DiamondCentric

As surely as Spring follows Winter, when a team is having trouble winning, they will begin juggling relievers on and of the roster, whether or not it is their bullpen costing them wins. So it goes with the current iteration of the Mets, making their second reliever DFA in as many days, while they utterly struggle in the scoring department — as if their relievers even own bats. Transactions, 4/12/2026 GOING COMING Designated for Assignment Promoted from Syracuse Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Luis Garcia Joey Gerber R/R DoB: 1987-01-30 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 High Level: MLB (2025) Say what you want about Luis Garcia, that thick, bushy bird's nest on his chin made him the most readily identifiable of the denizens of the new-look Mets bullpen. A shutout ninth yesterday, however, proved to be less his salvation and more of an attempt by the Mets to soak up as much slop with him in a mop-up situation as they could before banishing the 14(!!)-year-vet to DFA-land. The beneficiary of Garcia's bad news — Joey Gerber — previous appeared in the majors in 2020 with the Mariners (and does 2020 even count?!), before returning for a cameo last year with the Rays. A 5.40 ERA at Syracuse for The Big Baby (and please let that be his actual nickname) is hardly making a strong case for being first guy up, but he's on the 40-Playe Roster, and that tends to get a guy to the head of the line. An important Joey Gerber note: The Mets reserve relief corps (RRC) also features minor-league veteran Jordan Geber, currently unscored up on in 3 2/3 innings between Binghamton and Syracuse. Barring an injury, he is almost certain to see some time with the big club this year, and just as likely to be conflated with Gerber. Joey Gerber. Jordan Geber. Reserve separate and distinct room for the two of them in your head while you still can. Your Mets Coaching Staff Manager Bench Coach Pitching Coach Hitting Coordinator Third Base Coach First Base Coach Bullpen Coach Ass't Pitching Coach Carlos Mendoza Kai Correa Justin Willard Jeff Albert Tim Leiper Gilbert Gomez José Rosado Dan McKinney DoB: 1979-11-27 DoB: 1989-07-14 DoB: 1990-09-09 DoB: 1992-08-16 DoB: 1996-07-19 DoB: 1992-03-08 DoB: 1974-11-09 DoB: 1989-06-06 Hitting Coach Strategy Coach Catching Coach Coaching Assistant Bat'g Practice Pitcher Equipment Manager Bullpen Catchers Bullpen Catchers Troy Snitker Danny Barnes J.P. Arencibia Rafael Fernandez Kevin Mahoney Kevin Kierst Eric Langill Dave Racaniello DoB: 1988-12-05 DoB: 1989-10021 DoB: 1986-01-05 DoB: 1988-08-03 DoB: 1987-05-11 DoB: 1964-07-09 DoB: 1979-04-09 DoB: 1978-06-03 Your Mets Training Staff Director of Player Health Head Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Reconditioning Coordinator Reconditioning Therapist Head Performance Coach Assistant Performance Coach Performance Coordinator Brian Chicklo Joseph Golia Bryan Baca Sean Bardanett Josh Bickel Dustin Clarke Tanner Miracle Jeremy Chiang DoB: 1972-07-17 DoB: 1978-??-?? DoB: Circa 1980 DoB: 1988-06-23 DoB: 1996-??-?? DoB: 1987-??-?? DoB: 1991-??-?? DoB: ????-??-?? Your 2026 New York Mets Starting Pitchers Clay Holmes Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta David Peterson Kodai Senga R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 Relief Pitchers Huascar Brazobán Luis Garcia Craig Kimbrel Sean Manaea Tobias Myers Brooks Raley Luke Weaver R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 R/R DoB: 1987-01-30 R/R DoB: 32291 R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Francisco Alvarez Luís Torrens Bo Bichette Francisco Lindor Ronny Mauricio Jorge Polanco R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 Infielders Outfielders Marcus Semien Mark Vientos Brett Baty Carson Benge Luis Robert, Jr. Tyrone Taylor Jared Young R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 R/R DoB: 34356 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Tylor Megill Christian Scott Jonah Tong Alex Carrillo Reed Garrett Justin Hagenman A.J. Minter R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 On 60-Day Injured List with torn right UCL. With Syracuse With Syracuse With Syracuse On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery and nerve relocation surgery. On 60 Day Injured List with fractured rib. With St. Lucie on Rehab Assignment Relief Pitchers Catchers Outfielders Dedniel Núñez Jonathan Pintaro Dylan Ross Austin Warren Hayden Senger MJ Melendez Nick Morabito R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery. With Syracuse With Syracuse, on Seven-Day IL With Syracuse With Syracuse With Syracuse With Syracuse Outfielders Juan Soto L/L DoB: 1998-10-25 On 15-Day Injured List with strained right calf Designated for Assignment Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Luis Garcia Richard Lovelady R/R DoB: 1987-01-30 L/L DoB: 1995-07-07 Designated for Assignment, 2026-04-11 View the full article

Perhaps now we know why Hunter Harvey was struggling in the early stages of the season. The Chicago Cubs' right-handed reliever was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right triceps inflammation. Left-handed reliever Charlie Barnes was promoted from Triple-A Iowa and added to the 40-man roster, which had an open spot. Harvey becomes the eighth pitcher to go on the IL this year. Signed to a one-year, $6 million contract with an option for 2027, Harvey has appeared in four games with a 8.37 FIP (6.75 ERA), allowing three runs, including two homers, with one walk and four strikeouts in four innings. He last appeared in a game Wednesday, facing the minimum three batters while giving up a hit in the ninth inning to finish off a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Barnes is back in the majors for the first time since 2021 with the Minnesota Twins. He made three appearances, one start, at Iowa and posted a 2.38 ERA in 11⅓ innings. Barnes gave up three runs on eight hits, but did walk eight while striking out 14. He made nine appearances for the Twins five years ago with a 5.92 ERA, then spent the next three seasons with Lotte of the Korea Baseball Organization. View the full article

The early returns from the Twins' offseason moves are already impactful, as Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, and Taylor Rogers have wasted no time making their presence felt. With contributions from Tristan Gray and Eric Orze as well, this new group is quickly giving the Minnesota Twins exactly what they needed. View the full article

Fresh off what has arguably been the most successful World Baseball Classic to date, Rob Manfred is already looking at ways to adjust the event’s future. That instinct is understandable given the tournament’s rapid growth, but it also raises a familiar question. Why fix something that is clearly working? Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show to discuss the beginning of the 2026 MLB season, Manfred was asked whether the WBC could become a more frequent event. His answer made it clear that Major League Baseball is seriously considering changes to the tournament’s cadence. “We’re gonna have a meeting on the WBC, which we always do after it is completed. I think the event was so successful this time that we need to talk about frequency, regularity of schedule,” Manfred said. “It’s one thing to not to do it every year, our problem because of COVID, labor negotiations, whatever, you can’t even say it’s every four years. It hasn’t been. Given how popular it is, we need to get into a regular rotation.” The desire for consistency is not unreasonable. Since its debut in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has never truly settled into a rhythm. It began on a three-year cycle before shifting to four years, only to see that plan disrupted by a six-year gap following 2017 due to the pandemic. When the tournament finally returned in 2023, it delivered one of the most iconic moments with a Japan versus the United States championship for the ages. That game alone proved the event had evolved far beyond exhibition status. By the time the 2026 tournament wrapped up, the momentum had only grown. Television ratings climbed, global interest surged, and the overall product felt bigger than ever. Fans were invested, players were all in, and the atmosphere carried a level of intensity that even October baseball sometimes struggles to match. That is exactly why Major League Baseball should proceed with caution. Manfred is correct in identifying the need for a clear and predictable schedule. A defined rotation benefits fans trying to plan around the event and gives broadcast partners something concrete to build around in future media negotiations. It is difficult to maximize value when networks are unsure when the next tournament will take place. However, consistency does not have to mean increased frequency. There has already been discussion of experimenting with more dramatic changes, including moving the WBC to the middle of the MLB season. That concept feels misguided. Players already balance a demanding 162-game schedule, and the mid-summer break serves a purpose. Asking them to replace rest with high-intensity international competition risks diminishing participation, which is the lifeblood of the tournament. Even a small adjustment, such as shifting to a two-year cycle, could have unintended consequences. Part of what makes the World Baseball Classic special is its rarity. When players know the opportunity only comes around every few years, the urgency is real. National pride carries more weight. The stakes feel higher. If the event becomes more frequent, that edge could soften. The World Baseball Classic absolutely needs structure. The past two decades have proven that a floating timeline creates confusion and limits its long-term growth. But structure does not require reinvention. Baseball finally has something that captures global attention in a meaningful way. The solution is not to tinker with its foundation, but to solidify it. View the full article

The Luis Garcia era with the New York Mets lasted just six games. The 39-year-old right-handed reliever was designated for assignment as the Mets called up right-handed reliever Joey Gerber from Triple-A Syracuse. Gerber was not on the 40-man roster, thus the need to DFA Garcia. One of three bullpen signings this offseason, albeit to a modest one-year, $1.75 million deal, Garcia appeared in six games with a 2.80 FIP but a 7.11 ERA. He walked two and struck out four in 6⅓ innings, giving up six total runs in three of his six appearances. His last outing was in Saturday's 11-6 loss where he pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one. The Mets are on the hook for the entire contract if no one claims him off waivers. Gerber gets his chance with the Mets. Acquired in an early-November trade with the Tampa Bay Rays after he had been DFA'd, Gerber had a 5.40 ERA in four games covering five innings, walking one and striking out five. He has appeared in 19 MLB games in two seasons, 17 with the Seattle Mariners in 2020 and two with the Rays last year. Gerber has a 4.38 FIP (3.60 ERA) in 20 innings, with 10 strikeouts against five walks. Gerber didn't pitch in 2021 due to back surgery and missed 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. View the full article

Andrew Morris has never taken the conventional road, and that is part of what makes his climb through the Minnesota Twins system so compelling. Now, that journey is intersecting with opportunity, as the Twins have turned to Morris to help fill the void left by the injured Cody Laweryson. A fourth-round pick in the 2022 Draft, Morris has steadily worked his way from relative obscurity into a legitimate big league option, even if the journey has come with a few bumps along the way. Morris started his college career at Division II Colorado Mesa, spending three years in the starting rotation before transferring to Texas Tech. Once there, he took on a prominent role as the Red Raiders' Friday night starter, putting himself firmly on the draft radar. In 88 1/3 innings, he posted a 4.58 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 9.3 K/0. The Twins saw enough to make him a fourth-round selection, and Morris quickly began validating that decision. His early professional seasons showed steady growth, but it was his 2024 campaign that truly put him on the map. Breakout in 2024 After showing moderate success in his first full professional season, Morris broke through in a big way during 2024. He opened the year at High-A and climbed all the way to Triple-A by the end of the season. Across three levels, he posted a 2.37 ERA and finished with an effective seven-start stint at Triple-A (3.48 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP) . Overall, he posted a 24.5 K% with a 5.9 BB% while holding batters to a .219 BA. That performance positioned him as one of the more intriguing pitching depth options in the organization and put him on the doorstep of a big-league debut. A Setback and Response in 2025 The momentum from 2024 did not carry over cleanly into 2025. Morris opened the season with St. Paul and initially looked solid, but things began to unravel in late May as he started getting hit harder. In June, he landed on the injured list with a forearm strain, an injury that always raises concern for pitchers. He missed roughly six weeks, halting what had already become a challenging season. To his credit, Morris returned in mid-August and finished strong. Down the stretch, he posted a 3.45 ERA with a 29-to-4 strikeout to walk ratio in 31 1/3 innings. It was a reminder of his ability to adapt and compete, even in the face of adversity. A Deep Pitch Mix Morris does not rely on overpowering hitters, even though he has the velocity to suggest he could. His four-seam fastball sat in the 95 to 96 mph range last year and touched 99 mph, featuring decent vertical break. It generated a high chase rate of 40 percent, though it was also hit harder than expected. What sets Morris apart is the depth of his arsenal. He incorporates a two-seamer more frequently against right-handed hitters and added a 90-mph cutter to give hitters a different look. A late addition of a sweeper has helped increase his swing-and-miss ability, while he continues to mix in a mid-70s curveball and an upper-80s changeup. With an essentially kitchen-sink approach, Morris leans on sequencing and pitchability. He throws strikes consistently, though at times it's more control than true command, which leads to contact. Projection and Role At 6 feet, Morris does not offer much remaining projection physically, but his polish gives him a realistic path forward. He pounds the strike zone with a six-pitch mix, limits home runs, and generates weak contact more than empty swings. That profile points toward an innings eater with some mid-rotation upside, though many evaluators see a back-end starter as the most likely outcome. There is also a case to be made for a multi-inning relief role, especially given how effectively he can mix pitches in shorter bursts. Even with the step backward last season, his strong finish reinforced that he remains a legitimate pitching prospect. He’s ready to contribute to the Twins in 2026, whether that comes as rotation depth or in a flexible pitching role. For an organization that continues to rely on internal arms, Morris represents a steady and versatile option who has earned the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level. What stands out about Morris? Can he be successful in a relief role? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Joseph Herrera struck out five over 3 1/3 innings, and Tyler Schmitt added five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings, but Lake Elsinore fell 5-0 to Rancho Cucamonga. Braedon Karpathios walked off Corpus Christi with a tenth-inning single as San Antonio won 4-3. Andrew Thurman tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in the win. Justin Yeager threw two hitless innings in El Paso's 4-0 loss to Albuquerque. Jake Cunningham homered in Fort Wayne's 12-4 loss to Lansing. Padres Transactions No Roster Moves Sears Strikes Out Five, But Chihuahuas Shut Out By Albuquerque El Paso was shut out 4-0 by Albuquerque, managing just four hits on the night. Starter JP Sears went four innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Albuquerque scored three runs in the third inning on a three-run homer and added a fourth in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. The bullpen was effective after Sears departed. Omar Cruz threw one scoreless inning with two strikeouts and one walk. Yuki Matsui allowed one earned run on two hits with one strikeout in one inning. Justin Yeager was the standout out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless, hitless innings with three strikeouts. Ethan Routzahn added one scoreless inning, allowing one hit. El Paso's offense was held in check, striking out eight times as a team. Jase Bowen went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks to lead the way. Anthony Vilar and Nick Schnell each hit a double, and Marcos Castañon had the other hit, going 1-for-4. No El Paso batter had a multi-hit game. The Chihuahuas drew five walks but stranded 15 runners on base and grounded into a double play. Name Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB Jase Bowen CF 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Mason McCoy SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Samad Taylor LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Marcos Castañon 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Nate Mondou DH 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Nick Solak DH 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Clay Dungan 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Jose Miranda 3B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Sung-Mun Song 3B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Anthony Vilar C 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Nick Schnell RF 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 29 0 4 3 0 0 0 5 8 0 Name IP H R ER BB K JP Sears (L, 1-1) 4 5 3 2 1 5 Omar Cruz 1 0 0 0 1 2 Yuki Matsui 1 2 1 1 0 1 Justin Yeager 2 0 0 0 0 3 Ethan Routzahn 1 1 0 0 0 0 Totals 9 8 4 3 2 11 Missions Rally From Two Down In Ninth, Walk Off In Extras On Karpathios Single San Antonio trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the ninth and rallied to tie the game before winning 4-3 in ten innings on a Braedon Karpathios walk-off single. Starter Ian Koenig threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Andrew Thurman added 2 1/3 scoreless innings with no hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Harry Gustin pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. Manuel Castro earned the win with one scoreless inning. San Antonio fell behind 2-0 on a throwing error in the second and a solo homer in the third. Ethan Salas responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, scoring Luis Verdugo to cut it to 2-1. A solo homer in the fifth extended the deficit to 3-1. The Missions rallied in the ninth. Tirso Ornelas singled, Romeo Sanabria doubled, and Francisco Acuna drove in Ornelas with a groundout to make it 3-2. Carson Tucker, who entered as a pinch runner, scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 3-3. In the tenth, Carson Tucker caught a fly ball in right field and threw home to Ethan Salas, who tagged out the zombie runner at the plate for a double play. Salas then threw out another runner. In the bottom half, Kai Roberts started as the zombie runner, stole third, and scored on a Karpathios single to left for the walk-off win. Name Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB Braedon Karpathios 1B 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 Ethan Salas C 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 Tirso Ornelas DH 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Romeo Sanabria 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Carson Tucker RF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Francisco Acuna SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Ryan Jackson 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 Kai Murphy LF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Luis Verdugo 3B 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Kai Roberts CF 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 Totals 34 4 9 2 0 0 3 2 14 4 Name IP H R ER BB K Ian Koenig 4 2/3 4 3 2 2 4 Andrew Thurman 2 1/3 0 0 0 1 2 Harry Gustin 2 2 0 0 0 3 Manuel Castro (W, 1-0) 1 1 0 0 0 0 Totals 10 7 3 2 3 9 Cunningham And McCoy Homer, But TinCaps Fall 12-4 To Lansing Fort Wayne lost 12-4 to Lansing in a game where the TinCaps fell behind early and could not recover. Starter Jamie Hitt went four innings, allowing three runs, none earned, on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Will Varmette struggled in relief, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings with one walk and one strikeout. Clark Candiotti followed with 1 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Vicarte Domingo closed with two innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Lansing scored three in the third, three more in the fifth, and five in the sixth to build an 11-1 lead. Jake Cunningham hit a solo homer in the fifth to get Fort Wayne on the board. Kasen Wells drove in runs with singles in the seventh and ninth innings. Alex McCoy added a solo home run in the eighth. Cunningham went 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk, and two runs scored. Kavares Tears went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. Wells finished 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI. Fort Wayne left eight runners on base and grounded into two double plays. Name Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB Kasen Wells CF 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Rosman Verdugo 3B 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Lamar King Jr. 1B 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kavares Tears RF 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 Alex McCoy DH 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 Jake Cunningham LF 3 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 Oswaldo Linares C 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jonathan Vastine SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Dylan Grego 2B 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Totals 32 4 6 1 0 2 4 7 6 0 Name IP H R ER BB K Jamie Hitt (L, 0-1) 4 4 3 0 2 3 Will Varmette 1 1/3 7 7 7 1 1 Clark Candiotti 1 2/3 3 1 1 1 3 Vicarte Domingo 2 2 1 0 1 1 Totals 9 16 12 8 5 8 Storm Pitchers Strike Out 13, But Offense Shut Out Lake Elsinore was shut out 5-0 by Rancho Cucamonga, collecting just six hits. Starter Tyler Schmitt went 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Joseph Herrera followed as the bulk pitcher, throwing 3 1/3 innings with one run on one hit and five strikeouts with no walks. Carlos Medina worked 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Daichi Moriki finished with 2/3 of an inning, giving up one hit with no runs. Rancho Cucamonga scored a solo homer in the third, added another solo home run in the sixth, pushed across a run on an error in the eighth, and tacked on two more in the ninth on a double and a single. The Storm's four pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts while allowing nine hits and three walks. Ryan Wideman went 2-for-4 with a triple and was the only Storm player with multiple hits. Jorge Quintana went 2-for-4. George Bilecki went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, and Truitt Madonna went 1-for-4. Justin DeCriscio drew a walk and stole two bases. The Storm struck out 12 times, left 18 runners on base, and grounded into three double plays. Name Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB Ryan Wideman CF 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 Jose Verdugo 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 George Bilecki RF 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Truitt Madonna C 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Jorge Quintana SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Justin DeCriscio 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Luke Cantwell 1B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kerrington Cross DH 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Bradley Frye PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Conner Westenburg LF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 30 0 6 1 1 0 0 2 12 2 Name IP H R ER BB K Tyler Schmitt (L, 0-1) 2 2/3 2 1 1 3 5 Joseph Herrera 3 1/3 1 1 1 0 5 Carlos Medina 2 1/3 5 3 2 0 3 Daichi Moriki 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 Totals 9 9 5 4 3 13 Padres Top-20 Prospect Performance Kash Mayfield: DNP Ethan Salas: 2-for-4, RBI, K, SB Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Bradgley Rodriguez: DNP Humberto Cruz: DNP Miguel Mendez: DNP Ty Harvey: DNP Jorge Quintana: 2-for-4, K Kale Fountain: DNP Ryan Wideman: 2-for-4, 3B, K Jagger Haynes: DNP Lamar King Jr: 0-for-5 Romeo Sanabria: 1-for-4, 2B, K Truitt Madonna: 1-for-4, 3 K Michael Salina: DNP Garrett Hawkins: DNP Kavares Tears: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, K Deivid Coronil: DNP Francis Pena: DNP Bryan Balzer: DNP View the full article

The year is 2020. Olivia Rodrigo is working on a new album. The Trump administration is trying to figure out what to do with Iran. And San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is primed for a breakout. It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. It was that Covid year when Padres fans became aware of Campusano. After slashing .325/.396/.509 with Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2019, he became a top-100 prospect in every ranking that mattered, and in a Padres system stocked with talent, he was the catcher of the future. (Remember when MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, and Luis Patiño were going to change the trajectory of the franchise?) Campusano got a cup of coffee in 2020, hitting a home run in his lone game in the bigs, and the Padres would end up winning their first playoff series in 22 years. The future looked bright. We’re still waiting for that future. Now 27 years old, Campusano is in his seventh season with the Padres, yet he has accrued -0.7 bWAR. Fangraphs is kinder to him, with 0.1 wins above replacement, but in any case, the numbers tell the same story: Campusano hasn’t really excelled at anything. The power he displays in the minors—79 homers with an .882 OPS in 504 games—disappears in the bigs. He owns a .668 OPS in San Diego, and has just 18 home runs to his name. His career on-base percentage is below .300. Per Statcast, he’s never hit the ball particularly hard or run particularly fast or fielded particularly well. That makes his start to the 2026 season encouraging, if a little confusing. Heading into their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies, Campusano was sporting a 103 OPS+, making him one of the more productive catchers in baseball, but he had neither walked nor hit a home run. His performance on April 5 against the Red Sox is illustrative: A single, a run, and two strikeouts, and he was lifted late in the game for a pinch hitter and replaced defensively by Freddy Fermin. Is that what the Padres had in mind for their top catching prospect back in 2020? But in a world in which Austin Hedges and his lifetime 53 OPS+ can have a 12-year MLB career, being a league-average hitter at the catcher position is incredibly valuable. Catchers are OPS-ing .673 this season, a number Campusano comfortably exceeds, and his underlying stats point to sustainability. His hard-hit percentage is up from last season, and so are his launch angle and barrel rate. He’s swinging more overall—and his chase rate remains abysmal—but at least he’s swinging more at good pitches and less at bad pitches. This means his strikeout rate is down (albeit marginally and from a lofty 41%). There’s potential there! And that’s always been the book on Campusano. He played in only one game in 2020 because of a wrist injury. He had an elite campaign in the minors in 2021, and got some more MLB experience, but he couldn’t get regular time with the 2022 squad, which was the most talented Padres team ever. On a rate basis, 2023 was Campusano’s best major-league season. An OPS+ of 131 is nothing to sneeze at, but he played in only 49 games because of a shoulder injury. He split time in 2024 with a resurgent Kyle Higashioka, and in 2025, Campusano had an obscene 1.036 OPS… in Triple-A. The Padres have long had one of the best farm systems in baseball, but it’s curious that the Mount Rushmore of Padres catchers would feature only three faces: Benito Santiago, Terry Kennedy, and Gene Tenace. The most recent that any of them have played for the Padres is 1992. Since the 1998 World Series year, there have been 18 different Opening Day starters at catcher, and in the current era, there’s a curious cycle of fading veterans becoming fan favorites—Jorge Alfaro, Gary Sanchez, et al.—only to quickly disappear amid more roster shuffling. In one way or another, the catcher position has been a black hole for the Padres for almost three decades. (Shoutout to Hedges, who did come up through the Padres system, but couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.) As always, it’s tempting to get excited about the next catcher of the future. Ethan Salas is the Friars' highest-ranked position player in the minors, but he’s only nineteen years old. Campusano is the Padres’ best option behind the dish right now, at least in a world where Fermin has forgotten how to hit a baseball. No other catcher in the organization and no unsigned veteran have his hit tool. No other catcher in the organization and no unsigned veteran are in their prime age-27 season. This opportunity is something Campusano and the club have aspired to for years, and he finally has a chance to be a homegrown success story. But first, he might want to stop swinging at everything. View the full article

The year is 2020. Olivia Rodrigo is working on a new album. The Trump administration is trying to figure out what to do with Iran. And San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is primed for a breakout. It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. It was that Covid year when Padres fans became aware of Campusano. After slashing .325/.396/.509 with Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2019, he became a top-100 prospect in every ranking that mattered, and in a Padres system stocked with talent, he was the catcher of the future. (Remember when MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, and Luis Patiño were going to change the trajectory of the franchise?) Campusano got a cup of coffee in 2020, hitting a home run in his lone game in the bigs, and the Padres would end up winning their first playoff series in 22 years. The future looked bright. We’re still waiting for that future. Now 27 years old, Campusano is in his seventh season with the Padres, yet he has accrued -0.7 bWAR. Fangraphs is kinder to him, with 0.1 wins above replacement, but in any case, the numbers tell the same story: Campusano hasn’t really excelled at anything. The power he displays in the minors—79 homers with an .882 OPS in 504 games—disappears in the bigs. He owns a .668 OPS in San Diego, and has just 18 home runs to his name. His career on-base percentage is below .300. Per Statcast, he’s never hit the ball particularly hard or run particularly fast or fielded particularly well. That makes his start to the 2026 season encouraging, if a little confusing. Heading into their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies, Campusano was sporting a 103 OPS+, making him one of the more productive catchers in baseball, but he had neither walked nor hit a home run. His performance on April 5 against the Red Sox is illustrative: A single, a run, and two strikeouts, and he was lifted late in the game for a pinch hitter and replaced defensively by Freddy Fermin. Is that what the Padres had in mind for their top catching prospect back in 2020? But in a world in which Austin Hedges and his lifetime 53 OPS+ can have a 12-year MLB career, being a league-average hitter at the catcher position is incredibly valuable. Catchers are OPS-ing .673 this season, a number Campusano comfortably exceeds, and his underlying stats point to sustainability. His hard-hit percentage is up from last season, and so are his launch angle and barrel rate. He’s swinging more overall—and his chase rate remains abysmal—but at least he’s swinging more at good pitches and less at bad pitches. This means his strikeout rate is down (albeit marginally and from a lofty 41%). There’s potential there! And that’s always been the book on Campusano. He played in only one game in 2020 because of a wrist injury. He had an elite campaign in the minors in 2021, and got some more MLB experience, but he couldn’t get regular time with the 2022 squad, which was the most talented Padres team ever. On a rate basis, 2023 was Campusano’s best major-league season. An OPS+ of 131 is nothing to sneeze at, but he played in only 49 games because of a shoulder injury. He split time in 2024 with a resurgent Kyle Higashioka, and in 2025, Campusano had an obscene 1.036 OPS… in Triple-A. The Padres have long had one of the best farm systems in baseball, but it’s curious that the Mount Rushmore of Padres catchers would feature only three faces: Benito Santiago, Terry Kennedy, and Gene Tenace. The most recent that any of them have played for the Padres is 1992. Since the 1998 World Series year, there have been 18 different Opening Day starters at catcher, and in the current era, there’s a curious cycle of fading veterans becoming fan favorites—Jorge Alfaro, Gary Sanchez, et al.—only to quickly disappear amid more roster shuffling. In one way or another, the catcher position has been a black hole for the Padres for almost three decades. (Shoutout to Hedges, who did come up through the Padres system, but couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.) As always, it’s tempting to get excited about the next catcher of the future. Ethan Salas is the Friars' highest-ranked position player in the minors, but he’s only nineteen years old. Campusano is the Padres’ best option behind the dish right now, at least in a world where Fermin has forgotten how to hit a baseball. No other catcher in the organization and no unsigned veteran have his hit tool. No other catcher in the organization and no unsigned veteran are in their prime age-27 season. This opportunity is something Campusano and the club have aspired to for years, and he finally has a chance to be a homegrown success story. But first, he might want to stop swinging at everything. View the full article

Transactions: N/A Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Gwinnett (Braves) 4, Nashville 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to always review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Walked Off for Second Straight Night - Kuehner Spins First Career Triple-A Quality Start You may not recognize the name Cory Hilborne, but he's the Communications Manager for the Sounds and is responsible for the big majority of postgame summaries, and he nails it every single time. Today's effort was just the latest example, and hopefully you'll agree that both the in-game action recap and the miscellaneous notes linked above provide a cornucopia of detail for us. I shared on social media that I was able to catch up with longtime Brewers.com beat writer and Supervising Reporter Adam McCalvy (along with the Journal-Sentinel's Curt Hogg) in Boston on Tuesday. While I thanked Adam for his decades of coverage, he acknowledged that we provide details within our daily Link Reports that aid his efforts. Now, the fact Tyler Black had been placed on the IL was evident from the MiLB transaction wire, easy enough to track. Much less obvious was that Pratt had sat out not one, but two games, something we pointed out when Saturday's early AM report was published. Clearly Adam has the means and the contacts to then follow up on notes like that. Sure enough, by Saturday afternoon, he informed us of the status of both players. Of course, there will be instances when the beat reporters uncover minor league news outside of our site and forum posts. But our symbiotic relationship has helped inform Brewers fans for many years now, and we've long been aware that many members of the organization's front office, spanning multiple departments, make our daily report a staple. Pretty cool, right? Outside of the catching corps, the Sounds have a one-man position player bench (Manager Rick Sweet loves when that is the case - not). Sweet emptied the non-catcher crew when OF Jacob Hurtubise entered as part of a defensive shuffle to begin the bottom of the 10th, with first baseman Luke Adams exiting. Adams had struck out swinging in the top of the 9th and had remained in the game on defense for the bottom of that frame. So, at this time, nothing concerning from that perspective, but as always, we'll see. In addition to old friends Rowdy Tellez and Brewer Hicklen in the Stripers lineup, reliever Tayler Scott is an alumnus (Biloxi 2016-17). As for the extra inning, the top of the 10th was not pretty for Nashville - Wilken K'd on a foul tip, Jones fanned looking, and Eddys Leonard grounding to 3rd, leaving a speedy ghost runner in Lara firmly planted. LHP Brian Fitzpatrick got the first out on a 3-1 putout to start the fateful bottom half, advancing the ghost runner. A 90 MPH chopper vs. the drawn-in infield was enough to end things - watch that here. Nothing personal vs. the Voice of the Stripers, Dave Lezotte, but we've had enough of these walk-off calls: You're invited to consult the Sounds' "X" feed for a series of five highlights - given it's a road game, Lezotte, is on the calls. You'll catch Luis Lara, Greg Jones, Brock Wilken, Tate Kuehner and Will Childers along the way. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Biloxi 7, Pensacola (Marlins) 5 Box Score and Game Log Catch up with the latest Biloxi pre-game audio interview archives - LH reliever Mark Manfredi, Sr.'s chat from Saturday night is available along with all this week's collection - congrats to the new dad and his wife! Via the Shuckers, game details: Shuckers Sneak Past Blue Wahoos 7-5 For Series Win - Shuckers clinch first series victory against Blue Wahoos Another fine write-up. I'm so aware of how repetitive this disclaimer is, but please review as linked just above as we tend not to rehash specific game details too often, allowing us to focus on other nuances of the day. The presence of little-used 22-year-old 3rd catcher Edgardo Ordonez (.544 OPS in 25 games with Carolina in 2025, skipping over Wisconsin to start 2026) allows for Matthew Wood and Darrien Miller to rotate into the designated hitter spot, as Wood did here. Wood contributed with a sacrifice fly and a walk while Miller's fun was a bit louder - Over at the Shuckers' "X" feed, you'll find both of Eduardo Garcia's base knocks in his first game back after he broke his right wrist in Dominican Winter Ball play, along with Kay-Lan Nicasia taking advantage of his playing time opportunity given the recent outfield injuries on the Biloxi roster. Garcia did have one awkward moment early on. Hardin needed 84 pitches and only registered three innings, as he saw double-walk-single to open the 4th. RHP Stiven Cruz allowed one of Hardin's runners to score on a sacrifice fly, but as the game summary noted, would retire all 12 men he faced in a fantastic outing. Southpaws Jesus Broca and Sam Garcia made things interesting late but survived. There were also two caught stealing's, but you get the general idea here: Rattlers and River Bandits Rained Out - Saturday’s game to be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday LHP Wande Torres and RHP Braylon Owens are the scheduled Wisconsin starters. Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wilson 6, Salem (Red Sox) 3 Box Score and Game Log Warbirds Snap Skid with Victory Over Salem - Anderson’s Big Night Sparks Wilson First of all, no specific highlight here, but the effort is appreciated from the Voice of the RidgeYaks. Wilson scored six runs despite having only four hits. Each of those hits were of the extra-base variety however, three off the bat of 19-year-old Dominican native CF Jose Anderson, who had a monster game with a bases-loaded walk, two doubles and his first home run of 2026. Anderson now has 20 HR's in 148 professional contests (.750 OPS). You'll be able to view an Anderson double and his round-tripper, along with Handelfry Encarnacion's double, via the Warbirds' "X" feed. More video: The Anderson RBI walk Frederi Montero's RBI grounder Fine-to-solid work by the Wilson hurlers here - 20-year-old RHP Jarrette Bonet has now fanned ten in seven innings (1 R, 4 BB, 1 HBP). Bonet picked off two men at first to help his own cause. RHP Tanner Perry turns 23 later this week, so he'll be seeking a bump to Wisconsin, he contributed three innings though was a victim of this home run. RHP Peyton Niksch, 22, did allow a run, but if was unearned due to two passed balls by catcher Yannic Walther in the 9th. We'd love to say the Warbirds' offensive woes are solved. While drawing 12 free passes (11 BB's, 1 HBP) can be productive, 1-for-12 with RISP (11 LOB) is not. It was another night of double-digit strikeouts (11). Thank goodness for Anderson on this night. By the way, the Brewers signed Anderson to a relatively tiny $60,000 bonus in January 2024 to then see him break out with a .915 OPS in his sole Dominican Summer League season. All traditional early afternoon game times Sunday, with the Rattlers playing twice, Our friend Daniel "Ro" will have five recaps for you Monday AM - that's how it goes sometimes on our beat, as I was spared a game and Mother Nature doubled up on Ro. Hope everyone has a wonderful early spring day. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View the full article

Twins System Recap: News broke Saturday morning that Andrew Morris was being called up to the Twins. Morris has been among my favorite guys to follow in the system the past few years. Tonight's games were highlighted by yet another impressive outing for Kernels pitcher Eli Jones. Garrett Spain and Ben Ross elevated the Wind Surge on a big night for their lineup. Also, Zebby Matthews got pointed in the right direction and turned in a solid start for St. Paul. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals are a team starving for run production, especially with runners in scoring position. Going into Saturday's game with the White Sox, Kansas City ranks last in Major League Baseball with a 39 wRC+ in RISP situations this season. They also rank last in ISO (.054), 29th in batting average (.196), and 29th in BB/K ratio (0.29) with runners in scoring position this year. For a team that had struggled early in 2025 in RISP situations, these issues with runners on second and third are frustrating, especially for a team that's currently 6-7 going into Saturday's afternoon contest at Kauffman Stadium. It's easy to blame the front office for the Royals' RISP struggles. There are many fans who think GM JJ Picollo should've made a bigger swing for a free-agent bat or traded for one. That said, Jarren Duran, who seemed to be the primary Royals' trade target this offseason, currently has a 51 wRC+. Furthermore, the bottom of the Royals' lineup has been fine, with Kyle Isbel (181 wRC+), Jonathan India (100 wRC+), Jac Caglianone (98 wRC+), and Isaac Collins (82 wRC+) showing decent production in those spots. However, the big issue has been the Royals' 2-3-4 production in RISP situations, as David Lesky of Inside the Crown pointed out on Twitter yesterday. When it comes to RISP wRC+, Bobby Witt Jr. sports a 17 wRC+, Vinnie Pasquantino sports an 8 wRC+, and Salvador Perez has a -65 wRC+. Royals fans read that latter number correctly. The Royals captain has been 65 runs below average with runners in scoring position this season. Of course, it's a small sample. However, his 20 plate appearances in RISP situations lead all Royals hitters as of Saturday, according to Fangraphs. Second is Vinnie with 19. The Royals can be patient with one of those hitters to get out of their funk during this stretch. However, two of them? That's a harder ask, especially with a critical series against the Detroit Tigers coming up on the road. It's not just RISP situations that are an issue for Salvy. Overall, he's hitting .157 with a 51 wRC+ in 56 plate appearances. His 12.5% strikeout rate is 7 percentage points lower than his mark a year ago, which is good. However, his ISO is 52 points down from 2025, and his xwOBA of .307 is 50 points down. It's not like last year, when he was crushing the ball and getting unlucky. He's actually showing genuine signs of regression at the plate. Therefore, manager Matt Quatraro should move Salvy (and perhaps Pasquantino) down in the batting order. Not only do Salvy's current metrics not support him being the Royals' cleanup hitter, but the historical data doesn't confirm it either. The Statcast Data for Salvy Does Not Look Encouraging There are some things that Perez is still doing well offensively this season, at least when it comes to the batted-ball and Statcast data. Salvy's barrel rate is 13.6%, and his hard-hit rate is 43.2%, both of which are above the league average. His average exit velocity is 90.7 MPH, 0.7 MPH higher than a year ago. However, beyond those metrics, the Statcast data has been concerning. Here's a look at where he ranks in certain Statcast categories, via his TJ Stats Statcast summary profile. A few particular metrics stick out with Salvy. His Pull Air% ranks in the 44th percentile. His Max EV ranks in the 38th percentile. His Z-Contact% ranks in the 35th percentile, and his LA Sweet-spot% ranks in the 25th percentile. Those are big declines, especially considering where he was in those categories a year ago, as illustrated below. Last season, his Pull Air% and Max EV ranked in the 88th percentile. Furthermore, his LA Sweet-Spot% ranked in the 65th percentile. His Z-Contact% also ranked in the 43rd percentile, not significantly higher but still noteworthy. The reality is that Perez is hitting the ball less hard, pulling the ball less, and making less contact on balls in the strike zone. Those are all signs of regression, and even though he's bound to see some positive regression in the future, he may not improve enough to match what he did a season ago in those important Statcast categories. The bat speed overall isn't all that different from 2025. His 72.4 MPH average bat speed is only 0.5 MPH slower than last year's mark. That said, his 21.2% fast-swing rate is 9.3% lower than in 2025, and his 7.9-foot swing length hasn't changed. He's blasting the ball above league average at 19%, but his squared-up date is down to 31.6%, a 0.9% decline. The Royals need a primary run producer in the cleanup spot. Right now, based on the Statcast data and his skills, I am not sure that's Salvy, unless something dramatic happens soon. Salvy Historically Hasn't Been Good in the Cleanup Spot After the Royals' 2-0 loss to the White Sox on Thursday, Quatraro mentioned that Perez had proven himself in the past in the cleanup spot, pointing to home runs and RBI as the key indicators. That said, this isn't fantasy baseball. Were his 30 home runs and 100 RBI impressive? Yes, but when looking at his cleanup-spot performance last year, the data showed he wasn't as impressive as his home runs and RBI totals suggested. In 307 plate appearances as a cleanup hitter, he hit .216 with a .621 OPS and 67 wRC+. After a slow start, Quatraro moved Maikel Garcia to cleanup and Salvy to the No. 5 spot. In 315 plate appearances in the No. 5 spot, Perez hit .261 with a .859 OPS and 130 wRC+. As a cleanup hitter, he hit seven home runs and posted a .134 ISO last season. As a No. 5 hitter? He hit 23 home runs and posted a .295 ISO. Some Royals fans may say, "Yeah, well, that's just one year, bro!" (I added the "bro"). Well, let's take a look at his career splits in the 3, 4, and 5 spots, where he's had the most career plate appearances. No. 3: 1,783 plate appearances, .270 average, .790 OPS, .215 ISO, 111 wRC+. No. 4: 2,172 plate appearances, .238 average, .695 OPS, .171 ISO, 87 wRC+. No. 5: 1,667 plate appearances, .272 average, .777 OPS, .200 ISO, 105 wRC+. The best spot in his career has been No. 3, but given how he's trending, it's unlikely Quatraro would move him up (and that may not be the best idea anyway). In 1,667 career plate appearances in the No. 5 spot, he's been solid with a .777 OPS and 105 wRC+. In the cleanup spot, however, Salvy has been mediocre, as evidenced by his posting the worst marks in those four categories. In fact, his wRC+ in the cleanup spot is nearly 20 points worse than his career mark in the No. 5 spot. Quatraro has been protective of players and their standing in the batting order. Even though Witt makes a lot of sense in the leadoff spot (gives him the most at-bats in a game and he's their best player), Quatraro (or Witt) has been averse to it because of some early struggles in that spot (particularly in 2023). It may be a similar case with Salvy. The Royals captain may be comfortable in the cleanup spot, and Quatraro doesn't have a whole lot of "traditional" options right now, either, who could easily fill in for Salvy. That said, it hasn't been working for Salvy in cleanup for more than a year, perhaps even longer. It may be good for Quatraro and his team to trust the data in this situation and move Salvy from the cleanup spot sooner rather than later. So, How Should the Royals' Lineup Look? The easiest solution with the lineup is to move Salvy down to the No. 5 spot. That said, what does the rest of the lineup look like, not just at cleanup, but at the top of the batting order in general? An easy solution could be to move Garcia back to the No. 4 spot, like a year ago, but he's been thriving at leadoff this year. The Venezuelan third baseman is hitting .315 with a 142 wRC+ and provides the kind of plate discipline and speed at the top of the lineup that they need. Another solution could be to move Vinnie down to No. 4, or perhaps move Carter Jensen up to that spot. Pasquantino has thrived in the cleanup spot, with a career .201 ISO and a 152 wRC+ in 317 plate appearances. That said, he also has a career .185 ISO and 107 wRC+ in 1,313 plate appearances in the No. 3 spot. So it's not like Pasquantino is ineffective in the No. 3 spot, and there's a lot more data that supports him at No. 3 as well in terms of plate appearances. One option could be to move Jensen to cleanup. It's a bold move for the rookie, but the Statcast data suggests he's the best power hitter on this team right now, especially in terms of exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit rates. Here's a look at his TJ Stats Statcast profile this season. Yes, there are some contact issues with Jensen, given his 14th-percentile Z-Contact% and 7th-percentile whiff and strikeout rates. However, he has a 40th percentile BB% and a 71st percentile O-Swing%, so he has the plate discipline to make up for that swing-and-miss. However, the power is what sticks out the most with Jensen. His Max EV ranks in the 95th percentile, his barrel rate ranks in the 93rd percentile, his hard-hit rate ranks in the 74th percentile, and his Pull Air% ranks in the 98th percentile. The power tool is legitimate, and with four home runs, Jensen may have the biggest home run upside of any hitter in the Royals lineup. His home run yesterday against the White Sox shows that he could not just handle the cleanup spot, but thrive in it. Salvy has veteran presence and is the captain, which makes this decision tough for Quatraro (I'm guessing he doesn't want to throw off the clubhouse's vibe). However, Jensen can easily fill in the cleanup spot and surpass what Salvy is bringing in that place in the batting order currently and down the road, both this season and beyond. View the full article

Jays Centre is counting down the top 20 prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Check out prior entries in the series here: No. 20 to 16 No. 15 to 11 No. 10 No. 9 No. 8 No. 7 No. 6 No. 5 We are entering the home stretch of our countdown of Jays Centre's top 20 prospects. We have already breezed through numbers 20-16, 15-11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and now we have reached inside the top five to No. 4. Starting off this coveted tier of prospects is someone who sat at the top in prior iterations of this list, but now has fallen just a little: Arjun Nimmala, a prospect who oozes talent and is ready to climb back up to the top of this list with a hot start to 2026. Let's take a look at what he has done, what he does well, where he needs to improve, and what lies next for this budding star. No. 4: SS Arjun Nimmala (High-A Vancouver) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ K% BB% 543 106 29 3 13 .694 92 21.4% 10.1% Out of Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Florida, Nimmala was selected 20th overall in the first round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He signed for just $3 million, which was slightly under slot value, but it was more than enough for him to jump into professional baseball and forego playing in college. He managed to get into a few Rookie ball games that same year, collecting five hits across nine games, including a double, triple, and a stolen base. What was extremely impressive during the small sample was his 14 walks, good enough for a walk rate of 35%. It was a sign of his potential talent and gave Blue Jays fans plenty of optimism heading into his first full season the following year. In 2024, the Blue Jays sent Nimmala straight to Single-A Dunedin, where he promptly looked like a stud. In his first three games, he hit a home run, knocked in three, and racked up four hits. For the season, he played in 83 games at the level, slashed .232/.313/.476, and hit 16 home runs. His power was on full display, as he added 17 doubles and six triples to his home run total. In all, he had 39 extra-base hits on the year and was starting to get a ton of national attention in the prospect world. He did, however, show some worrying signs through all of the good; he had a strikeout rate of 31.3% and walked at only an 8.3% clip. His contact rate was also a little low at 69.9%. Then came his 2025 season. Last year was one in which Nimmala saw improvements in some aspects of his game, but regression in others. He played the entire year at High-A Vancouver, where he had 543 plate appearances across 120 games. Health was a bright spot for him, and so was his strikeout rate, which dropped from 31.3% the prior season to 21.4%. Despite the big change in his swing and miss profile, his slash line dipped to .224/.313/.381, and he only had 13 home runs on the season. Nimmala did make up for some of the lack of power with 29 doubles and three triples, but they just don't affect the game as much as the flashy home runs do. He did pick up his impact on the basepaths last year, swiping 17 bags in 20 attempts. His newfound speed adds an extra layer to the multitude of ways he can help his team win games. What To Like Nimmala has loads of power in his bat, and he's shown a tremendous ability to get to it, whether it is in the form of home runs, doubles, or triples. He impacts the game and can do it at an elite level. Last season, his home run total took a step back while at High-A Vancouver, but the 13 home runs he did have were good enough for the 87th percentile in all of the minor leagues. He made up for the drop in home runs by hitting a crazy amount of doubles, 29 (97th percentile). With Vancouver's ballpark being a notoriously pitcher-friendly environment, expect to see some of his home run power return when he moves up a level. However, his home ballpark may not be able to account for all of his dramatic drop in home runs per flyball last year. It could be just a matter of adjusting his swing path to tap back into the juice in his bat, but it is something worth monitoring as he moves through the minor leagues. What To Improve On Despite his budding power, Nimmala has had some issues with his bat-to-ball skills. His contact rate at Single-A Dunedin was 69.9%, and at High-A Vancouver it was 73.6%. He has made some improvements over the years in that arena, but his batting averages are really subpar at best. He's never hit over .232 in a minor league season and needs to make large strides towards improvement in that area in 2026. If he can become a much better contact hitter, his ceiling will drastically jump up into stardom status. Unfortunately, through two seasons so far, he has not shown any signs of becoming better at making more contact, let alone more quality contact. His next stage in development will really hinge on whether or not he can make the improvements needed to become a .250 or .275 hitter, or if his destiny is a profile similar to Lenyn Sosa. What's Next Nimmala is not quite ready for the Double-A level and is back at High-A Vancouver to start the 2026 season. He knows the areas he needs to improve in and what he needs to continue to do well. If he can become a better contact hitter and keep his power going, he has an elite ceiling he can reach. If not, he will be looking more like a platoon bat with power than a star. This season is extremely important to his outlook as a prospect and should give the Blue Jays organization and fans more insight as to what his future trajectory will be. View the full article

For the second straight season, we're getting a pitching matchup between former unanimous Cy Young Award winners. Fish Unfiltered previews the Marlins-Tigers series finale.View the full article

Cedar Rapids got the day started with a noon game. The Wind Surge's late offensive explosion meant that the day in the Twins minor leagues system ended well after 9:00 pm in the central time zone. Long day, but there were some intriguing storylines and performances up and down the proverbial organizational TRANSACTIONS On Friday night, it was announced that RHP Cody Laweryson (right forearm strain) and 3B Royce Lewis (knee sprain) were going on the injured list. On Saturday morning, the team reported the corresponding moves. The Twins called up RHP Andrew Morris and utilityman Ryan Kreidler. The Saints activated catcher David Banuelos from the Development List. LHP Kendry Rojas was activated from the 7-Day IL (hamstring). He will start for the Saints on Sunday. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 0, Toledo 3 Box Score Of the 17 half-innings played in this game, zero runs were scored in 16 of them. The only negative was the bottom of the fifth inning when Zebby Matthews gave up three runs. Blame Ben Malgeri! No, not really. The Tigers 26-year-old right field prospect led off for the Mudhens. In the bottom of the first, he led off with a single. Matthews proceeded to get the next nine batters out. With two outs in the bottom of the third, Malgeri tripled, but Matthews got Max Clark to pop out to end that threat. In the fourth inning, Matthews gave up a leadoff single to Gage Workman, but a force out, a line out, and another force out meant another zero was placed on the board. In the fifth inning, Matthews got a bit bombarded. Teri Cruz led off with a single. Cal Stevenson followed with a groundball single. Cruz advanced to third, He scored on a bloops single to right field by Max Burt. That brought Malgeri to the plate again. This time Matthews got him to strike out. There was a way out of the inning with limited damage. But Max Clark came to the plate. Matthews got him to hit a ground ball to first base. Kyler Fedko fielded it, made a nice throw to second base where Kaelen Culpepper caught it and threw back to first base. Matthews was there, at the base, seemingly in good position, but he didn’t catch the ball. Matthews was charged with the error. Stevenson scored on the play to make it 2-0. After a wild pitch, Clark scored on a Gage Workman single that made it 3-0. In total, Matthews gave three runs (2 earned) on seven hits. In five innings, he had five strikeouts and no walks. Two-thirds of his 78 pitches were strikes. His average fastball came in at 95.2 mph, but he did hit 96.7. The strikeout he recorded to end the bottom of the fifth included three fastballs over 96 mph. He had 11 whiffs, though just one out of 17 swings at his fastball. Jon Brebbia came on in relief. He faced eight batters. He walked two of them and struck out the other six. Dan Altavilla walked one and had one strikeout in a scoreless eighth frame. The Saints offense didn’t help. They managed just two hits and two walks in the game. Emmanuel Rodriguez and Tanner Schobel each had a single. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 12, Arkansas 5 Box Score This started as a very competitive game. In fact, the score was tied at 2-2 through six innings. The Surge scored two runs in the top of the seventh and then broke things open with an eight-run eighth inning. Wichita scored first with a two-run top of the fourth inning. Garrett Spain singled to drive in Hendry Mendez and Billy Amick. Mike Paredes started and worked the first four innings. He gave up one run on three hits. He walked none and had seven strikeouts. The only blemish was a solo homer by Hunter Fitz-Gerald in the bottom of the fourth. Ruddy Gomez came in and worked a scoreless fifth inning. He gave up two singles to start the bottom of the sixth. At that point, it was clear that something happened to his powerful right arm. The catcher came out. The manager came out. When the trainer came out, it didn’t take long before they took Gomez out of the game. We hope for the best. Lefty Aaron Rozek made his first appearance since rejoining the Twins organization and the Wind Surge earlier this week. Rozek walked one but got a couple of ground balls. Unfortunately, the second involved a throwing error that allowed the tying run to score. 2-2 through six innings. With one out in the top of the seventh, Jake Rucker walked and stole second. Maddux Houghton singled on a ground ball to third base. Houghton then stole second base. A wind pitch allowed Rucker to score. With two outs, Ben Ross came through with a single to left to make it 4-2. He has at least one hit in all eight Wind Surge games this season. Rozek got two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but he also gave up two singles and hit a batter which loaded the bases. Luis Quinones was summoned from the bullpen, and he needed three pitches to record a strikeout and end the threat. Then came the top of the eighth frame. Garrett Spain led off with a single. Ricardo Olivar doubled him to third base. After a strikeout, Jake Rucker grounded to shortstop. The throw came to the plate and Spain was safe. Houghton singled to drive in Olivar. He stole second. Rucker and Houghton scored on a Kyle DeBarge single which made it 8-2. Ben Ross lined a single to center to make it 9-2. After a pitching change, Hendry Mendez singled to right. After a strikeout, Mendez stole second. Finally, on the seventh pitch to him, Spain added a three-run homer to make it 12-2. Quinones came out for the bottom of the eighth. After a walk, he struck out the next two batter. The right-hander was charged with three runs allowed. Darren Bowen came on and gave up a two-run single that scored two of the inherited runners. He then got a strikeout to end the eighth with the Surge leading 12-5. Bowen tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to sh3531q KERNELS CHRONICLE Cedar Rapids 3, Beloit 2 Box Score The Twins used their seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft on right-hander Eli Jones from the University of South Carolina. The assumption was (by many) that he would start the 2025 season with the Mighty Mussels but move up to Cedar Rapids relatively quickly. That’s not what happened. Instead, he made 18 starts and five relief appearances for Fort Myers. He went 2-10 with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. In 100 innings, he had 40 walks, 10 hit batters, and 84 strikeouts. Still, he advanced to High-A Cedar Rapids to start the 2026 season. He’s thrown in just three games and accumulated 15 innings so far, but he is 0-0 with a 1.20 ERA and a 0.40 WHIP. On Saturday, he tossed five innings and gave up one run on one hit. He walked none and had four strikeouts. He threw 71.4% strikes (44/63). The only run he allowed came in the first inning. Juan Matheus hit a one-out triple and scored on a Cam Cannarella sacrifice fly. The first time through the Kernels lineup, only nine-hitter Jaime Ferrer reached base. He was hit by a pitch. However, the Kernels got on the board in the fourth frame. Eduardo Tait led off with a single. Khadim Diaw followed with a two-run home to give the Kenels the 2-1 lead. Jacob McCombs delivered his third triple of the season on a play that saw two Sky Carp collide in the outfield. Jones was replaced by Yehizon Sanchez in the bottom of the sixth. He gave up an unearned run, but don’t feel too sorry for him. He gave up a one-out single. He made a throwing error trying to pick off the runner, and then the run scored on a wild pitch. That tied the game at 2-2. Sanchez started the seventh inning as well, but he walked the first two batters he faced.Sam Rochard came on and did what any wise pitcher would… he caused the hitter to hit a ground ball to Marek Houston who started a double play. He then got JSerra alum Cody Schrier to fly out to end the inning with the game still tied. Rochard struck out two batters in a perfect bottom of the eighth inning as well. He got to start the ninth inning as well. He got the first out but then gave up an infield single to Juan Matheus who went to second on a balk. Following a walk, Brian Meyer turned to Jacob Woskinski. On his second pitch, Brandon Compton lined a single to center to drive in the winning run for Beloit. Cedar Rapids had just four hits in the game. They also had just one walk compared to 12 strikeouts. Tait was 1-for-3 with a walk. McCombs hit his third triple of the young season, and Diaw recorded his first home run of the year. MIGHTY MATTERS Ft. Myers 4, Jupiter 7 Box Score Joel Garcia made the start for the Mussels. He gave up five runs (4 earned) on four hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. He had five strikeouts. He gave up three runs in the second inning, and two more before exiting in the fourth. That’s when Merit Jones came into the game. The Twins thought that Jones was ‘the quality of being particularly good or worthy’ of being drafted not once, but twice. The Twins selected him in the 20th round of the 2024 draft. Instead of signing, he returned to the University of Utah. A year later, the Twins selected him again, this time in the 14th round after an impressive showing in the MLB Draft League. In this outing, he worked four innings. He gave up two runs (1 earned) on four hits. He walked one and had four strikeouts. Mike McKenna came in to get the final two outs. Acuna was the big reason the Mussels got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. He walked and stole second base. With two outs, Irvin Nunez and Dameury Pena walked to load the bases. A fielding error allowed Acuna to score. Through four innings, the Mussels were down 5-1. Acuna started the top of the fifth with a single. Jorel Ortega doubled to drive him in and make it 5-2. Fast-forward to the top of the seventh. The Mussels were losing 7-2. Yilber Herrera led off the inning with his first home run of the season. Acuna followed with a single but was erased on a double play. Irvin Nunez walked and went to second on a Dameury Pena single. Ryan Sprock doubled to drive in the team’s fourth run. The Mussels had nine hits and walked seven times. Acuna had two singles and two walks and a stolen base. Herrera went 2-for-4 with a homer. PLAYERS OF THE DAY Hitter of the Day Garrett Spain (Wichita): 3-for-5, 2 R, HR(2), 5 RBI, K Bryan Acuna (Fort Myers): 2-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, SB(1) Ben Ross (Wichita): 3-for-5, BB, 2B(4), 2 RBI, 2 SB(4), K Pitcher of the Day Eli Jones (Cedar Rapids): 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 63 pitches, 45 strikes (71.4%) PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today. #1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - Did Not Play #2 - IF Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 0-for-4, 2 K (led off, played SS) #3 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 1-for-3, K (batted fourth, played CF) #4 - C Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-3, BB, R, K (batted second, DHd) #5 - LHP Connor Prielipp (St. Paul) - Did Not Pitch #6 - LHP Dasan Hill (Cedar Rapids) - Did Not Pitch #7 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-for-4, K (Batted third, played LF) #8 - LHP Kendry Rojas (St. Paul) - Activated Saturday. Will start Sunday. #9 - SS Marek Houston (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, 2 K (led off, played SS) #10 - RHP Charlee Soto (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List #11 - RHP Riley Quick (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch #12 - RHP Andrew Morris (Minnesota) - Called up to Twins. Did Not Pitch #13 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids) - 0-for-4, K, SB(4) (batted fourth, played 3B). #14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Play. #15 - RHP Marco Raya (St. Paul) - Did Not Pitch #16 - OF Hendry Mendez (Wichita) - 1-for-4, 2 R, K, SB(1) (batted third, played LF) #17 - 2B/OF Kyle DeBarge (Wichita) - 2-for-5, BB, R, 2 RBI, K, CS(2), E(3) (led off, played 2B) #18 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) - Did Not Pitch #19 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (Cedar Rapids) - 1-for-3, HBP, HR(1), 2 RBI, R, RBI (batted third, catcher) #20 - RHP James Ellwanger (Ft. Myers) - Did Not Pitch UPCOMING PROBABLES Sunday: St. Paul @ Toledo (1:05 pm CT) - LHP Kendry Rojas (first start of season) Wichita @ Arkansas (1:35 pm CT) - RHP Ty Langenberg (0-1, 2.25 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (1:05 pm CT) - RHP Michael Ross (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Ft. Myers @ Jupiter (11:30 CT) - RHP Kolten Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA) CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 8-7 St. Paul Saints: 5-8 Wichita Wind Surge: 3-5 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 5-3 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 5-3 FCL Twins: 0-0 (season begins Monday, May 4) DSL Twins: 0-0 (season begins Monday, June 1) Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related! View the full article

As the Mets' lineup continues to struggle, they address their issues in classic fashion — by futzing around with the bullpen. Oddly enough, they seem to be cornering the market on former Braves bullpen mainstays to add to their collection of Yankee relievers. Transactions, 4/6/2026 COMING Signed away from SEA to Minor-League Contract, Placed on Syracuse Development List Relief Pitchers Luke Jackson R/R DoB: 1991-08-24 High Level: MLB (2025) Luke Jackson was an indifferent piece of the Braves pen back in the teens, but then had an out-of-this world season in 2021. He paid for that by missing 2022 with UCL surgery and has bounced around the league since, with occasional success. That 2021 season helped the Braves to a championship, giving Jackson one more reason to be joyful following the birth of his son a few weeks earlier, leading Luke to celebrate following Game Three inviting his wife Corrine and baby onto the field for a post-game cuddle. Transactions, 4/9/2026 COMING Sent to St. Lucie on Rehab Assignment Relief Pitchers A.J. Minter L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025) Former Braves relief standby #2 is AJ Minter, who gave the 2025 Mets a few weeks of effective bullpenning before going down with a left lat strain that led to season-ending surgery. Mets Roster Central's mindset says that strains aren't supposed to lead to season-ending surgery, but we are not lat doctors. We are as happy to see the re-emergence of Minter, and while we are as dubious as experience might suggest with regards to how much he has left, we have to look at his rehab assignment as starting the DFA clock on Richard Lovelady, who knows a thing or two about DFAs. Transactions, 4/11/2026 GOING COMING Sent to St. Lucie on Rehab Assignment Added to 40-Player Roster and Promoted from St. Lucie Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Richard Lovelady Craig Kimbrel L/L DoB: 1995-07-07 High Level: MLB (2026) R/R DoB: 32291 High Level: MLB (2025) Well, that DFA clock sure wound down quickly. And the Mets squeezed as much juice as the could out of Dickie by using him in mopup duty last night. The bell was tolling for poor Lovelady the whole time. It is hard to argue that Craig Kimbrel is distinctly ready to launch himself on the 2026 season, with only a single inning of A-Level competition since he came up short of the roster in Spring Training, but they don't call him "Dirty Craig" for nothing, and he hasn't made nine All-Star Teams for nothing. He's a weirdo at the end of his career, but he finds a way to get it done. Dirty Craig will be rocking his standard 46, which has been on his back for most of his 440 career saves. It isn't expected that he will take a lot of ninth-inning leads to protect away from Devin Williams, but he is currently fifth on the all-time save list, 38 behind Lee Smith and an active Kenley Jansen. Who knows if he will get a chance to make a further run piling up saves, but if doesn't come to blows with his father-in-law under the stands at Citi, a Hall-of-Fame future is all but guaranteed. Your Mets Coaching Staff Manager Bench Coach Pitching Coach Hitting Coordinator Third Base Coach First Base Coach Bullpen Coach Ass't Pitching Coach Carlos Mendoza Kai Correa Justin Willard Jeff Albert Tim Leiper Gilbert Gomez José Rosado Dan McKinney DoB: 1979-11-27 DoB: 1989-07-14 DoB: 1990-09-09 DoB: 1992-08-16 DoB: 1996-07-19 DoB: 1992-03-08 DoB: 1974-11-09 DoB: 1989-06-06 Hitting Coach Strategy Coach Catching Coach Coaching Assistant Bat'g Practice Pitcher Equipment Manager Bullpen Catchers Bullpen Catchers Troy Snitker Danny Barnes J.P. Arencibia Rafael Fernandez Kevin Mahoney Kevin Kierst Eric Langill Dave Racaniello DoB: 1988-12-05 DoB: 1989-10021 DoB: 1986-01-05 DoB: 1988-08-03 DoB: 1987-05-11 DoB: 1964-07-09 DoB: 1979-04-09 DoB: 1978-06-03 Your Mets Training Staff Director of Player Health Head Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Reconditioning Coordinator Reconditioning Therapist Head Performance Coach Assistant Performance Coach Performance Coordinator Brian Chicklo Joseph Golia Bryan Baca Sean Bardanett Josh Bickel Dustin Clarke Tanner Miracle Jeremy Chiang DoB: 1972-07-17 DoB: 1978-??-?? DoB: Circa 1980 DoB: 1988-06-23 DoB: 1996-??-?? DoB: 1987-??-?? DoB: 1991-??-?? DoB: ????-??-?? Your 2026 New York Mets Starting Pitchers Clay Holmes Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta David Peterson Kodai Senga R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 Relief Pitchers Huascar Brazobán Luis Garcia Craig Kimbrel Sean Manaea Tobias Myers Brooks Raley Luke Weaver R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 R/R DoB: 1987-01-30 R/R DoB: 32291 R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Francisco Alvarez Luís Torrens Bo Bichette Francisco Lindor Ronny Mauricio Jorge Polanco R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 Infielders Outfielders Marcus Semien Mark Vientos Brett Baty Carson Benge Luis Robert, Jr. Tyrone Taylor Jared Young R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 R/R DoB: 34356 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Tylor Megill Christian Scott Jonah Tong Alex Carrillo Reed Garrett Joey Gerber Justin Hagenman R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 On 60-Day Injured List with torn right UCL. With Syracuse With Syracuse With Syracuse On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery and nerve relocation surgery. With Syracuse On 60 Day Injured List with fractured rib. Relief Pitchers Catchers Outfielders A.J. Minter Dedniel Núñez Jonathan Pintaro Dylan Ross Austin Warren Hayden Senger MJ Melendez L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 With St. Lucie on Rehab Assignment On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery. With Syracuse With Syracuse, on Seven-Day IL With Syracuse With Syracuse With Syracuse View the full article

Box Score SP: Joe Ryan - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (91 pitches, 65 strikes (71%) Home Runs: Brooks Lee (2), Trevor Larnach (1) Top 3 WPA (via FanGraphs): Larnach (0.17), Josh Bell (0.12), Lee (0.11) Win Probability Chart (via BaseballSavant) Joe Ryan looked to lead the Twins back into their winning ways against the suddenly red-hot bats of the Toronto Blue Jays. Standing in their way was yet another lefty, this time Eric Lauer who has started and opened in his two appearances thus far in 2026. With Royce Lewis again on the shelf, Ryan Kreidler made his Minnesota debut at third base, and Andrew Morris and his passport also made the trip up to Canada to replace the injured Cody Laweryson. Ryan Rocked in the First, but Keeps on Slinging The Blue Jays started Saturday's game the way they finished Friday's, by ripping the cover off of the ball. Ryan walked the leadoff man George Springer, then got ahead of Daulton Varsho 1-2 before Varsho took a high fastball yard for an early 2-0 Blue Jay lead. Visions of Joe's Kansas City start began to emerge, but the ace of the Twins staff dug in and took charge from there. Ryan only allowed two more baserunners through six innings on 79 total pitches. Lauer Starts Strong, but Gives Up the Ghost in the Third Lauer cruised through the Twins lineup through the first two innings, surrendering only a two-out walk in the second. His day began to unravel when the much-maligned but recently encouraging Brooks Lee stepped to the plate to lead off the top of the third. Lee pulled an 0-1 center-cut fastball to the seats in left for his second home run in as many days, and to put the Twins on the board. After Kreidler grounded out in his first Twin at-bat, Byron Buxton kept the rally going with a swinging bunt, and he advanced to second on a single from Austin Martin. Luke Keaschall worked a walk on a full count, and Ryan Jeffers didn't have to work to walk when four straight pitches missed the zone to tie the game at 2-2. Josh Bell found himself right where the Twins want him with the bases loaded and a chance to punish left-handed pitching. While Bell didn't destroy the ball, the results sure punished Lauer and the Blue Jays as Varsho couldn't reach is high fly ball to mid-center and then he wished that he hadn't gotten as close as he did! With the Twins now in the lead at 4-2, Trevor Larnach looked to reward his skipper for putting him in the lineup against a lefty. Trevor likes 90 mph center cut fastballs no matter who throws them. Consider us all rewarded. Finishing it Off Kreidler wasn't able to collect his first hit as a Twin, but he sure got his first web gem. As Ryan was attempting to complete the seventh, Nathan Lukes crushed a ball into the hole at short. Brand new third baseman Kreidler said, "I play here now." After Ryan collected his congratulatory hugs in the dugout after dominating the Blue Jays through the seventh, the Twins turned to a bullpen that more than struggled on Friday night. Kody Funderburk got the first call out of the bullpen, and he allowed an Ernie Clement single and an Andres Gimenez walk to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Three batters and some teeth gnashing by Twins fans later, Toronto returned to their dugout without scoring a run and the game remained squarely in Minnesota's hands at 7-2. Cole Sands came in for the ninth and slammed the door shut. Unfortunately, Jesus Sanchez didn't get the memo, as he took Sands deep for a two-run blast to inch the home team closer at 7-4. That was as close as they would come, as Sands took down the next three Blue Jays, and the visiting squad leveled the series at one game apiece! What’s Next? The Twins look to take their first road series of the season when they tackle Toronto in a Sunday matinee. Twins righty Taj Bradley (2-0, 1.08 ERA) looks to continue his blazing start to the season. The Blue Jays counter with veteran Hall of Famer-in waiting, righty Max Scherzer (1-1, 3.38 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 12:37pm CDT. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet TUE WED THU FRI SAT TOT Banda 0 21 0 36 0 57 Sands 12 9 0 0 22 43 Rogers 12 0 0 30 0 42 Funderburk 0 20 0 0 17 37 Topa 14 10 0 12 0 36 Acton 0 0 35 0 0 35 Orze 19 0 14 0 0 33 Morris 0 0 0 0 0 0 View the full article

George Springer is headed to the injured list. The Toronto Blue Jays' designated hitter sustained a broken left big toe after fouling a ball off the foot in the third inning of Saturday's game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. There are likely to be more tests done before determining the severity of the injury and how long Springer might be out. Typically, those types of injuries sideline players four to six weeks. Myles Straw replaced Springer in the lineup. Springer, the Jays' leadoff hitter, is the latest injury to hit the defending AL champions. Six players are on either the 10- or 15-day injured list with another four on the 60-day IL. Six of those 10 are pitchers. With right fielder Addison Barger still about a week away from coming off the 10-day IL with his sprained left ankle, the Jays will need to make a corresponding move before Sunday's series finale. Outfielder Jonatan Clase is the only position player in the minors who is on the 40-man roster. View the full article

There are growing pains that come with any new technology, and Major League Baseball’s Automated Ball Strike challenge system is no exception. On Thursday, the Minnesota Twins found themselves in the middle of one of the most talked-about moments yet in the early days of ABS, a call so close that it is now fueling debate across the sport about what the strike zone should actually be. In the bottom of the second inning, Royce Lewis stepped to the plate against Jack Flaherty with a runner on first base. The count moved to 3-1, and Flaherty delivered an 91.3 mph fastball that was ruled a ball by the home plate umpire. Lewis began his routine jog to first base, shedding his gear as if the walk was already secured. Detroit catcher Jake Rogers tapped his helmet, signaling for a review. Within seconds, the Hawk Eye system took over and delivered its verdict. The call was overturned. Strike two. Not just a strike, but the closest confirmed strike yet under the system, according to Codify Baseball. Hawk Eye showed that the tiniest sliver of the baseball clipped the strike zone, enough to flip the call and send Lewis back into the box. Instead of standing on first base, Lewis was suddenly in a 3-2 count, and Flaherty finished the at-bat with another fastball that Lewis swung through for strike three. It is exactly the type of moment ABS was designed to handle, but it is also the type of moment that exposes how different a rulebook strike zone can feel compared to the one players and fans have grown used to seeing. The debate picked up quickly. MLB analyst Ryan M. Spaeder voiced frustration with how the system currently interprets the zone. He suggested a 50-50 rule, where at least half the baseball must cross into the strike zone to be called a strike. His argument centered on the idea that the current system effectively expands the zone beyond its traditional 17-inch width. When accounting for the baseball's full diameter, Spaeder argued, the zone can be closer to 22.8 inches wide. That interpretation has raised eyebrows, especially for hitters who now must account for pitches that barely graze the edge rather than clearly enter the zone. From a hitter’s perspective, the difference between a ball and a strike has never been thinner, literally. Still, not everyone sees a problem. There is a strong contingent across the league that believes this is exactly what ABS is meant to accomplish. For pitchers, a pitch that clips the zone is a perfect pitch, and the system rewards that precision without bias or inconsistency. In a sport that has long struggled with inconsistent strike zones from umpire to umpire, ABS offers a level of consistency previously unattainable. Royals reliever Matt Strahm even pushed back on Spaeder’s idea publicly, noting that if baseball is going to start redefining what counts as a strike based on partial entry, then the same logic would need to apply elsewhere. He suggests that the foul line/pole shouldn’t be fair then. For the Twins, the moment was more frustrating than philosophical. What looked like a routine walk turned into a strikeout, and a potential scoring opportunity disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. It is the kind of swing that can change an inning, or even a game, and it underscores how impactful the challenge system can be in high-leverage spots. At the same time, it is hard to argue that the system got the call wrong. By definition, it got it exactly right. That is where the tension lies as baseball continues to adapt. The ABS system is doing what it was designed to do, but it is also forcing players, analysts, and fans to reconsider what they expect the strike zone to look like. The human element has not disappeared, but it is now being checked by a level of precision that leaves little room for interpretation. Moments like this one involving Lewis are likely to keep popping up as the season unfolds. Each will add another layer to the conversation about fairness and consistency. For now, the early returns suggest that while there may be flaws to iron out, the overall reception to ABS has been positive. Players are adjusting, fans are learning, and the league is gathering valuable feedback in real time. The strike zone may not look the way it used to, but it has never been more exact. View the full article

Earlier this week, our Matt Trueblood took a look at how a change in stance has allowed Nico Hoerner to tap into more practical power. However, Hoerner is not the only Chicago Cub in 2026 who has bucked conventional trends yet produced much better results based on a stance change. Enter Matt Shaw. The 2025 version of Matt Shaw was a below-average hitter, as a quick look at his Savant page would tell you. Going into the offseason, he had significant work to do to remain in the Cubs' plans in 2026 and beyond. A third baseman with third-percentile exit velocity and 16th-percentile bat speed is no one’s ideal corner infielder. When the Cubs signed Alex Bregman, Shaw was ticketed for a utility role. To say he has embraced that role would be an understatement, but not necessarily in the way you might expect. High offensive expectations generally come with playing the hot corner, regardless of size (see Bregman, Alex). Shaw spent last year trying to fill those expectations. He pulled the ball at a 40.9% clip, including 21.8% of the time in the air. Those are quality numbers, unless your bat speed is below average, which Shaw’s was at just 69.6 mph. At that level, pulling the ball in the air is going to lead to some very low xBA and xSLG figures. Shaw’s offseason plan could have consisted of a lot of work on his bat speed, and many players would have taken that path as bat speed and EV numbers have become highly valued in front offices. Shaw, however, chose an alternative route. In fact, he chose the opposite route. Instead of trying to force his way into the Cubs' plans by swinging faster, the former top prospect has made some slight tweaks and leaned into what defined his profile as a first-round draft pick: his hit tool. As a prospect, Shaw was known for his knack for finding barrels while limiting strikeouts, a very valuable combination. In 2024, Baseball America said as much: “His quick hands, strong forearms, and exceptional barrel accuracy allow him to consistently drive balls hard to all fields.” Yet that wasn't the Matt Shaw the Cubs got in 2025. With his pull rate of nearly 41% and a 21.5% strikeout rate that was considerably higher than in the minor leagues and in college, he looked like a different player altogether. This could very well be due to the difficulty jump to the major leagues, but a 63rd-percentile whiff rate hints otherwise. It could also be due to a change in approach at the big-league level, namely trying to pull the ball in the air and be a slugging corner infielder. The evidence from the early returns on the 2026 season point to the latter. Shaw has moved back in the box more than three inches; only a dozen players are deeper in the box in 2026 than him. That depth has in turn moved his intercept point of the ball back nearly five inches, from 1.9 inches in front of the plate to -2.7 inches in front of the plate. Instead of spending the offseason swinging faster and catching the ball out front, he is letting the ball travel deeper and trusting his barrel accuracy to produce higher EVs. These changes have completely transformed his profile from last year. His pull% has plummeted to a sub-30% mark and he is back to spraying the ball all over the field. In fact, his intercept point looks eerily similar to Luis Arraez, as does his batted ball profile, but with 5 mph more bat speed than Arraez. If that sounds like an unfortunate comparison, think of it like this: Shaw is performing like three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, but with more pop, 90th-percentile sprint speed, and far better defense. That sure sounds like the prospect the Cubs expected to get, and this development should have them very excited for the future. View the full article

Worcester, MA — Mikey Romero is no stranger to overcoming adversity. Selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, his career immediately hit a rough patch when he got hurt heading into spring training of 2023. What was originally seen as back stiffness worsened until it finally became a stress fracture that limited him to just 34 games. Since that moment, Romero has continued to overcome one challenge after another. After missing nearly two months in 2024, he hit .271/.312/.509 in 78 games, putting himself back into conversations pertaining to the Red Sox's top prospects. Then, 2025 introduced a new challenge for Romero: a new position. But despite the learning curve, Romero embraced the change as he learned both second base and third base. And despite learning two new positions, he continued to hit, being one of the top offensive players in the organization. In 111 games, the infielder slashed .245/.300/.452 with 33 doubles, 17 home runs and 76 RBIs. “Honestly, I think third and second [base] are easier. Third base is such a reactionary position that if the balls hit to you, you’re using one hand for the majority of the time. And that’s where [third base], I spent most of the time so I got really comfortable. And then at spring training I was at second base which I think was good for my development,” Romero explained when asked about his change in positions. While it isn’t easy to learn the nuances of every spot on the infield, the 22-year-old did have two excellent teachers around him during the spring. “There were a lot of things that AC [Alex Cora] helped me with. Turning the double play, fielding the ground ball then turning it. So a lot of little things I picked up on." Overall, Romero has used that experience to get himself ready for 2026 and a hopeful promotion to Boston. And while he’s planning to play second base and third base primarily, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the call. “Whatever the team needs me to do. Outfield, DH, first base, I don’t really care. I just want to be helping the team however I can,” Romero answered when asked about where he prefers to play. The infielder has shown a team first approach throughout his career, and it continues to be a big part of his profile as he knocks on the door of the major leagues. Beyond his glove work, Romero remains an excellent hitting prospect. His exit velocities have been impressive and during the Spring Breakout game, he had two of the hardest hit balls across the league, though both resulted in outs. That hard hitting has carried over to the regular season, where in 11 games with Triple-A Worcester, he’s hitting .298/.340/.468 with five doubles, one home run and 11 RBIs. And throughout it all, the infielder has put up remarkable exit velocities. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things. Obviously, our bat speed program and then I think it’s the culmination of the work I put in [during] the offseason. I don’t want to be cocky but 109 [miles per hour exit velocity], I feel like I’ve done it before. My hardest [in 2025] was 115 [miles per hour]. So, 109 is cool but it’s still an out,” Romero explained while talking about his Spring Breakout performance. This year, his average exit velocity sitting in the 99th percentile for Triple-A players at 95.8 mph. His max exit velocity is also in the 99th percentile at 113.8 mph. It isn’t the quite the peak he reached in 2025, but to put up those exit velocities while playing in the frigid temperatures of Massachusetts and Minnesota in March and April, you can’t help but be impressed. But even when his hard-hit baseballs don't land for hits, he knows how to laugh it off. “The [Orioles] first baseman Ike Irish, I grew up playing with [him] and when he got to third base [later in the Spring Breakout game], I was talking to him. I was like, ‘Bro, what are you doing catching those balls? You have no business catching those.' It was also his first game ever playing first. It’s baseball, sometimes you hit it hard right at people." With his stellar play at the plate and his defensive versatility on display in Worcester, fans have already thought of the idea of a call-up for Romero. It isn’t out of the question either, as the Red Sox will need to make a decision about the young infielder by the end of the season; this upcoming offseason, he will be Rule 5 Draft eligible for the first time. If his play continues at this pace, he’ll need to be protected. View the full article

The name draws a lot of anticipation, but can right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel turn around the perception of the later stages of his career? The New York Mets are about to find out. The 37-year-old Kimbrel was called up Saturday, with left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady being designated for assignment. Kimbrel, who signed a minor-league contract in late January, will make $2.5 million this season with his promotion to the 26-man roster. The Mets' bullpen is off to a terrific start with a 2.85 ERA entering Saturday's game against the A's. Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star and two-time Reliever of the Year, had a shot to make the Mets out of spring training, but his velocity and control weren't where they needed to be, so he stayed in Port St. Lucie to work on those aspects. He pitched Tuesday in his lone appearance for the Low-A St. Lucie Mets and hit 94.2 mph with his fastball, just above where it was in spring training. Once a feared closer, Kimbrel ranks fifth in MLB history with 440 saves. But he has had trouble keeping a job, playing for seven teams over the past five seasons. The Mets will make that eight in six seasons. He appeared in 14 games in 2025, 13 with the Houston Astros and one with Atlanta. In 12 innings, he had a 4.22 FIP (2.25 ERA) with seven walks and 17 strikeouts. He also had a walloping 1.417 WHIP. Lovelady was DFA'd for the seventh time since the start of the 2025 season, including five times by the Mets. This is the third time this calendar year he has been DFA'd, twice by the Mets. Lovelady appeared in six games this year for the Mets, with a 4.92 FIP (3.68 ERA) in 7⅓ innings. View the full article

It might be time for Kaelen Culpepper, as the young shortstop continues to show he’s ready for the next step. With his all-around production and steady play, the Minnesota Twins could have a real spark waiting in the minors. View the full article

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (April 9-April 10) Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Series vs Syracuse Mets (New York Mets): 3-1 Season Record: 6-7 Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Series vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox): 2-2 Season Record: 3-3 High-A Vancouver Canadians Series vs. Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants): 1-3 Season Record: 1-6 Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Series vs. St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets): 2-1 Season Record: 3-3 Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Season Record: 6-7 Series Opponent: Syracuse Mets (New York Mets) April 9: Thursday's Buffalo Bisons game was one that is the definition of embarrassing. Five errors by Buffalo led to three unearned runs and ultimately a loss that should have been a win. Three batters after an RBI double by Ryan Clifford in the fourth inning, a throwing error by Josh Kasevich allowed the third run of the game to score. The very next batter, Hayden Senger, hit a ball to Ryan McCarty at second base, who misplayed it, leading to another run crossing the plate. The errors weren't just one-sided, as Syracuse helped Buffalo mount a comeback in the sixth. Down 4-0, RJ Schreck started the rally with an RBI single, scoring Yohendrick Pinango. Then a single to right field by McCarty scored Eloy Jiménez, and Cristian Pache threw the ball away, allowing Schreck to score on the play as well. The very next batter, Josh Rivera, hit a ball to the Mets’ shortstop Jackson Cluff, who also had trouble with the throw, committing yet another error that let McCarty score to tie the game up at four. In the seventh, Buffalo was back to playing like the Bad News Bears, as Hayden Juenger threw the ball away on a pick off attempt, moving Pace from second to third. He would then score when Cluff hit a sacrifice fly that would have ended the inning. The run was ultimately the game winner, with the Bisons falling 5-4. Jiménez remains one of the more consistent players for Buffalo. With a walk in the game, he has now been on base in seven of the nine games he has played in. On the mound, the only real standout performance was by Devereaux Harrison. He went two innings in what amounted to a bullpen game, didn't allow a hit or walk, and struck out two. April 10: Buffalo rode a power surge from the bottom of the batting order to their sixth win of the season. Riley Tirotta got a hold of an 84 mph cutter down in the zone and launched his first home run of the season. The big play of the game came off the bat of Josh Rivera in the bottom of the third inning. Following a single from RJ Schreck and walks by Josh Kasevich and Triotta, Rivera unloaded on a 79 mph hanging slider down the middle, sending it over the centerfield fence for a grand slam. For Rivera, the home run came just six days after his first of the season. Unfortunately for the Bisons, he had gone 0-9 in the games in between his home runs. The seven-run lead Buffalo had at the end of the third inning was more than enough for the team, as Chad Dallas was again masterful on the mound. He pitched four innings, giving up two hits and two walks, but no runs at all. He would strike out two, while again limiting hard contact by focusing on more of his offspeed pitches. Brendon Little pitched in relief of Dallas, and he walked a batter before getting a strikeout and then inducing a groundball for a double play. The game went into over a 30-minute rain delay before it was called, and the Bisons won 7-1, as it was an official game at that point. Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Season Record: 3-3 Series vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) April 9: New Hampshire was up against a tough challenge in a big lefty from the Boston Red Sox organization, Eduardo Rivera. Rivera went four innings pitched and only surrendered three hits and one run, as he struck out seven batters. New Hampshire surrendered runs in the first on an RBI single and a home run in the fourth inning by the Sea Dogs’ Drew Ehrhard. In the sixth inning, Cutter Coffey put the Fisher Cats within one run with an RBI triple after Nick Goodwin drove in a run in the fifth. New Hampshire tied it with a Jackson Hornung RBI single to center field, but the pitching couldn't silence the Sea Dogs. Ahbram Liendo smacked a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as New Hampshire lost this one 4-3. Pitching note: Javen Coleman pitched two clean innings and struck out five batters for New Hampshire. He could be on the fast track to the Blue Jays bullpen if he keeps putting up zeros. April 10: New Hampshire jumped out to an early lead in this one, with two runs in the top of the first inning. Sean Keys smacked an RBI double and then would score later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Geovanny Planchart. Gage Stanifer was on the mound for the Fisher Cats and was looking exceptional for two innings. He struck out 3 batters and got 6 outs pretty cleanly. In the third inning, things got bumpy. Nate Baez hit a three-run homer to left field, and in the fourth, another run scored on a double, single, and double. Once Stanifer was pulled, another run came in. His final line was 3.2 innings pitched, nine hits, five earned runs, zero walks, and six strikeouts. That said, he really pitched much better than his line showed. He collected 19 whiffs on just 66 pitches. He had 47 strikes to 19 balls. He was really focused on peppering the strike zone tonight, and the pitches were looking very good. For results, though, he may have been in the zone too much. After the fourth inning, hits were hard to come by for both teams, as New Hampshire lost this one, 5-2. High-A Vancouver Canadians Season Record: 1-6 Series vs. Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants) April 9: After a five-game losing streak to start the season, Vancouver really needed a win to stop the skid. Landen Maroudis took the mound again and, despite not looking as sharp as he did in his first start, was able to pitch around two walks and four hits by striking out three batters and only allowing a single run. Gilberto Batista also looked much better in relief, with four strikeouts on the night, and pitching nearly four innings. Carson Pierce earned the save in relief, and although he was wild also struck out three batters. The pitching was not the big story, however, as Vancouver’s offense exploded, with outfielder Carter Cunningham and infielder Dub Gleed leading the way with four RBIs apiece. The Emeralds had struggles keeping the ball in the zone, leading to a ton of baserunners for the Canadians, as they walked 12 times, leading to 14 runs scored and, finally, a well-needed win. April 10: The Canadians tried to carry the momentum of their last win over to this game, as Daniel Guerra took the mound. Guerra struck out six batters, but shaky command resulted in four walks, five hits, and four runs given up. Danny Thompson Jr. came in relief and shoved. He too struck out six batters, with the one run he gave up being on an error on a pickoff attempt. The Canadians clawed their way back from the early deficit, as Carter Cunningham continued to produce, with a homer to cut the lead to two in the bottom of the fifth, and in the bottom of the ninth tied the game to send it to extras with an RBI single. The Canadians lost their second game in extras, though, as Kelena Sauer gave up a hit to allow the ghost runner to score, and they couldn’t score their own ghost runner. Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Season Record: 3-3 Series vs. St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets) April 9, Game 1: Game 1 was a continuation from the suspended game on April 7, and Trey Yesavage had his second outing. Bad luck with batted balls spoiled his first inning, as he allowed four singles and a walk in his first inning, which resulted in four earned runs. His pitches did look sharp despite that, and he struck out six batters in only two and two-thirds innings. Two 2025 draftees also showed some pop as Blaine Bullard hit his first professional homer, and JoJo Parker had his first double and RBI in the same inning. 24-year old Brayden Heidel, signed out of indie ball, had his first affiliated outing and struck out four batters without allowing a run in three innings, touching 99 mph with his fastball to keep the Mets from adding to the lead, but the Jays couldn’t get any more runs. April 9, Game 2: In the second game of the day, the Jays came out blazing, with Yorman Licourt scoring on a pickoff attempt, and JoJo Parker with his second RBI double to give them an early 3-0 lead. Troy Guthrie continued to pitch well, going four innings, allowing only a single earned run and striking out four. Austin Smith made his pitching debut as a two-way player but struggled with his command, allowing two walks. Peyton Williams had himself a day, going 3-for-4, including an RBI triple to centerfield as his third one. The Mets rallied back against Diego Dominguez, who gave up three hits and two earned runs, but Jack Eshelman shut the door, striking out the side and earning his first save. April 10: The Jays had their highest scoring game of the season, in an effort to get back to .500. Nolan Perry’s return to the mound after UCL surgery has been fruitful, and despite slightly less sharp fastballs, he utilized his breaking balls extremely effectively, getting nine of his 11 whiffs of the night. The Dunedin offense was really effective against starter Frank Camarillo as they didn’t strike out a single time against him and tallied up seven hits. After Camarillo was taken out, the Jays switched their approach and walked eight times, and scored six more runs as a result. Eric Snow had himself a day, with two hits, two RBIs, and two walks, leading the offensive production for the game. View the full article

Coming off of what was a great two-month debut with the Miami Marlins in 2025, Jakob Marsee entered 2026 with lofty expectations. While his defense and baserunning have remained strong, the bat has been lacking to start the new season. Entering Saturday, Marsee's slash line is .148/.254/.204 with a .224 wOBA and 37 wRC+. It's a stark difference from his 133 wRC+ in 55 major league games last year. On the surface, these numbers are poor, and his expected stats only partially paint a better picture. However, a change to Marsee's stance in the batter's box has seemingly contributed to massive increases in important metrics, which will eventually lead to positive outcomes. First off, Marsee has gotten unlucky. His batting average on balls in play has plummeted from .357 as a rookie to .205 as a sophomore. Regression was expected, but this is an overcorrection that has him way underperforming league averages and his own minor league career norms. 7k4rab.mp4 Marsee's hard-hit rate and average exit velocity are much higher than the prior season. Those alone would point to future success, but I can dig even deeper to prove my case. Marsee's approach is potentially his best tool, and that has for the most part been the same as last year. In fact, his in-zone-contact rate has increased to 95%, up 8% from last season and 7% better than the MLB average. He's putting balls in the air more frequently, with his pulled-air rate rising up to 31%, which is nearly doubled the rest of the league. He is chasing outside the zone a tad more, but still ranks in the 83rd percentile in that department, according to Baseball Savant. The home runs are coming for Marsee if he stays consistent with what he's already doing in these areas. Marsee's new tendency to pull balls is no small-sample coincidence. Consider that last year, he stood 30.4 inches deep in the box, whereas this year, his depth is only 27.2 inches. That positioning has caused his "intercept point" to move 7.9 inches in front of home plate, compared to -0.3 inches previously (slightly behind the front of the plate). For context, league average is 2.9 inches in front. Monitoring Marsee's stance changes will be important to see how he adjusts (or doesn't adjust) to his early struggles. From my view, he shouldn't change a thing. These are all indicators of a strong hitting profile and the hits will soon follow. View the full article