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On Tuesday evening, during the World Baseball Classic, the Royals announced via social media that they would option pitchers Ryan Bergert and Mason Black and outfielders Kameron Misner and John Rave to Triple-A Omaha. They also announced that they would be assigning reliever Helcris Olivarez to Minor League Camp. Bergert is the most high-profile player of this group not to make the Opening Day roster. The 26-year-old showed promise last year after being acquired from the Padres with Stephen Kolek for Freddy Fermin. That said, much like last year, consistency proved to be a problem for the talented righty. Bergert made four starts in Cactus League play and pitched 9.2 innings. In that sample, he posted a 6.42 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 9.41 FIP, and 11.9% K-BB%. He showed excellent stuff this spring, as his 102 TJ Stuff+ was the fourth-best mark of Royals pitchers this spring, according to TJ Stats. However, he struggled with his command, as illustrated by his 38.5% HR/FB% and 43.5% zone rate. His overall Statcast percentiles were promising, for the most part. Conversely, it makes sense for the Royals to let him develop as a starting pitcher in Omaha, where he will get regular innings. Black was acquired from the Giants this offseason, and his role seems to be fluid when it comes to whether he will start or pitch in relief in 2026. That said, the former top San Francisco pitching prospect held his own in Cactus League play, which made his demotion tough for the Royals. In six appearances and eight innings pitched, he posted a 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2.23 FIP, and 15.6% K-BB%. Black didn't generate a lot of chase (16.7% O-Swing%), and his stuff was a bit inconsistent (95 overall TJ Stuff+). However, he showed that he can throw strikes (28.5% CSW), limited contact on pitches in the zone (78th percentile Z-Contact%), and he could be an option in the bullpen if injury or ineffectiveness hit one of the projected Royals relievers. The last pitcher to be cut from the Spring Training roster was Olivarez, who was also acquired from the Giants this offseason. Olivarez had one of the most electric fastballs in Spring Training, velocity-wise. His 97.5 MPH fastball velocity was the second-best mark of Royals pitchers this spring, behind only Dennis Colleran (97.9 MPH FB velocity). Unfortunately, control was an issue for the lefty. In addition to an 8.53 ERA and 1.74 WHIP, Olivarez posted a 42.5% zone rate and a 16.1% BB%, the latter ranking in the 12th percentile. He also didn't generate many strikeouts (19.4% K%) or chase (18.5% O-Swing%). The 25-year-old sports a strong curveball, which had a 108 TJ Stuff+, but his four-seamer, which has good velocity, still needs refinement. The four-seamer had a 98 TJ Stuff+, which is slightly below average. There's no question that Olivarez isn't ready yet, but he could be mid-season, especially if he can improve his four-seamer and generate more swing-and-miss in the Minor Leagues, whether it's in Omaha or Northwest Arkansas (likely the former). On a positive note, he showed a strong ability to generate groundballs, as his 77.8% GB% ranked in the 99th percentile this spring. In terms of hitters, Rave and Misner were optioned to Omaha, which makes sense after the acquisition of Starling Marte this spring. Neither Misner nor Rave hit for a high average this spring, as they posted batting averages of .226 and .231, respectively. However, Misner outperformed Rave overall in Cactus League play. In 36 plate appearances this spring, Rave posted a .713 OPS and had two doubles, two triples, and two stolen bases. Rave did a good job of pulling the ball in the air, but he struggled in nearly every other Statcast category this spring, as illustrated in his Statcast summary from TJ Stats. Misner, on the other hand, showed some solid power and plate discipline this spring but lost out due to a crowded outfield situation. In 30 plate appearances, he posted a .333 OBP, .462 slugging, and .795 OPS. He had a homer, a triple, a double, and six RBI this spring and generated a 15% barrel rate and 60% hard-hit rate. He also didn't chase much, as evidenced by his 22.9% O-Swing%, which ranked in the 71st percentile, according to TJ Stats. With a strong ability to launch the ball this spring (98th percentile LA Sweet-Spot%) and pull the ball in the air (86th percentile Pull Air%), he could be similar to MJ Melendez in terms of power and on-base potential, even if the batting average may be lackluster. Misner could find himself back in the Majors if injury befalls one of the outfielders in 2026, and he could provide sneaky production if given the opportunity. View the full article

Jays Centre is taking a close look at every position on the Toronto Blue Jays heading into the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the series here: Catcher First Base Second Base Toronto Blue Jays Third Basemen at a Glance Starter: Kazuma Okamoto Backup: Addison Barger, Ernie Clement Depth: Josh Kasevich, Damiano Palmegiani Prospects: Charles McAdoo Blue Jays 3B fWAR in 2025: 10th out of 30 Blue Jays 3B FGDC Projection for 2026: 10th out of 30 Third base will be one of the most interesting pressure points on the Blue Jays’ 2026 roster, not because the position is unsettled, but because it demonstrates the organization balancing certainty, versatility and long-term planning. The club signed Kazuma Okamoto out of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) to add a middle-of-the-order bat while also providing defensive flexibility across the corner positions and outfield. While he will occasionally back up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base and see limited time in left field, most projections have Okamoto spending the majority of his innings at third. Toronto’s third-base production has been solid but unspectacular in recent years. In 2025, the Blue Jays ranked 10th in MLB in fWAR at third base, firmly above league average but well behind elite units such as those in Cleveland, San Francisco, and Kansas City. Looking ahead to 2026, most projection systems see Toronto somewhere in the middle of the pack again, a reflection of positional uncertainty and the risk of transitioning a star hitter from NPB to MLB. That mid-tier projection doesn’t necessarily indicate a weakness. It instead highlights just how compressed the league has become at third base. The gap between the 8th and 16th ranked teams at the position is often fewer than 1.0 WAR, meaning health, platoon efficiency and defensive deployment could easily swing Toronto’s ranking several spots in either direction. Does it matter that Okamoto might not have been the team’s first choice at third base? Throughout the offseason, there was widespread discussion about the potential re-signing of Bo Bichette, a move that would have kept the infield alignment largely intact from 2025. Instead, Toronto pivoted and replaced Bichette with a seasoned international veteran with an elite resume, albeit one built outside of MLB. Okamoto arrives with credentials that few NPB hitters can match. Over his final five full seasons in Japan, he averaged over 30 home runs per year, routinely posting an OPS above .900 and maintaining an above-average walk rate. His career strikeout rate in NPB hovered in the mid-teens. All that to say, that he fits the mold of what the Jays' offense has been building over the past couple of seasons. Defensively, Okamoto brings stability rather than flash. He won’t be Matt Chapman or Brett Lawrie. While he isn’t considered an elite reaction defender, his hands, arm strength and internal clock earned him multiple Mitsui Golden Glove Awards, including wins at both third base and first base. For Toronto, that versatility is critical, especially given Guerrero’s workload management and occasional need for rest at first. If Okamoto shifts to first base or misses time, Addison Barger is the most likely candidate to absorb innings at third. Barger’s 2025 campaign represented a meaningful step forward. He hit 21 home runs and posted a .755 OPS. Statcast indicators showed above-average exit velocities and strong pull-side power, especially against right-handed pitching. Listed as a 3B/RF, Barger’s athleticism allows Toronto to maintain flexibility without sacrificing offense. His left-handed bat also adds balance to a lineup that can skew right-heavy depending on matchups. From a roster construction standpoint, moving Barger to third opens opportunities for players like Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider or Jesús Sánchez to rotate through the outfield. While Barger’s defense at third remains a work in progress, his arm strength and reaction time suggest at least average capability. The absence of Bichette will have a cascading effect on the infield, most notably pushing Ernie Clement into the role of everyday second baseman. Clement spent much of 2025 rotating between third, second and shortstop. He logged over 1,000 defensive innings across multiple positions. Now, Clement will be a stabilizing force at second, where his range and reliability profile well. However, his defensive metrics, particularly Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved, are consistently high regardless of the infield position he’s playing. In 2025, Clement finished as an American League Gold Glove finalist at both third base and the utility position, a rare dual recognition. Offensively, Clement is league average, but context matters. His contact rate, low chase percentage and ability to hit left-handed pitching make him an ideal matchup-based contributor. Even though he is the primary second baseman, it would be surprising if John Schneider didn’t continue to deploy Clement at third base in specific situations, particularly against groundball-heavy left-handers. One of the defining characteristics of the 2026 Blue Jays is that very few positions are locked into a rigid everyday role. Instead, the roster is built around matchups, platoons, and flexibility. Clement’s presence allows Schneider to shift the defensive alignment based on opposing pitchers. Against left-handed starters, Clement might slide to third, leaving Barger in right, allowing another right-handed bat to enter the lineup. Against high-velocity right-handers, Barger’s bat speed becomes more valuable, even if it costs a fraction of defensive efficiency. Surprisingly, CBS Sports’ depth chart lists Guerrero as a potential third base backup, though that scenario remains highly unlikely outside of emergency situations. Okamoto’s contract runs through 2029, which significantly reduces urgency within the farm system. Toronto does not need to rush a prospect into the role or push development timelines. That reality is reflected in spring training coverage out of Dunedin, where attention has focused more heavily on middle infielders, outfielders and catchers, rather than true third base regulars. There is some depth in the minors. Josh Kasevich, primarily a shortstop, has logged reps at third and has enjoyed a solid spring. His value lies in contact skills and defensive reliability rather than power. Most projections place him starting the year in Triple A, but his versatility makes him a logical call-up if injuries mount. Damiano Palmegiani offers some power. A right-handed bat with legitimate pop, he can play the infield corners and left. His primary challenge remains managing his strikeout rate, but the raw power is undeniable. In a small sample, Palmegiani could equal Barger’s power output from the right side. So, what happens if Okamoto goes down? If the injury is short- to medium-term, the solution is straightforward. Barger slides to third, Clement spells him depending on matchups, and the rest of the roster remains largely intact. This alignment minimizes disruption both offensively and defensively and maintains the lineup and roster as is. A longer-term absence, like two months or more, might prompt Toronto to explore the trade market. That said, the presence of Barger and Clement significantly reduces the urgency to overpay. Historically, teams with internal third base depth are better positioned to wait for favorable deals than react out of necessity. In either scenario, a call-up such as Palmegiani becomes more likely, particularly if the club wants to preserve Barger’s flexibility across multiple positions. Of Okamoto, Barger, and Clement, only Clement is routinely described as an elite defender, but that label can be misleading. Clement’s Gold Glove finalist status speaks for itself. Okamoto’s track record includes Japanese Gold Gloves at both corner infield spots. Even Barger, while imperfect, brings athletic tools that project to league-average defense with consistent reps. Collectively, this group offers competence, flexibility, and reliability. These traits often matter more over a full season than highlight-reel plays. Third base may not be Toronto’s most glamorous position in 2026, but it could quietly be one of its most important. The combination of Okamoto’s proven bat, Barger’s upside and Clement’s versatility gives the Blue Jays a floor that is comfortably league average and a ceiling that could push them into the top quartile of MLB teams at the position. In a division where marginal gains often decide playoff spots, that kind of stability, especially at a traditional offense-first position, could matter more than it appears on paper. View the full article

Seiya Suzuki suffered a sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the Cubs announced this week. It's not great news, in that Suzuki has a tangible injury that will require recovery and a slight reset of his preparation for the regular season, but the diagnosis could be far worse. A sprained PCL is usually a fairly minor injury in a baseball player; the severe form of the injury usually involves a traumatic collision, like an awkward tackle on the football field. Kyle Schwarber tore both his ACL and his PCL in 2016, as fans might remember, but that was because he and Dexter Fowler collided so brutally in the outfield at Chase Field in Arizona. Suzuki suffered no such incident, and his sprain is considered mild. Before delving deeper into the prognosis for a player dealing with a PCL sprain, we should pause to make a clarification, because the Cubs ended up having to do the same on Tuesday. Initially, Suzuki's injury was reported as a strain of the PCL, which left anyone with substantial familiarity with sports medicine a bit confused. Sprains and strains are similar, but they're different. A strain is a stretching or tearing of either muscles or tendons—the latter being, as you might remember from high-school biology, the tissues that connect bones to muscles. Sprains, by contrast, are exclusive to ligaments, which connect bones to other bones and are the most important tissues in stabilizing joints. Because of their respective jobs, ligaments are a bit more likely to be stretched (and thus sprained) than tendons are to be strained. Any sudden roll or twist of your shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist or knee is liable to produce a mild sprain of a ligament, and those can cause discomfort, lost range of motion, or weakness in the joint. Because they exist to absorb those stresses and keep joints functioning, though, ligaments handle mild sprains well, and recovery can be quick. By contrast, a strain of a tendon usually signifies a somewhat less natural or frequent movement. They're more likely to be overuse injuries. Muscle strains, of course, range from micro-tearing that merely allows our tissues to grow and strengthen to full ruptures, but they reflect the pushing of that muscle to a point of failure, whether through repetitive stress or an especially acute exertion of an unready tissue. No sports fans have been led into a deeper forest of confusion about these related injury types more than baseball lovers, because of the nature of elbow injuries in pitchers. The most infamous elbow injury is the torn ulnar collateral ligament, which you might think would begin as a sprain. Sometimes, it does. However, diagnoses of elbow sprains are relatively rare, compared to diagnoses of strains of the flexor tendon in the forearm or the muscles of the forearm or the biceps. Often, before a pitcher's UCL gives way, they're diagnosed with a strain, so when the UCL then tears and they undergo Tommy John surgery, 'strain' is still in the air around them. Fans attach that term to the injury that sent them to the surgeon's slab. In reality, because the combined forces applied to the arm throughout the pitching motion are so violent, most pitchers pitch with a sprained (frayed or stretched) UCL much of the time. Sometimes, it's the point at which the muscles and tendons around the ligament can no longer absorb the excess force when the UCL finally tears. What does all of this mean for Suzuki? Well, partially, it's just a good opportunity to clarify the terminology of injuries, There's certainly a real set of implications, though. It's a good thing that Suzuki doesn't have a strained hamstring or quad, or even damage to a tendon or the meniscus in his knee. A PCL sprain, in particular, is relatively easy to recover from for a rotational athlete like Suzuki. You'd rather have him dealing with this than with a muscle strain, and you'd rather it be the PCL (in the back of the knee) than the MCL or ACL. I combed through Baseball Prospectus's Recovery Dashboard to create a useful guide by which we can estimate when Suzuki will return to play. The dashboard allows you to isolate injuries to the knee and to search the keyword "sprain", but that still leaves a bit of pruning to do. I cut out players who suffered their injuries in September, October, or over the offseason; those muddy any understanding of real recovery time. I went through and, where possible, removed players who turned out to have full tears of their ligaments after initially being diagnosed with a sprain. (That happened, for instance, with Dexter Fowler in 2021.) I also removed players I could verify were dealing with ACL or MCL injuries, leaving all cases of PCL trouble and the ones that were never publicly specified that well. Finally, I took catchers out of the sample. Any catcher dealing with a knee issue has a different checklist for returning to play than do other players, especially outfielder/designated hitter types like Suzuki. Here are the relevant comps I was left with, going back to the start of the 2021 season. Obviously, every injury is unique, just as every human body is. It would be foolish to overfit this data onto Suzuki's experience. (It also feels like something bigger was going on with Richie Palacios, doesn't it? If you strip out his tragic experience with this injury, the median and mean tighten even more, to 21 and 23 days, respectively.) However, these are fairly direct comps to Suzuki, and they tell a pretty clear story. Suzuki got hurt on March 14. We should expect him to miss anywhere from 3 weeks to a month of action, and since the team is pushing a fairly optimistic tone, we can aim for the early end of that window. Suzuki probably won't be ready for Opening Day, but he could be back in the lineup as soon as the second week of April, without having obviously rushed anything. It feels like a good bet that he'll be the DH for a bit as he returns, though. He'll be able to get back into the lineup faster if he doesn't push himself to be ready to play right field regularly before doing so. Besides, Michael Conforto looks likely to make the team, so he can play right field while Suzuki is unavailable. If Suzuki does come back primarily as a DH, it will cramp the Cubs' style a bit when it comes to Moisés Ballesteros. This injury might end up nudging Ballesteros to Triple-A Iowa to begin the season, where he can soak up reps as a catcher and prepare to play that role for the parent club either later in this season or in ones to come. In the meantime, the Opening Day roster could include Conforto, the winner of the Dylan Carlson-Chas McCormick battle, and even Kevin Alcántara. When Suzuki returns, Alcántara could go back to Iowa, and once Suzuki is ready to resume active duty in the outfield, the team could jettison either Conforto or the Carlson/McCormick victor, calling up Ballesteros. That arrangement would come with an ancillary benefit for the Cubs. If Ballesteros spends about 45 days in the minors this year, he'll come up short of a full year of service time by the end of the season, and the team will retain control of his services for 2033. It sounds like a small thing, but an extra year of team control is always a serious consideration for a team handling a top prospect. Suzuki won't be out an especially long time. It's just a sprain, and a mild one. His trajectory for the first six weeks of the season has been altered, though, and so might the Cubs' roster plans be. View the full article

You know it is getting closer to Opening Day when guys thought to be in the mix for a spot on the 26-man roster are sent to minor-league camp. Right-handed reliever Ty Adcock, who just returned from an oblique injury, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Adcock had been battling an oblique in camp before making his Cactus League debut Monday. Also, infielder-outfielder Samad Taylor and left-hander Jackson Wolf were reassigned to Triple-A. Taylor entered camp as a strong candidate to earn a bench spot. The speedy 27-year-old, who has 38 games of MLB experience, posted a .233/.265/.300 slash line in 30 at-bats over 17 games, with five RBIs and three stolen bases. His path became more difficult as the Padres brought in Nick Castellanos and Ty France early in camp. Wolf was a long shot to make the Friars' bullpen, but did get some attention with his spring showing, putting up a 2.38 ERA in 11⅓ innings, walking six and striking out eight. View the full article

Brewer Fanatic contributors have voted and ranked the top 20 Milwaukee Brewers prospects headed into the 2026 season. Does Craig Yoho's upside as a high-leverage reliever keep him out of the top 20? Players discussed are JD Thompson, Brady Ebel, Craig Yoho, Tyson Hardin, and Braylon Payne. View the full article

Twins Daily just wrapped up its annual top prospect countdown. Notably, six of the Twins’ top eight prospects are expected to open at Triple-A St. Paul, one step from the big leagues. That proximity means the Twins could see several prospects make their major-league debuts in 2026. While much of the focus is on position players at the upper levels, the system's pitching side also boasts several intriguing arms. These pitchers could take big steps forward this year. Here are three Twins pitcher prospect predictions for 2026. Riley Quick Wins Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quick's power arsenal could let him dominate minor-league hitters this season. He started 14 games for the University of Alabama last year, showing enough for the Twins to draft him 36th overall. Minnesota signed him for the full slot bonus of $2.69 million. Quick’s fastball already sits in the 96-97 mph range and can touch 99, while maintaining its velocity deep into outings. The Twins are helping him refine how he uses the pitch, leaning on his sinker against right-handed hitters while mixing in a four-seamer against lefties. His secondary pitches also generate plenty of swings and misses. Quick throws a mid-80s slider with sharp two-plane movement that he can tighten into a harder cutter, along with an upper-80s changeup that features strong fade and depth. He logged only 87 innings in college before entering pro ball. Building a full starter’s workload will be important this season. If he refines his command while keeping his electric stuff, Quick could emerge as the Twins' fastest-rising arm of the year. Dasan Hill Enters Next Season as a Top-100 Prospect The Twins made a significant investment in Hill during the 2024 Draft, signing the highly projectable high school left-hander for $2 million after selecting him with the 69th overall pick. His first full professional season showed why the organization was willing to go over slot. Hill struck out more than 12 batters per nine innings and held opposing hitters to a .196 average over 62 innings. He posted a 2.77 ERA at Low-A before finishing the season with a promotion to High-A. His fastball already averages around 95 mph and has touched 99, and early reports this spring indicate he has begun reaching triple digits as he continues adding strength to his 6-foot-5 frame. Hill also features a low-80s sweeper that produced a high whiff rate, along with a big curveball and a changeup that helps him neutralize right-handed hitters. The main area for improvement will be throwing more consistent strikes. Hill’s strikeout ability is already impressive, but reducing his walk rate will be key as he moves up the ladder. If his command improves while his velocity continues trending upward, Hill could quickly become one of the most exciting young left-handed pitching prospects in baseball and enter the top 100 by the end of the season. Connor Prielipp Ends the Year as the Twins Closer The Twins intend to keep Prielipp in the Triple-A rotation to start, especially because of big-league injuries that could spell an earlier need for his reinforcement than they anticipated when camp opened. His injury history, however, could shift him into a bullpen role. Prielipp missed nearly all of 2023 after undergoing internal brace surgery on his elbow. He returned in 2024 for limited action and finally logged more than 80 innings in 2025 while pitching at the upper levels of the minors. His performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on the Twins' 40-man roster during the offseason. When healthy, Prielipp has exceptionally impressive stuff. His fastball averages around 95 mph and can reach 99, and it generated more swings and misses once he reached Triple-A. He also added a two-seamer late in the season. His upper-80s slider features elite spin rates and grades as a plus pitch, while his changeup also produces plenty of swings and misses. He has even begun experimenting with a curveball to round out his repertoire. If durability becomes a concern, a bullpen move could help. His power arsenal may be more effective in shorter outings. In that role, Prielipp could reach Minnesota quickly and end the year in late-inning situations. The Twins' farm system features several promising young arms who could take meaningful steps forward in 2026. Quick has the raw stuff to dominate in the minors as he builds a full professional workload. Hill has the potential to emerge as one of the organization’s biggest breakout prospects. Prielipp could eventually find his path to the big leagues through the bullpen, where his electric repertoire might play even better. With several pitching prospects nearing the upper levels, 2026 could signal a new wave of Twins arms in Minnesota. What are your predictions for the Twins' pitching pipeline in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Padres Mission's ranking of the club's top prospects for 2026 has reached the final stage with a countdown of the top five. Be sure to check out our previous rankings here: No. 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. 3 Kruz Schoolcraft (Lake Elsinore Storm) Kruz Schoolcraft's professional career has barely begun -- he made one minor-league appearance made at the end of the 2025 season. He'll turn 19 in April and his development will take time. The good news? There's evidence to suggest that it won't be a lot of time. The Padres selected the 6-8, 229-pound Schoolcraft in the first round (25th overall) of last year's MLB Draft out of Sunset High School in Beaverton, Ore. He was the No. 1-ranked prep left-hander in the draft. He also was a legitimate first-base prospect with big-time power. San Diego lured him away from the University of Tennessee -- he committed to the Vols in December 2024 -- with a $3.6 million signing bonus. Then, they convinced the potential two-way star to become a full-time pitcher. The organization waited until Sept. 6 to get him into a game. His appearance with Lake Elsinore in the Low-A California League was brief and eventful: 1 2/3 innings, one hit, two runs (both earned), three walks, four strikeouts, four stolen bases allowed. Schoolcraft showed that he has a lot of work to do. But he still could rise quickly, for several reasons. First, he already throws three pitches -- a mid- to high-90s fastball with good extension, a changeup with deception, and a slider with depth. Prior to the draft, MLB.com gave both the fastball and slider a 60 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale and the change a 55, but the slider is considered his third pitch at the moment. Second, he is considered to have advanced mechanics, which will help make his delivery repeatable sooner. It also will help him improve his 50-grade control. Of course, his longer levers make it easy for baserunners to pick up on his cadence, so he'll have to fine-tune that in order to prevent everyone faster than Giancarlo Stanton from swiping a base against him. But his mechanics as a whole are quite impressive for a teenager. Third, the organization considers him a smart player and a hard worker. Schoolcraft showed those traits when he spoke with reporters, including MLB.com's Sam Dykstra, at spring training. He said that he wants to reshape his slider better and make it a pitch he can throw effectively both early and late in the count. He talked about getting stronger, and he shared a specific goal for 2026: he hopes to make 22+ starts. Schoolcraft has already made an impression in camp with his sharp outing in an intra-squad game. He might make another before spring training is through. The Padres listed him in the initial 40-man player pool for their Spring Breakout game on Saturday, March 21, against the Cubs' top prospects in Arizona. There's bound to be buzz about the kid moving rapidly through the system if he gets into that game and overpowers hitters. But those people will need to be patient; Schoolcraft is just getting started. View the full article

Owen and Jesse break down Vladimir Guerrero Jr's explosive WBC tournament and fantasize about the type of regular season he's bound to have. The guys get into Kevin Gausman being named the Opening Day starter, his career as a Blue Jay, and consider whether Gausman is the Jays' best free-agent signing of all time. Next, they talk about José Berríos' appointment with Dr. Keith Meister and what it means for the pitching staff. They talk about how much they've enjoyed the World Baseball Classic and watching the Central American teams before finishing with a game of Smoke or Fire. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jays-centre-podcast/id1846108462 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bi7SzfpcqMo5xYWnbCeoL Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-jays-centre-podcast-300304824/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/2qk9wqxd Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayscentre View the full article

Not every prospect reaches their full potential, and every farm system has a few highly ranked players who may never be the star they're projected to be in the Majors. Jamie and Jeremy share their most overranked Twins prospect going into 2026 and give Theo crap for Charlee Soto being his once more. Other players discussed are Emmanuel Rodriguez and Eduardo Tait. View the full article

Comparing anybody to David Ortiz is an unfair, egregiously high bar, but Justin Gonzales has some notable similarities. Right away, his 6-foot-4, upper 200s frame puts him head and shoulders above the size of most prospects his age. It also doesn't help when the man himself, Big Papi, is complimenting Gonzales' intangibles. In this video, we dive into Gonzales' bat speed, points of improvement, and when we could see him in Fenway. View the full article

After a near-constant revolving door at first base over the past few seasons, the Boston Red Sox believe they have found their answer at the cold corner for the next couple of seasons thanks to a trade that sent starting pitching back to the St. Louis Cardinals. The team is hoping to get far more production from first base than they have in recent memory, and it looks like they’ve set themselves up to do just that. What was once a position of weakness for the Red Sox suddenly looks like a major strength as we head into the 2026 season. Red Sox First Basemen At A Glance Starter: Willson Contreras Backup: Isiah Kiner-Falefa Depth: Andruw Monasterio, Mickey Gasper, Triston Casas, Romy Gonzalez (Both will start 2026 on the IL) Prospects: Nathan Hickey Red Sox fWAR Ranking Last Year: 22nd out of 30 Red Sox fWAR Projection This Year: 14th out of 30 The Good Arguably the best move Craig Breslow made this offseason was to acquire Contreras from the Cardinals in a trade that sent starting pitching prospects back to the rebuilding club. Contreras is a pull-ball hitter and has a veteran's plate approach. He’s got some power to boot, and playing half of his games at Fenway Park should bump his home run totals up by at least a few in 2026. He’s going to provide a steady presence at the cold corner for the next two seasons, possibly three if the club exercises his 2028 option. Behind him, Kiner-Falefa has showcased his stellar defense across the diamond during spring training and, while an offensive downgrade when he’s in the lineup, is another veteran presence on this team of young guns. Don’t be shocked to see Monasterio leapfrog Kiner-Falefa for that backup job though, as he’s been one of the biggest standouts in camp so far and has likely earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. Like Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio can play all over the infield so his positional versatility plays right into Alex Cora’s plans. The Bad Notably, Contreras has a bit of an injury history. Most of those came when he was still a catcher, but it’s something to keep in mind moving forward. He’s also currently 33 and will turn 34 during the season, so he’s no spring chicken. Behind Monasterio and Kiner-Falefa, the Red Sox are thin at first base, at least for now. Waiting in the wings, and coming back sooner than many expected, is Triston Casas. He’s going to be looking to shed his ‘injury-prone’ label and provide a spark that many have been clamoring for since he debuted. Casas has 30-plus home run power, but we’ve yet to see a completely healthy season from him. When Casas returns to the major-league roster he’s likely going to be featured more as a designated hitter than a first baseman, but he will become the primary backup for Contreras at that point. Behind Casas, we have Gonzalez, who will begin the season on the 60-day IL as he’s recovering from recent shoulder surgery. Gonzalez should see the field at some point this season, and his success against left-handed pitching will help him once he’s healthy, but his spot is going to quickly come up for discussion if Monasterio continues to be the breakout performer he’s been in camp. The Bottom Line Willson Contreras will be a net-positive for the Red Sox, full stop. He’s going to contribute on both sides of the field and will step into a clubhouse leader role with ease. His bat should anchor the middle of the lineup, and hitting at Fenway Park should do nothing but bump his numbers in a positive direction. Once Casas is able to return to the 26-man roster, then the team will be at full strength. The Red Sox are finally stable at first base, and those are words that haven’t been said since at least 2018. While the cold corner isn’t as demanding as the rest of the infield, finally having legit major-league production from the position will help give the Red Sox the edge they need to compete for the AL East title in 2026. View the full article

With Opening Day hurtling toward us, Nico Hoerner enters his eighth (and possibly final) season as a Cub. The impending free agent will look to have a great season, to set himself up for a lucrative contract—barring an extension with the Cubs yet this spring. This year, though, his defense and unique plate approach will continue to make him a fan favorite and a valuable player. Cubs Second Basemen at a Glance Starter: Nico Hoerner Backup: Matt Shaw Depth Options: Ben Cowles, Scott Kingery Prospects: James Triantos, Ty Southisene, Eziquiel Pena, Juan Capada Cubs fWAR ranking in 2025: 5th Cubs fWAR projection in 2026: 3rd The Good After an uneven, oft-injured start to his career, Hoerner has found his groove the last three years. He's played at least 150 games in each of the last three seasons, and in 2025, he was his best self. He's a bit of an anachronism, harkening back to the days when 100 strikeouts was considered an insulting figure. He only struck out 49 times last year, protecting the plate as well as virtually any player in baseball. Hoerner doesn't walk at a high rate, but makes up for that with a 99th-percentile contact rate. He slashed .297/.345/.394 in 2025. Hoerner's defense is his calling card, though. In his third season as keystone partner with Dansby Swanson, the Cubs were fifth in double plays at their positions, with 75. He doesn't have the rotational explosiveness of high-end left-side infielders, but has learned to use his straight-line quickness and brilliant instincts well enough to make up for that. Matt Shaw will capably back up the position, including taking over when Hoerner is in the lineup but Swanson isn't, sliding Hortner to shortstop. Second base will be just one position where Shaw finds time this year, though, and if Hoerner stays healthy, it won't be a place he gets to play much. Should Hoerner leave via free agency this coming winter, Shaw is a fair bet to take over the position, and would be a fine replacement. The Bad Unless Hoerner does get hurt and Shaw takes over amid a highly successful sophomore season, the Cubs will be light on power from their second baseman again. It's just not Hoerner's game to hit for power; it never will be. It feels like picking nits, but it's the key thing that separates him from superstardom. He does virtually everything else well. He's gotten a bit less efficient in stealing bases over the last two seasons, too; that's been part of his aging process. The Bottom Line Enjoy Hoerner in full this spring, summer and fall. He could leave in the winter, forcing the Cubs to scramble a bit to backfill the position. For this year, though, they can still count on a tough, smart, tenacious, charismatic and talented player who has emerged as both a dynamic two-way force on the field and a leader in the clubhouse. View the full article

BlackStack isn’t just a brewery. It is a space that feels purpose-built for moments like this. Located in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, the taproom sits inside the historic American Can Company building – a late-1800s industrial giant that once produced billions of cans before being reimagined into something entirely new. Today, that same space has been transformed into what the brewery calls an “industrial cathedral-meets-modern museum,” blending exposed brick, towering ceilings, and natural light into one of the most unique drinking environments in the Twin Cities. Oh, and a 190" TV to watch baseball. Reserve your spot to find out for yourself next Thursday! Founded in 2017, BlackStack Brewing is a family-run operation built on collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to quality. From hop-forward IPAs to lagers and fruited sours, their beer program has earned a devoted following across Minnesota, driven by a philosophy emphasizing “no shortcuts” and constant innovation. But what truly sets BlackStack apart, and what makes it such a natural fit for a Twins Daily event, is the atmosphere. This is not a place where you show up, grab a drink, and leave. It is a place where you settle in, socialize with your neighbors, and watch the Twins end our baseball drought with a win. It's a place built for gathering. So, let's do this! When the Minnesota Twins take on the Baltimore Orioles to kick off the 2026 season, we'll gather in a great space, cheer a first pitch, react with every big swing, and maybe even find some optimism for this new season. (Or at least find some good beer over which to commiserate.) And that’s exactly what Opening Day should be. A new season. A packed taproom. A community that cares about every pitch. Let's do this! 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

Without a doubt, one of the biggest beneficiaries from the World Baseball Classic may be Jac Caglianone, the projected Opening Day right fielder for the Kansas City Royals. Team Italy's dream run ended on Monday night, as they lost to Team Venezuela 4-2 in Miami. That sets up a massive WBC championship matchup between Venezuela and Team USA, which is trying to win its first WBC since 2017. While Team Italy's journey ended in the semi-final, their stellar performance allowed Caglianone to get some much-needed at-bats against good competition. There was some worry initially that Caglianone's absence from the Royals camp due to the WBC could affect his work with the Royals' new assistant hitting coaches. However, if anything, he showed the same kind of approach in the WBC that he did in Cactus League play, which should bode well for him with Opening Day roughly eight days away. Let's explore how Caglianone did this spring, the changes he made from his rookie year with the Royals, and what fans can expect from the promising slugger this season. Caglianone Showed Progress in Arizona and WBC Caglianone didn't get a whole lot of plate appearances in Cactus League play before reporting to Italy for the WBC. That said, his small sample was stellar, with him showing growth in the right areas offensively. In six games and 20 plate appearances in Arizona, Caglianone slashed .400/.550/.733 with a 1.2833 OPS. He only struck out in 15.5% of at-bats and had a walk rate of 25.5%. Furthermore, the batted-ball metrics were excellent, as he ranked in the upper percentiles in 90th EV, Max EV, and xwOBA, as seen in his Statcast percentiles below. The power has always been Caglianone's calling card, especially in Spring Training. Last spring, he posted a 25% barrel rate, 50% hard-hit rate, and .667 ISO. However, the plate discipline was a lot more questionable last season in Arizona. In 23 plate appearances last spring, Caglianone had a swinging-strike rate of 13%, a swing% of 50%, and an O-Swing% of 34.1%. That hurt him in his transition to the Major Leagues, as his over-eager approach was exposed last season. That said, it's been a different story this spring, as the former Florida Gator has shown a more discerning approach at the plate. His swinging-strike rate is down to 10.3%, his swing% is 37.9%, and his O-Swing% is 23.4%. As a result, his O-Swing% ranks in the 67th percentile, a major improvement from his mark last spring. As a result, his better pitch selection has led to more pulling of the ball than a spring ago. His pull% is 42.3%, which is much better than his 21.4% pull% last spring. He still needs to work on launching the ball better, as his pull air% of 15.4% is 6 percentage points lower than a year ago. That said, it seems like Cags is seeing the ball better at the plate, which shows the progress he has made since his Royals debut. In the WBC, it's been much of the same for Caglianone with Italy. In 14 at-bats, he slashed .286/.500/.571 with a 1.071 OPS. He had five walks to four strikeouts, scored six runs, collected four RBI, and launched a home run against Ryan Yarbrough of Team USA in pool play. While he had only one home run, Caglianone had a patient approach that was valuable to Team Italy in the middle to lower end of the lineup. It seemed like he wasn't used as an everyday player initially (he sat out Italy's second game of pool play), but after his strong performance against Team USA, manager Francisco Cervelli made Caglianone a mainstay in the Italian lineup for the remainder of the WBC. Caglianone's .500 OBP was the third-best mark of Italian players, and 1.071 OPS ranked 7th. Issues With Chase and Launching the Ball It was a tough MLB debut for Caglianone in 2025. In 62 games and 232 plate appearances, he slashed .157/.237/.295 with a .532 OPS. He showed some solid exit velocity and hard-hit ability, but he failed to launch the ball and struggled with chasing out of the zone, as illustrated in his TJ Stats Statcast summary below. Last year, Caglianone ranked in the 8th percentile in O-Swing% and 71st percentile in Swing%. It's been the opposite story this spring, both in the Cactus League and the WBC competition. That is an encouraging sign that Caglianone is not only developing better pitch recognition but is relaxing and not pressing at the plate, something he struggled with in 2025. The main area of focus will be Caglianone launching the ball, as his 30.4% LA Sweet-Spot% ranked in the 20th percentile last year. We haven't seen a ton of progress in this area, as his 26.9% LA Sweet-Spot% this spring is actually lower than his mark in the 2025 regular season. That said, it is such a small sample, so some time for adjustment may be needed, especially for a hitter as talented as Caglianone. When looking at his radial chart from last year via Savant, he hit so many balls on the ground, both of the fielding out and base hit variety. For a hitter with elite exit velocity and hard-hit skills, that needs to improve. He has been pulling the ball better in the air this spring, as his 15.4% pull air% is 3.4% higher than his regular-season mark last year. His 9.0-degree average launch angle is also 4.9 degrees better than his average launch angle from his Royals debut. Thus, baby steps are being made for Caglianone this spring, which is promising. Another promising development for Calgianone is his gradual improvement in Ideal Angle% over the course of the season. Below is the definition of Ideal Attack Angle and why it's important, according to MLB.com. Here's a look at Caglianone's Ideal Attack Angle rolling chart from last year, via Savant. Caglianone showed some initial progress, but hit a wall around the 150th to 225th competitive swing range. However, after that 225th swing, he ended up seeing a positive Ideal Angle% trend and ended up being an above-average hitter in this category by the conclusion of the season. Caglianone, carrying this positive trend into 2026, will help him get off to a much better start in his sophomore season with the Royals. Final Thoughts on Caglianone's Spring The Royals do not need Caglianone to be a "savior" of this Royals lineup, as was the case last June when they called him up to the big leagues. The top of Kansas City's lineup is well-established with Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez. These four guys will carry the Royals offensively and should be due for strong years, even if one or two of them regress. Furthermore, the floor of this Royals lineup is better with Jonathan India and Michael Massey looking to bounce back, and newcomers Isaac Collins and Starling Marte giving Kansas City some professional at-bats at the bottom of the lineup. Lastly, don't forget Carter Jensen, who had a sensational rookie campaign in September and has been looking good this spring with an .880 OPS in 32 plate appearances. In addition to posting solid Statcast percentiles, especially in terms of exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and O-Swing%, he has launched three home runs this spring. That included this 438-foot one below from a few days ago against the Diamondbacks. Thus, the Royals need Cags to do what he's been doing this spring with the Royals and Italy. If he can be a solid bat in the middle of the lineup, Kansas City will be more than happy. Here are a few projections for Caglianone in 2026: ATC: 496 plate appearances, 19 home runs, 58 runs scored, 64 RBI, 100 wRC+ The BAT X: 496 plate appearances, 16 home runs, 56 runs scored, 60 RBI, 90 wRC+ ZiPS: 524 plate appearances, 23 home runs, 64 runs scored, 71 RBI, 109 wRC+ If Caglianone can produce something in the range of those three projections, not only will the Royals be a playoff team, but they will have a player in Caglianone who may be worth a long-term extension at the conclusion of the 2026 season. View the full article

The Blue Jays Top Prospects series continues, as we review the No. 15 to No. 11 prospects in Toronto's pipeline, per the Jays Centre writers. Consider this your rundown on all things Josh Kasevich, Blaine Bullard, Jake Cook, Tim Piasentin, and Silvano Hechavarria. View the full article

The surprising trade of Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio to the Red Sox in early February cleared an unexpected hole on the diamond for the Brewers. Rumors of Isaac Paredes and CJ Abrams swirled around the internet, but all of fans’ questions were soon answered when the Brewers signed Luis Rengifo to a one-year deal to be the starter at the hot corner on Opening Day. BREWERS THIRD BASEMEN AT A GLANCE: Starter: Luis Rengifo Backup: David Hamilton Depth: Joey Ortiz, Eddys Leonard Prospects: Jett Williams, Brock Wilken Brewers fWAR Ranking Last Year: 20th out of 30 Brewers fWAR Projection This Year: 29th out of 30 THE GOOD Rengifo brings major-league experience to the position. He has played in parts of seven MLB seasons and owns a career .250/.307/.382 slash line. He's looking for a bit of a bounce-back year with the Crew, as his 2025 OPS was the lowest it has been since 2021. He doesn’t walk a lot—only 6.1% of the time in 2025—and doesn’t steal much, with only 10 stolen bases last year. However, when healthy, he's shown better speed utility than that. A returning piece from the Caleb Durbin trade, David Hamilton hasn’t had the previous offensive success that Rengifo has had. However, Pat Murphy and the coaching staff believe there's "a whole other level" to unlock for him. That remains to be seen, as Hamilton brings a career slash line of .222/.283/.359 to Milwaukee. However, he offers the consistent speed threat Rengifo likely can't. The Brewers have been known to find underwhelming hitters and make them serviceable, so don’t rule out offensive production from Hamilton. He's also the better defender of the two main options, despite spending most of his time on the middle infield. THE BAD Defensively, Rengifo doesn’t grade out well. He's neither big nor exceptionally quick, and his arm is just average. In 568 innings at third base last year, he posted -5 Defensive Runs Saved, according to Sports Info Solutions. Rengifo could end up being an adequate defender at the hot corner with the help of infield coach Matt Erickson, who helped develop Caleb Durbin into a capable glove, but that would be a big leap. Hamilton has already shown that moving to third will be no problem for him, but he lacks experience at the spot and won't get frequent enough reps there to get as comfortable as Durbin was by the end of last season. THE BOTTOM LINE Rengifo is a serviceable replacement for Durbin, but probably just a placeholder. The main thing the Brewers should focus on is finding the third baseman of the future, as many thought that could be Durbin himself. That player may be in the upper minors when the season begins, as Jett Williams and Brock Wilken could be pushing toward major-league at-bats soon. Williams, too, is better suited to other positions and has limited experience at third, while Wilken is close to being too big and burly for the spot. Each will put the good kind of pressure on Rengifo and Hamilton, though. Jesús Made, Cooper Pratt and Luis Peña all still want to prove themselves capable shortstops, but they, too, are candidates to be helpful at the hot corner—be that this year or next. While the Durbin trade left the team without as clear-cut an answer at the spot as they appeared to have, their organizational depth at third base is impressive. View the full article

Onto the podium we go. We've finally arrived at the top three of Talk Sox's 2026 prospect rankings for the Boston Red Sox, this team featuring a young shortstop with an exceptionally high floor. 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) Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: No. 3 Franklin Arias When the Red Sox signed Franklin Arias as an international free agent, they did so with the thought of him evolving into a Gold Glove shortstop. Since then, he’s consistently surprised the organization with his ability to put the ball in play, turning himself into a top prospect within the organization. The 2025 season took his outlook to a whole other level. Playing as a 19-year-old, Arias showcased his abilities out of the gates, opening the season with Salem before becoming one of the youngest players in High-A with Greenville. His performance there allowed him to finish the season with Double-A Portland, roughly 4.5 years younger than the average player. In 116 games between the three levels, Arias hit .278/.335/.388 with 27 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 66 RBIs, all while playing elite defense at shortstop. Arias’ ability to make contact is thanks in part to his quick hands and a swing that is line-drive oriented. The young infielder also has great barrel control and a feel for contact. Despite all those positives, however, he does not have the best bat speed and needs to improve his approach at the plate, as he can get too aggressive. Arias has a habit of attacking fastballs early in an at-bat as he tries to hit the ball all over the field. With secondaries, he sometimes has difficulty recognizing the pitch out of a pitcher's hand, leading to high chase rates, though some of that is balanced out by strong in-zone contact skills. Power-wise, he has meager over-the-fence pop and it’s not a big part of his game. He can, however, produce great exit velocities for his age. Arias is a gap hitter due to his line-drive approach and scouts have described his power as below average. Speed is also not a big part of his game, as he’s viewed as having below average speed. While he can go first to third on a single or second to home, he will never be viewed as a speed threat. He does make up for his lack of speed with quality baserunning instincts, but he won't derive a lot of his value on the basepaths. Defense is what Arias is best known for. The infielder is mainly a shortstop but has also seen some time at second base. He has great range and is comfortable playing all angles when charging the ball. He also has the ability to make difficult plays look rather routine. Still just 20 years old, he’s viewed as one of the best middle-infield gloves in all of the minor leagues. Arias’ value will be determined by how his hit tool continues to develop. Already he’s shown that he can handle shortstop at an elite level, but should his bat not continue to develop, he might peak as a defense-first utility infielder. If his offense continues to improve, he can become a quality starting shortstop despite his lack of power and speed. Arias will open the season with Portland, where he’ll man the six. In 2025, he only got to play 10 games there and the organization will want to see how he handles a prolonged exposure to higher-level pitching. Given his youth, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he spent the entire season with Portland. If he gets promoted, it would likely be in a similar situation to his schedule last year — a late season showcase against the next minor-league level. View the full article

Kyle Stowers entered the 2025 regular season at the nadir of his career. After being blocked from consistent playing time in Baltimore, he had a golden opportunity to prove himself with the Miami Marlins, but he was failing to capitalize on it. Stowers proceeded to hit .186 with a strikeout rate north of 35 percent as a Marlin in 2024, followed by a more disheartening .175 slugging percentage the ensuing spring. The announcement that he had made the club's Opening Day roster took some—myself included—by surprise. What Stowers did in the season opener would be a precursor to one of the most improbable All-Star campaigns in franchise history. His game-winning RBI single, the first such Opening Day hit in franchise history, was one of numerous clutch moments for the outfielder. While the Marlins' talented starting pitchers underachieved early in the year, as did their speedy leadoff man Xavier Edwards, Stowers would hit .288/.368/.544/.912 en rout to being their lone representative at the Midsummer Classic. Predicting Stowers to earn All-Star accolades again would not be particularly bold. Right-hander Eury Pérez and center fielder Jakob Marsee also come to mind immediately, as does ace Sandy Alcantara, who's been an All-Star twice before. Even shortstop Otto Lopez is overqualified for this conversation given his well-rounded skill set and projected playing time. On the other hand, with apologies to Brian Navarreto and his fellow minor league depth options, I don't want to reach too far in the other direction. Under ideal circumstances and with the appropriate adjustments, which Marlins could improbably play their way to Philadelphia for the 2026 All-Star festivities? The Kyle Stowers candidate: Connor Norby What better place to start than with the player Stowers found himself traded with two summers ago? Upon coming over to Miami in 2024, Norby showcased some of the promise he had in the minor leagues, hitting seven home runs in 36 games, totaling a .760 OPS. At this time last year, he was widely viewed as the club's third baseman of the future. However, after a season that saw him take three trips to the injured list and provide mediocre production when available, Norby's role on the 2026 roster is somewhat uncertain. This spring, the club has sought to make Norby more versatile, starting him at his usual third base along with a pair of appearances at first. A lack of plate discipline is still apparent in his .316/.316/.421/.737 Grapefruit League slash line, but his ability to distribute extra-base hits to all fields is alluring. Although Norby is expected to begin 2026 as platoon partners with Graham Pauley, his role could expand quickly if he rakes the way he's capable of. Bat-dependent: Javier Sanoja While he certainly played the super-utility role to a tee last season, even winning a Gold Glove, Javier Sanoja would have to do a whole lot better than the 87 OPS+ he put forth in 2025. Assuming the Leury García role for Miami, appeared in games at seven different positions, including eight appearances on the mound. That said, his selection here is due to (lack of) offensive process. Though he hit .277 with a .719 OPS in the minor leagues, respectively, Sanoja owns just a .668 OPS in 378 plate appearances at the big league level. There are some signs that the 23-year-old could be turning the corner, though, as he's hit .375 with an OPS north of 1.100 in a limited, eight-plate-appearance sample in the World Baseball Classic. On the mound: Chris Paddack While he may have been a touted prospect, the return on investment in Chris Paddack's parts of seven seasons at the big league level has been a mixed bag. The closest he's ever come to the All-Star conversation was his rookie year of 2019, when he pitched to a 3.33 ERA with the Padres. He has posted a 5.06 ERA since, often missing significant time due to injury. Among 149 pitchers to throw at least 400 innings in the 2020s, Paddack's ERA ranks 143rd. Those results kept him on the job market into February when the Marlins finally signed the free agent to a one-year/$4M deal. "Something I think we all need to be reminded of, even at this level, is, 'Hey man, you're really good. Believe in yourself.' That's something that was told to me in that first Zoom call, and that, 'We're not on the phone to fill a roster spot—we think you can contribute...and we want to help you find that ceiling,'" remarked Paddack. With a defense that will feature the likes of Edwards, Lopez, and Marsee up the middle (and eventually, catcher Joe Mack), Paddack should see some positive regression, especially coming from the Minnesota Twins (minus-11 outs above average) and Detroit Tigers (-4 OAA). The Marlins, on the other hand, ranked seventh-best in that department at plus-17. It is a stretch to say that this proposed positive regression could net Paddack an All-Star nod, but he has looked like a savvy investment for Miami to this point, hurling nine innings across four spring appearances without yielding an earned run. View the full article

I wanted to share a quick note with the Grand Central Mets community before we dive into our full-time coverage on the site. We at DiamondCentric are so excited to be joining this fanbase — it's the ninth site operating under our banner, and the eight owned outright by DC. Having grown up in New Jersey, the Mets have been a big part of my life since I first started following baseball. I am honored to finally have the chance to cover this team on a professional basis from an editorial standpoint. You may have seen my byline at Rising Apple if you've ever frequented that site, and I want to ensure all of our longtime Crane Pool Forum members that we'll work tirelessly to provide the best possible coverage and analysis of this team. No matter what you're coming to Grand Central Mets for, I hope you find the right space to discuss, rant about, and root for the New York Mets. - Brandon Glick [Original article as follows.] Compared to the likes of Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, and Devin Williams, the New York Mets' acquisition of Luis Robert Jr. didn't generate the kinds of headlines that suggest this team is all-in on a championship push in 2026. Still, his addition was necessary in the wake of the Brandon Nimmo trade and the departures of Cedric Mullins and Starling Marte in free agency. Just a few short years ago, though, Robert would have been considered a genuine highlight of the offseason. His status was brushing up against that of a superstar, playing on a fledgling White Sox team with lots of young talent. He exploded onto the scene in 2021, hitting .338/.378/.567 in just 68 games en route to a .946 OPS and 155 wRC+. After winning a Gold Glove and finishing as the runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting the year prior, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Robert would become a perennial MVP candidate. He was less effective and efficient in 2022 (111 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR) but came back with a vengeance the next season, earning an All-Star nod and Silver Slugger on the back of a robust 38-homer, 20-steal campaign that also featured brilliant defense (+12 Outs Above Average, +7 Defensive Runs Saved). Perhaps most importantly, he finally stayed healthy enough to play in more than 100 games, reaching the 145 mark in what remains his personal best for a single season. Things derailed after that, both for Robert and the White Sox. The Pale Hose proceeded to accrue an all-time worst 121 losses in 2024, while the young center fielder sunk to an 84 wRC+ both that season and the year that followed. Owed a $20 million salary, his shine had worn off, and Chicago proceeded to deal him to New York for another former top prospect who had lost some luster (Luisangel Acuña) and Truman Pauley. And thus, we find ourselves at the here and now. Robert is an injury-plagued, strikeout-prone project with declining metrics who must stave off a spirited push from last year's starter (Tyrone Taylor) and a top prospect (Carson Benge) in order to maintain regular playing time. Can a change of scenery make all the difference, though? Robert was meant to be the franchise savior on the South Side of Chicago. Now, he's merely got to be a reliable center fielder to earn his keep in Queens. The beginning chapter of his career was almost designed to fail. From MLBTR: "Robert was a high-profile prospect when he signed with the Sox out of Cuba in 2017. He commanded a $26MM bonus, the kind of hefty sum for an international amateur that would subsequently be prohibited in the collective bargaining agreement. Robert’s dominant minor league performance further spurred optimism, and the White Sox signed him to a $50MM extension over the 2019-20 offseason. At the time, it was the largest extension for a player who had to make his MLB debut, and it ensured he’d break camp in 2020 without any kind of service time games." Talk about being burdened with expectations from the jump. While he delivered on his promise some of the time as aforementioned, the performance just never matched the projections. So, what can Robert do better with the Mets? For one thing, he can stop striking out so dang much. Between 2021-22, he punched out in 19.8% of his plate appearances. From 2023-25, that number exploded to 29.3%. It's hard to do damage and make an impact at the plate when you aren't making contact. A lot of that can be traced back to the fact that he's whiffing more often than ever, but intriguingly, it hasn't been a failure of his plate approach. He's cut his out-of-zone swing rates drastically over the past few years, meaning he isn't chasing bad pitches nearly as often. It actually seems to be a rare case of a once-agressive hitter becoming too patient; Robert's overall swing rate has dropped off a cliff. In that first sample (2021-22), he swung at 61.5% of the total pitches he saw; in the latter sample, that number has fallen below 55%. Without diving too much into the swing changes he's had to implement due to various injuries, this could be fixed with a more pointed attack plan against specific pitch types. Like most hitters, Robert is best against fastballs (though he also has historically hit off-speed offerings well). He whiffs far more often against breaking balls and changeups and he watches a lot more fastballs. Can he flip the mental switch — and get enough consistent reps — to swing more at heaters and lay off more of the breaking stuff? More than any other improvement he can make on the field, though, the best thing that could happen to Robert is that his body finally cooperates. His injury history is long. Really, really long. If you can think of a part of the body, odds are he's missed time in his career because he injured it. To that end, the Mets have been quite cautious. They slow-played his arrival to camp, and Robert has drawn all of eight spring-training appearances thus far as he ramps up for the regular season. "Load management" is a term often reserved for NBA stars, but he may get the same treatment as the team tries everything in their power to keep him healthy. With better luck on that front — and some conscious changes to his plate approach — there's still a lot of raw talent laying dormant in Luis Robert Jr. Will the Mets be able to unlock that potential? Odds are, they've certainly got a better chance than the White Sox ever did. View the full article

Jays Centre is counting down the top 50 Blue Jays in franchise history. Check out prior entries in the series here: Introduction 50 to 46 As we continue our countdown of the greatest players in Toronto Blue Jays history, this group from 45 to 41 highlights a fascinating mix of postseason legends, modern stars and quietly excellent contributors. Some names here were difficult to place. A couple could easily rank much higher (and I personally did rank one of them much higher). Regardless of where they fall on the list, each of these players left a meaningful impact on the franchise. No. 45: Pat Borders Accolades & Notes 1992 World Series MVP Two‑time World Series champion (1992, 1993) 10 seasons with the Blue Jays (1988–1994, 1999) One of the most memorable October performances in team history Caught Dave Stieb’s no-hitter on September 2, 1990 This is the first ranking on the list where I have to plant my flag: I had Pat Borders at #17 on my personal ballot, and I stand by it. He was never the most talented hitter, nor the flashiest defender, but baseball is full of players whose true value shows up at the right place and time, and Borders is the textbook example. His 1992 postseason was the stuff of legend. He was steady behind the plate, timely at the dish, and unshakeably calm in the biggest moments the franchise had ever experienced. For a team built around power and swagger, Borders was the grounded core. He handled elite pitching staffs, delivered when it mattered most and carried himself like the heartbeat of a champion. Rankings don’t change legacy, and Borders’ place in Jays lore is as secure as it gets. No. 44: Jack Morris Accolades & Notes World Series Champion with Toronto (1992) AL wins leader in 1992 (21 wins) Six complete games for the Jays Pitched 240+ innings in 1992 Hall of Famer I had Jack Morris a bit higher at #36, partly because I value what he brought to the 1992 transition from “contender” to “champion.” Morris gave the rotation a battle‑tested leader during a season in which the team needed one. His performance wasn’t as historically dominant as his 1991 Game 7 masterpiece in Minnesota, but he provided innings, leadership, and credibility. He was the kind of veteran presence that rubs off on everyone around him. His Toronto tenure was brief but extremely impactful. After recording 21 wins for the Jays in 1992 (tied for second with Roger Clemens for most wins in a season behind Roy Halladay), he went 7-12 in 1993 and did not pitch in the postseason. One of the most iconic starting pitchers in Jays history? Maybe. But one of the most important? Absolutely. No. 43: George Springer Accolades & Notes Silver Slugger as DH with Toronto (2025) All‑Star in Toronto (2022) Franchise record for most leadoff home runs in a season 70+ HR, 200+ RBI, and excellent defensive versatility during his Toronto tenure George Springer’s time in Toronto has been defined by high‑energy plays, big‑game moments and stretches where he simply carried the lineup on his back. At his peak, he was the ignition switch for a team built around power and athleticism. He remains capable of changing a game from the first pitch or with a sliding grab in the gap. The nagging injuries sometimes overshadow the consistency of his impact, but when Springer is right, the Blue Jays look like a completely different ballclub. He’s one of the most dynamic outfielders ever to suit up for the team, and his legacy when it comes to leadoff records, clutch moments and veteran leadership is secure. No. 42: Luis Leal Accolades & Notes 10.6 fWAR as a Blue Jay Three seasons of 200+ innings Career 4.14 ERA in the AL East during one of its strongest eras Ranked among the club leaders in starts, innings, wins and strikeouts when he retired Often overshadowed by the bigger names of the early 1980s, Luis Leal was one of the most reliable arms the Jays had during their first competitive era. He wasn’t flashy, but he was steady. He could be counted on to take the ball every fifth day and go deep into games. That durability was invaluable for a young team trying to establish an identity in a brutal division. Leal may not get the same fanfare as the later stars who powered the playoff runs, but his contributions were foundational. He helped raise the floor of the franchise, allowing the stars around him to shine. No. 41: Teoscar Hernández Accolades & Notes Two Silver Slugger Awards (2020, 2021) All‑Star (2021) 129 HR in a Jays uniform One of the top power hitters of the late 2010s/early 2020s Fan favourite and clubhouse cornerstone Few players of his era were as beloved or as electrifying as Teoscar Hernández. What started as a somewhat raw, strikeout‑prone outfielder blossomed into one of the most dangerous middle‑of‑the‑order bats in the league. Hernández brought joy, charisma and a big bat. His evolution from project to star mirrors the Jays’ return to relevance. Sure, he had some growing pains, but he made major strides that ultimately led to something special. Teoscar’s legacy in Toronto is built on energy, power and a sense that something exciting could happen every time he stepped into the box. View the full article

On Tuesday, during the Royals' evening Spring Training game against the Dodgers, Kansas City announced that Cole Ragans would be the Opening Day starter for their first game against Atlanta on March 27th. This will be the third-straight Opening Day start for Ragans, as he toed the rubber for the Royals on Opening Day in 2024 and 2025. This will be his first Opening Day start away from Kauffman Stadium. Manager Matt Quatraro was highly complimentary of Ragans after sharing the news. He pointed out in the Rogers piece that the 28-year-old ace will be key to their playoff chances in 2026. Ragans is coming off a tough 2025 marred by injury. He only made 13 starts for the Royals and pitched 61.2 innings in 2025. The ERA was high at 4.67, but his WHIP was 1.18, his FIP was 2.47, and his K% and K-BB% were solid at 38.1% and 30.4%, respectively. For context, his 30.4% K-BB% was 9.9 percentage points better than his 2024 mark. An issue for Ragans in 2025 was that he gave up more barrels and allowed fewer ground balls. That said, his percentiles otherwise were encouraging, as illustrated in his TJ Stats Statcast summary below. Ragans has been fully healthy this spring, making four starts and pitching 10.2 innings. The ERA is rough at 8.44, and he's been hurt by an 18.2% HR/FB rate. Conversely, his K% is 30%, his K-BB% is 24%, and the stuff metrics have been impressive, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary below. Even though the ERA isn't great, the solid TJ Stuff+ (104 overall), strong chase (31.1%) and whiff (35.5%) rates should make Royals fans encouraged that Ragans is not just ready for Opening Day, but for 2026 in general. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox made an addition to their relief corps Tuesday night as they came to an agreement with veteran right-hander Tommy Kahnle on a minor league deal, according to New York Post Sports’ Jon Heyman. The right-hander has been a factor in several bullpens since breaking into the majors back in 2014 with the Colorado Rockies. For his career, Kahnle has appeared in 456 games for the Rockies, Yankees, White Sox, Dodgers, and Tigers, compiling a 3.61 ERA and 436 2/3 innings pitched. In that span, he struck out 502 batters. 2025, however, was a bit of a down year for Kahnle as he appeared in 66 games with the Tigers and tossed 63 innings with a 4.43 ERA, his highest since 2018. Kahnle, however, was a dominant reliever in both 2023 and 2024 with the Yankees. The Red Sox have tried several times to sign Kahnle, but each attempt ended in failure for the franchise until now. Kahnle will likely spend the final week of spring training in major league camp attempting to win the final bullpen spot. It is likely that he will open in Triple-A, depending on his conditioning, and with it being so late in spring training to join an organization. Kahnle provides the Red Sox with another veteran arm to potentially help the bullpen should it struggle. View the full article

Jake Bauers's finish to the 2025 campaign and overall postseason performance grabbed the attention of many Brewers fans, and this year, he should get a chance to extend that surge. If you’re the Brewers, the hope is that it’s actually tough to get him in the lineup on a semi-regular basis. If it’s a challenge to justify Bauers’s inclusion with any regularity, it means first baseman Andrew Vaughn has continued his career bounceback and is sitting pretty in the middle of the lineup. It also indicates Christian Yelich is healthy, productive and holding down the DH spot most of the time. Even the team's skipper acknowledges that that's asking for a lot. "Not everybody's gonna have as great a year [as in 2025]," Pat Murphy said earlier this month. "Vaughn, [Sal Frelick], Yelich. You can't predict they're gonna have as great a year." But even if those two optimistic outcomes do occur, Murphy needs to find a way to get Bauers’s power and on-base potential in the lineup four times a week. His intriguing offensive skillset—particularly with some adjustments he made while on the IL last season—could add significant value to a diverse lineup that remains similar to the 2025 version that scored the third-most runs in baseball. Bauers’s career numbers might make you scoff at giving him more reps, and even his overall 2025 campaign looks underwhelming in 218 plate appearances (though a .353 OBP is nice to look at). But the case for finding Bauers more at-bats comes from his stellar numbers following a shoulder impingement, and the possibility he discovered what works best for him. Brewer Fanatic’s Matthew Trueblood detailed that development earlier in camp. As a quick reminder, Bauers went .321/.433/.500 with four doubles and a pair of home runs across his final 26 regular-season games last year. He then went 4-for-13 with a double and a homer in 14 postseason plate appearances. While he didn’t have enough plate appearances to qualify for leaderboards, his Statcast color chart shows a pretty picture, with plenty of red. He has kept it going in spring training, too, though one must always take numbers in Arizona (and small samples in general) with a grain of salt. Bauers has slashed .440/.576/.920 through his first 33 plate appearances. That includes three doubles and three home runs. The most predictive form of success in the Cactus League is a good strikeout-to-walk ratio, and Bauers has six of each of those thus far. However, two of those strikeouts recently came against lefty Robbie Ray, whom Bauers would almost never face in a game that counts. So in practical terms, he really has six free passes compared to four punchouts. Every step in the dissection of his numbers makes things look better. So, how can the Brewers get Bauers 350 plate appearances this season, assuming his production is in the same ballpark as his post-injury results? First Base: Vaughn will get every chance to prove the start of his Brewers career is legitimate, and he should. While he might not post a 141 OPS+ over a full year like he did in 64 Brewers games, something around 115–120 is a realistic expectation for a 28-year-old former third overall pick who appears to have rediscovered his joy by playing for a successful franchise. Still, Vaughn will need days off to stay fresh, and would probably welcome sitting against certain right-handed pitchers. It wouldn’t necessarily be based solely on how dominant the righty is that day, but rather the type of pitcher and how each hitter matches up, as Trueblood also explored. Depending on those factors, that could mean one or two starts per week for Bauers at first base. Designated Hitter: Yelich is the primary DH, and coming off a 29-homer, 121 OPS+ season across 150 games, he has earned that role. But even as the club’s main DH, his 34-year-old body (not to mention his injury history) suggests he should sit more often. Even if he feels good most of the year, it’s hard to ignore how he finished in the playoffs, going 2 for his last 25 in the postseason with nine strikeouts, no RBIs and a .327 OPS. Perhaps more rest during the regular season keeps him stronger for October. Getting Yelich down to around 130 games would open the door for Bauers to DH at least once a week. In some cases, it could also mean Vaughn DHs while Bauers plays first, but either way, it would create opportunities with Yelich on the bench. It probably wouldn’t be more than once per week, however, since they’re both left-handed hitters. Murphy will also likely slot in catcher William Contreras at DH occasionally, to keep his bat in the lineup while resting his legs. Left Field: This is where things could get most interesting. Left field is one of the least demanding defensive spots, but the Brewers still prefer above-average run prevention at every position. Bauers probably won’t provide that, and would represent a noticeable defensive drop-off from several other options. Much could depend on who the extra outfielders are, as Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick seem like locks to occupy two of the three outfield spots nearly every game. If Garrett Mitchell doesn’t make the big-league roster—and it’s starting to look like he could miss out—that could open the door for Bauers. Blake Perkins is a switch-hitter (and the better hitter from the right side), but he doesn’t offer the same offensive upside as Bauers. Brandon Lockridge hits right-handed and has shown improvement at the plate, but he’s still a step behind Bauers offensively. That means it comes down to Murphy’s comfort level with putting Bauers in left field on a given night, essentially trading some defense for offense. The Brewers could limit their defensive risk by starting Bauers in left when Milwaukee has a pitcher with a low fly-ball percentage. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s about playing the percentages. With a late lead, tightening up the defense would be easy enough. If Bauers starts once per week in left field, the path to 350 plate appearances becomes clear. There are roughly 26 weeks in the season. Give Bauers four starts per week at the various positions and assume an average of 3.5 plate appearances per game, and that’s 364 by year’s end. If he can maintain his recent offensive production over that many trips to the plate, the Brewers would once again be playing chess, while most of the rest of the league is playing checkers. View the full article

In the third installment of the Twins Daily top prospect rankings, we enter the top 10 as voted on by Twins Daily contributors. Gabriel Gonzalez had a monster 2025 season, but was it enough to crack the top 5? Discussed in the video are Charlee Soto, Marek Houston, Kendry Rojas, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Dasan Hill. View the full article

Twins Daily recently finished ranking the top prospects in the Twins system, revealing how close several are to the majors. Six of the top eight prospects are expected to start at Triple-A St. Paul, just one step below the big leagues. With so much talent at the upper levels, multiple prospects could debut in 2026. Beyond the rankings, though, there are more ways to draw the future out of obscurity and guess at the shape it will take as time flattens it into the present. Here are three predictions about Twins position-player prospects for the year to come. Marek Houston Wins Twins Minor League Player of the Year Houston has the tools to move quickly through the Twins system, and could finish the season at Triple-A. His elite defensive skills at shortstop put him on every organization’s draft radar, but his offensive development turned him into a first-round pick by 2025. After a swing change helped him produce 15 home runs and a 1.055 OPS as a junior, the Twins selected him in the middle of the first round and signed him for $4.5 million. Since turning pro, Houston has focused on producing line drives while keeping his college plate discipline. If he becomes even an average hitter with some power, his outlook is strong. Already a plus defender with range and arm strength, Houston could climb quickly. Emmanuel Rodriguez Leads Twins Rookies in WAR Rodriguez appears positioned to be one of the first outfielders called up from Triple-A this season, especially after his strong performance this spring. The talented outfielder has flashed impressive tools since signing with the Twins for $2.5 million in 2019, but injuries have limited his development. His career high in games played remains 99, set in 2023, after dealing with multiple injuries over the last few seasons. Despite the setbacks, Rodriguez still reached Triple-A at just 22 years old in 2025 and hit well in the Dominican Winter League to make up for lost at-bats. When healthy, he shows elite bat speed, significant raw power, and a remarkable ability to draw walks, entering 2026 with a career walk rate of 21.7%. Swing-and-miss remains the biggest concern, as he carries a career strikeout rate above 30%. Still, if he can stay healthy and refine his approach, Rodriguez has the talent to become a middle-of-the-order bat and could lead Twins rookies in WAR this season. Twins Select Justin Lebron With Third Overall Pick With the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Twins could have a chance to land a franchise-altering player. Lebron, a shortstop from the University of Alabama, has already turned heads early this season. Through his first 18 games, Lebron is hitting .313/.466/.716. He has already hit eight home runs and three doubles, while going a perfect 18-for-18 on stolen base attempts. His strong plate discipline is also evident, with 14 walks compared to 14 strikeouts. That blend of power, speed, and on-base ability is exactly the type of profile that climbs draft boards quickly. If Lebron continues producing against tougher competition once Alabama's conference schedule gets going, he could easily remain in the top tier of the draft class and give the Twins an opportunity to add another high-end shortstop prospect. The Twins are approaching a point where many of their best prospects are ready to contribute at the highest level. With so much talent at Triple-A and another high draft pick on the way, 2026 could mark the arrival of the organization’s next wave of young players. If Houston breaks out in the minors, Rodriguez stays healthy and produces in Minnesota, and the Twins land a top talent like Lebron in the draft, the future could look even brighter. What are your predictions for the Twins' farm system in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article