Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Devon Levi is currently blocked from the NHL roster. This is because the Sabres have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis all ahead of him on their depth chart.
Now, there is a chance that Levi could be made expendable because of it.
"The Buffalo Sabres were shopping goalie Devon Levi and are expected to keep those talks going this summer," Pagnotta wrote.
With the Sabres having multiple goalies ahead of Levi on their depth chart, he could be a good trade chip for Buffalo to dangle this off-season to try to upgrade their roster elsewhere. It is likely that teams out there would be interested in adding Levi to their system, as he has the potential to become a good NHL goalie in the future.
Levi has spent all of this season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, where he has a 17-14-8 record, a .905 save percentage, and a 2.75 goals-against average. In 39 career NHL games with the Sabres, he has a 17-17-2 record and a .894 save percentage.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins left wing Rutger McGroarty (2) plays the puck as Cleveland Monsters left wing Zach Aston-Reese (21) defends during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was a mostly forgettable week for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, going 0-1-1 in a pair of games where they mostly trailed. From WBSPenguins.com:
Wednesday, Mar. 4 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Springfield 5 A spirited third-period comeback fell short in a razor-thin, month-opening loss for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Aidan McDonough scored twice on the power play and set up Tanner Howe for a four-on-four goal in between. McDonough’s three points helped tie the game, 3-3, but a man-advantage marker and subsequent empty netter gave Springfield enough insurance to survive another late surge by Rafaël Harvey-Pinard.
Friday, Mar. 6 – PENGUINS 2 at Syracuse 3 (OT) The Penguins came back from down 2-0 to force overtime, but lost on a power-play goal in extra time. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s rally started with Rutger McGroarty tallying 90 seconds into the second period. Melvin Fernström notched the tying goal with 23.6 seconds left in regulation.
Slow starts and playing from behind was the theme of the week, Springfield was up 3-1 on WBS after two periods and Syracuse was up 2-0 after the first period. That put WBS on the chase for much of those games and while they made some spirited comebacks within, they weren’t able to dig all the way out of the early holes that were dug in either contest.
That didn’t make much of a dent in the standings, the Penguins remain solidly in second place in the Atlantic Division. They figure to formally clinch a playoff spot (top six teams in each division qualify) as soon as this week. As always, the more important race will be to secure second place and receive a bye from the first round of the playoffs. The AHL season is only 72 games long, Charlotte is running out of time to catch WBS, though a 3-0-1 record in their last four has them back in the picture, overall Charlotte has only gained one point in the standings over the last 10 games each team has played.
Here was the lineup used in the last game. WBS is in a tough spot lately with Ville Koivunen and Avery Hayes up in the NHL and Tristan Broz is back on the shelf with an undisclosed week-to-week injury, with Matt Dumba also in and out of the lineup recently. Broz’s injury at center might be the biggest hole of all considering it leaves just one forward under NHL contract (Joona Koppanen) in the lineup. They’ll get some temporary help on the blueline now that Jack St. Ivany has been assigned to the AHL on a conditioning loan.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) March 6, 2026
The lineup has become a strange brew of NHL developmental prospects, AHL veteran hands and other younger players on AHL contracts chasing the dream of getting on the radar. Overall the first group has performed well, Tanner Howe has eight points (3G+5A) in 12 games to start his pro career coming off an AHL rehab. Rutger McGroarty has produced three points (1G+2A) in his last two games, Melvin Fernstrom has made the most of a mid-season move to the AHL with six points (2G+4A) in eight games when he’s been in the lineup.
The third group is perhaps becoming the backbone of the team with players like 23-year old Atley Calvert, 26-year old Aiden McDonaugh (4G+2A in the last five games) and 22-year old Gabe Klassen (10G+7A in his last 23 games) all showcasing well in increasing roles as the season has gone along.
It’s a big weekend ahead for the AHL Pens, who play all weekend on Friday (Hershey), Saturday (Lehigh Valley and Sunday (@Lehigh Valley).
The weather may be nasty in the nation’s capital, but the mood on the ice figures to be just as foul on Wednesday night when the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens renew hostilities at Canadian Tire Centre with a crucial two points on the line.
Weathering the Weather
After a day that was expected to be filled with freezing rain with significant ice buildup in Ottawa, it's possible it may affect Wednesday's game being played at all, but as of mid-afternoon, it looks like business as usual.
Due to weather conditions, they will be opening the doors at 4 p.m. to fans with tickets.
The State of Things
With a win, the Senators would move to within three points of Boston for the final wild-card spot and they'd also move five points behind the Canadiens, who currently occupy third place in the Atlantic Division.
By contrast, a Montreal victory would not only strengthen the Canadiens’ playoff chances, but it would also open up a nine-point advantage on the Sens, which would all but eliminate Ottawa’s hopes of catching them.
When the Senators began their just-completed five-game road trip, they were seven points out of a playoff spot. They went 4-0-1, but that impressive run only moved them two points closer to Boston. The Bruins, Canadiens and Blue Jackets all won Tuesday night. Detroit did not, so they stay just six points up on Ottawa. The Sens need one of the Eastern playoff teams to falter. Perhaps it will be the Red Wings.
Season Series
Montreal leads Ottawa in the season series, winning two of the three matchups, though that doesn’t mean much in Gary Bettman’s three-point world. The Canadiens won both of their games in overtime, while Ottawa’s lone victory came in regulation. As a result, the two teams have each collected four points from their first three meetings.
In a surprising twist, in part two of a back to back, the Canadiens recalled goaltender Jacob Fowler from AHL Laval Rocket and named him the starter for Wednesday. Before his recall, it was assumed that Sam Montembeault would start, but he has struggled of late.
After James Reimer pitched a shutout in Vancouver on Monday night, Linus Ullmark will start for the Senators. While he still runs hot and cold, Ullmark hasn’t lost in regulation (5-0-2) since December 27. That was the night he was pulled from a game in Toronto and ultimately stepped away from the team for about a month to focus on his mental health.
We're Going Streaking
Tim Stützle enters the night riding a 13-game point streak. Most players will never have a streak that long. Stützle had one just back in January. It’s the fourth-longest streak in Senators history, a mark he also shares with Drake Batherson and Marian Hossa. With a point tonight, he would reach 14 games, matching the 14-gamer he produced last season.
No MacDermid Versus Habs
It’s interesting to see Kurtis MacDermid back in healthy-scratch mode. He was acquired in October shortly after the Canadiens beat Ottawa 5-0 in a preseason game in which the Senators were literally beaten up as badly as they were on the scoreboard.
Last Thursday, on the eve of the NHL trade deadline, in a crucial game against Calgary, MacDermid suddenly made his first start of 2026. That led to speculation that Stephen Halliday was sitting out because he might be part of a trade the team was working on. Halliday didn’t go anywhere, as it turned out, and the Senators said they simply wanted MacDermid in the lineup as a deterrent because Calgary is a tough team.
Now, facing an even more important game against their heated rival, the same brawl-ready Canadiens who prompted MacDermid’s acquisition in the first place, the big guy is going to sit.
Arber Xhekaj doesn’t mind that. With Brady Tkachuk unable to fight because of his thumb brace, only the referees can hold Xhekaj accountable.
If MacDermid isn’t suited for a game like this, then why was he acquired? And why did he suddenly show up in the lineup against Calgary?
It strongly suggests Halliday may indeed have been part of trade discussions that ultimately fell through. In fairness, there’s little upside to the Senators publicly acknowledging that. A young player doesn’t need to hear that his team considered moving him, and broadcasting that you’re willing to part with someone rarely helps the value of the asset.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are punching well above the weight class that most of the league assigned them before the season began. Like the Senators, they’re a fast, skilled team that can roll four lines and generally plays the right way. Montreal has 10 players in double digits in goals, while the Senators have 11.
Former Kings Anchor Fourth Lines
Both teams have some expensive fourth lines. Except for Lars Eller, everyone makes north of $3.5 million. The Sens round out their bottom line with newcomer Warren Foegele ($3.5 million) and Fabian Zetterlund ($4.27 million), which is a little pricey for a fourth line. But it's nothing compared to Montreal’s, with Josh Anderson ($5.5 million), Phillip Danault ($5.5 million) and Brendan Gallagher ($6.5 million).
Last season, Danault and Foegele finished fifth and sixth in scoring for the Los Angeles Kings, both topping 40 points. This year, both have really struggled offensively, and it was hoped that their shift to the East might help. Danault has been somewhat better, with 11 points in 27 games, a 33-point pace.
After scoring in his debut in Seattle, Foegele will play his third game as a Senator and make his home debut in Ottawa on Wednesday night.
With a virus making its way through the Canadiens' locker room, the Habs might have some last minute changes before game time. Cole Caufield, for one, is a game time decision.
Take another potential free agent off this summer's list.
Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz signed an eight-year contract extension on Wednesday, March 11 with a cap hit of $8 million. That will make him the team's third-highest player behind Logan Cooley ($10 million cap hit next season) and Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million).
Schmaltz, 30, ranks second on the team in goals (24), assists (35), and points (59) in 62 games. He already has passed his career best in goals and is on pace to shatter his top season in points (63 last season).
He had been No. 2 on USA TODAY Sports' most recent list of top potential free agents and is the latest player to come off what had been an impressive class.
Here are some of the top remaining pending unrestricted free agents:
Top remaining free agents
10. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He has rebounded in his first year in Pittsburgh with 24 goals and 48 points. Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
9. Charlie Coyle, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets held onto their free agents at the deadline because the team has turned things around since Rick Bowness was named coach. With 51 points, he's on pace to set a personal best. Current cap hit: $5.25 million.
8. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals. He had 29 last season. Current cap hit: $7 million.
7. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is 40. He'll either re-sign with Washington or retire. He hasn't indicated his plans. Current cap hit: $9 million.
6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
The 39-year-old has expressed an interest in playing more and he recently said the Penguins would wait until after the season to negotiate. He's averaging a point a game but has dealt with an injury and had an ill-timed five-game suspension. Current cap hit: $6.1 million.
4. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks
Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He ha 46 points in 55 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.
3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with a 50- and a 49-point season. He's at 36 points this season. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
2. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
The defenseman is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 58 points and filled in well while Victor Hedman was out twice with injuries. Current cap hit: $975,000.
1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres
The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He's at 28 goals this season for the surging Sabres. He wants to stay in Buffalo and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to keep him. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.
Which 2026 free agents have signed extensions recently?
Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, eight years, $136 million, a record for its total amount and $17 million cap hit
Edmonton's Connor McDavid, two years, $25 million. The $12.5 million cap hit equals his current one and places him second on the team behind Leon Draisaitl.
Edmonton's Jake Walman, seven years, $49 million
Winnipeg's Kyle Connor, eight years, $96 million, richest contract in team history
Edmonton's Mattias Ekholm, three years, $12 million
Vegas' Jack Eichel, eight years, $108 million
Colorado's Martin Necas, eight years, $92 million
New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom, two years, $12 million
Colorado's Scott Wedgewood, one year, $2.5 million
Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe, eight years, $85 million
Montreal's Mike Matheson, five years, $30 million
Tampa Bay's Ryan McDonagh, three years, $12.1 million
Los Angeles' Artemi Panarin, two years, $22 million
San Jose's Kiefer Sherwood, five years, $28.75 million
Seattle's Jordan Eberle, two years, $11 million
Utah's Nick Schmaltz, eight years, $64 million
What is the NHL salary cap for 2025-26 and beyond?
The 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons could have minor adjustments up or down based on revenues:
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners take on the Rockies and their ace Chase Dollander today. Luis Castillo will take the ball for the Mariners.
Also scheduled to pitch for the Mariners: Casey Lawrence, José Ferrer, Matt Brash, Carlos Vargas, Yosver Zulueta
Injury news:
Bryce Miller will throw a 25-pitch bullpen today as he continues to work his way back from oblique soreness. The Mariners won’t say whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season but it doesn’t feel likely at this point; Cooper Criswell seems like a lock to make the roster at this point, and maybe both him and Emerson Hancock.
Roster moves:
Yesterday the Mariners re-assigned RHP Nick Davila to minor league camp; today they made several more cuts, optioning Blas Castaño and Domingo Gonzalez to Triple-A Tacoma and re-assigning OF Lazaro Montes, RHP Tyler Cleveland, RHP Michael Morales, OF Spencer Packard and C Nick Raposo to minor-league camp.
Game information:
Game time: 1:10 PT
TV: no
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, Seattle Sports app, Gameday, Mariners.com
MONTGOMERY, AL - JULY 03: Lucas Braun #12 of the Columbus Clingstones pitches during the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Montgomery Biscuits at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The life of a baseball prospect is defined primarily in small moments. Over the course of long seasons across multiple years it’s rare to feel that any stand out, or that any stretch of play is particularly pivotal in a player’s progression. However, every year there are some you can point to and see as interesting and immediate headliners for the season.
Stretches of bad play, injuries, or competition from the system around them can put the future of certain players in more immediate question. Others may simply be in a position to have a true breakthrough and put their name in the organizations headlines.
Today, we look at five players who have the most to define this season. Whether it be their roles, their projections, or their national profile, these prospects will be among the most-watched in the Atlanta Braves system this upcoming season and their stories will help shape the way the Braves approach the future.
Isaiah Drake
After a dreadful season in 2024 the sentiment towards Isaiah Drake swung rapidly red, and even following an impressive 2025 his national reputation is still trying to recover. Drake was awful in 2024, but with the combination of his age and the injuries that riddled that season it was not a huge surprise that he bounced back in 2025. He cut down his strikeout rate by nearly a third while hitting for more power throughout the middle of the season, and although he didn’t bring much pop when promoted to High-A his swing and batted ball profile still improved drastically. Drake is heading into this upcoming season at age 20 and has all of the time in the world to tap into his explosive athleticism. While the upcoming players on this list are in more of a time crunch to improve, Drake really just needs to prove that 2025 wasn’t a fluke and to earn respect similar to other players in the system that he performed on-par with or better than last season. Drake’s biggest hole is still his ability to tap into his raw power, but he’s no longer the slappy player that struggled to produce extra base hits in 2024. His ceiling on top prospect lists will be limited until he can grow into at least double-digit home run power, but the 2026 season will be Drake’s opportunity to prove wrong the people who bailed on him a year ago.
Luis Guanipa
Guanipa built up a boatload of hype in the rookie leagues, but since his full-season debut late in 2024 he has looked overmatched against Single-A pitching. That is, when he is even able to play. Guanipa has battled injuries throughout his young career, and in 2025 that limited him to just 29 games with Augusta and another 6 rehabbing down in the complex league. Guanipa made some improvements from 2024 to 2025, most notably with his contact rates, but the questions around his approach and his ability to produce have popped up consistently. Guanipa produces plus bat speed and is strong for someone with his frame, but that simply is not translating to in-game pop at this moment in time. Guanipa struggles to lift the ball with any authority and produced well-below average power numbers last season, and though he has cut down on his strikeouts he hasn’t shown much discipline at the plate. He can get his bat to the ball throughout the zone, but without a major turnaround and a healthy season he may not be seen as a top prospect after this season. It’s not totally dire, as Guanipa is only 20 and the physical traits are still largely there, but without major improvement in 2026 in a third go at A-ball it’s going to be hard to project Guanipa to the upper levels.
Herick Hernandez
Hernandez was impossible in two starts following the draft in 2024, and a large reaction followed with some seeing him as a potential draft steal from the fourth round. Hernandez never really repeated the highs of those two starts in 2025, though he did still flash the potential with his plus slider. The improvement Hernandez showed with his splitter has salvaged his ability to project to a starting role in the future, but that outcome seems to grow narrower with each passing start as his consistency and command did not take any steps forward in 2025. He struggled to locate any of his four pitches, and while he will likely get another shot to start in the upcoming season the Braves are not exactly a patient team when it comes to pitchers. He needs to show significant improvement with his command and quickly in order to remain as a starter, with the likely outcome being a fairly swift move to the bullpen. Hernandez has plenty of room to grow into a major league arm even if that came to pass, but it would not be a surprise if 2026 is his last chance to prove himself even given how little professional experience has.
Lucas Braun
Lucas Braun is coming off of a great season, but he’s now reached the trap that so many pitchers before him did. He’s going to get his first full crack of Triple-A and may even get the chance to pitch in Atlanta this season, but this is the level that the starting room suddenly starts to get crowded. The Braves have a constant rotation of pitchers competing for those spots, and even if it was only a three-game sample Braun didn’t do a whole lot to separate himself in his brief Triple-A stint. His command of all of his pitches and the depth of his arsenal were still on display, but he struggled to miss bats and relied on weak contact to get through his starts. Braun diversifying his arsenal, especially using a sinker more often, helps him in this regard, but we’ve seen multiple guys with his below-average velocity profile hit a wall at Triple-A. Opportunities come and go quickly in baseball, and Braun needs to seize his chance this season and force himself into the conversations when rotation spots open up. Otherwise, more pitchers are going to keep getting healthy and advancing through the system and the window might shut surprisingly quickly.
Hayden Harris
Hayden Harris has performed well in spring training, which is the first step for him actually locking down a major league role this season. His first taste of Triple-A in 2024 proved that even his elite fastball wouldn’t be enough to survive high-level hitters, and he and the Braves made their necessary fixes headed into 2025. With a new sweeper and fledgling splitter Harris made mincemeat of minor league hitters last season, with an absurd 0.52 ERA and 2.07 FIP. His major league debut wasn’t all that impressive, however, and showed the next step in his progression. Harris needs to prove once and for all that his command, which fluctuates between solid and below average, can stay consistently around average or better. He especially needs to make sure he’s keeping his fastball above the hands of hitters, as the only time he really struggles is when his fastball leaks down in the zone. 2026 is his big chance to lock down a major league role and put a stamp on one of the best paths to the bigs in recent memory.
The Buffalo Sabres have become the story of the NHL season, as the club that was in last place in the Eastern Conference in early December is currently atop the Atlantic Division by four points after their 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Jack Quinn notched his first career hat trick for the Sabres, who registered their eighth win in a row coming out of the Olympic break.
Everything seems to be going right with the Sabres, who have an incredible 29-5-2 (.833 winning percentage) record since December 9, and have revitalized a long dormant fanbase, as the club had their sixth straight sellout against the Sharks in a non-conference matchup on a weekday, something that was unheard of the last 14 years unless the club was playing arch-rivals Toronto or Montreal.
The club and their fans are content to ride the wave of positivity and victories at this point, but the news of another pending free agent falling off the board continues to make the chances of winger Alex Tuch re-signing to Buffalo longer.
Tuch scored his 28th goal of the season in the win over the Sharks and is on pace to reach the 30-goal mark for the third time in four years. After the signings of Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin before the trade deadline, the 29–year-old is projected to be the most-sought-after forward on July 1. On Wednesday, the Utah Mammoth signed another pending free agent, Nick Schmaltz, to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension. Schmaltz, 30, stepped into the #1 center role with the Mammoth after the injury to young star Logan Cooley and is on pace to set a career-high in points.
With Schmaltz joining Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, Kempe and Panarin as potential free agents coming off the board, Tuch’s impetus to head to the open market has only increased, especially since there has been no indication that the Sabres have come off their stance of not exceeding $10 million on a new deal.
"We've had some productive talks with (Alex), and we've expressed our desire to sign him, and we'll continue doing that." Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen said after the deadline. "I told his agent that we're not going to make our team weaker if we don't get a deal done by trade deadline. We're not trading him, and we didn't, because we want to strengthen our team and not make it weaker, and Alex is obviously a huge part of it. So now we're going to continue those talks and hopefully get a deal done before July 1."
Unless there is a change in the stance by either side, the only leverage that the Sabres have is their ability to offer an eight-year deal to Tuch, whether it be to spread the AAV out over a longer term or to enable the club to get something back for the winger, similar to what the Toronto Maple Leafs did with Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights. Otherwise, Tuch will only be able to sign a six-year deal with another club after July 1, when the new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 02: Reiver Sanmartin #22 of Team Colombia poses for a photo during the Team Colombia photo day at Pirate City on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Harrison Barden/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last season, the San Francisco Giants defied conventional bullpen wisdom by deciding that left-handed relievers weren’t important. They went most of the season with just one lefty specialist in the bullpen, first Erik Miller and then Joey Lucchesi. Lucchesi finished 13th on the team with 38.1 innings and Miller was 15th with 30 innings in an injury-shortened season. Scott Eyre, Javy Lopez, and Alan Embree watched the 2025 Giants with tears in their eyes and when he learned about it, bullpen innovator Tony La Russa was rolling over in his car.
This season, the Giants may have no choice but to go short on left-handed short relievers. Wednesday, the club announced that bullpen hopeful Reiver Sanmartin will miss three months after his MRI revealed a severe hip flexor strain.
Giants say Reiver Sanmartin (hip strain) will miss three months. They’re very short from left side of bullpen, although Erik Miller is close to returning.
Sanmartin spent most of the last two seasons pitching for the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, after having Tommy John surgery in 2023. The Giants claimed him off waivers in November. The 29-year-old has been quite good in the minor leagues but struggled to stick in a regular role with the Reds, putting up a 5.66 ERA and a 4.45 FIP while logging 62 career appearances.
He does have a minor-league option remaining, which may have been part of his appeal in the first place, and Sanmartin won’t take up a 40-man roster space while he’s on the extended injured list.
This leaves 33-year-old Matt Gage as the lone healthy left-handed short reliever in the Giants bullpen, though Miller is scheduled to return from his back injury Friday. The Giants resigned Lucchesi to a minor-league deal on Monday, perhaps anticipating the bad news about Sanmartin. There’s also Sam Hentges, who signed a one-year deal for $1.4M but has had serious surgeries on his shoulder and knee in the last 18 months and won’t be available when the season starts.
Is this an issue? Sort of! The Giants are following what’s been a league-wide trend where left-handed relievers have become more scarce. Thanks to the new rule, implemented in 2020, that relievers had to face at least three batters, the “LOOGY” (left-handed one-out guy) has disappeared. Frankly, Barry Bonds was supporting a whole division’s worth of LOOGIES for years — Chuck McElroy and Mike Myers were able to put their kids through college purely due to facing Bonds and then leaving the game before Jeff Kent hit.
Still, in a division where the Giants have to face elite left-handed hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy on the Dodgers alone, not to mention Corbin Carroll, Jackson Merrill and other lefties whose names don’t rhyme, having southpaws in the bullpen does seem important!
Maybe the signing of Lucchesi, who was fine-to-good last season, and Miller’s return to health will solve this issue. Maybe Gage will settle down and Hentges will come back refreshed.
But right now, the bullpen is short on left-handed relief help, and if it continues like this, Buster Posey is going to make Aaron Fultz and Jack Taschner cry.
The Canadiens picked up a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson played a role in the victory, as he recorded an assist on Phillip Danault's eventual game-winning goal.
With this assist, Hutson has now made NHL history.
Hutson now has the most assists ever by an NHL defenseman within their first 150 games with 116. Sergei Zubov previously held the record, as the Hockey Hall of Famer recorded 115 assists in his first 150 career NHL games.
Setting this NHL record just shows how special of a talent Hutson is. He has been simply incredible for the Canadiens since his arrival, and he is only getting better as he continues to gain more experience.
In 63 games this season with the Canadiens, Hutson has 11 goals, 54 assists, 65 points, and a plus-28 rating. The 5-foot-9 blueliner is having a fantastic campaign with the Habs, and it will be fascinating to see how he builds on it from here after setting this new record.
Lane Hutson officially has the record for most assists by an NHL defenseman through his first 150 games 🤯
Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brayden Taylor (80) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
26
Brayden Taylor
2B/3B
6
25
24%
2
Brayden Taylor fell from on high but not off the list entirely, with his slide ending at No. 26. An off-season Fall Star, Taylor had a regular season to forget and will be looking to right the ship in 2026. Adding Dean Moss.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Dean Moss, OF 19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: A shot of a baseball on the mound in the bullpen before a spring training game between the Athletics and the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have impressive depth in the starting rotation, and that’s by design. J.J. Picollo has talked before about the need to have eight, nine, or even ten starting pitchers to get through a season, recognizing the high attrition rate among pitchers. The Royals have three recent All-Stars in Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Kris Bubic, as well as veteran (and former All-Star Michael Wacha).
Noah Cameron finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, which you would think would lock up a rotation spot for him. But pitcher Ryan Bergert has been so impressive you have to wonder if there is a rotation spot up for grabs. Or perhaps both make the rotation and Bubic moves back to the bullpen? And oh, by the way, Stephen Kolek isn’t too shabby either. And Bailey Falter has had a solid season as a starter before, and is out of options. And Matt Quatraro thinks Luinder Avila has the chance to become a frontline starter. Perhaps the Royals even go to a six-man rotation?
It really is an embarrassment of riches, but who would you have in the rotation to start the year?
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Michael Lorenzen #24 of Italy walks off the field in the fifth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Italy and the United States at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The group stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic has reached it’s final day. Just three games remain in pool play before the knockout stage begins on Wednesday. How fitting it is that this final day of the group stage might also be one of the most impactful of the tournament.
Game No. 1: Canada at Cuba (República de Cuba)
Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Team Canada (2-1) faces off against Team Cuba (2-1) in a win-or-go-home match to close out San Juan’s Pool A. With Puerto Rico having already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, the winner of this afternoon’s game will advance to the knockout round.
On the bump for Canada is former Rockies righty Cal Quantrill. Quantrill is the son of former Canadian big league pitcher—and current Team Canada pitching coach—Paul Quantrill and will be making his first appearance of the tournament in today’s start. Rockies prospect lefty and 2025 draft pick Antoine Jean will also look to get into today’s game. At the plate, Rockies infielder Edouard Julien looks to get hot after notching his first hit of the tournament against Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
Left-handed pitcher Livan Moinelo will make his second start of the Classic for Team Cuba. The 30-year-old—who pitches for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks during the regular season—worked a scoreless 3 2/3 innings his last time out with four strikeouts, two walks, and two hits given up.
First Pitch: 1:00 PM MDT
TV: FS2
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
RHP Cal Quantrill vs LHP Livan Moinelo
Game No. 2: Italy (Repubblica Italiana) at Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos)
Venue: Daikin Park — Houston, Texas, USA
After Italy’s stunning upset of Team USA on Tuesday, the fate of three teams now hangs on this one game.
If the Italians (3-0) win this evening and complete the group stage with an undefeated record, they will advance along with the United States (3-1) and Mexico (2-1) will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins while scoring six or more runs, they will advance along with the United States and Italy will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins and scores five or fewer runs, they will advance along with Italy and the United States will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins and scores exactly five runs, they will advance and the final spot in Houston’s Pool B will depend on other tiebreaker scenarios.
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed starter Austin Nola will take the mound for Team Italy, making his first appearance of the tournament. Benji Gil and Vinny Castilla’s Team Mexico has yet to announce their starter.
First Pitch: 5:00 PM MDT
TV: FS1
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
RHP Austin Nola vs TBD
Game No. 3: Dominican Republic (República Dominicana) at Venezuela (Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela)
Venue: loanDepot Park — Miami, Florida, USA
Both participants in the final game of Miami’s Pool D have already clinched their places in the knockout stage with 3-0 records, meaning tonight’s group stage finale is for the pool’s top seed and for pride.
Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara will get the start for the Dominican Republic in his home ballpark, backed up by a lineup jam-packed with talent like Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Meanwhile, Rockies reliever Juan Mejia—who has already pitched a scoreless inning this tournament—and former Rockies reliever Carlos Estévez are primed to make appearances from the bullpen.
Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodríguez will take the mound for Venezuela with his own murderer’s row behind him. Luis Arráez already has multiple extra-base hits—including two home runs—while Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr is 4-for-10 with a home run of his own. The pair are joined by Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who is 3-for-3 with a double and a walk so far this tournament. Rockies right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela may have the chance to come out of the bullpen for his first appearance of the Classic as well.
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 02: Jhancarlos Lara #92 of the Glendale Desert Dogs pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch - Glendale on Sunday, November 2, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Now that we are just over two weeks away from Opening Day for the 2026 MLB season, it is time to start picturing what the Atlanta Braves roster could look like. That also includes factoring in which of the Braves prospects have a real chance to reach Atlanta this year, as things stand today, and what we may be able to expect out of them this season.
Players listed in this article are guys who still have remaining prospect eligibility, so no Nacho Alvarez or Hurston Waldrep, and have at least a 50% chance of seeing the big leagues this season – which means guys who would need everything to break right, like a Luke Sinnard, will not be included. Some of these guys, namely Didier Fuentes and Hayden Harris, have already spent some time in the big leagues, but since this is about projecting what we can expect out of them in 2026, they will be included.
Lucas Braun, RHP
Braun has 37 appearances in Double-A and three starts in Triple-A on his resume heading into 2026, which when combined with the injuries to the Braves pitching staff and health questions surrounding the remaining options, makes him a candidate to see Atlanta at some point this year. Braun is likely a bit down the options to earn a big league start, but a 24-year-old with good command and pitchability will potentially be able to handle a few spot starts without hurting the team much. It’s hard to picture him having a bigger role in Atlanta this season, but the Braves would likely be happy with him getting a few decent starts from him as they get him ready for more next year.
Blake Burkhalter, RHP
As a 25-year-old with 31 innings of experience at the Triple-A level, Burkhalter is an excellent candidate to see Atlanta at some point this year. He has moved to the bullpen full time, but he would be a guy capable of either pitching in middle relief or giving some multi-inning outings this year. He is a guy who could potentially be up for good at some point this year.
Didier Fuentes, RHP
If we are being honest, Fuentes’ time in Atlanta last year didn’t go well. The good news there is that is mostly because he was promoted before he was truly ready for it because of injuries to other arms. A year later and the now 20-year-old has looked great in limited spring training action. Through two innings of big league spring training work, he has four strikeouts with no hits or walks. The Braves may want to be extra careful with him to not end up rushing him again, but he could be ready for a backend of the rotation job by the end of this season.
Hayden Harris, LHP
Harris appeared in three games last year for the Braves, and has been excellent this spring. In his first five innings he has a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 12 strikeouts to just two walks. Harris is competing for a big league job out of camp, and even if he doesn’t get one he could be ready soon after the start of the season. Harris could factor in as a solid lefty out of the pen earning middle relief innings quickly this season.
Jim Jarvis, INF
Jim Jarvis may not be a big prospect, but he’s an upper level minor leaguer who brings plenty of versatility and experience. He is a guy who could get a chance to be promoted and help off the bench in short stints, especially seeing how the Braves have sent him to the Arizona Fall League and have given him 14 big league at bats so far this spring.
Jhancarlos Lara, RHP
Lara spent 51 innings in Gwinnett last year, and the now 23-year-old reliever went and had a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League after the season. Although he was already sent down, he will get a chance to earn his way to Atlanta this season as a power armed reliever. He may not be ready for a late-inning role this year, but I fully expect to see him get a taste of the big leagues this year in some capacity.
David McCabe, 1B
After McCabe saw 28 games in Triple-A last year and considering he turns 26 later this month, he will be a candidate to be promoted at some point this year. It’s hard to see him getting a major role in the big leagues based on his inconsistent power production in the minors, but with his on base ability he could be a candidate for some spot starts at first base or DH if the need arises.
JR Ritchie, RHP
Ritchie reached Triple-A last year and is off to a very strong start to his spring. With his 11 starts at Gwinnett last year, followed by his stuff looking even sharper this spring en route to a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and eight strikeouts in eight innings, he is trying to compete for a spot in the initial rotation ahead of Opening Day. While the odds aren’t fully in his favor, the injuries have stacked up and he has done everything he could to show he is close to ready. It’s fair to expect Ritchie to spend a good chunk of his season in Atlanta, being a solid back of the rotation option for the Braves.
Brett Sears, RHP
After a meteoric rise across four levels in 2025, Sears got himself to the doorstep of the big leagues. He doesn’t have a ton of Triple-A or upper level minor league experience yet, but he is a guy with 84 innings between Columbus and Gwinnett and already set to turn 26 in May. Sears will have a chance to earn some spot starts, or even some relief outings this year as an older, advanced pitchability arm. I wouldn’t expect him to have a huge role in the big leagues this year, but can really picture him helping in some manner.
New York Yankees Bobby Abreu is congratulated by Derek Jeter after hitting his 4th HR as a Yankee vs the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada September 19, 2006. (Photo by Jay Gula/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you were to rank the Yankees’ all-time best in season trades, the deal that brought Bobby Abreu to the Bronx in 2006 would rank up there. For what ended up being basically nothing in terms of prospects sent the other way, the Yankees got two and a half seasons of a very good hitter, who fit like a glove with the rest of their lineup.
With today being Abreu’s 52nd birthday, let’s take a look back at the trade, his stint in pinstripes, and the rest of his baseball career.
Bob Kelly “Bobby” Abreu Born: March 11, 1974 (Maracay, Venezuela) Yankees Tenure: 2006-08
The second of six children, Abreu was born in Venezuela in 1974. His love of baseball came from his father, who had played locally. From early on, Abreu showed an aptitude for playing himself, and that got him signed by the Houston Astros in 1990.
Right from making his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 1991, Abreu showed a talent at what would become his greatest skill: getting on base. Even as his other skills needed more time develop, he OBP’ed .358 that season, and he would spend pretty much the rest of his career in that range or higher. By 1994, the rest of his game caught up, and he posted OPS marks of .898, .911, and .847 from ‘94-96. He was already pretty well regarded in the Astros’ system, but that got him truly on the radar and got him a call up in 1996.
Abreu didn’t light the world on fire in his cup of coffee in 1996, but he did get recalled to be Houston’s starting right fielder in ‘97. However, another slow start and then a wrist injury limited him to just 59 games and an 87 OPS+ that year. Following the ‘97 season, Houston left him unprotected for the expansion draft, with the Devil Rays and Diamondbacks set to come into the league, instead opting to protect Richard Hidalgo.
Tampa Bay took advantage of that and selected Abreu in the expansion draft. They then made a pretty bad mistake themselves with the outfielder. The Devil Rays immediately flipped Abreu to the Phillies that day, in exchange for longtime Philadelphia shortstop Kevin Stocker. Those choices proved to be disastrous ones for both the Astros and now Rays.
In Philadelphia, Abreu hit the ground running. In his first real full season in the majors, he hit .312/.409/.497 with 17 home runs and 19 stolen bases. Over the next nine seasons in Philadelphia, Abreu became a consistently excellent player for the Phillies, posting 47.2 fWAR over his career there. However, his on-base skill wasn’t fully appreciated yet, as evidenced by the fact that he didn’t make an All-Star appearance until 2004, having already put up multiple 6+ WAR seasons. He made it back the next year, and proceeded to put on a show in that year’s Home Run Derby in Detroit.
The next year, the Phillies got off to a slow start, and general manager Pat Gillick decided to tear down a little bit. Age-wise, Abreu didn’t quite fit with the Phillies’ up-and-coming young core of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and others, so Gillick decided to try and send out Abreu. However, the outfielder also had a full no-trade clause, and said he would only waive it for a few teams, one of whom happened to be the Yankees.
Meanwhile in the Bronx, the Yankees were looking for some kind of solution in right field. Gary Sheffield had gone into the year in the spot, but he had injured his wrist earlier in the season, eventually forcing him to undergo surgery. With Sheffield out, the Yankees were really struggling to find someone to play right in what was otherwise a pretty stacked lineup. Eventually, they came to a deal with the Phillies, sending prospects C.J. Henry, Jesus Sanchez, Carlos Monasterios, and Matt Smith to Philadelphia in exchange for Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle. At the time, Henry was ranked as one of the best prospects in the Yankees’ system, but in Philadelphia, the trade was still bemoaned as “The Great Gillick Giveaway.”
While the season wouldn’t end as hoped, Abreu helped galvanize the Yankees down the stretch in 2006 with a stellar .330/.419/.507 showing in 58 contests, good for a 138 OPS+. He drove in plenty of runs himself (including seven in one game against the D-Rays on September 12th), but Abreu also became a very helpful table-setter in the lineup, leading the league in walks that year, while seeing an average of 4.4 pitches per plate appearance.
The following year, Abreu overcame a bit of a slow start to still end up with a .818 OPS and over 100 RBI, though playoff success continued to elude the mid-2000s Yanks and they went out in another four-game ALDS. He posted a 120 OPS+ in 2008, and was the last person to record a stolen base at old Yankee Stadium. After that season, in which the Yankees missed the playoffs, the team decided to retool and focused their free agent spending elsewhere, eventually letting the likes of Abreu and fellow OBP machine Jason Giambi walk.
Abreu ended up signing with the Angels, and had a couple good years there, although they did fall to his old Yankees’ team in the 2009 ALCS. After a slow start in 2012, the Angels released Abreu, as they had some outfielder named Mike Trout up and coming. Abreu went on to play for the Dodgers later that year, and had a brief run with the Mets in 2014 before retiring.
In recent years, people have begun to make a case that Abreu should be in the Hall of Fame. While he was never quite talked about in that way during his career, the things he was excellent at have been seen in a new light thanks to more advanced analytics and WAR. He reached 30.8 percent in the most recent ballot, which was 11 percentage points higher than 2025. If that trend continues, Abreu might very well end up in Cooperstown in the coming years.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
