-handed bat. Hence, the last spot on the roster will be focused on adding some offense. Eric Wagaman (25%) is a right-handed hitter who hits left-handed pitching (.783 OPS in 2025) but has never really hit righties, so his role would need to be limited. But that might work. He’s basically a right-handed version of Clemens, minus the ability to play second base. As such, the Twins could mix and match the two at several corner positions and have Wagaman available for high-leverage at-bats versus left-handed relievers late in games. Alan Roden (20%) is not a right-handed bat, but they traded for him last year at the deadline. He played left field for the Twins last year, and could be a fit there again this year if the Twins determine they would rather see Trevor Larnach mostly at designated hitter. If Roden makes the team, it probably won’t be as a bench bat, but as a starting left fielder. That would give the team another left-handed corner outfield bat to be added to Larnach, Wallner, and Clemens. Gio Urshela (15%) is a veteran right-handed bat, but with less defensive flexibility than Wagaman. That doesn’t mean he can’t win the job, but it seems like he’s on the outside looking in, unless there’s an injury or Wagaman looks overmatched. The truth is that one can mix and match these guys and end up with different strengths and different weaknesses that reflect what you value in a baseball team. So let’s hear your thoughts in the comments about your choices—and more importantly, your reasons. View the full article

With Rhys Hoskins signing a contract with the Cleveland Guardians following his two-year stint in Milwaukee, it got our gears turning on the true future at first base for the Brewers. In this video, we dive into the advanced analytics and contract details for Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, and Tyler Black. View the full article

With Rhys Hoskins signing a contract with the Cleveland Guardians following his two-year stint in Milwaukee, it got our gears turning on the true future at first base for the Brewers. In this video, we dive into the advanced analytics and contract details for Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, and Tyler Black. View the full article

Cade Horton's remarkable 2025 campaign had him knocking on the doorstep of some National League Rookie of the Year hardware. Based on his arsenal, durability, and signs of growth, can he be the ace of a crowded room of arms this season? We dive into Horton's strengths, weaknesses, and the likelihood of that happening. Enjoy! View the full article

Cade Horton's remarkable 2025 campaign had him knocking on the doorstep of some National League Rookie of the Year hardware. Based on his arsenal, durability, and signs of growth, can he be the ace of a crowded room of arms this season? We dive into Horton's strengths, weaknesses, and the likelihood of that happening. Enjoy! View the full article

The Minnesota Twins faced off against the Detroit Tigers on Monday in a game that was headlined by a dominant start by Mick Abel and an absolute TANK by Emmanuel Rodriguez. What are the chances that either player makes the Opening Day roster? View the full article

The Minnesota Twins faced off against the Detroit Tigers on Monday in a game that was headlined by a dominant start by Mick Abel and an absolute TANK by Emmanuel Rodriguez. What are the chances that either player makes the Opening Day roster? View the full article