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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

With the start of the regular season less than two weeks away, the composition of the Twins roster is still in flux. One thing is for certain, though: they have more than enough bat-first, defense-second, left-handed-hitting outfielders on hand. And one more might be on the way. Multiple media reports indicate the Twins are considering adding another lefty outfielder, preferably "on the slow side" and only playable against righty starters. Spurring this potential roster move? The journalists covering the team. "Pretty much since the last game of 2025, all the reporters and analysts were saying we had too many replacement-level lefty corner outfielders," said a source with knowledge of the front office's thinking. "Then we tendered [Trevor] Larnach and they got even more confused and upset. You have to wonder how they'd react if we brought in another guy. They'd [defecate in] their pants." "We obviously want to make the team competitive and play better baseball," said another team source close to the Pohlad ownership group. "But you can't deny the importance of a good bit." "Those two twerps from The Athletic"—writers Aaron Gleeman and Dan Hayes—"just did another roster projection and spent a good quarter of it talking about the corner outfielders again," said the front office source. "Here's a projection: How about we bring in another 6'3" goon who bats lefty and has to stop and catch his breath running out a grounder? Project that, nerds." The source close to the Pohlads says it's not just Gleeman and Hayes driving the approach. "They're all a little too comfortable getting their jabs in on the outfield situation," said the source. "All the Strib guys, Betsy [Helfand] at the St. Paul paper, [Matthew] Leach at MLB.com, they can't resist pointing it out. Hell, I bet [retired Star Tribune baseball writer] Phil Miller is even saying things." A spokesperson for Miller said he was in his "wonder cave" in rural Washington County with a cooler full of hazy IPAs and enough ayahuasca to see through time, and referred all comments to Miller's third eye. "All are welcome in the wonder cave," said the eye. "Surrender to the inner light; all will be revealed." Image license here. View the full article

Having already examined the top 16 prospects in the Chicago Cubs' system as voted on by our North Side Baseball writers, we now turn to a player that has appeared on the cusp for a couple of years now: Kevin Alcantara. Don't forget to catch up on our previous pieces before you jump into our next installment! 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 #4 - Kevin Alcántara (Iowa Cubs, Triple-A) Acquired in the deal that sent Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, Alcántara's tools have remained as tantalizing as the prospect of him flashing said tools on the outfield grass at Wrigley. Loaded up on athleticism, it wouldn't be unreasonable to project him for an eventual 20-homer, 20-steal season at some point in the big leagues. As it is, Alcántara remains intriguing but heavily flawed. His .266/.349/.470 line in 2025 was a bit of a decrease across the board, though he did remain an above average hitter at a 110 wRC+. The concerning element was in the strikeout game, where his rate approached 30 percent (29.8) against an 11.2 percent walk rate. He did get an even dozen plate appearances at the top level, where he contributed four hits but where the punchouts followed him as well (33.3 percent). Ultimately, we don't know what the immediate or long-term outlook looks like for Alcántara as part of the Cubs organization. In the interim, though, we know where he looks the part and where he still needs to grow if he's to be a factor in either timeline. What To Like The athleticism highlights what we like about Alcántara. He's capable of driving the ball in those instances where he does make contact; while his average and on-base percentage each fell between 2024 and 2025, he did bump his isolated power from .177 to .203 between the two seasons in Iowa. A 10.9 percent barrel rate (88th percentile) and 46.4 percent hard-hit rate (81st percentile) are further indicative of the type of damage Alcántara can create when he puts the bat on the baseball. One imagines there's more than 17 homers (his current career-high mark) in the tank with more consistent contact. There's a baserunning component to Alcántara's game that drives the intrigue just that much more. FanGraphs has his speed graded a 60, indicating firmly above average. While he's only totaled 17 steals between two years (213 games) in Iowa, the possibility exists that there is more upside to be found there with a more sustained on-base presence. Alcántara also offers a steady glove and strong arm from any of the three outfield spots. Most of his work in Triple-A has come in center and right, with right field being a particularly intriguing position for him based on the arm. What To Work On This is where things get a bit dicey for Kevin Alcántara. It's not so much that he's an overaggressive swinger. Instead, there's a compounding of a long swing and some issues with pitch recognition that are pinning down his overall production. Alcántara's swing rate in Iowa last year was 44.2 percent. That's not out of the ordinary. Even a 29.2 percent chase rate might not be unreasonable for an organization that sends Pete Crow-Armstrong to the plate on an everyday basis. However, the contact rates themselves represent something much more concerning: Everything in Alcántara's percentile distribution is screaming about his approach. He's a bit too patient inside the zone, which exacerbates the problem when he chooses to chase. As a result, he doesn't make nearly enough contact to put his glistening tools to work. It's a visibly comprehensive issue. Alcántara's poor pitch recognition combines with a long swing that leaves him unable to compensate. He finds the walks and the hard contact, sure. But there's no sustainability in anything he's doing. It's difficult to suggest any kind of mechanical changes could be on the horizon given such positive outcomes when he does make contact. Anything that Alcántara needs to fix begins with mental work at the plate. The sooner he can start to dial in his eye, the sooner he becomes a viable piece at the major-league level. What's Next A combination of Alcántara's strikeout woes and a glut of right-handed bats on the current Cubs roster are likely to work in unison to send him back to Iowa to start 2026. Even if we were to strip him of the former, the outfield configuration doesn't leave much space for him to latch onto a spot. Ian Happ has left field on lock. Crow-Armstrong is the everyday guy in center. Seiya Suzuki figures to resume his old post in right field. Even if Suzuki were to factor into the designated hitter role on a consistent basis, it's likely the Cubs want Alcántara getting everyday work rather than sitting around as a reserve outfielder. Beyond 2026, however, it stands to reason that we'll see him holding down an outfield corner — Happ and Suzuki are each free agents to be. Considering the tools, if the Cubs get close to seeing what they want from Alcántara, he could very well get a crack at an everyday gig ahead of the 2027 campaign (assuming there is one). View the full article

When the first night game of the Cactus League happens, you know spring training is starting to wind down and Opening Day is right around the corner. That night game happened Thursday. While wins and losses aren't important in spring training, player performances are. 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 Brewers are now 8-10 in Cactus League play, having lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 Monday, the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 Wednesday and the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 Thursday. Who's Hot? ? Gary Sánchez The backup catcher, getting more playing time with William Contreras still at the World Baseball Classic, started all three games and went 3-for-6 in the last two. That included his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot against the Reds. Sánchez also doubled against the Reds. He is now hitting .267 (8-for-30) in the Cactus League. Sánchez will be around to start when Contreras gets a day off behind the plate and could see some time at designated hitter. David Hamilton The infielder started twice at shortstop and went 2-for-5. Hamilton started slow this spring following the trade from the Boston Red Sox, going 2-for-12. But he has now hit safely in five of his last six games. He also swiped a pair of bases against the Dodgers, giving him a team-leading four this spring, all in the last six games. Defense will be most important for Hamilton, as he figures to be a late-inning replacement for Luis Rengifo at third base or pinch-hitting for shortstop Joey Ortiz. Jared Koenig After a disastrous first outing this spring, allowing four runs on three hits in one-third of an inning, the left-handed setup man has notched three consecutive scoreless appearances of one inning each. That has lowered his ERA from 108.00 after the first game to 10.80 after his inning against the Reds. He has allowed three hits over those last three outings, with no walks and three strikeouts. Most importantly, his average velocity was back up to 93.8 MPH Wednesday, after it sat closer to 92 in each of his first two appearances of the spring. Who's Not? ? Sal Frelick The spark plug right fielder is having a slow go of it thus far in Cactus League play. Frelick is 0-for-11 in his last three games and is just 4-for-28 (.143) on the spring campaign. Whatever the cause, he still has two weeks to shake it off and turn it around. And these are the games where players tend to lock in and continue the experiments that are working and eschew those that aren't. Certainly, Frelick is one of the first to tell you that spring results don't matter. Robert Gasser The left-hander only has another start or two to impress the Crew's decision-makers into including him in the Opening Day rotation. He certainly didn't do that in his start against the Reds, allowing four runs on five hits in 2⅔ innings. Gasser didn't walk anyone and struck out three. He came back at the end of the 2025 season following Tommy John surgery in 2024, but has allowed seven runs over 6⅓ innings in three Cactus League games. The Brewers can afford to send Gasser to Triple-A to build his confidence. Christian Yelich You tend not to worry too much about veteran hitters getting ready for the regular season. They know when to turn it on as Opening Day approaches. But after going 2-for-2 in his first game this spring, Yelich has gone hitless in his last nine at-bats to drop his average to .182, although he has drawn three walks in those four games. Yelich has struck out in each of his last five at-bats. View the full article

When the Kansas City Royals take a good, long look at the shortstop position, they've got a pretty good player in Bobby Witt Jr. holding that spot down. But there's a little depth at shortstop, too. Royals manager Matt Quatraro, obviously, must smile as he watches Witt dive for balls in the infield. Witt, though, also has proven to be a stellar bat in the Royals' lineup, too. In looking at the Royals' depth chart at shortstop, Witt is No. 1, followed by Maikel Garcia and Tyler Tolbert. Tolbert, though, is more of a utility player as he's also on the depth chart at second base, third base, and center field. Let's take a big-lens look, though, at what Witt brings to the table at shortstop. In the 2025 MLB season, Witt had a slash line of .295/.351/.852 with 23 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases. According to Baseball Savant, Witt's exit velocity at the plate was 93,3 MPH, which placed him among the top 6% in the majors. When looking at Witt's batted ball profile, he pulled pitches 33.3% of the time, hit pitches straightaway at 37.5% of the time, and had a 29.2% opposite field percentage. As for Witt's defense, his fielding run value, which is Statcast's overall metric for capturing a player’s measurable defensive performance onto a run-based scale, converting various metrics like OAA, blocking, framing, etc., he had a run value of 20. Anyone who watches Witt play at shortstop knows that he has quite a range. He's able to go deep into the hole and make strong throws to first base. Witt was the Royals' first-round pick (No. 2 overall) in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft. Over and over again, Witt has proven that the Royals' faith in his abilities has paid off. Now, let's take a look at Garcia and what he brings to the table for Kansas City. In the 2025 MLB season, Garcia put together a slash line of .263/.319/.701 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. He's another speedy player that can give the Royals range at shortstop if Witt needs a day off. Garcia played in 160 games for the Royals last season, proving that he's quite adept as a utilityman for Quatraro. In Garcia's Baseball Savant profile, he's listed as a third baseman. So, according to the Royals' depth chart, it has him in the No. 2 slot at shortstop, too. This, again, shows that Garcia has the ability to provide a steady hand at any position he might play for the Royals. Garcia's spray chart indicates that he's able to hit the ball to all fields, but his power stroke is definitely to left and left-center field. Garcia had a fielding run value of 13 in the 2025 season. Garcia's arm strength, which measures how hard a fielder throws the ball in miles per hour, ranked at 88.7 MPH. So, whether it's at shortstop or even third base, Garcia can get the ball out of his glove and fire it quickly to get an out. Tolbert, who is listed as a second baseman in his MLB.com statistics profile, saw action in 64 games for Kansas City last season. He put together a slash line of .280/.380/.701 with one home run and six RBIs. Tolbert, who played his college ball at Alabama-Birmingham, was a 13-round draft pick by the Royals in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft. While Garcia and Tolbert might see some action at shortstop in the 2026 MLB season, don't be surprised if Witt is over there much of the time. All in all, it looks like the Royals have some depth at shortstop, which will serve them well this season. View the full article

Walker Jenkins has largely lived up to the billing since the Twins selected him fifth overall in 2023. Before his 21st birthday, he had climbed to Triple-A, a sure sign of a top prospect progressing at top speed. Jenkins's has not been a flawless ascent. He's missed chunks of time with lower-body and related injuries. Even with the missed time, though, his production says he's the real deal—and the eye test corroborates that assessment. For a 20-year-old to pair strong Double-A numbers with meaningful Triple-A exposure is rare and important. Jenkins has the frame, the bat path, and the instincts to make evaluators optimistic. He can run, he can play center field, and his approach at the plate is advanced enough to instill confidence, despite the lack of a robust track record. Walker Jenkins Age: 21 (DOB: 2/19/2005) 2025 Stats (AA/AAA): .286/.399/.451 (.850), 17 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 17 SB, 135 wRC+, 84 G ETA: 2026 2025 Ranking: 1 National Top 100 Rankings BA: 5 | MLB: 14 | ATH: 11 | BP: 19 | ESPN: 9 What To Like Jenkins checks almost every box you want from a premium position-player prospect. He pairs a smooth, repeatable left-handed swing with elite pitch recognition and selectivity. That combination produces lots of barrels, a steady walk rate (13.5 BB%), and far fewer strikeouts (20.5%) than you might expect from a player with his size at his age. Though it came in just 58 games, his .292/.407/.454 line in Double-A testifies to his ability to adjust and win the difficult battles within the strike zone. He's a fluid athlete in the outfield. At 6-foot-3, he looks like he was built to cover ground and make plays. Jenkins has primarily played center field in the minors, and his reads and routes have received positive reviews. He's not a straight-line burner, but his instincts and above-average footwork allow him to make the plays that matter. On the basis, he's shown good instincts and graded out as a plus baserunner, in however limited a sample. Speed should be a boon to his offensive value, rather than a limiting factor for it. What’s Left To Work On Power remains the most obvious question. Jenkins has hit plenty of doubles and triples, and he's hit the occasional tape-measure shot. Still, he's totaled 19 home runs in 192 professional games, and true over-the-fence power has been sparse. Part of that is mechanical. His bat head takes a little while to get on plane, which can cap exit velocities and lead more of his best contact to be hit on a line to the opposite field than is strictly optimal. There is room for more bat speed and strength gains as he matures. If those gains come, he could push into the 25-plus home run range. If they don't, his floor still reads as a very good contact-based run producer, but maybe not a perennial All-Star. Durability is the other major worry. Jenkins has missed significant time in nearly every pro season to date because of hamstring, quad, ankle, and other lower-body issues. He’s already missed time this spring with a hamstring injury. Those have not been one lingering malady, but a string of discrete setbacks. The good news is that he has repeatedly come back and produced at a high level. The bad news is that availability matters, and repeated trips to the injured list can slow development and erode a team’s willingness to rely on a young player in high-leverage situations. Finally, there is the matter of consistent hard contact, by big-league standards. Jenkins’s hard-hit rate and peak exit velocities sit around league average. He destroys mistakes, but pitchers have shown they can limit his damage with soft stuff away and spin that keeps him from turning on the ball. If he can continue to tweak his swing plane and get the bat head out quicker, those pitches will get punished more often. What’s Next Jenkins is likely to start 2026 in St. Paul, and he should have a long look there early in the season. The projection is simple. If he stays healthy, a midseason arrival to the big-league club is a real and reasonable expectation. Whether he arrives as a center fielder or moves to right field will be dictated as much by health and team need as by his sheer skill set. The upside is clear. Jenkins looks like an everyday major-league outfielder with the tools to be a middle-of-the-lineup contributor and the potential to be an All-Star if the power and health line up. Jenkins is the kind of prospect who makes you excited about the future of the organization. He blends feel and polish with a physical profile that still has room to grow. The rest of 2026 will go a long way toward telling us whether Jenkins becomes a very good major-leaguer or something closer to a star. For now, he sits at the top of the system, for good reason. Catch Up on the Rest of Twins Daily's Top 20 Prospects (Part 1) 20. James Ellwanger, RHP 19. Khadim Diaw, C/CF 18. C.J. Culpepper, RHP 17. Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS/CF 16. Hendry Mendez, OF (Part 2) 15. Marco Raya, RHP 14. Quentin Young, SS 13. Brandon Winokur, SS/CF 12. Andrew Morris, RHP 11. Riley Quick, RHP 10. Charlee Soto, RHP 9. Marek Houston, SS 8. Kendry Rojas, LHP 7. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF 6. Dasan Hill, LHP 5. Connor Prielipp, LHP 4. Eduardo Tait, C 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF 2. Kaelen Culpepper, SS 1. Walker Jenkins, OF View the full article

Fish Unfiltered describes the extraordinary atmosphere inside loanDepot park for Wednesday's Dominican Republic-Venezuela game. View the full article

At long last, Talk Sox has reached its countdown of the top five prospects in the Boston Red Sox's system heading into the 2026 season. Be sure to check out 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) Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: No. 5 Juan Valera The Red Sox have made a habit of trading away quality pitching prospects, dealing away a small army of young arms this offseason in their myriad of trades aimed to improve the major-league roster. And yet, they made a few names untouchable in trade talks (spoiler alert for the rest of our top-20 rundown): Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kyson Witherspoon, and Juan Valera. That's some lofty company for Valera, 19, to find himself in after just two seasons of full-time ball. But the teenager out of the Dominican Republic has earned the hype, even after a 2025 season that flashed some red flags. Across 10 starts with High-A Greenville, Valera consumed 38 innings while posting a 5.45 ERA and 3.97 FIP. The more advanced hitters at the level were able to square him up frequently, as he surrendered six home runs in just 167 plate appearances. That being said, the underlying metrics are tantalizing. He struck out 27.5% of hitters and walked just 6.0% of them, displaying a mastery of the strike zone you almost never see in young pitchers. That control is even more impressive when you consider that Valera throws a high-90s fastball and a gyro slider with big break both horizontally and vertically. Those offerings play nicely off each other; his fastball features some natural cut action (i.e., movement to his glove side) and his slider displays some sweeping tendencies while still retaining vertical break. To combat his two primary offerings both featuring glove-side action, Valera has been tinkering with a changeup, but it is certainly his weakest offering. It's firm and a little flat, lacking the fading action that he needs to really work both sides of the plate. Still, because the pitch routinely flashes in the low-90s, he's able to use it effectively down in the zone. The bigger concern is health, as is the case for most pitching prospects with elite velocity. He missed multiple months in 2025 while tending to elbow soreness, though he returned to Greenville by the end of the regular season and reportedly had a "normal" offseason in terms of preparation. That's worth monitoring as he climbs further up the ranks, but he and the Red Sox appear to have dodged a bullet for now. Valera's delivery actually reminds me a bit of Nestor Cortes. Though he's less eccentric on the mound that the former New York Yankees southpaw, he's got a simple, repeatable motion that he'll deviate from in an effort to mess with hitters' timing. He doesn't change much more than his tempo — and he certainly doesn't freestyle in the way Cortes does — but the young right-hander does have an advanced feel for his mechanics and isn't shy about altering his style in order to gain the upper hand. He still needs to hit key developmental goals (a third and even fourth reliable offering would be game-changing) and prove that he can handle even a semi-reliable workload (his career high in innings is 63 1/3), but Valera's arrow is pointing upward heading into 2026. Despite not turning 20 until May, he'll likely crash Double-A before the All-Star Break, with a slim chance to make it to Worcester if he remains healthy all year long. By this time next year, he could be the consensus top prospect in the system. View the full article

After being a relatively unknown commodity entering spring training last season, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Mason Fluharty changed his story. Major League Baseball’s 2026 regular season is just two weeks away, and Fluharty is expected to contribute meaningful innings for Toronto. After being invited to Blue Jays camp as a non-roster invitee in 2025, Fluharty impressed, pitching to an ERA of 1.29 across seven innings, holding opposing batters to a .217 average against. That successful spring earned Fluharty a call-up on Mar. 30. He made his debut against the Washington Nationals on Apr. 1, throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout. On the season, Fluharty appeared in 55 games for the Blue Jays, pitching to a 5-2 record, an ERA of 4.44 and a WHIP of 1.14 across 52 ⅔ innings. The fifth-round draft pick from 2022 impressed, mainly relying on a cutter-sweeper combination to limit hard contact and strike out a total of 56 batters. Fluharty’s average exit velocity of 86.6 mph placed him in the 95th percentile of MLB pitchers. His FIP came in at 3.97, backing up the assertion that the left-hander was better than his surface-level numbers showcased. One area of concern for Fluharty was his walks. He issued 28 free passes, which gave him an 11.2% walk rate, ranking in the bottom 10% in MLB. His command remained an issue in the postseason, as Fluharty posted four walks in 6 ⅓ innings. That was certainly a factor in his October struggles, resulting in a 5.68 ERA in 11 appearances. A strength that Fluharty showed was his ability to get both left- and right-handed batters out over the course of last season. Left-handers hit .182 against him, while right-handers could only muster a .202 average. The cutter that he used 58% of the time was effective at getting in on right-handers, while the sweeper helped hold lefties in check. Fluharty’s defining moment in 2025 came at Dodger Stadium in August, against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Blue Jays staked to a 5-4 lead, closer Jeff Hoffman walked three batters in the ninth, loading the bases with one out and the daunting Shohei Ohtani due up. Manager John Schneider made the call for Fluharty, who ended up striking out Ohtani and retiring Mookie Betts on a forceout to third base, earning himself his first career MLB save. Through three appearances this spring (as of March 10), Fluharty has posted a 2.45 ERA in 3 ⅔ innings. The 24-year-old has allowed five hits but has yet to give up a walk, a welcome sign for Blue Jays coaches and fans. His five strikeouts are great to see, as teams are always looking for relievers with the ability to miss bats to slot into key roles in the bullpen. Three southpaws are likely to play key roles for the Blue Jays bullpen in 2026: Fluharty, Brendon Little and Eric Lauer. Little’s late-season struggles were well documented last year, and if those return, Fluharty could possibly become the top left-hander in the bullpen. Lauer looks like he’s going to take on a piggyback type of role, at least to start the year, as the Blue Jays build up Trey Yesavage and Max Scherzer, while Shane Bieber also continues to deal with forearm fatigue. The 2026 season is drawing closer, and Fluharty has a chance to play a key role on a Blue Jays team looking to get back to the World Series and ultimately claim their first title since 1993. View the full article

With only two weeks until Opening Day, it's time for another Fish Unfiltered annual tradition. Kevin Barral, Isaac Azout and AJ Ramos make five bold predictions each for the upcoming season regarding individual Miami Marlins players and the team's overall performance. You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. Kevin predictions Jakob Marsee has 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases Xavier Edwards wins National League batting title Chris Paddack earns NL All-Star selection Thomas White does not make his major league debut Robby Snelling wins NL Rookie of the Year Isaac's predictions Max Meyer wins 15 games Joe Mack is NL Gold Glove finalist Kevin Defrank becomes No. 1 Marlins prospect Deyvison De Los Santos hits 20 home runs Heriberto Hernández hits 25 home runs AJ's predictions Kyle Stowers hits 30 home runs Marlins rank top three in MLB in stolen bases Pete Fairbanks converts 25 saves Thomas White debuts and posts 10 K/9 Marlins win at least 80 games Check the replies to this FOF tweet to see the fan-submitted Marlins bold predictions that we have received thus far, and feel free to add your own in the comments below! View the full article

Let's continue our coverage of the Padres' top prospects with the 15th-ranked pipeline talent down to no. 11, as determined by our Padres Mission writers. This is a crash course on the highs, lows, and trajectory of Tirso Ornelas, Garrett Hawkins, Lamar King Jr., Jorge Quintana, and Romeo Sanabria. View the full article

Enjoy new episodes of our Miami Marlins livestreams throughout 2026 spring training. Every week, Fish On First staffers answer your questions and provide in-depth analysis of the team leading up to Opening Day. Thursday's show was co-hosted by Jeremiah Geiger and Ely Sussman. The following topics were covered: Adam Mazur's season-ending elbow surgery Updated look at the Marlins starting rotation depth chart Notable performances by Marlins players in World Baseball Classic pool play Bold predictions submitted by the FOF audience You can find Fish Unfiltered and Fish On First LIVE on the Fish On First YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your pods. The WBC resumes on Friday. Expect Owen Caissie and Otto Lopez to both be in Canada's starting lineup for their quarterfinals matchup against Team USA (first pitch at 8:00 p.m. ET). Sandy Alcantara started for the Dominican Republic in their victory over Venezuela on Wednesday. If they advance deep enough into the tournament, he is interested in making another appearance. View the full article

All offseason, the Boston Red Sox were looking for a left-handed reliever to add to their bullpen, and with the regular season just two weeks away the team has signed one. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was the first to report that the Red Sox and free-agent reliever Danny Coulombe came to an agreement Thursday night on a one-year deal. The contract is said to be a major-league deal, meaning he'll join the 40-man roster. The contract is worth $1 million according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Coulombe had a season of two halves in 2025. Beginning the season with Minnesota, the reliever was one of the best left-handers in the game as he appeared in 40 games and tossed 31 innings. In that span, he allowed just four earned runs on 21 hits and nine walks. He also struck out 31 batters. However, after getting traded to Texas at the trade deadline, he didn’t perform as well. Appearing in 15 games, he struggled in 12 innings as he allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits and nine walks. Prior to 2025, he spent two seasons in Baltimore where he was once more a dominant bullpen arm. In 94 games with Baltimore, he tossed 81 innings and allowed just 23 earned runs. He also walked just 17 batters and struck out 90 in that span. With the Red Sox's 40-man roster full, the team will need to make an additional move to clear a roster spot. The most likely move at the moment would be for the team to move Triston Casas to the 60-Day Injured List as he continues his rehab. View the full article

Kyle DeBarge showed plenty of strength with his speed in 2025, but can he develop more with his hit tools in 2026? View the full article

Let the Royals Keep top 20 prospects breakdowns begin! In this video, we break down the 20th down to the 16th ranked prospect in the Royals system, based on our writers' votes. Watch along to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and overall projections of Frank Mozzicato, Warren Calcaño, Michael Lombardi, Blake Wolters, and Carson Roccaforte. 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 2026 Detroit Tigers. The Tigers finished second in the AL Central and secured a Wild Card spot, defeating the Guardians 2-1 in their opening playoff series before being eliminated by the Mariners in a five-game Division Series. This offseason brought about a series of significant moves for Detroit, as they attempt to attain October for the third straight season. Notable Subtractions Chris Paddack (starting pitcher) Tommy Kahnle (relief pitcher) Alex Cobb (starting pitcher) Alex Lange (relief pitcher) Andy Ibáñez (lefty masher) Justyn-Henry Malloy (third baseman/outfielder) Notable Additions Framber Valdez (starting pitcher) Justin Verlander (starting pitcher) Kenley Jansen (relief pitcher) Drew Anderson (swingman) Looking at these transactions, it appears the additions outweigh the subtractions for the Tigers. Specifically, Framber Valdez, a playoff-caliber starter, signed a lucrative three-year deal to slot in behind two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Meanwhile, Tigers legend Justin Verlander returns on a one-year deal, bringing valuable experience to fortify the rotation. Verlander will strengthen a rotation dealing with injuries, though given his age and recent track record, he could be among the injured at times. Drew Anderson is also joining as a depth rotation option, while Kenley Jansen is set to fill the primary closer and high-leverage bullpen role. Three key players who had at least a chance of going elsewhere have also returned. Starter Jack Flaherty exercised his player option for 2026; second baseman Gleyber Torres accepted the qualifying offer of $22.025 million; and trade deadline acquisition Kyle Finnegan hit free agency but ultimately re-signed for two years. Injuries Jackson Jobe - returning from Tommy John surgery Troy Melton - slowed by elbow inflammation in spring training; will start on 60-day IL Reese Olson - out for the year Key Players C Dillon Dingler - 3.1 bWAR in 2025 1B Spencer Torkelson - 2.3 bWAR in 2025 2B Gleyber Torres - 2.9 bWAR in 2025 3B Zach McKinstry - 2.8 bWAR in 2025 LHP Tarik Skubal - 6.5 bWAR in 2025 Skubal, embarking on a defense of two straight Cy Young Awards and trying to position himself for a historic free-agent payday, is the most obvious center of gravity for the team, but last year, the club thrived because of its balance. They ranked 11th in runs, 10th in home runs, 12th in OPS, and 16th in batting average last season. Their 61 steals, however, were last in MLB. Top Prospects: Kevin McGonigle - SS Max Clark - OF Josue Briceno - C/1B Bryce Rainer - SS Thayron Liranzo - C/1B Observers are especially optimistic about Kevin McGonigle, a likely early-season call-up—if he's not on the Opening Day roster. Max Clark, taken just before Walker Jenkins in the 2023 MLB Draft, will be compared to Jenkins as their careers unfold in the AL Central. Spring Storylines (and beyond): Verlander's triumphant return and Skubal's potentially imminent exit loom large, but the team is trying to establish a winning identity that will stretch beyond this year and those two players. At 25, Riley Greene is expected to continue progressing toward stardom. Emerging talents like Colt Keith, McGonigle, and Clark could shape the Tigers’ future core. When and how well Jobe returns from Tommy John surgery will be a major storyline, too. Beyond Jansen, Finnegan and Vest line up for late innings. However, the work of the pen will be spread very evenly. A.J. Hinch has earned considerable praise for his nimble usage of an often motley relief crew. What he dubbed 'pitching chaos' during the 2024 playoffs has been an effective tack for keeping order over the last year and a half, leading to two straight overachieving seasons. The Tigers are expected to remain competitive in the AL Central in 2026. Projected Lineup Parker Meadows - CF Gleyber Torres - 2B Riley Greene - LF Spencer Torkelson - 1B Kerry Carpenter - DH Dillon Dingler - C Colt Keith - 3B Matt Vierling/Wenceel Pérez - RF Zach McKinstry - SS Note: Javier Báez is an option off the bench with this lineup—and could sometimes be the starting shortstop, with McKinstry shifting to third base, like he played last year. Projected Rotation Tarik Skubal - LHP Framber Valdez - LHP Justin Verlander - RHP Jack Flaherty - RHP Casey Mize - RHP Projected Record PECOTA: 2nd place, 83-79 Fangraphs: 1st place, 85-77 If everyone stays healthy, the Tigers are the favorite to win the Central this year. They seem to have improved overall in the offseason, and are looking for the young core group to take a step forward and see if they can get past the Division Series. 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 2026 Detroit Tigers. The Tigers finished second in the AL Central and secured a Wild Card spot, defeating the Guardians 2-1 in their opening playoff series before being eliminated by the Mariners in a five-game Division Series. This offseason brought about a series of significant moves for Detroit, as they attempt to attain October for the third straight season. Notable Subtractions Chris Paddack (starting pitcher) Tommy Kahnle (relief pitcher) Alex Cobb (starting pitcher) Alex Lange (relief pitcher) Andy Ibáñez (lefty masher) Justyn-Henry Malloy (third baseman/outfielder) Notable Additions Framber Valdez (starting pitcher) Justin Verlander (starting pitcher) Kenley Jansen (relief pitcher) Drew Anderson (swingman) Looking at these transactions, it appears the additions outweigh the subtractions for the Tigers. Specifically, Framber Valdez, a playoff-caliber starter, signed a lucrative three-year deal to slot in behind two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Meanwhile, Tigers legend Justin Verlander returns on a one-year deal, bringing valuable experience to fortify the rotation. Verlander will strengthen a rotation dealing with injuries, though given his age and recent track record, he could be among the injured at times. Drew Anderson is also joining as a depth rotation option, while Kenley Jansen is set to fill the primary closer and high-leverage bullpen role. Three key players who had at least a chance of going elsewhere have also returned. Starter Jack Flaherty exercised his player option for 2026; second baseman Gleyber Torres accepted the qualifying offer of $22.025 million; and trade deadline acquisition Kyle Finnegan hit free agency but ultimately re-signed for two years. Injuries Jackson Jobe - returning from Tommy John surgery Troy Melton - slowed by elbow inflammation in spring training; will start on 60-day IL Reese Olson - out for the year Key Players C Dillon Dingler - 3.1 bWAR in 2025 1B Spencer Torkelson - 2.3 bWAR in 2025 2B Gleyber Torres - 2.9 bWAR in 2025 3B Zach McKinstry - 2.8 bWAR in 2025 LHP Tarik Skubal - 6.5 bWAR in 2025 Skubal, embarking on a defense of two straight Cy Young Awards and trying to position himself for a historic free-agent payday, is the most obvious center of gravity for the team, but last year, the club thrived because of its balance. They ranked 11th in runs, 10th in home runs, 12th in OPS, and 16th in batting average last season. Their 61 steals, however, were last in MLB. Top Prospects: Kevin McGonigle - SS Max Clark - OF Josue Briceno - C/1B Bryce Rainer - SS Thayron Liranzo - C/1B Observers are especially optimistic about Kevin McGonigle, a likely early-season call-up—if he's not on the Opening Day roster. Max Clark, taken just before Walker Jenkins in the 2023 MLB Draft, will be compared to Jenkins as their careers unfold in the AL Central. Spring Storylines (and beyond): Verlander's triumphant return and Skubal's potentially imminent exit loom large, but the team is trying to establish a winning identity that will stretch beyond this year and those two players. At 25, Riley Greene is expected to continue progressing toward stardom. Emerging talents like Colt Keith, McGonigle, and Clark could shape the Tigers’ future core. When and how well Jobe returns from Tommy John surgery will be a major storyline, too. Beyond Jansen, Finnegan and Vest line up for late innings. However, the work of the pen will be spread very evenly. A.J. Hinch has earned considerable praise for his nimble usage of an often motley relief crew. What he dubbed 'pitching chaos' during the 2024 playoffs has been an effective tack for keeping order over the last year and a half, leading to two straight overachieving seasons. The Tigers are expected to remain competitive in the AL Central in 2026. Projected Lineup Parker Meadows - CF Gleyber Torres - 2B Riley Greene - LF Spencer Torkelson - 1B Kerry Carpenter - DH Dillon Dingler - C Colt Keith - 3B Matt Vierling/Wenceel Pérez - RF Zach McKinstry - SS Note: Javier Báez is an option off the bench with this lineup—and could sometimes be the starting shortstop, with McKinstry shifting to third base, like he played last year. Projected Rotation Tarik Skubal - LHP Framber Valdez - LHP Justin Verlander - RHP Jack Flaherty - RHP Casey Mize - RHP Projected Record PECOTA: 2nd place, 83-79 Fangraphs: 1st place, 85-77 If everyone stays healthy, the Tigers are the favorite to win the Central this year. They seem to have improved overall in the offseason, and are looking for the young core group to take a step forward and see if they can get past the Division Series. View the full article

The Cubs delegation to the World Baseball Classic has represented the team admirably. Pool play eliminated Novena México, but that was no fault of Javier Assad, who pitched eight solid innings for them. Meanwhile, Daniel Palencia, Alex Bregman and Matthew Boyd went along for the ride as Team Venezuela and Team USA advanced—and Pete Crow-Armstrong did something more akin to dragging the United States through to the quarterfinals, going 3-for-10 with two walks, two home runs and a double. Though the U.S. squad was almost ousted, it was Crow-Armstrong's two homers that enlivened the team late in their lone loss of the round, to Team Italy. Because of his heroics, they were safe from elimination by the midpoint of the next day's game between México and Italy. A sputtering second half last season had the baseball world wondering whether Crow-Armstrong could really sustain what he flashed in the first half of 2025. Those questions aren't answered, but he's been thoroughly impressive. For a short time, Jaxon Wiggins was the talk of Cubs camp back in Mesa. He was never going to start the season with the parent club, though, so it was no surprise when he, Justin Dean, Luke Little and Ryan Rolison were optioned to the minors (or, in Wiggins's case, simply returned to minor-league camp). Those moves did begin to tighten the scope of battles for the team's final roster spots, and those four players can now turn their attention to being ready when an opportunity arises for them later this year. Despite a shaky appearance in the World Baseball Classic, Matthew Boyd earned Counsell's nod as the starting pitcher when the Cubs begin their season on Mar. 26, against the Nationals. Opting for the coveted Opening Day start, Boyd turned down an extended run into the WBC and has returned to Arizona. In a deep rotation with a couple of more electric arms, Boyd nonetheless won Counsell's trust, thanks to his steady performance last season. Cubs camp hasn't been especially buzzy this spring, because the team feels mature, and complete. As the regular season draws near, though, it's getting easier to feel the excitement. Once the games count, the talent of this team will begin to spur more energy—and more anxiety. View the full article

Dan Gladden has been a fixture on Twins radio broadcasts since 2000. Recently, he was named a 2026 inductee into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Gladden came to the Twins organization just before the 1987 season began. He is often referred to as the sparkplug that helped the Twins to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. His final play with the Twins came in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. He hit a hustle double, advanced to third on a bunt, and scored on Gene Larkin's "single" to give the Twins the 1-0 win. He continued to play for a few more years, including time in Japan. In 2000, he began his time in the Twins radio broadcast booth. He became the full-time analyst in 203. He has worked in the booth with Herb Carneal, John Gordon, Cory Provus and now Kris Atteberry. In fact, it was Provus who was able to tell Gladden about his latest career honor. The honor clearly means a lot to Gladden who got emotional responding to Provus. He thanked Dave St. Peter for giving him an opportunity. He said, "I didn't even cry when Rod Carew called me (to tell him he'd made the Twins Hall of Fame)." Gladden joined the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2022. Join us in congratulating Dan Gladden on this terrific honor. View the full article

Spring training schedules can change quickly this time of year, and that is exactly what is happening for Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan. Minnesota’s right-hander is departing Twins camp and joining Team USA following the quarterfinal round of the World Baseball Classic. The move comes after Team USA needed to adjust its pitching plans late in the tournament. According to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Ryan will take the roster spot originally held by veteran starter Clayton Kershaw once the quarterfinal stage concludes. Team USA’s immediate focus is on its quarterfinal matchup with Team Canada. That game is scheduled for Friday night in Houston. If the Americans advance, they would move on to the semifinal round on Sunday against the winner of the matchup between Team Korea and Team Dominican Republic. For Ryan, the next step is to throw a bullpen session on Saturday as part of his normal spring progression. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa confirmed that Ryan is expected to report after the quarterfinal round. That timing would make it extremely difficult for Ryan to be available in Sunday’s semifinal game. Throwing a bullpen on Saturday would effectively rule him out of pitching the following day. That leaves one realistic opportunity for Ryan to see game action in the tournament. If Team USA reaches the championship game, he could potentially be available either in relief or as a spot starter, depending on how the pitching situation develops. Ryan has made it clear he would love to contribute if the opportunity arises, but the situation remains fluid. At this point, he would be joining the team more as a depth option rather than with a guaranteed role in the rotation. Even a small role would be meaningful for the Twins starter. The World Baseball Classic has become one of the sport’s premier international events, and the chance to represent the United States on that stage carries plenty of appeal. Of course, Minnesota also has its own calendar to consider. Opening Day for the Twins is approaching quickly, with the club set to begin the season on the road against the Baltimore Orioles on March 26. That leaves roughly two weeks between the end of the Classic and the start of the regular season. If Ryan ends up pitching briefly in relief during the championship game or never appears at all, he should remain on track to start Opening Day in Baltimore. However, if he were to start the championship game, the team could adjust its rotation plans. In that case, another Twins pitcher might take the ball for the opener while Ryan would slide back a few days and make his first start later in the series against the Orioles. From Minnesota’s perspective, the preference is obviously to have Ryan lined up for the first game of the season. At the same time, the organization understands the significance of the opportunity and has expressed support for his potential participation. For now, everything hinges on how Team USA performs in the quarterfinal round. If the Americans keep advancing, Ryan’s spring could suddenly include one of the biggest stages in baseball. View the full article

Though he surrendered five hits and a walk, Bailey Ober allowed just one run and struck out two over 2 2/3 innings Thursday, in his second appearance of the Cactus League season. He threw 53 pitches, of which the Red Sox swung at 24, and induced seven whiffs. Five of those seven whiffs came on his signature pitch: the changeup. There were encouraging signs, then, but there were also some red flags. Ober's fastball sat around 89 MPH in the first inning (though he reached 90.7 on one sinker in that frame). By the third, he was barely sitting 88. The story of Ober's 2025 was an inability to consistently show his usual, excellent command, which was a result of nagging injury issues. However, another manifestation of those hip and other problems was diminished velocity, and with Ober, any loss of speed reduces his margin for error almost to zero. When he's commanding his whole arsenal well, he can maneuver within even that zone of necessary perfection. He's dependent not on power, but on precision and execution. He has to be able to produce the pitch shapes he wants and hit his spots, more than he needs to have the ability to overpower hitters or put them on the defensive. Even last year, in an otherwise frustrating campaign, there were a few days when he was brilliant, because a pitcher who can manipulate the ball as deftly as Ober often can is a dream to watch and a nightmare to face. Some of that was on display Thursday. Ober showed good command of his changeup, which has long been the most important part of his arsenal. He induced five whiffs and got one called strike on 19 total changeups. Three of the whiffs came against one batter, the utterly stumped Marcelo Mayer, but it was still a positive sign. Ober's changeup showed great depth, and he was able to both land it in the zone and throw the strike-to-ball version designed to induce chases outside the zone. The other two whiffs came against right-handed batters, though, and so did his lone called strike with that pitch. Of the 36 total pitches he threw to righties, 12 were changeups. That's an important development. For each of the last three years, Ober has thrown the changeup a little more than a third of the time to lefties, and a little under a quarter of the time to righties. Holding those usage rates constant might work, but ideally, he could ratchet each up slightly this year, without overexposing the pitch. He needs to better protect his fastball, which doesn't miss bats the way it did two years ago and looks very unlikely to start doing so again. However, Ober's slider was a major problem last year, and doesn't look like a reliable pitch for him against either lefties or righties at this stage. His sweeper is better against righties; his curve works better against lefties. But neither of those pitches can be his main alternative to the fastball, if he wants to reduce his reliance on that offering. Throwing the changeup a bit more to lefties shouldn't be a problem, if he has command of it the way he did on Thursday. (If he doesn't have that command, he's in big trouble, anyway.) Going to the changeup in right-on-right matchups, however, is often uncomfortable for pitchers. It's easy to understand why. The natural movement of that pitch is down and in toward a same-handed batter, so if the pitch isn't well-located, it runs right into an opponent's barrel. Because it's usually a pitch used to move off the outside corner to opposite-handed batters, it can also be hard for a pitcher to get used to starting the ball in a different place. A good changeup to a same-handed batter needs to start lower but farther toward the glove side, so its movement will keep it on the plate but get below the zone. Running it off the edge the way one does against an opposite-handed batter makes for an easy take (and sometimes a relatively painless trip to first base for the batter, via plunking). Leaving it in the lower, arm-side third of the zone, the way one often does to opposite-handed batters, makes for mashed taters. Here's where Ober threw his changeups against lefty batters last season. The difference between that distribution and the same plot for righty batters is subtle, but it's there. When Ober's on (as he was Thursday), he can manipulate that changeup well enough to attack hitters on both sides with it. He changes start lines on the pitch; he changes its shape; and he still finds his targets. However, it's hard to count on having such good feel for that pitch as often as he will need to in 2026. For fans, how well he can utilize the changeup—especially to righties—is the thing to watch from start to start all spring. For Ober, the tough task ahead is to establish a new level of consistency with that offering, to make up for the diminishment of much of the rest of his repertoire. View the full article

Every franchise wants to believe it has been among baseball’s elite over the last quarter-century. A new set of rankings from The Athletic attempts to answer that question by putting a number on sustained success across Major League Baseball. Each year, the publication releases its MLB Franchise Rankings, measuring how teams have performed over the last 25 seasons. The system rewards postseason success while also accounting for division titles and long stretches of losing seasons. It is designed to measure consistency rather than simply rewarding a single championship window. The Athletic’s formula, adapted from Bob Sturm’s football system, fits baseball’s postseason: nine points for a World Series win, six for runner-up, three for losing in the Championship Series, two for Division Series, one for Wild Card loss. Additional adjustments include a point for division titles and a deduction for consecutive 90-loss seasons. Unlike many rankings that focus on recent performance, this system does not give extra weight to the most recent seasons. The goal is to capture the entire 25-year stretch from 2001 through today and determine which franchises have consistently found ways to stay competitive. Twins Land at No. 14 Minnesota ranked 14th overall with 25 total points over the 25-year period. That position places them in the top half of baseball but just barely, reflecting a franchise that has experienced bursts of success mixed with frustrating postseason outcomes. Within the American League, only six teams ranked higher than Minnesota. The teams ahead of the Twins include the New York Yankees at second overall, the Boston Red Sox at fourth, and the Houston Astros at fifth. Those franchises have combined for multiple championships and deep playoff runs during the ranking period. A few more familiar American League rivals also finished ahead of Minnesota. The Cleveland Guardians ranked tenth, the Texas Rangers placed eleventh, and the Los Angeles Angels came in twelfth. For Twins fans, the ranking feels both fair and frustrating. Minnesota has been competitive in several stretches over the last two decades, but postseason success has been harder to come by. A few deeper October runs could have pushed the franchise comfortably into the top ten. A Steady Climb in Recent Years Even though the Twins sit in the middle of the pack today, the trend line has been moving in the right direction. The franchise ranked 14th in 2025 with 24 points. In 2024, Minnesota ranked 15th overall with 22 points. The year before that, they were down at 17th with 19 points. Just a short time ago, the franchise was much closer to the bottom half of baseball. The biggest jump came between 2022 and 2023. In the 2022 rankings, the Twins placed 22nd with only 11 points. At that point, the organization was still feeling the impact of several losing seasons and limited postseason success during the ranking window. Since then, the club has slowly climbed back toward the middle of the league. It is not a dramatic rise, but it shows that recent competitive seasons have helped stabilize Minnesota’s standing. What Comes Next While the recent climb is encouraging, these rankings may soon be challenging for the Twins. The system uses a rolling 25-year window, so Minnesota’s best seasons from the early 2000s will eventually drop out. When those years fall off, the Twins could lose points that now keep them mid-standings. The team will need new postseason appearances and division titles to maintain or boost its position. Fortunately for Minnesota, the path to those points might not be overly complicated. The American League Central has frequently been one of baseball’s most competitive but unpredictable divisions. No team has completely dominated the division in recent seasons, leaving opportunities for a club that gets hot at the right time. For now, the latest rankings paint a clear picture of the franchise over the last quarter-century. The Twins have not been among baseball’s true powerhouses, but they also have not fallen into the category of long-term struggling organizations. Instead, Minnesota sits right where the numbers say it belongs. Solid, competitive, and still searching for the October breakthrough that could change the entire conversation. View the full article

Major League Baseball has spent the last few seasons trying to bring the stolen base back into the spotlight. The league limited pitchers' pickoff attempts and step-offs as part of the implementation of the pitch timer in 2023. The bases were made larger. It wasn't solely about boosting steals, but that was part of the plan. The strategy is working. Stolen bases are up across the league, and teams are increasingly willing to push the envelope. The Minnesota Twins joined that trend during the second half of last season. Following the trade deadline, no American League team stole more bases than Minnesota, with 59. During that stretch, Austin Martin and Royce Lewis led the club with 11 steals each. Luke Keaschall swiped nine bags, while Byron Buxton added seven. The more aggressive approach raises an interesting possibility: Will the Twins have another 20-homer, 20-steal player in 2026? It's not something that happens often in Twins Territory. The Twins have seen just eight 20-20 seasons, from seven different players. Torii Hunter accomplished the feat twice in 2002 and 2004. The others to reach the milestone include Buxton in 2025, Brian Dozier in 2014, Corey Koskie in 2001, Marty Cordova in 1995, Kirby Puckett in 1986, and Larry Hisle in 1977. With the current roster construction and the organization encouraging more activity on the bases, Minnesota could have multiple candidates. Byron Buxton 2025 Totals: 35 home runs, 24 steals 2026 ZiPS Projection: 24 home runs, 14 steals Buxton cruised to his first career 20-20 season last year, with room to spare. His 35 home runs and 24 stolen bases were career highs. He even stole third base for the first time in his major-league career, an example of the Twins encouraging more aggressive baserunning. It also ended a long drought for the organization. Buxton became the first Twins player to reach the milestone in over a decade. What is standing in the way of a repeat? The answer has always been health. Buxton has battled injuries throughout his career, but the Twins hope the last two seasons prove to have been a turning point. He has now appeared in more than 100 games in back-to-back years, something that once seemed difficult to imagine. If Buxton stays on the field for another full season, he remains the most obvious candidate to reach the mark again. Royce Lewis 2025 Totals: 13 home runs, 12 steals 2026 ZiPS Projection: 14 home runs, 9 steals Early in his career, Lewis was not much of a factor on the bases. From 2022 through 2024, he stole only six total bases. Injuries certainly played a role in that limited production, but it also seemed like his running game had taken a backseat. That changed in 2025. Lewis swiped 12 bags across 106 games and showed a willingness to run when the opportunity was there. A full healthy season could push that number even higher. Reaching 20 steals is not unrealistic for an athletic infielder who has always possessed above-average speed. The bigger question is the power. Lewis has hit at least 13 home runs in each of the last three seasons despite never playing more than 106 games in a year. He revamped his swing during the offseason in an effort to create more consistent contact and power output. What is stopping him from joining the club? Offensive consistency. If the swing adjustments help him tap into more power while staying on the field, Lewis has the athleticism to threaten a 20-20 season. Luke Keaschall 2025 Totals: 4 home runs, 14 steals 2026 ZiPS Projection: 7 home runs, 17 steals Keaschall might be the most intriguing player on this list. Across three minor-league seasons, he hit .294 with 125 runs, 19 home runs, 72 RBI, and 49 steals in 585 at-bats. His approach at the plate has always stood out. He walked at a 13.6% clip, while keeping his strikeout rate at a manageable 16.9%. The Twins promoted him to the majors last season despite only 28 games at Triple-A, because the team had multiple injuries in the infield. Over his final 163 at-bats in the big leagues, Keaschall hit .294 with 21 runs, four home runs, 26 RBI, and nine stolen bases. The speed component of a 20-20 season is clearly within reach. If he plays regularly, 20 steals are well within the range of outcomes. What’s stopping him from joining the club? The question revolves around his power. Some evaluators believe his swing mechanics may limit his ability to reach 20 home runs. A season in the 12-15 home run range feels more realistic at this point. Still, if Keaschall finds another gear in his power development, he could become a surprising entrant into the conversation. A New Era of Aggressive Baserunning For years, the Twins were not known as a particularly aggressive team on the bases. The second half of last season suggested that the mindset may be shifting. With the league encouraging stolen bases and the roster featuring several athletic players, Minnesota has the personnel to take advantage. Buxton already proved he can reach the milestone. Lewis has the athletic profile to join him if his power continues to develop. Keaschall represents the wild card, a player whose speed is already an asset but whose power ceiling will determine just how high his offensive value can climb. The 20-20 club remains a rare achievement in franchise history, but the conditions might be lining up for another entry. If the Twins continue pushing the tempo on the basepaths in 2026, more than one player could find himself chasing a place alongside some of the most dynamic seasons the organization has ever seen. Will any of this trio reach the 20-20 mark in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

MIAMI—Sandy Alcantara found himself in an unfamiliar setting prior to his start on Wednesday night in Miami. While the Dominican Republic was set to face off against Venezuela in his home ballpark in Little Havana, Alcantara warmed up in the visiting bullpen at loanDepot park—something he had only done once before: during his start in the World Baseball Classic in 2023, which also came against Venezuela. Despite an uneven outing from Alcantara, the Dominican Republic lineup did what it has done all tournament long—show off the “plátano power.” By the end of Wednesday night’s marquee pool play matchup, the Dominicans added four more home runs to their tally, bringing their tournament total to 13. The most home runs hit by a team in a single Classic is 14, set by Mexico in 2009, according to Sarah Langs. Several members of the Marlins organization were also in attendance to watch Miami’s ace take the mound. Manager Clayton McCullough was joined by players Esteury Ruiz, Eury Pérez, Xavier Edwards, Christopher Morel, Deyvison De Los Santos and Ronny Henriquez at loanDepot park for the matchup. In front of a boisterous, sold-out crowd in Miami, the “visiting” Dominicans got off to an electric start in the top of the first inning. Outfielder Juan Soto launched a mammoth two-run shot, sending the DR fans into a frenzy. The home run was the first of two allowed by Venezuelan starter Eduardo Rodríguez. Given early run support, Alcantara was unable to deliver a shutdown inning in the bottom half of the frame. Following a single by Maikel García and a walk to Luis Arraez, Willson Contreras delivered an RBI single to cut the Dominican lead in half. As they have throughout the tournament, the Dominican lineup answered with more fireworks in the third inning. All-Star Ketel Marte crushed a 403-foot solo shot to restore the two-run lead. Later in the inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a two-run homer to give the DR a 4-1 advantage. Alcantara ran into trouble during what would be his final inning of work. After issuing a leadoff walk to division rival Ronald Acuña Jr., the Dominican right-hander surrendered back-to-back doubles, allowing two more runs to score for Venezuela. Alcantara’s final line: 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO on 44 pitches (28 strikes)—a stat line strikingly similar to his lone previous WBC start on March 11, 2023. “I thought he threw the ball well,” Dominican manager Albert Pujols said postgame. “I think the early run support let him breathe a little bit, but he unfortunately ran into a little bit of trouble in the third.” The right-hander told reporters postgame that he plans to be available for his country in whichever way they may need him. “I’ll be available to start or relieve, you name it,” Alcantara said. “We are here for one cause: to represent our country, the Dominican Republic...I’m here.” Fortunately for Miami’s ace, the Dominican offense continued to provide breathing room. In the top of the fourth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. joined in on the fun, crushing his second homer of the tournament—a three-run shot that extended the DR lead to 7-3. The score held until the ninth inning, when Venezuela made things interesting. Three consecutive walks issued by Abner Uribe brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Arraez, who lifted a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to three. Moments later, Contreras chopped a ball toward new pitcher Elvis Alvarado, who misfired a throw into center field. The error cut the lead to 7-5 and brought the potential winning run to the plate with just one out. However, Salvador Pérez grounded into a game-ending double play to seal the victory for the Dominican Republic. The Dominicans finish atop Pool D and will face South Korea in the quarterfinals on Friday night. Venezuela, the runner-up in the group, will take on defending champion Japan on Saturday night. View the full article

Michael Busch has only challenged two calls this spring under the new ABS system, but he's won both times. Just as importantly, he's mounted them, even though (based on the array of pitches he's seen and taken) Statcast's model for predicting how many challenges each hitter would utilize only expects him to have challenged 0.8 pitches—and to have won 0.5 of those 0.8. Meanwhile, only one challenge has been issued against him, and it was lost. Obviously, the data set is far to small to say for certain that Busch has a skill when it comes to challenging. Besides, the magnitude of added value we're talking about here is quite small. Busch flipped called strikes on an 0-1 and a 1-1 pitch to balls, and saw one 2-1 pitch stay a ball despite a challenge. The total number of added calls in his favor, relative to the model's expectation, is 3.5, which isn't a big deal, unless the calls in question are hugely high-leverage. There's a bit of bonus value in taking away one of the other team's challenges by getting them to challenge in error, but that, too, is a small thing. So, why is this worth discussing? Firstly, it seems virtually certain that someone will benefit significantly from the ABS system this year, both at a team level and at an individual one. Last season, Triple-A players successfully overturned 4,628 calls, which is a lot of accumulated impact, even if it came in tiny increments. The value of those changes will accrue unevenly, based on good plate discipline for batters, good command by pitchers, and (yes, still) good framing by catchers, plus great gameplanning and strategic communication by teams and their coaches. Secondly, though, there's some reason to believe that Busch will be uniquely good at utilizing this system. First, he's 5-foot-11, which appears to be an advantage in a world with an ABS system. Pitchers will go through an adjustment period to recalibrate the top of the zone, but it's lower under ABS than it often was before that system went into effect, and for shorter hitters, that will include an especially apparent shift. Furthermore, though, Busch has a particular combination of stance and movement in the batter's box that could make the system very valuable to him. Though it's subtle, Busch hits from a moderate crouch. (See the first image above, on the left.) That won't determine where his strike zone stops and starts, as it would have in the past—ABS sets an identical zone based on height for each batter. It does, however, set the pitcher's sights a bit, and it's still likely to influence the umpire somewhat. Once Busch gets moving, an even more pronounced effect happens. Though he's not a huge leg-kick guy and starts with his feet only moderately far apart, he takes a longish stride. By his contact point (see the middle image), the center of his front foot is over 3 1/2 feet in front of the center of his back foot. Combine the crouch and the length of his stride, and Busch gets very deep into his legs. Again, refer to that center image, and note how low his left shin gets to the ground. That's part of his natural stroke, but it sets a low bottom rail for his zone, visually. Though his knees are bound to be lower than those of the towering Oneil Cruz, when you compare a composite animation of those two players' swings, you can immediately see that more than height separates them. The umpire isn't consciously looking at the way Busch's body moves into his hitting position when they decide whether the pitch is at the knees or below them, but there's a sense impression happening even in that instant of ball reaching mitt and a call needing to be made. This hasn't been a huge problem for Busch, but because he also dips that back leg and sinks into his hitting position even on takes (see the image on the right, above), he sometimes gets balls called strikes just below the zone. akQ5ZVpfV0ZRVkV3dEdEUT09X0JWUlJYUUlNQlFzQUFGQUhYd0FIVkZJRUFBTURWRmtBQ3dCWFV3Y05Vd1pkVmxFSA==.mp4 This year, Busch will get a chance to challenge those. On the rare occasions when an umpire is fooled, the sharp-eyed Busch can rectify the problem, knowing his own zone and what distortion might have led to a bad call. On the other hand, the catcher is in position to get fooled more than the umpire—which could be great for the Cubs. It's not a natural thing to think of much in terms of the ramifications of implementing this system, but Busch took 109 pitches for balls along the bottom edges of the zone last year that were actually balls, but not by much. He has a patient approach and a good feel for that part of the zone. He could frustrate opposing pitchers and catchers, though, because they often thought they deserved a strike, even when they didn't. NHlNNU9fWGw0TUFRPT1fQndNQVhBQldYMWNBV1ZzSFZBQUhWQVJRQUZsWFZ3SUFWQUZVVkZVRlZGSlZVbE5m.mp4 Some of that is just Busch's great approach, but another piece is the way he stands in the box and moves toward the ball, even on non-swings. He's going to draw a higher-than-average number of mistaken challenges this year, and each lost challenge by an opponent has big value for the team. Even one such loss forces the other side to get more conservative in their challenges, and a second one robs them of the right to challenge at all the rest of the way. We've only really talked about the bottom of the zone, because the effects at the top of the zone seem fairly straightforward. There, too, though, Busch will get the benefit of some calls, because he strides so low that even more pitches look high than actually are. He might draw some bad challenges that way, too, since (again) the top of the ABS zone is a ball's width or so lower than most players are used to. The Cubs have to be good at the little things this year. Winning more challenges and/or inducing bad challenges by opponents will be one way to carve out the advantages they need. Busch looks like one of the players best positioned to do just that. View the full article