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We are turning the corner and getting ready to hit the stretch drive of spring training, whatever that is. The San Diego Padres are starting to come together. 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 are now 9-10 in Cactus League play after losing to the Texas Rangers 4-1 Monday, beating the Los Angeles Angels 10-2 Tuesday, and losing to the Kansas City Royals 10-1 in the first night game this spring. Who's Hot? 🔥 Walker Buehler On the surface, allowing two runs in 3⅔ wouldn't qualify as a good start. But it was more about the quality of the outing for the right-hander that earns him this nod. Buehler seemed to find his groove in this 68-pitch outing. While his second Tommy John surgery has dampened his four-seamer velocity, he is learning to pitch with where his stuff is now and the fact that he is finally pain-free. With right-hander Nick Pivetta battling arm fatigue, a typical spring training ramp-up ailment, and Joe Musgrove's status a little bit in doubt as he returns from his own Tommy John surgery, Buehler could find himself in the Opening Day rotation. Otherwise, he has an opt-out at the end of spring training if not on the MLB roster. Ty France The once-former-now-Padre-again infielder continues to make a strong push for a bench spot this spring. France played second and third, going 2-for-5 with a double. He did have a throwing error at third base, a position he has played multiple times this spring, but not in a regular-season game since six games in 2022. He has only played second three times in the last four seasons, but if he is to be part of the Opening Day bench, playing multiple positions will certainly help for last year's AL Gold Glove first baseman. Jeremiah Estrada The more you don't hear about guys like this right-hander, the more you know they are doing their job effectively. Estrada, a key part of the Friars' late-inning bullpen, pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the Rangers, walking one and striking out one while not allowing a hit. That kept his sheet clean this spring, having not allowed a run in five innings and yielding but one hit. He has walked six, but countered that with seven strikeouts. Who's Not? 🧊 German Marquez Expected to go four innings in his start vs. the Royals, the right-hander was yanked in the first inning due to the number of pitches, came back for the second, and couldn't get through that inning. The leading candidate for one or maybe two rotation spots, depending on injury situations, Marquez was credited with 1⅔ innings, allowing six runs on four hits and four walks while striking out just one. Only 28 of his 56 pitches were strikes. Miguel Andjuar The infielder-outfielder figures to be a key part of the lineup against left-handers. But after a strong start to Cactus League play, Andjuar has seen his slash line drop to .267/.40/.500 after going hitless in his last nine at-bats. Andjuar's status is pretty safe for Opening Day due to his track record when healthy, so this mini-swoon is nothing to be concerned with. JP Sears It was the type of outing that looked worse than it actually was. But results are results. The left-hander allowed three runs on five hits, but did go four innings, including two scoreless after being hit on the bottom of a foot by a comebacker. Sears struck out six and didn't walk anyone. Most of the contact off him wasn't hit hard, and he wasn't helped by his defense. But Sears also had allowed at least one run in all four Cactus League outings, although his ERA improved to 8.44. View the full article

After Team USA clinched a spot in the Quarterfinals round of the World Baseball Classic, speculation was that Joe Ryan would replace Clayton Kershaw on the Team USA roster. Following their quarterfinal win over Team Canada on Friday night, Kershaw officially said that he was retiring. It was quickly announced that Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman was replacing Kershaw. But it was possible there could still be more moves. On Saturday afternoon, we got confirmation that Joe Ryan will be sticking with the Twins rather than joining Team USA in Miami. Selfishly from the Twins perspective, I think it's a good decision. Since he was slowed to start spring training and is still working his way to be ready near Opening Day, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have him push himself to max effort. Paul Skenes is making the start for the USA in Sunday night's semi-final game against the Dominican Republic. The four pitchers added to the USA roster since pool play have all been relievers. Presumably, Ryan could be lined up to make the start for Team USA in the championship game (if the US gets past the DR). Logan Webb has been tremendous for Team USA this year. In two starts, he has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He was in a similar situation during the last WBC. He wasn't quite 100% and he was about to make some money, so he didn't pitch. Likewise, with a strong, healthy 2026 season, Ryan would line himself up for a lucrative extension with the Twins or with another team. Selfishly as a baseball fan, it would have been fun to watch him pitch for Team USA. Think about it. When the Twins traded Nelson Cruz to the Rays in 2021, Ryan (and Simeon Woods Richardson) was in Tokyo, pitching for Team USA in the Olympics. So had he made the decision to go pitch for Team USA, one really couldn't fault him at all. This is one of those scenarios that doesn't necessarily have one right and/or wrong answer. My hope is simply that Joe Ryan is happy with the choice and then has another All-Star caliber season. View the full article

On Saturday morning, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced that right-hander Kevin Gausman will be the club's Opening Day starter when the Blue Jays’ season kicks off on Friday, March 27, at the Rogers Centre against the Athletics. This marks the first time that Gausman has been tasked with the Opening Day role in a Blue Jays uniform, though it will be the third Opening Day start of his big league career. Gausman’s first Opening Day start came in 2017 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, then again in 2021 with the San Francisco Giants. Speaking to the media this morning, Schneider touched on the decision to give the 35-year-old the ball for game one. “Pumped for him, pumped for us. About time he got one, kind of what me and Pete [Walker] told him,” Schneider said (per Sportsnet). “Still figuring out the rest of the rotation, how that lines up, but I'm excited for Kevin to get us going.” Gausman is entering the final year of his five-year, $110 million contract, which he signed on December 1, 2021. Over his Blue Jays’ career, Gausman has pitched to a 48-41 record, while posting an ERA of 3.48. Last season, Gausman was brilliant for the Blue Jays, producing an ERA of 3.59, a FIP of 3.41 and a WHIP of 1.06. Across 32 regular season starts, Gausman struck out 189 batters over 193 innings pitched, relying on his devastating splitter to leave hitters in knots at the plate. Gausman held opponents to a .216 batting average, the second-best mark of his career. During the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series, Gausman only got better. In six appearances, he pitched to an ERA of 2.93. The right-hander tossed 30 ⅓ innings, recording 26 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .159 average. As the Blue Jays are dealing with injuries to José Berríos and Shane Bieber, while also slowly bringing rookie Trey Yesavage along, Gausman will be tasked with leading a rotation that is hopefully going to be a strength for the team in 2026. View the full article

With the Twins looking to return to being competitive in the AL Central, we wanted to take a look around at the other teams in the division and what moves they made this offseason. This is a look at what to expect from the Kansas City Royals this season. The Royals' offseason was defined by extensions, highlighted by a five-year deal for third baseman Maikel Garcia. Along with Bobby Witt Jr. Garcia will bring star power at the top of the lineup as he looks to build on his stellar 2025, where he was worth 5.8 bWAR. Royals catcher Salvador Perez signed a two-year extension through 2027. Perez has long been the core of the Royals lineup, justifiably earning the captain's "C" and cementing his place as a franchise icon. The last extension was with manager Matt Quatraro, whose new three-year deal runs through 2029 with a club option for 2030. Quatraro has a 224-262 record over his first three Kansas City years, including a 106-loss 2023. In the past two years, he led the Royals to seasons of 82 and 86 wins. The organization has shown confidence in his leadership moving forward. The Royals saw several subtractions this winter, as well as some impactful additions. Here are notable offseason moves in Kansas City, as the Royals look to return to contention in the AL Central. Notable Subtractions: Traded LHP Angel Zerpa to Brewers SP Michael Lorenzen OF Mike Yastrzemski OF MJ Melendez OF Randal Grichuk RP Hunter Harvey RP Taylor Clarke RP Jonathan Bowlan 2B Adam Frazier Notable Additions OF Kameron Misner - acquired from Tampa Bay RP Alex Lange - 1 year, $900,000 OF Lane Thomas - 1 year, $5.25 million OF Isaac Collins and RHP Nick Mears from the Brewers LHP Matt Strahm SP John Means (minor league deal) RP Eli Morgan (minor league deal) Several additions stand out, especially Isaac Collins, who could be an option leading off ahead of Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia. Other possible impact players include OF Kameron Misner, OF Lane Thomas, and North Dakota native LHP Matt Strahm. The Royals also signed former Orioles pitcher John Means to a two-year minor league deal as he rehabs from a torn Achilles. Reliever Eli Morgan could provide useful bullpen depth with his MLB experience. Among the departures, some names stand out, but many were replaced by additions. For example, Angel Zerpa was traded for Collins, while Strahm provides a left-handed relief option going forward. Yastrzemski, a 2025 deadline addition, leaves an outfield spot that Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins will now cover. The Royals appeared to make some savvy moves and will look to make a push at either the AL Central or, at a minimum, an AL Wild Card spot this coming year. Noteworthy injuries include John Means, who will miss significant time recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, and right-hander Alec Marsh, who is likely out for the season with a right shoulder injury. The absence of Means removes a potential left-handed starting option, while the loss of Marsh impacts the team's pitching depth for the year. Here is a look at the key players who will be a big part of the Royals winning the division, if they are to do so. Key Players Bobby Witt Jr.- 7.1 bWAR Maikel Garcia - 5.8 bWAR Noah Cameron - 3.8 bWAR Kris Bubic - 3.1 bwAR Michael Wacha - 2.8 bWAR Vinnie Pasquantino - 2.1 bWAR Carlos Estevez - 2.1 bWAR Other contributors include: Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Kyle Isbel, Salvador Perez, and Jac Caglianone. There is a ton of upside in this group, as well as plenty of depth. Bobby Witt Jr.is a bona fide superstar and face of the franchise. There is plenty of pitching depth, both in the rotation and in the bullpen, as well as some very intriguing young hitters that could take a step forward this season. The top prospects for the Royals include a couple of young catchers, as well as a couple pitchers and a 2025 first round pick. Top Prospects C Carter Jensen C Blake Mitchell RHP Kendry Chourio LHP David Shields OF/2B Sean Gamble Spring Storylines (and beyond): The youth movement with Jensen, and OF/DH Jac Caglianone headlining the young new core of a Royals team looking to return to the top of the AL Central. Jensen will likely split catching duties with Perez and get some time at the DH spot as well, while Caglianone should see time in the outfield and as the designated hitter. Who is hitting leadoff will be another thing to keep an eye out for. The newly acquired Isaac Collins is the favorite to be at the top of the lineup, especially against righties. Other players who may see time in leadoff spot are Bobby Witt Jr and Maikel Garcia, depending on the matchup on any given day. The health of the pitching staff will be something many Royals fans and the rest of the AL Central will keep tabs of this year. Cole Ragans started just 19 games this past year due to injury and will look to throw a full starter's workload closer to 30 starts this year. Kris Bubic also started 20 games while working back from an injury, so he will also look to have a healthy campaign in 2026 as well. Both Ragans and Bubic being healthy will be key in stabilizing the rotation and helping the pitching staff be more effective. The Royals will be looking to win the division and stay competitive in the AL Central throughout the 2026 season. Projected Lineup Maikel Garcia - 3B Bobby Witt Jr.- SS Vinnie Pasquantino - 1B Salvador Perez - C Isaac Collins - LF Jonathan India - 2B Carter Jensen - DH Lane Thomas - RF Kyle Isbel - CF Projected Rotation Cole Ragans - LHP Seth Lugo - RHP Michael Wacha - RHP Kris Kubic - LHP Noah Cameron - LHP Projected Record PECOTA: 1st place, 86-76 Fangraphs: 2nd place, 81-81 While PECOTA projects the Royals as division winners, Fangraphs is less optimistic, placing them second. Examining the roster and depth reveals a high ceiling but also the potential for a record similar to 2025. In an AL Central up for grabs, the Royals should remain competitive this season. View the full article

The San Diego Padres may lack the might they once had in terms of prospect depth, but that doesn’t mean they lack intrigue down on the farm. Having already explored three-quarters of the team’s top 20 prospects – as voted on by our Padres Mission staff – we turn our attention to one whose intrigue might become relevant rather soon. Check out prior entries in the rankings here: 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 Miguel Mendez – Pitcher (San Antonio Missions; Double-A) With so little depth and so few long-term names on the payroll on the mound for the Padres, it might seem there’s little to look forward to. Miguel Mendez might offer a shift in that mindset. Mendez was a quick riser in 2025. He began the season in A-ball, and before 2025 ended, he’d crossed into High-A and made a handful of starts at Double-A. The numbers support such a rapid ascent through the system, too. He made just three starts and threw 11 innings with Lake Elsinore. Therein, he allowed five runs on 11 hits but also struck out 18 hitters. That penchant for swings-and-misses earned him a dozen starts at the next level in Fort Wayne. He built on his early success in posting a 1.32 ERA, a 28.6 percent strikeout rate (70 total), and a 9.8 percent walk rate in 61 1/3 innings. That earned him another call-up. He wrapped 2025 with San Antonio, though the results were not quite as good. His ERA sat over eight in 22.1 innings (5.91 FIP) and a homer-to-flyball ratio up near 17 percent. All told, Mendez pitched 95 innings (22 starts), posted a 3.22 ERA, and struck out 29.4 percent of the batters he faced. One imagines that his clunky stint in San Antonio will have him ticketed for Double-A again to start the year, but one also doesn’t have to stretch to see the potential for a cup of coffee down the road if his trajectory stays on course. What To Like: Mendez doesn’t make this complicated. His stuff is very good. He brings a quality fastball with plenty of movement that he mixes with a slider and a less-used changeup. Baseball America’s scouting report noted the following: "Mendez attacks hitters out of a slightly lowered three-quarters slot with no shortage of arm speed and features a fastball, slider and a changeup. Mendez’s heater sits in the mid-to-upper-90s with both run and ride through the zone. It jumps out of his hand and plays especially well in the top half of the strike zone, which is also where it generates the vast majority of its swings and misses. Mendez’s tight mid-to-upper-80s slider regularly generates empty swings. It flashes plus with sharp two-plane tilt, though against right-handed hitters it will sometimes have more length than depth. Mendez used his upper-80s-to-low-90s changeup just 8% of the time, but its results were encouraging. It garnered a 37% miss rate while flashing effective tumble and fade." Fastball-slider is a devastating combination on its own, especially with the upside of each pitch. If he can harness the changeup to the point where it becomes a viable third pitch, then you’re talking about him in the big-league mix in fairly short order. The most important thing for Mendez thus far, though, has been the growth. In his first stint in affiliated ball back in 2022, he walked hitters at a rate up near 29 percent and struck them out at only half that clip. That number remained high in Low-A in both 2023 and 2024, with walk rates reading 13.3 and 14.9, respectively. That it came down so significantly across the various levels in 2025 is certainly encouraging. Though after that brief trip to San Antonio, it’s the one area where continued improvement will need to be demonstrated. What To Work On: The aforementioned command is, obviously, objective No. 1 for Mendez moving forward. There’s more evidence of him struggling with it than him having it to this point in his professional career. If we’re to assume that this is an aberration wrought by a small sample at a new level, then it’s not overly concerning. Beyond the obvious, Mendez needs to get that changeup into the game at a higher rate. It’s extraordinarily difficult to stick as a starter at the major-league level without a third pitch. That Mendez only threw it eight percent of the time last year – even amid the success he was experiencing – speaks to the lack of comfort he has with that offering. If he’s able to grasp command of the other two pitches more fully, then 2026 will present him with an opportunity to get that pitch to be a factor in the broader arsenal. What’s Next: Double-A seems like the most likely starting point for Mendez this year. If the command demonstrated last year returns, though, he could be on his way to El Paso before long once the new year begins. Beyond that, there are a couple of different routes the Padres could take with him. They could give him a full year of seasoning to harness command and develop the change. That could put him in decent position to grab a rotation spot in camp ahead of the 2027 season (assuming such adjustments are fully realized). There will be opportunities for rotation spots in the same way we’re seeing them this year. The other possibility is that we end up seeing Mendez pitching in San Diego before year’s end, albeit as a reliever. A two-pitch pitcher is much more viable in relief. Even with the depth the Padres have in the bullpen, there might be nothing stopping them from wanting to see his upside as a one- or two-inning reliever as he gets adapted to the big-league level. Either way, there’s an intensely bright future here that should be featured as part of the depth chart for the top club in some form or fashion before year’s end. View the full article

We continue our Royals Keep top 20 prospects list with numbers 15 down to 11. Learn about the upsides, drawbacks, and call-up trajectories that come with Steven Zobac, former top international signee Daniel Vazquez, recently promoted Luinder Avila, Felix Arronde, and 2024 top international signee Yandel Ricardo. Enjoy! View the full article

Eric Wagaman’s versatility could make him a useful piece for the Twins, but his bat hasn’t exactly helped his case this spring. With a ground-ball heavy profile and limited production at the plate, his path to the roster might be getting tougher. View the full article

Spring training is winding down, and urgency is rising. Only a couple of weeks remain for players to make final impressions before the club heads north. The roster for the March 26 opener in Baltimore is coming into focus. For many, the final stretch is about maintaining momentum and health. For others, the next two weeks could decide whether they open in the majors or minors. Some players still have something to prove before Opening Day. Bailey Ober and the Velocity Question The Twins have counted on Ober to be a reliable piece of their rotation over the past few seasons. When he is at his best, the tall right-hander uses deception and command to keep hitters off balance despite not having overpowering stuff. However, his velocity remains one of the most important storylines to watch during the final weeks of spring training. Ober allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out two over 2 2/3 innings in Thursday’s Grapefruit League matchup against the Boston Red Sox. On the surface, the line was fairly modest, but the radar gun numbers drew attention. Ober averaged just 88.8 mph with his fastball in the outing. That number continues a concerning trend. Ober’s fastball sat in the lower 90s early in camp but averaged 89.9 mph during his first spring appearance and dipped even lower in his most recent outing. Last season, his average fastball velocity of 90.3 mph was already a career low, as he posted a 5.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Velocity is not everything for Ober, but it does impact how effective his entire arsenal can be. His approach relies heavily on tunneling and location, and losing even a small amount of velocity can shrink the margin for error. With a rotation spot essentially locked in, Ober’s spring is less about making the roster and more about proving that the declining velocity is not going to become a long-term issue. The Twins will likely monitor his next few outings closely. Brooks Lee and the Search for More Quickness When Lee arrived in the majors, his bat had been his calling card throughout his college and early pro career. The bigger question surrounded his overall athleticism and defensive range. That is why Lee made improving his quickness a priority heading into this year. Observers around camp have noted that his body composition looks different. Lee reportedly weighs about the same as last year, but he appears leaner because his weight is distributed differently. The visual changes have been noticeable during workouts and early game action. There have already been a couple of defensive plays in which Lee has appeared to show better range than he did a year ago. He has also looked slightly quicker running the bases, which could be an encouraging sign for the Twins if it continues. Still, early data does not yet show a measurable difference. According to Matthew Leach and MLB.com research, there is no data to definitively prove Lee is faster than last season. At this point in spring training, samples are very small. The next few weeks are important for Lee. If his added quickness proves real, it could help solidify his defensive profile and expand his infield roles. Zak Kent Making a Case in the Bullpen Of the recent pitching additions, Zak Kent received little fanfare. He did not arrive with the attention of names like Taylor Rogers or Liam Hendriks, but his early camp results have turned heads. Kent is already on the 40-man roster and features a slider that has impressed the Twins’ coaching staff. More importantly, he has shown an ability to miss bats. In three Grapefruit League innings, Kent has yielded just one hit, struck out six, and walked none. He has also produced 13 swings and misses on just 43 pitches. Those numbers stand out for a bullpen that could use another right-handed arm capable of generating strikeouts. The Twins have several relievers who rely on contact management, but power stuff in the late innings always carries value. Kent still has to prove that his success can continue against stronger competition as spring training progresses. If he keeps generating swings and misses at this rate, he could force the Twins to consider giving him a bigger opportunity. Final Days to Make an Impression Every spring brings a few surprises, and the final roster decisions are often shaped by performances in the last two weeks of camp. For the Twins, those evaluations are happening quickly as Opening Day approaches. Ober is trying to show that his declining velocity won't define his season. Lee is working to prove that the adjustments he made to his body will translate into improved quickness. Kent is attempting to turn a strong spring into a legitimate bullpen opportunity. With the opener against Baltimore approaching fast, the margin for error is shrinking. The next handful of games may determine who heads north with the team and who begins the season waiting for another opportunity. What players will you be watching over in spring’s final weeks? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

North Side Baseball's top-20 Chicago Cubs prospects list for the 2026 season is nearing it's conclusion. Today, we'll be focusing on our bronze medalist, Jefferson Rojas. Be sure to check out all of our previous installments in the series here: Prospects #20-16 Prospects #15-11 Prospect #10 - James Triantos Prospect #9 - Josiah Hartshorn Prospect #8 - Kane Kepley Prospect #7 - Pedro Ramirez Prospect #6 - Ethan Conrad Prospect #5 - Jonathon Long Prospect #4 - Kevin Alcantara #3 - Jefferson Rojas (Tennessee Smokies, Double-A) Jefferson Rojas feels like he has always been on the precipice of a breakout without ever truly busting through the glass ceiling, and 2025 had a similar vibe. At first, it looked like perhaps we were seeing the coming out party we had all hoped for, as Rojas was an absolute monster at High-A South Bend. Over 299 plate appearances, the Cubs' prospect slashed .278/.379/.492, which was 45% above average. This showed significant development for the 20-year-old, who somewhat struggled with an 88 wRC+ over his first 419 PA's at the same level the year prior. Things derailed when Rojas got to Tennessee however, which really limited the idea that he truly had broken through. Going homer-less in his first 172 plate appearances, Rojas looked a bit outmatched at Double-A. Much like his first go at High-A, these were productive struggles for a player who was younger than league average, but still, if you were hoping that the year was going to be all sunshine and rainbows, his first look at a higher level likely dampened that outlook. What to like: First off, Rojas has always been very young for his level of competition. Getting to High-A by age 19 and Double-A by age 20 puts him on a much quicker pace than most of his peers. Ethan Conrad, our sixth-ranked prospect, was playing at Wake Forrest at 20 years old, which is a step-below the level of competition in Double-A. Rojas has been cutting his teeth against some really quality opponents. As a player, Rojas has shown a pretty solid ability to keep his strikeouts in check while keeping his walks up. Even struggling in Tennessee last year, the shortstop didn't eclipse a 20% strikeout rate and maintained an 11.6% walk rate. Rojas has a pretty good approach at the plate that maximizes his contact ability without getting so aggressive that he still isn't getting on base. So, despite his 58 wRC+ in Double-A, he maintained an OBP nearly .100 points above his batting average. Rojas, outside of Tennessee, showed improved power last year. His 11 home runs in just under 300 PA's was a career high at any level, and his .214 ISO was double that of his last go at High-A as well. This is great news for his future; hitting the ball with authority is never a bad thing. But it's also good because it shows adaptability; yes, he struggled when he was 19 at High-A, but then he came back out and destroyed the level. If you're worried about him heading into Double-A because of his poor first look, this gives you reason to believe he'll overcome that small setback. What to work on: As much as I want to chalk up his struggles at Double-A to just the idea of productive struggles, a 58 wRC+ is never a good thing on it's own. I'm willing to consider context, but for a prospect who defensively isn't likely to stick at shortstop (which I'll explore more later), he's going to have to hit better than that in 2026. Defensively, Rojas probably won't stick long term at short. As Baseball America describes in his scouting report, Rojas has "average hands and footwork". This probably will not be enough to allow him to stick at a premium position as he begins to fill out as an adult. While this isn't an immediate disqualifier, it means that his bat will have to do more talking to ensure he can stick at a position like third base down the line. The biggest knock on Rojas might be that there isn't a standout tool in his bag. He has a good hit tool, shows the ability to hit double-digit home runs, and he's probably going to be fine at either second or third, but there isn't anything that wows you. Not every player needs a carrying tool, but it can be a concern that without one, he could just be a "jack-of-all-trades" type. It means that he can't really have one aspect dip too far away from average, but so far, this hasn't been an issue, thankfully. What's next: Jefferson Rojas will go back to Double-A and look to improve on his first go at the level. There's reason to be optimistic that last year will be of the "speed bump" variety in Tennessee. First, Rojas showed marked improvement from year one to year two at High-A and repeating that should shock no one. More importantly, however, Rojas has been killing the baseball in spring training. While I'm not in the "spring statistics are meaningful" camp myself, I do think there's reason to believe in this data; he's changed his pre-pitch set up for the better. Compare below a home run he hit this spring to the video posted above. Notice that he is less upright and that his hands have more separation from his body before he launches into his swing. This seems to have loosened him up a bit and given him extra whip through the zone. He's also made most of his hard contact against players who have sniffed MLB relevancy; for someone like Alex Bregman, that would be meaningless, but for someone who hasn't yet seen Triple-A, we can't ignore that fact. A successful year for Rojas likely sees him rocket through Double-A like he did in South Bend last year and end up in Iowa. There's little in the way of blocking him at that level on the infield, so he could continue to get reps at short even if he's unlikely to be a solution for the big-league Cubs there. I also wouldn't be surprised if the roller coaster experience continues; kill the level you repeat, struggle against the newest competition. Getting to Iowa by age 21`, regardless of his outcomes against Triple-A pitching, would put him on track to break through with the Cubs by his 22nd birthday, which is no small feat. Longer term, he probably fits comfortably as a third baseman with 15 (or so) home runs in his bat while also making a good deal of contact. While not a 1:1 comparison, former Cub Zach McKinstry's 2025 campaign feels like a good outcome for Jefferson: a 3.2 fWAR season that was built with a 112 wRC+, 12 home runs, 9% walk rate, and a 21.7% strikeout rate. What do you think of Jefferson Rojas? Are you optimistic about his mechanical changes? What do you think his upside is? Let us know in the comment section below! View the full article

Opening Day is less than two weeks away, and the Boston Red Sox's plans for the regular season are coming into focus. As players return from the World Baseball Classic, the team will be able to continue cutting players from major-league camp and fine tuning the roster. Of course, baseball junkie Craig Breslow wasn't finished tinkering just because spring training is well underway. After months of offseason rumors connected both parties, the Red Sox have signed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe. He crucially adds a third southpaw to the bullpen, joining Jovani Moran and closer Aroldis Chapman. Unfortunately, in order to make room for the 36-year-old on the 40-man roster, the team sent Romy Gonzalez to the 60-day injured list, knocking him out until at least May. Red Sox Answer Bullpen's Biggest Question With Danny Coulombe Signing Once the front office cleaned house of all the fringe left-handed relievers on the roster, there was a question if they'd convert one of their many pitching prospects to relief. Then, Kyle Harrison and practically everyone else was traded away, leaving the big-league bullpen short on matchup arms. There was hope of an 11th-hour reunion with Justin Wilson, but the veteran reliever is reportedly leaning toward retirement. Coulombe thankfully resolves that concern, even if he isn't flawless. He shredded the competition with the Minnesota Twins during the first half of last season, pitching to a 1.16 ERA (2.01 FIP) over 31 frames. Benefitting from an abundance of weakly hit fly balls, the veteran reliever showed off an enviable mastery of the strike zone, punching out more than a quarter of the hitters he faced while walking just 7.4% of them. Things came a bit undone once he was traded to the Texas Rangers (5.25 ERA, 6.64 FIP), but he still finished the season as one of the league's best at getting batters to chase pitches outside the zone. Naturally, that's what makes him so good at forcing weak contact, despite a fastball that barely averages more than 90 mph. He's got a movement-dependent, spin-heavy arsenal that should play nicely off the gas that Chapman throws. In terms of matchups, lefties technically posted a higher batting average against him last year, but their impact was minimal (.238 wOBA). For his career, he's held left-handed batters to a scant .596 OPS, compared to a .694 mark against right-handers. When he's right, he can get anyone out, as he proved in Minnesota. Truthfully, health may be his biggest hurdle — Coulombe has had six injured list stints since the start of 2022. Chapman is a known quantity as the closer, even if he's unable to deliver an encore on his sterling 2025 campaign. And Moran, despite some warts, is a whiff-generating machine with some untapped upside. This trio of left-handed relievers should be capable of shepherding the bullpen to great heights, assuming they can all stay healthy. Romy Gonzalez's Shoulder Injury Compounds Loss of Rob Refsnyder Unfortunately, Coulombe's arrival can only generate so much goodwill and hype. Losing Gonzalez for an extended period of time is a blow to the team's bench infrastructure, and also a reminder of why acquiring Caleb Durbin was so important. More than anything, Gonzalez is perhaps the team's single-best hitter against southpaws now that Rob Refsnyder and Alex Bregman are playing elsewhere. He hammered them last to the tune of a .331/.378/.600 slash line, producing a .978 OPS and 162 wRC+ when he had the handedness advantage. Opposing teams will be able to exploit his absence by bringing in high-leverage left-handed relievers in late games, knowing Alex Cora has limited options to work with. However, it's worth noting that Gonzalez's placement on the IL opens up an Opening Day roster spot for Andruw Monasterio, who has been really impressive this spring. He's got a versatile glove and some upside at the plate, and perhaps he could play well enough over the season's opening weeks to stave off a demotion when Gonzalez returns (though, in turn, that would probably get Isiah Kiner-Falefa kicked off the team). With Gonzalez out and Triston Casas also expected to need more time to recuperate, the Red Sox are down two of their best power hitters. They'll need some breakouts from their youth contingent in order to produce runs in the early going. View the full article

With spring training in full swing and the World Baseball Classic underway, it is time to check in on some more of Jays Centre's top 20 Toronto Blue Jays prospects. We covered No. 16-20 last week, and today, we will be looking at the next group of five. There are a lot of new prospects in this section, so let's get to know something about each of them. 15. SS Josh Kasevich (FCL, Dunedin, Buffalo) table.stats { border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; } table.stats th, table.stats td { border: 1px solid #333; padding: 8px 12px; } table.stats th { font-weight: bold; background-color: #f2f2f2; } PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ K% BB% 160 31 2 0 0 0.574 70 15% 13.10% Josh Kasevich was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 during the second round of the MLB draft. He is now a 6-foot-1, 200-pound, 25-year-old shortstop who is one call from the major leagues. Since being drafted, he has shown an ability to thrive as a defense-first prospect, but one who can produce the necessary numbers as a hitter as well. In his first three seasons following being drafted, he would routinely hit near .300 and not strike out a lot. His strikeout rates ranged from 7.4% at Single A to 14.5% at Triple A. In 2024, his slash line at Triple-A was .325/.382/.433, with a 120 wRC+. 2025 was a lost year for Kasevich, as he only managed to play in 42 minor league games, 13 of them on rehab assignments between Rookie ball and Single A. In his 29 Triple-A games, he would slash .173/.272/.184, for a 34 wRC+. It was a year to forget for him, but the good in all of this is that he appears to be healthy and having a good spring training. Gearing up for a potential rebound year in 2026, he is hitting .333 over 13 spring training games (as of March 12). 2026 should see Kasevich start back out at Triple-A Buffalo, where he will need to show he is healthy and back to having a plus hit tool. When everything is going well for him, he is an Ernie Clement clone, who will provide plus defense and do enough with the bat to stick in the lineup if needed. He won't show much power, but a bat that will limit the strikeouts is right in the Blue Jays’ wheelhouse nowadays. 14. OF Blaine Bullard (N/A) Blaine Bullard is a 19-year-old, five-tool outfielder who the Toronto Blue Jays took in the 12th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, 352nd overall. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, he has room for projection left on his frame and is likely somewhere in between Jake Cook and Tim Piasentin in terms of a hitting profile. He doesn't have Cook's speed, but he should be above average. Also, he doesn't have Piasentin's power, but should develop at least a league-average to above-average ability to launch baseballs over the fence. Currently, he has more gap-to-gap doubles power, which should improve as he ages and fills out his frame. 2026 should see him start with the FCL Blue Jays and move up to Single-A Dunedin at some point. 13. OF Jake Cook (N/A) Jake Cook was a late bloomer in college and eventually switched from pitching to hitting in his senior year at Southern Mississippi. He would be drafted in the second round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, 81st overall. His last year at Southern Mississippi, he ended up hitting .350/.436/.468, launched only three home runs, swiped three bases, but had a 10.9% walk rate and a 6.7% strikeout rate. Cook didn't play in any games after being drafted, so 2026 will be his debut year in the minor leagues. He will be a project hitter, but he does a lot of things well to give him a solid floor to his profile. He gets on base, and he doesn't strike out much, for example. He has an advanced hit tool for his level of experience and could make big leaps once the season begins. His calling card is definitely his speed, as he may be one of the fastest players in the minor leagues from day one. He, too, will likely begin with the FCL Blue Jays and move on up to Single-A Dunedin at some point. How he develops as a base stealer and whether or not he adds power will shape how fast he moves through the minor leagues and where his profile's ultimate outcome will land. 12. 3B Tim Piasentin (N/A) Tim Piasentin was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays with the seventh pick in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft. After going 143rd overall, he would sign for $747,500. He is a Canadian kid and is well on his way to being a breakout prospect hitter in 2026. At 18 years old, Piasentin is already 200 pounds and boasts one of the top power potential profiles among 2025 MLB draftees. He has quick hands and a fast, smooth swing, which is geared toward lifting the ball and doing damage. The question mark will be his hit tool, but he is already showing high exit velocities and should be able to make enough contact to let his power shine through. 2026 could be a big year for him as he starts to make his name known, likely beginning with the FCL Blue Jays and eventually at Single-A Dunedin. 11. SP Silvano Hechavarria (FCL, Dunedin, Vancouver) table.stats { border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; } table.stats th, table.stats td { border: 1px solid #333; padding: 8px 12px; } table.stats th { font-weight: bold; background-color: #f2f2f2; } IP G GS ERA FIP xFIP K% BB% 86.2 19 14 2.28 3.55 3.69 23.70% 6.60% Silvano Hechavarria was a late signing out of Cuba in June of 2024. Even though he was older, he still made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) later that year. He would get into 10 games and pitch 49 innings on the season, showing a very good strike-throwing ability against the younger competition. He ended the season with a sparkling 1.84 ERA, to go with a 29.4% strikeout rate, and only an 8.4% walk rate. In 2025, he would get the bump stateside and begin in Rookie ball, although his stint there was short (just 17 innings). Hechavarria showed an even better ability to limit walks, this time only allowing free passes in just 5.9% of plate appearances. That advanced command saw him quickly get pushed up to Single-A Dunedin, where he would spend the majority of the season. Over 47.1 innings pitched, he would dominate Single-A hitters to the tune of a 1.90 ERA, a 28.5% strikeout rate, and a 5.9% walk rate again. His FIP was even a solid 3.17. Ultimately, he would get the jump up to his third level of the season, moving to High-A Vancouver. In just four games and 22.1 innings, his strikeout numbers dipped to a 20.7% rate, but he again didn't walk many batters (8.7%). Hechavarria is a big-bodied pitcher, standing 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds. He primarily used a cutter and four-seam fastball in 2025, with a sinker, changeup, and slider getting occasional use. He gets a good amount of induced vertical break on his fastball (17.8 inches at Single A), but will need to keep improving the pitch shape and hopefully gain some needed velocity. He is a sneaky pick to be a breakout prospect for the Blue Jays in 2026 and could get to start the year at Double A. He has quickly settled into the minor leagues, and if his swing-and-miss ability catches up to becoming actual strikeouts, he could take that next leap soon. He had a 15.61% swinging strike rate last year, which was good enough for the 93rd percentile in the minor leagues. If he could improve his strikeout rate to around 30%, he would be a big bet to have a breakout season and possibly finish at Triple A. View the full article

Following just one start in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello decided to return to camp in Fort Myers and will not pitch anymore. "We only need three more starters, and he needs to throw, so we sent him back to camp with the Red Sox," said Dominican Republic manager Nelson Cruz. "We know that he needs to be ready for his season, and on Sunday, he will rejoin the team." His lone start of the WBC came against Israel, where in five innings of work, he allowed one run on one hit (home run), didn't walk anyone, and struck out seven. He will be making another start with the Red Sox on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. Through two spring training starts, Bello has surrendered nine runs on eight hits (one home run), walked two, and struck out three. Along with his start on Saturday, Bello likely makes one more start for the Red Sox before the start of the season. Although he will rejoin the team, the likelihood that he will throw again in the World Baseball Classic is unlikely, given the amount of pitches he will need to throw in his start, and it may just not give him enough time to recover for a potential appearance on Tuesday in the championship game if the Dominican Republic were to make it. “It will depend on that number [of pitches with Boston] and the days of rest before his next appearance, according to the rules of the Classic,” Cruz said. If the Dominican Republic advances to the semifinals, the expectation is that Luis Severino will start that game, which would be against the United States or Canada, who face off on Friday. Sandy Alcantara would be lined up for that championship game if they make it that far. Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric. View the full article

Representatives for four groups still in the running to purchase the San Diego Padres visited the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., this week. According to a report by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday, the new target for completing a sale by the Seidler family is by the end of April. Acee reported the sale price is now expected to be at least $2.5 billion with the potential to go over $3 billion. The current record for the purchase of an MLB team is $2.42 billion by Steve Cohen for the New York Mets in 2020. Five groups had submitted initial bids by late February. None of the four finalists has been publicly named. Previously, the reported contenders included Jose E. Feliciano, whose ClearLake Capital is based in Santa Monica and holds ownership stake in the soccer team Chelsea of the English Premier League; San DIego-born Dan Friedkin, CEO of The Friedkin Group that owns auto dealerships and hotels, while he also has ownership shares of soccer teams Everton in the EPL and Roma in Serie A; and Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. Another entity, Vuori founder Joe Kudla and former San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees, were thought to be another group trying to buy the Padres, but that was later clarified to state that those two would be helping another group in their bid for the Friars. Kudla is a graduate of the University of San Diego, and Vuori is headquartered in Carlsbad. Brees has been seen over the years as a fan at Petco Park. The Seidler family announced in mid-November that it would put the Padres up for sale. This came after Peter Seider died in November 2024. Following the resolution of legal issues between Seidler's brothers and his widow, the bid process officially began. According to the Union-Tribune, the family owns less than 50% of the team, including a 24% stake that is held by Peter Seidler's trust. Peter Seidler's widow, Sheel Seidler, and their three children are the beneficiaries of the trust. The remaining portion of ownership is between 10 and 12 other entities that are minority owners. Peter Seidler and Ron Fowler led a group that bought the Padres in 2012 for $800 million. View the full article

You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, GleemanAndTheGeek.com, click this link or you can listen to it or watch it below. For even more Twins talk all season long, join Patreon.com/Gleeman and get 20% off an annual membership with the code TWINS2026 through first pitch of Opening Day. View the full article

One of the most exciting teenage bats in the minor leagues, Eduardo Tait offers intriguing power and a rocket for an arm behind the dish. Just how high is his ceiling, and what does he need to iron out in 2026? View the full article

How severe is Quinn Priester's injury? We have more information, as Pat Murphy has come out with relative optimism, considering Priester's nerve pain has led to surgery in other instances. The right-handed pitcher won't throw another bullpen until March 21st, effectively taking him out for Opening Day. Who is left in the Opening Day starter sweepstakes? We go over that today! View the full article

On Thursday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Jose Berríos has been diagnosed with inflammation in his pitching elbow (per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson). Fortunately, no one seems overly concerned, and Berríos will not be shut down from baseball activities. "I've been feeling great and throwing the ball well," Berríos told reporters (including Sportsnet's David Singh). "But the MRI says something, so now we have to take care of that." Indeed, both player and manager seem surprised by the results of the MRI. After all, just a few weeks ago, Berríos spoke about how healthy he was feeling: "Last year, at this time, I had doubt in my mind already. Today, I felt like nothing's on my mind. I'm clear." Schneider was clear to note that it was "different inflammation" than anything Berríos dealt with last season. Whether that's good news or bad news is hard to say. "We're kind of still in the information gathering stage," Schneider explained (per Singh). View the full article

The clock continues to tick on Spring training as Major League Baseball’s open day sits two weeks away. The players are in their routines, teams are making decisions, and it’s just about time for the games to start counting. While statistics in the spring don’t mean a lot, it is still nice to see players finding their groove as the season fast approaches. Who’s Hot? 🔥 Jonathan India Having India be a key piece in the Royals’ lineup could help push this team back to playoff baseball. Through 17 at-bats, India has posted an average of .294, with one home run and three RBI’s. The former Rookie of the Year’s offensive production has really heated up as of late, going 5-for-11 over his last five games. The utility player has also posted four walks and zero strikeouts, showcasing an ability to put the ball in play. Last season, India underwhelmed, batting .233, with nine home runs and 45 RBI’s after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds. Signed to a one-year, $8 million contract to avoid arbitration in the offseason, India looks for better results in year two with the Royals. Mason Black Acquired in November in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, Black has impressed in Royals camp so far. In six appearances, the right-hander has yet to allow a run, throwing eight shutout innings, recording eight strikeouts and three walks. Black has pitched in 10 games across two seasons with the Giants, posting a record of 1-5, a 6.47 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.64. The 28-year-old has worked in the rotation and out of the bullpen, giving the Royals an option for length or spot starts should injuries arise. Helcris Olivárez The 25-year-old has looked good in spring training, making six appearances, totalling a record of 2-0, an ERA of 1.50, and a WHIP of 1.17. Olivárez’s last three outings have all been scoreless, striking out four batters over the three innings. Invited to Royals’ camp as a non-roster invitee, Olivárez is looking to make his MLB debut after spring training stops in Colorado, Boston, and San Francisco. Olivárez has absolutely put his name on the map with this stellar spring. Who’s Not? 🧊 Brandon Drury Drury was signed to a minor league contract in February, but has slumped through large parts of the spring. Through 22 at-bats, Drury has batted .182, totalling only four singles and two RBI’s. The 33-year-old has struck out eight times, failing to make consistent contact. After spending all of the 2025 season in the minor leagues, split between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels organizations, Drury appears poised to return there in 2026. In 53 AAA games last year, Drury batted .214, with three home runs and 17 RBI’s. Kyle Isbel One of the Royals’ outfielders vying for playing time in 2026, Isbel has slumped through the majority of the spring. In 21 at-bats, Isbel has batted .143, with no home runs and only two RBI’s. All three hits this spring have been singles for the 29-year-old. Last season, Isbel appeared in 135 games, batting .255 with four home runs and 33 RBI’s, while also chipping in four stolen bases. With the additions of Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins, and Starling Marte, the Royals’ outfield picture is getting crowded, and Isbel’s struggles are not helping his case. John Rave Rave, like Isbel, is a struggling outfielder in a crowded Royals outfield picture. Through 26 spring training at-bats, Rave has batted .154, with only one RBI. With an OBP of .241, Rave appears destined to begin the season in Omaha. Last season, Rave made his big league debut, appearing in 72 games with the Royals, batting .196, with four home runs, 14 RBIs, and recording seven stolen bases. A left-handed bat, Rave figures to see playing time if a few of the other lefties go down throughout the season. View the full article

Brett Bateman just missed our ranking of the Cubs' top 20 prospects this spring, but his performance in the Cactus League might already be proving us wrong. How close might he be to helping the parent club? Painting the Picture Bateman has already proven to be a steal. Since being drafted out of the University of Minnesota, the 2023 eighth-round pick has ascended into the Cubs’ top 30 prospects list, and he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Bateman currently has 233 minor-league contests under his belt across four different levels. His most recent stop was with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies, where he spent his last 28 games of 2024 and all of 2025. 2025 After wrapping up his 2024 campaign two steps from the big leagues, the rangy outfielder spent all of last season there. Don’t mistake his longer tenure for a flat trajectory, though. He hit .261 with a pair of long balls, 33 runs batted in and 19 stolen bags in 94 contests. He struck out 82 times against 61 walks, showing a keen eye and above-average bat-to-ball skills. Strength: Speed Even when he was viewed as a low-grade prospect in college, no one doubted Bateman's burners. The former Golden Gopher has a 70 speed grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. Without that, he probably wouldn't even have merited a look in pro ball. The speed translates far beyond the base paths, too: Bateman is regarded as a plus defender in center field. However, he also hit .500 in 13 games in the Cape Cod League the summer before he was drafted, so there's some feel for hitting here—amplified by his wheels. With a good eye at the plate, Bateman ranked third in walk rate (15%) and sixth in on-base percentage (.376) among qualified Double-A hitters. Weakness: Lack of Slug As you might guess, Bateman's speed and contact skills were known strengths even when he was in school. He fell to the eighth round because those skills have to compensate for a galling absence of power. In 233 professional games, Bateman has only hit three home runs. That makes a player nearly unplayable, unless they do everything else well. Bateman’s game is mainly about beating the ball into the ground and racing the baseball to first base. It’s the same blueprint major-league talent Chandler Simpson uses, but Simpson is a pretty limited player, and his speed is a grade better than Bateman's. His lack of any power has kept a pretty low ceiling on him throughout his time in the Cubs organization. He's hit five of his 14 batted balls this spring over 100 MPH (including three at 104+), but only one of them was hit at a positive launch angle. That has to change, if he's to have any meaningful offensive impact in the majors. When Will He Debut? With plenty of experience at Double-A already, Bateman could spend this entire season at Triple-A. It'll be his age-24 season, so there's no reason why he can't come up to the big-league team late in the season, if injuries open the door to it. He has to be added to the 40-man roster this November or be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, so if he has a good season, the Cubs could want to get an early look at him against top-level pitchers. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are nearing the end of their contracts, and fellow top prospect Kevin Alcántara has struggled with an above-average strikeout rate. Could Bateman take his cup of coffee at the end of this year? Don’t rule it out. There's still a chance he never plays in the majors at all, but if he stays healthy and can find a way to produce a bit more thump, he could carve out a solid career as a fourth outfielder—beginning as soon as this summer. View the full article

On Tuesday, Joe Ryan made his spring debut, tossing three innings against the Rays, and on paper it was a successful start: no runs allowed on just a pair of hits. A deeper look shows that his stuff in the outing was middling, as reflected by zero strikeouts and just three swings-and-misses (all with the splitter) on 48 pitches. Was it the most encouraging day for a guy who didn't pitch in the first half of camp due to an injury scare, after posting a 4.67 ERA in the second half last year? No, but it's also not that worrisome. Ryan was shaking off the rust, like any other pitcher in his first spring exposure to live competition. Given his lack of a typical build-up, it was good to see him reach nearly 50 pitches. Ryan is apparently feeling good enough to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and potentially pitch in the championship game next Tuesday. It would be cool to see Ryan take the mound in such a high-stakes, high-profile spring setting. I've been enjoying the hell out of watching Byron Buxton take part in the WBC. But I also must admit the Twins fan in me feels a little uneasy about Ryan's unorthodox ramp-up this spring, in which he's coming off a lackluster 2025 finish and his back has already barked at him. I'm sure he's been building up on the side, but what we've seen officially from Ryan this spring is one three-inning appearance, with his stuff playing down. Now he's going to travel and possibly take the mound in a high-intensity environment where he'll surely be going full-bore. Ryan is a vital asset for the Twins, whether as the rotation leader on a surprisingly relevant team, or a trade chip leveraged to bolster the rebuild. Having him participate in the WBC feels to me like playing with fire. That said, it's a lot less concerning than what we've seen from Bailey Ober. Last year, Ober posted a career-worst 5.10 ERA while lamenting his physical impairment and out-of-whack mechanics. He spent the offseason trying to get fully healthy and iron things out. But as soon as he got to camp, Ober expressed frustration that his progress wasn't carrying over. The Twins held him out of games for some time before he finally made his first Grapefruit League start last Friday, finally showcasing under the lights and in front of the radar guns. Like Ryan, Ober posted good results in his spring debut, holding the Braves scoreless in two frames. But here the underlying signs were more troubling: he averaged under 90 MPH with his fastball, down even from last year's reduced benchmark. Ober started again yesterday, and the velocity was down even further, with his fastball averaging 88.8 MPH and only once clocking in the 90s. Ober insists that he's feeling much better than last year, so that's a plus. Spring training velocities can sometimes be overblown, but in Ober's case the fixation is understandable, especially given that he has a history of doing the opposite: showing up in camp with extra ticks of velo, prompting us to dream on what the 6-foot-9 right-hander would be capable of with a peristent mid-90s heater. The idea of Ober trying to get by while topping out in the upper-80s is more of a nightmare befitting his nickname. That's not to say he can't stay afloat with reduced velocity — as Matthew Trueblood wrote yesterday, the key might lie in fully harnessing his changeup — but his margin is thin, and the likelihood of returning to a rotation-fronting level is low. The Twins have seen positive signs this spring from some of their younger starting pitchers like Mick Abel, Taj Bradley and Kendry Rojas. That bodes well for the future of the rotation. But Minnesota's core veteran trio, upon which any plausible notion of short-term competitiveness was propped, is off to a very rocky start. Pablo López suffered a season-ending injury on the first official day of camp. Ryan and Ober sat out the first half and haven't looked like themselves in early action. Now, Ryan is off to the WBC to continue his unconventional build-up, while Ober remains in Fort Myers to try and overcome his velo woes. There's still time for both veteran starters to instill some sense of confidence before the start of the season — a dominant outing from Ryan on the big stage and an uptick for Ober in his next couple outings would go a long way — but the clock is ticking. Less than two weeks to go until the opening series in Baltimore, where Ryan and Ober will theoretically be slated to pitch the first two games. View the full article

Padres Mission's countdown of the top 20 San Diego Padres prospects, as voted on by our staff writers, continues with deeper profiles on the top 10 entering the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the ranking here: No. 7: Humberto Cruz No. 8: Ty Harvey No. 9: Ryan Wideman No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 6: Jagger Haynes (San Antonio Missions) Coming out of a small North Carolina high school in the abbreviated 2020 draft, the Padres selected left-handed starter Jagger Haynes with their final pick, taking him in the fifth round. Due to trades, Haynes is the lone member of that class still with the Friars. Haynes comes from the same remote area of North Carolina where the Padres found MacKenzie Gore. Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff W L W-L% ERA RA9 G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W 2023 20 -1.9 Lake Elsinore CALL A SDP 0 3 .000 3.91 4.62 11 11 0 0 0 0 25.1 22 13 11 2 12 0 29 1 2 1 109 1.342 7.8 0.7 4.3 10.3 2.42 2024 21 -2.1 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 2 6 .250 4.64 4.80 23 22 1 0 0 0 110.2 90 59 57 11 66 0 114 6 0 7 475 1.410 7.3 0.9 5.4 9.3 1.73 2025 22 -2.5 San Antonio TL AA SDP 3 4 .429 4.11 4.81 26 25 0 0 0 0 103.0 83 55 47 12 62 0 101 7 2 13 443 1.408 7.3 1.0 5.4 8.8 1.63 All Levels (3 Seasons) 5 13 .278 4.33 4.78 60 58 1 0 0 0 239.0 195 127 115 25 140 0 244 14 4 21 1027 1.402 7.3 0.9 5.3 9.2 1.74 Now 23, Haynes' pro career got off to a slow start after he had Tommy John surgery, so his debut didn't come until the start of the 2023 season at Low-A Lake Elsinore. That season was slowed by blister and shoulder issues, but he did put up a 3.91 ERA in 11 starts, although he only logged 25 1/3 innings. But he came back strong in 2024. At High-A Fort Wayne, Haynes was healthy enough to appear in 23 games, all but one a start. While the numbers left a little to be desired (4.64 ERA, 1.41 WHIP), the fact he was able to go 110⅔ innings was definitely a positive. He walked 5.4 per nine innings and struck out 9.3. Haynes followed that up with a better 2025 at Double-A San Antonio. In 26 appearances (25 starts), Haynes had a 4.11 ERA and 1.408 WHIP, walking 5.4 per nine innings and striking out 8.8 in 103 innings. The velocity was back for Haynes in 2025, but he still only sat at 91-94 with his four-seam fastball after the pitch was listed at 94 mph coming out of high school. He also throws a sinker, a changeup, and a slider, the latter appearing to be a very effective pitch. The sinker is a pitch that he has developed since turning pro. Walks are definitely an issue, something that he will need to improve upon to make his way to the majors. His career hits per nine (7.3) is solid, but with his softer stuff, limiting hard contact would also increase his chances. Haynes should be moved up to Triple-A El Paso this season, even though he might face a better quality of competition by returning to San Antonio. That is just the natural progression, especially in the aggressive-promotion Padres system, that makes sense. Not that this would necessarily be an aggressive promotion — Haynes is facing a big season relative to service time. He was left unprotected this offseason for the Rule 5 Draft. Even a decent year would force the Friars' hand to put him on the 40-man roster next offseason, leading to the hope that he'll potentially make his MLB debut in 2027. If his numbers don't show progress as a starter, the Padres may experiment with how the stuff plays in a relief role. View the full article

While the decision isn't much of a surprise, we now know more about the injury sidelining Milwaukee Brewers right-handed starter Quinn Priester. The 25-year-old will begin the season on the injured list due to right wrist discomfort, manager Pat Murphy said Thursday. Murphy gave more detail on the ailment, saying it is "in that (thoracic outlet syndrome) family." Priester has not pitched in a game this spring, and beginning the season on the IL had been assumed before Murphy confirmed that move Thursday. Priester first reported discomfort in his right wrist in August. The Brewers are hoping Priester can avoid surgery, with the symptoms being addressed by treatment. Priester threw lightly off a mound Thursday, with a more rigorous session slated for March 21, which is just before the March 26 season opener. "Often, thoracic outlet requires surgery," Murphy said. "But in this case, we’re not there. We’re feeling like there’s a chance that he’s going to come through this.” Priester went 13-3 with a 4.01 FIP (3.32 ERA) in 2025 after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox in April. That included a stretch in which the Brewers won 19 straight appearances by Priester, 16 of those starts. He set a club record with a 12-game winning streak. View the full article

A really deep San Diego Padres bullpen just got a wee bit thinner. Right-hander Bryan Hoeing, a candidate to make the Opening Day roster, will miss the entire 2026 season after deciding to have surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday. This comes after the 29-year-old was limited to just seven MLB appearances and 18 in the minors in 2025 due to elbow and shoulder issues. Hoeing was shut down about two weeks ago after experiencing elbow discomfort. He will be put on the injured list before Opening Day and moved to the 60-day IL when the Padres need space on the 40-man roster, which currently sits at 39. Right-handed starter Yu Darvish, who is negotiating a buyout of his contract after having an internal brace procedure on his right UCL, will also need to be put on the 60-day IL. Typical recovery for flexor tendon surgery is nine months, meaning Hoeing should be good to go next spring training. Acquired from the Miami Marlins at the 2024 trade deadline, Hoeing pitched in 18 games for the Friars that season, with a 3.38 FIP (1.52 ERA), with 5.8% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate in 20⅔ innings. Hoeing will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason. View the full article

Boasting one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues, Jaxon Wiggins turned in a really impressive 2025 season and is a few small improvements away from potentially helping the Cubs as soon as 2026. View the full article

Jamie and Jeremy offer up their predictions for the Twins' minor league hitter and pitcher of the year in 2026. The video discusses Khadim Diaw, Riley Quick, Jason Reitz, and Enrique Jimenez. View the full article