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With only seven days and four Grapefruit League games to go until Miami Marlins baseball begins its 34th regular season, it’s time for one final Opening Day roster prediction. There have been a few notable changes since Kevin Barral's mid-spring projection. These are the 26 men who I expect to break camp with the big league club on March 27. Position Players Starting nine: Agustín Ramírez (C), Christopher Morel (1B), Xavier Edwards (2B), Connor Norby (3B), Otto Lopez (SS), Kyle Stowers (LF), Jakob Marsee (CF), Owen Caissie (RF), Heriberto Hernández (DH) Bench: Esteury Ruiz (OF), Javier Sanoja (UTIL), Liam Hicks (C/1B), Graham Pauley (INF) Stowers (hamstring) and Pauley (forearm) are both expected to be fully recovered and ready for Opening Day, manager Clayton McCullough said. Nevertheless, with left-hander Kyle Freeland starting the season opener for the Colorado Rockies, I expect Connor Norby to be in the lineup and manning third base. As of late, Norby has been swinging a hot bat, going the other way frequently and raising his spring batting average to .316 (he has yet to draw a walk, however). After positive showings for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Otto Lopez and Owen Caissie returned to big league camp with confidence. Lopez will be the everyday shortstop, while Caissie is expected to see most of his reps against right-handed pitching. Despite Ruiz’s dreadful spring at the plate, it still feels like he has an inside track to break camp. He offers a right-handed bat in a mostly left-handed-hitting outfield. Additionally, he’s the only other player on the projected roster who can play center field. Sanoja could handle it in a pinch, but the Marlins prefer him in the infield. The four Marlins who I consider to be true everyday players are Edwards, Ramírez, Lopez and Marsee. Just missed: Griffin Conine In a vacuum, it's hard to deny that Conine is more deserving of a big league job than Ruiz. Unfortunately for him, his skill set may be redundant on the Marlins to begin the season, as Stowers and Caissie are expected to lock down the two corner outfield spots. Pitchers Starting Rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Chris Paddack, Max Meyer, Janson Junk Bullpen: Pete Fairbanks, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar, Anthony Bender, John King, Cade Gibson, Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips The first four spots in the rotation are essentially locked up. The fifth spot was a battle between Junk and Garrett. Even before the Marlins made it official, I foresaw the job ultimately going to Junk. The right-hander is out of minor league options, which worked in his favor. The six bullpen “locks” I identify are Fairbanks, Faucher, Gibson, Bender, King, and Phillips. Bachar suffers from inconsistent control. However, he’s missing plenty of bats and provided some pivotal outs for Miami last season. Petersen, who opted to forego the World Baseball Classic to focus on making the team, has also had a strong spring (3.52 ERA in 7 ⅔ innings). Just missed: Andrew Nardi, Braxton Garrett As McCullough explained on Friday, Garrett has "worked his butt off to get back. He's put in a lot of time to get himself healthy, was throwing the ball well this spring and just felt like to start the year that we had a five that I wanted to go with." Nardi has looked sharp in his return to competitive games after missing the entire 2026 season. Still, I expect Miami to ease him back in by starting him either in extended spring training or with Triple-A Jacksonville. View the full article

JUPITER, FL - On Friday, the Miami Marlins announced that left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett has been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. Janson Junk will round out the Marlins rotation as the fifth starter. "I will say that it was a very difficult, and in some ways it's a good thing that it was so difficult," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough told the media. "It means that a high number of our potential starters that came into this camp, outside of Adam (Mazur), have stayed healthy, and they've performed well. We like where a lot of our guys are at. (Braxton) has worked his butt off to get back. He's put in a lot of time to get himself healthy, was throwing the ball well this spring and just felt like to start the year that we had a five that I wanted to go with." Garrett, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, made two Grapefruit League starts. After a shaky first one, surrendering two runs on one hit and walking two, he bounced back against Team Israel where in three shutout innings of work, he struck out two. The Marlins never saw Garrett in the bullpen, so it'll allow him to continue building up as a starting pitcher. One caveat is that in Triple-A, it is typically a six-man rotation, so that is something "that will be discussed," per McCullough. "There will also be a number of individuals there that we see as potential bulk options that might not be starting who also need to stay stretched out," McCullough said. "I actually look at this as a good problem to have." Garrett has one minor league option remaining, which will be used up if he spends at least 20 days in the minors this season. It'll be an all right-handed rotation to begin the season with Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Max Meyer, Chris Paddack and Janson Junk. Meyer will throw in a sim-game on Tuesday to begin his final build-up and both Paddack and Junk will pitch in Miami before Opening Day on Friday. "Janson (Junk) deserves a chance to be in our rotation to start the season," McCullough said. "Max Meyer as well. I think this move today adds some clarity as to where we're at with starting the year with Sandy, Eury, Max, Paddack and Janson in the rotation. As much that we think Janson can start, if we get to a point where performance or things dictate that we pivot, then we will. That's how I've kind of seen this spring play out." It's a split-squad day for the Marlins on Friday, with Paddack starting in Jupiter (7:10 p.m. first pitch) and Pérez starting in West Palm Beach (6:05 p.m.). View the full article

On Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers hosted a New Food, Beverage, and Hospitality event, providing updates on how the organization plans to enhance the game day experience at American Family Field. The primary focus of the event was the vending experience, in particular, with Vice President of Consumer Experience Tom Hecht announcing new food items and collaborations with local establishments. The organization is expanding its 3rd St. Market Hall Annex and Food Truck Park, promptly titled “The Alley.” The 3rd St. Market Hall is inspired by the downtown Milwaukee food hall of the same name. The 3rd St. Market Hall is one of the nicest parts of downtown Milwaukee, and the Brewers are hoping to replicate those vibes at American Family Field. One of the headlining new restaurants joining the 3rd St. Market Hall Annex is Bebe Zito, a Minneapolis-based ice cream and burger joint that opened its first Milwaukee location less than a year ago. Bebe Zito owner Ben Spangler is excited to expand his business to American Family Field and Milwaukee, saying, “Milwaukee is like all the great parts of Minnesota crammed into one beautiful city.” The company’s menu options include four ice cream flavors (Breakfast Club, Blackberry Butter Birthday Cake, Dat Malt Dough, Strawberry Fields 4 Ever), a variety of dirty sodas, burgers, honey butter chicken tenders, and pistachio chocolate strawberry cups (the honey butter chicken tenders and pistachio chocolate strawberry cups were incredible! I highly recommend them). Another local venue making its American Family Field debut this season is K&L’s BBQ. Their primary menu items are their Brisket Sandwich, Brisket Loaded Waffle Fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich, K&L Smoked Brisket Burger, Brisket Mac, and Pulled Pork Elote. K&L BBQ’s standout dish was their Brisket Mac. It was my favorite item there and genuinely one of the best things I have eaten this year. I will definitely be buying it the next time I visit American Family Field. The other headlining new vending option was “Fair Foods,” a fair-food-themed stand constructed in collaboration with Delaware North Executive Chef Alex Beronja. The headlining Fair Food menu items are Corn Dogs, Cream Puffs, Fried Kringle, and a Nacho on a Stick. I strongly recommend trying the Nacho on a Stick and Fried Kringle. The organization also provided us with Diet Coke, which was very nice of them. Against my best interests, I love diet soda. I drank two of them. Regardless, American Family Field has one of the most expansive and creative vending experiences in MLB, with the 3rd St. Market Hall and Food Truck Park among the more recent, revolutionary in-stadium developments. Milwaukee begins its 2026 campaign against former Brewers pitching prospect Shane Smith and the Chicago White Sox on Mar. 26. Make sure to try the new venue options at American Family Field and let Brewer Fanatic know what you think! View the full article

A week away from Miami Marlins Opening Day, the roster battles are finally getting settled. AJ Ramos, Kevin Barral and Ely Sussman react to the news of Janson Junk earning a starting rotation spot at the expense of Braxton Garrett, who's been optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville. They also discuss the importance of the Jupiter Academy's recent renovations and AJ's memories of making his first career Opening Day roster in 2013. 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. Garrett, 28, has one minor league option remaining, while the 30-year-old Junk is out of options. Junk is scheduled to make his final Grapefruit League start on Saturday afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals. View the full article

Minnesota’s most notable right-handed bullpen addition of the offseason is no longer in camp. The Twins have granted Liam Hendriks his release, allowing the veteran to pursue an opportunity elsewhere just days before the regular season begins. Hendriks’ contract always made this a possibility. He carried multiple opt-out dates, including one a week before Opening Day, another on May 1, and a final date on June 1. Once triggered, the Twins had a 48-hour window to either add him to the 40-man roster or release him back into free agency. Minnesota ultimately chose the latter, ending what had been a quietly intriguing spring storyline. On the surface, that decision feels a bit surprising. Hendriks showed legitimate progress throughout camp. He allowed just two earned runs across six innings while striking out four and walking three. More importantly, his velocity ticked upward as the spring progressed. After sitting in the low 90s early, he began reaching the mid-90s in his most recent outings, a sign that his arm strength was trending in the right direction. There was a path for Hendriks to matter here. At times, it even felt like more than that. Given the uncertainty surrounding the bullpen, there had been speculation that he could factor into late-inning situations or even work his way into the closer conversation if everything clicked. Instead, the Twins will move forward without him, and the relief picture becomes significantly more complicated. For now, Taylor Rogers appears to be the default option to handle the ninth inning. That alone speaks to the current construction of this group. Rogers is joined by fellow left-handers Kody Funderburk, Anthony Banda, and non-roster invitee Andrew Chafin, giving Minnesota an unusually left-heavy mix of bullpen candidates. The right-handed side offers far less certainty. Cole Sands is positioned to handle the bulk of the late-inning work to open the season, while Justin Topa and Eric Orze project more naturally into middle-inning roles. There are depth options like Travis Adams *(currently hurt) or Zak Kent who could factor into multi-inning spots, but those are hardly proven solutions for a team whose ownership has insisted will be competitive this year. That is what makes this decision linger a bit. Hendriks may not be the dominant force he once was, and there is a fair argument that his best days are behind him. Still, this is a bullpen lacking established right-handed options and defined roles. Passing on a veteran who was showing signs of life in March is a gamble, especially when the alternatives come with just as many questions. Stepping back, the Twins bullpen looks less like a finished product and more like a collection of maybes. There is an imbalance in handedness, limited late-inning experience, and no clear hierarchy beyond Rogers by default. Teams rarely carry four left-handed relievers, let alone a group without elite track records, and yet that is the direction Minnesota appears to be heading. Perhaps the Twins have another move in the works. The week before Opening Day can bring trades of players on the fringes of the roster. There is also a chance that a right-handed reliever will be placed on waivers, and the Twins could claim him for nothing. Still, the Hendriks decision seems short-sighted. Hendriks might be older and past his peak, but he also represented something this bullpen currently lacks: a potential answer. Instead, the Twins will head into the season with a relief corps that feels unsettled, unproven, and, at least for now, a bit of a mess. What are your thoughts on the Twins releasing Hendriks? Can this bullpen be successful as currently constructed? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins made a notable decision as camp winds down, reassigning Zebby Matthews to minor league camp and effectively handing the final rotation spot to Mick Abel. Coming into spring, Matthews looked like the logical favorite. He had more experience at the big league level and appeared poised to build on that foundation. Instead, the right-hander ran into trouble. Over 11 innings, he allowed seven earned runs while striking out nine and walking four. The results were not disastrous, but they were not convincing enough to lock down a job. Abel, on the other hand, forced the organization’s hand. Despite having fewer than 40 innings of major league experience, Abel delivered one of the most electric performances in camp. Across 13 1/3 innings, he gave up just two earned runs while racking up 17 strikeouts against a single walk. It was dominance paired with control, the exact combination teams want to see when evaluating young arms. That showing also served as a reminder of why Minnesota targeted him in last summer’s deal involving Jhoan Duran. The raw stuff has always been there, but this spring offered a glimpse of a pitcher beginning to harness it. With Abel now in place, the Twins’ Opening Day rotation appears set. Joe Ryan will take the ball first, followed by Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, and Abel, rounding things out. Of course, spring decisions rarely tell the full story of a season. Matthews may be heading to Triple-A, but it would be surprising if he stayed there long. Pitching depth is tested early and often, and Minnesota already has questions to monitor. Ober’s velocity has been one of the biggest storylines of camp. The right-hander failed to crack 90 miles per hour in his most recent outing, raising concerns that are difficult to ignore. While the Twins will give him the opportunity to start, it is fair to wonder how sustainable success can be with diminished velocity and no clear explanation. That uncertainty only reinforces a simple truth across the league. Teams do not just need five starters. They need eight or ten. Matthews figures to be at the front of that next wave, and he will not be alone. Arms like Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, and Kendry Rojas are waiting in the wings at Triple-A. Each brings upside, and each could find themselves taking meaningful innings as the season unfolds. The Twins made their choice for Opening Day, but the reality is that this rotation is far from finished. It is simply the first version of what will be an evolving group all summer long. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins will hand the ball to Joe Ryan when the regular season begins on March 26 in Baltimore, the club announced Friday. It is a decision that felt inevitable at times this spring, yet briefly seemed uncertain as Ryan worked through an early health scare and an unexpected detour involving Team USA. Ryan’s spring did not begin smoothly. While warming up for his first Grapefruit League start, he experienced lower back tightness that forced Minnesota to pull him before taking the mound. The cautious move not only delayed his buildup but also altered his trajectory for the World Baseball Classic, where he had been in the mix for Team USA consideration. An MRI revealed no structural damage, offering immediate relief for both Ryan and the organization. Still, the timing proved costly. Ryan remained hopeful he could rejoin Team USA later in the tournament and was prepared to do just that. He had his car packed and was ready to drive to Miami in anticipation of pitching in the semifinal or championship round. Ultimately, Team USA informed him that he would not be used, a decision that caught Ryan off guard. He later expressed surprise at the call, while also emphasizing his appreciation for the Twins’ support throughout the process. In a twist that now benefits Minnesota, Ryan’s absence from the international stage allowed the club to keep his schedule intact. That alignment made him the clear choice for Opening Day, especially in light of the circumstances surrounding the rest of the rotation. Ryan is no stranger to the assignment. He previously started Opening Day in 2022 against the Seattle Mariners, allowing two runs across four innings. A first-inning home run by Mitch Haniger proved to be the difference in a narrow 2-1 loss. The outing was brief, but it provided Ryan with an early taste of the spotlight that comes with setting the tone for a season. This time around, he enters with a much stronger résumé. Ryan is coming off his first All-Star campaign, posting a 13-10 record with a 3.42 ERA. He struck out 194 hitters while issuing just 39 walks across a career-high 30 starts, cementing his place as one of the most reliable arms in the American League. The path to this year’s Opening Day assignment became even clearer when Pablo López was ruled out for the season following Tommy John surgery. With the staff ace sidelined, Ryan quickly emerged as the logical choice to lead the rotation. The only lingering question was his health, and that concern has largely been put to rest. After a brief 17-day pause, Ryan has looked increasingly sharp in recent outings. His latest start showed noticeable improvement, with his fastball velocity ticking upward and his command returning. He recorded six strikeouts against the Pittsburgh Pirates after failing to register a punchout in his spring debut, a clear sign that his rhythm is coming back at the right time. What once looked like a disrupted spring has come full circle. Ryan enters the season healthy, aligned, and positioned at the front of Minnesota’s rotation. For a team navigating early adversity, that stability could prove invaluable as the Twins open their season on the road. View the full article

Major League Baseball games are right around the corner. A week today, the games will count, the statistics will count, and the Kansas City Royals’ quest to return to postseason baseball will begin in Atlanta. Now is the time when fans want to see their players get into a groove and look ready to face MLB-caliber pitching. As always, these spring training statistics don’t matter, but here is one of the final looks at the hot and cold performers in Royals camp. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Bailey Falter Acquired at last year's trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Falter struggled to find his footing in a Royals uniform. After turning in a 7-5 record with a 3.73 ERA and 1.18 in Pittsburgh over 22 starts, the wheels fell off following the trade. In four appearances (two starts), Falter went 0-2 with an ERA of 11.25 and a WHIP of 2.25. Opponents hit .370, and Falter walked seven batters across 12 innings. With a clean slate this spring, Falter has been up-and-down, but the left-hander’s last outing gave belief that Falter could have a role on this team when camp breaks next week. Falter threw three shutout innings, allowing no hits, no walks, and striking out five. With Mason Black and Ryan Bergert being optioned to Omaha earlier this week, the door has opened for Falter to claim a long relief role in the Royals’ bullpen. If injuries do strike, Falter has put himself in a position to be an option to fill a role, based on his career ERA of 4.58. Daniel Lynch IV Lynch IV continues to build on a strong 2025 campaign this spring. Through seven spring outings, Lynch IV has pitched to a record of 1-0, an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.17. In the left-hander’s most recent outing, Lynch IV struck out the side, requiring only 16 pitches to set the Rangers aside. Last season, Lynch IV went 6-2 with an ERA of 3.06 and a WHIP of 1.36 over 57 outings. With the trade of fellow left-hander Ángel Zerpa during the winter, Lynch IV could be in line for more opportunities to continue to grow as a left-hander coming out of the Royals’ bullpen. Kyle Isbel Isbel got hot at the right time. After struggling through the earlier portions of camp, Isbel is making sure he finishes strong. Over his last three games, Isbel is 5-for-8, with one double, one triple, two RBIs, and one walk. Isbel’s spring slash line now sits at .276/.382/.379, while also chipping in two steals. If Isbel can provide this level of offense, to go along with his great defense, the Royals would be over the moon about the 29-year-old’s production. Last season, Isbel batted .255 with four home runs and 33 RBI’s, to go along with an OBP of .301. A raised OBP could help allow Isbel to challenge his career high of 11 stolen bases, set back in 2024. Who’s Not? 🧊 Nick Mears Spring training has been a struggle for Mears, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers during the offseason. The 29-year-old has appeared in seven games, posting an ERA of 10.80 and a WHIP of 2.10 across 6 ⅔ innings. Mears has struggled with both giving up hits and control, allowing nine hits and walking five. Last season, Mears was a key piece of the Brewers’ bullpen, going 5-3 with an ERA of 3.49 and a WHIP of 0.97. Opponents struggled to hit off Mears, generating an average of .213, while also only walking 13 in 56 ⅔ innings. With the regular season around the corner, the Royals are going to need Mears to find his stride to be a key piece in what could be a strong Royals bullpen. Noah Cameron Cameron put together a very nice rookie season in 2025. Over 24 starts, Cameron went 9-7, posted an ERA of 2.99 and a WHIP of 1.10, finishing fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. This spring, over five games (four starts), Cameron has gone 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. After holding opponents to a .214 average against during his rookie campaign, teams have been able to hit .343 off the left-hander, which is a concerning development. Cameron last pitched against the Cleveland Guardians on March 19, where the lefty went 4 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs on five hits, two home runs, two walks, while also hitting a batter. Having Cameron find his stride as the regular season opens could be one of the biggest storylines for the Royals, who could field one of the stronger rotations in MLB in 2026. Isaac Collins Collins, like Mears, was also acquired from the Brewers in the trade that sent Zerpa to Milwaukee. After batting .263 with nine home runs and 63 RBI’s and a .368 OBP with the Brewers last year, Collins has struggled to find his footing in his new home this spring. Through 21 at-bats this spring, Collins has batted .095 and posted an OBP of .174. The Royals’ outfield struggled to produce last season, so the acquisition of Collins was hoped to fill a hole that had persisted for much of the 2025 campaign. With four spring training games remaining on the exhibition schedule, players will want to start seeing results as the statistics begin to count in a week's time. View the full article

The Twins entered the week looking to bounce back from a winless weekend, and they did just that with a 5-1 win over the Pirates on Monday. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to build much momentum from there, dropping a 2-0 game to the Phillies on Tuesday and a 4-2 contest to the Red Sox on Thursday. They did, however, cap things off with an impressive 9-3 win over the Phillies in Thursday’s Spring Breakout game, bringing them back to .500 on the week. While the results themselves don’t carry much weight in spring training, the way players are performing within those games can still be telling. At this point in camp, roles are starting to come into focus, and these outings can offer a clearer sense of who’s finding their stride at the right time and who may still be trying to put things together. With that in mind, here’s a quick temperature check from the past few days. Who’s Hot? Emmanuel Rodriguez: Rodriguez put together, arguably, the most impressive individual performance of the Spring Breakout game. He opened things up with a 115.6 MPH single in the third inning — which was not only the hardest-hit ball of the game, but the third hardest-hit ball by any Twins hitter since the start of the 2024 season. He followed that up in his next at-bat with a 113 MPH triple to left-center field, continuing to show off the kind of raw power that’s always made him such an intriguing prospect. The tools have never been in question. If he can stay healthy and continue to string together results like this, there’s a lot to be excited about. Joe Ryan: After a solid first spring outing, Ryan turned things up a notch on Monday. Over four strong innings, he allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six. He generated nine whiffs on 68 pitches (48 strikes), and his fastball sat just below 93 MPH. It’s also a good sign that he’s already getting his pitch count that high in just his second outing of the spring. Ryan is lined up to start Saturday to get one last tune-up outing before (presumably) taking the hill on Opening Day. Gabriel Gonzalez: It was an impressive showing in big league camp for Gonzalez, and he carried that momentum into the Spring Breakout game. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, including a 105 MPH RBI single that highlighted his ability to drive the ball with authority. It’s been a strong overall spring for Gonzalez, and if that continues into the regular season, he may not be far off from putting himself in the conversation for a call-up. Matt Wallner: Wallner has quickly turned a slow start into a very productive spring. Over his limited opportunities this week, he’s gone 3-for-5 with a double and two walks, continuing to show a much more disciplined approach at the plate. He’s now up to eight walks this spring and owns a 1.022 OPS, a strong indicator of how well-rounded his offensive performance has been. With consistent at-bats near the top of the order, Wallner looks like someone the Twins will be counting on to carry this momentum into the regular season. Who’s Not? Royce Lewis: Spring numbers don’t mean everything, but it’s getting harder to ignore the slow start from Lewis. After a hitless start to the week, he’s now just 3-for-33 this spring with 11 strikeouts, dropping his average below the .100 mark. The underlying contact quality hasn’t been particularly encouraging either, with an average exit velocity of 88.4 MPH and a hard-hit rate below 40 percent. For a player with Lewis’s talent, it’s still not quite time to full-on panic. But it would certainly be reassuring to see him square some balls up over the next few days. Josh Bell: After trending in the right direction just last week, Bell has cooled off considerably. He’s 0-for-6 with three strikeouts over the past few days, and the contact he’s made hasn’t been especially loud. Given his track record, this isn’t something that should raise major concern. But with the season right around the corner, you’d still like to see him finish camp on a stronger note. James Outman: This has been a tough stretch at a time when Outman could least afford it. He’s 1-for-8 this week with four strikeouts, and his lone hit came on a soft blooper. After putting himself firmly in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot earlier in camp, he now sits at 8-for-37 with 15 strikeouts this spring. With time running out, he’ll need a very quick turnaround if he has any chance of getting back into the conversation. Spring training always comes with the usual caveats, but there’s still value in looking at how players are trending. A few Twins are clearly building momentum as camp winds down, while others haven’t quite clicked yet. With only a handful of games left, these final performances could play a big role in shaping both the roster and early-season expectations. View the full article

Suddenly, the San Diego Padres have just four Cactus League games left. The dog days of spring were covered up by the World Baseball Classic, but now everyone is focused on the finer things in order to get ready for Opening Day. That includes a couple of split-squad games Friday before wrapping things up with their co-tenant at the Peoria Sports Complex, the Seattle Mariners, on Monday. Then, the fateful return to San Diego. As a reminder: Don't take anything too seriously in this recap. It is only spring training, where exhibition games often devolve into minor-league scrimmages. The information below is meant as basic information, not necessarily hardcore analysis. The Friars won three in a row to improve to 14-11-1 in the Cactus League, beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1 Monday, the Seattle Mariners 9-6 Tuesday and the Chicago White Sox 13-6 Thursday. Who's Hot? 🔥 Walker Buehler With the door clearly open for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, the two-time World Series champ is doing his best to walk through it. Buehler had his best outing of the spring, going five shutout innings against the Giants, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out seven. He threw 45 of his 77 pitches for strikes and got 11 swings and misses, all while topping out at 94.4 mph on his four-seamer. Buehler's numbers from 2025 weren't pretty, but he was much better in his final seven games as he completed his first full season after Tommy John surgery. Matt Waldron The right-hander was the subject of a lot of jokes when he required hemorrhoid surgery early in camp. While that threw off his chances of making the Opening Day rotation, he has come back and showed his value in what is a crucial season for him. Waldron threw two innings vs. the Mariners, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He was optioned to Triple-A this week, where he will build up his innings before a potential call-up. Waldron was a key part of the rotation in 2024, but only appeared in one MLB game in 2025. Rodolfo Duran An afterthought as camp began, the 28-year-old catcher has played quite a bit during Cactus League action. That is in part to Blake Hunt, who likely entered spring as No. 3 on the depth chart, sustaining an oblique injury. Duran, yet to make his MLB debut, has seized the opportunity with a .263/.462/.632 slash line in 14 games and 26 plate appearances. He has a pair of homers, six RBIs and six walks. With Luis Campusano's iffy defensive skills and spring struggles, does Duran make the Opening Day roster as the No. 2 catcher? At worst, he'll head back to Triple-A as the next man up. Who's Cold? 🧊 Michael King Still in the mix to be the Opening Day starter, the right-hander gave up six runs in five innings vs. the White Sox. Three came in the first and the other three in the fourth. King gave up three home runs, a pair to LaMonte Wade Jr. and the other to Curtis Mead. He allowed nine hits while walking two and striking out three. It was the second game in a row King allowed six runs, leaving his ERA at a problematic 10.19 in five games, with opponents hitting .351 against him. This cannot continue into the regular season if the Friars want any chance of surviving the NL West gauntlet. Ramon Laureano To be fair, the left fielder hasn't struggled that much, but he does lead the team with 15 strikeouts this spring in 33 at-bats. When he does make contact, he has put up a .273/.368/.515 slash line with one homer and three RBIs. The Friars would certainly take that average this season, especially if he can repeat his 24 homers, which tied his career high, from a year ago. Laureano will be a key to how the bottom half of the order performs this season, perhaps hitting as high as sixth and being counted on to drive in runs. Manny Machado After going 6-for-20 in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, the superstar third baseman returned to the Padres and has picked up right where he left off before the WBC. In other words, he has not good. Machado had been just 2-for-9 this spring (both hits homers in a single game) before the WBC. In his first game back, Machado went 0-for-3 and is now hitting .167 this spring. That was just one game after his two-week stint with the Dominican Republic, so hopefully the bat shows some life this weekend as Opening Day approaches. View the full article

Fish On First LIVE unpacks the highlights and lowlights from Marlins prospects who played on Thursday and wonders why more fans don't attend Spring Breakout. View the full article

On the most recent Fish Unfiltered, one of my five bold predictions was that Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards will win the National League batting title. He's looking to join Hanley Ramírez (2009), Dee Strange-Gordon and Luis Arraez (2023) as the only Marlins players to achieve that. The 2025 NL batting title champ was Trea Turner, who posted a .304 batting average in 141 games. Edwards finished 11th among qualified hitters and slashed .283/.343/.353/.695 overall with three home runs, 43 RBI, 27 stolen bases and a 95 wRC+. Entering his second full-length MLB season, I see the potential for him to improve. Edwards will likely continue to lead off for the Marlins. He puts immediate pressure on opposing defenses because he puts the ball in play a lot, as reflected in his 14.2% strikeout rate in 2025, which was 12th-lowest in the NL. Combining his contact skill with his 75th-percentile sprint speed, it makes sense that Edwards was tied for fourth in MLB last season with 33 infield hits. He is an outstanding bunter and that's a weapon he should consider using more often to break out of slumps like the ones he experienced at the beginning and end of 2025. When it comes to the mental side of the game, it should help Edwards that he is now a full-time second baseman. He opened 2025 as the Marlins starting shortstop, even though it was clear he was overmatched. Not surprisingly, his defensive struggles negatively impacted his all-around performance. He batted only .263 at SS, but .291 following the transition to 2B. After being a Gold Glove finalist at the position, he can fully focus on his work at the plate. Although Edwards is a switch-hitter, he had large platoon splits last season—he was great against right-handed pitching (.306/.368/.391/.758), but disappointing against lefties (.236/.289/.275/.564). All indications are that he will get everyday starts for the foreseeable future. However, if it's more of the same from him during the first half of 2026, the Marlins may eventually limit his exposure to LHP, which could boost his overall average while still getting him enough plate appearances to be a qualified hitter. Turner's .304 mark was unusually low for a batting champ. In predicting Edwards to win the title this season, I'm counting on him to finish somewhere above .310. View the full article

While competing with the back-to-back champion juggernaut that is the Los Angeles Dodgers is tough, the San Diego Padres have been aggressive enough to enter that conversation. Here is the route the Padres must take to challenge for the NL West title in 2026.View the full article

Jack and Spencer react to the Brewers' latest roster moves as Opening Day nears. Will Brandon Lockridge make the roster, and what to think of Blake Perkins, Tyler Black, and Logan Henderson returning to minor-league camp? Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

The Chicago Cubs are undergoing somewhat of a changing of the guard at the catching position. Carson Kelly, coming off a career year, is a season away from a mutual option. Miguel Amaya showed more pop in 2025, but he lost some playing time to Kelly. Moises Ballesteros, the top prospect and man with the most years of control, passed the eye test in a small sample size this year. What's the future of this position? We dive into that exact question in this video. View the full article

The Twins’ Spring Breakout Game gave us an early look at some of the organization’s most intriguing young talent. From standout performances to a few subtle storylines that could matter later, there was a lot to take in. Here are the biggest takeaways you need to know.View the full article

Padres Mission's countdown of the top 20 prospect in the San Diego Padres' organization comes to a conclusion with the No. 1 prospect, as voted on by our writers. Check out all of the other entries in the ranking here: No. 2 : Kash Mayfield No. 3: Kruz Schoolcraft No. 4: Bradgley Rodriguez No. 5: Miguel Mendez No. 6: Jagger Haynes No. 7: Humberto Cruz No. 8: Ty Harvey No. 9: Ryan Wideman No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 1: Ethan Salas (San Antonio Missions) Despite being born in Kissimmee, Fla., Salas qualified as an international free agent with family ties to Venezuela. As a 16-year-old, he was the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class, signing with the Padres for a $5.6 million bonus, at the time the largest handed out in the current capped system. Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB 2023 17 -7.4 San Antonio TL AA SDP 9 33 28 2 5 1 0 0 3 0 1 4 8 .179 .303 .214 .517 6 1 1 0 0 0 2023 17 -5.3 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 9 37 35 3 7 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 10 .200 .243 .229 .472 8 0 0 0 0 0 2023 17 -4.2 Lake Elsinore CALL A SDP 48 220 191 35 51 11 2 9 35 5 2 24 57 .267 .350 .487 .837 93 3 2 0 3 0 2024 18 -4.3 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 113 469 412 38 85 27 2 4 53 10 3 47 98 .206 .288 .311 .599 128 4 3 0 7 0 2024 18 -4.2 Peoria AZFL Fal 23 107 92 14 21 6 0 4 21 4 1 13 27 .228 .327 .424 .751 39 1 1 0 1 0 2025 19 -5.0 San Antonio TL AA SDP 10 41 32 5 6 1 0 0 5 2 0 6 5 .188 .325 .219 .544 7 0 1 1 1 0 Salas, who played with players twice his age in the Venezuelan winter league just months before signing, made his debut in the Padres organization two days before his 17th birthday, playing for the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm. Coming from a baseball family—dad Jose Salas Sr. played catcher in the Atlanta system, his paternal grandfather and his dad's brother played in the minors and Ethan has two brothers currently in the minors (Jose Jr. with the Minnesota Twins and Andrew with the Miami Marlins)—Salas had a wealth of knowledge that helped elevate his prospect status. Plus, being a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder who would have had to wait another year or two before being drafted doesn't hurt, either. He was a rare catcher that not only had elite defense, but had a good approach at the plate as a left-handed hitter. He has a proclivity for hitting the ball to all fields and was scouted with plus power. Salas showed those skills at Lake Elsinore. In his first 48 professional games, Salas had a slash line of .267/.350/.487 with nine homers, 35 RBIs and five stolen bases. Defensively, he had just one error and threw out eight of 37 steal attempts. As the Padres are wont to do, Salas was quickly promoted to the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps. He wasn't there very long, playing in just nine games with Fort Wayne and struggling offensively with a .200/.243/.229 slash line. With the season coming to an end, the Padres surprisingly moved Salas up again, this time to the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where he spent another nine games. There, he had a slash line of .179/.303/.214. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline each had Salas ranked as the No. 8 prospect in baseball as he returned to Fort Wayne to start the 2024 season as a 17-year-old, the youngest player in the Midwest League. This time, he stuck around for 113 games, but the offense he showed at Lake Elisnore wasn't there. Salas put together a .206/.288/.311 slash line with four homers, 53 RBIs and 10 steals, playing against players who on average were 4.3 years older than he was. He threw out 28 of 111 runners attempting to steal in 67 games at catcher. With a full season under his belt, the Friars sent him to the Arizona Fall League, a prospect showcase. The offense was still a work in progress as he finished with a .228/.327/.424 slash line, but he did pop four homers and drove in 21. The lack of offense started to dampen Salas' prospect luster, as Baseball America dropped him to No. 31 and MLB Pipeline to No. 33 entering 2025. Now 18 years old, Salas went up to Double-A, where he was five years younger than the average player in the Texas League. But just 10 games into the season, Salas' campaign came to an abrupt end with a stress reaction in his lower back. Salas, now 19, is likely returning to San Antonio to begin 2026. He participated in major-league camp this year, but went just 2-for-11 (.182). He slid further in the prospect rankings, tumbling to No. 90 in the Baseball America list and not being included in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. Some outlets even moved Salas to No. 2 in the Padres' system, behind last year's first-round draft pick, left-handed starter Kruz Schoolcraft. All of this adds up to making 2026 a key year for Salas. The defense is still there, with improvements made to his throwing process to better cut down runners. His approach at the plate has been considered simple (in a good way, with fewer moving parts) and he had an 86% in-zone contact rate in 2024 and his brief stint in 2025 before being hurt. He improved his strikeout rate by about five percentage points from 2023 to 2024 even though he didn't fare well against breaking balls. How the Friars treat Salas if he has success offensively will be something to watch. Double-A pitching is sometimes better than Triple-A pitching due to the number of prospects at the second-highest minor-league level, so any development on that front would be a huge boon for the best catcher in the system. While he was out injured last year and continuing this offseason, Salas worked with a number of people who have catching experience in the Padres' organization, including A.J. Ellis, Scott Servais and Mike Borzello, a current advance scout with a lot of experience on championship-winning teams as a bullpen catcher and catching coach. It helped Salas with game-planning and other items to sharpen him defensively. He is now up to 215 pounds (and down to 6-foot-1 in revised measurements) and worked to shorten his swing to improve his offense. "Cerebrally he’s advanced for his age, and for as little as he’s played, he absorbs the information really well," Borzello told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Now it’s just about playing and getting reps." Added Salas: "I think that’s why I didn’t see last year as the biggest negative in the world. I just took a lot of time to reflect, kind of make a plan starting forward and how I want to start going about things and I want to start playing and taking care of my business." With better health, Salas could make a loud return to top prospect lists around the league in 2026. Hard as it is to believe, he's still just a teenager, as he won't turn 20 until June. View the full article

It's an exciting time around baseball for prospect watchers and fans looking towards the future, as MLB's Spring Breakout is coming soon, with top prospects from every team suiting up and putting on a showcase. The Blue Jays' prospects will face the Phillies' prospects on Saturday, March 21 at 1:05 p.m. E.T., on the road in Clearwater at BayCare Ballpark. Here is the Blue Jays' 2026 Spring Breakout roster: Pitchers RHP Austin Cates LHP Javen Coleman RHP Daniel Guerra LHP Adam Macko RHP Landen Maroudis RHP Carson Messina RHP Nolan Perry RHP Grant Rogers RHP Gage Stanifer Catchers Edward Duran Aaron Parker Brandon Valenzuela Infielders 3B Cutter Coffey SS Josh Kasevich 3B/1B Sean Keys 3B/1B Charles McAdoo SS Arjun Nimmala SS JoJo Parker 3B Tim Piasentin SS Josh Rivera 3B Juan Sanchez Outfielders Jace Bohrofen Blaine Bullard Jake Casey Eddie Micheletti Jr. Yohendrick Pinango RJ Schreck And here are some key things to pay attention to during the game: Debuts for Some High-Profile 2025 Draftees JoJo Parker was the Jays’ first-round pick, as they used the eighth overall pick on him, but he has yet to make his professional debut. In spring training, he was in the minor league camp, which hid him from the general public. This will be the first time that Jays fans will get to see him live on a broadcast. Parker is still only 19, and despite the advanced hit tool, this will be his first look at professional pitching in a game setting. High schoolers Tim Piasentin, out of Alberta, and Blaine Bullard are also making their debuts in this Spring Breakout game. They’re definitely more raw than Parker is, but the Jays shelled out big bonuses for both of them of $747,500 and $1,697,500, respectively. Juan Sanchez wasn’t drafted in 2025, but was signed out of international amateur free agency and had a breakout 2025 in the Dominican Summer League. This will be his first time in action with Statcast data publicly available, and hopefully, fans will get to see his plus power and advanced physicality. Return of the Injured Players Nolan Perry was a 12th-round pick in the 2022 draft for the Blue Jays, and in his age-20 season with the Dunedin Blue Jays, he pitched to a 2.93 ERA in 14 starts with a 27.5% K-rate, although he walked batters 18.8% of the time. Despite his lack of command, he was positioned for a breakout before heading to the injured list due to Tommy John surgery, making him miss all of the 2025 season. This will be his first time pitching in a game since he had the surgery, and it will be nice to see him back in action. Carson Messina is the brother of Rockies prospect Cole Messina, and unlike his brother, he pitches instead of catching. Signed out of high school for a $550,000 bonus, he was shelved for the 2025 season with elbow inflammation, but is back and throwing again. If he gets into this game, we’ll get to see him in pro action for the first time since his one appearance in the Complex League in 2025. He reportedly hit triple digits in that appearance, and hopefully, he’s healthy enough to do so again. Landen Maroudis had a lost 2025 season after returning from Tommy John surgery, showing reduced stuff, velocity and command. Reportedly, he’s back sitting where he was in the first Spring Breakout game: the mid 90s. If Maroudis has returned to his pre-Tommy John form, he’ll return as a breakout candidate for the Blue Jays. The 2027 Spring Breakout event will be modified to be a tournament-style bracket, but in 2026, it will just be a singular exhibition game. This will mean that some players won't be able to get in the game, due to the limited number of innings and teams wanting to protect the health of their prospects. Still, this is a great day for all prospect watchers across every organization and should provide great insight into the future of the Blue Jays. View the full article

Team USA, coming off a joyless silver medal finish in the World Baseball Classic where they had no fun of any kind, has some advice for fans on how to best enjoy MLB's Opening Day next week. Twins Daily got a sneak peek: First things first: On the way to the game, get in a fight with your son. Assert dominance. He'll appreciate it later in life. At the ticket gate, thank the ushers for their service. During the National Anthem, scout the crowd for insufficient patriotism. That pregnant woman who's remaining seated? Get in her face. The youths that have their hands clasped instead of one over their hearts? An open-palmed headslap will set them straight. Box the ear. If you notice someone wearing the visiting team's gear, politely but firmly tell them you will fight them right now, in the concourse. Dump a beverage on them to encourage retaliation. You are in the right. They are human garbage. Treat them as such. At the concession stand, make a point to let everyone working and in line behind you know that you don't tip. They'll admire you for your principles. When the grounds crew drags the infield between innings, loudly critique their methods. They appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to be better. This is a tough one. Umpires are technically troops, so you must respect them. However, they also miss a call that goes against your team on occasion. It's important for accountability that, because you respect them, they must fight you right now. Unless they're soft. During the 7th-inning stretch, the stadium often plays God Bless America. If they do, the same National Anthem rules apply. If you see a father and son in line for Dippin' Dots instead of paying their respects, shove the father. His son will respect you and call you dad instead. If the stadium doesn't play God Bless America, find the organist and rain blows upon them unless/until the song is played. If the game ends in victory, make sure that no one congratulates the visiting team or fans on a good game. They must be humiliated. If the game ends in a loss, remove your shirt and just begin whaling on the nearest person. God has abandoned us. Virtue is a myth meant to weaken you. Draw blood. If you paid for your ticket, they technically can't arrest you. Enjoy the 2026 season! But not too much. We will find out. View the full article

Last year, the Royals fielded 16 different players in left and right field. After Mike Yastrzemski’s arrival in July, he solidified a spot in right field, but he has since left for free agency, joining the Atlanta Braves. Despite his struggles at the plate, Jac Caglianone hopes to make right field his own in 2026. With prospects like John Rave, Drew Waters, and Tyler Tolbert unable to make a meaningful impact, the Royals decided to look elsewhere to round out the outfield by trading for Isaac Collins and signing Lane Thomas as a free agent. The Royals also brought in veteran outfielder Starling Marte to provide additional depth. Royals Corner Outfielders At A Glance Starters: Jac Caglianone, Isaac Collins Backups: Lane Thomas, Starling Marte, Nick Loftin, Michael Massey Depth: Tyler Tolbert, John Rave, Kameron Misner, Drew Waters Prospects: Gavin Cross, Carson Roccaforte Royals fWAR Ranking Last Year: 30th out of 30 in LF, 30th out of 30 in RF Royals fWAR Projection This Year: 23rd out of 30 in LF, 20th out of 30 in RF The Good Most importantly, the Royals made changes to address their biggest weakness this offseason. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte have proven track records of MLB success, and Isaac Collins is coming off an excellent season where he finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Jac Caglianone has looked good in spring training with a slash line of .400/.550/.733 in 20 plate appearances. Caglianone has also impressed with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, slashing .364/.563/.727 in 16 plate appearances. Most notably, Caglianone has shown improved plate discipline, walking more often than striking out in his combined appearances in spring training and the WBC with nine walks against six strikeouts. Caglianone is also hitting the ball hard this spring. He represents the 100th percentile in both 90th percentile exit velocity and max exit velocity. While it may be easy to get excited about his strong spring training, it is important to remember that Caglianone had a strong spring last year with an OPS of 1.776. While the circumstances of his call-up in 2024 were not ideal, being rushed up to replace underperforming players, Caglianone was not able to translate his good spring into MLB success last season. Another positive going into 2025 is flexibility. The Royals have a lot of flexibility in platoon options and positioning. Thomas and Marte can provide relief against left-handed pitching when needed for Caglianone and Collins (who has struggled against left-handed pitching despite being a switch-hitter). Thomas can also be a platoon bat for Kyle Isbel in center field. Marte Will also factor in at designated hitter. Michael Massey and Nick Loftin are primarily infielders, but more can be options in the outfield if needed. Ideally, with their current depth, Loftin and Massey won’t be needed in the outfield as often as they were last season. The Bad There are question marks surrounding all three outfield additions when it comes to health and availability. Collins had a delayed start to spring training after receiving injections this offseason to address tendonitis in both of his knees. On March 13th, there was also a report that Collins was dealing with minor back tightness, which has caused the Royals to be more cautious with his playing time. As the likely starting left fielder, it will be important for Collins to stay healthy and not have to test the Royals’ outfield depth and flexibility right when the season starts. Thomas has also suffered injury issues in 2025, playing only in 39 games. He is only a couple of years removed from a season where he slashed .268/.315/.468, but Thomas will need to prove that he can both return to that level of production and stay healthy for a long stretch of the season. Marte has not dealt with significant injuries recently, but he is entering his age-37 season and is past the point in his career where he can be counted on as an everyday contributor. Marte has not eclipsed 500 plate appearances since 2022, but when he does play, he has proven to still provide an above-average bat, posting a wRC+ of 112 last season. After the top four anticipated contributors, there are a lot of players who have not yet been able to make a meaningful impact at the major-league level. Tyler Tolbert, John Rave, Kameron Misner, and Drew Waters all have struggled to impress in their limited time in the big leagues. While there is still time for any of them to grow into contributors in MLB, the Royals will hope that their services won’t be necessary in 2026. The Bottom Line The Royals were the worst team in MLB when it came to production from the corner outfield positions in 2025, and they made an effort to improve their outlook for 2026. The Royals are also assuming a lot of risk in relying on Caglianone to take the next step in his development, and that Thomas and Collins perform despite their injury concerns. If everything goes right, the Royals will be applauded for their shrewd business in the offseason to target sensible improvements to raise their floor. If injuries or regression hit, however, the Royals might be looking at a repeat of the woes from 2025. Previous Installments: Second Base Position Analysis Catcher Position Analysis First Base Position Analysis View the full article

The catching position is as involved as any in baseball, seeing that whoever is behind the plate factors into every single pitch. The Chicago Cubs’ catching position has everything from a grizzled veteran who is coming off of a career year to up-and-coming talents with varying levels of upside. Here is a full breakdown of the North Siders' backstop situation heading into the 2026 season. Cubs Catchers At A Glance Starter: Carson Kelly Backup: Miguel Amaya Depth: Moises Ballesteros Prospects: Christian Bethancourt, Casey Opitz, Ariel Armas Cubs starting catcher fWAR last year: 11th out of 30 Cubs fWAR ranking projection this year: 16th out of 30 The Good Regardless of what the Cubs were expecting to get out of Carson Kelly in his first season with the team, he exceeded those standards. Chicago’s veteran backstop posted career marks in batting average (.249), hits (92), RBI (50) and runs scored (48), among other statistics. Arguably the most awe-inspiring figure was this: Kelly logged just 4.1 WAR over the first nine years of his career. In 2025 alone, he logged 3.6. One of the reasons Kelly had a breakout season at the plate was his plate discipline. His strikeout rate (19.0) and walk percentage (10.7) both beat the league-average marks, and it allowed him to capitalize in a crucial way: the pull-side air raid. While the majority of Kelly’s balls in play were to left field, he found a way to get out in front of pitches at a remarkable rate this year. The 31-year-old catcher capitalized on a career-high in Pull AIR%. Kelly wasn’t the only player who put up a career year, though. Miguel Amaya hit a personal-best .281 with a .500 slugging percentage that eclipsed his previous career-high of .359. Furthermore, after hitting just eight home runs across 117 contests the year prior, Amaya swatted four long balls in just 28 games. Call it hunger for more playing time if you want, but the 6-foot-1, 230 pound catcher found his power stroke in the 2025 season. Moises Ballesteros, while very young, flexed his hitting abilities as the team’s top prospect in his debut last year. The 22-year-old Venezuelan has always been a standout talent for his elite bat-to-ball skills, and the 60-grade hit tool on his scouting report reinforces that narrative. Very possibly the Cubs catcher of the future if his defense can hold up, Ballesteros registered a .298 batting average with an .868 OPS. He throttled a pair of home runs and served as a shot in the arm for an at-times anemic Cubs offense in the second half. The Bad It’s a rare sighting to see a player on the other end of 30 years old put up career numbers. Even if Kelly were to replicate his incredible 2025 season, he has a year left on his contract before a mutual option kicks in. That places a plethora of pressure on Amaya, who simply didn’t play a ton in 2025. In fact, Amaya’s 96 at-bats were the lowest total of any of his three seasons in the big leagues so far. Take the small sample size with a grain of salt, but his strikeout rate (21.4%), whiff rate (26.0%) and chase rate (36.8%) all left much to be desired in that time. The pop is clearly there. Now, it comes down to pitch identification and plate discipline, something that catchers of all people should have an advantage in. Given that those skills develop with more repetitions, it's a problem that Amaya's injury history is growing concerningly long when factoring in his time in the minors. Ballesteros, on the other hand, gets to swing freely as the projected starting designated hitter. When a 22-year-old is being projected to play at DH, though, that should tell you all you need to know about their defensive skills. The Bottom Line There’s a very clear changing of the guard happening here. With Kelly’s short-term contract nearing its end, it’ll be up to Amaya and Ballesteros/a prospect to slide up a spot in the team’s depth chart. Their power could be the calling card for a lineup that had to say goodbye to Kyle Tucker (22 home runs in 2025) after just one season. If both of these up-and-comers are hits? Chicago may have its answer for the foreseeable future, especially if they can find a veteran replacement for Kelly to pair with Amaya. Those are longer-term problems, though. For 2026, the Cubs are well positioned to run out a competent group of backstops. View the full article

For three straight years, the Brewers intended to start the regular season with Garrett Mitchell as their starting center fielder. Mitchell started up the middle on Opening Day in 2023 and 2025, and he would have in 2024, had he not broken his hand in the final days of spring training. It became apparent that they wanted Mitchell to return to that spot for the 2026 opener. They've certainly given him every opportunity to claim the position. While Jackson Chourio, Blake Perkins, and Brandon Lockridge have all gotten starts in the outfield corners this spring, all eight of Mitchell's Cactus League appearances have come in center field. The club has taken things slowly with the injury-prone Mitchell, though, and has only recently ramped up his playing time. Pat Murphy rehashed those durability concerns to reporters in Arizona earlier this week, officially raising the possibility that the 27-year-old might not make the Opening Day roster if the Brewers believed he was not ready for regular playing time. Ultimately, though, the Brewers did not reach that point. By optioning Perkins to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, the club effectively locked Mitchell and Lockridge into its Opening Day outfield mix. While Mitchell could still receive frequent days off to manage his health, he'll presumably take most of the playing time up the middle to open the year. The choice apparently came down to Lockridge vs. Perkins, but it arguably could have been Mitchell on the outside looking in. There are still concerns about how productive he'll be when healthy, given the flaws in his profile—concerns that have only been exacerbated by his frequent and extended absences and unsuccessful attempts to close those holes. Because his playing time has been so disjointed due to injury, it's been impossible to determine whether Mitchell is actually a viable big-league hitter. His elite bat speed and swing decisions give him one of the highest offensive ceilings in the organization, but the holes in his swing have produced a bloated 33.9% strikeout rate in 443 career plate appearances. Mitchell has hit .254/.333/.433 (114 wRC+) in the big leagues, but with a far less inspiring deserved line of .208/.289/.355 (80 DRC+), according to Baseball Prospectus. Mitchell can hit fastballs at or below the belt, and he has destroyed hanging breaking balls, but he's been a near-automatic out against anything elevated. For his career, he has whiffed on a whopping 52.1% of swings on fastballs within the top third of the strike zone or higher. He'll never need to crush those pitches to succeed, and with a 39.1% swing rate against them (including just a 14.4% swing rate against fastballs above the zone), Mitchell has done a decent job of forcing pitchers back into his hot zones. However, he must prove he can make some contact with elevated velocity. He's made it a focus, but his efforts have not yielded much improvement. Earlier this spring, Mitchell experimented with raising his hands in his stance before switching back to his usual setup. He's since looked caught in-between in many of his Cactus League plate appearances: gearing up for the fastball, but still missing it, while being ahead of softer stuff. The sample is still very small, but Mitchell has whiffed on 37.5% of swings against fastballs this spring, including a 52.6% whiff rate against high heaters. For his career, Mitchell has posted a capable 79.6% contact rate against in-zone breaking balls, with most of his whiffs coming on pitches below the zone. In Arizona, he's whiffed on 53.8% of in-zone breaking balls. Most alarmingly, Mitchell has been hopelessly in front of slower pitches moving away from him, whiffing on 71.4% of swings against offspeed pitches. In 30 Cactus League plate appearances, Mitchell entered Thursday hitting just .080/.233/.240 (24 wRC+) with a 50% strikeout rate. He's still flashed his upside when putting the ball in play, launching a 462-foot home run earlier this month for one of his two hits, but after sporadic time on the field last year, his bat does not look big-league ready with Opening Day approaching. Meanwhile, Lockridge has showcased tangible improvements at the plate. Clearly, Mitchell can make an impact for the Brewers at some point in 2026, but between his uneven production, injury history, and how his bat currently looks, they should be prepared for other options to take a healthy share of reps in center field. For now, though, Mitchell has the opportunity to dial himself in by Opening Day and establish himself up the middle. View the full article

Opening Day is about fresh starts, renewed hope, and finding your people again after a long offseason. This year, the Twins Daily Social Club is adding something a little extra to that tradition: a keepsake fans will be raising all season long. Every attendee at our Opening Day Watch Party at BlackStack Brewing will receive a free 2026 Winter Meltdown pint glass. If you’ve been to a Meltdown before, you already know: these aren’t just pint glasses. They’re part of the experience. They end up on shelves, in cabinets, and back in your hand on game days—a small but meaningful piece of Twins Daily history. And this year’s design is no exception, created by the incredibly talented Brock Beauchamp, whose work once again brings personality and creativity to a fan-favorite collectible. So how did a Winter Meltdown glass become an Opening Day giveaway? When this year’s Winter Meltdown was unexpectedly canceled, it left us with a stash of these freshly designed glasses. Rather than let them sit, we figured there was no better place for them than in the hands of Twins fans on Opening Day. All you need to do to claim yours is RSVP on Eventbrite ahead of the event. Once you check in at the watch party, your glass is yours. You’ll be raising it with fresh pours from BlackStack, surrounded by fellow fans as the Minnesota Twins open the season against the Baltimore Orioles. So grab your glass, fill it up, and find your spot in the crowd. Share a drink, swap some stories, and settle in for the start of something new. A new season is here. And now, you’ve got the perfect glass for it. EVENT DETAILS RSVP: bit.ly/4sgSTnG What: Twins Daily Social Club's Opening Day Watch Party Cost: Free When: 1 pm, March 26, 2026 Where: Blackstack Brewing, 755 Prior Ave N, St Paul, MN View the full article

Talk Sox's top prospect rankings for the 2026 season has nearly reached the top as the final two are unveiled, featuring a young arm making some Top-100 noise after pitching in the postseason last year with Boston. Be sure to check out all of our previous rankings here: Part 1 (Nos. 16-20) Part 2 (Nos. 11-15) Part 3 (No. 10) Part 4 (No. 9) Part 5 (No. 8) Part 6 (No. 7) Part 7 (No. 6) Part 8 (No. 5) Part 9 (No. 4) Part 10 (No. 3) Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: No. 4 Connelly Early The 2025 season saw the Boston Red Sox's pitching development finally pay off in a big way, as their young pitchers helped get the team through the final month of the season and back into the postseason for the first time since 2021. One of those pitchers was Connelly Early, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick. Early, who made his MLB debut in September, pitched admirably down the stretch as he made four starts and struck out 29 batters in 19 1/3 innings. He walked just four and allowed five earned runs; his performance led manager Alex Cora to hand him the ball as the starting pitcher in the win-or-go-home game three of the Wild Card series. Prior to that, Early split 2025 between Portland and Worcester, going 10-3 with a 2.60 ERA in 21 games, 18 of them starts. He threw 100 1/3 innings in that span and struck out 132 batters. Early, who throws from the first-base side of the rubber, has some effort in his delivery but manages to repeat it with a consistent release point. Like most pitchers that the Red Sox have targeted in the past few years, he also has plus extension during his release. Early relies on a five-pitch arsenal that is made up of a fastball, changeup, slider, curveball and sweeper. His fastball, while averaging just 92-95 mph, topped out at 97 mph and there was an increase in velocity from 2024 that saw the pitch sitting in the low-90s. It has shown more bat-missing ability as he runs up the radar gun, but it's always been designed to help set up his changeup. That off-speed offering is an above-average pitch thanks to having arm-side run and his low release height. Typically in the mid-80s, he uses a kick-changeup grip and has advanced feel in the pitch, as he throws it often to both left-handed and right-handed batters. When at its best, the pitch will tumble out of the zone, generating whiffs. His slider averaged 84-87 mph in 2025 and he’s able to land it in the zone. Despite that, it doesn’t miss many bats and is instead used to generate weak contact from opposing batters. His curveball tends to sit in the low-80s at best and has more vertical break. It isn’t consistent, however, sometimes flashing plus movement and other times wobbling toward the plate. Both breakers have above-average qualities but aren't considered in that realm just yet. His sweeper is his newest pitch, having started working on it in 2024, and it improved as the season went on. It averaged around 80-83 mph and is mainly used against left-handed batters. Much like the curveball, it can show bat-missing ability, but he needs to gain more consistency with it in terms of landing it in and around the strike zone. Entering the 2026 season, Early is seen as a mid-rotation starter who flashes the upside of a number two or three starter. If he can gain consistency on his three weaker pitchers, that ceiling could rise. The biggest question mark for Early so far is if he can keep the velocity up as he goes deeper into games and across an entire season. The fact he can throw three to four pitches for strikes consistently helps his case in the immediate term. While many would love to see Early in Boston to open the year, due to their depth the team acquired over the offseason, he is likely headed to Worcester. If the Red Sox keep Early in Worcester for five weeks to open the season, they’ll gain an extra year of control on Early. This would keep him from becoming a free agent until after his age-30 season, something that could change rotation plans down the road. Regardless of where Early starts the season, he’ll be up in Boston as one of the first pitching-related promotions and will end up playing a huge role in how the 2026 season goes down. View the full article

Howie Rose, long-time Mets broadcaster and staple of the radio booth of the last 20 seasons, has announced that this season will be his last. While he noted in his video that he still plans to spend some time with the team, those used to his boy-like charm and encyclopedic knowledge will have to tune in to the next generation. Rose began with the Mets in 1987 while also doing a show for WFAN, finally joining the radio booth as the play-by-play man in 1995. Rose briefly moved to television alongside Gary Cohen in 1996 before the creation of SNY. At that point, Rose returned to radio where he has served since, and better served with his ability to find a voice of summer perfect for nights on the porch. In 2023, Rose revealed a bladder cancer that had sidelined him for parts of the 2021 season. As he contemplated retirement in recent years, Rose had skipped away games while manning the Bigelow Tea Radio Broadcast booth back in Citi Field. In 2023, the Mets inducted Rose alongside Gary Cohen into their Hall of Fame. Rose, like Vin Scully before him, has remained an expert storyteller, but especially as a fan. While Scully understood neutrality, Rose has never let his boyhood team’s excitement escape him—he grew up in Bayside and went to Queens College. He used to eat at the old Hamburger Coach before games. The acclaim for Rose will always go back to his encyclopedic knowledge of Mets history. If something unique was happening in a game, Rose remembers an equivalent game from the 1978 season as if it happened yesterday. At the same time, Rose has never dismissed analytics or felt the team was playing the wrong way—unless they were losing, of course. More so, Rose never felt the need to keep his distaste of the Wilpons out of the public air (in one old interview, he told fans, “Stop going to the games. Just stop. Don’t buy the merchandise. Don’t feed the Wilpon beast.”). He also spent two decades calling games for both the New York Islanders and Ranger, including the iconic 1994 Double Overtime win by the Rangers in Game 7 against the Devils that sent them to the Stanley Cup Finals: Rose captures what is best about baseball, and particularly Mets fandom. I feel few will forget his monologue after the magical 2024 season, when it seemed certain that the Dodgers would take the NLCS and make it to the World Series: And of course, there was that magical Alonso call: Rose’s retirement joins a number of famed radio broadcasters making generational handoffs. Rick Rizzs announced this will be his final season with the Mariners, while Rose’s Bronx colleague John Sterling stepped away following the end of the 2023 season (with a brief stint in the World Series booth in 2024). Most old schoolers find their way out of the booth one way or another. Rose found a way to remain not just relevant, but welcomed all these years. But after this season, it will be time to put Rose in the books. View the full article