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Padres Mission's ranking of the club's top prospects for 2026 has reached the final stage, and just the top two prospects are left to highlight. Be sure to check out our previous rankings here: No. 3: Kruz Schoolcraft No. 4: Bradgley Rodriguez No. 5: Miguel Mendez No. 6: Jagger Haynes No. 7: Humberto Cruz No. 8: Ty Harvey No. 9: Ryan Wideman No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 2 Kash Mayfield (Lake Elsinore Storm) The San Diego Padres organization has been extra cautious with Kash Mayfield ever since taking the left-hander 25th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. They delayed his pro debut until last April, and then the team capped his workload for Low-A Lake Elsinore tightly. Mayfield never worked more than five innings or threw more than 80 pitches in a game. His innings limit shrunk further in midseason after he missed three weeks in May and June with inflammation in his pitching shoulder. When he did take the mound, he showed a lot of promise. Over 19 games (all starts) and 60 2/3 innings, Mayfield produced a 2.97 ERA/3.06 FIP, a 34.1 percent strikeout rate, a 3.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 43.6 percent ground-ball rate. He was excellent at keeping the ball in the yard, allowing just two home runs in a hitter-friendly environment. His 10.9 percent walk rate was a blemish, if only slightly given his youth and lack of consistent reps. He succeeded despite working with a diminished arsenal. The San Diego Union-Tribune (subscription required) reported last September that Mayfield's fastball velocity was down about 3 mph from his days at Elk City (Okla.) High School; he topped out at 94 mph in the Cal League, compared to 97 mph in the prep ranks. The 21-year-old's offseason plans included adding weight and strength. That could bump the velocity back up. Other aspects of pitching helped him compensate. The heater had lively arm-side run, and Mayfield created deception with both the extension from his 6-4 frame and a relatively low release point. A mid-80s changeup and upper-70s slider gave him excellent separation. In fact, the changeup is thought to be Mayfield's best pitch. It has big-time sink and fade, making it a weapon against right-handed batters, and his arm speed creates great deception. His mechanics are considered advanced; his motion looks smooth and repeatable. Mayfield was one of 21 pitchers in the preliminary player pool for the Padres' Spring Breakout game on March 21 against the Chicago Cubs' top prospects. A strong outing against high-level competition would give him a nice boost ahead of his second minor-league season, which should begin at High-A Fort Wayne. View the full article

Left-hander Cole Ragans will get the ball as the Kansas City Royals' Opening Day starter. In this video, we discuss Ragans' ridiculous strikeout rate in '25, the ride on his fastball, the rest of his pitch arsenal, and how he can elevate his play even more for the 2026 season. Enjoy! View the full article

Bailey Ober looked like a prime bounce-back candidate just a couple of weeks ago; now there are real questions about whether he’s even fully healthy. If things don’t turn around soon, the Twins could be dealing with a much bigger issue than expected. View the full article

Team USA fell short for a second-straight World Baseball Classic. In 2023, they lost to Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan. This time, on March 17th, they lost 3-2 to Team Venezuela, a team led by Royals players Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia, the latter of whom was named MVP of the WBC. For Team USA and fans, it was a frustrating end to a promising World Baseball Classic. However, Royals fans were able to see star Bobby Witt Jr. show glimpses of his potential on the big stage. In 24 WBC at-bats, Witt slashed .250/.400/.333 with a .733 OPS. He had two doubles, three stolen bases, and scored three runs. Furthermore, he made some incredible defensive plays at shortstop, showing the world why he won a Platinum Glove last season. That said, the biggest development for Witt in the WBC was not only him hitting leadoff, but succeeding in the spot, especially when it came to plate discipline. Witt's Performance at Leadoff in the WBC In his six-game sample in the World Baseball Classic as the USA leadoff hitter, Witt had six walks to only five strikeouts. That is good for a BB/K ratio of 1.20, which is 0.84 points higher than his career BB/K ratio. While he didn't get as many hits as he would've liked (six), he also had a .400 OBP, which was tied for third-best on the USA roster with Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony. Furthermore, as the USA leadoff hitter, his Statcast percentiles were similar to those Royals fans saw from Witt in 2024 and 2025, as seen below via TJ Stats. Witt posted only a .309 wOBA, ranking in the 36th percentile. However, he had a .434 xwOBA, ranking in the 89th percentile. In terms of exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit rates, Witt did with Team USA what he has done with the Royals. His average EV ranked in the 95th percentile, his barrel rate ranked in the 91st percentile, and his hard-hit rate ranked in the 88th percentile. The 25-year-old shortstop has always shown an ability to hit the ball hard at the Major League level. That said, he has historically had an over-eager approach. Last year, not only was his BB/K ratio 0.39, but he also ranked in the 32nd percentile in O-Swing% (30.6%) and 25th percentile in BB% (6.0%). Below is his complete Statcast profile from 2025 via TJ Stats. His 2025 Statcast profile and WBC-specific one don't look all that different at the top of each summary. However, here are some key categorical differences. 40% Swing% in WBC to 51.1% Swing% in 2025. 18.2% BB% in WBC to 6.0% BB% in 2025. 27.2% O-Swing% in WBC to 30.6% O-Swing% in 2025. 17.9% Whiff% in WBC to 23.8% Whiff% in 2025. Of course, this is a 33-plate-appearance sample to a 687-plate-appearance one. Thus, a grain of salt should be taken here, given Witt's major improvement in those four categories. Nonetheless, if Witt can carry over this approach somewhat to the regular season, he would be the Royals' best leadoff candidate in 2026 and beyond. Witt's Previous Leadoff Struggles and Other Options The only issue with Witt being the Royals' leadoff hitter on Opening Day is that he doesn't have a great track record at the top of the order. According to Fangraphs splits, in 201 plate appearances at leadoff, he has a .204 batting average, a 0.20 BB/K ratio, a .620 OPS, and 62 wRC+. Leadoff has been his worst spot in the batting order by a significant margin. Except for fifth, which he has only 8 plate appearances, the next-lowest batting-order wRC+ is third at 119. For context, he has accumulated 2,154 plate appearances in the second spot in the batting order, which is the most of any spot for Witt. He has a 0.40 BB/K ratio, .301 average, .870 OPS, and 136 wRC+ in that second spot in the order. Thus, manager Matt Quatraro has no reason to move Witt, especially since he has been so good at the No. 2 spot. However, the leadoff spot has been a thorn in the Royals' side, especially in Quatraro's tenure as manager. Since 2023, Royals leadoff hitters have posted an 82 wRC+, ranking 28th in baseball, according to Fangraphs. Thus, Kansas City doesn't have a great history in this spot, despite GM JJ Picollo's best efforts. The Royals acquired Jonathan India from Cincinnati to handle leadoff duties last year, but he had a down season in his first year in Kansas City. He posted an 89 wRC+ and .669 OPS in 567 plate appearances last season. That isn't exactly the profile of a player getting everyday at-bats at the top of the lineup. He has had a better spring and continues to be solid in the chase and walk categories, but his lack of exit velocity and barrel ability make him a one-dimensional option. Isaac Collins was acquired by the Royals this offseason, and he fits the disciplined approach that Kansas City wants at the top of the lineup. As a rookie in Milwaukee last year, he posted a .368 OBP and 122 wRC+ in 441 plate appearances with the Brewers. However, he hasn't been the most healthy this spring, and his Cactus League Statcast percentiles have been meager beyond exit velocity and O-Swing%, as illustrated below. The last option could be Garcia, who may be one of the hottest players in baseball right now, especially after his WBC MVP run with Team Venezuela. However, much like Witt, Garcia doesn't have a great history at leadoff. In 885 career plate appearances at leadoff, Garcia has slashed .257/.308/.357 with a .665 OPS and 83 wRC+. He has a 0.40 BB/K ratio at leadoff, but his power has been paltry, as evidenced by his .100 ISO. For comparison, let's see how Garcia has performed in the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 spots in the batting order in his career with the Royals. No. 2 (31 PA): 1.25 BB/K ratio, .320 average, .160 ISO, and 157 wRC+ No. 3 (99 PA): 0.89 BB/K ratio, .286 average, .198 ISO, and 127 wRC+ No. 4 (285 PA): 0.71 BB/K ratio, .260 average, .143 ISO, and 100 wRC+ No. 5 (184 PA): 0.52 BB/K ratio, .293 average, .138 ISO, and 119 wRC+ Thus, Garcia may be better served in run-driving situations in the batting order (No. 2-5) than run-scoring ones (leadoff). Additionally, the 26-year-old Venezuelan has incredible plate discipline, but he has strong, hard-hit contact ability that could be more valuable in the 2nd through 5th spots in the batting order, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary this spring. Thus, the Royals certainly have a dilemma at the leadoff spot, which is important to address to improve their offense in 2026 (they ranked 26th in runs scored last year). There are certainly options available, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Quatraro mix up the leadoff hitter from time to time, depending on the pitching matchups. That said, Witt is the Royals' best hitter, and a big year from him will be key to the Royals' postseason chances. It would make sense to ensure he gets as many plate appearances as possible in a given season. The main way to do that? Put him at leadoff on Opening Day in 2026 and keep him there for the remainder of the season. View the full article

According to FanGraphs, the Rays are projected to have the third-best bullpen in baseball, with Griffin Jax as their best reliever. The Phillies are projected to have the fourth-best bullpen, with Jhoan Durán as their best reliever. The Blue Jays are projected to have the 12th-best bullpen, with Louie Varland as their second-best reliever. The Twins, meanwhile, will be looking to replace all that lost impact with a bullpen that's generously projected to finish 20th in fWAR, a 19-spot drop from last year. Holdover Cole Sands will be surrounded by a group of aging, over-the-hill vets and fringe or young arms looking to turn a corner. In all likelihood, it won't be pretty, especially in the early going. TWINS RELIEF PITCHERS AT A GLANCE Projected Bullpen: Cole Sands, Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Liam Hendriks, Andrew Chafin, Eric Orze, Anthony Banda, Zak Kent Depth: Kody Funderburk, David Festa, John Klein, Travis Adams, Dan Altavilla, Grant Hartwig, Matt Bowman Prospects: Connor Prielipp, Marco Raya, Kendry Rojas, Ryan Gallagher, James Ellwanger Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 7th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 20th out of 30 THE GOOD There are some real track records of success here. Twins fans know how good Taylor Rogers was during his glory days in Minnesota, and how good Liam Hendriks was after he left. Andrew Chafin has a 3.35 ERA over a 12-year MLB career. Anthony Banda, Justin Topa and Eric Orze have all posted sub-four ERAs in the majors over the past couple seasons. A casual follower of baseball might look at this list of names and conclude that it's actually a pretty good bullpen — certainly a very accomplished one. The Twins are hoping the depth of experience and "been there, done that" factor will pay dividends, especially under the leadership of a new bullpen coach who embodies those qualities in LaTroy Hawkins. Much of this unit's outlook hinges on Hendriks. He's a complete wild-card, with fewer than 20 innings pitched over the past three seasons while dealing with myriad health issues. From 2019 through 2022 he was one of the very best and most dominant relief pitchers in baseball. It seems unlikely he'll recapture that form now at age 37, but the Twins would take anything in the realm. It would be a stretch to say Hendriks has been blowing people away or generating massive enthusiasm in spring training, but with his fastball reaching the mid-90s, he's shown enough to instill belief that he's not cooked. Sands, when at his best in 2024, looked a little bit like Hendriks of yore, pairing an overpowering arsenal with excellent control to log a 3.28 ERA and 2.63 FIP in 71 ⅓ innings. If both of those two can stay healthy and perform at a reasonably high level, it will make a huge difference for a bullpen whose most apparent shortcoming is a lack of impact righties in the late innings following the departures of Durán, Jax and Varland. One area where the Twins do seem relatively well equipped is the left-handed side. Minnesota's Opening Day bullpen is likely to feature three southpaws and maybe even four. Rogers, Chafin and Banda check a lot of boxes in terms of results and experience, including in high-leverage situations. Banda ranked second on the Dodgers in Win Probability Added last year, with a 96 MPH fastball and wipeout slider that held opponents to a .223 wOBA. Rogers and Chafin have seen their velocity and stuff degrade over time, but you wouldn't really know it from their numbers. These are crafty vets who can get people out, especially left-handed hitters. THE BAD There's a reason Rogers, Hendriks and Chafin were available late in the offseason on minor-league contracts or very cheap MLB deals. There's also a reason Orze was acquired in a low-wattage trade, and Banda and Zak Kent were essentially waiver claims. These are not in-demand pitchers. They are not viewed around the league as likely to make substantial positive impacts. Those are just the undeniable facts. Everyone's aware of what these guys have done in the past. When you look beyond ERAs, you start to see why, because the outlook gets a lot less favorable. Rogers had a 3.38 ERA last year but a less impressive 4.38 FIP, thanks to issuing 23 walks in 50 innings and posting the highest HR rate of his career at 34. Chafin, Banda and Orze also have had their own share of control issues that threaten to derail solid top-line performance. This year's Twins bullpen mix features only one reliever projected by FanGraphs to post a WAR above 0.4 (Sands). Last year saw seven relievers post a WAR higher than 0.4 for the Twins bullpen, including five who spent only two-thirds of the season as part of it. You might look at this and think, "Wow, despite all that, the Twins bullpen is projected to be only the 11th-worst in baseball?!" And yeah, it does say a lot about how many teams are struggling to find confident stability on the relief pitching front. Which underscores what a risk that Minnesota's front office took last year in trading away three who've proven themselves to the degree of Durán, Jax and Varland. The Twins are hoping that they can eventually develop similar bullpen stalwarts out of an emerging slate of arms that includes Kody Funderburk, David Festa, Connor Prieilipp, Marco Raya, John Klein, Kendry Rojas, Ryan Gallagher and James Ellwanger. It's definitely not hard to envision some legit late-inning arms coming out of that group, in time. But figuring it all out is a nonlinear, trial-and-error process that requires exercising patience and enduring pain. The odds of this bullpen being even average in the first half of the 2026 are extremely slim, which will have major implications on the team's ability to remain competitive and avoid another deadline sell-off. THE BOTTOM LINE This is clearly not a good bullpen. From my view, it's likely to be quite terrible, whereas sources like FanGraphs project it merely as below average. Either way, a clear strength was flipped into a clear weakness through Minnesota's actions at the deadline last year. These actions were designed to benefit the long-term outlook, and evaluating them through that lens will take time. But there's little doubt that the short-term outlook for the bullpen is severely worsened. The Twins felt the effect in August and September of last year, and they'll continue to feel them this year unless several overlooked vets can score rare victories against Father Time. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Third Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Shortstop Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Left Field Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Center Field Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Right Field Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Designated Hitter Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Starting Pitcher View the full article

Daniel Palencia just did what many thought would be impossible; he slammed the door on a loaded Team USA lineup to take them out in the WBC title game. Palencia logged five shutout innings and struck out nine on a run that Venezuela fans will not soon forget. What did his showcase on the worldwide stage mean for the upcoming MLB season? We dive into it all right here. View the full article

Looking at the next tier of Milwaukee Brewers prospects as voted on by Brewer Fanatic contributors, we look at players ranked 11-15. How much does pigeonholing Blake Burke into a first baseman limit his upside and impact his ranking? Discussed in this video are Brock Wilken, Blake Burke, Luke Adams, Josh Adamczewski, and Luis Lara. View the full article

In the sun-drenched annals of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ "Golden Era," the spotlight usually finds the heroes of the "Boys of Summer"—Jackie Robinson breaking barriers, Duke Snider patrolling center field, and Pee Wee Reese anchoring the infield. Yet, nestled within that legendary rotation was a lanky, soft-spoken left-hander from the Ozarks who was perhaps the most cerebral and subversive player of his generation. Elwin "Preacher" Roe was a man of contradictions: a high school math teacher who played the role of a country bumpkin, and a pillar of the community who built a Hall of Fame-caliber career on a pitch that had been illegal since 1920. To understand Preacher Roe is to understand the art of the "long con" in professional sports. His story isn't just one of athletic prowess, but of a calculated reinvention necessitated by a near-fatal injury and sustained by a brilliant, mathematical mind that saw the rulebook as a set of suggestions rather than laws. [Note: While not about the New York Mets, we will frequently touch upon New York baseball history as long as it's not from you-know-where.] The Persona of the "Hillbilly" Professor Born in Ash Flat, Arkansas, Roe entered the major leagues with a natural Ozark twang that he quickly realized was a valuable asset in the media capital of the world. To the cynical New York sportswriters, Roe leaned heavily into the identity of the "good-ol'-boy" from the sticks. He spun yarns with a thick accent, feigned a simple curiosity about the "big city," and allowed the press to paint him as a homespun rube. The truth was far more sophisticated. Roe was an educated man who attended Harding College (now University) on a baseball scholarship. He wasn't just a student-athlete; he was a man of high character who used a significant portion of his $5,000 signing bonus from the St. Louis Cardinals to buy new uniforms for his college teammates—a gesture of loyalty that preceded his professional fame. In the off-seasons, while the newspapers imagined him hunting squirrels in the Arkansas brush, Roe was actually standing at a chalkboard in a suit and tie, teaching high school mathematics and coaching basketball. This background in math wasn't just a fun fact; it was the engine behind his pitching. Roe understood the geometry of the strike zone and the physics of air resistance. He viewed a baseball game not as a feat of strength, but as a series of variables to be manipulated. The Fracture That Changed Everything Every legend has a turning point, and for Roe, it occurred in the winter of 1946. While coaching a high school basketball game back in Arkansas, a heated dispute erupted with a referee. In a shocking turn of events, the official allegedly slugged Roe. The pitcher fell backward, his head striking a steel railing with enough force to fracture his skull. The injury was nearly fatal and fundamentally changed his physical capabilities. Before the accident, Roe was a "power pitcher" who relied on a blazing fastball to blow past hitters. After the fracture, the "smoke" was gone. His arm simply couldn't generate the same velocity. Most pitchers would have retired, their careers ended by a freak altercation. Instead, Roe used his mathematical brain to engineer a second act. He transformed himself into a "crafty" southpaw, focusing on pinpoint control, off-speed deliveries, and a secret weapon that would eventually make him a Dodgers legend. The "Beech-Nut Curve": An Anatomy of Deception By the time Roe joined the Dodgers in 1948, he had perfected his "money pitch": the spitball. Though it had been outlawed for nearly thirty years, Roe realized that an umpire couldn't call what he couldn't prove. He approached the illegal pitch with the same precision he used to grade math exams. His process was a masterpiece of misdirection. He was a master of "loading" the ball in plain sight. He would spit on his hand while reaching for the bill of his cap, then discreetly transfer the moisture to his fingers by tugging his belt or smoothing his jersey. He even had a preferred "lubricant"—Beech-Nut chewing gum—which gave the ball a specific tackiness that hitters eventually nicknamed the "Beech-Nut curve." The deception extended to his communication with his teammates. While legendary catcher Roy Campanella was always in on the secret, the rest of the Dodgers had to be tipped off so they knew how the ball would react if it were hit. Right fielder Carl Furillo later revealed the code: If Roe touched the bill of his cap with two fingers, the "wet one" was coming. If he used only one finger, he was faking it. The fake was often as effective as the pitch itself; hitters were so terrified of the unpredictable movement of the spitter that they would overcompensate, leaving them vulnerable to his legitimate breaking balls. Whenever an umpire grew suspicious and asked to see the ball, Roe had a final trick: he would "accidentally" drop the ball into the dirt or step on it while walking toward the umpire. By the time the ball reached the official's hands, the moisture was scuffed away, replaced by the innocent dust of the mound. The 22-3 Masterclass This combination of psychological warfare and illegal physics reached its zenith in 1951. Roe posted a 22-3 record, an .880 winning percentage that remains one of the greatest single-season marks for a 20-game winner in the history of the National League. He wasn't overpowering hitters; he was outsmarting them, using their own momentum and suspicion against them. When asked by reporters how a man in his mid-30s with a diminished fastball could dominate the league, Roe offered a classic, audacious quip: "Clean livin' and the spitball." Most took it as a joke. They shouldn't have. In 1955, a year after his retirement, Roe came clean in a Sports Illustrated exposé titled, "The Outlawed Spitball Was My Money Pitch." He offered no apologies; he had simply done what was necessary to win. The Grocer of West Plains Roe’s retirement was as unconventional as his pitching. In 1954, after declining a trade to the Baltimore Orioles, he walked away from the game at the height of his fame to return to the Ozarks. He didn't seek the bright lights of Hollywood or a coaching job in the big leagues. Instead, he and his wife, Mozee, moved to West Plains, Missouri, and opened a grocery store. For decades, the "Preacher" was a fixture at the corner of Broadway and Porter Wagoner Boulevard. He was the local grocer who just happened to have been one of the greatest pitchers in Brooklyn history. He used his fame not for ego, but for community, raising funds for local baseball fields and pitching in benefit games into his twilight years. He was a man who had mastered the most deceptive art in sports, yet lived a life of transparent, humble service to his neighbors. Today, the site of his grocery store houses The Truck Patch, a natural foods market. While the store’s modern website focuses on organic integrity and "clean" ingredients, the ghosts of Roe’s "dirty" pitches still linger in the soil of West Plains. A Lasting Ozark Icon Preacher Roe passed away in 2008 at the age of 92, but his presence in southern Missouri is permanent. Travelers driving through West Plains navigate Preacher Roe Boulevard, a major thoroughfare named in his honor. In Salem, Arkansas, children play at Preacher Roe Park, and his likeness is immortalized in a mural at the Ozark Heritage Welcome Center. Roe’s life remains a fascinating study in contrast. He was the "Hillbilly" who taught high school calculus. He was the "clean-living" family man who threw a "dirty" pitch. He was a man who survived a fractured skull to become the most efficient winner of his era. Ultimately, Preacher Roe proved that in baseball, unlike in math, the shortest distance between two points isn't always a straight line—sometimes, it’s a ball that drops three inches at the last second because of a little bit of spit, and a whole lot of genius. View the full article

As baseball settled in for the winter following the 2021 season, the Kansas City Royals appeared close to a long-term solution to the first base uncertainty created by Eric Hosmer’s departure to San Diego after the 2017 campaign. Nick Pratto, swooped up by the Royals with their first pick of the ’17 draft, had just stunned everyone with a sizzling 36-homer, 98-RBI, 153 wRC+, .268/.385/.602 minor league performance, and Carlos Santana, preparing to play out his short-term contract, was a sure bet to be dealt no later than the 2022 trade deadline. It seemed Pratto was KC’s first baseman of the future, and 2022 would be the year the Royals could finally rest easier at first base. The former notion disproved itself; the latter turned out to be true. Pratto began the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Omaha, immediately fell into an ugly slump, and his Storm Chasers teammate Vinnie Pasquantino jumped onto Kansas City’s roster ahead of him when the club traded Santana to Seattle in June. And Pasquantino hasn’t taken a single step back. His hold on first base is so strong that the Royals recently rewarded him with a new two-year contract that will pay him at least $11 million. And on the strength of the 70 homers he’s hit, the 262 runs he’s driven in, and the serviceable (but not spectacular) defense he’s displayed since KC entrusted him with the first base bag, the position is his for the 2026 season… and probably well beyond that. Royals Catchers At A Glance Starter: Vinnie Pasquantino Backup: Salvador Perez Depth: Nick Loftin, Jac Caglianone Prospects: Brett Squires The Good The Royals are loaded at first. Pasquantino’s bat is big and getting bigger — despite missing the last month of the 2024 regular season with a fractured thumb, he finished with 19 homers and 97 RBI, then hammered 32 homers and drove in 113 runs last season. And the thought of him playing all 162 of his club’s games this year isn’t far-fetched. After injuries so disrupted each of his first three big league seasons, he appeared in all but two games last year and avoided the Injured List altogether. More likely, however, is that manager Matt Quatraro will afford his star first baseman some rest in the form of a handful of days off supplemented by a healthy dose of turns at designated hitter (he DH’d 34 times in 2025). Who, though, plays first when his skipper gives Pasquantino time off? Expect Perez, coming off a productive season of his own (30 homers, 100 RBI), to be Quatraro’s prime choice and spend even more time at first than he did in 2025, when he appeared there 30 times. That will also give Perez valuable respite from the demanding rigors of catching. Nick Loftin, who may or may not make the club’s Opening Day roster, also has major and minor-league experience at first, and Jac Caglianone played 10 games there last season and has a dozen Cactus League games at first this spring. A first base prospect to keep an eye on is Brett Squires, who, through Tuesday’s Cactus League action, was hitting .267 with an .800 SLG, 1.094 OPS, and two homers, two doubles, and seven RBI in 12 games. He’s moved up a level in each of his first three seasons in the minors and should begin this year at Triple-A Omaha. The Bad All things considered, not much about their first base situation should give the Royals pause. Only if Pasquantino and Perez suffer major injuries at the same time will the club be in any trouble at first … and if in such a disastrous situation Loftin and Caglianone aren’t hitting, KC might have to make a trade they'd prefer not to make. The Bottom Line After trying and failing to replace Hosmer with such candidates as Lucas Duda (twice), Ryan O'Hearn (before he flourished after leaving Kansas City), Hunter Dozier, and Santana, who was a temporary fix only, the Royals have found their solution in Vinnie Pasquantino. First base is his, and that’s a good thing. View the full article

Over the course of the last several years, the Boston Red Sox have gone through their fair share of catchers, as the position has not been the primary focus of the front office. The most consistent the position has been was from 2016-2022, when the duo of Christian Vasquez and Sandy Leon split the majority of the playing time behind the plate. But, over the last four years since they traded away Vasquez to the Houston Astros, the Red Sox has gone through five different catchers, including Connor Wong, Danny Jansen, and most recently in 2025, Carlos Narvaez. Boston Red Sox Catchers At A Glance Starter: Carlos Narvaez Backup: Connor Wong Depth: Nate Baez, Jason Delay, Nathan Hickey, Ronald Rosario, Matt Thaiss Prospects: Johanfran Garcia Red Sox fWAR Ranking Last Year: 25th out of 30 Red Sox fWAR projection this year: 24th out of 30 The Good Wong has been with the Red Sox since 2020, but his inconsistency at the plate has limited him to just a handful of major league starts. Last season, after the team lost Jansen to free agency, they picked up rookie Carlos Narvaez. Wong opened the season as the starter, but after suffering a left fifth finger fracture in April, he lost that starting role to Narvaez. Narvaez turned that newfound role into a true breakout; in 2025, he hit .241/.306/.419, with a .726 OPS. He also hit 27 doubles last season, clubbed 15 home runs, drove in 50 RBIs and 51 runs scored. On the defensive side, the rookie had a .991 fielding percentage, with 932 putouts on 999 chances. He threw out 32 runners on the year and after a strong season finished sixth in the rookie of the year voting. He's well-rounded both behind and at the plate, and another leap forward as a batter would put him among the league's better catchers. The Bad Wong, on the other hand, couldn’t continue his momentum from 2024 into 2025. The veteran catcher appeared in just 63 games for the Red Sox compared to Narvaez’s 118, and even that split doesn't do his poor outlook justice. Coming off his fractured finger, Wong struggled to find his stride. After batting .280 in 2024, he hit just .190/.262/.238, barely touching a .500 OPS. He hit just eight doubles, no home runs (compared to 13 in 2024), drove in just seven RBIs and had 16 runs scored. While Wong and Narvaez are listed as the primary catchers coming into the 2026 season, Narvaez did suffer with some minor injuries that were caused by fatigue from the season last year. With Wong struggling at the plate (the best part of his game), it was evident that the Red Sox needed to put emphasis on catching depth during the offseason. And for Wong, unless he begins hitting, his job could be at risk, as he has a -36 wRC+ this spring. That's 136% worse than league average, which doesn't even seem possible. The Bottom Line It is a near-guarantee that Narvaez will be the Red Sox’s Opening Day starter in a couple weeks and will serve as the primary catcher in 2026. While Wong is listed as his backup, the Red Sox acquired prospect Nate Baez from the Minnesota Twins, Jason Delay from the Atlanta Braves, and veteran Matt Thaiss after he elected free agency in 2025 following one season with the Tampa Bay Rays. Thaiss has already been reassigned to Triple-A Worcester after receiving an invite to major-league camp, along with Delay. Among those battling it out in major-league camp for a spot on the 26-man roster, Nathan Hickey, who appeared in 19 games for the Red Sox in 2025, is the last man standing. Hickey is making a name for himself compared to Wong this offseason. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick is batting .160/.276/.400, good for a meager 67 wRC+ that blows Wong's contributions out of the water. He has hit two home runs, driven in five RBIs, walked three times, and scored four runs. Though that might not seem like much, it may actually be enough given what's going on with the current projected backup. Thanks to the presence of Narvaez, the Red Sox appeared set at backstop heading into the season. Should an injury befall him, though, there's no telling what the team will do in response. View the full article

Jays Centre is counting down the top 50 Blue Jays in franchise history. Check out prior entries in the series here: Introduction 50 to 46 45 to 41 This next installment of our top 50 countdown includes a couple of All-Star second basemen and a pair of mustachioed, high-volume hurlers. But before we get to those guys, let’s kick things off with the most recent Blue Jay to win the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. No. 40: Adam Lind 2006-2014 DH/1B/LF Blue Jays stats: 953 games, 146 home runs, 519 RBI, 111 wRC+, 6.9 fWAR Accolades: Silver Slugger, Edgar Martínez Award Designated hitters were a huge part of the Blue Jays’ success in 1992 and ‘93, when future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor won back-to-back Outstanding DH Awards for their work in the heart of Toronto’s lineup. In the 30-plus years since, only one other Blue Jay has taken home that prize: Adam Lind. Lind was phenomenal in his first full campaign, hitting 35 home runs and driving in 114 for the 2009 Jays. He finished the year with a 140 wRC+, earning the Edgar Martínez Award, a Silver Slugger, and some down-ballot votes for AL MVP. The highlights of his season were an 18-10 Blue Jays victory over the Rangers, in which Lind hit two homers (including a grand slam) and drove in eight, and a three-homer performance in an 8-7 win over the Red Sox in his final game of the year. Lind never quite rediscovered that 2009 magic, but he finished his Blue Jays career on another high note, batting .301 with 29 homers, 107 RBI, and a 136 wRC+ in 239 games from 2013-14. After the 2014 season, the Jays traded Lind to the Brewers for Marco Estrada (who came in at No. 47 on our list). All in all, Lind spent nine years with Toronto. He ranks 15th in plate appearances as a Blue Jay (3,726) and 10th in home runs (146). According to wRC+, his 2009 season was one of the top 30 offensive campaigns in team history. No. 39: David Wells 1987-92, 1999-2000 LHP Blue Jays stats: 306 games, 138 starts, 18 complete games, 13 saves, 784 strikeouts, 19.1 fWAR Accolades: All-Star, AL wins leader, World Series champion David “Boomer” Wells spent eight of his 21 big league seasons in Toronto, pitching for the Blue Jays from 1987-92 and again from 1999-2000. While he would eventually gain a reputation as a workhorse starting pitcher, he could never quite secure a starting role in his first go-round with the Jays. Following a phenomenal breakout season in relief in 1989 (86.1 IP, 2.40 ERA), Wells would get his first real chance as a starter in 1990. Over the next three years, he bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen, pitching 507.1 innings and starting in just over half of his appearances. He pitched quite well from 1990-91, but a high BABIP and low strand rate caused him trouble in 1992. Despite the 4.1 scoreless innings he threw in October, the Jays released him the subsequent spring. Fresh off an excellent 1998 – in which he threw a perfect game and won a World Series with the Yankees – Wells came back to Toronto, as part of the package that sent Roger Clemens to the Yankees. Firmly a starter now, Wells made 69 starts for the Jays from 1999-2000, the exact same number he made over six years in his first stint with Toronto. His 2000 season was arguably the best of his career. He earned an All-Star nod, led the AL in wins, and finished third in Cy Young voting. According to FanGraphs WAR, it stands as the best season by a Blue Jays pitcher not named Clemens or Halladay. Only eight pitchers have started more career games for Toronto than Wells, and only six have thrown more innings. His 784 strikeouts rank eighth, his 19.1 fWAR ranks seventh, and his 84 wins rank sixth. No. 38: Aaron Hill 2005-11 2B Blue Jays stats: 875 games, 881 hits, 436 runs, 92 wRC+, 44 DRS, 12.4 fWAR Accolades: All-Star, Silver Slugger, Comeback Player of the Year Aaron Hill first made a name for himself as a defense-first second baseman. Then, established himself as a core player for the Blue Jays when he proved he could make an impact at the plate in 2007. While a nasty concussion ruined his 2008 campaign, Hill was better than ever in 2009. He made the All-Star team that summer and won a Silver Slugger in the fall. His 36 home runs and 108 RBI led all second basemen. It was a remarkable performance following such a scary season-ending injury the year before. Hill became the first Blue Jays player to win the AL Comeback Player of the Year, and he remains the only Blue Jay to ever take home the prize. Ultimately, much of what Hill accomplished in his Blue Jays career was in those two seasons. Still, he ranks among the team’s top 20 in plate appearances, hits, and runs scored. According to DRS, he is also one of Toronto’s best defensive players of the 21st century. No. 37: Damaso Garcia 1980-86 2B Blue Jays stats: 902 games, 1,028 hits, 453 runs, 194 stolen bases, 85 wRC+, 8.7 fWAR Accolades: Two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger From a modern-day perspective, the numbers don’t paint a particularly rosy picture of Damaso Garcia's tenure with the Blue Jays. While he made two All-Star teams, won a Silver Slugger, and even earned a couple of down-ballot MVP votes, he never had a season with an OPS or wRC+ above league-average. What is undeniable, however, is that Garcia was a threat on the bases. His 194 steals rank third in Blue Jays history (just don’t think much about the fact that his 86 caught stealings are tied for first). It is also undeniable that Garcia was essential to the Blue Jays forming their identity in the 1980s. By the time he was traded in 1987, he ranked third in team history in games played and runs scored; he was first in hits and stolen bases. Even now, only nine players have more hits in a Blue Jays uniform, and Garcia remains one of only five to have stolen 50-plus bases in a season. No. 36: Doyle Alexander 1983-1986 RHP Blue Jays stats: 106 games, 750 innings, 25 complete games, 392 strikeouts, 3.56 ERA, 11.2 fWAR The definition of a journeyman, Doyle Alexander had already switched teams seven times before he landed with Toronto in his 13th big league season. He was coming off an especially poor performance with the Yankees, but the Blue Jays believed he could bounce back – and they were right. The Jays won their first division title in 1985, and you’ll find all five members of their 1985 starting rotation on our top 50 list. Alexander didn’t stick around as long as Dave Stieb, Jimmy Key, Jim Clancy, or even Luis Leal, but he certainly made his mark in the years he spent with the club. Through parts of four seasons, Alexander pitched 750 innings (17th in team history), won 46 games (18th), and racked up 11.2 fWAR (15th). His two full seasons with the Blue Jays (1984 and ‘85) were arguably the best of his career. He earned down-ballot MVP support both years and finished sixth in Cy Young voting in 1985. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays’ starting rotation depth is going to be tested right away. On Wednesday morning, the team announced that right-hander José Berríos will not be ready to open the 2025-26 season after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow. Prior to joining Team Puerto Rico for the quarterfinals at the World Baseball Classic, Berríos underwent a precautionary MRI for insurance purposes, which revealed elbow inflammation. That resulted in the 31-year-old going for a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, who diagnosed the stress fracture. Per MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays manager John Schneider states that Berríos remains pain-free, and the team hopes that he will return to throwing soon and pitch through the injury. In 2025, Berríos made 31 appearances, with 30 of them coming as a starter. Across those 31 outings, he went 9-5 with an ERA of 4.17 and a WHIP of 1.30, striking out 138 batters in 166 innings. Berríos, nicknamed “La Makina” (“The Machine”), had been a model of consistency in his career, routinely making 32 starts and delivering quality innings for both the Minnesota Twins and Blue Jays. Last season, Berríos made his first career trip to the injured list, dealing with right elbow inflammation in September, which ultimately ended his season. His latest elbow issue is supposedly unrelated. The questions surrounding the Jays’ rotation only grow now. With Berríos sidelined, Shane Bieber still ramping up after dealing with forearm fatigue (he's yet to throw a pitch in a game), and the Blue Jays slowly building up Trey Yesavage in what will be his first full season at the MLB level, Toronto's depth is slowly being depleted. Kevin Gausman has the Opening Day assignment, and Dylan Cease appears likely to follow. After that, the questions are plentiful. Cody Ponce, making his MLB return, will have a role, and 41-year-old Max Scherzer should be guaranteed a role in the rotation, as long as he's ready come Opening Day. The fifth and final spot will likely be split between Yesavage on a pitch limit and left-hander Eric Lauer. Having to use Lauer as a piggyback partner for Yesavage could prompt the Blue Jays to keep Lázaro Estrada on the roster for Opening Day. Estrada has shown the ability to throw multiple innings in an outing, something the Blue Jays could be getting desperate for as injuries continue to pop up. The Blue Jays open their regular season at home on Friday, March 27, against the Athletics. View the full article

On Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals announced that they had optioned right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence to Triple-A Omaha to begin the season. This latest move now brings their Major League Spring Training roster to 49. Spence was acquired by the Royals from the Athletics this offseason in exchange for right-hander A.J. Causey. Spence was the top overall pick in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, and he pitched two seasons with the Athletics before arriving in Kansas City. In 2024, the former Yankee pitching prospect was a hybrid arm for the Athletics, making 35 appearances (24 starts) and pitching 151.1 innings. In that sample, he posted a 4.58 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, a 4.14 FIP, and 12.6% K-BB%. He took a step back in his second year with the Athletics, pitching only 84.2 innings and making only eight starts (32 total appearances). In that more abbreviated campaign, Spence posted a 5.10 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, a 5.06 FIP, and 10.7% K-BB%. His Statcast percentiles were also a bit mixed last year, as seen below via his TJ Stats Statcast summary. The 27-year-old did a good job of generating whiffs, limiting walks, and generating chase and groundballs last year with Sacramento. However, he also gave up a lot of hard contact, and that hurt him in Sacramento's hitter-friendly confines. He posted a 6.93 ERA at home compared to a 3.64 ERA on the road. Thus, the move to Kauffman Stadium should help Spence in 2026. This spring was a rough one for Spence, albeit a limited sample. In three appearances (two starts) and 7.0 IP, he posted a 10.29 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 7.53 FIP, and 3.0% K-BB%. Spence has been hurt by the long ball, as evidenced by his 28.6% HR/FB rate. However, his TJ Stuff+ metrics have been encouraging, as shown in his TJ Stats summary below. Spence had a 106 overall TJ Stuff+ this spring with his cutter (108), slider (111), and curveball (101) all rating as above-average pitches. He generated a 31.6% chase rate, which was above average, but his zone rate and whiff rate were slightly below average, and his xwOBACON of .424 was well below average. Thus, it was more of a command issue for Spence in Cactus League play, and hopefully, he can work that out in Omaha. With the Spence move, Bailey Falter, Alex Lange, Hector Neris, and Eli Morgan are the main relievers remaining in camp. They are battling for two spots in the Opening Day bullpen. Lange and Falter are likely the favorites for those remaining spots, especially since they are out of Minor League options. Morgan has had a strong spring for the Royals, however. The former Cleveland reliever is posting a 1.17 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 1.80 FIP, and 18.8% K-BB%. He has also shown solid Statcast percentiles this spring in his Cactus League sample. Morgan does have a Minor League option remaining, but if he doesn't make the Major League squad out of Spring Training, he could opt to find a spot in the bullpen on another MLB team. Thus, it will be interesting to see what the Royals will do with Morgan, especially in the wake of the Spence move and Opening Day only nine days away. View the full article

The Brewers track cage reps, live batting-practice reps, and game reps during spring training, to monitor the workloads of all of their position players. That continues even when a player leaves to participate in the World Baseball Classic; they check in daily and document as much as they can. By their internal count, no member of the organization has gotten more reps this spring than Tyler Black. Even with the increased number of travel and off days inherent in the unfolding of the WBC, Black has kept getting chances, often batting near the top of the batting order during Team Canada's first-ever run to the quarterfinals of the international tournament. Now, he's back in camp, and he hit the ground running by appearing against the Dodgers on Monday and against the Mariners on Wednesday. In game action (between the Cactus League and the WBC), Black has now seen 163 pitches. He's also a high-volume user of the team's Trajekt machines, and racked up considerable work early in camp by participating in live BPs and simulated games. And here's the most important takeaway from that still-small sample of work: Black finally has some punch in his bat. There are two major things holding Black back as a player. Firstly, he has little defensive value. He's failed even to impress the team in his time at first base. Though he still got some time at second base for Team Canada, the Brewers don't view him as a candidate to play that position or third base. He'll be a first baseman, a corner outfielder and/or a designated hitter, to whatever extent he's part of the team. Even when he plays a defensive position, though, he won't help Milwaukee prevent runs. With his value dependent upon his bat, then, there's quite a bit of pressure on Black to find some power. Alas, that's been the other major weakness in his game over the last two seasons. His 2023 breakout season as a prospect feels long ago, and in the time since, he's been too light on power to deliver the punch even the Brewers (famously light on power and fine with it) demand from players like him. In 903 Triple-A plate appearances, he's slugged just .425—a fine number if accumulated in the majors, but a sign of trouble in the hitter-friendly Triple-A territory. Black does have an OBP of .383 during his time at that level, though, and broadly speaking, he shows enough contact skills and a sufficiently patient approach to sustain above-average OBPs even in the majors. It just wasn't going to matter if he didn't tap into some power. Nor was that power in evidence, even under the hood. Black's 90th-percentile exit velocities at Triple-A have been in the 101-102 MPH range the last two years, a figure that denotes power almost two full grades below the league average. In his brief stints with the Brewers, he's shown below-average bat speed, to boot. No indicator suggested he was ready to generate significant power on contact in the majors, and he didn't even make contact at a plus rate last year with the Sounds. Black knew that. He put in work this winter with the same intent that has driven him to spend so much time in the box this spring: to find his opportunities to hurt the ball. It's working, too. In a combined sample of just over 20 batted balls, Black's 90th-percentile exit velocity this spring is 107 MPH. He's already hit one ball harder than he did all last season, and he's clustered several balls north of what was his EV90 in the past. In spring, the samples are small; the environs (especially in Arizona) are conducive to hitting; and the competition is uneven. Still, Black wasn't showing this capacity for driving the ball even in the minors before now. Hitting it hard as regularly as he has done so this spring alters his scouting report in a crucial way. That doesn't mean Black will push past any of Jake Bauers, Blake Perkins, Brandon Lockridge or even Jett Williams to claim a roster spot early in the season. The only player he's clearly surpassed this spring is Akil Baddoo, who was brought in purely to serve as emergency depth, anyway. Nor does Black suddenly have a star-caliber ceiling. His new upside is more like a poor man's Bauers, with the balance shifted slightly toward on-base skills at the expense of power. Still, Black came to Arizona this spring running out of time to make an impression with the organization. He's now done so. Whether it's in Milwaukee or elsewhere, he's gained a much firmer foothold on the ladder to the majors, and is materially more likely to break through as a big-leaguer this season. His chance could come soon, and he's better-positioned to seize it when it comes, because he's finally producing some pop. View the full article

As stable as the collective lineup has been for the Chicago Cubs over the last handful of seasons, third base has been a position more commonly associated with turnover than performance. It was Christopher Morel before it was Isaac Paredes before it was a smattering of below average options — Gage Workman, Jon Berti, and Vidal Bruján among them — before Matt Shaw eventually established himself as something resembling a viable option at the spot down the stretch. However, even much of Shaw's value was wrapped up in his glove, with the bat still needing levels of development before team leadership would be inclined to trust him as an everyday player. Which was likely a factor in why the team chose to pursue Alex Bregman this winter. Not that it was their first of him. But in signing Bregman to a five-year deal, the team was able to establish actual stability at third base moving forward. A steady player on both sides of the ball, Bregman projects for 94 percent of the time at third, bringing a blend of performance and intangible qualities that appear poised to bring the Cubs from the depths of the league rankings in positional performance to among its best. Chicago Cubs Third Baseman At A Glance Starter: Alex Bregman Backup: Matt Shaw Depth & Prospects: Scott Kingery, BJ Murray, Jonathon Long, Pedro Ramirez fWAR Ranking Last Year: 27th (0.0) fWAR Projection This Year: 6th (3.8) The Good The positive outlook of the position for 2026 centers almost exclusively around Alex Bregman. The fielding remains solid, the intangibles are there, and he's long demonstrated an approach that allows him to be aggressive while also posting strong figures in both strikeout and walk totals. Bregman was above the 90th percentile in both chase and whiff rates last year and also sat safely in the 88th in K% (14.1 percent). When the team signed him, though, one of the immediate concerns was how poor Wrigley Field has been as an environment for right-handed hitters. Bregman's hit distribution should help to quell those concerns rather quickly: That's Bregman's spray chart overlayed with Wrigley Field. Getting away from the Green Monster in Fenway (and the Crawford Boxes in Houston) is scary at a glance. But the most important aspect is that, unlike someone like Isaac Paredes, Bregman brings a distribution that falls much more into the gaps than working as a dead-pull hitter. Combine that with a penchant for elevation (23.5 PullAIR% for his career), and you have someone who should be able to overcome the negative effects of his new home park. The Bad The absence of depth remains a concern. Bregman on his own is a fine player and raises the floor of the position significantly. However, he also missed time with a quad injury last year. That injury limited him to 114 games. Should anything like that befall him in 2026, it presents a rather precarious situation for the Cubs. In such a doomsday scenario, that would force Shaw back into regular duty. We know he'd be fine defensively, though there's no certainty as to where the bat will land in Year 2 of his major-league action. That would, in turn, sap some juice from the bench, where Shaw is projected to open the year in an effort to stretch out his versatility. The minor leagues don't offer a lot of additional hope on that front, either. Scott Kingery is a versatile player with virtually no bat to speak of. He also has an opt-out included in his minor-league deal down the line. Jonathon Long is much more first baseman than third baseman at this point. BJ Murray had to repeat Double-A in 2025 after a brutal time in Iowa the previous year. Pedro Ramirez is in Double-A to start the year. It feels like something of a positive that the "bad" of the position would only manifest in the event of a long-term injury to an otherwise above-average player. Nevertheless, the specter looming is that lack of depth behind him. The Bottom Line Unlike last year, where the position was saved only by the glove of Matt Shaw, third base stands to be one of the better aspects of the Cubs' lineup in 2026. Alex Bregman doesn't offer as much power as he once did, but there's something to be said for the remarkable amount of stability provided by his blend of approach, squared-up contact, and quality defense. Subsequently, it flips Matt Shaw into a utility player that strengthens the bench in a way that was sorely needed coming off last year's rotating cast of reserves. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins may have sent Emmanuel Rodríguez to minor-league camp, but his spring performance made sure he did not leave quietly. In a camp filled with roster battles and final decisions, Rodríguez consistently stood out every time he stepped into the box, turning routine Grapefruit League at-bats into must-watch moments. Even though Rodríguez didn't make the big-league roster during camp, his spring performance ensured he remained a prominent topic of discussion. By showcasing some of the most impressive underlying metrics in the organization, he offered a reminder that his arrival in Minnesota is imminent. According to MLB.com, Rodríguez, Twins Daily’s third-ranked prospect, was raking up to that point, with a 94-mph average exit velocity and 60% hard-hit rate in his spring games for the Twins. Those aren't just good numbers. They're indicators of a toolsy hitter squaring the ball up consistently, and they explain why Rodríguez generated so much buzz during camp. One of the loudest moments came early in March, when Rodríguez showed just how much damage his bat can do. On March 9, the 23-year-old lefty crushed a double with an exit velocity of 114 mph. That number would have tied for the hardest-hit ball by any Twin during the 2025 season, matching a blast from Byron Buxton last August. That type of raw power is immediately noticeable. However, for Rodríguez, this power is just one element within a more nuanced offensive profile. “There’s some bat speed there,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “Quite honestly, I thought he hit the (Feb. 22) homer off the end of the bat. When he hit it, it didn’t sound flush. I even said, ‘Oh, he didn’t get it.’ And it landed about 15 rows deep, so I don’t know if we should use me as the barometer.” In addition to his power, Rodríguez used spring training to demonstrate his versatility. The Twins gave him playing time at all three outfield spots, providing experience that could prove valuable as the big-league roster deals with inevitable injuries over the course of the season. On the bases and in the field, Rodríguez looks like a traditional athletic center fielder. He has averaged roughly 30 steals per 150 games in the minors and brings the range and arm strength to handle center or slide into a corner role without losing value. At the plate, though, he becomes something entirely different. Rodríguez pairs his power with an extremely patient, selective approach. He rarely chases pitches outside the strike zone and is comfortable working deep into counts. That approach has led to an eye-popping 278 walks in just 295 minor-league games, good for a 21.7% walk rate. It also comes with tradeoffs. Because Rodríguez often hits with two strikes and swings less frequently than most hitters, strikeouts are part of the package. He has fanned 389 times in the minors, posting a strikeout rate north of 30% while hitting .254. One has to wonder if his strikeouts will increase at the big-league level, and a lower batting average might sap his overall value. This offensive and athletic profile is rare. While Rodríguez has some traits of power-hitting, high-walk sluggers, he uniquely combines this approach with the athleticism of a center fielder. That blend makes him incredibly intriguing—and somewhat difficult to project. What is not difficult to project is the upside. Rodríguez owns a .424 on-base percentage and a .488 slugging percentage across five minor-league levels, posting an OPS of at least .840 at every stop. Few prospects can match that level of consistent production, while also flashing the kind of Statcast data he showed this spring. As for the timeline, Rodríguez may be closer than some realize. After spending all of last season at Triple-A St. Paul, he is already a step ahead of fellow top prospects Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper in terms of proximity to the majors. If the Twins need a spark in the outfield at any point this season, Rodríguez will be one of the first names considered. The questions are still there. Can he make enough contact against major-league pitching? Will pitchers challenge him differently once they realize how selective he is? Those answers will come with time. What the Twins already know is this. Rodríguez brings elite underlying metrics, a disciplined approach, and enough power to change a game with one swing. If those traits translate, even partially, he has a chance to make a real impact in Minnesota before the 2026 season is over. What stands out about Rodriguez’s spring Statcast data? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

With the calendar turning toward the final week of spring training, the Minnesota Twins continue to narrow down their roster. On Tuesday, the club reassigned three more non-roster position players to minor league camp, signaling that decisions are becoming more real with each passing day. Outfielders Kala’i Rosario and Kyler Fedko, along with infielder Tanner Schobel, were the latest cuts. Rosario and Fedko were among a group of Twins prospects announced for the team’s Spring Breakout game on Thursday. The moves come just ahead of an off day on Wednesday, March 18, and leave the Twins with 21 position players remaining in big league camp. That group still includes a handful of non-roster invitees, but the competition is clearly tightening. Rosario may have made the strongest impression of the trio this spring. The 23-year-old went 5-for-15 in Grapefruit League action, showing some pop with a home run and driving in four. He also drew three walks, though the seven strikeouts highlight the continued development needed in his offensive approach. A fifth-round pick in 2020, Rosario finished last season at Double-A and remains an intriguing power bat in the system. Fedko, 26, brings versatility with experience at both first base and the outfield, but his spring numbers did not jump off the page. He collected three hits in 23 at-bats while striking out eight times. After splitting last season between Double- and Triple-A, he looks ticketed to provide organizational depth at the upper levels. Schobel, a 2022 second-round pick, also flashed some ability despite limited opportunities. The 24-year-old recorded two hits in 15 at-bats, including a home run, while working three walks. He reached Triple-A last season, and the Twins have continued to challenge him with aggressive assignments since drafting him. At this stage of camp, these moves are less about performance and more about roster realities. The Twins need to allocate at-bats and innings to players still competing for Opening Day roles, and that often means sending promising but not quite ready contributors back to the minor league side. None of Rosario, Fedko, or Schobel was expected to break camp with the major league club, but all three remain firmly in the picture for 2026. Each should factor into Triple-A depth at St Paul, positioning themselves as potential call-up options when injuries or roster needs inevitably arise during the season. View the full article

Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs reported that several rule changes are being implemented in the minor leagues. Much like the automated strike zone before it, these rules are being tested in the minors before potentially being implemented in the big leagues. The motivation behind the changes appear to revolve around pace, increasing balls in play and encouraging more action on the bases. Not all changes will be tested at all levels, but among the items new for 2026 are that check swings will be called at a 45-degree angle and that the actual second-base bag will move in about nine inches toward the plate to be inside the baseline diamond instead of centered on top of it.View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Fish On First. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated Fish On First is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn Fish On First into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” Fish On First on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of Fish On First at https://fishonfirst.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Fish On First app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://fishonfirst.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” Fish On First on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of Fish On First at https://fishonfirst.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Fish On First app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://fishonfirst.com/notifications/options/. View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Grand Central Mets. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated Grand Central Mets is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn Grand Central Mets into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” Grand Central Mets on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of Grand Central Mets at https://grandcentralmets.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Grand Central Mets app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://grandcentralmets.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” Grand Central Mets on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of Grand Central Mets at https://grandcentralmets.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Grand Central Mets app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://grandcentralmets.com/notifications/options/. View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Royals Keep. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated Royals Keep is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn Royals Keep into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” Royals Keep on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of Royals Keep at https://royalskeep.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Royals Keep app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://royalskeep.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” Royals Keep on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of Royals Keep at https://royalskeep.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Royals Keep app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://royalskeep.com/notifications/options/. View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Padres Mission. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated Padres Mission is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn Padres Mission into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” Padres Mission on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of Padres Mission at https://padresmission.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Padres Mission app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://padresmission.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” Padres Mission on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of Padres Mission at https://padresmission.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Padres Mission app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://padresmission.com/notifications/options/. View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Jays Centre. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated Jays Centre is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn Jays Centre into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” Jays Centre on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of Jays Centre at https://jayscentre.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Jays Centre app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://jayscentre.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” Jays Centre on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of Jays Centre at https://jayscentre.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Jays Centre app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://jayscentre.com/notifications/options/. View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Talk Sox. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated Talk Sox is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn Talk Sox into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” Talk Sox on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of Talk Sox at https://talksox.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Talk Sox app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://talksox.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” Talk Sox on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of Talk Sox at https://talksox.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Talk Sox app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://talksox.com/notifications/options/. View the full article

How To Install On iPhone or iPad How To Install On Android Device Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace. What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to North Side Baseball. From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser. Additionally, a newer, completely updated North Side Baseball is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users. With that said, here’s how you turn North Side Baseball into an app on your mobile device. How To “Install” North Side Baseball on iPhone or iPad Using Safari First, go to the home page of North Side Baseball at https://northsidebaseball.com/. 1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen. 2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “View More”. 4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”. 5. Tap “Add”. That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the North Side Baseball app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://northsidebaseball.com/notifications/options/. How To “Install” North Side Baseball on an Android Device Using Chrome First, go to the home page of North Side Baseball at https://northsidebaseball.com/. 1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen. 2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu. 3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”. 4. Tap “Install”. That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the North Side Baseball app around, just as you would any other app. Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://northsidebaseball.com/notifications/options/. View the full article