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Fish On First LIVE discusses Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine suffering an early-season injury for the second straight year and Deyvison De Los Santos receiving another opportunity in the majors.View the full article

Garrett Mitchell is off to one of the hottest starts in baseball and has made a huge impact in the Brewers’ lineup so far this season. The lefty batter is currently hitting .333/.419/.556, with a .975 OPS. He has three doubles, one home run, and has walked four times. He has driven in 13 RBIs, has four runs scored, and three stolen bases to add to his early-season success. His 13 RBIs are tied for the most in the major leagues. Over the course of the first nine games of the year, he has at least one more hit in five of those nine games, with four multi-hit games, and has driven in two or more RBIs in four of the first nine as well. On April 4, Mitchell drove in five RBIs on two hits, including an RBI double and a three-run home run that helped lead the Brewers to a 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals. Mitchell came up clutch again on Monday during the Brewers’ matchup against the Red Sox. With the game tied 5-5 in the top of the 8th, Mitchell hit a tiebreaking two-RBI single that gave Milwaukee a 7-5 lead, and the Brewers then went on to defeat Boston that night 8-6. Beyond the surface of his batting line, Mitchell has a .615 BABIP so far this season and a 178 wRC+. Of the balls he’s putting in play, he’s averaging an exit velocity of 98.4mph, which ranks in the top one percent of Major League Baseball, a max exit velocity of 112.6, ranking in the top four percent of the league, and a 61.5 percent HardHit percentage, ranking in the top four percent of the league. Much of Mitchell’s success comes from pitchers throwing him breaking balls. Mitchell has three hits off of breaking balls, including a curveball thrown to him when he hit that three-run home run against Kansas City. Coming into Monday night’s game, he was 4-for-13 against the fastball, but had a .429 average (3-for-7), with a 1.000 slugging off of breaking balls thrown to him, including an RBI double and his three-run home run. So far in 2026, pitchers have thrown Mitchell 37 fastballs, 25 changeups, 16 sinkers, 13 curveballs, 12 sliders, 11 cutters, and seven sweepers, making it 37 fastballs versus 73 breaking balls. So long as pitchers continue to throw him the breaking ball, he is likely to see continued success due to his ability to put the bat on the ball with the off-speed pitches. Mitchell is a player many overlooked coming into 2026, as he hasn’t had that much success in his first four seasons with Milwaukee, with injuries derailing most of his career since 2022. He has appeared in just 141 games at the major league Level (28 games in 2022, 19 in 2023, 69 in 2024, and 25 games in 2025). Last season, he spent a significant amount of time on the 60-day injured list with an oblique strain. In the 25 games he appeared in last season, he batted just .206/.286/.294, with a .580 OPS. Looking back even more to 2024, Mitchell had just 12 doubles, eight home runs, 21 RBIs, and 33 runs scored. Those are his best career numbers, and so far in 2026, he’s on pace to smash those totals. But the question many are asking now, is this sustainable? The 27-year-old from Milwaukee has yet to make it through a full season healthy. So the first step to Mitchell maintaining success is to stay in the lineup and on the field. Next, his swing discipline at the plate and his ability to make contact. Mitchell has been known as a player susceptible to chasing fastballs, thus the surprise that pitchers continue to throw him breaking balls at the plate. However, he has shown that this year is different. He is putting the ball in play more, hitting it with a harder exit velocity, and putting the barrel on the ball more as well. It is evident that Mitchell worked hard during the offseason. With a strong ability to put the ball in play this year and to come up clutch when it counts, if he stays healthy and that discipline and hard-hitting percentage continue, this could be the year that Mitchell breaks out, and many think it will be. View the full article

MIAMI, FL — When the Miami Marlins selected Max Meyer with the third pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, they envisioned a frontline starter who would be up with some of the best pitchers in franchise history. Fast-forward to 2026 and he's fallen short of that due to a variety of reasons, including injuries and a flawed pitch arsenal surrounding his signature slider. On Thursday, in the Marlins' 8-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Meyer took the mound. In five innings of work, he allowed one run on four hits, three walks and four strikeouts. The lone run he surrendered was a solo homer from Sal Stewart in the top of the fifth inning. “We saw some fastballs today in the mid-90s with really good carry," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. "I think he’s throwing it better than he has in the past. You pair that with the breaking stuff, the slider around 90 and the sweeper, and it makes him tough. I thought he did a really good job navigating some traffic early and was able to get out of it...As he settled in through the second, third, and fourth innings, he was able to get ahead more consistently, which allowed him to expand the zone and get some swings-and-misses down.” Against the Reds, Meyer's slider was his most-used pitch at 32%, generating seven whiffs and two of his four strikeouts. The four-seam fastball, his second-most-used pitch of the afternoon, landed four out of five times for a first-pitch strike. His lone strikeout victim on that pitch was Elly De La Cruz. In 2025, the sweeper was thrown 11.5% of the time and the sinker 13.7% of the time, his two least-used pitches. Early on, the sweeper has been thrown 20.6% of the time, his third most thrown pitch, but his sinker (8.8%), is his least thrown pitch. High pitch counts for Meyer have limited how deep he can go into his starts. He has entered the seventh inning of a game three times in his career, but never completed the inning. On Thursday, he was averaging 17.4 pitches per inning. "I just have to execute some of my two strike pitches a little bit better," Meyer said. "That leads to three more balls, and that's where I'm getting my walks because I'm not able to have a competitive 0-2 pitch. I have to clean that up, and I think those walks will go down and I'll be able to go a little bit deeper into the games." In two-strike counts, Meyer struck out four, hitters went 2-for-10, but that includes the Stewart home run. For his career, hitters have a .643 OPS against him in two-strike counts. This was not a bad version of Meyer by no means, but it continues a trend of him being relatively inefficient. He has yet to complete six innings this season. Even when he's limiting the damage, the inability to work deep into games limits his overall value to the Marlins. The Marlins wasted no time getting things going. In the bottom of the first inning, Xavier Edwards hit a triple, followed by a fielders choice from Agustín Ramírez, allowing Edwards to score. Owen Caissie, who the Marlins are primarily using against right-handed pitching, smacked a 102.6 mph two-run RBI double, making it a 3-0 game. Javier Sanoja drove in the team's fourth and fifth runs. For both, this marked their second three-hit game of the season. In the top of the sixth inning, with Spencer Steer up, Griffin Conine tried to dive for what ended up being a double, but wasn't able to make the catch and on top of that, hurt his left knee, being taken out of the game. Following the game, McCullough informed the media that Conine suffered left hamstring discomfort. A source tells Fish On First that the Marlins are calling up Deyvison De Los Santos. This will mark his second stint in the big leagues. In his lone start in MLB, De Los Santos went 1-for-2 with a double. In Triple-A Jacksonville, he was slashing .259/.355/.630/.985 with three home runs and eight RBI. Expect a longer stay at the big league level this time around for Fish On First's No. 28 prospect. With the win, the Marlins improve to 8-5 as they now hit the road for a weekend three-game series against the Detroit Tigers and then a three-game series against the division rival Atlanta Braves. First pitch on Friday is at 6:40 pm with Chris Paddack taking the mound. View the full article

Fish On First staffers react to the latest Miami Marlins series and prepare you for what lies ahead. Thursday's show was hosted by Jeremiah Geiger and featured panelists Ely Sussman, Isaac Azout, Jeremiah Geiger and Alex Krutchik. The following topics were covered: Analyzing each game of the Cincinnati Reds series The Marlins' insistence on platooning players as much as possible Griffin Conine's hamstring injury Deyvison De Los Santos being recalled from Triple-A Clayton McCullough removing Sandy Alcantara two outs shy of a complete game Previewing and predicting the next series against the Detroit Tigers You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Our next FOF LIVE episode will be Sunday at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET following the Marlins-Tigers series finale. View the full article

Box Score Starting Pitcher: Mick Abel - 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6K (102 pitches, 70 strikes (69% strikes)) Home Runs: Josh Bell Top 3 WPA: Mick Abel (0.37), Brooks Lee (0.31), Josh Bell (0.17) Win Probability Chart (via Baseball Savant): The Twins came into Thursday afternoon riding a three-game winning streak, with a chance to finish off a four-game sweep of the Tigers—who started the season as the favorites to win the AL Central. Behind a bounce-back effort from their starter and a late offensive breakthrough, they did exactly that, grinding out a 3-1 win to wrap up the series. They didn’t dominate from start to finish. But they pitched, they adjusted, and when the moment finally came late, they delivered. MICK ABEL RESPONDS After a tough start to his season, Mick Abel really needed a clean outing. It didn’t start easy, though. For much of the afternoon, Abel was pitching with traffic on the bases. Soft contact, long at-bats, and a couple of walks pushed his pitch count up early, forcing him to work through constant pressure. With any young pitcher, the risk is that mounting pressure will eventually burst the pipe. Happily, Abel never let it do so. He leaned on his fastball to generate whiffs and consistently got ahead in counts, throwing first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 25 batters he faced. Even when Detroit put runners in scoring position, which they did in five of his six innings, he found a way out every time. By the middle innings, things started to settle. A much more efficient third and fourth frame stabilized his pitch count, and from there, he was in control. He mixed all five pitches, generated swings and misses throughout the day, and kept hitters from ever connecting on a big swing—though there were a few long, loud fly balls, including a double by Javier Báez that dented the right-field wall. The final line tells part of the story: six scoreless innings while working around traffic in nearly every frame. But the bigger takeaway was how Abel handled adversity. Detroit went hitless in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position, and Abel never looked uncomfortable. For a pitcher looking to reset his season, this was a big step in the right direction. QUIET EARLY, JUST ENOUGH TO STAY CLOSE The Twins had chances early, but couldn't break through against Jack Flaherty. They put together quality at-bats right away. Trevor Larnach worked a one-out walk in the first, and Josh Bell followed with a single. Matt Wallner smoked a ball 102 MPH, but right into a double play that killed the rally. That set the tone for much of the afternoon. There was traffic, and there was hard contact. But there wasn’t a run until the fourth inning. Bell changed that with one swing, jumping on a first-pitch slider and driving it out to right-center for a solo home run. It came off the bat at 106 MPH and traveled over 400 feet, giving the Twins a 1-0 lead in a game where every run felt massive. From there, it settled into a true pitcher’s duel. Flaherty matched Abel for most of the day, keeping the Twins from adding on and forcing them to wait for another opportunity. Meanwhile, they came back to knot things up 1-1 as soon as Abel left, in the seventh. BROOKS LEE DELIVERS THE MOMENT The game finally cracked open in the eighth, and it came down to one at-bat. After a Wallner walk and a Victor Caratini base hit, Royce Lewis fought through visible discomfort to reach base and load them, and the Twins had their shot. Two outs, tie game, bases loaded. Brooks Lee stepped in. He worked the count full, giving himself a chance to live out every young baseball player’s dream, and he delivered. Lee ripped a single through the right side, scoring two and turning a 1-1 game into a 3-1 lead. After a slow start to his season, that swing felt significant—not just for the game, but for the embattled Lee, who hadn't started the game and erupted with uncharacteristic emotion when he came up with the game-winning hit. BULLPEN HOLDS ON The tablesetter for that feast was an uncomfortable stint from the bullpen. Newly acquired reliever Garrett Acton made his Twins debut in the seventh and immediately ran into trouble. A hit batter and a ground ball through the infield set up Detroit’s first real breakthrough, and a sacrifice fly tied the game at 1-1. It wasn’t clean, and the inning took 23 pitches—not ideal for a bullpen that had already been heavily used in recent days. But Acton bounced back. After the stressful seventh, he went back out in the eighth and needed just 12 pitches to retire the side in order. That quick inning ended up being massive, keeping the game tied and giving the offense a chance to respond. Once the Twins grabbed the lead in the bottom half, it was up to Eric Orze, and he delivered. Despite a couple of balls in play to start the inning (including one that looked like it might fall for a hit; Byron Buxton made a great play), the defense held up. Orze finished it off with a strikeout, locking down the save and sealing the sweep. The bullpen bent, but it didn’t break. That group deserves some credit, especially in the context of the series as a whole. With four different relievers recording a save in this series (Cody Laweryson, Justin Topa, Kody Funderburk, and Eric Orze), the Twins leaned on a mix of arms to navigate tight games and protect leads throughout. It’s a sign of both the workload they’ve taken on and the trust the staff has in different options late in games. What’s Next The Twins will head north of the border tomorrow to start a three-game series with the reigning American League champions, the Toronto Blue Jays. Simeon Woods Richardson will take the hill for the Twins, with left-hander Patrick Corbin throwing for Toronto. First pitch is set for 6:07 PM CT. Postgame Interviews Coming soon! Bullpen Usage Chart SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Rogers 18 0 12 0 0 30 Funderburk 3 20 0 20 0 43 Sands 21 0 12 9 0 42 Topa 15 0 14 10 0 39 Laweryson 0 14 0 25 0 39 Banda 0 17 0 0 0 17 Orze 0 12 19 0 14 45 Acton 0 0 0 0 35 35 View the full article

It's not that the Twins don't throw hard. That's not the remarkable thing about their collection of fringy relief arms. What's remarkable—what might end up being quasi-historic, though it will probably change later this year—is how far they are from throwing hard. In Taj Bradley, they have one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball, and Mick Abel can work in the mid-90s, too. On days when Bailey Ober or Simeon Woods Richardson starts, though—and even with Joe Ryan, who stands out for his movement, rather than his velocity—the team can go a full nine innings without touching 95 miles per hour. Two decades ago, that wouldn't be noteworthy at all. Even one decade ago, you'd have noticed it, but it wouldn't have shocked you. Now, however, it's startling. The brightline at which a relief pitcher can be said to be a hard thrower isn't 94 or 95 MPH, anymore. It's more like 97. In fact, since 2021, the median team's frequency of exceeding 95 MPH on four-seam fastballs and sinkers is 43.8%. Nearly half of all fastballs thrown by relievers are 95 or faster. Just a year ago, the Twins boasted Jhoan Duran and Louis Varland, who could each get to 100 MPH. When Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart were going well, they could sit on the high side of 95 and push toward triple digits, too. "Only" throwing 95 doesn't even register as interesting, anymore. Over the last five full seasons, the lowest percentage of reliever fastballs to eclipse 95 MPH belonged to the 2021 Diamondbacks, at 17.1%. Only they and that year's Angels were under 20%. This season, the Mets have thrown the second-fewest heaters at 95 or faster, at 56. They have several guys who can top that number—Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Huascar Brazobán, Luis García, and Tobias Myers—but they rarely actually do so. In fact, if their current rate of 14.6% of fastballs getting to the midpoint of the 90s holds, it would be the lowest since the pandemic—except, of course, for the Twins'. Minnesota has only seen 38 fastballs reach 95 after departing the fingers of a pitcher working in relief this year. That's in over 400 heaters, pushing them down into a range not seen since the 2019 Cleveland club. Before that, only the 2015 Athletics were similarly starved for heat, in the Statcast Era. This team is an outlier, throwing slower than any pen has in a decade or more—because the truth is, even the raw numbers presented above oversell them. Of the 38 fastballs at 95+ this year from a Twins reliever, 35 were thrown by Mick Abel—who's not really a reliever. Working in tandem with Bailey Ober in the season-opening series in Baltimore, Abel furnished almost all of the honest-to-God heat the Twins pen has mustered all season. Only Justin Topa (once) and Cole Sands (twice) have even scraped 95 MPH, among real members of this bullpen. This will change, of course. With any luck, as the weather warms, Sands (and perhaps one or two others) will at least flirt more often with the upper half of the 90s. More importantly, the team is likely to call up some guys who throw harder, as the season wears on. If Zebby Matthews can't quickly find a way into the rotation in Minneapolis, maybe it's time to try him in the bullpen. Something like that will give them an infusion of velocity. Heck, even most waiver claims will have a chance to bring more juice to the relief unit. For now, though, this is borderline hilarious. The Twins are to fastballs with anything on them (by modern standards) what Charlie Bucket was to Wonka Bars. Everyone around them is counting their accumulations by dozens or hundreds. The Twins have, through 13 games, three 95+ fastballs from their relievers. Just three. I would analyze this further, but like Charlie's teacher in the movie, I don't know how to do just three. This team is blazing a new trail, when it comes to not really blazing anything in the pen. View the full article

After the wildly popular pink-and-mint City Connect uniforms that reflected the city's vibrant sunsets, the San Diego Padres went a little more stoic while still using colors that pop and maintaining the multicultural vibe. The Padres were among eight MLB teams that revealed new City Connects for 2026 on Thursday. The theme of this one for the Friars is, as the team posted on social media, "Para nuestra familia, San Diego y los fieles, por siempre. For our family, San Diego, and the Faithful, forever." It also reflects Dia de los Muertos, the traditional Mexican holiday honoring the dead. Jerseys and other City Connect-related merchandise are on sale now at Petco Park and at the team store at Padres.com. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals made a pair of moves to bolster their bullpen before opening a four-game series vs. the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium. Right-handers Eli Morgan and Mitch Spence were promoted from Triple-A Omaha, while right-handers Luinder Avila and Steven Cruz were optioned to Omaha. Thursday's game marks the ninth of 12 straight days the Royals are playing, including pitching 7⅓ innings Wednesday in a 10-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, thus the need for a bullpen refresh. Spence will be making his Royals debut. He was acquired in February shortly after being designated for assignment by the Athletics. Spence has made 67 MLB appearances over the last two seasons with the A's, including 32 starts, so he gives the Royals' bullpen a bit of length. Spence appeared in one game at Triple-A, starting Saturday and allowing four hits and one unearned run in five shutout innings. This is Morgan's second time coming up already this season. He was the extra pitcher called up for Saturday's doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers and picked up a three-inning save, giving up one hit and no runs, in the 8-2 triumph before being sent back to Omaha. Morgan signed a minor-league contract this offseason after appearing in seven games for the Chicago Cubs in 2025. Avila was called up last week and made his season debut Saturday in the first game of the doubleheader, surrendering five runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings. He then appeared Wednesday in relief, tossing another three innings, giving up six hits but allowing just one run. Cruz has posted a 14.40 ERA in five appearances, including allowing five runs in 1⅓ innings Wednesday. View the full article

On Thursday morning, the Kansas City Royals unveiled their new City Connect jerseys to the public via social media. On March 31st, a picture of the possible City Connect jerseys leaked, though no confirmation was provided by the Royals, Nike, or Major League Baseball. With the City Connect jersey officially released on Thursday, it appeared the leak was indeed a preview of what the Royals' updated City Connect would look like for the next three seasons (City Connect jerseys have a three-year cycle). The new Royals City Connect shares a lot in common with the Royals' old City Connect jersey. The color scheme is obviously different, with blue, purple, and white instead of navy blue, light blue, and white. However, the new City Connect jerseys will still be utilizing the "Fountain" font that made the old City Connect jerseys so popular with Royals fans. However, instead of "KC", the new City Connect style will emphasize the old "R" logo. Here's a picture of the old City Connect jersey worn by Vinnie Pasquantino during an April 14th, 2023, game against the Braves. Per Kindle Biermann, manager of business and community communications, in addition to wearing them every Friday evening game, the Royals will also have multiple promotions and giveaways throughout the year that will utilize the new City Connect style and color pattern. The Royals begin their four-game homestand against the Chicago White Sox tonight and will unveil their new jerseys, hats, and City Connect gear during Friday night's home game. View the full article

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (April 7-April 8) Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Series vs. Syracuse Mets (New York Mets): 2-0 Season Record: 5-6 Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Series vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox): 2-0 Season Record: 3-1 High-A Vancouver Canadians Series vs. Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants): 0-2 Season Record: 0-5 Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Series vs. St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets): 0-0 Season Record: 1-2 Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Season Record: 5-6 Series Opponent: Syracuse Mets (New York Mets) April 7: Postponed April 8, Game 1: In game one of the doubleheader, pitching reigned supreme, as temperatures remained frigid and not hitter-friendly. The Buffalo Bisons had Grant Rogers on the bump to start, and he worked around a few walks and a few singles to blank the Mets for four innings. In the first, he induced a groundball for a double play and then worked the edges of the zone to get Vidal Brujan to strikeout looking with two men on. In the second, he again managed to get a double play ball after allowing a walk; this time, it was on a slider down and out of the zone. He ended the third inning by striking out Ryan Clifford on a face-high fastball (89.6 mph). Despite his shorter outing, he worked on the edges of the strike zone to most of the batters and allowed the cold temperatures to aid him with weak contact. The Bisons did little with their bats as well, only collecting three hits in the game and scoring two runs. The first came on an RBI groundout from Riley Tirotta in the second, and the other scored in the third when Carlos Mendoza scored on a fielding error by the Mets’ third baseman. Buffalo was shut down for the final four innings, only getting one baserunner on a walk. After a recent demotion from the major league team, Brendon Little came into the game in relief of Rogers and had a relatively clean inning. Jackson Cluff popped up, Little walked CJ Stubbs, and then got Yonny Hernández to roll over on a sinker down and out of the zone for a double play. Chase Lee came in for Little and worked the final two innings with relative ease, only allowing two hits and striking out two. The Bisons took game one of the doubleheader 2-0. April 8, Game 2: Game two of the doubleheader was an all-around excellent game for the Bisons. They didn't get many hits, only two, but they were timely and all of the damage needed for the pitching staff to secure the win for Buffalo. Rafael Lantigua and Yohendrick Pinango both hit two-run home runs, their second of the season, to power the offense. Lantigua's home run came in the first on a changeup right down the middle. Pinango took a sweeper inside over the fence for his home run; the ball came off the bat at 97.3 mph, had a launch angle of 24 degrees, and only went 349 feet. The four runs were just enough, as the Buffalo pitchers got 15 of the 21 outs in the game via strikeouts. Yariel Rodríguez racked up six of those strikeouts, while Brendan Cellucci had five. Celluci has been really good in his two appearances this season, having pitched 3.2 innings and getting nine of those 11 outs from strikeouts. He might be someone who could come up and help the big league club if he continues to dominate like this. Buffalo grabbed the sweep of the doubleheader with a 4-3 win in game two. Double-A New Hampshire Season Record: 3-1 Series vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) April 7: The New Hampshire Fisher Cats kicked off their series against the Portland Sea Dogs in a winning fashion, but it wasn't a pretty sight for the batters getting hits. New Hampshire and Portland combined for 12 runs on just a single hit by the end of the top of the second inning. Two hit-by-pitches, a couple of walks, and a sacrifice fly put Portland up by two in the first inning. In the top of the second, the Fisher Cats got eight walks, two hit-by-pitches, a sacrifice fly, and a single. That put 10 runs on the board in the half inning, with just one hit. In the bottom of the second inning, Portland walked three more times, followed by another sacrifice fly and an RBI double. Portland would tack on three more runs, but New Hampshire pulled this one out despite the lack of hits, winning 12-7. Sean Keys continued his hot start at Double-A, going 1-for-2, with two walks, a HBP, two RBI, and two runs scored. April 8: In the Wednesday game of the series, New Hampshire smashed their way to a big win again. This time, they actually used a multitude of hits on their way to 11 runs. Geovanny Planchart drove in two runs in the second inning with an RBI single. Eddie Micheletti Jr. and Jorge Burgos followed with RBI singles as well to make it 5-0. In the third, Je'Von Ward and Planchart added RBI singles to put the Fisher Cats up seven. Jace Bohrofen had the big hit of the game, launching a home run to right field in the fifth inning, giving New Hampshire a seven-run lead again. The Fisher Cats put up three more runs later in the game and ran away with this one, 11-3. High-A Vancouver Season Record: 0-5 Series vs. Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants) April 7: Johnny King made his debut for the Canadians, but it was a mixed bag. There were definitely some first-start jitters for the young pitcher, as although he struck out three batters in just an inning, he was wild, giving up two walks and a hit, which led to him throwing 32 pitches in just the first inning. Because of the elevated pitch count, Holden Wilkerson relieved King in the second inning. Wilkerson pitched well, with seven strikeouts in 3.1 innings, but gave up a homer in the fifth to put the Canadians down 3-0. The Canadians brought it within one after a clutch hit from Carter Cunningham, but Eminen Flores gave up a run off a sac fly. Cunningham brought it within one again with his first homer of the season, but the Canadians couldn’t score anything else. Dub Gleed also made his debut after coming from the Marlins org and had himself two hits and a walk. April 8: Austin Cates had an uncharacteristic start for Vancouver, as he went four innings but walked four batters and allowed six hits, which resulted in three earned runs, including a solo homer to former Dodgers top prospect Diego Cartaya. Aaron Munson came on in relief and gave up only one hit and a walk in three innings of work, while striking out five batters, to keep the score close. The Canadians' offense struggled to get going, however, as they weren’t able to get a run until the bottom of the eighth inning, when a throwing error put runners on the corners and let Alexis Hernandez drive in their first run of the game to bring it within two runs. Juanmi Vasquez was able to erase a runner on a fielder’s choice into a pickoff at first, but he was unable to get out of the inning unscathed, as he struggled with his command and allowed three hits in a row to let the Emeralds score another two runs. In the ninth inning, the Canadians showed some patience, with Maddox Latta walking then advancing on a balk, before Manuel Beltre drove him in with a single. However, they could not capitalize, as after Brennan Orf walked, Kendry Chirinos, Matt Scannell, and Hernandez all struck out as the potential tying runs at the plate. Single-A Dunedin Season Record: 1-2 Series vs. St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets) April 7 - Suspended Game Jays Centre’s 18th-ranked prospect Brandon Barriera had his first start since going down with an elbow injury last season. Despite glowing reviews in the back fields, the poor conditions were hard on Barriera, as he only sat in the low 90s instead of the mid-90s as reported. His command also lagged, which happens with a lack of reps. He also didn’t generate any whiffs, but it was still nice to see him back in action after barely pitching since getting drafted. Dunedin got on the board first with Enmanuel Bonilla’s first hit in A-ball, but after Barriera gave up two runs in the bottom of the second, the game was suspended. It's set to finish on April 9. April 8 - Postponed Transactions 04/07/26 OF Matt Scannell assigned to Vancouver Canadians from Dunedin Blue Jays. 04/07/26 RHP Austin Marozas assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Vancouver Canadians. 04/07/26 SS Dub Gleed assigned to Vancouver Canadians. View the full article

Shane Drohan's first stint in MLB didn't figure to be a long one—and it wasn't. The Milwaukee Brewers' left-handed starter, who made his MLB debut Wednesday, was sent back to Triple-A Nashville, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reported Thursday. The Crew will have to make a corresponding move before opening this weekend's series vs. the Washington Nationals on Friday. Drohan's debut did not go well. Facing the Boston Red Sox, the team that traded him to the Brewers in the Caleb Durbin deal this spring, at Fenway Park, Dohan lasted just 2⅔ innings, walking four and allowing three runs and three hits while striking out two. Drohan made the spot start due to the doubleheader Saturday against the Kansas City Royals following Friday's rainout. Right-hander Chad Patrick was originally scheduled to start Wednesday, but that would have come on short rest. Patrick, who started the opener of the doubleheader, will start Friday against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin. As for possible call-ups, right-hander Craig Yoho could be a candidate. Yoho is on the 15-day injured list with a strained right calf and is eligible to be activated. His stay on the IL, which began March 22, was projected to be a short one. View the full article

The calendar may still read April, but draft season is already beginning to take shape. In his latest update for The Athletic, Keith Law reshuffled the board for the 2026 MLB Draft, offering a clearer picture of how the top of the class is evolving. For the Twins, who currently sit in the third spot, that clarity comes with both opportunity and complication. At the top, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has long been viewed as the frontrunner to go first overall to the Chicago White Sox. That perception has not completely disappeared, but Law suggests the gap is tightening. A handful of college standouts are making compelling late pushes, giving both the White Sox and the Rays, who pick second, more to think about before Minnesota is on the clock. C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech One of the fastest risers in Law’s rankings is Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. The right-handed hitter has put together a dominant offensive season, showcasing a rare blend of patience and power. He is controlling the strike zone at an elite level, drawing more walks than strikeouts while doing significant damage when he connects. Lackey has also flashed surprising athleticism, even contributing on the bases, and evaluators remain confident in his ability to remain behind the plate long term. That combination of offensive impact and defensive value has pushed him into the conversation at the very top of the draft. RHP Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara On the pitching side, UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora continues to build momentum. His performance this spring has been nothing short of overpowering, backed by premium velocity that regularly reaches triple digits and comfortably sits in the upper 90s. Flora complements the fastball with a devastating changeup that earns top-of-the-scale grades, while his slider and command round out a well-balanced arsenal. His delivery adds an element of deception, making his already electric stuff even tougher for hitters to pick up. Among pitchers in this class, he stands alone as the most realistic candidate to challenge for the first overall selection. SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky Kentucky infielder Tyler Bell presents a different type of evaluation. After suffering a shoulder injury early in the season, Bell missed time before returning to the lineup and continuing to produce at a high level. His on-base skills have been particularly impressive, driven by a disciplined approach that limits chase and forces pitchers into the zone. There will be medical questions to answer, and teams will need to be comfortable with the long-term outlook, but his performance has kept him firmly in the mix as one of the better bats in the class. For a team like Minnesota, risk tolerance will play a key role in determining whether he remains a viable option. Beyond those names, Law’s rankings continue to highlight the depth of the class. High school shortstop Grady Emerson represents one of the top prep talents available, while college hitters Eric Becker and Drew Burress have both put themselves on the radar with strong offensive showings. Each brings a different profile, giving teams multiple pathways depending on their preferences for risk, development timeline, and positional value. For the Twins, the takeaway is simple but significant. There may not be a clear-cut choice waiting at three, but there should be a talented one. How the board unfolds ahead of them will dictate whether they lean toward a polished college bat, a high upside arm, or a longer-term prep investment. View the full article

The Brewers will open a homestand this weekend against the Nationals by donning their second edition of City Connect uniforms for the first time. In preparation for that, the team rolled out the new look in an elaborate multi-platform social media announcement. The base color of the threads will be blue, though lighter than the team's standard navy and less bright than the blue that defined their glove-and-ball logo era. Although the comparison often feels trite, the choice of tone does genuinely evoke a lake or river. The accents (including nifty piping down the sleeves) are cream-colored, a well-measured nod to the Cream City. There will be a good amount of orange, too, bringing together a smart color scheme that doesn't bend so far from the tradition of the team, the city or the state as to feel jarring. It's new, but not alien. There's a new patch designed to look like a fishing bobber, but with baseball stitches. It's not prominently featured on the uniform, but it's nice. Even better is the redesigned Barrelman logo on the sleeve patch, which has the mascot superimposed on a many-colored outline of Wisconsin, pursuing a ground ball. The explanations and rollouts of these are always a bit overdone. Neither the league nor Nike does a very good job of making one forget that the point of having the new threads is to sell merchandise. On balance, though, this uniform does a lot of things right. It's almost really, really great. But. The team didn't just splash 'Wisco" across the front of the jersey, as became clear when the uniforms leaked last month. They leaned all the way into it. Their tagline for the unveiling is "If you're from Wisco, you know the way," and they're referring to the overall vibe as the "Wisco Way." There, of course, they have a problem, because no one is from Wisco. That diminutive reference is only used by people from elsewhere, and usually, it's not used flatteringly. At various points over the last quarter-century, people from the rest of the Midwest have tried on Wisco as a way to refer to the state (with its burdensome three-syllable name) and "Sconnies" as a demonym for people who live there, and some of that lingo has stuck, in Iowa and Minnesota and Illinois. But for Wisconsinites, it's simply not a thing. It will never be. It's always a downer when an advertising or marketing campaign hits a note this far from the proper key, but when it comes to the City Connect program, it cuts even deeper. Insofar as this program is anything real—any earnest effort to tie together team and community, be that by deepening the relationship between the team and a part of that community or by reaching out to a new segment of the community altogether—it has to be undertaken after serious research. It should be done by someone local. It should, in short, never come anywhere near calling the Brewers' home state "Wisco". Instead, these very pretty uniforms will largely remind us all of how commercial, transactional and hollow a relationship teams want with their fans. They're well-executed, but you can't connect (or Connect) to a community that doesn't exist. By letting a consultant with insufficient real intimacy with the city or state create such an out-of-touch theme for the uniform, Nike and the Brewers forfeited their chance to deepen their connection with fans. This organization does so many things well that they should easily survive the error, but it was an unforced one, and a disappointing one. View the full article

One of the Blue Jays' greatest strengths last year was their ability to come through when it mattered with the bats. Getting runners on base and bringing them in are two very important and very distinct parts of hitting, but in 2025, the Jays' tendency to do both at a high frequency was a breath of fresh air compared to 2023 and 2024, when their offense was prone to looking lifeless. A mere 11 games into 2026, they own a 4-7 record (before play on April 8) and have gone from fourth in the league to 26th in runs scored per game. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that their situational hitting has gotten worse. For how crucial it is to consistent production, success, and failure, for that matter, performance with runners in scoring position, at both the hitter and team level, is noisy, unpredictable, and thus not that stable year over year. Regression happens both ways, and it's happening to the Blue Jays in a big way right now. Blue Jays Hitting w/RISP, 2025 vs. 2026 Year AVG MLB AVG Rank wRC+ MLB wRC+ Rank 2025 .292 1 122 2 2026 .213 26 77 26 Forgive me if you've heard this a lot lately, but it's still early days. We're about 7% of the way through the season so far, a sample small enough for these numbers to work themselves out over time. Only, I'm not so sure they will if the Jays don't adjust their game plan in these spots. They have been a far cry from their best selves when key run-scoring chances arise, and if some of the current trends we're seeing were to continue for the rest of the season, it'll be a year to forget. The Jays overhauled their offensive coaching staff going into last year. The trio of David Popkins, Lou Iannotti, and Hunter Mense (the latter is now with the Giants) helped a lineup that was already great at getting bat to ball to hit with more power. Our own Jesse Burrill recently highlighted the positive changes that occurred under their watch: The hitters started swinging faster, adding more bat speed as the year went on, and doing damage. Jesse also rightfully made note of what has changed this year, namely their lack of discipline. At the time of his writing, the Blue Jays had the league's third-worst chase rate. It goes deeper than that, though. Toronto's coaches obviously aren't telling the hitters to swing out of their shoes, least of all when runners are on base, but the complete abandonment of a sound approach up and down the lineup when they need it most has been worrisome. Blue Jays Hitting w/RISP, 2025 vs. 2026: Underlying Metrics Hitter 2025 K% 2025 Chase% 2025 Hard-Hit% 2026 K% 2026 Chase% 2026 Hard-Hit% George Springer 22.5% 22.9% 50.0% 31.6% 40.5% 30.0% Addison Barger 21.2% 32.7% 55.8% 0.0% 44.0% 33.3% Nathan Lukes 15.3% 35.6% 32.2% 25.0% 55.2% 16.7% Daulton Varsho 33.3% 33.6% 54.3% 12.5% 29.4% 25.0% This is a somewhat arbitrary sample of hitters who were all given the spotlight here for various reasons. They are not solely responsible for the team's futility with runners in scoring position, but combined, they are 4-for-33 in these spots. That's a batting average of .121! I highlighted the chase% columns because that's what's most alarming: Springer has nearly doubled his chase rate from 2025 with RISP. To put it mildly, Lukes and Barger haven't seen the ball well either. Varsho's at least getting bat on ball and not chasing as much, but the contact he has made has been less threatening. Right in the middle of all this has been Kazuma Okamoto. He's clearly a very talented hitter – a 420-foot opposite field home run on opening weekend made that clear – and his .262/.340/.429 slash line (127 wRC+) would be a delight to the fanbase if he could make it last. However, he has looked completely lost in high-leverage situations. Adjusting to the quality of competition in MLB is a challenge for hitters coming from NPB, but adjusting mentally looks to be just as crucial of a task for Okamoto. Whatever's going on between his ears when he steps up with RISP is holding him back. Kazuma Okamoto Splits, 2026 Split AB AVG SLG xBA Zone Swing% Chase% Contact% K% w/RISP 10 .100 .100 .103 58.3% 24.1% 57.1% 54.5% Total 42 .262 .429 .246 60.2% 26.9% 62.1% 40.4% This explains why he's dead-last among Blue Jays with at least 20 plate appearances in win probability added, per FanGraphs' model (-0.51). In run-scoring at-bats, ones that can dramatically swing a team's chances of winning, he has yet to come through. It's presumably not the kind of thing the Blue Jays are worried about long-term, but it's nonetheless evidence that the transition from overseas is anything but linear. If we expand our focus to at-bats with runners on base instead of only in scoring position, other problems start to reveal themselves. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting over .300 in those situations, but only has one extra-base hit. The sample is even smaller for Alejandro Kirk, but he was just 1-for-8 himself before hitting the IL. Rival fanbases may scoff at this, and they're perfectly within their right because this happens to every team, but it is worth noting that the Blue Jays are especially banged up for how early it is in the season. Kirk's fractured thumb and Barger's ankle sprain have complicated matters, and that's just on the position player side. Cody Ponce suffered a regular season-ending ACL injury just 10 batters into his Jays debut, Max Scherzer is trying to pitch through forearm tendinitis, and virtually the entire team was rocked by a nasty flu bug last week. Bo Bichette's knee injury last September was the only major ailment suffered by a Toronto position player in 2025. Due to the circumstances, some players are punching a little above their weight in terms of playing time. Simultaneously, it's clear that this isn't the only problem. I also want to talk about how the Jays have been doing with the bases loaded this year. I'll admit it was my main inspiration for this piece, because any time a team is on pace to enter the record books for something, it's worth following. After Tuesday night's defeat, the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays were 1-for-17 on the season with the bases loaded. That would be, by a country mile, the lowest batting average (.059) a team has ever had with the bases loaded in any season of the live-ball era. The 2020 Kansas City Royals (.122) currently bear this dubious distinction. For seasons that lasted a full 162 games, it's the 2012 Houston Astros (.130). If you look up what their record was that year, it's possible that your electronic device will spontaneously catch fire. MLB's 10 worst bases-loaded offenses, live-ball era (Stathead) Obviously, I doubt Toronto's .059 BA holds up, but it's an unsettling sign that things aren't going great in general. Last year's Blue Jays hit .386 with the bases loaded. That led the league, but as I mentioned before, noisy stats like this don't necessarily stand the test of time. Yet, their xBA of .324 with the bases loaded also led the league, suggesting that in a vacuum, it was no fluke. In 2025, this team was perfectly capable of focusing on the task at hand, not diverting from their approach, and putting together good at-bats with runners in scoring position. In 2026, that has vanished into thin air. It's easier said than done, but whether it's a few hitters trying too hard or small-sample weirdness (likely a combination of both), it seems the offense is in need of a collective re-focus on what made them successful in the first place. It's one of the biggest tangible changes we can see so far between the two seasons, and a main culprit for their subpar performance out of the gate. They've got their work cut out for them now. All stats entering play on April 8, 2026. View the full article

When working with a small sample in April, it’s sometimes difficult to get a read on a player. Are there trends that we can chalk up to bad luck? Is there some underlying information we can use to project a quick rebound before the calendar turns to May? Or could said trends manifest into something more worrisome over the longer-term? In the case of Fernando Tatis Jr., it’s a mix of all three. The San Diego Padres are off to an uneven start. Almost nobody in the lineup is immune to it, either. Tatis represents one such case given a stat sheet that doesn’t look too favorable. While the physical tools have remained in place (we’ll touch on this in a moment), the early returns through 11 games and nearly 50 plate appearances have featured a brutal .195/.292/.268 line and a wRC+ of only 68. The walk rate, which Tatis reset when he walked at a nearly 13 percent clip last year, has remained high (12.5 percent), but there’s a clear contact issue pinning down his ability to contribute. That inability to feed into an underperforming offensive unit comes in spite of Tatis putting nearly all of his physical tools on display. The defense continues to look outstanding, and the sprint speed is up in the 96th percentile. The most impressive thing he’s done thus far, though, is hit the ball hard. Like, really hard. With the major caveat that we’re working within a minuscule sample, Tatis has made hard contact at a 70.4 percent rate. It’s a wildly unsustainable rate that, nevertheless, has him in the 99th percentile in contact quality. His 14.8 Barrel% is four percent higher than his overall clip from 2025. He’s also making more contact overall by about two percent, with a swing rate that has increased only slightly. These are all, objectively, good things. At the same time, something isn’t jibing between the contact metrics, the approach, and the overall production. It’s not as if Tatis is simply running into bad luck. A .276 batting average on balls in play may not be indicative of the elite contact trends he’s displayed, but it’s also not some horrendous figure. And while a strikeout rate lingering up near 28 percent is abnormal for him, it’s not as if he’s taking too many pitches or expanding the zone too frequently. In fact, his plate discipline numbers look really similar to last year across the board. So, what’s the issue here? Don’t get it twisted; the strikeout rate is, in itself, problematic. It’s not as if he’s working deep counts and experiencing punchouts as a byproduct of that. Tatis’ 3.83 pitches per plate appearance sits below league average at this point in the year. There’s a whiff issue happening, with a rate of 30.4 percent that sits three percent above where he was at last year. So, while the contact rate itself looks decent, there’s too much whiff happening in between that’s leading to the ballooned K%. We also can’t put all of it on merely swinging too much. There’s also a contract distribution issue at play. The concept of PullAIR% has gotten plenty of run in the last couple of years as a key ingredient in unlocking a player’s power potential. Tatis Jr’s PullAIR% through nearly 50 PA sits at 0.0 percent. In fact, he’s only pulling the ball 20.7 percent of the time overall. That’s nearly half of what’s he done in basically every season in which he’s played to date. Nearly half his contact (48.3 percent) has been to the center of the field, with another roughly 30 percent to the opposite field. None of those are going to yield particularly impressive power results. It’s not as if he’s seen a bat speed decline or anything mechanical. If there’s one thing to which we can remotely point, it’s in the intercept. Tatis’ intercept point (the point at which he makes contact with the ball relative to home plate) in 2025 was 3.6 inches in front of the plate. That’s almost identical to what he’d posted in the previous year. This year, he’s at just 0.9 inches in front of it. There’s a timing issue at play. He’s compensating effectively with bat speed, but there’s clearly something happening in his reaction that’s stalling his ability to recognize and swing early. That’s really the only explanation we have to offer at this point. Perhaps that’s something that can be worked out in short order. Tatis spent time last year adjusting his mechanics and his approach. We’re not even to the middle of April yet, so there may just be a further adjustment that’s transpiring in these early days of the season. But given that it’s leading to an absence of power and an influx of strikeouts, it’s something that he needs to adjust early in order to help this offense begin to move along with any level of consistency. View the full article

As we await the return of Justin Steele and weather the losses of Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton to the injured list, I considered the grief of being a Cubs fan through this early part of 2026, and recalled the infamous "Five Stages of Grief" in trying to process my feelings. Known as the Kubler-Ross model for its original author, the five stages are well-known—but also widely criticized for oversimplifying the process of grief. Similarly, most Cubs fans criticizing Jed Hoyer for spackling together a bullpen are trivializing the complexities that go into a competent relief unit. But since we have our theme today, let's run through these stages of relief (which might be more concentrated on our feelings about losing Cade Horton for the year, but that's another story for another day). Denial This offseason, the Cubs spent a significant amount of money on some relievers with upside. They let Brad Keller go, but we were all fairly excited about the prospect of decent arms like Phil Maton or intriguing arms that could still have magic in them: Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey. Along with the returning arms, this was supposed to be a superior relief corps, one that could be versatile and lock down games regularly. Instead, three of the aforementioned relievers have suffered extreme meltdowns leading to losses, and even Milner has coughed up a few runs, while striking out nobody to this point. The Cubs can't be that bad at scouting pitching, can they? Didn't they build a Pitch Lab or something? We can't be THAT cursed! Anger Why did the Cubs just scrape the barrel again or try to do their magic scouting, instead of just throwing all the money at guys like Devin Williams or Edwin Díaz? Never mind that they still have a perfectly capable Caleb Thielbar and a Daniel Palencia still going off the high of winning the World Baseball Classic with Team Venezuela, or that Colin Rea got yet another three-inning save. If only the Rickettses weren't always so cheap, and Hoyer would actually just throw money at the most volatile personnel in all of sports! Bargaining Look, I know these guys are good and all, and maybe it's just the early season cold weather (it really does suck to play baseball in the Midwest in April, I should know, I used to coach high school baseball here in Chicago), but all I'm really asking is that they don't walk people and throw pitches that don't get pummeled over the wall at inopportune times. Is that really too much to ask? I'd even live with the walks, if they'd stop giving up the homers! Or be ok with the homers, if they stopped clogging the bases with walks first! Depression Even with an exciting debut in Riley Martin, knowing that most of these guys can't be optioned and aren't going to just be randomly released just yet is annoying—and even if they did cut bait with somebody, the Cubs can't trade for anybody interesting for a couple months anyway, so we're kind of screwed there. Acceptance Then again, we're less than 10% into the season, and this team is too good to not figure it out, and that includes the bullpen full of guys who have decent track records, coaches who have found ways to bring the most out of their pitchers, and competent catchers who can guide their battery mates through trouble. We can't get rid of these guys yet, anyway, so we might as well hope that they do figure it out. When they do, along with a resurgence in the offense and a typically elite defense, Cubs baseball will be fun to watch again. You'll see! View the full article

Twins System Recap: The St. Paul Saints played a wacky game that somehow went 13 innings. Thankfully, Gabriel Gonzalez crushed a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer that put them up for good. For Wichita, Ryan Gallagher pitched one of the better games we've seen in the system this year. He was acquired in the Willi Castro trade. There's info on those performances and much more in tonight's video. View the full article

There was a time when prospects were developed with a singular defensive home in mind. Shortstops stayed at shortstop. Center fielders stayed in center. First basemen were, well, first basemen. That version of baseball is fading quickly. In today’s game, defensive flexibility isn't just a bonus; it's a requirement. Teams want to platoon hitters, maximize matchups, and deploy the best possible lineup on any given night. That becomes significantly easier when a player can move around the diamond without creating a defensive liability. A right-handed batter who can handle both infield corners or an outfielder capable of sliding between all three spots gives a manager options that simply did not exist a decade ago. That reality is even more pronounced at the highest levels of the minor leagues. Triple-A is no longer just a finishing school. It's a proving ground for adaptability. The Minnesota Twins have built one of baseball’s most talented Triple-A rosters, loaded with position player prospects who are knocking on the door. The challenge is not whether they are talented enough. It's figuring out how they fit. Opportunities at the big-league level are unpredictable. A player could get hurt. A veteran could slump. A role could open overnight. For prospects, the more positions they can handle, the more doors they can walk through. Here's how Minnesota’s top position-player prospects at Triple-A are embracing that philosophy in 2026. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF Current TD Rank: 7 Gonzalez is perhaps the most interesting case study. Known primarily as a bat-first corner outfielder, he recently logged an entire game at first base for the first time in his professional career. He’s also listed at 5-foot-10, which can be small for first base. However, the Twins have used smaller players at that position in recent years, including Luis Arraez and Donovan Solano. He has also continued to see time in both corner outfield spots, giving the organization multiple ways to deploy him. Path to Debut: Minnesota’s first base defense has been a problem out of the gate. If Gonzalez can prove to be even adequate at the position, it could create a direct path to the majors that did not exist a few months ago. Kaelen Culpepper, SS Current TD Rank: 2 Culpepper has remained anchored at shortstop for most of his playing time, but the Twins are clearly testing his range. He's already appeared at third base and second base in limited action, signaling a willingness to move him around as needed. He answered some questions last season about his ability to stick at shortstop with improved range and athleticism. Still, some evaluators believe the hot corner will be his long-term defensive home. Path to Debut: Brooks Lee’s early struggles have at least opened the conversation about shortstop depth. Culpepper could force his way into that discussion, but his ability to cover multiple infield spots makes him a viable solution for more than one potential roster gap. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF Current TD Rank: 3 Rodriguez might be the most advanced in terms of defensive flexibility. With both Walker Jenkins and Gonzalez sharing outfield reps, Rodriguez has taken on all three outfield positions. That's not just a developmental checkbox. It's a strategic advantage. Minnesota has other left-handed options that are likely ahead of him on the depth chart, including Alan Roden. However, Rodriguez needs to stay healthy and perform no matter what position he plays. Path to Debut: Having already spent parts of the last two seasons at Triple-A, Rodriguez may be next in line among the outfielders on this list. His ability to play anywhere on the grass makes him an easy plug-and-play option when the inevitable injury or roster shuffle occurs. Walker Jenkins, OF Current TD Rank: 1 Jenkins remains the organization’s top prospect, and even his development is being shaped by versatility. He has opened the season in center field, but plans were already in motion to get him exposure in a corner outfield spot. A minor wrinkle changed that plan when Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup, pushing Jenkins back to center for the night. The takeaway is not the box score, though. It's the intent. Path to Debut: The Twins have been aggressive with Jenkins, but they're also mindful of his limited professional reps due to past injuries. He may be slightly behind the other outfielders in terms of immediate opportunity, but his long-term outlook remains unchanged. Adding defensive flexibility will only strengthen his case when the time comes. For the Twins, this is not accidental. It is an organizational philosophy. The modern roster is fluid, and the teams that thrive are the ones that can adjust on the fly. By the time these players reach Minnesota, they must prove they can hit big-league pitching and move wherever the lineup needs them. That is the shape of opportunity in 2026. It's not defined by a single position on a depth chart. It is defined by how many ways a player can make himself useful. For this group at Triple-A, the path to the majors may not be straight, but it's getting wider with every new position they learn to play. Who will be the first to make their debut? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Back in May 2024, I wrote about Nico Hoerner's potential (or, as I myopically believed back then, lack thereof) to hit more doubles. The issues I noted at the time are still real and salient: that hitting the ball to center and right field, while good for a batter trying to maintain a high contact rate and make good swing decisions, tends to come with limits on sheer exit velocity; and that defenses have gotten better at taking away extra-base hits on balls directed toward the gaps. Here's a chart from that article that's worth reproducing. It shows the league-wide trends in outcomes on line drives hit to the gaps from 2016-24. Without updating the visual itself, let me assure you: the trends have continued apace. Hoerner hasn't tapped into some new source of raw power. He has, however, slowly developed a bit more practical power. Without generating more extra-base hits (he had 37 in 2022, 40 in 2023, 43 in 2024 and 40 in 2025), he's maintained his rate of compiling those and increased the rate at which he hits singles. I chronicled the changes to his batted-ball profile that facilitated that increase last fall. In short, he figured out how to start pulling the ball on a line, and while that didn't lead to a sudden surge in isolated power, it augmented his slugging average, because it buoyed his batting average and the slugging rose with it. This year, he's made a further, subtle change that might just allow him to hit for (a little) more extra-base power without sacrificing his elite contact rate or singles rate. It looks like this. Hoerner has moved slightly off the plate this year. He's also widened his stance slightly. According to Statcast measurements, the distance between his feet in his stance is up to 32.8 inches in 2026, from 28.9 inches in 2025 and 26.7 inches in 2024. That means a shorter stride to what is an almost identical ending position. These numbers are my estimates, because Statcast doesn't report them officially, but Hoerner's stride (the distance his front foot moves from his initial stance to its position at contact) is down from 24.2 inches in 2024 and 19.2 inches last year to 15.5 inches. A wider stance and shorter stride allow Hoerner to stay slightly more upright, and to flatten his swing more easily when needed. His swing speed is actually down this year, but he's creating more sharp contact down the lines. It comes from this change, because this change lets him hit with a stronger base, so he can let the ball travel or go get it as pitch type and location dictate. View the full article

It's been a tough start to the 2026 season for the Kansas City Royals. Despite high hopes in Spring Training, the Royals are currently 5-7, having lost their most recent series to the Guardians in Cleveland. The Royals lost 10-2 on Wednesday in the series finale, a game that was marred by Cole Ragans being pulled in 0.2 IP due to getting hit in the hand by a Jose Ramirez line drive. Thankfully, it seems like the injury isn't serious, and the Royals and Ragans are optimistic that he will be ready for his next scheduled start. While the Royals' 10 runs allowed will jump out to frustrated fans, the lack of offensive production may be the more concerning development for this Kansas City team. The Royals combined for only three runs and six hits over the past two games, and they scored seven runs in the three-game series in Cleveland (they won the first game 4-1). After getting off to a slow start in 2025 at the plate, it seems like the same trend is happening again in 2026. Unfortunately, Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the biggest hitters who has been struggling out of the gate for the Royals. In 52 plate appearances, Witt is hitting .273 with a .660 OPS. While he has a .365 OBP, which is good, his slugging is only .295, and he has only one extra-base hit so far this season (an RBI double on Wednesday). For a hitter in the middle to the bottom of the lineup, this stat line is serviceable. However, for a No. 2 hitter in the lineup that is expected to carry this team offensively, this is not the start the Royals were hoping for. Nonetheless, is Witt due for a down season in 2026? Or has he been bitten by some rough batted-ball luck and is due for regression soon? Let's take a look at where he's struggled so far this year, what has been going well, and what Royals fans should expect from Witt going forward, perhaps as early as the upcoming series against the White Sox. Struggling to Square Up Balls (Is Bat Speed and Tilt the Reason?) When looking at his Statcast percentiles via TJ Stats, Witt has been pretty stellar in most categories, especially batted ball ones. That is illustrated in the TJ Stats graphic below. Everything looks pretty similar to what he did in 2025. Yes, the chase is high (31st percentile O-Swing%), and he could do a better job of pulling the ball (20th percentile Pull Air%). However, the main difference with this graphic is that he has a .272 wOBA this season compared to a .360 wOBA a season ago. Furthermore, his xwOBA is .416, which is 144 points higher than his actual wOBA. High Leverage Baseball mentioned this on Twitter as one of the biggest wOBA-xwOBA discrepancies in baseball right now. So what has been the difference for Witt this year when all the other metrics have been solid and similar to what he did during his All-Star season a year ago? Well, the squared-up rate could explain why Witt hasn't quite met his expected metrics this season. This season, Witt's 17.6% squared up rate ranks in the 17th percentile. Last year, he had a 27% squared-up rate, which ranked in the 64th percentile. That 9.4% difference is significant and explains why he is hitting the ball hard, but it's not launching in a way that produces base hits, especially extra-base hits. An interesting trend for Witt that could be contributing to that lackluster squared-up rate is that his average bat speed and bat tilt are both down from a year ago. Last year, his average bat speed was 74.3 MPH, which ranked in the 82nd percentile. Furthermore, his tilt was 29 degrees. For those unfamiliar with what "tilt" is, it can be defined as follows: This year, his average bat speed is 72.6 MPH, which ranks in the 59th percentile. Furthermore, his tilt is 27 degrees, two down from a season ago. When it comes to his tilt-rolling trend so far this season, it's clearly below the MLB average, as shown in the chart below from Savant. Now, let's take a look at what that swing path-tilt rolling trend looked like in 2025. Witt's never had a high tilt, which, as Savant says, is not necessarily a bad thing. However, he's seen some pretty big valleys this year, though he experienced tough dips in tilt at various points last season. The difference between this year's tilt and last year's may be tied to his bat speed. With elite bat speed last year, he was able to produce power on his swing, even if it was a bit flatter. Here's a look at how his bat speed looked in 2025. Witt's bat speed hovered around the 75 MPH range for most of the season. That is about three MPH above the league average and a sign of some elite natural swing skills. Now, let's take a look at his bat speed this season, albeit in a much smaller sample. The bat speed isn't bad, as it's mostly been above-average this year. However, he's touched 75 MPH far less than a year ago, and he's hovered around or below the MLB average bat speed. It's only a 74 swing sample, which is why I don't think it's something to panic about. However, if there's not an uptick in bat speed, it will be interesting to see how his power will respond with the current swing path-tilt. Because right now, the power and squared-up results aren't there for Bobby. Seeing Fewer Strikes and Drawing More Walks (But Taking Less Advantage of Meatballs) Another reason Bobby isn't "bashing" the ball as much as usual is that he's just not getting enough hittable strikes in the zone. Instead of chasing those bad balls and getting weak contact, he's laying off them and drawing more walks. Witt is currently drawing a 14.6% walk rate, which is 7.5% higher than a year ago. On one hand, it's been great to see Witt get on base more with the walk than a year ago. His OBP of .365 is 14 percentage points higher than last year's due to a massive increase in his walk rate. Here's a look at his rolling BB% chart from Savant this season. He saw a massive spike initially, but the pressing has seemed to cut his walks down recently. That said, the former second overall pick is known for making contact with his bat. And it's not like he's chasing less either. His 33% chase rate is actually 2.3% higher than it was a year ago. Thus, it's been more about pitchers avoiding Witt so far this year and throwing off his approach than Witt developing a serious "gain" in plate discipline. This season, Witt's zone rate is 42.6%, 7.4% down from a season ago. Furthermore, his meatball% is 7.4%, down 0.8%. Because of that inconsistency in strikes seen, Witt has been less aggressive on those meatball pitches. His meatball swing percentage of 64.3% is 20.6 percentage points lower than a year ago. The good thing with the latter metric is that it won't stay that way forever. His career meatball swing% is 81.4%. Hence, there will be a positive change in not just the number of hittable pitches that he will see, but in his swings on these pitches as well. When those two aspects happen (meatball% and meatball swing%), the production from Witt will increase, especially in terms of slugging, extra-base hits, and home runs. Here's a look at his run value zone chart from 2025, and notice how many positive runs above average he produced in those "meatball" (middle-middle) areas. In the middle-middle, he produced a run value of 6.9 runs above average. In the middle and inside, it was 4.0 runs above average. When pitchers made mistakes, Witt made them pay dearly. Now, let's take a look at that batter run value zone chart this year, with him taking less advantage of those meatball pitches. This year, he's been 0.8 runs below average on pitches middle-middle and 0.1 runs below average on pitches middle-in. That's a huge swing in two areas where he feasted a year ago. Either Witt is not seeing pitches well at this time of the year, or he is pressing and thinking too much in the box. Regardless, when he makes that adjustment, the production will swing positive, especially since his hitting skills and tools remain so elite. Taking Steps in the Right Direction Witt had a good game in the series finale at the plate, even though the Royals lost by eight runs. He had two hits, including his first double of the season. It came off Guardians starter Joey Cantillo, who struck out nine Royals batters and only allowed three hits and two runs in 5.2 innings of work. He didn't get that big home run or help the Royals get a win (though he did all he could), but it was a step in the right direction for a franchise player who has been plagued by some rough batted-ball luck to begin the season. The Royals will get a favorable matchup this weekend with a four-game series against the White Sox. After sweeping the Blue Jays last weekend, the White Sox were swept at home against the Orioles. Thus, Chicago will be coming back reeling even more than the Royals, who lost 2 of 3 in Cleveland. It's easy to be negative about Witt and his outlook after a tough start to the year. It becomes even easier when the Royals are below .500 and haven't generated any consistent run production through 12 games. That said, Witt isn't the problem in this Kansas City lineup. He's showing all the skills and batted-ball ability of his 2025 and even 2024 self. Once the Royals star makes that slight adjustment in either pitch recognition or mechanics, he will be back to his old, productive hitting self, perhaps as soon as today in game one of the four-game set against White Sox. When that happens, the Royals' record will also follow. View the full article

For the Kansas City Royals, the path to a sustainable winning culture isn’t just built on superstar highlights; it’s anchored by high-floor, high-ceiling consistency. While Bobby Witt Jr. captures the headlines, Maikel Garcia has quietly emerged as the vital engine that keeps the machine running. Following a breakout 2025 campaign that earned him an All-Star nod and a Gold Glove Award, Garcia’s importance was solidified by a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension in December 2025. Here is why Garcia is the indispensable piece of the Royals' future. 1. Elite Defensive Stability Pitching success in Kansas City has always relied on elite infield defense. Garcia has transformed the "Hot Corner" into a vacuum. In 2025, he led all American League third basemen in fielding percentage and putouts, while ranking in the 99th percentile for range among all MLB fielders. "If you win a Gold Glove, you don't want one, you want two, three, four. That's the goal." — Maikel Garcia, Spring Training 2026 His +17 Outs Above Average (OAA) in 2025 ranked second among all MLB third basemen, trailing only Ke'Bryan Hayes. By turning "sure hits" into outs, Garcia provides a safety net for a young pitching staff, directly lowering the team's ERA and extending the efficiency of its starters. 2. The Evolution of the Leadoff Profile Historically, Garcia was viewed as a slap-hitter with elite speed but limited power. However, 2025 saw a dramatic offensive evolution. He raised his slugging percentage by 117 points year-over-year, evolving from 7 home runs in 2024 to 16 in 2025. This surge wasn't a fluke; it was backed by Statcast data showing an average exit velocity of 91.9 MPH (84th percentile) and a significant decrease in his groundball rate. 3. All-Around Production & Versatility Garcia’s value lies in his ability to impact the game in every phase. He is one of the few players in the league who can credibly threaten a 20-homer, 20-steal season while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense. Despite focusing more on power in 2025, he still swiped 23 bases. His 12.5% strikeout rate ranks in the 89th percentile, making him one of the most difficult outs in the American League. He leads the team in walks (61) and situational hitting, providing the perfect bridge to the heart of the order. The Verdict The Royals’ front office has signaled its belief that Garcia is a "cornerstone talent." As of April 2026, he has picked up exactly where he left off, posting a .333/.425/.485 slash line line through the first week of the season. While others provide the flash, Maikel Garcia provides the foundation. His ability to elite-defend, reach base at a high clip, and provide newfound power makes him the ultimate "glue guy" for a franchise aiming to return to the postseason. View the full article

For the Kansas City Royals, the path to a sustainable winning culture isn’t just built on superstar highlights; it’s anchored by high-floor, high-ceiling consistency. While Bobby Witt Jr. captures the headlines, Maikel Garcia has quietly emerged as the vital engine that keeps the machine running. Following a breakout 2025 campaign that earned him an All-Star nod and a Gold Glove Award, Garcia’s importance was solidified by a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension in December 2025. Here is why Garcia is the indispensable piece of the Royals' future. 1. Elite Defensive Stability Pitching success in Kansas City has always relied on elite infield defense. Garcia has transformed the "Hot Corner" into a vacuum. In 2025, he led all American League third basemen in fielding percentage and putouts, while ranking in the 99th percentile for range among all MLB fielders. "If you win a Gold Glove, you don't want one, you want two, three, four. That's the goal." — Maikel Garcia, Spring Training 2026 His +17 Outs Above Average (OAA) in 2025 ranked second among all MLB third basemen, trailing only Ke'Bryan Hayes. By turning "sure hits" into outs, Garcia provides a safety net for a young pitching staff, directly lowering the team's ERA and extending the efficiency of its starters. 2. The Evolution of the Leadoff Profile Historically, Garcia was viewed as a slap-hitter with elite speed but limited power. However, 2025 saw a dramatic offensive evolution. He raised his slugging percentage by 117 points year-over-year, evolving from 7 home runs in 2024 to 16 in 2025. This surge wasn't a fluke; it was backed by Statcast data showing an average exit velocity of 91.9 MPH (84th percentile) and a significant decrease in his groundball rate. 3. All-Around Production & Versatility Garcia’s value lies in his ability to impact the game in every phase. He is one of the few players in the league who can credibly threaten a 20-homer, 20-steal season while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense. Despite focusing more on power in 2025, he still swiped 23 bases. His 12.5% strikeout rate ranks in the 89th percentile, making him one of the most difficult outs in the American League. He leads the team in walks (61) and situational hitting, providing the perfect bridge to the heart of the order. The Verdict The Royals’ front office has signaled its belief that Garcia is a "cornerstone talent." As of April 2026, he has picked up exactly where he left off, posting a .333/.425/.485 slash line line through the first week of the season. While others provide the flash, Maikel Garcia provides the foundation. His ability to elite-defend, reach base at a high clip, and provide newfound power makes him the ultimate "glue guy" for a franchise aiming to return to the postseason. View the full article

I was a major critic of what the Twins did at the trade deadline last year. I didn't have a problem with selling, but selling to the overwhelming extent the front office did felt, to me, overboard and ill advised. A commitment to losing beyond 2025. Minnesota offloaded quite a bit of talent with years of team service remaining, including some of their best players. But it wasn't even that. A big, bold shakeup amid another extremely disappointing season — that I can deal with. What my disapproval really boiled down to was a lack of trust in the people making these weighty decisions. When you're trading away as many well-liked, proven, controllable players as the Twins did last July, you have to be right more than you're wrong on the returns. Otherwise, you risk setting the franchise back significantly and further torpedoing fan morale. It felt hard at the time to have confidence in the Twins front office to make the right calls, and for their development apparatus to follow through on the vision. This was the same baseball ops department that built the iteration of the team that they were now dismantling — one that never really experienced much success outside of a single ALWC round victory in the playoffs. Notably, it was also a department that had consistently struggled to convert talented young players into sustainable MLB contributors, or to turn around wayward careers. This added extra room for skepticism around a strategy focused on acquiring players with clear ability but downward trend needles and clear performance issues. When the deadline additions almost uniformly flopped during their first impressions in the final months of 2025, it only fueled the fires of doubt. When Derek Falvey, chief architect of the sweeping shakeup, exited during the offseason, more fuel. I'm someone who desperately wants to buy into the direction of the Twins franchise. I want to believe in where they're going, because the alternative is (and has been) quite bleak. But there just haven't been enough success stories in the past couple years to instill a level of faith. Taj Bradley is fast turning into a case study capable of turning the tides. The trade that sent Griffin Jax to Tampa in exchange for Bradley was among my least favorite at last year's deadline. Sure, the logic was easy enough to see: relievers are generally more volatile and less valuable than starters; Bradley was bringing with him two extra years of team control, plus untapped upside. But Jax was a proven stud, and Bradley, for all his ability and prior accolades as an up-and-coming prospect, was far from that. He'd failed to find much MLB success under the vaunted Rays development engine (4.70 ERA in 354 IP) — he was even demoted to Triple-A prior to being acquired — and Bradley looked as bad as ever during a late six-start stint for Minnesota following the trade (6.61 ERA in 31.1 IP). This year has been a very different story. We're only two weeks in, but Bradley has been one of the league's best pitchers early on, posting a shiny 1.08 ERA with 22 strikeouts and four walks through 16 ⅔ innings. He's gotten better each time out, building upon an impressive spring by flashing improved command of an overpowering arsenal. I don't want to overreact to the small sample, but in his first three starts Bradley is looking like the actualized version of himself, which just never came to fruition in Tampa despite ample opportunity. It's been absolutely invigorating. Jax, meanwhile, is off to a horrible start with the Rays, having allowed five earned runs on seven hits and three walks through four innings. Whereas Bradley ranks fifth in the majors among qualified pitchers in fWAR (0.7), Jax ranks sixth-worst among relievers (-0.3), and second-to-last in WPA (-0.97). I'm definitely not going to overreact to this minuscule sample of five appearances, but it does lend some credence to the volatility of relief pitching while greatly enhancing the present optics of this trade for Minnesota. It’s still far too early to declare anything definitive, and one hot stretch from Bradley doesn’t suddenly validate an entire organizational reset. (He's had these before in short bursts.) But developments like this matter. They offer a tangible glimpse of what the front office envisioned when it made a series of aggressive, uncomfortable decisions last summer. If Bradley continues to look like this — not just effective, but transformed — it can become more than an individual success story. It's a proof of concept. If he does it while Jax continues to scuffle, it will quickly start looking like one of the better trades the Twins have made. There are still plenty of moves from that deadline that need time to play out — Mick Abel, Eduardo Tait, Alan Roden, Kendry Rojas among them — and the ultimate judgment on this front office will depend on the full body of work. But it’s a lot easier to buy into the process when you can point to a clear, early win. For a group that has struggled to earn the benefit of the doubt, Bradley’s emergence can be a meaningful step toward restoring belief that they might actually know what they’re doing. For a team that is direly lacking faith from its fan base, these kinds of wins are more important than any on the field right now. View the full article

Brandon Sproat probably couldn't imagine a worse start to his Brewers tenure. With under 7 innings pitched and 11 earned runs to his name after two starts, Sproat needs to show some progress over his next few starts; Robert Gasser and Logan Henderson are waiting in the wings. The question is: How can he turn things around? Initially, PitchProfiler seems to suggest that Sproat lacks a dominant fastball, and hitters are finding it too easy to time both it and his secondary offerings. Looking a little closer, however (specifically at the graph in the top right), that's not entirely true. Sinkers rarely get glowing grades from stuff models, because even good sinkers don't have the same correlation with swing-and-miss as (say) a four-seam fastball or curveball would. That being said, Sproat's sinker has some wicked bowling ball-like movement, producing a 104 Stuff+ rating to right-handers. The rub: an ugly 87 Stuff+ to left-handers. That's a big disparity, and it prompted me to look a little deeper. The Brewers love fastballs almost more than any other team in baseball, but that sinker won't consistently play well on its own to lefties, without excellent command. This is where the Brewers and Mets have differed in their approach. The Mets used a pitch pattern more similar to Logan Webb, utilizing a changeup and sinker tandem that have similar movement profiles but different velocity bands. The pitches look very similar, but the change in velocity makes Webb one of the best ground ball merchants in the sport. In his brief time in the big leagues with the Mets last year, Sproat featured his changeup, curveball and four-seamer, at the expense of the sinker. So far, the Brewers have him trying to make the sinker work, despite that pitch's almost universally stark platoon splits. They've preferred the new, harder slider (or cutter) over the changeup; it's a pitch that fits their traditional approach well. Alas, because the cutter and sinker have such a large difference in how much they move, the cutter is getting hit. Across 27 pitches (small sample size alert), lefties have cracked two homers and have a .744 expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) against the cutter. (Remember, xwOBA is scaled to on-base percentage, so a .744 is video game-level violence.) When the pitch is being primarily used to come inside on lefties, it has to be located and set up well enough to survive those danger zones. So far, Sproat doesn't have that. He's nervously approaching left-handers at present, falling behind a lot and nibbling with the sinker. He's living down and away in the strike zone, but falling behind in counts has proved devastating for him. The fastballs just don't play over the heart of the plate to opposite-handed hitters, and he's struggled to get swings and misses on all but the changeup to lefties. The changeup has dropped from 25% to 11% usage in 2026, and it hasn't been located well enough to play off his sinker; pairing those pitches productively is always difficult. As you can see from the first graphic, these pitches move almost identically, and the changeup is only 5 MPH slower. The velocity separation would ideally be larger, but the changeup has managed to miss bats. Hopefully, it's something he feels more comfortable using against left-handers in his next two starts, but he'll also need a different way to set it up. The main issue for Sproat is the walks. He's faced 19 left-handed batters and walked six of them, compared to three strikeouts, with five hits on top of that. It's a result of a fastball he doesn't feel comfortable pounding the strike zone with, and the lack of a genuine out pitch in two-strike counts. The changeup may solve the latter, but it will be fascinating to see if the Brewers adjust his fastball mix, too, including getting back to more four-seam fastballs. It's also worth noting that Sproat has been caught by Gary Sánchez and Jeferson Quero in his first two starts. How William Contreras calls the game might be different, and the presence he provides behind the dish could help Sproat as he continues to ease into his role as a major-league pitcher. Two things can be true at once. Sproat has been bogged down by nerves across his first two starts, showing more erratic command as a result. He could tighten up how he's attacking hitters to weather the storm better and come out the other side with better results. The raw velocity and movement are there, but piecing it together has involved a steep learning curve for him at this level. How quickly he can navigate that curve will go a long way to deciding where he's playing baseball in May and June. View the full article

Carson Benge is one of the best prospects in baseball, owner of consensus top-20 status in the league. With 15 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and a 150 wRC+ last year in the minors across three levels, he seemed ready for stardom. Until he wasn’t. Before taking the field on Wednesday, Benge was slashing a paltry .091/.211/.182 with a 24 wRC+ and a 28.9 percent strikeout rate. That’s certainly not what the New York Mets would have wanted for his first few weeks as a major leaguer, but truth be told, this outcome was always within the realm of possibilities. It’s important to note that it hasn’t been all negative, though. The dynamic outfielder has stolen four bases in four tries and boasts a solid 13.2 percent walk rate, which ranks him in the 76th percentile among all qualified hitters. The pieces are there, but the puzzle has yet to be put together. Carson Benge Requires Patience After Just 24 Triple-A Games Last Year Yes, Benge won a spot on the Mets’ Opening Day roster fair and square with a strong spring that saw him post a 140 wRC+ in 46 trips to the plate. Yet. some people conveniently forget that he struggled to the tune of a 53 wRC+ in a short Triple-A cameo in 2025 that lasted 24 games. There’s a non-zero chance that Benge is not ready for the majors as of this moment, but there is also an even bigger likelihood that his current struggles are part of an adjustment period that could end relatively soon. Which one is it? Well, we are going to need more data, but with young players like him, every day represents an opportunity to learn. Unfortunately, the Mets need him after losing Juan Soto to a calf strain that sent him to the injured list. Their current outfield picture is comprised of Benge, Luis Robert Jr., Tyrone Taylor, Jared Young, and Brett Baty. That’s not ideal, even though some of them are actually producing, and the team won four in a row after losing Soto. The Mets have no choice but to be very patient with Benge. He does need to start showing something, though. The 23-year-old will swing at pitches out of the zone, but his 49th percentile chase rate is not a huge problem. Additionally, his 52nd percentile whiff rate is merely average, but also not a huge concern. What's the problem, then? Basically, three specific, separate situations: Making contact at pitches inside the zone, an excessive amount of ground balls, and issues against the fastball. Benge ranks 147th out of 188 qualified hitters with his 80.4 percent Z-contact%, which means that he hasn't been able to do much with pitches in the zone to this point. Pitchers will keep challenging him until he can, and if he can't adjust, his walk rate may start plummeting as a result, depriving him off his most useful attribute so far (getting on base). Carson Benge Must Adjust To MLB Fastballs His issues against fastballs are perhaps more worrisome. Benge has managed a meager hit in 17 plate appearances that finished with a four-seamer, with a .256 xwOBA that ranked him 153rd among 195 players with a minimum of 10 plate appearances ending with the pitch. He is, however, slowly making strides in that department. Here's a nicely hit batted ball that should have gone for extra-bases in the series opener against the Diamondbacks: In that game, he had two hard-hit balls, including the one in the video above. One of them left his bat at 95.2 mph, and the other one at 99.8 mph. Perhaps a bit of patience will do the trick, because the tools are definitely there. That being said, only 14 of 188 qualified hitters had a higher ground ball rate than Benge's 59.1 percent. By now, we all know that hitting the ball on the ground so often doesn't lead to desirable outcomes. He was never billed as a 30-homer threat, but getting the ball in the air more frequently will alleviate longer-term concerns about his slugging impact. In totality, Benge definitely has things to work on as he develops into a reliable major-league producer. Consider, however, that he probably needed more time in Triple-A before declaring him a bust. Benge remains a highly promising player despite struggling right out of the gate, and ten early games of subpar production won't change that. Can he help the Mets in the short term, though? That's something he'll have to prove in the coming weeks. View the full article