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Spring training is ending, and final roster decisions loom for the Minnesota Twins. Injuries to Pablo López and David Festa have unexpectedly created an opening in the rotation. Now, two young pitchers compete for the last rotation spot. Zebby Matthews began spring as the favorite, but Mick Abel’s recent electric performance has made the decision tougher. Only one will break camp with the club for Opening Day in Baltimore. Why Matthews Should Make the Roster To begin with, Matthews entered spring training as the leading candidate for the final rotation spot, and his overall profile still makes him a strong option for the Opening Day staff. Matthews’ 5.92 ERA through 25 starts raises concerns at first glance. Yet a closer look reveals tools that suggest greater potential than the ERA implies. Matthews has the type of velocity teams crave in a modern starter. His four-seam fastball averaged 96.5 mph last season, and he pairs it with a slider that generated 50 strikeouts and a 38.5% whiff rate. That combination alone gives him the ability to miss bats consistently. Matthews has recorded 131 strikeouts in 117 innings, showing that his stuff is capable of producing outs at the highest level. What makes Matthews even more intriguing is the depth of his arsenal. In addition to the fastball and slider, he mixes a cutter, changeup, curveball, and sinker. Few young pitchers possess that many options, and the variety allows him to attack hitters in multiple ways throughout a lineup. Control has also been one of his greatest strengths. Over the past two seasons across all professional levels, Matthews has posted a 4.8% walk rate. Among pitchers with at least 50 combined starts during that span, that mark ranks seventh best. That type of command provides a solid foundation for long-term success. Why Matthews Could Be Left Off the Roster Despite the tools and upside, Matthews has struggled to turn his raw ability into consistent results. One of the biggest concerns has been his command within the strike zone. While Matthews does an excellent job limiting walks, his pitches often drift into dangerous locations once they cross the plate. Over the past two seasons, opposing hitters have posted a .362 batting average and a .979 OPS against his strikes, the second-worst marks among pitchers with at least 25 starts. Left-handed hitters have been especially problematic. They have crushed Matthews’ pitches in the zone for a .406 batting average and a 9.1% home run rate. Those numbers suggest that his pitch placement needs significant improvement before he can fully harness his arsenal. Still, there are signs that better days could be ahead. Matthews’ career FIP sits 1.51 runs lower than his ERA, suggesting he has been somewhat unlucky. Even a modest improvement in his in-zone command could significantly raise his ceiling. Why Abel Should Make the Roster Abel has made a case this spring. In 10 innings, he struck out nearly 40 percent of batters and issued no walks, quickly garnering attention for his control. Abel’s early outings were nearly flawless. He threw his first 10 innings without a walk or run, displaying the command the Twins wanted. Even when tested, Abel responded well. Facing the Toronto Blue Jays, he walked George Springer on eight pitches, then left a slider that Daulton Varsho hit for a two-run homer. Abel rebounded by striking out the next three, then finished 3 1/3 innings. He gave up only three singles and erased a runner with a double play. That ability to recover could be a sign of maturation. Abel has always possessed excellent raw stuff and a wide pitch mix. If his improved control is real, he could quickly become one of the most dynamic arms in the Twins’ rotation. On the fringes of contention, Abel might offer the highest upside among the pitchers competing for the final spot. Why Abel Could Be Left Off the Roster Abel still faces a challenge: experience. He has the fewest major league innings in the starting group, making him the easiest to send to Triple A. Developmentally, that option could make sense. Abel has struggled with walks throughout his minor league career, and the organization may want to see a larger sample size of improved command before handing him a permanent spot in the rotation. Roster management also matters. Teams often keep younger pitchers in the minors early to avoid inconsistency in the big league rotation. Even with Abel showing the most electric arm this spring, the Twins may see a few more Triple-A starts as the safest path for his long-term growth. The final rotation decision depends on philosophy. Matthews offers more experience and stability. Abel brings more upside. The Twins must weigh early-season safety against the potential boost Abel could provide. Realistically, both pitchers will be needed for critical roles throughout the 162-game season. With Opening Day approaching quickly, the Twins must decide whether to trust Matthews’ experience or gamble on Abel’s potential. Either way, the outcome of this spring battle could have a significant impact on who heads north with the club. Who should earn the final rotation spot? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Padres Mission's ranking of the organization's top prospects for 2026 has reached the final stage with a countdown of the top five. Be sure to check out our previous rankings here: 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. 4 Bradgley Rodriguez (San Diego Padres, El Paso Chihuahuas, San Antonio Missions) After a successful big-league callup last September and a strong spring training this year, Rodriguez appears ready to handle a full-time role in the Padres' loaded bullpen. That's a big accomplishment for a 22-year-old who has spent half his pro career injured. Bradgley Rodriguez joined the Padres organization in January 2021 out of Venezuela, signing for $370,000. Later that year, the right-hander showed off his live arm in the Dominican Summer League. But then came the struggles. An elbow injury led to Tommy John surgery in 2022, and the subsequent rehab cost him the 2022 and 2023 seasons. When he finally got back on the mound in 2024, he made up for the lost time. He pitched at three levels that year, capped by a promotion to Double-A San Antonio in August. He went back to San Antonio to begin the 2025 season, and then he caught the Padres' eye. In late May, he was promoted to the majors straight from Double-A. He debuted on May 31 vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates, working 1 2/3 scoreless innings, but was optioned to Triple-A El Paso three days later. Then, the injury bug bit him again. He missed about two weeks in mid-June with biceps tightness and spent seven weeks on the IL from early July to late August. Once healthy, he earned another callup to San Diego, where the Padres were dealing with their own pitching injuries. His electric stuff and moxie earned him a spot on the club's roster for the Wild Card Series against the Cubs. Rodriguez did not appear in the series, but just being on a postseason roster was a clear sign that the club thought it might have something with him. Rodriguez faced just 31 batters over 7 2/3 innings in the majors in 2025, but we can still glean much from how he attacked them. He threw a four-seamer, sinker, changeup, and cutter. All three of his fastballs played up in the charged atmosphere of the Show --- the sinker and four-seamer velocity increased by a full mile per hour to 98.3 and 98.8, respectively, while the cutter velo increased by 0.9 mph to 89.2. The sinker and change showed sizable horizontal movement, with 15.3 and 16.0 inches of arm-side run, respectively. Some of that movement can be attributed to a drop in arm angle from 56 percent to 46.8 percent. According to Mad Friars, the organization made the switch to three-quarters after the biceps scare to ease the strain on his arm. Rodriguez's pitch mix underwent a transformation last year as well. It changed from sinker-heavy in Triple-A to four-seam-heavy in the majors. The four-seamer use was just 10.6 percent at El Paso, but 40.2 percent with the Padres. The sinker use fell from 45.8 percent to 26.0 percent in the bigs. Changeup use was pared from 31.3 percent to 23.6 percent. The changeup played very well off the four-seamer, generating a 46.7 whiff rate as Rodriguez's putaway pitch. In fact, both pitches were unhittable, a .000 batting average for both. The sinker helped to produce a 56.3 percent ground-ball rate, to pair with a 29.0 strikeout rate. Platoon advantage played a large role in pitch selection. Thirty-one of his 33 sinkers and all 13 of his cutters were thrown to right-handed batters, while 23 of his 30 changeups were thrown to left-handed batters. The four-seamer use was more balanced --- 32 to left-handers, 19 to right-handers. (All stats per Baseball Savant and FanGraphs.) Rodriguez put himself in position to win a job out of spring training with six consecutive scoreless outings to begin exhibition play. He allowed two hits, struck out seven, and, more importantly, walked one over six innings. His chances will improve greatly if Jason Adam (quad) needs to open the season on the injured list and the bullpen has a second opening. If Adam proves ready to go, then it will be Rodriguez, Ty Adcock, Logan Gillaspie, Alek Jacob, and Ron Marinaccio vying for one spot. Gillaspie has earned praise from manager Craig Stammen for his willingness to fill any role, while Marinaccio is out of minor-league options. Rodriguez, on the other hand, can be optioned. If he does have to go back to El Paso, he'll be an early call-up option when the staff begins to go through the inevitable churn. View the full article

The numbers aren't pretty. Corbin Martin has allowed seven hits, four walks and six runs this spring, and he's only gotten 17 outs. He wasn't in pole position for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, anyway, but it now seems nearly certain that he'll start the season at Triple-A Iowa. Some of those numbers are the results of a multi-layered effort to change his profile on the mound, though. When the time comes—as it always does, for the Cubs, usually by around Memorial Day—Martin could be the guy who's ready to step in and fill vital middle-relief innings for them. First of all, Martin has moved over on the mound this spring. His arm slot is little altered from last season with the Orioles, but whereas he started on the third-base side of the rubber in 2025, he's on the first-base side this spring: One reason for that change: Martin is also working to add a sinker to his pitch mix. His natural fastball is a hard cutter, with plenty of ride but considerable glove-side movement relative to most heaters. That shape is unchanged, but Martin is trying to complement it with a sinker that runs much more to his arm side. Moving to the first-base side makes room for that pitch to move across the plate and still be a strike. His changeup also moves a lot in that direction, so two pitches can benefit from the shift in mound position. When Martin signed, I noted that his best complements for the fastball were a cutter (a more breaking ball-flavored one, which Statcast tagged as a slider at around 91 MPH) and a 12-to-6 curveball to which he switched midseason last year. Interestingly, this spring, he's gone away from that cutter/slider, and back to a slower sweeper-like offering. The curveball is still there, but it's not as sharp as it was last summer. Keeping that sweeper on the plate from his new place on the mound will be tough. If he can locate the fastball well and tunnel the sweeper off it, he should get a good number of hopeless chases from right-handed batters, but looking at all this, it's not hard to see why Martin has struggled during Cactus League play. He's reinventing himself on the mound, in pursuit of a more complete arsenal that can generate sustainable success in the majors. All of it could be scrapped, if it doesn't work. Martin could move back to the other side of the slab and pare his mix back down, if erratic outings like Sunday's (0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) continue. However, if he and the team are seeing the progress they want from these changes, Martin might simply need more time to prepare himself for an important summertime contribution. View the full article

The Twins entered the weekend riding a three-game winning streak, but the momentum didn’t last very long. After an 8-5 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday, Minnesota dropped all three games that followed. They fell 6-1 to the Blue Jays on Friday, 9-6 to the Rays on Saturday, and 7-2 to the Red Sox on Sunday. Wins and losses aren’t the most important thing during spring training, but the individual performances behind them can still tell us quite a bit. With the calendar continuing to move toward Opening Day, players are getting more consistent opportunities, and it’s becoming easier to tell who’s on track and who’s still searching for answers. With that in mind, here’s a quick temperature check from the past few days of action. Who’s Hot? Luke Keaschall: Continuing his impressive spring, Keaschall went 3-for-7 at the plate with a pair of doubles and no strikeouts since our last check-in. His quality of contact has been encouraging, as well. Across those seven balls in play, he’s posted an average exit velocity of 88.9 MPH. While that number might not jump off the page, it's actually 2.6 MPH harder than his average exit velocity during his time in the majors last season. His 90th-percentile exit velocity (often a better indicator of power upside) is 102.4 MPH, up from 100.5 last year. Even this spring's number is below-average, but it's much more viable than last season's. We already know what Keaschall provides on the bases with his speed, but if he’s able to add a little more pop to his bat this year, it could really take his offensive profile to another level. Mick Abel: Abel took the mound on Friday and turned in a solid outing, even if the final line wasn’t quite as clean as his earlier starts this spring. Over 3 1/3 innings, he allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out four. Both runs came early, after he issued a leadoff walk and then allowed a two-run homer in the first inning. After that, though, Abel really settled in. He generated eight whiffs on 70 pitches and once again showed off some impressive secondary stuff. His slider, in particular, continues to look like a legitimate weapon. Abel posted a 127 Stuff+ grade in the outing with that pitch, and it's become one of the best breaking balls anywhere in the Twins’ system. His fastball velocity was slightly down, sitting around 96 MPH compared to the 97-98 MPH we’ve seen earlier this spring, but I doubt that’s anything worth worrying about. The most encouraging part was seeing a young pitcher give up a couple of early runs and still settle in to finish the outing strong. Matt Wallner: Wallner is another hitter who looks like he’s starting to find his rhythm at the plate. He went 3-for-6 over the weekend, highlighted by a 420-foot home run on Saturday. With that performance, Wallner is now hitting .294, with a .415 on-base percentage across 34 at-bats. His power has always been obvious when he connects, but the key has been consistency. So far this spring, he’s doing a nice job of putting together competitive at-bats, and if that carries over into the regular season, he could end up being a staple in the Twins’ lineup. Who’s Not? Royce Lewis: It’s been a tough stretch for Lewis at the plate. Since the last check-in, he’s gone a combined 0-for-10 with three strikeouts. The contact quality hasn’t been particularly strong, either. Only two of the seven balls he’s put in play during that stretch have had an exit velocity above 80 MPH. As a result, Lewis is now hitting just .111 this spring, with a .466 OPS. Of course, it’s important not to overreact to spring numbers, especially for a player with Lewis’s talent level. No one should jump to the conclusion that he’s headed for a rough season. Still, it would definitely be encouraging to see him start squaring up a few more balls as camp continues. For a player we know to have made a major change to his swing, spring matters more than it would for most similarly seasoned players. Eric Orze: Orze has continued to run into some trouble. After allowing a pair of earned runs on Thursday, he gave up another run on Sunday, while recording just two outs. In that outing, he issued two walks and allowed a hit, continuing a trend that’s been a bit concerning this spring. Over his last two appearances, hitters have put six balls in play against him, and those balls have come off the bat with an average exit velocity of 93 MPH. That’s the kind of contact that’s tough to survive consistently, and it’s reflected in his numbers. Orze now owns a 6.35 ERA, along with six walks in just 5 2/3 innings. Coming into camp, he felt like a relatively safe bet to factor into the Twins’ bullpen mix. Amid this stretch, that feels less certain. Victor Caratini: Caratini has also had a difficult spring at the plate, and the struggles continued over the weekend, as he went hitless across seven at-bats. While it’s somewhat encouraging that he’s at least been putting the ball in play consistently, the quality of that contact hasn’t been strong. Only two of those balls were hit remotely well, and just one was classified as hard contact. It’s very unlikely that his quiet spring will affect his chances of making the Opening Day roster, but like Lewis, it would still be nice to see him start squaring a few more balls up before the regular season begins. Spring training results themselves rarely matter much, but the underlying trends can still be useful. Some Twins players are starting to heat up as the schedule winds down, while others still have a little work to do before the regular season begins. With Opening Day approaching quickly, this week should give us an even clearer picture of who’s ready to carry momentum into the season. View the full article

The days in Arizona are growing short for the Milwaukee Brewers. They play their final Cactus League game Sunday, before a couple of exhibition games against the Cincinnati Reds at Uecker Field. They open the season March 26, at home against the Chicago White Sox. There will be some big decisions made this week. As a reminder: Don't take anything too seriously in this recap. During spring training, exhibition games often devolve into minor-league scrimmages. The information below is meant as basic information, not necessarily hardcore analysis. The Brewers dropped to 9-12 in Cactus League play, falling to the A's 13-4, beating the Colorado Rockies 8-4 and losing to the San Francisco Giants 7-1. The Giants came within one out of a perfect game. Who's Hot? ? Sal Frelick The outfielder showed signs of breaking out of his spring slumber. Frelick went 3-for-6 with a walk against the A's and Rockies, finally poking his Cactus League average above .200. Frelick is tied for the team lead in at-bats (37) with David Hamilton. Frelick did slide back under the Mendoza Line by going 0-for-3 Sunday. He started twice in center and led off all three days. One has to wonder if manager Pat Murphy is tinkering with Frelick playing more center this season, considering he started there back-to-back days with other options available. If Christian Yelich is healthy enough to play the outfield and/or both halves of the first base timeshare hit well enough to merit everyday playing time, Jackson Chourio could end up in right field, pushing Frelick to center. Speaking of first base... Jake Bauers The top left-handed bat off the Brewers' bench went 2-for-5 in back-to-back games to raise his Cactus League average to .500, before going 0-for-3 Sunday and dropping it to .440. He has 11 hits this spring, second-most to Andrew Vaughn's 12. Bauers played left field and first base, the two spots at which he figures to be the top backup this season. His offense, as he showed off late in the season and into the postseason, will certainly be a boost for the Crew. Cooper Pratt The prospect infielder showed off his versatility by playing second against the A's. Undistracted by a change in defensive duties, he went 2-for-3 at the plate. Pratt has never played a position other than shortstop as a pro, save three times in the Arizona Complex League as he made his debut in 2023. With other shortstop candidates coming up behind him and the addition of Jett Williams to the system, Pratt doesn't have the luxury of not being versatile. He broke up the perfect game against the Giants by drawing a two-out walk on five pitches in the ninth inning, then scored on a Blake Burke double. Who's Cold? ? Luis Rengifo The probable Opening Day third baseman hasn't gotten untracked this spring. Rengifo went 0-for-5, including a two-strikeout game, as his Cactus League slash line dropped to .214/.290/.321. He will get plenty of time to begin the season at third base, but if Hamilton hits well and Rengifo struggles, it could turn out to be more of a platoon situation than what the Brewers were envisioning—or, given how high Pat Murphy is on Hamilton, exactly as much of one as he envisiond all along. Kyle Harrison Do we need to be worried about the left-hander as he makes a bid to be part of the starting rotation? Harrison surrendered six runs in his second Cactus League game. He gave up six hits against the A's, walking one and striking out four. Harrison threw 66 pitches, 44 of which were strikes. Considering his other outing was an eight-strikeout performance, Harrison probably still has a good shot at nabbing a rotation spot, but he has two more starts (including, probably, one of the two games at The Ueck) to secure that role. Here's one counterpoint: his average fastball velocity this spring is 95.2 MPH, a full 4.0 higher than last spring. Maybe he just needs time to hone his increasingly nasty stuff. Sammy Peralta While he has already been optioned to Triple-A Nashville to start the 2026 season, the left-handed reliever hasn't impressed this spring. The waiver claim from the Los Angeles Angels following last season has made five appearance in the Cactus League, allowing runs in four of them. We know he's still working to incorporat a cutter the Brewers recommended after claiming him. Peralta has averaged about a strikeout per inning in the minors, but has just one strikeout in five innings this spring. He doesn't throw hard, and missing bats has always been a struggle in the majors for him, so that's the most important thing to watch when next he gets into a game. View the full article

Simeon Woods Richardson put together a respectable season for the Twins last year, but some of the underlying numbers tell a more complicated story. Once you start digging into the data, it raises an interesting question about his long-term role. What if his best fit isn’t the starting rotation at all? View the full article

The Royals have struggled to find consistent production at second base in the JJ Picollo era. In 2024, the Royals seemed to get solid production from the keystone with Michael Massey, Nick Loftin, Garrett Hampson, Adam Frazier, and Maikel Garcia all splitting time at the position. According to FanGraphs, the Royals' second baseman ranked 18th in baseball with 1.8 fWAR, with Massey leading the way at 1.7 fWAR. Thus, when Kansas City acquired Jonathan India from the Reds last season, it was assumed that the Royals' production at second base would improve as well. Unfortunately, that was far from the case. In 2025, the Royals ranked 28th in second-base fWAR, with a 0.0 mark. India led the way with a 0.4 fWAR, but that was a massive decline from his 2.9 fWAR in 2024 with the Reds. Furthermore, Massey had a -0.3 fWAR, and Loftin and Frazier combined for a 0.4 fWAR in 2025 (remember, Frazier didn't come until midseason). They also got middling production from Tyler Tolbert and Cavan Biggio at the position as well (combined -0.2 fWAR). The Royals seem okay running it back in 2026, hoping that India and Massey can bounce back to 2024 form. Kansas City could've non-tendered India, but they decided to bring him back for one more season. Massey isn't a free agent until 2029, but he's already 28 years old, and this is probably a crucial year for him if he wants to prove to Kansas City that he can be a long-term option. Let's break down the Royals' situation at second base in 2026 and what the depth in the organization looks like. Royals Second Basemen At a Glance Starter: India Backup: Massey Depth: Loftin, Tolbert Prospects: Peyton Wilson, Javi Vaz, Sam Kulasingam, Justin Johnson, Tyriq Kemp Royals fWAR Ranking Last Year: 28th out of 30 Royals fWAR Projection This Year: 28th out of 30 The Good A lot will be riding on India this year, as the Royals opted to bring him back on a one-year, $8 million deal. It seems expensive, especially since he not only posted a negative overall fWAR last year, but he also posted an 89 wRC+, a career-worst. That said, there are some promising signs this spring that hint that India will be able to put his lackluster first year in Kansas City behind him. First off, manager Matt Quatraro admitted in the offseason that playing India in multiple positions had a negative effect. He pointed that out at the Winter Meetings back in December. Last season, the Royals opted to let Massey be the everyday second baseman, and India rotated as a utility guy in left field and at third base at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, the move was disastrous for India, especially on defense. India posted a -5 FRV in 3B, and that poor defense carried to second base, as he posted a -4 FRV at the keystone. The poor defense seemed to have a mental impact on India's bat, and he ended up having his worst season at the Major League level. Quatraro is intent on India being their regular second baseman, with Massey mixing in here and there based on matchups. So far this spring, it seems like that has helped India be in a better headspace in 2026. He's currently hitting .333 with a 1.206 OPS in 26 Cactus League plate appearances, and he's also showing some solid metrics in his Statcast summary this spring, via TJ Stats. Plate discipline has always been an area where India rates highly, so what he's doing this spring isn't a surprise. However, his 90th EV and Max EV rank in the 77th and 72nd percentiles, respectively, and his barrel rate ranks in the 85th percentile. While it's unlikely that he transitions those numbers to the regular season, if he shows any improvement in exit velocity and barrel rate in 2026, he could end up producing a lot more at the plate this year compared to his first season in Kansas City. Massey has also showcased solid skills this spring as well. That is encouraging to see, especially after his OPS went from .743 in 2024 to .581 last year. The former Illinois product is hitting .364 with a .962 OPS in 24 Cactus League plate appearances, and he is showcasing solid skills this spring, especially in terms of launching, pulling, and hitting the ball hard. Massey and India may not be great second basemen individually, which explains why Quatraro hasn't really given either guy the regular position for now. That said, they are showing promising signs for an offensive comeback in 2026. Furthermore, they should both be better defensively at second base this season, as long as they can stay healthy. The Bad The problem at second is that there isn't much depth. Yes, India and Massey could be a nice combo, but they have a history of injuries, especially for Massey. In fact, Massey has been shut down for a little bit this spring due to a low-grade calf strain, according to MLB.com Royals beat writer Anne Rogers. After Massey, the Royals don't have a whole lot of options at second to challenge India. Loftin has had a good spring, hitting .300 with a 1.000 OPS in 35 Cactus League plate appearances. However, he's limited defensively, and he probably fits better at third base or in left field. Tolbert is a little bit better defensively than Loftin, and he is a plus base-runner. Conversely, he may be more of a pinch-runner type than a guy who can play semi-regularly. If Massey is expected to be out for a considerable amount of time, it wouldn't be surprising for the Royals to add Josh Rojas, who is primarily a third baseman but can play second base in a pinch. Rojas is hitting .258 with a .909 OPS this spring in 36 plate appearances. In terms of prospects, there are some gritty, high-floor types, but no one is ready to be a major impact player at the MLB level this season. Wilson has some power upside for a second baseman, but he strikes out way too much. Vaz is a high-contact hitter, but he offers no power and has been absent this spring, which is a sign he may be injured. Kulasingam is a gamer who offers a polished skill set at the plate and on the field. However, he hasn't showcased much in the power end this spring, as illustrated by his TJ Stats Statcast summary. Johnson and Kemp are mid-round draft picks who played at Wake Forest and Baylor, respectively. However, they are long shots to see any playing time at the MLB level this year or next, and they are high-contact hitters who still have power questions, even for second basemen. The Bottom Line The Royals traded for India back in 2024 because they don't really have many second-base options in the system beyond Massey. Thus, India seemed like a reasonable gamble that could become a long-term option if things worked out, or could allow them to move around if Massey did break out. Massey hasn't broken out, and India doesn't seem likely to stay in Kansas City beyond 2026. Nonetheless, they still offer some upside and production potential in 2026, as long as they stay healthy. I tend to believe more in India than in Massey, simply because India has a stronger proven track record. The 29-year-old infielder has a career fWAR of 7.9 in 659 games, and he had 100+ wRC+ marks in 2023 and 2024 in Cincinnati. Massey may be better served anyway as a player with 300-350 plate appearances per year. That could allow him to maintain his health and body a bit better over a full 162-game season. Regardless, second base production for the Royals will ride on India and Massey in 2026. Should one of them get hurt or be tanked, they will likely need to trade for someone from outside the organization to fill that spot. Perhaps Frazier for a third time? View the full article

Welcome to Spring Breakout week! In the first of many items of Miami Marlins prospect content coming your way, Ely Sussman welcomes Maxfield Lane and Owen Riley of Oyster Analytics onto Fish Unfiltered. They cover each of the five Marlins who rank among the Oyster model's top 100 MLB hitting prospects, intriguing players who missed the cut and what to make of the organization's incredible stolen base volume during the 2025 minor league season. You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. The highest-ranked Marlin on the Oyster's top 100 is Owen Caissie (#46), followed by Andrew Salas (#58), Joe Mack (#73), Dub Gleed (#78) and Maximo Acosta (#99), with Deyvison De Los Santos (#143) being the top unranked hitter in the organization. Here is an expanded overview of Marlins prospects with the best career projections, which you can find under the "prospects" tab of the Oyster Analytics website: In this year's Spring Breakout showcase, Marlins prospects will match up against those from the Houston Astros farm system. The game is being held at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. View the full article

Maxfield Lane of Oyster Analytics joins Fish Unfiltered to discuss the wide range of potential career outcomes for one of the stranger prospects in baseball, Deyvison De Los Santos.View the full article

And then there were two. North Side Baseball's rankings of the top 20 prospects in the Chicago Cubs' farm system (as voted on by our writers) has reached second place, this year featuring starting pitcher Jaxon Wiggins. Be sure to check out all of our previous installments in the series here: Prospects #20-16 Prospects #15-11 Prospect #10 - James Triantos Prospect #9 - Josiah Hartshorn Prospect #8 - Kane Kepley Prospect #7 - Pedro Ramirez Prospect #6 - Ethan Conrad Prospect #5 - Jonathon Long Prospect #4 - Kevin Alcantara #3 - Jaxon Wiggins (Iowa Cubs) Jaxon Wiggins was once a controversial draft pick; the Cubs selected the pitcher out of Arkansas in the second round of the 2023 Amateur Draft. The reason people were skeptical at the time was that Wiggins had missed the previous year due to Tommy John surgery, and despite some encouraging reports before he went down in the fall league, his numbers while at college were never good. Since then, Wiggins has exploded through the Cubs' system, and his 2025 season saw the right handed pitcher move from High-A South Bend to Iowa by the end of the year. There was a mysterious shutdown around the trade deadline in which Wiggins took time off (either for injury or rest, it's not entirely clear), but the year was excellent for the former second-round pick. Through all three levels, he posted a 2.19 ERA and a 3.29 xFIP. Better yet, he struck out 31% of batters faced and kept his walks in check, walking 11.5% of hitters. He only logged 78 innings, so you'd like to have seen a little more length out of him, but it was an encouraging year. What to like: The first thing that stands out in Wiggins' profile is that his fastball is already flashing very special characteristics. Capable of running it up to triple digits, and sitting comfortably at 96-98 mph with ease, it's not just a hard fastball — it has great shape too. The heater that the Cubs' prospect features has some of the best induced vertical break (IVB) around. IVB helps us understand the effects, or in this case, the lack of effect, gravity has on a specific pitch. Wiggins' fastball has the ability to cut through the air and not have gravity drag it down. Wiggins' IVB of 19.1 is about the same level as Shota Imanaga's fastball, except he throws it much harder. While I hesitate to say it's an 80-grade offering, this is a pitch that is going to make Wiggins very hard to hit when he gets it up in the zone. A knock on Wiggins coming out of college and into the draft was his inability to throw enough strikes. Baseball America's draft profile mentions his "erratic control." Well, Wiggins has quieted those concerns, showing improved control en route to manageable walk totals. While he looked rusty at times in Iowa coming off a long layoff, he seems to have continued to work on that aspect in the offseason. As Matt Trueblood wrote about recently, his fastball command has been very good this spring while in camp with the Cubs. This is great news for his development; limiting free passes is always a good thing for a pitcher. What to work on: As with all pitchers, availability matters and Wiggins hasn't always been available. Whether it's the TJS he had in college or the timeout he took last year, ensuring that their prized pitching prospect remains on the mound is big priority for the organization. The Cubs have done well over the years keeping players relatively healthy, and with depth at the MLB level, the Cubs shouldn't have to push him along too fast. In the event of an early injury, the team can turn to Colin Rea or Javier Assad with confidence and Justin Steele seems to be well ahead of schedule, too. This will allow Wiggins to build strength on his own timeline. Once he clears all bars of health and continues to build innings, his secondaries are still more of a work-in-progress than his fastball is. As Matt explained in his article, while the fastball command is making progress, the other offerings still need some refinement in the zone. He has a curveball and a changeup that both flash upside, but he hasn't dialed in the location entirely. His command isn't as erratic as it once was, but it'd be best for his starting pitching prospects if he could improve this further. What's next: Jaxon Wiggins is going to head to Iowa to start the year and will undoubtedly be the pitcher to watch, not only in Triple-A, but in the entire system. The upside here is immense; think a Nick Pivetta who throws 98 mph. He has the makings and foundations of a top-of-the-rotation guy, but with enough warts that he may not get there. Ensuring that the endurance, stamina, health and control of his secondaries progress will help make sure that he gets as close to his optimal outcome as possible. It feels very likely that as long as he's healthy, he's going to make his debut in Chicago sometime in 2026. While we'd all love to see him as a starting option, the Cubs have a ton of depth built up this year, so he may make his initial appearances out of the bullpen. That's okay; depth is a good thing, and this will allow the Cubs to control his innings while not having to put him on a leash. If the North Siders are as good as we hope, they could even get him some late-season starts if they're running away with the division in that case. And with Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, and Jameson Taillon all possible departures at the end of the year, a 2027 rotation spot seems prime for the taking. The Cubs don't need to rush Wiggins, and that's a good thing. There's still many outcomes for their top-ranked-arm, but so far, he's clearing hurdles and showing he's a capable learner. There is some major upside with the 24-year-old, something the team is sorely lacking down on the farm, so there's probably some undue pressure on him to lead the line and break out fully this year. That's a tough bill to live up to, but he has so far shown he's up to the task. View the full article

The Brewers have had an interesting situation at first base since Eric Thames departed after the 2019 season. While they have received some excellent production in the aggregate in some seasons, their primary starter has not topped 1.0 Wins Above Replacement (according to Baseball Reference) in any season since then.* Could that change? Let’s look at the position and see who Milwaukee has for 2026. The Starter Andrew Vaughn .308/.375/.493, 9 home runs, 46 RBIs in 64 games with Milwaukee Vaughn was acquired in exchange for disgruntled right-handed starting pitcher Aaron Civale last June. The deal worked out quite well for Milwaukee, as Vaughn provided some right-handed pop that helped make up for the absence of Rhys Hoskins due to injury. An increasingly well-rounded hitter, Vaughn didn’t just club homers; he also delivered 14 doubles. That balanced power and an improved walk rate pushed his OPS to .869 during his time with the Brewers. If Vaughn manages to equal his 141 OPS+ (where 100 is average and higher is better) from his 2025 in Milwaukee, the Brewers would be in position to rival the league leaders in value from first base. Vaughn would help the Brewers maintain length in their lineup, behind Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, William Contreras, and Brice Turang. *Incidentally, Vaughn actually exceeded the 1.0 WAR threshold in 2025, but wasn’t the primary starter at first base for the Brewers, Hoskins, who posted 0.9 WAR, was. The “Platoon Partner” Jake Bauers .235/.353/.399, 7 home runs, 28 RBIs in 85 games Bauers is not likely to be the primary first baseman for the Brewers; nor is he a strict platoon partner for Vaughn. He’ll exist in a more flexible timeshare with Vaughn, and find supplemental playing time in the outfield corners. Like Vaughn, Bauers had a career year with Milwaukee in 2025. In this case, he rebounded from being non-tendered after the 2024 season and posted a 111 OPS+, fueled by improved plate discipline (32 walks in 183 at-bats in 2025, compared to 39 in 302 at-bats in 2024). He's also capable of even more power than Vaughn, with the best sheer bat speed on the team. Down The Depth Chart On the 40-man roster, the “third first baseman” is former top-100 prospect Tyler Black, whose biggest issue is finding a defensive home. Black has had a couple cups of coffee in the majors, but hasn’t had a chance to get untracked, being stuck behind external additions Hoskins, Vaughn, and Bauers over the past two seasons. He's also failed to develop the power required of a bat-first player, but that might be changing this spring. He not only cracked four extra-base hits before leaving for Team Canada and the World Baseball Classic, but has been hitting the ball harder this spring than he has in the past two years, in terms of exit velocity. In the upper minors, the Brewers have other prospects who could emerge as contributors. Blake Burke and Luke Adams could someday form a traditional platoon arrangement, with Adams also able to play some third base. Burke, acquired with a competitive-balance pick the Brewers acquired in the Corbin Burnes trade, is a lefty power bat. Adams is an OBP machine who adds some power and average speed as a right-handed hitter. The Brewers also have 2025 first-round draft pick Andrew Fischer, a natural first baseman who’s proving capable at the hot corner. Fischer has been performing extremely well in the World Baseball Classic for team Italy, batting 4-for-11 with two doubles, a home run, a walk and just two strikeouts entering Monday's semifinal against Venezuela. He could force his way to the high minors—or even Milwaukee—in 2026. Overview Milwaukee’s star prospects and players are often in the outfield or the middle infield. First base in Milwaukee hasn’t seen a long-term primary starter since Prince Fielder’s departure after the 2011 season. Right now, though, there are several players with a chance to change that in the organization. We could see one of them seize the position this year. View the full article

Youth. Prospects. The future. Some years, these are the only places to focus if you want to feel hopeful and positive about your favorite team. For Twins fans, it looks like this is going to be one of those years. Fortunately, the current state of Minnesota's farm system gives plenty of cause for enthusiasm and optimism. Read on for a rundown of our rankings plus analysis of how the Twins compare to the rest of the league, and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Twins Top 20 Prospects of 2026 Click on the player's name to read our full profile. Walker Jenkins, OF: If he shakes the injury bug, his path to becoming an MLB All-Star is plain to see. Kaelen Culpepper, SS: Broke through in first full minors season, now stands as heir apparent at short. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF: Boom-or-bust profile is easy to dream on, with rare power/patience blend. Eduardo Tait, C: Standout hitting tool, legit defense make him MN's best catching prospect since Mauer. Connor Prielipp, LHP: Finally healthy last year, he made a convincing case as the system's best arm. Dasan Hill, LHP: Oozing top-of-rotation potential after fanning 83 over 62 IP in first season out of HS. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF: Line-drive machine batted .329 across three levels in breakout 2025 campaign. Kendry Rojas, LHP: Lanky southpaw has drawn attention in camp, flashing impressive FB/SL combo. Marek Houston, SS: Defensive wiz will play in MLB based on glove alone, with star potential if he hits. Charlee Soto, RHP: Boasting some of the org's best stuff and looking to rebound from arm injury. Riley Quick, RHP: Reaches the upper-90s from a 6-foot-6 frame, could rise fast if he stays healthy. Andrew Morris, RHP: Polished strike-thrower who provides immediate depth for the MLB rotation. Brandon Winokur, SS/CF: A big man with big power potential and exceptional athleticism for his size. Quentin Young, SS: Similar traits to Winokur. The question for both: will they make enough contact? Marco Raya, RHP: Hoping to weaponize his high-powered sweeper following conversion to bullpen. Hendry Mendez, OF: Controls the zone well and offers upside if he can start elevating the ball more. Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS/CF: Speedster struggled in the second half at Cedar Rapids, but stole 55 bases. C.J. Culpepper, RHP: Continues to get results, but must show he can stay healthy and throw strikes. Khadim Diaw, C/CF: Disciplined hitter with an intriguing defensive profile, looking to add some pop. James Ellwanger, RHP: Hard-throwing college draftee has strikeout stuff, could be fast-tracked as RP. POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN Catchers: 2 Infielders: 4 Outfielders: 5 Right-handed Pitchers: 6 Left-handed Pitchers: 3 ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIMELINES 2026: Jenkins, K. Culpepper, Rodriguez, Prielipp, Gonzalez, Morris, Raya 2027: Rojas, Mendez, C.J. Culpepper 2028: Tait, Houston, Soto, Quick, Winokur, DeBarge, Diaw, Ellwanger 2029: Hill, Young LEAGUEWIDE SYSTEM RANKINGS ESPN: 8 out of 30 Baseball Prospectus: 8 out of 30 MLB Pipeline: 9 out of 30 FanGraphs: 12 out of 30 Baseball America: 12 out of 30 The Athletic: 21 out of 30 STRENGTHS The Twins are generally viewed as having an above-average, but not quite top-tier, farm system relative to the rest of the league. In sizing up their overall mix of talent, a few strengths stand out. Near-ready impact: At least six of the top 10 have a reasonable chance to debut in the majors this season, including all of the top three (Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Emmanuel Rodriguez). Left-handed pitching: There was a long stretch where the Twins had zero left-handed pitchers among their top prospect. How things have changed. Our top three pitching prospects are all southpaws, with Connor Prielipp, Dasan Hill and Kendry Rojas all landing in the top 10. Raw athleticism and strength: Brandon Winokur and Quentin Young are huge physical specimens with really impressive tools. Riley Quick was a highly recruited four-star offensive lineman before attending Alabama and getting drafted as a pitcher by the Twins. There's a lot of volatility and bust potential with such player types, but it's fun to see the Twins taking big swings. Big-velo arms: Quick is one of several pitchers in the Twins system who can throw really hard. Charlee Soto and James Ellwanger are also guys who light up the radar. Prielipp, Hill and Rojas throw harder than almost any left-handed pitchers in Twins history. The question is whether all these velo demons can stay healthy. WEAKNESSES You might notice that, among the farm system rankings from various publications above, The Athletic is a clear outlier. Whereas ESPN, BP, BA, FanGraphs and Pipeline all have the Twins somewhere between eighth and 12th out of MLB teams, Keith Law has them all the way down at 21. His reasoning is pretty straightforward, and tough to deny: health. For all the great talent the Twins have boasted in their system over the years, so much of it has failed to actualize in the majors due to a constant onslaught of injury woes. Unfortunately, that shows no real signs of changing. Jenkins has been hurt frequently since being drafted, and is sidelined this spring by a hamstring strain. Rodriguez has also been oft-injured, totaling only 112 games over the past two seasons. Prielipp has undergone multiple elbow surgeries; he's 25 years old with only less than 115 professional innings logged. We're still in the top five! It's not like the Twins organization has some inherent curse, and much of this is just bad luck, subject to change with the winds of fortune. But there are certain developmental philosophies that might lead to higher likelihood of injury, especially on the pitching side. It's the trade-off for targeting hard throwers or drafting mid-rounders and boosting their velocity. The reality is that we've yet to see any of these guys make it to the big leagues healthy. David Festa and Zebby Matthews have dealt with shoulder issues since graduating. KEEP TRACK OF TWINS PROSPECTS ALL YEAR This series and recap only serve as a snapshot of the Twins' system heading into the season. As the action gets going and players start to move in the rankings, you can follow along through the summer with our Twins Top Prospect Tracker, which is updated frequently. View the full article

Jays Centre is taking a close look at every position on the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the series here: Catcher Toronto Blue Jays First Basemen at a Glance Starter: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Backup: Kazuma Okamoto, Ernie Clement Depth: Anthony Santander (IL), Eloy Jiménez (if he makes the team) Prospects: Damiano Palmegiani, Charles McAdoo, Jackson Hornung, Peyton Williams Jays 1B fWAR in 2025: 8th out of 30 Jays 1B FGDC Projection for 2026: 1st out of 30 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is both elite and remarkably durable. Considering the 14‑year, $500 million extension he signed last season, he is Toronto's first baseman until he or the team decides he can’t handle the role anymore. Based on his track record, that scenario isn’t in the cards any time soon. Instead, the Jays only need to address the question of who looks after first when he starts as the DH or gets injured. Guerrero is among the most durable and high-volume first basemen in Major League Baseball. He consistently ranks near the top of the league in games played and plate appearances at the position. Last season, he started 133 of his 156 games at first. In three other games, he played first after either starting as the DH or entering as a pinch-hitter. There isn’t a single more important position player on the Blue Jays' roster than Guerrero. Since 2021, he has piled up more innings at first than any AL peer, and he’s coming off a monstrous 2025 postseason that powered Toronto to the World Series. He’s also under team control through 2039, making contingency planning more about short‑term risk management than succession. I haven’t found an Opening Day projection that doesn’t have Guerrero as the everyday first baseman. That said, as is now customary in professional sports, especially for superstars, he will face some load management that will necessitate that Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement fill in when required. The depth charts on FanGraphs and CBS paint a similar picture, with Vlad as the primary and Okamoto and Clement among the first backups. Sports Illustrated’s positional ranking has this group at the top when it comes to each team's first base setup across MLB. No team can replace a player like Vladdy, but if he is starting at DH, resting or injured, the Jays will look to find the sweet spot of defensive talent, contact hitting and run-production to fill his shoes at first. Plan A (for Non‑Vlad Days): Kazuma Okamoto When the team signed Okamoto, management was very open about what they perceived as an opportunity to use his defensive versatility to their advantage. That includes his playing left field and first base. Okamoto brings a resume that suggests, based on his time with the Yomiuri Giants of NPB, he is a capable first baseman. In fact, he won the Japanese version of a Gold Glove in 2024 at the position. His hitting in his first four spring training games before he left for the WBC bodes well as he transitions to the MLB. He hit a home run and two doubles in nine at-bats. Okamoto will hopefully complement the contact-first orientation of the Jays’ offensive philosophy. From a lineup geometry perspective, moving Okamoto to first would allow Addison Barger to play third and open up some playing time for one of the outfielders (Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Eloy Jiménez or Davis Schneider) off the bench. For the 10 or 15 games that Guerrero won’t start at first, Okamoto would be the cleanest fill-in with minimal disruption to the lineup and defense. Plan B: The Utility Safety Net Heading into the 2025 season, Clement had only played first in the majors five times while playing for the Guardians. Last season, he played first for 15 games, though he only started six of them. Clement has become Toronto’s utility glue. He’s projected to start at second base this year, but the coaching staff trusts him everywhere, including first. He won’t replicate Guerrero’s power, but his bat‑to‑ball skills, reliable hands and baseball IQ can stabilize the right side of the defence when the priority is run prevention and clean innings. Clement at first allows Okamoto to focus on third while Barger can stick to the outfield. It does mean that the Jays would need a fill-in at second, however. That might result in a negative offensive blip, if Leo Jiménez is the answer, or a defensive downgrade, if Davis Schneider is the one who slides into second. Plan C and Beyond: Not So Clear There has not been a lot of talk about who on the major league roster could fill the first base position. Once healthy, Anthony Santander could potentially fill in at first. His timeline, however, is a return in August or September. According to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, Eloy Jiménez has been spending significant time in spring training working out at first base. That might be an indication that if he makes the team, he’ll get an opportunity to back up Vladdy. Further down the depth chart, and one has to really scan down, there are a few more names that have the potential to make the leap to the majors. Charles McAdoo is projected to be ready by 2027 and possibly earlier. He is a third baseman/first baseman and Jays Centre's 14th-ranked prospect, as of our latest update. More likely would be Damiano Palmegiani, whose calling card is power. He’s been developed as a corner infielder with some work in the outfield. He could potentially get the call if he has a strong start in Buffalo. Baseball America highlights both his power and approach but flags his swing and miss vs. spin and defensive limitations. FanGraphs lists several other minor leaguers as options at first, including Jackson Hornung and Peyton Williams (who both reached Double A in 2025) and Carter Cunningham and Brennan Orf (a pair of left-handed-hitting first basemen in High A). At this point in their careers, none of these players appear ready to make a big jump to the major league level. If Guerrero Misses Two Weeks… Six Weeks… or Two Months Daily plan: Okamoto starts approximately 70–80% at 1B; Clement picks up the rest in platoon matchups; Barger locks 3B most days. Net effect: Offense dips from MVP-calibre to solid but variable; defense improves mildly on some days (Clement); run prevention keeps the floor high. Longer-term structural move (4-6 weeks): Promote a corner power bat (Palmegiani) or sign a short‑term veteran to soak up DH/1B at‑bats so Okamoto isn’t overexposed to position hopping. The front office has shown an appetite for in‑season corner bat adds in the past (like Ty France last season) to cover first base innings when Guerrero is pencilled in as DH. As long as Guerrero stays healthy, the Jays have one of the best in baseball at first base. Plans A and B address load management with complementary pieces to support short-term coverage. The lack of organizational depth is only a concern if Guerrero is injured and out of the lineup for an extended period. The Jays have intentionally prioritized MLB‑level flexibility over pure first base depth at Triple A and throughout the minors. It’s as much a bet on Guerrero’s availability and durability as it is on Okamoto’s adaptability. For the Jays, first base is elite so long as Vladdy is in the lineup. The position is adequately insulated for any short-term challenges. Any injury beyond a few weeks, though, would likely push the front office to explore a trade to ensure run production doesn’t sag in a tough division. 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Designated hitter is arguably the most convoluted position in the Boston Red Sox’s lineup as we head into the 2026 season. That spot seems like it is primed to help the team kick the can down the road even further while they try to figure out how to knock loose the outfield logjam. Now, having too many major-league-caliber offensive players on one roster is hardly a negative thing, but Alex Cora is going to have to get creative very early on this season if the goal is to get regular at-bats for everyone currently labeled as an outfielder on the 26-man roster. Let’s dive into the position that may make or break the lineup this season. Red Sox Designated Hitter At A Glance Starter: Jarren Duran Backup: Masataka Yoshida Depth: Roman Anthony, Willson Contreras, Triston Casas Red Sox fWAR Ranking Last Year: 7th out of 30 Red Sox fWAR Projection This Year: 13th out of 30 The Good That’s a lot of potential power across the board for the designated hitter position. Both Duran and Yoshida have had standout performances during the World Baseball Classic, and Duran was on fire early in spring training, even against left-handed pitchers like Chris Sale. If Duran has found his power stroke again, and early returns indicate that he has, he should serve as the primary DH for the Red Sox moving forward. Anthony will see some time there on occasion because Duran needs to play the field from time to time as well, but those breathers should be few and far between as Anthony should be seeing regular time in left field as long as he’s healthy. Contreras will get the lion’s share of reps at first base but will need the occasional day off from the field as well, so look for him to rotate into the DH role too. What does that mean for Yoshida, though? Your guess is as good as mine. There has been at least rumored interest in him during the offseason and his strong showing at the WBC may give some teams the confidence to take on part of his salary to add him to their lineup, but that’s not a given. If healthy, and he clearly seems to be, he’s going to be an incredibly expensive bench piece. That’s a waste of his talent and team resources. The smart play here is to cut bait and eat the bulk of the rest of Yoshida's contract to send him somewhere he can get regular reps. The unknown here is Casas. We’re likely not going to see him until mid-to-late April at the earliest since he’s not going to get into any Grapefruit League games. Casas has 30-home run potential, but we’ve yet to see a fully healthy season out of him. If he bounces back from his knee injury as expected, he’s going to be pushing for a spot on the major-league roster sooner or later. While that’s an exciting thought for this season, it creates far more questions surrounding the current construction of the lineup. The Bad Essentially, take every good outcome listed above and reverse it. That’s the potential downside of having an open-door DH policy. Duran could struggle against left-handed pitching again while failing to provide much of a spark against righties. Anthony could hit his sophomore slump early in the season and take time to recover as the league adjusts to him. Contreras may not live up to the hype as a dominant pull-side hitter at Fenway. Yoshida could continue to struggle during the regular season. Casas might be slapped with the injury-prone label as he fails to return to form after two devastating injuries the past two years. It would be a catastrophe for the Red Sox, but let’s not pretend like the team is immune from those. Expecting all of that to happen during the same season, at the same time, feels farfetched right now. Should one or two of them come to pass, though? Then the front office will be on the ropes. The Bottom Line The Red Sox are in a very good place when it comes to the talent that will be cycling through the designated hitter position in 2026. Is there a true big-bat thumper in the group? That’s unlikely, but with how players have been performing in spring training and the WBC, it looks like there could be 20+ home run potential from each of the names listed above. That’s huge, especially for a team that lacks power on paper. The Red Sox have spent the offseason building, potentially, the best starting rotation in baseball. Alex Cora and Craig Breslow have even made comments about having to win low-scoring games with their defense. While that’s certainly on the table, it'd be nice if the offense can slug its way to a few wins as well. View the full article

The Twins’ bullpen picture is mostly set heading into Opening Day, but a couple of spots are still very much up for grabs. So who has the inside track, and what could ultimately decide those final roster decisions? Names discussed include: Justin Topa, Eric Orze, Zak Kent, Liam Hendriks, Cody Laweryson, and Dan Altavilla. View the full article

It was all going so well. Before Venezuela ousted Samurai Japan Saturday night, Seiya Suzuki went 3-for-10 in the World Baseball Classic, with a homer and a double. He played center field, batted near the top of the order, and drew six walks, while striking out just once. Then, in a nightmarish turn for the Cubs, he seemed to twist or jam his knee as he went into a slide on a stolen-base attempt, and limped off the field in the first inning of Japan's eventual loss. Even as he returns to Arizona, the question looms: If he's out for an extended period, who will take his place as the team's regular right fielder? The most obvious candidate is Matt Shaw. Displaced from third base, Shaw has responded well to the challenge of playing the outfield this spring, and his stance and swing seem to have undergone another round of adjustments. His numbers last year weren't pretty, and he's certainly not the hitter Suzuki is, but as he works past some of the consequences of having been rushed to the majors, he might be ready to handle a bat-first everyday job. We don't yet know whether Suzuki will miss any time, though, and even if he does, it's most likely that some combination of Shaw, Michael Conforto, Chas McCormick, Dylan Carlson and/or Kevin Alcántara will fill the gap, rather than that any one of them will take all the playing time. With up to nine potential starting pitchers on the roster, few major-league teams have more pitching depth at the ready. One hurler whose role is still not quite clear, however, is Ben Brown. While the youngster continues developing a stronger arsenal (with greater dedication to his sinker and changeup than in the past), he's locked in on the mound in Mesa. He's posted a 3.38 ERA in 10 2/3 innings and has struck out 33.3% of the batters he's faced. He could be ticketed for a starting job in Iowa, or a bullpen job in Chicago—although he sounds like a man on a mission to earn a big-league rotation spot. There's nothing good about an injury to anyone on the roster, especially to one so instrumental to their success. Hopefully, Suzuki's balky knee calms down quickly. For now, though, the team's problems are in balance with its reasons for optimism. Setbacks are a part of the game, but the Cubs are well-equipped to handle them. View the full article

Since William Contreras came over in a three-team trade back in December 2022, catcher has been a stable position for the oft-churning Milwaukee Brewers. His health and production are critical to the Brewers’ success in 2026, and reuniting him with an old friend as a backup should provide a very capable duo behind the plate. BREWERS CATCHERS AT A GLANCE: Starter: William Contreras Backup: Gary Sánchez Depth: Reese McGuire* Prospects: Jeferson Quero, Marco Dinges *On a minor-league deal; may opt out if not added to active roster by a certain date Brewers fWAR Ranking Last Year: 6th out of 30 Brewers fWAR Projection This Year: 5th out of 30 THE GOOD A two-time All-Star with two Silver Sluggers in his cabinet, Contreras appeared in 150 games for the Brewers last year, hitting .260/.355/.399 with 17 home runs. Those numbers were down from the past three seasons, as his OPS was the lowest he's had with the Brewers. However, his production still wasn’t bad. Contreras was an above-average hitter, with an OPS+ of 111 (100 is average; higher is better). Much of the decreased production traces to a fractured left middle finger that he played through for much of the 2025 season. Defensively, Contreras was good in 2025. His throwing accuracy improved, and his framing and blocking were also above-average. Now, with the injury issues (hopefully) behind him, Contreras will look to get back to his previous level of offensive output. A fellow two-time All-Star (although those honors came in 2017 and 2019), Gary Sánchez returns to the Brewers after a year away in Baltimore. Like Contreras, Sánchez dealt with injuries last year. He was sidelined with wrist inflammation early in the season, and had a severe knee sprain that forced him onto the 60-day IL in early July. Sánchez is well past his peak offensively. He was just below average when last he played for the Crew, with a 94 OPS+ via a slash line of .220/.307/.392 and 11 home runs in 280 plate appearances. Defensively, Sánchez grades out considerably worse than Contreras, but he's playable there. He will provide most of his value with his bat in 2026 and will look to contribute on Contreras’s days off behind the plate—as well as in occasional spots in the designated hitter role. Reese McGuire is the third veteran catcher in the organization, and could see a role in 2026. I wrote about him potentially contributing in the home run column before the Brewers signed Sánchez, and that still could be an option if one of the two names above goes down with an injury—and if McGuire remains in the organization. McGuire had a career year in 2025 with the rival Cubs, hitting nine home runs in 44 games. However, McGuire has never played more than 89 games in a season, so don’t expect him to hit that number this year unless disaster strikes. The 31-year-old is adequate catching depth, and that's the role he could play in 2026 for the Brew Crew. THE BAD There aren’t a lot of downsides for this position group outside of injuries, but one thing to keep an eye on is opponents stealing bases. The Brewers have done a good job containing the running game (.49 stolen bases allowed per game in 2025, 2nd-fewest in MLB), and they will look to continue that in 2026. However, Contreras gave up a bit of sheer arm strength to be more accurate this season. If he continues to lose steam and an inexperienced pitching staff struggles to hold runners, they might lose that elite standing in steals prevention. THE BOTTOM LINE This position group has the highest-ranking fWAR projection of any department of the Brewers roster, for good reason. Contreras is a key cog in the Brewers’ winning machine. Keeping him on the field and healthy should be a priority. Looking ahead, he won’t be a free agent until after 2027, but developing a successor should be a priority. Jeferson Quero and Marco Dinges are both top-10 prospects in the Brewers’ farm system, according to MLB.com. However, short-term success relies purely on Contreras, and the most likely outcome is that he is one of the best catchers in MLB this season. All other considerations are mere emergency fallback plans. View the full article

In the five weeks since Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Ft. Myers, the most closely monitored position group has been the bullpen, with fans and pundits interested in how the eight-pitcher collective will look as the team travels to Baltimore to face the Orioles on Mar. 26. Right now, Cole Sands is a lock to be part of the Opening Day group. Veteran southpaws Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, and Andrew Chafin are strong candidates to join Sands, with 35-year-old righty Justin Topa also likely earning a spot. However, three spots remain in flux, with spring training set to conclude in just over a week. Lefty Kody Funderburk is a strong candidate to fill one of those three spots. Because they're already lefty-loaded and Funderburk can still be optioned to the minors, though, the front office could send him to St. Paul to begin his 2026 campaign at Triple-A, to maximize depth. Righty Eric Orze, 28, is in the same boat as Funderburk; the team still holds the right to option him. Liam Hendriks has an automatic opt-out clause in his contract, but the Twins could add him to the 40-man roster only to move him to the injured list to begin the season. Prioritizing depth with Funderburk and Orze and health with Hendriks, Minnesota could be poised to hand one of its final bullpen spots to Dan Altavilla. Signed to a minor-league contract in mid-December, the 33-year-old Altavilla joined Minnesota after strong persuasion from new bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins. Hawkins is a “big fan” of Altavilla, and expects the veteran to be “a big asset for [the Twins] this year.” That piece from Zone Coverage ran on Feb, 19. The hard-throwing righty has only improved his case over the past month, performing like one of the club’s best relievers this spring. Over three innings pitched, Altavilla has a 0.00 ERA, a 2.34 FIP, and a 22.2% strikeout rate. Spring results don't matter, of course, and three innings' worth of spring results matter even less. Yet, his impressive performance this spring comes off a 2025 campaign with the Chicago White Sox in which he posted a 2.48 ERA, 4.66 FIP, and a 21-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 29 innings. Altavilla’s alarming underlying metrics and well-below-average walk rate suggest he should have performed worse last season. Still, he managed to induce an incredibly low hard-hit rate and average exit velocity when attacking the zone, resulting in a near-elite ground ball rate (50%; the league averages roughly 43%). With an above-average sinker and slider, Altavilla has a profile roughly similar to that of Topa. Topa has regressed since joining Minnesota, and those who follow the Twins shouldn’t expect Altavilla to sustain a sub-2.50 ERA if he pitches for the club this season. Still, if Altavilla could perform at a similar rate to Topa’s 2025 campaign (wherein he netted a 3.90 ERA and 3.04 FIP while generating weak contact), he'd give them a harder-throwing insurance policy against further injury or regression by Topa himself. Currently pitching for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Altavilla fits a comparable archetype to Chafin and Hendriks, in that he's a veteran brought in on a minor-league deal who is out of minor-league options. After a solid Grapefruit League look and two innings in which he's surrendered one homer but struck out four and walked just onee in the WBC, there's little chance Minnesota would be able to stash him at Triple A to begin the 2026 campaign. Altavilla would likely refuse his assignment, enter free agency, and join a different organization. Instead, Twins decision-makers would be wise to prioritize organizational depth and add the sturdy righty to the 40-man roster, awarding him a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. View the full article

Investing heavily in a high school pitcher is always risky. Pitchers are fragile, their development can take longer than planned, and injuries are common. The Twins accepted those risks when they picked Charlee Soto with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Now, the early portion of Soto’s professional career has served as a reminder of that risk. According to MLB.com reporter Matthew Leach, Soto is behind schedule this spring as he continues to recover from bone spur surgery that took place last summer. The Twins Daily No. 10 prospect will open the 2026 season on the injured list, though there is some encouraging progress. Soto is expected to begin throwing live batting practice in early April, which could put him on a path toward returning to game action sometime later in the spring. Though not ideal, the delay is just another twist in Soto’s development. The Twins rarely use early picks on prep pitchers because it’s a volatile profile, often preferring college arms or position players at the top of the draft. Soto was an exception. The 17-year-old right-hander out of Reborn Christian Academy in Florida had the type of electric arm talent that made the gamble worthwhile. Minnesota signed him for a 2.48 million bonus and immediately placed him among the most intriguing young arms in the system. Since then, however, the results have been mixed. Soto made his professional debut in 2024 and spent the year with Fort Myers. The Twins managed his workload carefully, which is common for young pitchers in their first full season. Across 21 appearances, he posted a 5.23 ERA while showing flashes of the raw stuff that made him such an appealing draft target. His fastball velocity and overall athleticism remained impressive, but consistency proved difficult to maintain. The following season brought even more frustration. In 2025, Soto managed only 13 innings before injuries interrupted his year. A triceps strain sidelined him after just three starts with Cedar Rapids. As he worked his way through that recovery process, another issue emerged. In August, Soto underwent a procedure to remove a partially detached bone spur in his elbow. The positive news was that doctors found no structural damage in the elbow itself. For a pitcher, that distinction matters. Structural issues involving ligaments often lead to lengthy recoveries and, in some cases, major surgery. Soto avoided that scenario, which allowed the Twins to remain optimistic about his long-term outlook. This spring represents the first step toward putting those health questions behind him. Even though Soto will begin the season on the injured list, the expectation is that he will gradually build up his workload once he returns to the mound. Live batting practice in early April is typically one of the final checkpoints before pitchers resume competitive innings. If everything progresses as planned, Soto could see game action not long after that. Soto’s talent has never been the primary concern. His fastball already flashes the type of life that scouts dream about when projecting future big-league starters. His secondary pitches still require refinement, but the foundation of a legitimate pitching arsenal is there. What the Twins need to see now is durability and repetition. That means building innings. After throwing only a small number of frames over the last two seasons, Soto’s goal in 2026 should be to push past the 100-inning mark. Reaching that threshold would represent a meaningful step in his progression and help answer some of the durability questions that currently surround him. Equally important will be his ability to refine his command and pitch sequencing. Young pitchers often rely on raw velocity early in their careers, but long-term success requires learning how to navigate lineups, adjust during games, and consistently locate pitches in competitive counts. If Soto can combine improved health with those developmental gains, his prospect stock could rebound quickly. For now, patience remains the key. His 2026 season may begin later than expected, but it will offer another opportunity for Soto to show why the Twins believed in his potential in the first place. If he can return to the mound, stay healthy, and steadily build his workload, the narrative surrounding his development could start to shift again. For a pitcher with Soto’s ceiling, simply getting back on the field and logging consistent innings would be a meaningful step toward the future the organization envisioned on draft day. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have spent the past three seasons watching one of the most talented prospects in baseball climb through their farm system. Now, after a brief injury scare this spring, Walker Jenkins appears to be getting back on track. According to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, Jenkins is “tracking well” to be available for Opening Day with the St. Paul Saints. The update came Sunday from Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll, offering a positive outlook for the organization’s most important young player. Jenkins suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on February 28, an injury that forced the Twins to slow his spring workload. Fortunately for both the player and the organization, the strain was considered mild, and his recovery has gone smoothly. The 21-year-old outfielder is expected to begin appearing in Minor League games by the end of the upcoming week as he continues ramping up his activity. His availability for the Twins’ upcoming Spring Breakout showcase on Thursday remains uncertain, and the club is unlikely to rush him into that event if he is not fully ready. Even without the Spring Breakout appearance, the most important goal for Jenkins is simply returning to a regular schedule before the Minor League season begins. Jenkins is widely considered the top prospect in the Twins system and one of the best prospects in baseball. Baseball America ranks him as the no. 9 overall prospect, a reflection of the tools that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Last week, Twins Daily profiled him as the organization’s top prospect. Since entering professional baseball, Jenkins has done little to challenge those expectations. Scouts praise his advanced hitting approach, elite bat-to-ball skills, and the type of plate discipline rarely seen from a player his age. His combination of athleticism and offensive potential has led many evaluators to project him as a future cornerstone in the middle of the Twins' lineup. The Twins believe the best path forward is allowing Jenkins to start the season with St. Paul, where he can continue facing upper-level pitching while adjusting to the grind of a full professional season. Triple-A will provide the final developmental stage before a potential big league opportunity. That timeline also gives the organization flexibility. If Jenkins performs well and stays healthy, the Twins could view him as a legitimate option for the major league roster during the second half of the season. For now, the most important step is simply getting back on the field. A return to Minor League games in the coming days would represent another step in Jenkins’ steady climb through the system. If everything continues trending in the right direction, the Twins may soon have one of baseball’s brightest young talents knocking on the door of the big leagues. View the full article

Spring training stats don't matter, but usage trends do, especially at this stage of the game. We're now only 11 days from the season opener in Baltimore. The Twins roster has been whittled down and Derek Shelton is increasingly obligated to operate with — to borrow a word he likes — intentionality. This is no longer just about getting guys their reps and experimenting. As Opening Day approaches, players needs to start acclimating to their planned roles, and final decisions need to be informed. So it's worthwhile to keep a close eye on lineup construction and pitcher deployment, which we track in this space. Last week we checked in who's been playing where in the first half of camp. Here's an update seven days later with a few quick notes on what stands out. Total starts are listed next to each player, with their number of starts in the past week (Monday through Sunday) listed in parentheses. Catcher Ryan Jeffers: 10x (3x) Victor Caratini: 7x (2x) Alex Jackson: 6x (2x) Noah Cardenas: 1x No surprises here. The top three catchers are splitting reps evenly. But the Twins aren't really breaking in anyone as a third-string catcher for the event that Jackson doesn't make it through waivers. Cardenas, who's presumed to fill that role, has seen plenty of action as a sub. First Base Josh Bell: 10x (2x) Eric Wagaman: 6x (2x) Kody Clemens: 4x (2x) Victor Caratini: 3x (1x) Aaron Sabato: 1x The balanced usage here reinforces my belief that first base will be heavily rotated. I don't expect Wagaman to make the Opening Day roster, but would guess he'll see plenty of action there over the course of the season. Second Base Luke Keaschall: 9x (3x) Kody Clemens: 7x
 Tristan Gray: 4x (2x) Orlando Arcia: 3x (2x) Kaelen Culpepper: 1x I mentioned last week that I was surprised to see Clemens getting so many spring starts at second base (and so few at first). Since then he's made two starts at first and zero at second. Third Base Royce Lewis: 9x (4x) Gio Urshela: 5x Ryan Kreidler: 3x (2x) Tristan Gray: 3x (1x) Eric Wagaman: 2x Orlando Arcia: 1x Jake Rucker: 1x The injury scare that got Lewis scratched from the lineup a couple weeks ago now appears to be completely in the rear-view, which is good news. He's been starting at his set position as consistently as anyone else of late. Still no appearances at third base for Clemens, even as a sub. Shortstop Brooks Lee: 13x (4x) Orlando Arcia: 5x (1x) Tristan Gray: 3x (1x) Ryan Kreidler: 3x (1x) Lee leads the team in starts at a single spot this spring with 13 at short, as the Twins continue to evaluate his three backup options. This position has perhaps the worst starter and the worst depth on the roster. Left Field Austin Martin: 7x (1x) Trevor Larnach: 6x (1x) Luke Keaschall: 3x (2x) Alan Roden: 2x Emmanuel Rodriguez: 2x James Outman: 2x (2x) Eric Wagaman: 1x (1x) Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x Keaschall getting two more starts in left field was the most eye-catching development in camp over the past week. It's starting to look less like a novelty and more like something the Twins could actually implement at times (although he hasn't looked the sharpest out there). If Keaschall, Martin, Larnach, and Outman or Roden are all options in left field, the Twins will have plenty of matchup flexibility. Note that Larnach was originally scheduled to play left field on Sunday against the Red Sox, but was scratched shortly before game time with left side soreness, so that will be something to keep an eye on. If he has to start on the injured list, the door is flung wide open for Roden, who continues to produce this spring. Center Field James Outman: 6x (1x) Byron Buxton: 4x Austin Martin: 5x (3x) Alan Roden: 5x (2x) Ryan Kreidler: 2x (1x) Walker Jenkins: 1x Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x The candidates to back up Buxton have all been getting plenty of looks while he's away at the World Baseball Classic. Among that trio, Outman is the truest center fielder, but the Twins are taking every opportunity to evaluate the viability of Martin and Roden, who got five of seven starts. Right Field Matt Wallner: 10x (3x) Alan Roden: 6x (2x) Trevor Larnach: 4x (2x) James Outman: 2x Ryan Kreidler: 1x Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x I continue to believe that Wallner will be the starter in right field almost every day. Unlike left, the Twins aren't really setting up platooning possibilities at the position, with lefty hitters starting 23 of 25 games, including all seven last week. One related note: On Sunday, Martin made (I believe) his first spring appearance in right field, sliding over in the middle innings after starting in left. Designated Hitter Bell: 5x (3x) Wallner: 3x (1x) Larnach: 3x (1x) Urshela: 3x (1x) Lewis: 2x (1x) Buxton: 2x Caratini: 1x Jeffers: 1x Keaschall: 1x Rodriguez: 1x Gonzalez: 1x Mendez: 1x About what you'd expect: the three clear bat-first players on the roster getting a majority of DH time. If Larnach misses time that could shake things up here. The Pitching Carousel As we march toward Opening Day, it becomes increasingly interesting to follow the pitching usage. Who's starting, in what order, and how are they mapping toward the first series of the season? On the relief side, who is entering in the early part of games? Generally, you expect the pitchers who are going to be in more significant roles to be the first ones in — you're never guaranteed to face high-end competition in spring training, especially at home, but you're far more likely to throw against legit MLB hitters if you're coming in for the fifth or sixth versus the eighth or ninth. Here's how the starters lined up over the past seven days, along with the first and second relievers to enter (not including the stock arms who enter to finish the last inning for a starter): Monday – Zebby Matthews (Liam Hendriks, Andrew Morris) Tuesday – Joe Ryan (Cole Sands, Zak Kent) Wednesday – Taj Bradley (Taylor Rogers, Andrew Chafin) Thursday – Bailey Ober (Hendriks, Sands) Friday – Mick Abel (Kent, Cody Laweryson) Saturday – Simeon Woods Richardson (Rogers, Hendriks) Sunday – Zebby Matthews (Eric Orze, Matt Bowman) Here are a few observations based on what I'm seeing above. Take them with a grain of salt because observations and extrapolations is all they are. Joe Ryan should be in line to start on Opening Day. He made his first official spring start on Tuesday and threw 48 pitches over three innings. From there it sounded like his next appearance might come for Team USA in a potential WBC championship game this coming Tuesday, but this plan has been nixed. With Ryan staying in camp, my assumption is that he'll start Monday against the Pirates (75 pitches?), then again on Saturday against the Rays (90?), setting him up pitch in Baltimore on March 26th with a standard four days' rest. Simeon Woods Richardson could do it too, though. Woods Richardson pushed all the way to 79 pitches in his latest start on Saturday, so he's ahead of Ryan in terms of build-up. And if the Twins were following a standard five-man starting cycle from here forward (one game on, four games off), Woods Richardson's turn would be up on Opening Day. I bet he's the backup plan if Ryan can't go for any reason. Liam Hendriks and Taylor Rogers poised to split closer duties? If you look at earlier spring game usage as an indicator of expected role leverage, then Hendriks and Rogers are tracking toward claiming late-inning spots, alongside Cole Sands, who we know is going to be the de facto fireman. One might surmise that Hendriks and Rogers will be the go-to ninth-inning options depending on matchups. This is more or less what I would've expected — both offer a great deal of closing experience, if not a ton of upside at this stage of their careers. Zak Kent trending toward a bullpen role. The Twins are trying to get a look at their latest reliever acquisition against reasonably decent competition. Claimed off waivers on February 26th to fill the 40-man spot vacated by Pablo López, Kent has been getting some valuable opportunities and making the most of them. He was the second reliever in on Tuesday and the first in on Friday. In 4 ⅔ innings across four total appearances, he has allowed two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. I have to imagine Kent is either going to make the roster or be DFA'ed to make room for a Hendriks or Andrew Chafin, so it makes sense the Twins are giving him some real chances to show what he's got. Time for back-to-backs. Unless I'm mistaken, we still haven't seen a reliever pitch on back-to-back days yet. It's a key aspect of spring ramp-up, and is especially important for someone like Hendriks who needs to prove himself physically coming off an injury-ravaged stretch. Keep an eye on that in the coming week. Anything catching your eye in terms of usage trends and decision-making as we march into the latter portion of camp? Sound off in the comments and let us know where you'll be focusing in the final full week of spring training. View the full article

We're looking for front-page contributors to write Mets content for the 2026 season! If you’ve ever wanted an audience for your Mets takes, this is the perfect place. While we generally lean into analytics and analysis, we also take a “come as you are” approach to baseball and give writers a lot of leeway to write about the game in a way that interests them. That could manifest in historical pieces, previews, or regular series. It’s a matter of finding your niche in the fandom and carving out a space for it. If this is the kind of baseball talk that interests you, please reach out via email at brock.beauchamp@grandcentralmets.com or reply to this note. It is also noteworthy that we pay our content creators. It’s certainly not enough to quit your day job. So don’t do that. However, it might be enough to show that we value your time, talent, and effort. If you know someone who might be interested in creating Mets content as a side job, please share this with them! View the full article

Welcome to an all-new front page here at Grand Central Mets! Along with being a long-running forum for fans of the Mets, we will now provide fans with thoughtful articles from fellow fans and writers. It is all part of an ongoing effort to create a one-stop-shop, a community for passionate Mets fans. Before we discuss the articles, you will notice that the forums are still complete and in mostly the same spot as before. It’s all still there. The only addition you may notice is that there is a new forum for commenting on the front-page articles. So, what can you look for and expect from the front-page articles of Grand Central Mets? To answer that, I’d like to encourage you to click on our sister site, Twins Daily, for what you might see over time. Here is what you may find over time: Deep statistical analysis on a player or topic. For those who enjoy looking into baseball's many advanced statistics, some articles may help provide reasons for team or managerial decisions, situational analysis, and more. Minor league articles. The plan is to have daily minor league reports on the Mets affiliates throughout the minor league season. You will see how the teams did, how the players performed, some highlights, and more. In addition, we will provide prospect rankings and more. Player profiles on major-league players or minor league players. As relationships are developed, we hope to do some player interviews and stories. Maybe there will be stories on current minor leaguers, big leaguers, or even former big leaguers who call New York home. News articles from the day. If a player gets hurt, we will try to analyze how the front office will adjust the roster and maybe how the manager will alter lineups, rotations, roles, etc. Trade or free agent analysis. Draft coverage before, during, and following the MLB Draft. Historical articles digging into some of the great (or not-so-great) Mets teams since the formation of the team. But the history of baseball in New York is incredible, and we'll look back at aspects of it. Video! In the coming days, we’ll roll out our video section, which will feature short videos about Mets' major and minor league players. We are not looking to duplicate Twins Daily. This community is already so very strong, so passionate. We want to add to that community and provide more options for Mets fans to connect to their favorite team. The articles, much like the writers, will likely evolve, and that’s a good thing. What if I want to write for Grand Central Mets? That’s a great question. I’m glad you asked. First, feel free to reach out via email at brock.beauchamp@grandcentralmets.com or contact any of the other writers and express interest. But, you will also note that the user blogs page exists (top of every page, giant "Blogs" link). If you’ve ever wanted an audience for your Mets takes, this is the perfect place. We will frequently be monitoring the blogs, and if we see quality writing and interesting topics, we may reach out to you about writing on the front page. It is also noteworthy that we will be paying our front-page article writers. It’s certainly not enough to quit your day job. So don’t do that. However, it might be enough to show that we value your time, talent, and effort. We ask that you support our writers by clicking on their articles, reading them, and leaving comments, questions, and feedback on the topics. This is just an extension of the forums and another means of enjoying following the Mets. I am seriously looking forward to knowing much more about the Mets, their farm system, and more. View the full article

The New York Mets executed the first blockbuster deal of MLB's offseason, trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien. One-for-one swaps involving All-Star veterans are rare, especially in the modern era, making this one of the more attention-grabbing in recent memory. Still, despite the grandiose nature of the trade, there will be meaningful on-field implications for New York and Texas. Nimmo will step in as the Rangers' everyday left fielder, a position primarily patrolled by budding star Wyatt Langford the previous two seasons. Langford will shift over to right field, a position higher on the defensive spectrum, which should suit the rangy corner outfielder well. Evan Carter will remain in centerfield. The trio will create one of the best outfields in the American League, with intentions of guiding Texas back to the postseason after missing it the past two seasons. Nimmo should continue to perform at an above-average rate for Texas. Yet, this two-player swap could prove to be much more beneficial for the Mets, who now pencil in Semien as their everyday second baseman. Since acquiring Francisco Lindor from Cleveland in 2021, the star shortstop's primary middle-infield partner has been Jeff McNeil, with the left-handed hitting veteran netting 426 starts at the position over the past five seasons. Luisangel Acuña netted 434 1/3 innings at second base last season, signaling the organization was soft-launching a permanent move off the position for McNeil. New York trading for Semien solidifies McNeil's move off the position, with the long-time Met expected to replace Nimmo as the club's primary left fielder. Despite being a productive hitter and commendable defender at second base over the past eight seasons, the rollercoaster nature of McNeil's performance has limited the upside of New York's middle-infield, despite rostering the best shortstop in baseball in Lindor. Last season, the Mets produced the second-most Wins Above Replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR) at second base (4.8), trailing only the Toronto Blue Jays. The club also netted the fourth-most fWAR (6.3) at shortstop, landing behind the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Kansas City Royals. Combining these two positions, New York finished third in fWAR generated by middle infielders (11.1), trailing only Philadelphia (11.2) and Arizona (11.8). Arizona's Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo were baseball's most productive middle infield last season, an unsurprising result given that Marte is a top-five hitter in the sport (and an above-average fielder) and Perdomo is one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball. Trea Turner carried much of Philadelphia's middle infield production at the plate. Yet, Bryson Stott provided value at second base by being one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball, netting +7 Outs Above Average (OAA). After guiding Texas to its first World Series championship in 2023, Semien struggled at the plate the past two seasons, hitting .234/.307/.379 (96 wRC+) over a combined 1,252 plate appearances. Still, looking at his underlying metrics, the hard-hitting righty could manufacture another campaign similar to his 2023 one, wherein he hit 29 home runs and posted a 128 wRC+ over 753 plate appearances. The 35-year-old is also still one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball, evidenced by his posting +7 OAA at the position last season. Assuming Lindor continues to perform at an MVP-caliber rate and Arizona's middle infield duo undergoes some semblance of regression, a rejuvenated Semien could propel the Mets toward fielding the best middle infield in baseball. View the full article

"Braxton Garrett did WHAT?!" Imagine that it is Sunday, August 23, 2026. All 30 Major League Baseball teams are in action, and with all due respect, outside of Miami, there aren't many eyeballs focused on the series finale between the Marlins (66-64) and Washington Nationals (49-82). The main attraction at loanDepot park today is supposed to be Agustín Ramírez. The sophomore slugger is leading the Fish in OPS this season (.847) and serving as the starting catcher for this game. A crowd of nearly 20,000 fans is expected for his much-anticipated "Gus Bus" bobblehead day. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Garrett is going to be the main character for the day. By 4:14 p.m. ET, he'll be a national trending topic for breaking the all-time MLB single-game strikeout record. The rebuilding Nationals are especially vulnerable at this juncture of the season. They already had one of the league's worst offenses, and that was before trading shortstop CJ Abrams at the deadline. The next week, they placed All-Star outfielder James Wood on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Today, they are wrapping up a three-city, 10-day road trip, mired in a six-game losing streak. Here is Washington's getaway day starting lineup: SS Nasim Nuñez LF Daylen Lile 1B Andrés Chaparro DH Luis García 3B Brady House CF Dylan Crews C Harry Ford 2B José Tena RF Joey Wiemer The Marlins jump out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, in part thanks to Ramírez's RBI double. After three innings, the lead has swelled to 6-0 and Josiah Gray has been sent to the showers. The outcome of the game is pretty much decided, but nobody is in a hurry to leave their seats because Miami's veteran lefty is cooking early. Braxton Garrett certainly isn't known as a strikeout artist. His lifetime 23.1 K% since debuting in 2020 is right on par with the MLB average during that span. His career-high for a single game is 13, which he set more than three years ago (6/22/23). So far in 2026, he ranks third on his own team in strikeouts (trailing Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez). The conditions are ripe for an outlier performance from the 29-year-old. Garrett strikes out the side in the first and Lile has already burned one of the Nationals' ABS challenges after taking a called third strike on a nasty sinker. Garrett strikes out the side again in the second. Ford leads off the third by drawing a walk, but Garrett picks him off, then punches out Tena and Wiemer. First time through the order, the Nats are 0-for-8 with 8 Ks. The no-hitter gets broken up by an infield single in the fourth. After a hit-by-pitch and a passed ball—remember, Ramírez is behind the plate—Washington is threatening with runners on second and third and nobody out. But Garrett leaves them both stranded with three consecutive strikeouts. After four innings, the Marlins lead 8-0. Garrett has 11 strikeouts. After five innings, the Marlins lead 9-0. Garrett has 13 strikeouts. After six innings, the Marlins lead 9-0. Garrett has 15 strikeouts. Ricky Nolasco finally has some company. Garrett's 16th strikeout to begin the top of the seventh ties Nolasco's Marlins franchise record. Chaparro reaches base, though, because the slider he chased in the dirt gets past Ramírez. García follows with a single, then House puts the visitors on the scoreboard with a three-run homer. Recently recalled Bradley Blalock is now getting loose in the Marlins bullpen. Pitching coach Daniel Moskos goes out for his first mound visit of the afternoon. Garrett is nearing the finish line...or maybe not! He responds with back-to-back K's and a groundout to stop the bleeding. After seven innings, the Marlins lead 9-3. Garrett has 18 strikeouts and 106 pitches thrown. It's uncharted territory for the veteran southpaw—who is coming off elbow surgery, mind you—but Blalock has sat down. There's no action in the 'pen. Manager Clayton McCullough sends Garrett back out there for the eighth. The MLB record is 20 strikeouts in a game, shared by Roger Clemens (x2), Randy Johnson, Max Scherzer and Kerry Wood. Garrett joins that exclusive club with two more K's in the eighth. Entering the ninth, it's clear that Garrett will not be finishing this game. He's at 116 pitches and Blalock is warming up again. McCullough is giving him one shot to reach 21. Garrett falls behind 3-0 to Chaparro. His next pitch misses inside for ball four. McCullough is on the verge of stepping out of the Marlins dugout when Ramírez calls for an ABS challenge and gets it overturned! Still alive. The 3-1 pitch is a whiff at a slider. The 3-2 pitch is the same pitch and same result. The celebration ensues. Garrett's final line for this historic outing: 8.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 21 K (122 pitches/89 strikes). It is by no means an apples-to-apples comparison. Bam Adebayo is undisputedly a better player at his sport than Braxton Garrett is at his. But the way that Adebayo, in the midst of his ninth professional season, veered from his usual offensive approach and erupted for the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history reminded me of a finesse pitcher becoming uncharacteristically overpowering. Even on his very best day, Garrett would need a lot of help from factors beyond his control. That wouldn't make the achievement any less legitimate. View the full article