DiamondCentric

Spring training is used as a ramp-up period to knock off the rust for big league players before the regular season gets underway, but for prospects, it's a chance to demonstrate their value first hand to their future managers and coaches. It's also just exciting for fans to get a sneak peak of players that can help the team down the road. One of the Chicago Cubs' younger prospects with loads of potential is showing that he may need consideration to join the big-league roster sooner than expected. Jefferson Rojas is having an incredible start to spring training this year. Rojas is a 20-year-old middle infield prospect (SS/2B) that is taking full advantage of his opportunities to play this spring. He is batting .259/310/.593 (118 wRC+) with two home runs and six RBIs in 12 games, and those stats are a bit muted following a couple of less impactful appearances. One of his home runs traveled a staggering 438 feet, demonstrating a level of power that is a pleasant surprise. Rojas has been widely considered as an above-average defensive shortstop prospect that could handle second base duties as well. His play this March is reinforcing that notion, but it's his evolution at the plate that really stands out. The Cubs currently have nine infielders listed on their 40-man roster and Rojas is not one of them. Dansby Swanson (SS) and Nico Hoerner (2B) are positioned to be the starting middle infielders when the regular season gets going later this month, with the talented Matt Shaw pushing for playing time whenever possible after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman this offseason to be their everyday third baseman. Ben Cowles (3B), Pedro Ramirez (3B/2B), and James Triantos (2B/OF) are also listed on the 40-man roster along with first basemen Michael Busch and Tyler Austin. Rojas is younger than all of the players listed above and will likely need more time to develop in the minors, but the results from this small sample in spring training are very encouraging. Having too many talented infielders is a great problem to have for any organization. The Cubs boast the luxury of not needing to rush players through their minor-league levels because their major-league roster is filled with veteran players that are ready to compete for a deep playoff run this year. Sustained success requires other players waiting in the wings for their number to be called, that can step in and carry the torch when needed. Rojas honing his craft in the minors for the time being is great for the health of the roster down the road, especially with Hoerner facing the prospect of free agency next offseason. Rojas has risen up the Cubs’ prospect rankings and his breakout performances of late are supporting those evaluations. As a bit of a spoiler alert, he'll appear soon in the top five of North Side Baseball's top-20 Cubs prospects rundown. In the meantime, he is a player to track throughout the remaining spring training games and into the new season. If he continues to perform like he has up until this point, he will become a household name among Cubs fans for good reason. View the full article

Owen and Jesse debate whether or not it's time to be concerned that we haven't seen Trey Yesavage yet in spring training, before breaking down Cody Ponce and Max Scherzer's hot starts. They then get into Addison Barger's hot spring, particularly his success against left-handed pitching. Next, Owen and Jesse talk about Canada's struggles in their first two WBC games, before praising the Dominican Republic's loaded roster. They finish with a spring training statistic leaders game. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jays-centre-podcast/id1846108462 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bi7SzfpcqMo5xYWnbCeoL Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-jays-centre-podcast-300304824/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/2qk9wqxd Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayscentre View the full article

Eloy Jiménez was once a promising rookie, blasting 31 home runs in his MLB debut in 2019, but injuries and poor production since then have made him an afterthought. He spent last season in Triple A, mainly with the Tampa Bay Rays' affiliate. He was released in July and signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in September to play in Triple-A Buffalo. The now-29-year-old played in six games with the Bisons before the season ended. Over 215 combined plate appearances last season, he hit three home runs, scored 17 runs, and knocked in 30. Despite his 82 wRC+ in the minors last season, the Blue Jays decided to bring him back for another year. Jiménez has been hot this spring, slashing .321/.367/.536 with a 131 wRC+ over 30 plate appearances. However, even with that strong start, he will likely begin the season in Triple A. According to Blue Jays insider Arden Zwelling of SportsNet, Jiménez is open to that possibility. Zwelling said on his podcast, At The Letters, "It's my understanding that [Jiménez] doesn't have an opt-out at the end of spring training, so he can just go straight to Triple A. And he told me he would go to Triple A." Barring an injury, this is the best move for the Blue Jays. Jiménez has no clear path to playing time as part of the 26-man roster right now. He is a right-handed bat who can play the corner outfield and possibly learn to play first base, but Toronto already has two righty bats on the bench in Davis Schneider and Myles Straw. There's also switch-hitting backup catcher Tyler Heineman, which would make adding a fourth right-handed bat highly problematic for lineup flexibility. Schneider has two options remaining, but he is the only bench infielder currently projected to make the 26-man roster. That said, he could be sent down to open a spot on the bench for Jiménez with the thought that Addison Barger or Ernie Clement could be the infield utility option if needed. Straw is in the last year of the five-year, $25 million contract he signed in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians. He has too much MLB service time to be sent down to the minors. That makes Nathan Lukes, who has one option year remaining, the only other player Jiménez could replace. Lukes is a left-handed hitter, though, and the Blue Jays would have very little left-handed depth on the bench if Lukes were sent down, besides the switch-hitting Heineman. So, Jiménez replacing Lukes likely won't happen. The only way for Jiménez to make the Opening Day roster that really makes sense is if we see Schneider sent down to Triple A and Jiménez takes his spot. However, before the 29-year-old could be considered for a job in MLB again, he needs to get his home run swing back. One home run and two RBIs over 30 spring plate appearances isn't the way to prove that you're ready to play at the highest level. View the full article

After surprisingly receiving a major-league contract this offseason, right-hander Daison Acosta is headed back to the minors before the season begins. The San Diego Padres announced Monday that the 27-year-old reliever had cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso. It had not been previously known that it had been designated for assignment. This leaves the Padres' 40-man roster at 39. Also, catcher Ethan Salas, the Friars' top position player prospect, was reassigned to minor-league camp. Salas had been a non-roster invitee to major-league camp. Acosta, who signed a one-year contract for the MLB minimum of $780,000 in early December, has spent his previous eight seasons in the minors, the first six with the New York Mets and the last two with the Washington Nationals. The Padres gave him that deal after Acosta finished the season with a 0.90 ERA in 26 games, striking out 46 in 30 innings at Double-A. But that came after he opened the season at Triple-A and put up a 5.57 ERA in 19 games. It could portend an outside addition or adding a non-roster player to the 40-man roster. The Friars also have another 40-man move to make before Opening Day, with Yu Darvish not pitching this season. View the full article

For many years, the Minnesota Twins' front office felt compelled to prioritize a backup center fielder who'd be capable of stepping into the starting role, for long stretches, at a moment's notice. After being bitten by having to play guys like Gilberto Celestino and Nick Gordon in center way too much during the 2021-22 seasons, the Twins made it a point to target Michael A. Taylor, Manuel Margot and Harrison Bader in successive winters. This year, they noticeably snapped the trend. That's not because they have any great in-house options to back up center field. Buxton's health has become an afterthought rather than a constant concern, while top prospects are on the verge of big-league readiness, and that's why center field projects as the biggest strength on the Twins roster. TWINS CENTER FIELDERS AT A GLANCE Starter: Byron Buxton Backup: James Outman Depth: Ryan Kreidler, Alan Roden, Austin Martin Prospects: Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Brandon Winokur Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 5th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 4th out of 30 THE GOOD Just a few short years ago, it would have been hard to believe: Buxton in the starting lineup for Minnesota's first official spring game on February 21st, gearing up to participate in the World Baseball Classic. As his injury woes crescendoed in his late 20s, the Twins had no choice but to handle Buxton carefully, often easing him into spring action gradually. Taking part in the WBC would've been completely out of the question. But coming off two of his best and healthiest seasons, the two-time All Star is no-holds-barred and all-systems-go. Buxton narrowly missed a top-10 finish in the AL MVP voting last year, filling the stat sheet in 126 games: 35 home runs, seven triples, 97 runs scored, 24 stolen bases (on 24 attempts) and an .878 OPS. In his age-31 season, he remained one of the fastest players in baseball, with a 100th-percentile sprint speed exceeding 30 ft/sec. Buxton is an outstanding center fielder and the definition of a two-way star. Under contract for three more years, Buxton will at some point probably have to move off center field, but that day does not feel particularly close. Not if he has his way. The fact that Buxton is being used exclusively in center field for Team USA, despite the presence of Pete Crow-Armstrong, speaks to his well-earned reverence at the position. He's not going to relocate willingly if he's still tracking down balls that others can't, and for now, that is. It's possible that the emergence of top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez will create a tension if they clearly surpass the former Platinum Glover in defensive value, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, Jenkins and Rodriguez are excellent assets to have on hand in the event that Buxton does get injured again. You never want to lose your best player, but it would open the door for one of those two to play every day in the majors if they prove ready — and Rodriguez arguably already is. THE BAD Buxton's chronic knee issue seems to have finally been solved, but that hardly makes him immune to getting injured in other ways, as last Friday's HBP scare in the World Baseball Classic opener reminded. In his healthiest season ever last year he still started only 118 of 162 games in center field. Jenkins and Rodriguez are intriguing potential successors, if they prove to meet the high bar for MLB-caliber defense in center. They'll never reach Buxton's level, but few can. At this time, though, the top outfield prospects are fairly inexperienced at Triple-A, and they've had their own injury issues. (Jenkins is out this spring with a hamstring strain.) The lack of a real short-term safety net behind Buxton, as the Twins have had in recent years, could rear its head if a need emerges early in the season. Ryan Kreidler is probably the best defensive backup if he's on the roster; he was the Opening Day starter in center for the Tigers last year. James Outman's chances of making the team hinge on his viability in center, which has looked questionable at best. Roden and Martin have gotten run this spring, but should be viewed more as emergency options than candidates to start regularly. Center field is a hard position. It's tough to find players who truly excel there defensively, and even harder to find ones who can do that and also hit. Buxton has spoiled us. Hopefully he keeps spoiling us. THE BOTTOM LINE Healthy at last, Buxton has claimed his rightful place as one of the game's elite center fielders. It's a distinction corroborated by his All-Star nod, Silver Slugger, and starting spot on Team USA. His presence lends instant credibility to the Twins lineup. At some point age will start to catch to him but for the moment he's mostly outsprinting it. Down the line, some of the very best prospects in the Twins system will be aiming to overtake the reins in center field. Here in 2026, moving Buxton off the position doesn't seem to be on the front office's mind. His goal this season is to keep it that way. Catch up on the rest of our roster preview series: Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2026 Position Analysis: First Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Second Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Third Base Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Shortstop Twins 2026 Position Analysis: Left Field View the full article

Is there still a chance that the Boston Red Sox trade for veteran corner infielder Isaac Paredes? In this video, we dive into Paredes' skillset, Alex Cora's plan with both Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer, and the most sensible time for Boston to pull the trigger on a potential deal for the Astros' current third baseman. View the full article

Which statistics hold the most weight for the Cubs in 2026? Today, we review the following: stolen bases, home runs allowed, walks, runners left on base, and defensive errors. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson, and Shota Imanaga will be among the most important players in helping the team excel in these categories. View the full article

As spring training enters its final stretch, roster decisions accelerate. For the Minnesota Twins, Monday brought further clarity as the club trimmed nine players from big-league camp. The group included several names with at least some path to the Opening Day roster, as well as a few prospects whose strong springs made the timing a little surprising. With less than three weeks until the regular season begins, the Twins are now narrowing their focus to the players who will make the final push. Among the pitchers sent out of camp, Connor Prielipp and Marco Raya were probably the closest to legitimate Opening Day roster consideration. Both pitchers have already reached Triple-A and could have potentially filled bullpen roles if the Twins wanted to bring a young arm north. Prielipp, however, is still being stretched out as a starter and did not do enough this spring to earn more time in camp. Across three Grapefruit League appearances, he pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, including two home runs. He also finished with six strikeouts and six walks. The raw stuff is still intriguing, but the command will need to sharpen as he continues building innings. Raya’s outing this spring was even more difficult. Last season was already a challenging one as he posted a 6.02 ERA across 98 2/3 innings at Triple A. Now transitioning into a relief role, Raya allowed five runs in just 2 1/3 innings this spring while issuing five walks and striking out only two. Both pitchers still appear likely to factor into the major league picture at some point during the season. For now, though, they will head back to the minor leagues to continue refining their roles and consistency before Minnesota calls again. The same can be said for Andrew Morris and John Klein. Morris struggled during Grapefruit League action, giving up four runs on seven hits across 6 2/3 innings. He currently sits as the seventh or eighth starter on the organizational depth chart, so he will be in Minnesota at some point this year. Klein appeared in only a single game during camp, limiting his evaluation. However, the Twins added him to the 40-man roster this winter, making him a call-up candidate when the need arises. The most surprising move from Monday’s cuts was the demotion of top outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez. There was never a strong expectation that Rodriguez would break camp with the Twins, but the timing still stands out considering how well he performed during exhibition play. In 11 Grapefruit League games, Rodriguez slashed an impressive .421/.476/.789 (1.265). He collected a double and two home runs while drawing two walks and striking out nine times. Rodriguez already has experience at Triple-A after posting an .853 OPS in 52 games there last season. Capable of playing center field, he continues to look like one of the organization’s most dynamic offensive talents. The next step in his development remains familiar. Rodriguez does an excellent job commanding the strike zone and has often produced walk rates north of 20 percent. The issue is that the strikeouts remain high as well, with the outfielder still striking out close to one-third of the time. If he can trim that rate while staying healthy, the Twins may not be able to keep him in St. Paul for very long. Another hitter sent out at the same time was Gabriel Gonzalez, who also enjoyed an impressive spring. Gonzalez homered on Monday and finished camp 9-for-18 (.500 BA) with three doubles and a home run. If he can carry that momentum into the regular season, he could quickly put himself into the conversation for a corner outfield role. Hendry Mendez remains a bit further from the big league picture, while catcher Patrick Winkel profiles primarily as organizational depth behind the plate. Kendry Rojas, however, is a name that could become important again this season. The left-hander is expected to serve as part of the starting pitching depth at Triple-A, a role the Twins leaned on heavily a year ago. Rojas was part of the reason Minnesota felt comfortable moving Louie Varland at last year’s trade deadline. A fringe Top 100 prospect at the time, the young left-hander flashed impressive velocity and the type of strikeout ability that caught the organization’s attention. This spring, Rojas allowed seven runs on seven hits in Grapefruit League action, but the underlying numbers were encouraging. He recorded seven strikeouts compared to just one walk, continuing to show the swing-and-miss ability that has long made him intriguing. A strong start at Triple-A St. Paul could quickly put him back on the radar as a promotion candidate. For the Twins, these latest cuts help finalize the Opening Day roster and strengthen organizational depth. Players sent down Monday are still key for 2026, and could return if there are injuries or new opportunities, making them important to follow in the coming months. View the full article

There's plenty of ceiling for Quentin Young entering his first year of pro ball, but there is also a very low floor. What type of player can Quentin Young be in 2026 as he finds a permanent positional home on the infield? View the full article

Kansas City Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV won’t earn a plaque in Cooperstown. Nor does a spot in his own club’s Hall of Fame seem likely. He hasn’t made an All-Star team, won any major awards, or flirted with stardom. Nevertheless, Lynch is one of the most interesting pitchers the Royals have. That may seem odd considering he doesn’t draw a lot of attention, and when he does it sometimes comes, as it did this winter, in unflattering questions about his suitability for the majors, speculation that he isn’t quite good enough for the Royals, and suggestions that his one remaining minor league option means KC should farm him out and give another reliever a seat in manager Matt Quatraro’s bullpen. Maybe it’s because Lynch doesn’t profile like so many believe successful big league pitchers should. His four-seamer and sinker velocities aren’t especially intimidating. He toils frequently in middle relief, where stars typically aren’t made or imagined. Maybe he just isn’t flamboyant enough. This much is clear, though — Lynch is a pretty decent pitcher, an asset the Royals shouldn’t take for granted. Despite those inclined to think otherwise, he deserves a spot on the club’s Opening Day roster. But that hasn’t always been the case. Daniel Lynch IV Spent A Lot of Time on Shaky Ground Lynch climbed the minor league ladder quickly but didn’t enjoy early success in the majors. Taken by the Royals with the 34th selection of the 2018 amateur draft — an extra pick KC received for losing Eric Hosmer to the Padres in free agency — Lynch arrived in Kansas City during the 2021 season and went 4-6 with an alarming 5.69 ERA and troubling 1.63 WHIP. Things didn’t get much better, and by the end of the 2023 season, he’d lost over twice as many games (23) as he’d won (11) and had a 5.18 ERA in 51 starts. The nagging shoulder issues that limited him to nine starts in 2023 didn’t help. Then he went to the bullpen. And everything changed. Daniel Lynch IV Becomes a Solid Reliever for the Royals Lynch’s mid-July victory over Detroit was, unfortunately, his final appearance of the 2023 season — and one of his last starts for Kansas City. Needing to strengthen their bullpen (and almost everything else, for that matter) after losing 106 games that year, the Royals made Lynch a reliever in 2024, and he came through with a career-best 3.32 ERA, excellent 0.99 WHIP, perfect 2-0 record, and, for good measure, his first career save. The sample size wasn’t huge — 43 1/3 innings, to be precise — but the results were good. And he was even better last season. Lynch’s workload increased to 67 2/3 innings; he just missed dipping below 3.00 in ERA at 3.06, and he won six times while losing only twice. He’s now 8-2 with a 3.16 ERA since shifting primarily to relief work two seasons ago and boasts a 2.72 ERA in 68 appearances out of the bullpen. Lynch’s more advanced metrics, though, aren’t overwhelming. Take last season, for example — per Baseball Savant, his 15.6 K% ranked in the fifth percentile, his 9.0 BB% in the 32nd, his 22.3% whiff rate in the 25th, and his 20% chase rate in the 20th percentile. But despite his lack of eye-catching advanced numbers, Lynch has built himself into a solid reliever. That he wasn’t always so competent makes that achievement even more impressive. That he’s a left-hander adds to Lynch’s value. Yes, the three-batter rule has diminished, at least to some extent, the importance of bullpen southpaws, but they still have their place, especially on clubs managed by handedness-match disciples like Kansas City’s Quatraro. And Lynch is pitching effectively this spring. In four Cactus League appearances, he’s surrendered just one run, struck out five, and hasn’t walked any of the 15 batters he's faced (which helps explain his 0.75 WHIP). Lynch may not be overpowering, overwhelming, or spectacular. But he’s been good for the Royals. So, give credit where credit is due. Look for Lynch in Atlanta when Kansas City opens the season there on March 27. View the full article

Kansas City Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV won’t earn a plaque in Cooperstown. Nor does a spot in his own club’s Hall of Fame seem likely. He hasn’t made an All-Star team, won any major awards, or flirted with stardom. Nevertheless, Lynch is one of the most interesting pitchers the Royals have. That may seem odd considering he doesn’t draw a lot of attention, and when he does it sometimes comes, as it did this winter, in unflattering questions about his suitability for the majors, speculation that he isn’t quite good enough for the Royals, and suggestions that his one remaining minor league option means KC should farm him out and give another reliever a seat in manager Matt Quatraro’s bullpen. Maybe it’s because Lynch doesn’t profile like so many believe successful big league pitchers should. His four-seamer and sinker velocities aren’t especially intimidating. He toils frequently in middle relief, where stars typically aren’t made or imagined. Maybe he just isn’t flamboyant enough. This much is clear, though — Lynch is a pretty decent pitcher, an asset the Royals shouldn’t take for granted. Despite those inclined to think otherwise, he deserves a spot on the club’s Opening Day roster. But that hasn’t always been the case. Daniel Lynch IV Spent A Lot of Time on Shaky Ground Lynch climbed the minor league ladder quickly but didn’t enjoy early success in the majors. Taken by the Royals with the 34th selection of the 2018 amateur draft — an extra pick KC received for losing Eric Hosmer to the Padres in free agency — Lynch arrived in Kansas City during the 2021 season and went 4-6 with an alarming 5.69 ERA and troubling 1.63 WHIP. Things didn’t get much better, and by the end of the 2023 season, he’d lost over twice as many games (23) as he’d won (11) and had a 5.18 ERA in 51 starts. The nagging shoulder issues that limited him to nine starts in 2023 didn’t help. Then he went to the bullpen. And everything changed. Daniel Lynch IV Becomes a Solid Reliever for the Royals Lynch’s mid-July victory over Detroit was, unfortunately, his final appearance of the 2023 season — and one of his last starts for Kansas City. Needing to strengthen their bullpen (and almost everything else, for that matter) after losing 106 games that year, the Royals made Lynch a reliever in 2024, and he came through with a career-best 3.32 ERA, excellent 0.99 WHIP, perfect 2-0 record, and, for good measure, his first career save. The sample size wasn’t huge — 43 1/3 innings, to be precise — but the results were good. And he was even better last season. Lynch’s workload increased to 67 2/3 innings; he just missed dipping below 3.00 in ERA at 3.06, and he won six times while losing only twice. He’s now 8-2 with a 3.16 ERA since shifting primarily to relief work two seasons ago and boasts a 2.72 ERA in 68 appearances out of the bullpen. Lynch’s more advanced metrics, though, aren’t overwhelming. Take last season, for example — per Baseball Savant, his 15.6 K% ranked in the fifth percentile, his 9.0 BB% in the 32nd, his 22.3% whiff rate in the 25th, and his 20% chase rate in the 20th percentile. But despite his lack of eye-catching advanced numbers, Lynch has built himself into a solid reliever. That he wasn’t always so competent makes that achievement even more impressive. That he’s a left-hander adds to Lynch’s value. Yes, the three-batter rule has diminished, at least to some extent, the importance of bullpen southpaws, but they still have their place, especially on clubs managed by handedness-match disciples like Kansas City’s Quatraro. And Lynch is pitching effectively this spring. In four Cactus League appearances, he’s surrendered just one run, struck out five, and hasn’t walked any of the 15 batters he's faced (which helps explain his 0.75 WHIP). Lynch may not be overpowering, overwhelming, or spectacular. But he’s been good for the Royals. So, give credit where credit is due. Look for Lynch in Atlanta when Kansas City opens the season there on March 27. View the full article

The World Baseball Classic is reaching the end of Pool Play, as many teams have already punched their tickets to the knockout rounds (including Japan and South Korea). The Royals are well-represented in the WBC, with 10 players participating, as highlighted on the Royals' social media (though they didn't have Luinder Avila, a late addition to the Venezuelan roster who may have missed the official WBC media day). I already talked about the performance of Royals starting pitchers in Pool Play (specifically focusing on Puerto Rico's Seth Lugo and USA's Michael Wacha). However, I have not talked yet about the hitters, who are even more well-represented in the WBC. Five of the Royals' core position players for 2026 (Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone) are participating in the WBC for their respective countries. Let's break down the performances thus far of those Royals position players and identify what fans can expect from the five, not just for the remainder of the World Baseball Classic but also for the upcoming MLB season. Witt Showing Plate Patience, Speed on Basepaths, and Incredible Defense Witt has played in two games so far in pool play: against Brazil in game one and on Monday night against Mexico in game four. Manager Mark DeRosa opted for Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson at shortstop in game two against Great Britain, and the move paid off for Team USA as Henderson went 4-for-5. DeRosa has primarily put Witt in the leadoff spot, and the results have been mostly positive for the Royals' franchise player. On one hand, he's hitting .333 with a .1.056 OPS in nine at-bats. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles in the Mexico game, and he just missed out on a homer in his second at-bat. Against Mexico's Manny Barreda, he hit an 85.2 MPH slider 385 feet with an exit velocity of 103.9 MPH. Here's a look at the spray chart of that particular flyball out. If Witt pulled that one just a little bit more, it's probably gone, especially in Daikin Park's hitter-friendly confines. Furthermore, Witt did what he was supposed to do on a hanging slider from Barreda, which was located in a meaty part of the zone, as illustrated in his zone chart below via Savant. Thankfully for Barreda and Mexico, he threw that pitch to Spring Training Witt. If he threw that to in-season Witt, it's probably gone and hit a lot further as well. In his third at-bat against Alex Carrillo, he didn't miss. He launched a double with a 105.8 MPH exit velocity on a hanging slider, similar to the one he saw from Barreda. Perhaps this double is the breakthrough Witt needed to get going on the hitting end of things in the World Baseball Classic. He seemed to confirm that thought with another double in the 8th inning. This one had an exit velocity of 100.8 MPH off Mexico reliever Robert Garcia. In a short time in the WBC, Witt has done what he's supposed to do as a leadoff hitter: get on base and steal bases. He has a .500 OBP with two walks and only one strikeout. He also has three stolen bases on three attempts. The Royals have been a little rusty on the basepaths in Spring Training, so to see Witt in base-thieving form is a nice development. After stealing 49 bases in 2023, Witt stole 31 in 2024 and 38 in 2025. It would be nice to see Witt get back to the 40-SB mark in 2026. His start in the WBC shows that he may be capable of doing so, especially if manager Matt Quatraro is open to putting Witt in the leadoff spot in the batting order. Lastly, Witt demonstrated against Mexico why he won the Platinum Glove for the Royals last year. He made not one, but two incredible plays that few, if any other MLB shortstops could make (though don't say that to Orioles fans). Here's the first play Witt made against catcher Alejandro Kirk. Unbelievable. And for those who said, "Well, Kirk is a slow runner", let's take a look at what he did on a similarly hit groundball by Nick Gonzales (who is much faster than Kirk, though that's not hard). Witt may have gotten off to a slow start in the WBC, but he seems to be getting settled at shortstop for Team USA. That would be a scary development for the rest of the WBC competition, especially in the knockout rounds. Big Hits From Salvy and Maikel Venezuela is 2-0 in pool play and may be on their way to 3-0, as they are up 4-0 on Nicaragua in the seventh inning on Monday. Garcia and Perez both played in Venezuela's first two games, but got the day off in game three (though Garcia entered on Monday for Luis Arraez). Perez is the captain of Team Venezuela, and as with the Royals, he's the heart and soul of the team. He's gotten off to a strong start with his home country, as he is hitting .333 with a .666 OPS in nine at-bats. He has three hits, all singles, and one RBI. His lone RBI was a big one against Israel, tying the game and sparking a rally. Even though Perez got the night off against Nicaragua, he will be a key part of this lineup for Venezuela in the knockout rounds. It's been a bit of a different story for Garcia, who is playing in his first WBC after his breakout season in 2025. The Royals' third baseman started the first two games of pool play but is hitting .200 with a .400 OPS in 10 at-bats. He also has three strikeouts and no walks, though all three of his strikeouts came in a rough game against Israel. In his first three plate appearances in his second WBC game, Garcia was having a brutal performance, striking out in each at-bat against an Israel team that was eventually eliminated from the knockout stage. However, he gathered himself to produce a big two-RBI single with the bases loaded that extended Venezuela's lead in the sixth inning. That ability to bounce back with a big hit after striking out three times is the kind of adjustment Garcia made from 2024 to 2025. The 2024 version of Garcia would've struck out again or gotten a lazy ground or fly out. The 2025 version can put those bad at-bats behind him and produce a solid base hit in a hitter's count. That shows Garcia's maturity over the past year. The 26-year-old Royals infielder also has a stolen base and has shown solid defense at the hot corner, albeit in a small sample. While Garcia's overall stat line isn't great, he was really hurt by one bad game (Israel), so I'll be curious to see how he does for the remainder of the tournament. Struggles at the Plate for Vinnie and Jac Italy has gotten off to a strong start, as they are currently 2-0 in pool play. Furthermore, they have been a darling of the WBC, especially with their espresso shot celebration after home runs (served by none other than Pasquantino). Unfortunately, the numbers haven't been all that great so far for either Vinnie or Cags through two games. The Italy captain hasn't gotten a hit in seven at-bats and has an OPS of .300. He has three walks to zero strikeouts, which is good, as he became a little free-swinging last year. His 30.4% O-Swing% ranked in the 34th percentile last year, according to TJ Stats. Thus, seeing Pasquantino show some patience and avoid strikeouts has been nice, even if he hasn't gotten a base hit yet in this WBC. Caglianone has played only one game in the WBC, sitting out game two against Great Britain. In his lone start, he went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. That said, his base hit may have been more due to lackluster defense from Dante Bichette Jr. from Team Brazil (even Cags initially thought it was going to be a groundout). One of the positive developments for Caglianone in Spring Training was his plate patience, something he struggled with in his rookie year. In 2025, he had a 38.5% O-Swing%, which ranked in the bottom fifth percentile, and a 51.3% Swing%, which ranked in the 75th percentile. Cags swung too much last year, especially on pitches outside of the strike zone. In Spring Training, those metrics reverse, as seen below via his Statcast summary from TJ Stats. In 30 Cactus League plate appearances, he had a 21.4% O-Swing% and 38.9% Swing%. Those numbers ranked in the 75th and 16th percentiles, respectively. As a result, he posted a .375 average and 1.125 OPS in Cactus League play prior to heading out of Arizona for the WBC. Against Brazil, Caglianone was way too overeager, and that can be seen in his pitch description chart from his only WBC appearance. In four at-bats, he's seen a total of seven pitches. Of those seven pitches, he's swung at five of them. Yes, he has that RBI double on his WBC resume. However, he also hit into three field outs, all coming on those pitches up and in and early in the count. It seems like Cags is a bit amped up from the WBC experience, which has made him a bit impatient in his approach. He has made a lot of progress this spring, so hopefully he can get back into that patient mindset he had in Arizona during the remainder of Italy's WBC tenure. View the full article

#2 Luis Peña (Carolina Mudcats, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) Peña has quickly developed into one of the more interesting young position players in the system, and if not for Jesús Made, he would likely be the talk of minor-league camp as it opens this week. PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 418 101 18 6 9 .757 113 .363 16.3% 8.1% 11.3% 24.0% 45.7% 25.1% 29.3% 20.9% 44.4% 34.6% 23.6% 44 7 86% 104.2 What to Like While Peña didn't receive the same level of attention as Made during their 2024 DSL debuts, his production at that level was equally strong. He sustained that momentum into 2025, even outperforming Made at Low-A before facing challenges after a promotion to High-A. The overall performance showed both his upside and the typical growing pains of a very young player facing more advanced competition. One of the biggest developments in Peña’s profile has been his power. Over the course of one offseason, he made a significant jump in his contact quality, improving his 90th-percentile exit velocity from under 100 MPH in the DSL to 104.2 MPH at two levels in 2025. That jump in impact elevated his offensive ceiling and added another dimension to his game. The improved strength showed up in his production, as he hit nine home runs and six triples during the 2025 season. Speed is another defining part of Peña’s profile. He possesses plus or better speed, and his application of it impacts the game in multiple ways. His quickness allows him to create pressure on defenses and provide a lot of value on the bases. He stole 44 bases in 2025 and has the aggressiveness and pure speed to be a big threat in that regard. The combination of emerging power and high-end speed gives him an exciting offensive foundation. Despite being one of the youngest players at his levels, Peña showed the ability to produce against older competition for much of the season. His offensive tools give him a high ceiling as he continues to develop physically and refine his approach. What to Work On The biggest area for improvement in Peña’s offensive profile is his approach at the plate. After his promotion to High-A, he began to show more swing-and-miss and struggled to maintain the same level of contact he showed earlier in the season. He currently chases pitches outside the zone more often than you’d like to see, and improving his pitch recognition and plate discipline will be important as he moves up the ladder. Elevating his hard-hit contact more often would also help his burgeoning power to really flourish. Defensively, there are significant questions about his long-term position. His work on the infield has been inconsistent, with actions that can appear rigid and hands that don't yet bring the ball in as surely as they'll need to. His defensive instincts and overall comfort on the dirt remain areas of concern. Shortstop looks unlikely, and continued development will be necessary for him to remain an infielder at any spot. His athleticism and arm strength provide enough tools to continue developing on the dirt in the short term, but a move to the outfield remains a realistic possibility. A transition to the outfield could allow his speed and athletic ability to play more naturally and maximize his defensive value; it would also accelerate his progress toward the majors. As with many young players, overall consistency will be key. Refining his approach, improving defensive reliability, and adjusting to higher-level pitching will determine how quickly he progresses. What’s Next Peña is expected to return to High-A in 2026. The organization will likely continue evaluating him on the infield, while also considering long-term positional fit based on his development. His combination of speed and emerging power gives him a high offensive ceiling, and the athleticism could allow the defense to bloom late. Showing improvement in the areas that he struggled with in 2025 could position him for a move to Double-A later in the season. What are your thoughts on Peña’? What are you hoping to see from him in 2026? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Acquired from the Phillies at the 2025 trade deadline, Eduardo Tait was the main piece in return for Jhoan Duran, alongside pitcher Mick Abel. Tait immediately became the Twins’ premier catching prospect, and he is a consensus Top 100 prospect league wide. That being said, he’s the most likely of Twins Daily’s top prospects list to never register an MLB plate appearance. The low-floor, high-ceiling teenager who is already at High-A has a long way to go before he dons a Twins uniform, but his potential is something that the Twins and their fans are salivating over. Eduardo Tait Age: 19 (DOB: 08/27/2006) Bats/Throws: L/R 2025 Stats (Single-A, High-A): 486 PA, .253/.311/.427, 32 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 36 BB, 99 SO ETA: 2029 2025 Ranking: NR National Top 100 Rankings BP: 54 | MLB: 65 | ATH: 93 | BA: 93 | ESPN: 38 Tait was signed out of Panama as a 16-year-old in 2023 and immediately began mashing in the Dominican Summer League, sporting a .917 OPS. He earned a promotion to Single-A Clearwater in 2024 as a 17-year-old, four years younger than the average player. By age 18, he was already on Philadelphia’s High-A Jersey Shore, while his high-school-aged peers stateside were only getting drafted, and he was selected for the 2025 Futures Game. His numbers at both levels of Class A have not been standout, merely clocking in around league-average across the two leagues. But he was among the youngest players in either Class-A league, so league-average hitting, especially from a catcher, is noteworthy. What to Like Tait is a catcher with huge raw power potential, with scouts assigning a 60- or 70-grade rating to his profile. Catchers are among the weakest-hitting players across baseball, and to have a middle-of-the-order bat playing the catching position is a boon to any team. He popped 14 home runs and 32 doubles in 486 plate appearances last year in his age-18 season, showing great promise. He has a sturdy build, and scouts question how much more muscle he can add to his already-developed frame, so increased power is more likely to come from swing improvements than adding more muscle as he ages, but his power potential is legit. His exit velocities and swing speed are encouraging. He’s also quite pull-heavy, setting himself up for good in-game power as he continues to develop. Tait also has good bat-to-ball skills, a trait that is uncommon for sluggers, especially young sluggers. In 2025, he posted a 20% strikeout rate, which undersells his ability to make contact given his plate discipline deficiencies (to be discussed later). He can put the ball in play very well, and if he can combine that skill with plus or plus-plus power, the Twins could see some excellent results in the big leagues, even if he is forced to move off catcher. As a catcher, Tait’s calling card is his arm strength. His pop time is around 1.9 seconds, and he threw out 33% of base stealers at Single-A. He needs to clean up his accuracy on throws to best limit base stealers, but his raw strength is encouraging. His receiving is believed to have league-average potential by the time he’s done developing, which, when paired with his bat and arm strength, can be enough to justify keeping him at catcher, though he won’t be winning any Gold Gloves. What to Work On As stated, Tait is the least likely of the names on Twins Daily’s list to make the major leagues, in part because of his youth and in part because he has some significant holes in his profile. Although there is excitement about his bat as a catcher, the bar for offense rises if Tait is unable to stick at the position. Given his frame and lack of speed, Tait’s only other positional homes are first base and designated hitter. And Tait’s outlook as a catcher defensively is indeed in question. Although he has raw arm strength, his skills as a receiver and blocker are in question. He has improved as a receiver, but he still has major deficiencies in keeping the ball in front of him, and scouts question whether he will have enough athleticism to consistently block pitches in the dirt or move laterally. He still has the potential bat to be a good first baseman or DH, but his ceiling as a player is significantly lower away from the catching position. Tait’s biggest weakness at the plate is his discipline. Put succinctly, he swings at everything. He has the bat-to-ball skills to get to nearly anything, but his hit tool is greatly reduced by his decision-making. This has been more pronounced since reaching High-A, as he had only a 4% walk rate. This lack of plate discipline also contributes to his batting average, as he’s swinging at less-than-optimal pitches to hit, especially early in counts. He’ll probably never have the best eye at the plate, but if he can reel in his swing-happy approach a bit, combined with his bat-to-ball skills and power, he could be dangerous. What to Look For in 2026 Tait will likely begin 2026 at High-A Cedar Rapids, though it’s unclear whether the Twins will be as aggressive moving him up through the system as Philadelphia was. Tait needs to make strides as a receiver and blocker, and catcher development is notoriously difficult to predict. Offensively, success would include moving from a league-average hitter for the level to a plus hitter. The Twins have time for the 19-year-old to develop, and it’s important for him to do better than just holding his own. The major step he needs to take offensively is swinging less. Watch for him to be making better swing decisions, which should be reflected in his batting average and on-base percentage. If he cleans up his approach at the plate, watch out. View the full article

Trey Yesavage took the baseball world by storm last fall, shining on baseball’s biggest stage against some of MLB's biggest stars. Last season, Yesavage climbed the ranks of the Blue Jays’ farm system, starting the season in Single-A Dunedin before finishing the 2025 campaign as a member of Toronto’s rotation in the World Series. In total, Yesavage pitched in 139 ⅔ innings, with 27 ⅔ of those coming during the Blue Jays’ postseason run. Selected in the first round, 20th overall in 2024 and still only 22 years old, he is just starting his career, and the Blue Jays will be tasked with making sure that he remains healthy as he enters his first full season at the game's highest level. Yesavage has yet to make an appearance during a spring training game, slowly building his way up, going along with the plan the Blue Jays have put in place. Speaking to Sportsnet’s Ben-Nicholson Smith, Yesavage discussed the Blue Jays’ plan to play it cautious with his workload. “They’re taking me slow, slower than anyone else in here,” Yesavage said. “I know they have my best interests in mind, so I have all the faith in them for whatever they plan the future to look like. I’m just following orders, per se.” With under three weeks until Opening Day, the likely scenario is that Yesavage appears in two or three spring games before the Blue Jays break camp and head to Toronto to prepare to start their season against the Athletics. Blue Jays manager John Schneider has already said that the team isn't about to ask Yesavage to throw 200-plus innings this season, so that sets up the young right-hander to be on a pitch limit through portions of the season. What Does This Mean for Yesavage and the Blue Jays? This is where the Blue Jays’ deep roster of arms comes into play. Currently, they have Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and José Berríos presumably slotted into rotation spots. Shane Bieber, when healthy, will claim a role, leaving Cody Ponce, Max Scherzer and Eric Lauer as other potential options heading into 2026. Scherzer, like Yesavage, is still being slowly worked into games due to his late signing, so he may not be an option when the regular season begins. Bieber hasn’t worked his way into a game yet, either; he won't be on the Opening Day roster, and it's unclear how soon he'll be ramped up and ready to go. This means that Yesavage and Lauer working as a tandem to begin the season in one of the rotation spots may be the most likely scenario. Last season, Lauer worked as both a starter and reliever, going 9-2 with an ERA of 3.18, a FIP of 3.85 and a WHIP of 1.10, holding opposing batters to a .227 average. The left-hander would provide a different look either opening for Yesavage or coming in following the tall right-hander. Both pitchers made appearances out of the bullpen last year, so this is something that wouldn’t be completely foreign to either. Using both Yesavage and Lauer on the same day could raise concerns about overuse of the rest of the bullpen. This plan will require the following day’s starter to provide length if the Blue Jays are routinely forced to use several relievers (including Lauer) on days that Yesavage pitches early in the season. With that in mind, using the Yesavage-Lauer combo as the 'fifth starter' would make sense, leaving whoever the Blue Jays choose to take the ball on Opening Day – likely either Gausman or Cease – to follow them up. Gausman and Cease both routinely throw quality starts. In a perfect world, Yesavage could throw a full season, but as the Blue Jays look to protect last year’s rookie star, their depth will have to come into play. View the full article

North Side Baseball's top 20 Chicago Cubs prospects list has reached the top seven. To keep up with our deep dives on the brightest rising talents in the farm system, see the articles below: Prospects #20-16 Prospects #15-11 Prospect #10 - James Triantos Prospect #9 - Josiah Hartshorn Prospect #8 - Kane Kepley Chicago Cubs 2026 Top Prospects: Pedro Ramirez Coming Up With Moises Ballesteros Chicago found two high-level hitters out of a Venezuelan baseball program in 2021. Cubs top prospect Moisés Ballesteros has gained a lot of attention, especially since his impressive debut last year. The powerful backstop inked a $1.2 million contract before exploding onto the scene. Ramirez was the other of the two talented hitting prospects from Alvaro Diaz’s training program; he signed for $75,000. Fast-forward to today, and the versatile infield prospect has played in over 400 minor league games as a contact hitter with plus speed on the base paths. The 21-year-old switch-hitter has gained plenty of attention during his ascension, getting a Southern League All-Star nod and earning a slot with the big-league club’s 40-man roster. Strengths Ramirez has a very similar prospect profile to Jefferson Rojas. Both are smaller, compact and have the potential to develop as base-stealers. At 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, the Dominican Republic native has logged a .291 career batting average, better than that of Rojas. He has also leaned into his natural speed, stealing at least 15 bases in three of the last four seasons. Another strength of Ramirez’s is his experience. In a day and age where fans (and some league executives) itch to accelerate a player’s development, Ramirez has now taken 1,700 professional at-bats. When he does finally get the call, he’ll have plenty of data to work from. Weaknesses Ramirez doesn’t have a ton of power, and his hand-eye coordination almost works against him at times. Chicago’s rising infielder, according to his MLB.com scouting report, is able to make contact with pitches tailing out of the zone. What could be a walk turns into a weak dribbler, and sometimes double-play trouble when there are already runners on base. One of his main priorities will be learning which pitches to let go, even if he’s able to get to them. 2025 Performance Ramirez enjoyed one of his best seasons yet in 2025. Knoxville Smokies fans were treated to a .280 batting average and career-highs in home runs (8), runs batted in (73) and stolen bases (28). To this point, Ramirez is yet to strike out 100 times in a full season, showcasing above-average contact abilities. He has a better eye from the right side of the plate, but every one of his 12 home runs in the last two seasons have come from the left side. The Cubs did add Ramirez to their 40-man roster at the tender deadline in 2025, therefore keeping Ramirez away from Rule 5 Draft eligibility. Players who are signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to the 40-man within five years, and Ramirez was on the brink of qualifying before the Cubs made this move in November. Projecting His Call-Up Ramirez is the highest rated third baseman in the Cubs’ pipeline, but with three-time all-star Alex Bregman inking a five-year deal over the offseason, the Venezuela native will need to move off of the hot corner if he wants a realistic chance at playing up. Even if Bregman were to go down, Matt Shaw’s glove was more than capable at third base last year, and Shaw is working on shifting to the outfield to salvage his own big league playing time. Ramirez has an ETA of 2026, but he’ll have to battle with reserves for the first spot behind established names like Bregman and Nico Hoerner. His switch-hitting ability and bat-to-ball skills are admirable, and with Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki both facing contract years, don’t rule out a possible shift to the outfield corners if the Cubs really want Ramirez in their future plans. View the full article

Talk Sox's top prospect rankings have reached their latter half, now focusing on the Boston Red Sox's top 10 prospects 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) Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: No. 7 Justin Gonzales Saying that Justin Gonzales is a physical specimen is an understatement. Entering spring training this season, Gonzales was measured at 6-foot-6 and 277 pounds. That was after being last measured at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. While the previous weight may have been outdated, it’s still fascinating to see the 19-year-old continue to grow, even stating that his goal is “to be like Aaron Judge." Gonzales was part of the team’s 2024 international free agent class and in his first professional season at the Dominican Summer League, he put on a show offensively by hitting .320/.391/.517 with four doubles, five triples, five home runs and 29 RBIs in 47 games. He would come stateside for 2025, when after just one game in the Florida Complex League, he would be promoted to Low-A Salem and play in 81 games. He went on to hit .298/.381/.423 with 23 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 27 RBIs in that stretch before finishing the season with 11 games in Greenville. Offensively, there is no doubt that Gonzales is one of the organization’s best prospects. He has a quick bat and has solid barrel control for his size. His 90th percentile exit velocity was 107 mph and his highest was 113 mph. Thanks to an advanced approach at the plate, he’s able to let a pitch come in to him deep and send it the other way to right field instead of just trying to pull everything. With a good understanding of the strike zone, he doesn’t strike out too much, though he does struggle to recognize secondary pitches. Despite being just 19 years old, he's already impressing in spring training. On March 2, he was called up to play in a Red Sox spring training game and had a single with an exit velocity of 117.3 mph. It would have been the 12th-hardest exit velocity in Major League Baseball in 2025. His power is really impressive as it’s viewed as being easily above average by scouts. With his size and swing, he generates easy pop as the baseball jumps off his bat and he can drive the ball to all parts of the field. Unfortunately, he doesn’t take full advantage of it due to a 57% groundball rate. If Gonzales can improve his bat path and launch angle, he could really tap into his power and become an offensive beast. Defensively, Gonzales has spent time at first base and all three outfield positions. In 2025, he spent the entire season split between the three outfield positions, though due to his size he will likely play either first base or a corner outfield position as he continues to advance through the minor leagues. He showcased good range in the outfield but struggled when it came to his jumps and routes. Despite that, his arm is considered above average and would play well at either corner outfield position. Gonzales’ speed is also below average, though he moves well for someone his size. While he won’t steal many bags, he won’t clog up the basepaths and should be able to go from first to third or second to home on outfield hits. Gonzales will look to continue his impressive start to his professional career in 2026. He’ll be entering his first full season (having only played 93 games in 2025) and it’ll be a good chance to see how he holds up across a full stateside campaign. Should Gonzales continue to develop at the plate, there’s a chance he could be up with Boston by 2028. Unfortunately, with an All-Star ceiling comes a low floor, making him one of the bigger boom-or-bust prospects in the system. Gonzales will open the season with High-A Greenville after appearing in just 11 games there last season. The Red Sox have been aggressive the past few seasons with promoting their top players, and should Gonzales avoid any prolonged struggles, he should be able to make it to Double-A Portland before the end of 2026. View the full article

A season away from testing the free agent market, left-hander Jesús Luzardo is instead putting down roots in Philadelphia. Per numerous reports on Monday, he and the Phillies have agreed to a five-year, $135 million contract extension. By average annual value, Luzardo is now tied for the fifth-highest-paid lefty in Major League Baseball. The deal takes effect in 2027 and includes a 2032 club option. Luzardo spent parts of four seasons with the Miami Marlins (2021-2024), making 74 starts and posting a 4.15 ERA and 3.78 FIP. During his age-27 campaign in Philly, he set career-highs with 183 ⅔ innings pitched and 216 strikeouts while earn down-ballot Cy Young votes for the first time. Although born in Peru, Luzardo spent most of his childhood in South Florida and grew up as a Marlins fan. Two years ago, he spoke openly about wanting to stay with the Fish long term. But the Peter Bendix-led front office never made a formal extension offer to him, as far as Fish On First can tell. Luzardo's situation is somewhat reminiscent of J.T. Realmuto's. The standout catcher was traded from Miami to Philly in 2019 when, like Luzardo, he had two remaining years of club control. Realmuto elected free agency after the 2020 season, but re-signed with the club on a $115.5M deal. He remains with the Phils to this day. Meanwhile, each of the other players involved in that trade—Sixto Sánchez, Jorge Alfaro and Will Stewart—are long gone from the Marlins. In exchange for Luzardo, the Marlins received infielder Starlyn Caba and outfielder Emaarion Boyd. Ranked eighth on our FOF Top 30 list, Caba is an excellent defensive shortstop with an advanced plate approach, but very limited power (five home runs in 186 career professional games). He's unlikely to be contribute at the major league level until 2028. Boyd (unranked) slashed .241/.337/.330 with 51 stolen bases in 101 minor league games last season. Luzardo made four starts against the Fish in 2025. He had a 2.52 ERA, racking up 29 strikeouts in 25 innings. The first Marlins-Phillies series of 2026 will be at loanDepot park from May 1-4. View the full article

In his first World Baseball Classic, San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first homer of the classic, which would be the first of a 10-run afternoon for the Dominican Republic in their win over Israel to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals round, in which seeding for that will be decided on Wednesday against Venezuela. In the top of the second inning, with the bases loaded, Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo worked a walk, allowing Padres teammate Manny Machado to score and give the Dominican Republic a 1-0 lead. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat with a 1-2 count, Tatis took Israel starter Ryan Prager 400 feet deep to left field, making it a 5-0 game. Fernando Tatis Jr. recorded six RBIs, tying Adrian Gonzalez (3/9/09) for the second-most in a single World Baseball Classic game, trailing only Ken Griffey Jr., who drove in seven runs on 3/10/06. Following Oneil Cruz's home run, his second of the tournament, the Dominican Republic has hit nine home runs through three games, scoring a total of 34 runs. Tatis has slashed .500/.692/.875/.1.567 in those three games, with one home run and six RBI. His Padres teammate Manny Machado, who is the captain of the team, is slashing .429/.714/.571/.1.285. "It's one of the best lineups in the world," is what Israel manager Brad Ausmus said following the game. "That lineup presents a lot of challenges, and even when they are resting some of their guys, the guys that aren't resting are pretty darn good, so it's going to be a challenge for every other team." The Dominican Republic will get an off-day on Tuesday before taking the field for the most hyped up game of the World Baseball Classic, which will be the clash between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic on Wednesday at 8:00 pm. Sandy Alcantara will take the mound for the DR, but no starter has been announced for Venezuela. Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric. View the full article

Sandy Alcantara will take the mound on Wednesday for the Dominican Republic against Venezuela. Although both the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have already clinched spots in the quarterfinal round of the World Baseball Classic, Wednesday’s matchup will determine the winner of Pool D and who finishes in second place. The runner-up will face Shohei Ohtani and Team Japan on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. ET. On Monday, Alcantara met with national media ahead of his start. It will mark his second career World Baseball Classic start—both coming against Venezuela. In 2023, the matchup served as the tournament’s opening game, but this time the stakes are higher with seeding implications. In that 2023 outing, Alcantara pitched 3 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs on five hits—including one home run—while issuing three walks and striking out two. “I don’t think it’s a revenge game because this is a short tournament,” Alcantara said. “This tournament is about winning or losing. We gave everything we had and things didn’t go the way we wanted, but on Wednesday we’ll have the opportunity to give it our all. I just need to go out there and battle from the first pitch on and upwards." Last season marked the 30-year-old’s first year back after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He posted a 5.36 ERA, 4.28 FIP, and 7.32 K/9 across 174 ⅔ innings pitched. However, his second half was much more Sandy-like, as he recorded a 3.33 ERA over his final 13 starts. The Dominican Republic will hope Alcantara can replicate that solid second half on Wednesday. Through two spring training starts this year, Alcantara has allowed three runs across four innings, which all came in his first outing. In his most recent tune-up before joining the Dominican squad, he tossed three perfect innings while striking out four. This will be the biggest pool game of the World Baseball Classic, and it's already sold out in Miami. In 2023, the Dominican Republic fell to Venezuela by a final score of 5-1. Many fans have called this a rivalry and plenty of storylines are being created, but Alcantara does not see it that way. “The fans can go fight each other as much as they'd like, and there will always be controversies about how players get along with each other and whether there is good sportsmanship,” Alcantara said. “On our end, we’re good. All this talk about a revenge game—I think there’s a lot of talk on social media, with Venezuelan fans saying things to Dominican fans and vice versa. Let them say what they want. We are here to compete and represent our country, which is what we want to do the most.” As previously noted, this will mark the second time Alcantara pitches not only in the World Baseball Classic, but against Venezuela in this environment that held 35,890 fans in 2023. Alcantara referred to the saying, "the past is the past" and that they are not interested in that game when it comes to his 2023 outing against Venezuela. “This year we are focused on one goal, which is to win,” Alcantara said. “We have good vibes, and every guy on this team is helping in a positive way. (Juan) Soto, (Manny) Machado, (Vladimir) Guerrero Jr., and (Junior) Caminero are all extremely excited and emotional. When it comes to the pitching, we’re doing a great job. The focus for us this year is to do better than the last Classic, and I think everything will be possible if we put God ahead of everything.” Along with Alcantara, his Marlins teammate Agustín Ramírez is also on the Dominican Republic roster, but it will be New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells who will be catching Alcantara on Wednesday. Ramirez's lone start of the World Baseball Classic may very well have been Monday's game against Israel where he went 1-for-4 with an RBI. "Wells will play against Venezuela," Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols told reporters on Monday. "They all knew that was going to be the case and that is how it was communicated. The plan for Ramírez was to have him start this game and he knew he was going to start this game. Wells could've gone 4-4 with four home runs, and he still would've had the day off today." Who Alcantara will go toe-to-toe with is still uncertain, but Eduardo Rodriguez has still yet to pitch, so he can be a potential option for manager Omar Lopez's club. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 pm and the game can be streamed on FS1. View the full article

The biggest addition to the Minnesota Twins lineup this offseason came when they signed switch-hitting first baseman Josh Bell. Minnesota added the veteran to provide stability in the middle of the order, and if his recent track record holds, he could be exactly what the lineup needs. Over the last four seasons, Bell has quietly delivered steady offensive contributions. He's averaged a 109 OPS+ during that span, while hitting roughly 20 home runs and 24 doubles per year. That level of production offers valuable support for a team looking to create more run-scoring opportunities—and capitalize better when they arise. Bell has never excelled on defense. His glove grades out below average (-4 OAA in 2025), but the Twins have built flexibility around him. Players like Kody Clemens and Victor Caratini can cover first base if needed, giving manager Derek Shelton different lineup options. In recent seasons, Minnesota has taken a similar approach, repeatedly bringing in veteran first basemen on short-term deals. The results have varied. Ty France held down the position in 2025, while Carlos Santana did so in 2024 and Donovan Solano in 2023. France and Santana both delivered strong defensive seasons that earned American League Gold Glove honors, but the offensive production from the position has fluctuated. Bell is a different style and caliber of player, at least after one adjusts for the stage of each player's career at which they arrived in Minnesota. His value is tied more closely to what he can do with the bat. Early in camp, Bell has focused on settling into a new clubhouse and getting back into the rhythm of spring training. “Definitely a good first couple of weeks, shaking hands, meeting different people,” Bell said. “I think spring training, for the most part, is the same, no matter what camp you go to. It's like shaking the cobwebs off. Try to establish your routine. Obviously, stay healthy out there as more and more innings get put onto your plate. But I'm definitely happy to be here and excited for the opportunity ahead.” With a roster that blends veterans and younger players, Bell also understands the leadership role that often comes with experience. For him, that responsibility starts with communication. “I think it all starts with conversation, getting to know different people,” Bell said. “People come to me with different questions. And for me, it's just about being honest about my experience. I've had a few more reps than other people in this clubhouse. But we all have the same love for the game. We're all trying to get to the pinnacle: postseason. See what we can do here collectively to do that.” He believes leaders show themselves in small moments, rather than grand speeches. “So that's the goal, lead by example, lead by a conversation here or there," he said. "That's what Shelty wants out of me, so I'm happy to do that.” Bell’s offensive approach evolved throughout last season. After making adjustments entering the year, he initially struggled to produce the type of contact he expected. Through June 12, he was hitting .178 with a .605 OPS, but posted an .839 OPS from then on. “Yeah, I thought I was in a great position leaving camp (in 2024),” Bell said. “I had a homer that first series, you know how that goes, I felt like I was on top of the world. Lot more fly outs than I was used to, a lot more soft contact than I was used to. Ball flight was there, but it wasn't crushed the way I normally do when I get balls in the air.” As the season progressed, Bell simplified things at the plate and focused on driving the ball with authority again. “So, I kind of honed things down and got back to squaring up the baseball and reestablished myself in the box and [was] able to drive the ball to all fields,” Bell said. “Then, as the season went on, I got a couple hot streaks to increase the power numbers and leave the yard a few times. So definitely a learning experience, not the start that I wanted, but hoping for a better start this year.” That late-season adjustment has shaped his preparation heading into 2026. Rather than reinventing anything, Bell is sticking with the routine that helped him finish strong. “Yeah, you got the same routine as I had the last four months, pretty much the same thing in the cage,” Bell said. “So you feel good, feel good for both sides about getting the reps now and addressing it, and getting out there and competing.” For Bell, the key to unlocking power is surprisingly simple. Focus on hitting the ball hard and let the strength take care of the rest. “I think it was just about not missing balls in my zone,” Bell said. “When I focus on driving balls to all fields, the at-bat tends to end when it needs to. So I'm not up there fouling balls off and grinding. Balls coming in my zone, at-bats over. If I screw it up, it's 100 plus, and if it's in the air, better things happen.” That mindset allows the power to show up naturally. “I think it was more just that, not trying to do too much pre-pitch, understanding if it comes into my zone, I have the strength to get it out of the ballpark, not trying to force that issue.” Ultimately, Bell’s role in the lineup will be determined by performance. He views the situation in straightforward terms. “I feel like if I'm playing well, I'll be in the lineup,” Bell said. “That's the way I see it.” For the Twins, that may be exactly what they're hoping for. While Minnesota has cycled through several veteran first basemen over the last few seasons, Bell brings a different offensive profile. If his approach continues to yield consistent power and run production, the Twins may finally get the middle-of-the-order impact at first base they've been seeking. What are realistic expectations for Bell in 2026? Can he replicate his numbers from the second half of last season? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Hendry Mendez was a hot hitter to end the 2025 season. He doesn't have a strong glove in the outfield, so can he move to first base full-time and keep up his strong hitting skills as he reaches Triple-A for the first time in 2026? View the full article

Juan Valera is a fast-rising right-handed pitcher in the Boston Red Sox farm system, currently ranked as the organization's #5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Valera has the makings of a successful starting pitcher; however, could he be a back-of-the-bullpen threat? View the full article

Fans always hope that key prospects will play their way onto the major-league roster, even if in reality they might not be ready for that move. That is one way to summarize the moves the Milwaukee Brewers executed Monday. The Crew reassigned top prospect Jesus Made, an 18-year-old shortstop who is a consensus top-four prospect in all of baseball, to minor-league camp and optioned catcher Jeferson Quero, their catcher of the future, to Triple-A Nashville. Left-hander Sammy Peralta was also optioned to Nashville, while corner infielder Luke Adams, outfielder-infielder Greg Jones, infielder Eddys Leonard, and catchers Darrien Miller, Ramon Rodriguez, and Matt Wood were also reassigned to minor-league camp. All of the players reassigned were non-roster invitees to major-league camp. Made, who has rocketed through the Brewers' system since being part of the international signing class in January 2024, has posted a .320/.370/.400 slash line (8-for-25) this spring in 10 Cactus League games. After making his pro debut in 2024 in the Dominican Summer League with a .331/.458/.554 slash line with six homers, 28 RBIs, and 28 steals in 51 games. He then began 2025 at Low A Carolina and moved up to High A Wisconsin before finishing with five games at Double-A Biloxi, putting together a .285/.379/.413 with six homers, 61 RBIs, and 47 steals in 115 games. That should line him up to start 2026 at Biloxi. Quero, meanwhile, has battled injuries the last two seasons, which have sapped his status in prospect rankings. Once a top-100 prospect, the 23-year-old sustained a right labrum injury in the first game of 2024 and missed the rest of the season. In 2025, he had a hamstring and a mild left shoulder sprain. Those two injuries limited him to 69 games, but he still produced a .285/.379/.413 slash line with 11 homers and 57 RBIs. Many analysts cited that his arm strength hadn't totally recovered from his 2024 labrum injury, but the rest of his defensive skills are still elite. This is Quero's last option year, unless there is an appeal due to him missing virtually all of 2024 to get him a fourth option. View the full article

James Outman arrived in Minnesota under less-than-ideal circumstances. The Twins acquired Outman at last season’s trade deadline during the organization’s sweeping sell-off, sending reliever Brock Stewart to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1-for-1 deal. Among the moves the Twins made that week, that trade may have drawn the loudest criticism from the fanbase. Stewart had been one of the most reliable arms in the Twins bullpen and, perhaps more importantly, he still had multiple seasons of team control remaining. Given the demand for high-leverage relief pitching at the deadline, many assumed Stewart would command a more substantial return. Instead, the Twins flipped him for Outman, another left-handed hitting outfielder who had struggled to replicate the success of his standout rookie campaign. After bursting onto the scene in 2023 with the Dodgers, Outman has posted a sub-.700 OPS over the last two and a half seasons. To many observers, it felt like the Twins had simply added another corner outfielder to a roster that already had several. Outman’s initial performance in Minnesota did little to quiet those concerns. Over the final stretch of the 2025 season, Outman got 104 plate appearances for the Twins and struggled mightily. He posted a .558 OPS, while striking out 45 times and drawing just eight walks. For a player already fighting the perception that his rookie season might have been a mirage, the numbers didn’t help. Because of that performance and his roster status, Outman entered spring training in a precarious position. He's out of minor-league options, meaning the Twins cannot send him to Triple-A without first exposing him to waivers. In practical terms, that left the organization with a simple choice: either he makes the Opening Day roster, or he's designated for assignment near the end of this month. Coming into camp, it seemed fairly likely the Twins would take the attendant risks and end up cutting him. Given Outman’s struggles over the past three seasons, it was reasonable to believe he might clear waivers and allow the Twins to stash him in Triple-A as depth. If he didn't, it looked likely to be a palatable loss. Spring training, however, has a way of complicating things. In a very small sample, Outman has looked like a different player. Across just 25 plate appearances this spring, he has posted a 1.019 OPS while launching two home runs. He's also showcased his speed on the bases, swiping five bags in six attempts. Twenty-five plate appearances alone are not going to force the Twins to completely rethink their roster construction. But Outman’s strong start introduces a few new variables that could make the decision more complicated. The biggest, perhaps, is his waiver outlook. Earlier this spring, the Twins might have felt confident that Outman would pass through waivers unclaimed. After three disappointing seasons, the odds of another club using a roster spot on him didn’t appear particularly high. But if he continues to perform well throughout camp, that calculation changes. Outman is still only 28 years old. He’s fast; he plays a capable center field; and his rookie season remains recent enough to intrigue another front office. That year included a 114 OPS+ and meaningful postseason contributions for the Dodgers. Even after a few down seasons, it’s hard to imagine every team passing on that profile if he’s showing signs of life. The Twins also have alternatives for that left-handed outfield spot, but those alternatives come with roster flexibility that Outman does not. Alan Roden entered camp as the presumed third outfielder behind Byron Buxton and Matt Wallner, with Trevor Larnach expected to spend most of his time at designated hitter. Unlike Outman, Roden still has minor-league options remaining. That gives the Twins the ability to send him to Triple-A without risking losing him. If the Twins decide they want to keep Outman in the organization, they could choose to open the season with him on the roster while using Roden’s option. There are also defensive considerations. Outman has extensive experience in center field and grades as a strong defender there. That should translate to an even more valuable glove in a corner outfield role. Perhaps just as importantly, he provides the type of true center field depth the Twins have often looked for behind Buxton. Roden has seen time in center this spring, but Outman is a proven option there. None of this guarantees Outman a roster spot. Spring numbers can evaporate as quickly as they appear, and the Twins still have several weeks left to evaluate their roster. But the conversation has clearly shifted. What once looked like a straightforward DFA decision has turned into a legitimate roster question. If Outman continues to swing the bat well and showcase his athleticism, the Twins may decide the safer move is keeping him on the Opening Day roster, rather than risking losing him on waivers. Not bad for a player who entered camp looking like one of the most obvious roster casualties of the spring. What do you think? Has James Outman done enough to earn a spot on the Twins’ Opening Day roster, or should Minnesota still take the chance and try to sneak him through waivers? View the full article