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Preseason rankings abound, but MLB.com recently delivered a bleak forecast for the Minnesota Twins. MLB.com’s Mike Petriello recently grouped every Major League club into tiers reflecting their potential to win during the 2026 season. Instead of ranking teams from 1 to 30, he grouped organizations into roughly 8 or 9 groups based on expectations, roster strength, and overall outlook. At the very top sits a tier of its own occupied by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The next level includes a collection of clear contenders like the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees. Minnesota, however, landed on the opposite end of the spectrum. Petriello placed the Twins in the lowest league tier, with only the Angels sharing that spot. It's a grouping that raises a pressing question: What is the path forward? To be clear, Petriello did not suggest these teams will necessarily finish with the worst records in baseball. In fact, he acknowledged that both the Twins and Angels still have talent on their rosters, including superstar players like Byron Buxton and Mike Trout. The concern is less about pure ability and more about the direction of the organizations themselves. According to Petriello, the issue primarily concerns the vibe around the clubs. For Minnesota, the last several months have shaped those vibes. Uncertainty after last year’s trade deadline and injuries to key pitchers like Pablo Lopez and David Festa have created a sense that the franchise is straddling competing and retooling. Outsiders often struggle to interpret that ambiguity positively. The data-driven projections do little to calm those concerns either. FanGraphs currently projects the Twins for the 23rd most wins (78 wins) in baseball during the 2026 season. The Angels sit even lower at 27th in those projections (73 wins). Only a handful of teams project worse, including the Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, and Colorado Rockies, who FanGraphs expects to finish with fewer than 70 wins. Ironically, Petriello placed several of those clubs in a higher tier than Minnesota. The Cardinals, Rockies, Nationals, and White Sox all landed in the eighth tier rather than the ninth. His reasoning was that those organizations appear to have a clearer long-term plan in place, even if the short-term results may still be rough. That distinction highlights the real criticism facing the Twins right now. It is not just about wins and losses. It is about perception. Minnesota still features a roster capable of surprising people if things break the right way. Young players could step forward, the pitching staff could stabilize, and a few early-season wins could quickly change the narrative around a team. But heading into the season, the national view of the franchise remains uncertain. The Twins may not accept the assessment, but it clearly outlines the challenge they face as they enter 2026. If the organization wants to shift the conversation about its future, it must do so on the field once the games start. View the full article

In the early weeks of spring training, the most promising on-field development for the Minnesota Twins has been the emergence of Mick Abel. In his first two appearances, Abel has dominated. He pitched three shutout innings with five strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers last Monday, then followed with three more scoreless frames and six strikeouts versus the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Over six innings, he has yielded only three hits, issued no walks, and tallied 11 strikeouts. He has thrown 89 pitches and induced 22 swinging strikes. The second outing came against Atlanta’s split-squad B team, with Jorge Mateo the only 40-man roster player in the lineup. The group included several fringe big-leaguers and a couple of familiar names, in DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Jair Camargo. Context always matters in March, but Abel did exactly what a young starter with upside should do in that situation. He overwhelmed the hitters in front of him. Over 43 pitches on Sunday, he induced 10 whiffs. His fastball reached 99 miles per hour and accounted for three strikeouts. His slider-sweeper combination produced three more. The only blemish was a harmless two-out single in the first inning. Otherwise, it was total control. That word feels intentional, because Abel is pitching with a very clear plan. “I think it's more of the goals that we've set from going camp which ... landing the spin early, and the offspeed stuff early, to get them to expand more,” Abel said, when asked what he is trying to accomplish this spring. Instead of simply overpowering hitters, he's sequencing with purpose. He lands offspeed pitches early. Hitters must respect the breaking ball. As a result, the elevated fastball plays up even more. It's a simple concept, but one that requires conviction. Abel also emphasized the importance of being precise with his heater. “We were talking before the game and our meeting, and I told him I wanted to be more specific with the heater locations," Abel said of his pregame confab with catcher Victor Caratini. "And we were, so I was happy about that.” That specificity has shown up in the results. He's avoided the middle of the zone and attacked the edges with intent. When a pitcher throws 99 with life and can consistently spot it, the margin for error increases; opposing hitters are forced to think defensively. Perhaps the most encouraging part of his spring has nothing to do with radar gun readings or strikeout totals. Instead, it’s his mindset. “Yeah, for sure. I mean two offseasons in a row where I'm not really thinking too hard about what I'm doing mechanically. It's all up top now," Abel said. "So a lot of it boils down to competitive nature now, and you know, being intentional with every single pitch.” That freedom has translated into confidence. At 24 years old, Abel does not have much left to prove in the minors. He entered camp as a legitimate candidate for the Opening Day rotation, and injuries to Pablo López and David Festa have only increased that possibility. With Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson likely in, two rotation spots remain for Abel, Taj Bradley, and Zebby Matthews. Abel is making a tough competition look easy. Asked how he approaches the numbers game, his answer matched the calm confidence seen on the mound. “I feel like, as long as I'm coming in here and just being myself, that's all I'm really trying to do every day. There's nothing more I can do.” That mindset may be his biggest development. Abel isn’t chasing results or outshining teammates. He's focused on executing his plan, trusting his stuff, and pitching with intent. Spring stats need context. Six scoreless innings in March don't guarantee success in April. But when a young starter combines velocity, command, swing-and-miss stuff, and a strong mindset, it’s worth attention. If Abel continues pitching this way, the decision-makers in Minnesota will not have a difficult choice to make. And if he carries this version of himself into the regular season, there is a world where he becomes one of the most important arms in the Twins' rotation sooner, rather than later. Do you think Abel will make the Opening Day roster? What are your expectations for his season? Share your thoughts and join the discussion. View the full article

Jack and Spencer react to Kyle Harrison and Brandon Sproat's new pitches and gauge the levels of concern surrounding Quinn Priester and Jared Koenig. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

Alex and Maddie dive into some surprising names (Mickey Gasper) that have been tearing it up in Grapefruit League action, and some not so surprising like Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela. They move on to their WBC predictions and discuss whether strong showings from Duran and Masataka Yoshida make either more tradable as the season gets underway. They both make their fifth starter predictions and give Payton Tolle and Connelly Early their flowers for strong starts to camp, before making strong cases for why the Red Sox shouldn't trade for Issac Paredes now that Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer are settling into positions. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox View the full article

The San Diego Padres' fifth-round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft out of Firth, Nebraska, Kale Fountain made his professional baseball debut 2025. He had a decent start to his season in the Arizona Complex League, hitting .262/.386/.364 with one home run, 18 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. However, once he was moved up to the next level in Low-A, Fountain had his weaknesses exposed, hitting only .195 with 17 walks and 34 strikeouts over 148 plate appearances with the Lake Elsinore Storm. Fountain has great plate discipline, as he demonstrated in Rookie Ball, and was scouted with 65-grade power while still in high school, but his power has yet to show itself in the minors. That will need to be the next step in his development, especially if he expects to play one of the corner infield positions long-term. As Fountain has a full year in the Friars' system under his belt, he will need to show improvements in his game. The 2025 campaign saw more weakness exposed than upside. He still grades out with a 65 in raw power and 55 in in-game power, but everything else in his game sits at 40 or below in fielding, running, and his overall hit tool. In turn, Fountain is a boom-or-bust prospect in the classic sense. He's got a big frame (6'4", 225 pounds) and was impressive enough in high school to convince the Padres to go way over-slot to sign him (he was originally committed to LSU). Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow in October 2024 certainly didn't help matters either — with a fully healthy offseason under his belt, there's reason to believe he can turn things around. A corner-infield prospect who played entirely at first base in 2025, there have been ravings about his excellent arm as well. If he can remain nimble as he further fills out his hulking frame, a move to right field could be in the cards (and would take a little pressure off of his bat to develop into a perennial 30-homer threat). And even with middling grades regarding his running ability, he stole more than 20 bases last year and holds Nebraska's state record for career stolen bases (84) at the high school level. Fountain only turned 20 last August, so there’s still plenty of growth and development that can change the course of his future. But the performance in his debut season is cause for some concern about where his floor is at. If he maintains at his current pace, then he may never make much noise in the big leagues, but if he can develop his power into more results and fewer strikeouts, then he will reach his ceiling and ascend up this list in future seasons. View the full article

The Royals’ 4-0 victory over Team Cuba on Tuesday gave fans a taste of things to come while the club’s World Baseball Classic participants — Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino, among others — are gone from spring camp. Until they return, KC’s lineups will feature more players on the Opening Day roster bubble than usual. This temporary shortage of star personnel will disappoint many Cactus League fans, but there’s a silver lining to the cloud — manager Matt Quatraro and his staff get longer looks at players they might be considering for the few available Opening Day roster spots. What better time, then, to wonder what the 26-man roster could look like when the season opens in Atlanta? Royals Keep examined that question before spring training began; now, let’s take a fresh look. Royals Pitchers Starting Rotation Cole Ragans Seth Lugo Michael Wacha Kris Bubic Noah Cameron No surprises here. Unless the dreaded injury bug hits or the Royals receive an irresistible 11th-hour trade offer for Bubic, the five-man rotation is set. Yes, Cameron stumbled in his second spring outing — he gave up three runs, six hits, and hit a batter in 2 2/3 innings against the Angels — but don’t expect that to continue. Relievers Carlos Estévez Lucas Erceg Matt Strahm Daniel Lynch IV John Schreiber Alex Lange Bailey Falter Nick Mears Consider these hurlers bullpen locks. Estévez is the presumptive closer (his recent velocity drop bears watching, though), Erceg and Strahm will set him up, Lynch is a valuable lefty who pitched well last season, and Schreiber’s two years in Kansas City have been solid. Free agent signee and former Detroit closer Lange’s lack of any minor league options makes him a bullpen shoo-in. He’s struck out four in 2 2/3 innings this spring and could sneak into a set-up role if he returns to his 26-save form of 2023. Falter, last year’s trade deadline pickup, who opponents battered for 12 runs in 15 innings before an August bicep injury ended his season, is also out of options and will make the club because it must see what he offers post-injury. Five-year big-league veteran Mears came to KC via the December trade with Milwaukee, which also made Isaac Collins a Royal and sent Angel Zerpa to the Brewers. Like Collins (more on him in a moment), Mears will be in Atlanta on Opening Day. Royals Position Players Catchers Salvador Perez Carter Jensen Like its starting rotation, Kansas City’s catching corps is set. The only question, and it’s a good one, is how much of Perez’s time behind the plate will become Jensen’s. Perez will need more “rest” time at first base and DH in his 15th big league season, and Jensen’s bat is too good to keep on the bench with only occasional reps at DH. First Base Vinnie Pasquantino Who else, and rightfully so? Although he’s only 3-for-15 and hasn’t homered yet this spring, Pasquantino’s bat is big, and he’s KC’s best first baseman since Eric Hosmer left after the 2017 season. Second Base Jonathan India Michael Massey Will someone please convince everyone they deserve to start at second? No one did last season — India flopped at the plate and his glove left much to be desired, and injuries held Massey back, although he slashed .375/.412/.482 with a .896 OPS after returning for good in August. For now, the nod goes to India. Somewhat surprisingly, considering offseason speculation that they wouldn’t bring him back, the Royals handed India an $8 million 2026 contract that suggests the job is his to lose. And although he’s struggling with one single in eight at-bats this spring, and the fact that Massey has spent more spring game time in the outfield (including Tuesday’s game, which doesn’t count in the stats) than he has at the keystone, hints, perhaps, that he may start the season in a Whit Merrifield-type utility role. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. What else is there to say? Third Base Maikel Garcia Also enough said. That’s what a Gold Glove, .286 average, .351 OBP, 121 wRC+, and a new five-year, $57.5 million contract will do. Outfielders Kyle Isbel Jac Caglianone Isaac Collins Starling Marte Lane Thomas No matter what happens in spring games, at least four things are certain about the outfield. Isbel will start in center, Caglianone will get a shot at right field redemption after his horrendous 2025 debut (so far, so good — he’s slashing .400/.550/.733 this spring), newcomer Isaac Collins is the left fielder, and Starling Marte is here to play. Isbel’s defense is too good to pass up, and Caglianone’s potential is too great to ignore. The club acquired Collins to boost its everyday outfield offense, not its bench depth, and newcomer Marte’s .270/.335/.410 line and nine homers in 98 games with the 2025 Mets prove he has something left to offer. Marte and Thomas won’t play every day, but expect Quatraro to get them in the lineup often. Utility Tyler Tolbert No, not Nick Loftin, although with a minor league option left, he'll remain in the organization. Instead, it's Tolbert who should land the final roster spot — as a rookie last season, he played second, short, third, and every outfield position, and in 64 games stole 21 bases (he was caught only twice) and hit .280. That Loftin hit only .208 with a 73 wRC+ in 67 games cinches the deal for Tolbert. View the full article

Simeon Woods Richardson had a rough first inning in his third Grapefruit League appearance. With no minor league options remaining, he's guaranteed to make the Minnesota Twins roster. Is he a lock to make the rotation, though? View the full article

It hasn’t been the best of starts to spring baseball for the Twins, having gone eight straight games without logging a win. The good news is that the winless streak is over. After a 2-2 tie with the Atlanta Braves and a 5-3 loss to the Rays, the Twins got back in the win column Wednesday with a 6-3 victory over Team Puerto Rico of the World Baseball Classic. The record isn’t the story in early March, but individual trends are starting to take shape. With that in mind, here’s the latest temperature check: Who’s Hot? 🔥 Mick Abel Abel was outstanding in his first start of the spring, and that continued in his second outing on Sunday against Atlanta. He spun three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six and generating 10 whiffs on 43 pitches. His fastball, which touched 98.9 mph after topping out at 97.1 in his debut, showed both velocity and shape, and his breaking ball had sharp depth that hitters couldn’t square up. Through six spring innings, Abel has looked flat‑out dominant, and he’s making it clear why he deserves a spot in the Twins rotation to start the year. Andrew Morris After a rough first outing, Morris answered on Tuesday out of the bullpen, tossing three no‑hit innings with three strikeouts and two walks while throwing 34 of 58 pitches for strikes and generating six swinging strikes. His changeup and curveball command still wavered at times, but his fastball and cutter were better located, and more importantly, his velocity returned to normal after sitting a couple of ticks down in his first spring start. Considering how hard he was hit previously, this was exactly the type of bounce‑back you want to see. Alan Roden The plan was not to include Alan Roden in every single spring check-in article, yet here we are. After a 3-for-3 day on Wednesday that included a triple, he’s now 10-for-17 this spring with a pair of extra-base hits, a stolen base, and a pair of strikeouts and walks. He’s flashing the kind of consistent contact and extra‑base pop that’s going to make it hard to keep him off the Opening Day roster. Who’s Not? 🧊 Simeon Woods Richardson It’s been a tough couple of turns for SWR. On Tuesday against Tampa Bay, he was charged with all five runs, allowing seven hits and a walk over three innings. That followed another shaky outing last week, bringing his recent totals to 13 hits and seven earned runs over his last five frames. The fastball has been the problem; he’s tried climbing the ladder early in counts, but hitters have consistently done damage against it. He adjusted later in Tuesday’s outing and leaned more on his secondaries with better results, but the early damage keeps putting him behind. With the rotation picture unsettled, these are innings he can’t afford to lose. Aaron Sabato It’s a tiny sample, but it hasn’t been an encouraging start for Sabato. He’s 1‑for‑7 with four strikeouts, and the contact quality hasn’t suggested bad luck. His average exit velocity on balls in play is down at 78 mph, so this isn’t a case of lasers finding gloves. Coming off his best minor‑league season, there was some quiet optimism that the first baseman could carry momentum into camp. So far, that hasn’t materialized. Plenty of time remains, but the early swings haven’t inspired much confidence. Connor Prielipp I don’t love putting him here, but the command just hasn’t been there. Across 3 ⅔ innings, Prielipp has walked five and surrendered a home run, and only 44 of his 81 pitches have gone for strikes. When he’s fallen behind, hitters have done damage; opponents currently own a 55 % hard‑hit rate against him this spring. The stuff still flashes, but the strike‑throwing needs to sharpen up quickly. It’s also worth noting that both of his appearances have followed Mick Abel, and the contrast between the two has been noticeable. For Prielipp, it’s less about stuff and more about execution right now. It’s still early, and none of this locks anyone into or out of a role. Spring is about adjustments, building up innings, and finding rhythm. But as the games start stacking up, the separation between “ready now” and “still refining” becomes a little more noticeable. View the full article

Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Jorge Polanco trade, Gabriel Gonzalez hasn’t generated quite the same level of buzz as some of the other young outfielders in the organization. But while most of the attention has centered on Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gonzalez quietly put together a season that not only stacks up with both of theirs, but in some ways even surpasses their performance. His combination of contact ability, plate discipline, and athleticism makes him one of the most intriguing bats in the Twins’ upper minors heading into 2026. Gabriel Gonzalez Age: 21 (DOB: 01/04/2004) Bats/Throws: R/R 2025 Stats (High-A, Double-A, Triple-A): 549 PA, .329/.395/.513, 38 2B, 3 3B, 15 HR, 8 SB ETA: 2026 2025 Ranking: #20 National Top 100 Rankings BP: NR | MLB: NR | ATH: NR | BA: NR | ESPN: NR Gonzalez climbed from High-A to Triple-A as a 21-year-old, and never slowed down. He began the season at High-A, quickly establishing himself as one of the most consistent hitters in the system. His performance earned a promotion to Double-A, where he continued to hit at a high level, slashing .344/.429/.509 and proving he could handle more advanced pitching without letting his approach break down. By the time he reached Triple-A St. Paul, Gonzalez showed he could maintain his performance against older, more experienced arms, posting a .316 average across 148 plate appearances. It wasn’t a one-month hot streak; he was a consistently productive hitter from April through September. What to Like Gonzalez’s offensive profile is built on elite bat-to-ball skills, which carried him to standout results across three levels in 2025. He slashed .329/.395/.513, with 15 home runs and 56 extra-base hits in 123 games, showcasing a blend of contact ability and gap power. His 148 wRC+ in the minors underscores just how impactful he was offensively last season. He consistently controlled the strike zone and attacked pitches in a way that created constant offensive pressure. Gonzalez struck out at just a 14.6% clip, while drawing enough walks to fuel his near-.400 on-base percentage. That combination of plate discipline and contact skills gives him a high floor as a hitter and makes him difficult to defend against. What separates Gonzalez from many other prospects is how he handles adjustments. His smooth progression from High-A to Double-A to Triple-A shows a hitter who can adapt quickly to better competition, without letting results dictate approach. Even at Triple-A, where pitchers have better command and more advanced secondary stuff, Gonzalez continued to make consistent contact, barrel balls when appropriate, and put himself in a position to reach base. Beyond his bat, Gonzalez adds value on the bases. While he isn’t known for his speed, he swiped eight bases in 2025 and has successfully stolen a base on 75% of his career attempts. He can put additional pressure on defenses with his baserunning and supplements his offensive skill set by creating extra opportunities to score. Defensively, Gonzalez has the athleticism and arm strength to stick in a corner outfield spot long-term. While there’s still room for refinement in routes and consistency, his range and arm give him the tools to be an above-average defender. With his right-handed bat, he provides flexibility to the Twins’ outfield, especially in a system loaded with left-handed-hitting outfield prospects like Jenkins and Rodriguez. What to Work On There are reasons Gonzalez hasn’t cracked national Top 100 lists. He isn’t built like a traditional power-hitting corner outfielder, at 5-foot-11, and his batted-ball profile reflects that. His fly ball rate sits around 31%, naturally limiting his home run ceiling. He’s likely never going to be a 30-homer threat. Triple-A data illustrates this concern. In a small sample of 109 balls in play, Gonzalez posted an average exit velocity of 87.6 MPH and a 33.9% hard-hit rate. Both figures would rank poorly when compared to major-league hitters. While he flashes raw power at times, it isn’t consistent enough yet. The next step offensively is generating more frequent hard contact, and perhaps lifting the ball slightly more to unlock additional extra-base damage. Even a modest uptick in average exit velocity would make evaluators view his overall profile more favorably. What to Look For in 2026 All signs point to Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Gonzalez beginning 2026 together at Triple-A St. Paul, creating one of the most intriguing outfield storylines in the system. Jenkins and Rodriguez may carry higher upside, but Gonzalez’s 2025 production positions him as the most polished hitter of the trio. While expecting another .329 average might be ambitious, hovering around .300 is very realistic given his track record and bat-to-ball skills. If he pairs that production with even a modest increase in hard contact, it will be difficult for the Twins to keep him in Triple-A for long. He's hitting a whopping .500 (albeit in just 10 at-bats) this spring, and his average exit velocity on nine balls in play is 95.5 MPH. When call-ups inevitably begin, don’t be surprised if Gabriel Gonzalez forces the issue. View the full article

We continue our look at the Chicago Cubs' top 20 prospects today, with our ninth-ranked prospect, outfielder Josiah Hartshorn. For a quick refresher, make sure you check out our other articles in the series: Prospects #20-16 Prospects #15-11 Prospect #10 - James Triantos #9 - Josiah Hartshorn (Orange Lutheran High School) Josiah Hartshorn was the Cubs' sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. The team gave him a pretty massive $2-million bonus, buying him out of a commitment to Texas A&M. Hartshorn had an interesting senior year, as the switch-hitter faced both right and left elbow issues that forced him, in turns, to hit only right- or left-handed. Despite those setbacks, he was ranked within the top 100 draft prospects by MLB.com, and none of the injuries were bad enough to scare the Cubs away from the selection. What to like: Hartshorn displays both a good hit and power tool. For someone his age, it's usually one or the other, but with the Cubs' sixth-rounder, it's both. Hitting .364 over his 29 games, the outfielder added five home runs while walking six more times than he struck out. Clearly he made a lot of contact, and the approach is somewhat advanced for his age. While the five home runs may not wow you on their own, it's a good reminder that he dealt with a handful of injuries to his back and his elbow over his time, and spent a decent amount of it banged-up. Where the power was truly on display was during the 2024 High School All-Star Home Run Derby, when he finished tied for the win with eventual 19th-round selection Jacob Parker. Don't let his draft round fool you, though, Parker didn't sign a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and decided to go to Mississippi State instead. Parker was ranked the ninth-best incoming freshman in baseball, so his draft round was due to signability issues, not talent. That night in 2024, Hartshorn went toe-to-toe with him, forcing Parker to hit a buzzer-beater to share the title. The Home Run Derby isn't our best data point, but it does highlight the pure power potential. He absolutely thumped some of those pitches, and if this can translate from "derby power" to "game power," the organization could have something very fun on their hands. Defensively, there's enough athleticism and arm strength to believe he could become an average or slightly above-average right fielder. He may see some time in center field initially because he moves pretty well for his size, but he's probably destined for the corners. His defense will never be the calling card, but an average right fielder with the type of light-tower power he's shown is a player you can really get excited about. What to work on: Because he's already 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, there might not be a lot of projection in Hartshorn moving forward. While it's not impossible he could grow an inch or two more, as of now, he's kind of maxed out his body. That's not inherently a bad thing—with many kids this age, you're hoping they grow into that body—but it also means that he must maintain it. If he doesn't work hard, what could be a slightly plus defensive right fielder can turn into a first baseman or a DH very quickly. It also means there's less to dream on, but with his current pop, that's easily forgiven. Another thing; the bumps and bruises he's suffered shouldn't be entirely ignored. With back and elbow issues on the injury ledger already, it's important that the team do everything to ensure that those do not become chronic, nagging and recurring. It could mean a little extra load management, or a different workout regimen, or teaching Hartshorn simply that it's okay to take a game off through an ailment. And while it's less "something to work on" and more "just the truth of the matter," Hartshorn is a prep player; he's very far away. There's a lot of potential here, but the only at-bats he's taken in pro games have come this spring, and it's only been a few at the back end of Cactus League contests. Patience is key. We may find that he struggles against a certain type of pitch more than others, or that mechanically, he needs to change some things (such as his big leg kick he flashes from time to time). What's next: While many prep hitters need time in the Complex to work on adding bulk and size, Hartshorn is mostly filled out and should probably see Myrtle Beach pretty early in the year. Baseball America did note that his left-handed swing is a bit more raw, so the team may want to keep him in Arizona for a little bit of time just to work through refinement, but it's pretty likely he'll see a good chunk of time in Low-A. The hope is that over the next few years, with a patient mindset, the Cubs can turn Hartshorn into an exciting, power-hitting corner outfielder from both sides of the plate. The athleticism is there today, and the arm strength should be a plus. If things go well, he could be MLB-ready in three years, putting him on track to make a debut by age 22. But not all things go the way you want to, and it could take time for the Cubs' big investment to pay off. With a history of injury and his youth, it may take longer. On the other hand, it does feel notable that he's been in three Cactus League games, including playing a few innings of the team's visit to the Brewers Wednesday. For a teenager who wasn't a top pick to play big-league games the following spring speaks to the organization's faith in his polish. On Wednesday, he hit the only pitch he saw hard in the air, flying out to deep right field on a cutter from Brewers lefty Shane Drohan—who's eight years his senior and on the cusp of the majors. Regardless, worrying about his MLB timeline right now feels like putting the cart before the horse. A successful 2026 will see Hartshorn spend his time in Myrtle Beach. Luckily for the Cubs' newest addition, the Cubs have moved the fences in at Myrtle Beach this season by 10 feet, which should make hitting in the Low-A affiliate of the team a bit easier. Here's hoping he can take advantage of the new, shorter porches. What do you think of the Cub's big-bonus signing of 2025? Do you think he will stick at RF? Sound off in the comments below and start a discussion! View the full article

#5 Brandon Sproat (Syracuse Mets, New York Mets) Brandon Sproat joined the Brewers organization in January as part of the Freddy Peralta trade with the Mets. He quickly became one of the most intriguing upper-level arms in the system. He made his major-league debut in 2025 but spent most of the season at Triple-A, where his performance showed a lot of improvement over the course of the year. ERA FIP xFIP IP G GS CG ShO SV BS K% BB% K-BB% HR/9 SwStr% Whiff% WHIP BABIP LOB% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% HR/FB 4.24 4.18 4.53 121.0 26 25 0 0 0 0 22.1% 10.4% 11.7% 0.67 10.9% 25.4% 1.24 0.270 66.7% 18.3% 53.2% 28.4% 25.8% 9.7% What to Like After a very slow start to the 2025 season, Brandon Sproat really took off in the second half in Triple-A. From June 28 through the end of the season, Sproat posted a 2.44 ERA with a 2.81 FIP while striking out 29.9% of opposing hitters. His overall whiff rate climbed to 29.3% during that time as well, showing his ability to miss bats at a high level. That stretch more closely reflected the version of Sproat that we had seen during his time in college at Florida—and throughout his rapid rise to Triple-A during his first professional season in 2024. Sproat brings one of the deepest arsenals in the system, working with a six-pitch mix that gives him multiple ways to attack hitters. His fastball combination stands out, as he splits usage between a four-seam fastball and a sinker. Both pitches sit in the 95–97 MPH range (higher, this spring), and he has reached triple digits in the minor leagues. The sinker shows particularly strong movement and shape, helping him to generate groundballs, while the four-seam fastball plays well at the top of the strike zone and can generate swing-and-miss when elevated. His mid-80s sweeper is his best secondary pitch and has the potential to develop into a true plus offering. The pitch generates around 17 inches of horizontal movement and produced strong whiff rates in the minors. He also mixes in a true cutter at around 94 MPH this spring, replacing a tight but slower and lower slider, along with a larger breaking curveball in the low 80s. His changeup took a slight step back in 2025 but still shows the potential to become an above-average pitch, having flashed plus in 2024. The depth of his repertoire gives him the tools to handle lineups multiple times and maintain a starting profile. What to Work On Command remains the primary area for improvement in Sproat’s profile. While it was not considered a major concern earlier in his development, inconsistencies in strike-throwing and pitch location have shown up at times, particularly when working deeper into games. Improving overall command will help him maximize the effectiveness of his full arsenal and maintain consistency from outing to outing. As mentioned, turning the shorter slider into a cutter is a work in progress still, something he will continue to search for consistency with as he moves forward. It was up to around 94 MPH and touched even higher in his first two spring outings, and it could be a weapon for him if he can find a consistent shape at that velocity. Like many pitchers with power stuff and multiple offerings, maintaining consistent execution across his entire arsenal will determine how well he performs at the major-league level. What’s Next Sproat has a good chance to win the Brewers' fifth starter spot coming out of camp, and he certainly has the stuff to do it. If the improved version from late last season proves sustainable, he projects as a mid-rotation starter with the potential to give even more if his command continues to develop. What are your thoughts on Sproat? What are you hoping to see from him in 2026? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Talk Sox's top prospect rankings continue into the latter half, focusing on the Boston Red Sox's top 10 prospects. Be sure to check out our previous rankings here: Part 1 (Nos. 16-20) Part 2 (Nos. 11-15) Part 3 (No. 10): Anthony Eyanson Boston Red Sox Top Prospects: No. 9 Marcus Phillips The Red Sox had a plan in mind when they entered the 2025 draft, and that was showcased by taking three talented pitchers within their first four picks. Phillips, who was selected by the team with their Competitive Balance pick that was acquired in the Quinn Priester deal, follows the blueprint of pitchers that Craig Breslow is after. Thanks to his size, power and athleticism, along with an aptitude that allowed him to improve significantly in college, Phillips has a chance to be something special with help from the Red Sox pitching lab. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 245 pounds, Marcus Phillips also has great extension, which currently reaches 6.43 feet. His delivery also ends in a very low release height that, when paired with his stuff and extension, should lead to positive results on the mound. The right-hander pitched his sophomore and junior seasons for Tennessee; in the latter year, he made 17 starts as the team’s Saturday starter. He finished the season going 4-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 83 innings along with 98 strikeouts and 34 walks. Phillips works with three pitches: a fastball, slider and changeup. All three are rated positively by scouts, with most suggesting each should at least by average by the time he reaches the majors. The fastball averaged 96-99 mph in college and would occasionally reach 101 mph. Unfortunately, it plays below its velocity at times and his control is still a work in progress. The slider averaged between 84-88 mph in college, having more horizontal shape with a high spin rate. It's perhaps his most consistent pitch in terms of missing bats. His changeup is his weakest pitch but will be necessary to develop if he hopes to remain in the rotation. The pitch was thrown in the low-90s in college and can generate the most whiffs, but also is the one he struggles to control the most. Beyond that control, another area he may look to work on is adding a fourth pitch to his repertoire such as a cutter (a pitch the Red Sox have worked with many young pitchers on). Phillips could very well be a boom-or-bust prospect based on how his feel develops over the next few years. His delivery and inability to consistently throw strikes has made scouts wonder if the bullpen is where he is best suited, thanks to a fastball that could end up averaging 100 mph in shorter stints. Should Phillips reach his potential and improve upon his strike-throwing ability, he could end up as a middle-of-the-rotation arm. Where Phillips opens the 2026 season is up in the air. While it’s likely he could begin the season with High-A Greenville, there’s also the possibility that the organization chooses to send him to Low-A Salem to work on a few things before getting a May promotion to the next level. Though, with his stuff, there’s a chance he finishes the season at Double-A regardless of where he opens the year. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays had a great year on the farm in 2025, and although there were some key subtractions as they added at the deadline to compete for the division, the minor league system is in a stronger place than it was this same time last year. Here are the prospects ranked 16th to 20th in the Jays organization, as voted on by JaysCentre writers. 20. RHP Landen Maroudis (FCL, Dunedin Blue Jays) ERA FIP xFIP IP G GS K% BB% K-BB% HR/9 SwStr% Whiff% WHIP BABIP LOB% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% HR/FB 6.55 6.11 6.88 45.1 18 17 15.7% 20.8% -5.1% 0.2 10.1% 24.9% 1.79 .282 63.3% 14.6% 46.3% 39.% 12.5% 2.1% Landen Maroudis was a name to watch at the beginning of the 2024 season. He had a promising showing in an appearance in the MLB Spring Breakout game and pitched in just three games in Single-A Dunedin before heading to the injured list with an elbow injury. After more than a year of rehab and recovery, Maroudis was back pitching, but things had changed significantly. His velocity on his fastball, once sitting at 94 mph, only sat at 90 mph. The pitch dropped from 13 inches of vertical break down to 11, but did gain four inches of run. His control disappeared, as he walked more batters than he struck out and had a strike rate of just 51.8%. Maroudis will only be 21 years old in the 2026 season, and despite the setback to his health, pitch quality, velocity, and command, there’s practically nowhere for him to go but up. With a full offseason not spent rehabbing, there’s reason to believe that he’ll rediscover the velocity that he had prior to the elbow surgery, and that he’ll find some semblance of command as well. His pitches looked mediocre due to the lack of velocity, but when he was able to find the zone, Single-A hitters didn’t make great contact, and his curveball had a whiff rate of over 40%. Maroudis’ future looks much shakier than ever before, but the athleticism and potential from when the Jays gave him a $1.5 million signing bonus in 2023 can still prevail if he returns to form. Maroudis will get another chance to pitch in Dunedin this season, and reportedly, his velocity is back up to the 93-95 mph range. 19. OF Yeuni Munoz (FCL, Dunedin Blue Jays) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 127 28 8 0 6 .809 125 .380 29.9% 9.4% 16.6% 33.6% 56.9% 25.0% 18.1% 18.6% 50.0% 31.4% 27.3% 2 1 66.67% 107.1 Yeuni Munoz was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, and although he hit decently in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year-old, he hasn’t been able to put together a season worth remembering since, as he has struggled with inconsistency and injuries. However, as a 21-year-old in his second trip to Single-A, he really found his footing out of the gate, hitting .323/.408/.645 for a 186 wRC+ in April, with extremely strong batted ball data to back up the performance. He was consistently at the top of the exit velocity leaderboards after every game. Unfortunately for Munoz, he hurt his knee, which sidelined him until August. He struggled to make contact as effectively upon his return, resulting in a quieter end to his season. Yet, Munoz showed improved contact metrics; his 67.8% contact rate was still poor, but a 10% increase from his 2024 season. His power was on display as well, with a max exit velocity of 112.2 mph, a 107.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, and a 92.4 mph average exit velocity. Munoz was seemingly on the pathway to being a breakout prospect for the Jays, but the expectations have dampened due to his inability to stay healthy. He will project to have plus power given his strong exit velocities as a 21-year-old, but he’s already only a corner outfielder at this stage of his career, and he isn’t much of a runner with his hulking frame, meaning that the majority of his value will have to come from his bat. His strikeout issues are still a large concern, as he ran nearly a 30% K rate even with improved contact metrics. If Munoz can make just enough contact, he has a path to being a platoon hitter with power; he’ll just need to stay healthy enough to get enough reps to prove it. 18. LHP Brandon Barriera (FCL) ERA FIP xFIP IP G GS K% BB% K-BB% HR/9 SwStr% Whiff% WHIP BABIP LOB% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% HR/FB 14.29 6.21 6.64 5.2 5 5 21.4% 28.6% -7.10% 0.0 15.9% N/A 1.94 0.231 25.0% 10.0% 60.0% 30.0% 33.3% 0.0% Brandon Barriera has been snake-bitten ever since he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2022 as their first-round pick. He dealt with multiple arm injuries in his first professional season and had issues with his conditioning. He then had elbow surgery in 2024 after making just one start, leading to another injury-plagued season. Despite the injuries, reports came out on Barriera looking really good on the backfields, showing much improved stuff. He returned to pitching in the Florida Complex League, where he only pitched five and a third of an inning, with extremely wild command, walking nearly 30% of the batters that he faced. Adding on to his injury woes, he then fractured his elbow, putting him on the injured list for the rest of the season. Despite the poor results, and another season cut short by injury, Barriera’s fastball reached 99 mph, and his cutter and slider both looked great despite the wildness. Barriera has a ton of reliever risk, given his prolonged injury history and inability to throw strikes, and his future outlook will highly depend on if he can stay on the field or not. The Jays will take it slow with him to ensure that he can stay healthy. If he can figure out a consistent release point that allows him to throw strikes, he’ll jump up this list. 17. 1B/3B Sean Keys (Vancouver Canadians) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 529 92 22 1 19 .773 119 .360 22.1% 16.3% 8.4% 27.4% 53.4% 22.0% 24.6% 19.7% 38.8% 41.4% 25.8% 8 1 88.9% 102.7 Sean Keys was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft by the Blue Jays out of Bucknell. In his first stint in Single-A Dunedin, he showed an advanced approach, with a 134 wRC+ in 98 plate appearances. The Jays then sent him up to Vancouver the following year, where Keys performed solidly but didn’t have numbers that jumped off the page, hitting .217/.365/.408 for a 119 wRC+ in 529 plate appearances. Vancouver is one of the toughest parks in which to hit in the minor leagues, however, and Keys showed underlying metrics that signified he had a much better season than his results showed, with strong barrel rates and plate discipline. Keys is strong bodied, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 232 pounds, and when he made contact, he had strong exit velocities that translated to above-average raw power, as he was adept at turning on pitches at optimal launch angles, leading to a Vancouver Canadians record 19 homers in a single season. Defensively, Keys is most suited to first base. Although he has the arm for third, the range can be a little stretched thin at the position. He’s still new at first, and it shows a bit, but he’s a smart player and has taken to it pretty well. His glove is secondary to his bat, which is where he will derive most, if not all of his value. He’ll most likely get a chance to see more advanced pitching soon, as he’s on track to start the season off with Double-A New Hampshire. 16. OF RJ Schreck (New Hampshire FisherCats, Buffalo Bisons) PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 427 85 14 2 18 .854 143 .393 21.3% 16.4% 8.2% 22.1% 55.4% 21.1% 23.5% 21.9% 35.6% 42.5% 31.4% 9 1 90.0% 103.3 RJ Schreck was acquired from the Seattle Mariners at the 2024 trade deadline for the old vet Justin Turner after breaking out with their High-A team. He continued that momentum with the Jays organization, with a strong finish to the year at Double-A for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, slashing .255/.377/.521 in 114 plate appearances. He was even better in 2025, continuing his success with a .266/.396/.518 slash line before getting promoted to Triple-A Buffalo. Schreck did deal with an injury after his promotion to Buffalo but still performed well after coming back. He capped off his season in Triple-A with a 129 wRC+. Schreck’s offensive production is backed by solid swing decisions that may be a little passive, with a 22.3% chase rate as well as an innate ability to barrel the ball in the air to the pull side. His raw exit velocities do not jump off the page, and although he’s stronger than he was just a few years ago, his average exit velocities were below average in Triple-A. His max and 90th percentile exit velocities were fringe-average as well, although he did set a new career high max velocity at 111.9 mph in Double-A. Although the data looks very good for Schreck, there are some concerns with his swing being a little too long and stiff to match up to higher velocities. The Jays have found success with similar style hitters to Schreck — older prospects carried by a strong approach more than significant tools like Davis Schneider and Spencer Horwitz —which gives him a solid floor as a platoon bat/fourth outfielder, but the ceiling may also be limited in the same vein. Defensively, Schreck is more suited to the corners, especially as an average runner, but the Jays like to throw him out in center field anyway. There’s a bit of a crowded outfield situation, even with the injury to Anthony Santander, as the Jays just acquired Jesús Sánchez, but there’s definitely a path forward for Schreck as a fourth outfielder. Schreck will be a part of Team Israel in the 2026 WBC, which will give him a chance to face MLB-level talent. View the full article

In a rare solo podcast episode, Ely Sussman prepares Miami Marlins fans for the World Baseball Classic by highlighting each of the 10 players from the organization who'll be participating, offering advice to those of you attending the tournament and making predictions. Once again, loanDepot park is hosting games throughout the WBC, from Pool D play all the way through the championship. 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 following Marlins are taking part in the 2026 WBC: Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic) Owen Caissie (Canada) Yiddi Cappe (Cuba) Liam Hicks (Canada) Ian Lewis (Great Britain) Otto Lopez (Canada) Jakob Marsee (Italy) Agustín Ramírez (Dominican Republic) Javier Sanoja (Venezuela) Jared Serna (Mexico) Alcantara, Ramírez and Sanoja are in Pool D, meaning that they'll stay in Miami for the duration of the tournament. Ely predicts that the Dominican Republic will defeat the United States in the championship on March 17, with Julio Rodríguez winning WBC MVP honors. Follow Ely (⁠@RealEly⁠) and Fish On First (⁠@FishOnFirst⁠) on Twitter. Join the ⁠Marlins Discord server⁠! Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at ⁠FishOnFirst.com⁠. View the full article

While Chandler Simpson, Elly De La Cruz, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. jockey for the fastest man in baseball title, Kyle DeBarge may have the 'fastest man in Minnesota' moniker on lock before long. The Twins' 21st-ranked prospect swiped 66 bags in 2025 and is tracking towards a 2027 big league debut. Here is a full scouting report on everything DeBarge brings to the table. View the full article

Max Scherzer is back with the Toronto Blue Jays for his age 41 season. This came around the same time the public found out that his daughter had let the team know she wanted her dad to play in Canada again. Scherzer is on a one-year, $3 million deal with up to $10 million in incentives. How much gas does the future Hall-of-Fame player have left in the tank? We break it down in this video. View the full article

FORT MYERS—Joe Ryan took another step toward returning to the top of the Twins’ rotation on Wednesday, throwing a live batting practice session and coming away encouraged by how his body responded. “Most importantly… the back felt good,” Ryan said, noting he felt better than the first time he got back on the mound. Ryan was a late scratch from his first spring training start back on February 21 with a sore back that he has been rehabbing. Ryan faced, among others, Luke Keaschall, Matt Wallner, and Brooks Lee. He said there were only “maybe two pitches” he didn’t love location-wise, but overall he liked where his offspeed was, describing it as “comfortable coming out of the hand” and something he can trust. The next step, assuming his body feels healthy tomorrow, is likely to be a live game. The Twins’ road games on Monday, March 9, or Tuesday, March 10 would be five or six days out, allowing him to get an additional two or three starts in spring training to build up his pitch count. Ryan said his offseason program had him “a little ahead of schedule” prior to the sore back. Cuts, But Not Deep Cuts The Twins made their second round of cuts Wednesday, sending six players to minor-league camp and leaving them with 59 players still in major-league camp. The six players were catchers Andrew Cossetti and Ricardo Olivar; outfielder Walker Jenkins; right-handed pitchers Andrew Bash and Raul Brito; and left-handed pitcher Christian MacLeod to minor league camp. The most notable of these is Jenkins, Twiins Daily’s #1 prospect, who suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain this week, which limited his ability to participate in the rest of camp. This is often when top prospects are sent down, after coaches have had an introductory look at them. So maybe more notable than who was sent down is those who were not—and why they were not. View the full article

The 2025 Brewers entered September in an unusual place: the lap of luxury. Having won 14 straight games (and 29 of 33) to race far ahead in the NL Central by mid-August, they were in position to coast to a division title. It was a good thing, too, because by that point, they were dragging. Even in the second half of August, one could detect their edges fraying slightly, but in the first half of September, they looked positively worn out by winning in such intense, detail-oriented fashion every day. Right fielder and team leader Sal Frelick showed the wear and tear most of all. In July and August, his bat speed had averaged just a hair under 69 miles per hour. In September, it was 66.8. He batted just .237/.302/.368 for the month, after batting .296/.359/.412 through the end of August. As he prepares for his third full season in the majors, though, Frelick isn't focused on managing his effort differently over the season's 162-game grind. "Listen, you shouldn't be fresh in September, honestly," Frelick said Wednesday in the Brewers' spring training clubhouse in Maryvale. "You should play hard enough so you're tired in September, and I mean, yeah, you're gonna be dragging—you're [even] dragging in July—but that's never an excuse. Everyone's tired." Frelick said October offers a second wind at the end of the relentless regular campaign, but that he's learned not to wait for that. His preparation for his fourth big-league season has been focused not on being "130 percent" come September, he explained, but on being as mentally strong as possible. Last spring, he reported to camp heavier and stronger than in the past, but it didn't insulate him from the gravity of the schedule, and he's learning not to try to force his body to feel better than is realistic. Pat Murphy concurs with that approach. "I don't think we're the only team that goes through that, but I think young players go through that [more than veterans]," Murphy said. "And I think it's not pacing yourself, either. It's just being in better condition mentally, more than physically." Both Murphy and Frelick fight to keep the focus on the things that are within their control, which often excludes the results of at-bats but always includes things like attention to detail and swing decisions. Those things deteriorate even more than bat speed or jumps on fly balls, in the heat and the accumulated fatigue of the late summer. "Yeah that's the hardest part, right?" Frelick said. "I think the mental part is just the hardest part of the game, in general. You can go out and have four barrels and get out four times, and how do you—even though you were 0-for-4 and you might've lost the game—how do you wake up the next morning and go into it saying, 'I'm confident'? "It's a hard thing to deal with, especially when those 0-for-4s are 0-for-20s. But I think you just have, again, the experience, the understanding of how long a season is, how many games you're gonna play, how many at-bats you're gonna get, how many plate appearances you're gonna get. That only helps the mental game." Frelick carries himself, a month shy of his 26th birthday, with a much greater air of security than he had when he first arrived in the majors. Experience is already benefiting him, in ways that should carry all the way from March to October. "I remember early on, I would get more upset or have more of a freakout when I wasn't playing well. But now, in retrospect, I don't even remember any of those freakouts, because the season's so long, it's not even worth worrying about it," the sudden veteran explained. "This is the stuff Murph talks about. It's such a long season. You're gonna have a month or two where you play really bad. You're gonna have, hopefully, more months where you play really good. It's just how you go through it." Frelick's maturity manifested itself in a better ability to balance selectivity with aggressiveness at the plate last year. Notably, he hit 12 home runs, but all of them came against right-handed pitchers. Frelick said that was because of a conscious difference between his approaches against righties and lefties. To generate power, he picks his spots and turns on the ball, driving it to his pull field. Against southpaws, though, that's not his approach—and he doesn't plan to make it so. "I try to really hit the ball the other way more, just stay closed," Frelick said of his approach to left-on-left matchups. "You just can't really get pull-happy." To ensure that he didn't do so, Frelick set up slightly deeper in the batter's box against lefties than against righties, and slightly farther off the plate. He fought the urge to open up too soon on pitches from lefties by knowing he needed to stay in just to cover the outer edge of the plate, and he caught the ball slightly farther in front of himself against righties, giving himself a better chance to pull and lift those pitches. Here, on the left, is his stance and stride against lefties last year. On the right are his stance and setup against righties. Frelick didn't sell out for power in 2025, but he tapped into much more of it, which he credited to his evolving approach. That power might continue to be isolated in matchups against right-handed pitchers, but if he continues to make contact and reach base at a strong rate against southpaws, he's happy to keep making the same tradeoffs. On a perpetually young team who turned over its roster yet again this winter, Frelick (like Brice Turang, William Contreras, Aaron Ashby and others) has a much greater leadership role in this clubhouse than he would in most such rooms throughout the league. He's increasingly well-suited to that job, and his message—about everything from approaching disadvantageous matchups to sustaining excellence across the long season—is in lockstep with that of his manager. View the full article

The San Diego Padres made their first roster reductions at spring training camp, reassigning three players to minor-league camp. One of those players is left-handed starter Jagger Haynes, who has a chance to make his MLB debut later this season. Haynes and fellow left-handers Omar Cruz and Ryan Och were non-roster invites to spring camp with no realistic chance of making the Opening Day roster. These moves leave the Friars with 67 players in big-league camp. Haynes, who dropped from No. 10 in the Padres' system at the end of 2025 to No. 15 in just-released rankings by MLB Pipeline, is expected to begin the season at Triple-A El Paso. A fifth-round pick in 2020, the 23-year-old has had Tommy John surgery and overcome blister and shoulder injuries in his first couple of pro seasons, but remained healthy in 2024 and 2025. At Double-A San Antonio last year, Haynes had a 4.11 ERA in 103 innings over 26 games, all but one as a starter. He needs to improve his control, having walked 5.4 batters per nine innings with San Antonio, while striking out a modest 8.8 per nine. Haynes appeared in three Cactus League games, pitching four innings with no walks and one strikeout. Cruz made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2025 with two relief appearances. Och, the Friars' seventh-round choice in 2021, spent all of last season at San Antonio, posting a 3.46 ERA in 45 games, and should be joining Haynes at El Paso for 2025. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins made some roster news before taking on Team Puerto Rico in an exhibition game at Hammond Stadium on Wednesday. The Twins won 6-3. Over the weekend, Walker Jenkins hustled down the first base line in an attempt to beat out a potential double play ball. The next day, Jenkins was diagnosed with Grade 1 Hamstring Strain. It is the mildest grade, which is encouraging, but he likely wouldn't play in games for the next week or two. That is why he was one of six players whose lockers moved from Hammond Stadium, across the parking lot, and to the minor-league clubhouse. In addition to the young outfielder, catchers Andrew Cossetti and Ricardo Olivar, right-handed pitchers Raul Brito and Andrew Bash, and left-handed pitcher Christian MacLeod were assigned to minor league camp where things are getting more and more busy. A few days earlier, the Twins sent Matt Canterino and Cory Lewis to minor-league camp. Canterino continues to work his way back from surgery that cost him the 2025 season. Lewis had been shut down very early in spring training with arm issues. Cossetti and Olivar spent the 2025 season in Wichita where he hit 13 doubles, 13 home runs, and had 13 stolen bases. Olivar has been a borderline Top 20 prospect in the Twins system over the past few seasons. A catcher, he also plays some left field, to keep his bat in the lineup. Cossetti has played some first base and DHd quite often. Over the past two seasons in Wichita, he has hit 33 doubles, four triples, and 12 home runs. He was the Twins 11th round pick in 2022 out of St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. MacLeod was the Twins fifth round pick in 2021 out of Mississippi State. He has primarily been a starter in his professional career. Last year, he made 13 starts and had a 2.63 ERA in Wichita. He made a couple of spot starts for the Saints, but 10 appearances out of the St. Paul bullpen. 29-year-old Bash pitched in a variety of roles in the Blue Jays organization since joining the organization before the 2021 season. He went 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 40 games and 84 innings in 2025. He walked 36 and had 72 strikeouts. 28-year-old Brito has spent the past three seasons in the Padres organization. Before that, he pitched in the Marlins organization from 2016 through the 2022 season. In 2025, he posted a 6.11 ERA over 48 games and 63 1/3 innings. He had 82 strikeouts but also walked 35 batters. These moves leave the Twins with 59 players in camp. 18 of them are non-roster players. There are 29 pitchers, six catchers, 11 infielders, 10 outfielders, and three utility players remaining. In addition, Pablo Lopez has been played on the 60-Day Injured List. Because the players reassigned were not on the 40-man roster, they can come back and play in games for the Twins during spring training. Players cut from big-league camp who are on the 40-man roster are "optioned" to the Saints or Wind Surge rosters. Semantics. View the full article

The latest round of spring roster cuts from the Minnesota Twins came as little surprise, but they offer clarity on how the organization is shaping its upper-level depth. At this stage of camp, decisions are now driven by practicality rather than upside. Veterans and non-roster invites receive longer looks for early-season roles. Prospects needing everyday reps or rehabbing injuries move to the minor league side. These changes don't dramatically alter the long-term outlook but do clarify how the Twins prioritize development and depth as camp concludes. With those themes in mind, let's break down the implications of this specific group of cuts. Catching Depth Gets Reassigned Andrew Cossetti and Ricardo Olivar were both in big league camp to provide depth behind the plate. Neither was realistically pushing for an Opening Day role, but both gave the Twins reliable innings throughout the early Grapefruit League schedule. Cossetti, a 2022 draft pick, has spent the last two seasons at Double A and posted a .717 OPS across 171 games. He has split time between catcher and first base, giving him some defensive versatility, but his offensive production has remained more steady than spectacular. For now, he remains organizational depth with a chance to climb if the bat takes another step. Olivar has quietly put together a solid run in the system since signing out of Venezuela. Over five seasons, he has worked his way into fringe top-30 prospect conversations. Last season at Double A, he posted a .768 OPS in 93 games and continued to show a balanced offensive profile. Like Cossetti, he was in camp primarily to support the catching workload. Returning him to the minor league side allows him to prepare for what should be another important season in his development. A Sensible Move for Walker Jenkins There was never any real debate about Jenkins breaking camp with the big league club, especially once the hamstring strain surfaced. Jenkins remains the top prospect in the organization, but he is not on the 40-man roster and is currently sidelined for a couple of weeks. With his focus on rehab and getting back to full strength, sending him to minor league camp is simply procedural. It allows him to progress at his own pace without occupying a spot on a big league roster. The Twins are thinking long term here. Jenkins does not need to rush anything in March. His priority is building toward a healthy and productive season, not squeezing in a few extra at-bats in exhibition games. Sorting Out the Triple-A Bullpen On the pitching side, several arms now shift their attention toward Triple-A roles. Christian MacLeod’s path remains one of the more interesting developments. A fifth-round pick in 2021, he reached Triple-A last season after a strong first half at Double-A. As a starter there, he posted a 2.63 ERA in 13 starts and looked to be trending upward. The move to the bullpen in St. Paul brought mixed results. The hitter-friendly environment proved challenging, and his numbers took a hit. Still, the organization appears committed to him as a reliever for now. Returning him to Triple-A in a bullpen role gives him a chance to refine that transition with more experience. Andrew Bash is a name to keep in mind. He has spent his entire professional career in the Blue Jays organization and quietly put together an impressive 2025 campaign at Triple-A. Over 40 appearances and 84 innings, he logged a 2.57 ERA with a 7.7 K/9. Minnesota brought him into camp for a closer evaluation, and while he will start the season in the minors, he profiles as a potential depth option if the big league bullpen needs reinforcements. Raul Brito rounds out the group. The 28-year-old spent the last two seasons in the Padres system and showed swing-and-miss ability at Triple-A last year with an 11.7 K/9 across 63 1/3 innings. The problem was consistency. A 6.11 ERA, 5.0 BB/9, and 10.2 H/9 illustrate the volatility. Like Bash and MacLeod, he should factor into the Triple-A bullpen mix and serve as depth if he can tighten the command. None of these cuts dramatically shifts the outlook for the Opening Day roster. Instead, they represent the natural narrowing of camp competition as the calendar flips toward the regular season. Spring training roster cuts are rarely headline-grabbing. But they often reveal how an organization values depth, flexibility, and patience. This round was no different. View the full article

A month before he graduated from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California in 1973, Robin Yount signed a national letter of intent to attend Arizona State University. Pat Kuehner, ASU assistant coach, said that Yount was the "best high school prospect in the nation." In the June 1973 MLB Draft, the first pick (by the Texas Rangers) was left-handed high-school pitching phenom David Clyde, who won 44 of his last 45 games for his team in Texas and had nine career no-hitters. The Philadelphia Phillies selected slugging college catcher John Stearns with the second pick. With the third pick, the Milwaukee Brewers chose Yount. Yount, who played mostly shortstop in high school, also did some relief work on the mound, striking out 17 batters in nine innings of work his senior year. Milwaukee scout Roland LeBlanc said that Yount was a "good defensive player with good hands and range, and above-average speed." His bonus was an estimated $75,000. Yount was assigned to short-season Class A ball at Newark, in the New York-Penn League. As a 17-year-old, Yount had a slash line of .285/.370/.409 across 242 at-bats. His 15 doubles ranked fifth in the league. The next year in spring training, Yount opened the eyes of the Brewers' management team. “If he goes north with us, he’ll be our regular shortstop," said manager Del Crandall. Usually, when a manager says that about a player. they don't go north with the team. Yount went north with the team and started the first game of the year, a chilly 40-degree day on Apr. 5, 1974, at Milwaukee County Stadium in front of 32,761 slightly frozen fans. Yount batted ninth and drew a free pass off Boston’s Luis Tiant in the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the third, with Juan Beniquez on second and Cecil Cooper on first, Carl Yastrzemski hit a grounder to short. Yount fielded it clearnly, tagged the bag at second and leaped over a sliding Cooper to make the throw to first. Unfortunately, Cooper’s spikes clipped Yount’s shin, and the throw bounced to first, not in time to get Yastrzemski. Yount learned an early lesson on how to make plays around second base. “I turned it wrong,” Yount said. “I came across the bag when I should have stayed behind it. I was told afterward how to do it. I know now that I shouldn’t have done it that way.” He led off the bottom of the fifth and flied to left field, and in the bottom of the sixth, he was pinch-hit for by Felipe Alou with the bases loaded and one out. Darrell Porter scored on a passed ball to cut Boston’s lead to 7-6, but then Alou struck out looking. Alou would only have two more at-bats in his illustrious career, which would later include managerial stints with the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants spanning 14 seasons. Yount started the season hitless in his first 10 at-bats, before he singled to center in the fifth inning off Baltimore's Dave McNally on April 12 at County Stadium. The next day, Yount got the first of 251 career home runs, a game-winner in the eighth off Ross Grimsley of the Orioles in a 3-2 victory. Otherwise, it was slow going for Yount in April; he ended the month with a batting line of .182/.220/.255. Yount finally got the hang of major-league life in May. Keep in mind, he was only 18 for most of the season. In 23 games, he batted .324/.351/.423 across 71 at-bats in his second big league month. The player who became ‘The Kid’ developed tendinitis in his left foot late in the year and only played in 107 games. His season totals of .250/.276/.346 were not a harbinger of things to come. “I don’t think about how scared I should be because I’m in the major leagues at 18,” Yount told sportswriter Pat Jordan for his Sports Illustrated feature in 1974. “I just go out and play. When I’m at bat, I concentrate on hitting the ball, and when I’m in the field, I concentrate on picking it up.” Yount would do just that for 20 years, winning MVP awards at both shortstop and center field, collecting 3,142 hits, and getting inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, along with Nolan Ryan, Orlando Cepeda, and George Brett. Other than Bob Uecker, one of the first people you think about when the Milwaukee Brewers are mentioned is 'Rockin' Robin.' What are your favorite memories of 'The Kid?' Please add them in the 'comments' section. View the full article

Ryan Gallagher didn't have the flashiest performance after the Twins acquired him from the Cubs at the 2025 trade deadline. But he has some upside as a back-end of the rotation starter, which reminds Jeremy of what Nick Blackburn was like as a prospect (with much lower velocity). View the full article

For the Minnesota Twins, the eternal optimism of spring training feels a little more necessary this year. The organization faces a 2026 season without ace Pablo López, while ownership continues to apply public pressure to win—or at least stay in contention until the final stretch of the season. Coming off a 70-92 season and with little winter reinforcement, that's a tall order. For a team that still believes its competitive window is open, internal growth is not just helpful, but required. To keep pace with the rest of the American League's playoff hopefuls, Minnesota will need multiple players to take meaningful steps forward. Fortunately, there are a handful of outcomes that could dramatically change the Twins' season if they come to fruition. Bold predictions are often designed to be unrealistic. That is what makes them fun. Occasionally, though, one lands in the sweet spot between aspirational and plausible. With a roster that features both star-level talent and players who have teased breakout potential before, Minnesota has several candidates capable of turning a bold prediction into a headline by the end of the year. Let's test-drive a few such predictions. Byron Buxton Finishes Top-5 for AL MVP This one feels like it has been sitting on the table for years. When healthy, Byron Buxton has often played at an MVP level. The issue has never been talent or impact. It's mostly been about availability. If Buxton approaches 140 games played, the statistical case will take care of itself. His defensive value remains above average, and the power-speed combination is still capable of changing games on a nightly basis on the run production side of the ledger. A season wherein he slashes something close to his career best offensive production while anchoring the defense up the middle would almost certainly place him squarely in the middle of the American League MVP conversation. Last season, he finished just outside the top 10 in voting, causing him to lose out on a $3-million bonus. He’s spoken about that this spring and is focused on improving his performance. It doesn't require a sensationalist streak or a razor-sharp scouting eye to tout Buxton; it just takes a leap of faith on the health front. Joe Ryan Strikes Out 230 Batters There may not be a more important arm on the roster right now than Ryan. With the Twins missing their would-be Opening Day starter for the entire season, Ryan becomes the de facto tone setter for a rotation that needs to outperform expectations. Ryan has always possessed swing-and-miss stuff that plays at the top of the zone, and his strikeout rates suggest there is another gear available if he can demonstrate durability across a full season. The path to 230 strikeouts is not particularly complicated. It requires 32 starts and an ability to pitch deep enough into games to let the fastball-splitter combination do its job multiple times through an order. In 2025, he recorded 194 strikeouts over 171 innings, but that came with a lower strikeout rate (28.2%) than he posted in his best season, 2023 (29.3%). A healthy year with even marginal improvement against left-handed hitters could push Ryan into the upper tier of American League strikeout leaders. Ryan has never faced more batters than the 689 he saw last season, but if he becomes one of the fistful of pitchers who faces 800 batters each year and maintains his strikeout rate, he'll flirt with this total. Matt Wallner Hits 40 Home Runs The power has never been in question for Wallner. Few players in the organization can match the raw strength that Wallner brings to the plate, and his ability to impact the baseball to the pull side is among the best on the roster. Forty home runs would require adjustments. He will need to make enough contact against velocity to avoid prolonged slumps and continue improving against breaking pitches that have given him trouble in the past. But the Twins don't need Wallner to become a completely different hitter. They need him to be a slightly more consistent version of the player he already is. Wallner’s career high is 22 homers, but he’s never played more than 104 games. Given every day at-bats and some positive regression on balls that died at the warning track last season, this type of power surge is not impossible. However, a flatter swing led to more ground balls last year; that does need to be corrected. Twins Win the AL Central For all the individual milestones that could define Minnesota’s season, nothing would matter more than another division title. Winning the American League Central would validate the organization’s belief that it can contend despite the adversity that has already impacted the pitching staff this spring. The AL Central is set up with Detroit as the favorite, but they aren’t a juggernaut. Minnesota’s blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent gives the club a realistic path to the top of the standings. Improved run prevention and continued development from the lineup’s younger pieces would go a long way toward turning preseason optimism into a playoff berth. A division crown might be the bold prediction that relies the least on any individual outcome and the most on the roster functioning the way the front office believes it can. The truth is, none of these outcomes exists in isolation. A top-five MVP finish from Buxton likely means the offense is operating at a high level. A 230-strikeout season from Ryan probably signals that the rotation has stabilized in the absence of its ace. Forty home runs from Wallner would add a middle-of-the-order presence capable of carrying the lineup through inevitable slumps over the course of six months. Put together, these bold predictions begin to look less like wishful thinking and more like the blueprint for how the Twins remain relevant in October. The 2026 season will not be defined by one breakout performance or one statistical benchmark. It will be shaped by whether this roster can turn potential into production when it matters most. The odds are against them, perhaps, but fortune favors the bold. Which bold prediction has the best chance of coming true in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Spring training seems to fly by faster than usual in World Baseball Classic years. The Miami Marlins have already completed 10 Grapefruit League games, sent off some of their key players to participate in the tournament and made their first round of cuts from major league camp. Although injuries have popped up as they always do, the Marlins fortunately haven't had serious issues rule out any of their veterans for Opening Day. That means trimming things down to construct their 26-man active roster could be difficult. With 23 days to go until real Marlins baseball, it's time to follow up on Ely Sussman's roster projection with a projection of my own for the 2026 season opener. Position players Starting nine: Agustín Ramírez (C), Christopher Morel (1B), Xavier Edwards (2B), Graham Pauley (3B), Otto Lopez (SS), Kyle Stowers (LF), Jakob Marsee (CF), Owen Caissie (RF) and Heriberto Hernández (DH) Bench: Griffin Conine (OF/1B), Javier Sanoja (INF/OF), Liam Hicks (C), Connor Norby (INF) Stowers (hamstring) and Pauley (forearm) are both expected to be fully recovered from their injuries and ready to go for Opening Day, per manager Clayton McCullough. To Norby's credit, he has been able to hold his own at third base this spring. The arm strength is still there and he has only committed one error, which was a throwing error in the first game against the New York Mets. Offensively, he has gotten off to a slow start, striking out six times in 13 at-bats. It's still relatively early and remember that in 2025, we saw a certain Marlins outfielder have a rough spring statistically, only to turn into an All-Star and emerge as the team's best player, so let's not get to conclusions yet. If both make the club, Pauley and Norby will in all likelihood platoon at third base. Just missed: Esteury Ruiz (OF) and Deyvison De Los Santos (1B) Ruiz, who isn't hitting much either to this point and has one minor league option remaining, could be sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins already have a decent number of right-handed-hitting alternatives capable of contributing off the bench. Despite making an offseason trade to acquire Ruiz, the need for him on the Opening Day roster just isn't there right now. Still only 22 years old, De Los Santos has looked good so far, but the Marlins signed Morel to play first base and will also use that position to keep Griffin Conine's bat in the lineup. De Los Santos will go to Jacksonville and if the Morel/Conine experiment at first base does not work, he should be the first player called up, since he is the only natural first baseman on the 40-man roster. Pitchers Starting rotation: RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Eury Pérez, RHP Max Meyer, RHP Chris Paddack and LHP Braxton Garrett No surprises in the starting rotation as Alcantara and Pérez will be right at the top, followed by a trio of Meyer, the free agent signing Paddack and the lefty Garrett. McCullough told reporters that he wants the best five pitchers taking the mound. After a shaky first start for Garrett, he came back out against Israel and threw two shutout innings, striking out one in the process. It would still be nice to see him generate more whiffs as he continues building up. Just missed: LHP Robby Snelling Snelling missing out on the rotation will be motivated in part by the Marlins' desire to gain another year of club control. The only concern with that is if he is called early enough to earn rookie of the year votes and wins the award, he will be given a full year of service time, which is what happened with Paul Skenes two years ago. Bullpen: RHP Pete Fairbanks, RHP Calvin Faucher, RHP Anthony Bender, RHP Tyler Phillips, RHP Lake Bachar, RHP Janson Junk, LHP John King and LHP Cade Gibson Just missed: LHP Andrew Nardi, RHP Michael Petersen, RHP Josh White and RHP Jack Ralston Nardi (blood blister) has yet to pitch in a spring training game, and with an option remaining, he may just begin the season in Jacksonville to get back to full strength and then rejoin the team once he is ready. A southpaw combo of Gibson and King isn't bad at all to begin the season. Michael Petersen, who Ely had making the roster over Bachar, is something I disagreed with. Although Petersen's fastball is one of the best in the Marlins bullpen, averaging 97.5 mph with a plus-three run value, his other pitches just haven't been very effective. Bachar has more of a major league track record and his stuff is intriguing, too. With that being said, Petersen is 31 and you may as well see what you've got with the player. White was on my last roster projection, and you can potentially add him over Bachar, but it has been a while since the Marlins chose to let any pitcher with zero MLB experience make the team's Opening Day roster. Of all the minor league signings, Ralston seems to be the best thus far. In four spring appearances, he has yet to surrender a run and has struck out seven hitters. Health permitting, he will be called up at some point in 2026. View the full article