Gore was 34 and, according to a social media post from his wife Britney, died following complications during a routine surgery. Gore is survived by his wife and three children
A revered teammate and dynamic personality, Gore’s tremendous speed kept him in the major leagues for parts of eight seasons and produced one of the most remarkable feats to which a player could lay claim: He was a 2015 World Series champion with the Royals in his second season in the bigs, but had not yet recorded his first major league hit.
We are heartbroken from the loss of Terrance Gore, and send our love to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/qgZFkHRFSx
In fact, it wasn’t until his fifth major league season – 2018 with the Chicago Cubs – that he got his first hit, a single up the middle off future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer.
Yet his legs held immense value.
Gore was clocked at 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and the lower-revenue Royals, always seeking an edge, deployed him as a designated runner during their two-year run as American League champions that culminated in their 2015 title.
He was nearly impossible to catch: Gore was 17-for-17 in stolen bases to begin his career (though he was caught once in the postseason), finally getting nabbed by Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez in 2016.
By then, though, he was a cult hero in Kansas City, on a Royals team that in a powerball era somehow conjured up memories of its 1980s speed and defense dynasty. Led by All-Star Lorenzo Cain and buttressed by Jarrod Dyson and Gore, Kansas City found a way to topple bigger-market clubs and win its first championship in 30 years.
It was Dyson who famously coined the phrase “That’s what speed do,” yet even Dyson could not keep up with Gore, who stole a base and scored a walk-off run in his major league debut.
"I wouldn’t say I’m cocky," he told the Kansas City Star in 2014, "but I know I’m really fast.
"And it’s going to take a perfect throw."
Gore grew into a more fully-formed player in his second tour with the Royals, batting .275 with 14 hits in 58 at-bats in 2019, and swiping 13 bases in 18 attempts.
He’d latch on with the Dodgers, Braves and Mets in subsequent years, and got one more shot at postseason glory, appearing in the 2021 NLDS for Atlanta. Yet he showed how big his heart was once the Braves went on to win that World Series.
As the Braves celebrated closing out the Houston Astros in Game 6 of that Fall Classic, Gore made sure to pull out his phone and shoot a video call to pitcher Charlie Morton, who broke his foot in Game 1 and was home recuperating from surgery.
Terrance Gore = the ultimate teammate. The 3-time World Series champ video chatted Charlie Morton after the final out so he could celebrate with the @Braves.
Simply, he wanted Charlie to be part of the celebration. And somehow, wherever Gore went, a celebration – no matter how unlikely – of some sort was likely to follow.
Gore retired without a major league home run - or even a run batted in - yet managed to impact the game forever.
Oct 13, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after the seventh inning against the New York Mets in game four of the NLDS at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Looking back at the 2015 season, you can’t help but think of what was probably the greatest Cy Young battle in the modern era, as Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Jake Arrieta delivered a memorable three-way race, with the award going to the Cubs’ ace. Greinke and Kershaw were the heart and soul of that Dodgers pitching staff, with Greinke making a run at the scoreless innings record still held by Orel Hershiser and Kershaw putting up his only 300-strikeout campaign, the first one baseball had seen since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling both did it in 2002.
Across their tenure as a one-two punch at the top of the Dodgers’ rotation, Kershaw and Greinke had probably their worst supporting cast that year, with them combining to accumulate 16.1 of the 18.1 bWAR the Dodgers staff had as a whole. Those two and the Dodgers’ staff as a whole met their match in an exciting five-game NLDS against the young and exciting Mets, but in Game 4, Kershaw reminded everyone who was the best in the business.
The upside of having two so dominant arms, particularly in the NLDS, was that if you showed the willingness to pitch one of them on short rest, you could have the two covering four out of the five starts of the series — that’s exactly what the Dodgers did. Finding themselves with their backs against the wall, trailing the series 2-1 and on the road, the Dodgers sent out Kershaw to start Game 4 in Queens, hoping to stay alive to give Greinke the ball back home.
A notorious Met killer in his career, Kershaw had fond memories of his last visit to New York, previously throwing a complete-game shutout against the Mets in 2015—part of an incredible run of form that saw him throw four straight scoreless appearances of eight innings or more. On the flip side, he had just been outdueled by Jacob deGrom in game 1 of this series, putting the Dodgers in this position of a must-win game just to stay alive. Kershaw’s Game 1 line was solid, as the sole blemish on his record through six frames had been a solo shot to Daniel Murphy. After a walk to Curtis Granderson loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, his third walk of that frame, Pedro Báez replaced him only to give up a couple of runs in what turned out to be a 3-1 loss with deGrom dominating on the other side of it.
While the individual numbers and the subsequent loss were disappointing, Kershaw did pitch well that night, including securing 11 strikeouts, and with a little more efficiency, he’d be able to limit a Mets offense riding on the backs of a Daniel Murphy’s hot stretch that did go down in Mets history. More importantly, he faced Steven Matz in Game 4 and not deGrom, who alongside Kershaw became the first duo of starters to both strike out 11 or more batters in a postseason game.
If we can point to Báez, perhaps letting Kershaw down by allowing those two pivotal insurance runs to score in Game 1, for as dominant as Kershaw was on short rest in Game 4, the outlook might’ve been completely different if not for Justin Turner. The Dodgers’ starting third baseman not only got one of the biggest hits of the game in a 3-1 win, with a double that drove in two, but the final out came on a terrific defensive play from him. Wilmer Flores was up with one on and two out in the seventh, and grounded one to third base that was headed down the line if not for a terrific diving stop from Turner.
The storylines are written, and then the narrative gets put in to fit whatever happens. This opportunity for the Mets came about in large part because Kershaw mishandled what would’ve inevitably been a tough play to throw out Cespedes on a squibbler towards third. Had the Mets seized this chance, the idea that that play had rattled Kershaw would’ve been in everyone’s minds, true or otherwise, but it didn’t happen. Kershaw got Travis d’Arnaud and Lucas Duda before Turner helped him out with Flores, as we saw above.
Much like in Game 1, Murphy was the biggest problem for Kershaw, as the Mets’ second baseman, previously not known for his power output, was that October hitting like Chase Utley in the 2009 World Series. The Mets’ only run off Kershaw came on a Murphy solo blast in the fourth, turning on a high-heater that caught too much of the plate.
Murphy alone couldn’t beat Kershaw, who managed to keep Yoenis Cespedes and other dangerous Mets hitters quiet throughout the evening.
Already then, dealing with questions about his postseason performances, coming into that game having lost his last five postseason starts, four of them against the Cardinals, Kershaw completed seven magnificent frames on three days of rest, a little shy of 100 pitches. History doesn’t remember that performance too much because the Dodgers went on to lose Game 5 at home in a brutal fashion, but that doesn’t erase what was done—even back then, performances of that caliber on short rest had long stopped being a regular occurrence, further enhancing the magnitude of this accomplishment.
In fact, Kershaw’s ability and confidence to start on short rest played a role in the decision to have him start Game 1 over Zack Greinke, as the possibility of a short-rest start was acknowledged right from the get-go. One could argue that Kershaw would’ve started Game 1 regardless, as both he and Greinke put up massive seasons; that differentiator between the two certainly helped make the decision easier.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 09: Terrance Gore #11 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout during Game 2 of the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 9, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Terrance Gore, the fleet-footed outfielder and pinch-running specialist who appeared in the 2021 post-season with the Atlanta Braves, has passed away at age 34.
Gore, a native of Macon, Ga., passed away unexpectedly due to complications from a procedure, according to reports. He appeared in parts of eight MLB seasons from 2014 through 2022 – appearing in 112 games but stepped to the plate only 85 ties. He did steal 43 bases during his career, and became notorious for his inclusion on post-season rosters due to his base-running abilities.
He was a member of the Braves World Series-winning team in 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship squad, as well as the Kansas City Royals 2015 World Series championship team and the 2014 Royals team that reached the World Series.
He also appeared in the post-season with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.
Gore stole five bases in the post-season across 11 games but took only two plate appearances, both with the Cubs in 2018.
He did not appear with the Braves in the 2021 regular season – spending most of the season at Triple-A Gwinnett – but pinch-ran in the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, marking his only big-league appearance with the Braves.
Keep his family – including his wife and young children – in your thoughts.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 17: General view of the ballpark during a spring training game as the San Diego Padres face against the Milwaukee Brewers at Peoria Stadium on March 17, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. Players wore green hats to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The addition of Miguel Andujar by the San Diego Padres and their general manager A.J. Preller earlier this week would not qualify as a significant addition to the roster, but it was the first major league addition to the lineup since the Padres signed Sung-Mun Song in December. It showed that Preller’s comments from Padres FanFest about adding a bat or two and adding starting pitching was not just lip service. The question is what is the next move, and will it be the significant move the Friar Faithful have been waiting for throughout the offseason?
Recent reports said San Diego made a late run at free agent starter Framber Valdez before he signed with the Detroit Tigers. More recently, the Padres were in the mix for free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt before he decided to re-sign with the New York Yankees. The reports are promising to an extent, whether the efforts by Preller and the Padres were authentic is a fair question considering the reported financial constraints.
Gaslamp Ballasked readers earlier this week if they expected Preller to make a significant move prior to the start of Spring Training and the fanbase was split. The numbers might have been different if the question was, “Will Preller and the Padres make a significant move prior to Opening Day?”
San Diego added Dylan Cease in a trade with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 as the Padres were leaving to face the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season in the Seoul Series in South Korea. Preller added last season’s ace, Nick Pivetta, after the start of Spring Training with a creative deal that kept the cost of the right-hander down in 2025 but jumps to $19 million in 2026. Considering the contracts of Cease with the Toronto Blue Jays (seven years, $210 million), Ranger Suarez with the Boston Red Sox (five years, $130 million) and Valdez with the Tigers (three years, $115 million), the cost for Pivetta seems like a bargain, especially if he can replicate what he did in 2025.
There are free agents available who would be positive additions for the Padres. Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt are considered the top three pitchers available followed by future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. The position player free agent market is not as robust as Rhys Hoskins, Michael Conforto and Marcell Ozuna lead the group. If Preller were to sign two pitchers and a bat from these players that would be significant. One player from each of these groups would solidify the roster, but the cost to pull off either scenario could be too steep.
Preller could look to deal with a team like the Baltimore Orioles who have first baseman Ryan Mountcastle without a position after the team signed free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. The Boston Red Sox are in a similar position with first baseman Tristan Casas after Boston traded for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras. The Red Sox also have a crowded outfield, and Preller has long been thought to covet Jarren Duran. Perhaps it is a trade with one of these teams or another that qualifies as the significant move to improve the Padres roster. The problem in this scenario is the San Diego farm system lacks depth and inventory and was recently ranked as the worst farm system in MLB.
Time is running out on Preller to make a “significant move” prior to Spring Training with pitchers and catchers set to report on Wednesday and the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 15. But at this point any move that improves the roster and gives the Padres a chance to make the postseason will be welcomed – no matter when it comes.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a home run during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Olivia Vega/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Washington Nationals are highly unlikely to make the playoffs in 2026. Paul Toboni knows that and so do Nationals fans. Even finishing above .500 feels like a pipe dream. However, that does not mean the Nats season is destined for failure. We are just going to have to look at things beyond the win/loss record. Here are some things that would make the Nats 2026 season a success.
Continued Growth of the Young Core of Position Players:
Despite the failure of the previous regime’s rebuild, the Nationals still have a group of promising young position players at the MLB level. The development of players like James Wood, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews, Brady House and CJ Abrams will be crucial. If those players develop, this Nats season can be a success even if the team struggles to reach 75 games.
James Wood is the most important piece of this young core and his growth is paramount to the success of this team moving forward. In the first half, Wood looked like a potential MVP contender. He posted a .915 OPS with 24 homers. However, Wood really tailed off down the stretch due to out of control strikeout rates.
Wood has so much natural talent and he has the ceiling of a 40 home run, 20 stolen base guy. He is the only player on this team with top 10 player in baseball upside. Hopefully, this new staff can help him make adjustments and help him stay locked in for a full season.
🔦 Superstar Spotlight: James Wood ⭐️
The Capitol's Kaiju: 🏛️ 🦖
Age: 23 – 6' 7" | 234 lbs (The size of an NFL defensive end)
• 80-Grade raw power with "freakish" speed for his size. • Advanced barrel control and a coordinated "short" swing despite his long levers.
He is not the only young position player this staff will need to develop though. Dylan Crews and Brady House showed they have a long way to go with their MLB performances last year. The talent is still there for both, especially Crews. It is critical for the health of the rebuild that at least one of those guys takes a big step next year.
There is also new catcher Harry Ford. Toboni’s first big move as Nats POBO was to acquire him in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer. We know Ferrer has big upside and a lot of team control. That means the Nats are going to have to turn Ford into a quality starting catcher to make this trade a win.
Given his production and pedigree, Ford has a good chance of becoming that. However, this new coaching staff will need to help him, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If Ford becomes a starting catcher, this trade is an easy win for the Nats. Overall, the Nats have a lot of position players that could break out. For this season to be a success, a few of them need to take major steps in the right direction.
Find Breakout Stars on the Mound:
The Nationals pitching staff has very few name brands, especially after trading away MacKenzie Gore. Given the names on the roster, it would be tough to project the Nats pitching staff to be even average. I would expect some blowup outings this year. However, the season could still be a success if a few Nats arms really break out.
My breakout candidate on the staff is Cade Cavalli. He has tremendous stuff and finally has a full, healthy offseason. There are a lot of smart people that really like what Cavalli has to offer. His fastball is in the upper 90’s and he has a filthy curveball to go with it. Cavalli’s changeup also shows major promise as well.
New pitching coach Simon Mathews will have a lot to work with here. However, Cavalli is far from a finished product. He gets hit harder than a guy with his stuff should. That comes down to his command within the zone. Cavalli was throwing strikes, but too many pitches were in the middle of the plate.
Sequencing is one thing a lot of Nats pitchers could improve. Last season, Nats pitchers were throwing way too many fastballs. We saw what happened when Kyle Finnegan cut his fastball usage after his trade to the Tigers. I would expect the Nats fastball usage to come way down this season.
Too many Nats pitchers were throwing their average heaters far too often. This applies to the likes of Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and relievers such as Jackson Rutledge. I think all of these pitchers will be leaning more on their secondary stuff this year.
Speaking of relievers, Paul Toboni is betting on internal improvement and his ability to find hidden gems. There is no clear closer right now, though my prediction would be that Clayton Beeter gets the 9th inning. Given his love for the waiver wire, I could really see Toboni churning through bullpen arms until he finds the right combination.
Clayton Beeter slams the door for his 1st career save 🔒🔥 13.2 straight scoreless, 20 Ks, just 2 hits allowed since joining the Nats. 96+ heat, filthy slider. The kid’s nasty. #NATITUDEpic.twitter.com/JtgcqKPGN7
Even when the Nats were good, Mike Rizzo struggled to build bullpens. I have more faith in Toboni to find the right mix in the ‘pen. The Red Sox had a really good bullpen last year despite not having many big names besides Aroldis Chapman.
Whether it is Paxton Schultz, or Jackson Rutledge, or Cole Henry, I expect a couple of these under the radar bullpen arms to surprise us. I have no idea which ones will though. The pitching will likely struggle this year, but hopefully the Nats can find a few hidden gems in the rubble.
Development on the Farm:
While the MLB team will have the most eyeballs, some of the most important Nationals developments of 2026 will be taking place on the farm. Paul Toboni’s stated mission is to build a scouting and player development monster. A lot of that process will be taking place in the minors.
Toboni has already improved the Nats farm system with his trades, but that is only the first step of his process. He has placed a huge emphasis on improving players and building organizational depth. We will get a chance to see that in action on the farm.
Right now, the Nats farm is considered to be in the middle of the pack by most. However, I believe the Nats will have a top 10, if not top 5 farm by the end of the year. While some of that will be due to future trades and the draft, the main improvement will come from internal development.
The Nationals farm system is good right now but has a chance to be special this time next year. Our guy @PaulCubbage23 examined what the Nats system could look like in a year https://t.co/chHn954Zyv
The Nats have so many breakout candidates on the farm right now. It feels like at least a couple of them have to explode this year. There is finally a proper infrastructure around these talented players and a real focus on their development.
There may not be a ton of winning at the MLB level, but I think we will see a lot of wins on the farm. Paul Toboni is building this thing from the ground up. That means we will see success at the minor league levels before the MLB. While minor league records do not mean a ton, do not be surprised if these Nats farm teams win more games. It would be a good sign of improved depth in the system.
A lot of the Nats talent is at the lower levels right now. The Fred Nats in particular should be a lot of fun to watch. Following these guys from Low-A to the big leagues is very exciting. Hopefully, the guys we see on the Fred Nats right now are playing playoff games for the Nationals in 5 years.
What Does Success Look Like:
For 2026, winning a lot of games is not what will make the Nats season a success. Sure, it would be awesome if this team shocked the world and made the playoffs, but that is unlikely. There are also other ways to measure success for this team.
I get that it is tiring to have to measure success through development rather than wins, but that is the reality of the situation. The Nats are not built to win now. Hopefully this team can win more games than last year, but even if they win 65-70 games, the season can be successful if the right players take the right steps and the farm system is in a healthy position. The hope is that these moral victories will turn into actual victories in the future.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 01: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after an inning-ending double play during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a right-handed hitting first baseman who turns 27 in March. And, yeah, we really don’t need a ‘better know’ for him.
He signed a 14-year contract extension back in April of last year, worth half a billion dollars.
Seven seasons into his MLB career, he has a 25.9 bWAR, a .288/.366/.495 batting line and 183 home runs.
Vlad is moving up the Blue Jays leader boards:
7th in bWAR: 25.9 (Lloyd Moseby is 26.0) 3.0 WAR next year would put him in the top five.
8th in Batting Average: .288.
9th in On Base: .366.
8th in Slugging: .495.
8th in OPS: .861.
14th in Games Played: 975
10 in Runs Scored: 571.
8th in Hits: 1077.
7th in Home Runs: 183.
9th in RBI: 591
7th in Walks: 430
The Jays’ position player leader in bWAR is Jose Bautista at 38.4, so Vlad needs 12.5 more to get there. I’d imagine he’ll get there before that contract is up. The top pitcher in bWAR is Dave Stieb, at 56.9, which will take Vlad a little longer to top.
And he’s 153 back of Carlos Delgado in home runs. He should pass that with several years left on his contract.
Vlad had a much better second half (.314/376/.515) than first half (.277/.384/434) in his 2025 season. And then he had an all-world playoff run, hitting .397/.494/.795 with 8 home runs (8 home runs in 18 games, that would be 72 home runs in 162 games). That’s really turning it on when we needed him. I’d love him to carry that over to this season.
Beyond that, I’m glad that the talk about moving him to third has ended. He’s the guy you move other players around for; you don’t move him for anyone else.
I don’t see him as a Gold Glove first baseman, but he does make some sensational plays. Like this one:
Last year, Steamer figure Guerrero to play 150 games, hit 33 home runs, with a .297/.375/529 line. He ended up playing 156 games, with 23 home runs, and a .292/.381/.467 line, so Steamer was a fair bit high on homers, but the rest was pretty close.
This year Steamer thinks he’ll play 143 games (I think I’d take the over), with 32 home runs, a .299/.385/.532 line and a 4.8 fWAR.
BCB reader Clark Addison sent me some more photos to sleuth, and said none were easy.
Well! I love a sleuthing challenge.
Today, we have a photo of actor Joe Mantegna, a big Cubs fan and creator of the play “Bleacher Bums.” He’s with Cubs manager Joe Maddon, which already dates it between 2015 and 2019.
The first clue is on the jersey Mantegna is wearing. The No. 18 likely means this was taken in 2018.
The next clue — and the most important one — is on the ribbon board you can see behind the two men.
Nick Pivetta is pitching against the Cubs. Only part of the Cubs pitcher’s name is visible, but it’s clearly Tyler Chatwood.
Pivetta was pitching for the Phillies in 2018. There was just one game he pitched against the Cubs in Wrigley Field that year, and indeed, the Cubs pitcher that day was Tyler Chatwood.
That game happened Thursday, June 7, 2018.
Anthony Rizzo homered to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the fourth. The Phillies tied it up off Chatwood in the top of the fifth, but in the bottom of the inning, the Cubs put three on the board. Tommy La Stella and Kris Bryant had RBI singles and Rizzo’s sac fly scored the third run of the inning.
The Phillies scored a pair off reliever Brian Duensing in the sixth, but Justin Wilson, Pedro Strop and Brandon Morrow shut them down the rest of the way and the Cubs won 4-3. They were 35-24 after this win and in second place in the NL Central, half a game behind the Brewers.
Fortunately, this game happened in a time when MLB was putting all games on YouTube after they went final, so here’s the entire game:
Obviously, Joe Mantegna was at Wrigley that day to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. There’s no video I’ve been able to find of this, but here’s a photo taken that day:
Lastly, if you look very closely at the fans in the bleachers in the photo at the top of this post, I’m in it. Back row, section of the bleachers closest to the foul pole.
From left, Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch (14) talks to bench coach George Lombard (26) and pitching coach Chris Fetter (41) during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
Presumably, the Detroit Tigers 2026 roster is pretty well set at this point. It’s really hard to expect any more major moves after the addition of Framber Valdez, while that and Tarik Skubal’s victory in arbitration has likely maxxed out their payroll for the season.
Still, rosters always end up getting tweaked a little bit between now and Opening Day. It might take an injury, such as rumors of ongoing shoulder trouble with Reese Olson, to push the team to another major league signing, and even that probably isn’t enough after the Valdez addition. The Tigers are still pretty weak at the shortstop position, but there are no major league caliber shortstops available in free agency, and trading for one at this point is virtually impossible. In center field, there are plenty of questions about Parker Meadows, but for now Javier Báez, Matt Vierling, and eventually Max Clark are the likely internal solutions. Perhaps Trei Cruz or Wencell Pérez can help out there as well as required.
That doesn’t mean that building in a little more depth in out of the question, however.
There’s always some nagging detail we’d like to see addrsesed even on the small side of the scale. Is there a position or a role on the bench, or even at the Triple-A level that you’d like to see addressed with a minor signing or trade to help bulk up the depth chart and provide a little more competition in spring camp?
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 15: Ben Hess #73 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees announced their non-roster spring training invitees on Thursday, a total of 27 players. This means 14 new pitchers will be reporting to camp: seven from within the organization and seven who signed some version of a minor-league contract for the 2026 campaign. Among the invitees are two of the organizations’s most notable pitching prospects and a few more players who found success last season and will look to keep the momentum alive.
The prospects headlining the list are the two pitchers by far the most likely to pitch in the Bronx at some point in the near future: Ben Hess and Carlos Lagrange. As a reminder, well-regarded young starter Elmer Rodríguez will be there as well, but’s already on the 40-man roster and doesn’t need an NRI.
Hess was the Yankees’ first-round draft pick in 2024, and rewarded their investment by posting much better numbers as a pro than he ever did at the University of Alabama. The 23-year-old has a lively fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a deep arsenal with two plus breaking balls and an effective changeup. He ended the season with Double-A Somerset, and while he’s likely to start the 2026 season there as well, Hess is a top candidate to earn a promotion to Triple-A sometime this year. If all goes right, he could even make his MLB debut à la 2025 Cam Schlittler — though the latter gained far more in-season helium last year.
Lagrange’s stock is in a similar place as Hess’s with both pitchers usually somewhere in the back end of Top 100 overall prospects lists, but his career journey to this point has looked a lot different. The 6-foot-7 Lagrange struggled severely with command issues prior to last season and walked 20 percent of the hitters he faced in Low-A and the Complex league in 2024. His 2025 campaign was a revelation, as much-improved control allowed his lethal fastball-slider combination to pop. He struck out 33.4 percent of the hitters he faced. The walks issue was more apparent in Double-A than it was in High-A and a few flare-ups caused his BB% and ERA to inflate, but when Lagrange was on his “A” game, he recorded several of the mostimpressivestarts at any level of the Yankees’ minor leagues. If the 22-year-old’s ability to reign in his electric stuff continues on its current path of linear development, he will be an incredibly exciting pitcher and should draw comparisons to the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, who shares not only Lagrange’s frame but also many of his strengths and weaknesses.
Kyle Carr fits the mold of the crafty left-handed starter that found success around MLB in 2025; a pitcher who won’t blow hitters away with his fastball but has a deep enough arsenal to navigate starts effectively and efficiently. His numbers in the minor leagues jumped off the page. Carr posted a 1.96 ERA in 119.1 innings at High-A Hudson Valley despite a mediocre 11.9 K-BB%. He was older than most High-A hitters and will turn 24 in May, so Double-A will be a big test for him this upcoming season.
The Yankees drafted Brendan Beck out of Stanford in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, and the now-26-year old finds himself on the verge of a big-league debut after only being able to make 10 professional starts from the time he was drafted up through the end of 2024. Finally healthy last year, Beck spent 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A. Beck dominated Somerset with a 1.82 ERA in 54.1 innings, but hit a wall for the first time in his pro career in Scranton with a 4.44 ERA in 77 innings. It’s unlikely Beck plays a pivotal role at the big-league level in 2026, but his proximity could make him a viable trade candidate. If you’re watching the World Baseball Classic this year, you’ll also probably glimpse him on Team Great Britain alongside his brother, Tristan (of the Giants), and the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Michael Arias spent four years in the Cubs organization between 2021-24 before signing a minor-league contract with the Yankees for 2025. Arias pitched just 29.2 innings last season, but did so across four levels and ended the season with Double-A Somerset (and was briefly on the 40-man roster). He turned 24 in Novmber. Although Arias records a lot of strikeouts, he struggles with his command to the point where it could derail him from ever reaching the big leagues.
Harrison Cohen is another high-strikeouts, high-walks type and is primarily deployed out of the bullpen. Cohen spent his 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A where he recorded an ERA of 2.01 and 1.57 respectively, and picked up five saves. He walked 14.4 percent of the hitters he faced last season, so that number will need to come down for him to be considered a legitimate bullpen option in the Bronx. The 26-year-old will also be on the Team Israel pitching staff in the World Baseball Classic.
A former Rule 5 pick by the Rangers who was returned after never pitching for Texas, Carson Coleman made his first professional appearance since 2022 last season, spreading his 17 innings out between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. He posted a 1.59 ERA with a 23.8-percent strikeout rate and 3.2-percent walk rate, but the sample size is too small to get excited about. FanGraphs put a 70-grade on his fastball, however, so that pitch coupled with the pinpoint command he displayed in 2025 could put the 27-year-old on the radar this season with more opportunities.
Dylan Coleman has 93 innings of MLB experience under his belt, almost entirely with the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in 68 games in 2022 and was a reliable bullpen option for Kansas City with a 2.78 ERA. His performance fell off a cliff the following year, and he pitched just one inning in 2024 with the Houston Astros before missing out on MLB play last year entirely. A stint with the Orioles’ Triple-A team went awry, and after being released in May, he exclusively trained with Feole Pitching. The minor-league contract he signed with the Yankees in January represents a comeback opportunity for the 29-year-old’s career.
Alexander Cornielle spent three years with the Milwaukee Brewers’ High-A affiliate before earning a long-awaited promotion to Double-A where he spent most of 2025 before getting a cup of coffee with the Triple-A team to end the season. The 24-year-old will probably report to the Yankees’ counterpart in Scranton and remain there for most, if not all of the season unless Matt Blake and company have a trick up their sleeves with him.
Yovanny Cruz is another career minor-leaguer who spent 2017-23 with the Cubs organization with most of his time spent in the lower levels of professional baseball. He took a two-year hiatus in 2020 & 2021 due in part to COVID-19 and Tommy John surgery, and never pitched more than 30 innings in a season again until logging 59.1 innings in Double-A last year as part of the Red Sox organization. Command issues have plagued Cruz his entire career, and at 26 years old he’ll need to sort them out now in order to reach the next level.
Drake Fellows spent the past five years in the Pirates organization, and spent most of that time getting hit pretty hard. He pitched 112.1 innings in Triple-A last season with a 4.41 ERA, which was the lowest mark of his career since 2021 in the Complex league. It’s a step in the right direction, but for a guy who will turn 28 next month, he has many more steps still to take before popping up on the big-league radar.
Bradley Hanner is a bullpen arm who was with the Cleveland Guardians organization from 2023-25. He pitched well in Double-A during those first two seasons, but Triple-A proved to be a daunting challenge and he posted a 4.74 ERA at the level in 49.1 innings in 2025. Hanner struck out an impressive 29 percent of hitters, but the contact he did allow was loud and punishing. Entering his age-27 season, Hanner appears to be a minor leaguer for the foreseeable future.
The one MLB inning Adam Kloffenstein pitched in 2024 went smoothly and he got out unscathed, but 2025 was disastrous as he pitched 82 frames in Triple-A with the Toronto Blue Jays organization to the tune of a 6.26 ERA. Kloffenstein had a good year in 2023 at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, but his results since then have been a lot closer to the dud of a season he recorded last year. The 25-year-old will likely come out of the Triple-A bullpen in 2026.
Travis MacGregor spent most of 2023 and 2024 in Triple-A with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels organizations, but the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers chose to deploy him in Double-A instead in 2025. The Yankees will be his fifth team in three years, and he’s less likely to earn a spot in this big-league bullpen as he was with the rest. The 28-year old is not exactly expected to make his MLB debut in the immediate future.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Maikel Garcia #11 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 24, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Pasquantino perceives a vast number of ways to try to process what this means, he is exhilarated by the concept in terms of individual production — “you kidding me?!” — and appreciates the move in the context of the Royals’ history … and future.
The bottom-line rationale, as he sees it:
“Most people that follow baseball would agree the Royals have always built their teams in specific ways, which was to fit the ballpark,” he said at Royals Rally. “The Royals have not traditionally won a ton of games.”
There are still some good arms out there on the free agent market. Some are lottery tickets, but I would still have no problem adding someone like Justin Wilson or even taking a chance on Michael Kopech or someone like them. I just think it’s so interesting how much they’ve talked about adding in the bullpen when the bullpen looks pretty full at this moment. Even if you say that Lynch and Falter aren’t guarantees and Schreiber is getting moved, there are options to replace them who have already fared well in the big leagues. I’m intrigued by this idea that they might be looking at more bullpen help.
I haven’t heard about Bubic in the bullpen for a long time, but I feel like that’s still a possibility if it needs to be one.
There were some high hopes last season for Nivens, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Missouri State in Springfield. In 99 games and 412 plate appearances in High-A Quad Cities in 2024, he hit 20 home runs, posted a .369 wOBA, and 130 wRC+. He had a slightly high strikeout rate at 26.9%, and his 0.44 BB/K ratio was good, not great. Furthermore, he only hit .243, though his .290 BABIP did him no favors in the Midwest League.
That said, the power was enticing, and there was some hope that Nivens could be a 20+ HR and 15-20 SB threat at the MLB level in 2027 or 2028.
José Ramos | / Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Having spent the entirety of his professional baseball career in the Dodgers organization until he signed a minor league deal with the Mets this offseason, José Ramos has yet to get a shot in the big leagues. And heading into his age-25 season, he seems most likely to begin the year in Triple-A Syracuse.
After signing with Los Angeles as an international free agent out of Panama in 2018, Ramos first played in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, putting up a relatively pedestrian .739 OPS. Like all minor league players, he didn’t play in any games in 2020, but he came back strong in 2021 with a .329/.396/.576 line and 11 home runs in just 288 plate appearances in Rookie and Single-A ball.
As he moved up the ranks of the Dodgers’ system, though, Ramos tended to see worse results. In 2022, between Single-A and High-A, he finished with an .818 OPS. And in Double-A the following year, he wound up with a .742 OPS. The Dodgers had him repeat the level in 2024, and things went worse the second time around, as he hit just .221/.308/.388. He started the 2025 season in Double-A once again, and things didn’t improve, as he hit ten home runs but had just a .688 OPS in 58 games at the level to start the year.
Despite those struggles, the Dodgers bumped Ramos up to their Triple-A affiliate for the first time in July. The change of scenery seemed to help, even if the Pacific Coast League features some particularly hitter-friendly parks. Ramos hit .295/.359/.557 with eight home runs in 167 plate appearances.
Defensively, Ramos has played center field the majority of the time in his minor league career, but he’s logged significant innings in right field and played a little bit of left field, as well. That relative flexibility could give him a better chance at getting his first look in the big leagues this year with the Mets, as the team’s outfield is perhaps the most uncertain part of its roster.
Luis Robert Jr. hasn’t been the most durable player, Tyrone Taylor struggled mightily at the plate last year, and Carson Benge isn’t a lock to hit the ground running this season, even if there’s very good reason to be excited about the Mets leaving the left field job open for him to win in spring training. And we’ll see if the Mets really intend to use Brett Baty at all in left field.
Ramos would have to establish himself as the team’s best option should they need to call someone up from the minor league ranks, and he won’t be without competition. Mets prospects A.J. Ewing and Nick Morabito might both start the year in Syracuse and have center field experience and at least some innings logged in a corner outfield spot. And Ramos isn’t the only mid-to-late 20s outfielder who will be in the mix, either.
There are quite a few variables in the mix here, but we know that David Stearns likes a center fielder who can hit home runs. We’ll presumably get a look at Ramos a bit in spring training and then plenty more in Syracuse, and if he’s a good defender in center, even a decent line at the plate in Triple-A might be enough to get him a look.
Coming off a season where Missouri baseball sat at the bottom of the Southeastern Conference with a 16-39 record and three wins in SEC play, there’s no place to look except up for a bounce-back season. Injury returnees, a revamp in identity, and a building project were some of the main talking points from Tigers head coach Kerrick Jackson on Friday afternoon when he met with the local media.
One key point in the talking points of positivity was that the build is going to take time, and there is no satisfaction with where the program is currently. A flip on the constant reality of the Tigers being an underdog in the all-powerful SEC baseball conference this season is to simply use that status to help themselves play their best baseball.
“It’s year three for us, and we finally have the right people in place,” Jackson said. “Whenever you’re building something, it takes time. My first year here, we didn’t bring in 25 portal guys. We didn’t do that in year two, either. We slowly pieced things together and got the right people in for the system we want. Now we have people who have been here for several years, and they know what our culture needs to be, and how we need to go about things.”
“For me, it feels comfortable,” Tigers infielder Kam Durnin said. “Growing up where I did in the middle of nowhere, the closest facility I had to play baseball at was Columbia, which was an hour and a half away. I’m used to the underdog mentality, to having to work more to get the same amount done as everyone else.”
Durnin is certainly a player who could help the Tigers reach that timeline. A standout not just due to his two years at Wichita State, but also because of his off-the-charts season in the summer of 2025. The numbers and achievements at the plate speak for themselves: .407 batting average, 56 RBI, and a 1.181 OPS in 40 games, with his BA and RBI both Appalachian League records according to MU athletics.
In that timeframe, Durnin achieved a 13-game hit streak, which also led the Appalachian League, and ultimately finished the season with a 10-game hit streak. Durnin went 1-for-3 at the plate in the scrimmage Friday afternoon with a single and a stolen base.
“He’s a high-IQ baseball guy,” Jackson said. ”Obviously, he’s really talented. He’s a really good shortstop, and he’s going to be solid there. Offensively, he really hadn’t come into his own until this past summer, and then it took off. He’s made himself a complete baseball player. He comes from a baseball family, and what he’s done by coming in here — bringing that energy and that desire to compete — has been really infectious for our guys. It’s been really good.“
The Tigers are coming off a season in which their pitching staff posted a team ERA of 9.19 and allowed a conference-worst 458 earned runs and 290 walks. Enter new pitching coach Drew Dickinson.
In June 2025, Jackson announced the hiring of Dickinson, who coached a Virginia Cavaliers pitching staff that made three total trips to the College World Series since 2021 and ranked in the upper echelon of ERA, including the fourth-best in the nation in 2021, according to MU Athletics.
When asked about the mojo the revamped pitching staff aims to develop, Jackson had two words for what Dickinson will bring: energy and identity.
“That’s something our pitching staff hasn’t had — an identity,” Jackson said. “Now they do. He’s a competitor. He’s going to compete in anything: chewing gum, walking down the sidewalk, whatever it is. He loves to compete, and he puts that on those guys. They’re embracing that, and as a result, you’re going to see our guys go out and do just that — be relentless, put pressure on teams.”
Two arms on the pitching staff, JD Dohrmann and Dane Bjorn, both stood out among the appearances in Mizzou’s intersquad scrimmage on Friday afternoon. Dohrmann tossed six innings, allowing three earned runs, while Bjorn kept the bats quiet in his two scoreless innings of relief.
Javyn Pimental was accustomed to keeping runners off the basepaths himself, leading the Tigers in team ERA at 3.61, and allowed nine base hits, the least conceded on the Mizzou pitching staff. This strong 2024 season appeared to be a resurgence for the left-hander, before the nightmare scenario for every pitcher hit him: Tommy John surgery, which kept Pimental sidelined for the whole of the 2025 season. Pimental, being one of the multitude of starters who had limited time on the mound last season.
“I couldn’t really make an impact on the field where I wanted to, but in the locker room and clubhouse, I could still make an impact,” Pimental said. ”That year and a half where I sat on the sideline, I took things for granted, and when things get taken away, you have a different gratitude for it.”
2026 will mark the third season at the helm at Mizzou for Jackson in the rebuilding process of the Tigers’ program. Jackson said the difficulties have given him lessons, but one important one in particular.
“All good things take time. We’re building, not reloading. Nobody likes to build except the builder. It’s like the North End Zone project — nobody likes what it looks like right now, but when it’s unveiled, everyone’s going to love it. You have to enjoy the process and not get frustrated. Once we reach our timeline, we’re not going backwards.”
The West Michigan Whitecaps host Opening Night against Dayton on Friday, April, 4, at LMCU Ballpark. | Adam Vander Kooy/Holland Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
If you’re following along with our prospect rankings and reports, you’ve noticed several themes developing. One low key trend that’s less obvious is the Tigers success with inexpensive college pitchers from smaller schools. While the Detroit Tigers have focused their bonus pools at the top of the draft and then on prep talent later on, they’ve done a pretty nice job plucking the right college pitchers beyond the top three rounds. A few have already turned into minor trade chips, while Troy Melton and to a lesser extent, Jaden Hamm, developed into legit upper level pitching prospects. 2023 ninth rounder Hayden Minton may be another one in the making, but a big test is coming in 2026 as the right-hander makes the Double-A leap.
The Tigers paid Minton the minimum after a good senior year for Missouri State. The Oklahoma product pitched there without much to recommend him as a freshman and sophomore, and spent his junior year in community college before earning his way back. On draft day, the 6’3”, 210 pound right-hander was an unheralded senior signing with just one good season for a solid but unspectacular D1 program, but good strikeout rates, advanced strike throwing, and a strong trendline after having to work his way back to Missouri State drew the attention of the Tigers’ scouting department hoping for a bit of a late bloomer.
Beyond his size and control, there were a few other traits the Tigers were intrigued by. They like pitchers with good extension, and Minton gets almost seven feet of extension to the plate, well above average. He can also rip the baseball, averaging 2720 rpms on his mid-80’s slider, a little less with his 80 mph curveball. In pro ball, Minton has leaned into the slider and it has developed into an above average pitch for him. Even better, he arrived with some changeup feel as well, understanding how to kill spin and velocity on his 85 mph circle change while maintaining his armspeed.
Minton’s fastball isn’t a standout pitch, but his size, extension, and fairly limited pitching background in college argued for plenty of upside. He arrived in Lakeland in 2024 with a fringe average sinker sitting 93 mph, and while its movement profile out a low three-quarters arm slot needed some tuning in pro ball, Minton arrived with the ability to locate it around the strikeout zone and induce weak contact.
Minton struck out his share of hitters in 2024, but as he and the Tigers worked on his stuff, his strike throwing suffered at points. He pitched a lot better than his 4.65 ERA. A 26.6 percent strikeout rate against his 10.4 percent walk rate was a good ratio, and he didn’t allow many home runs. Instead he was mostly BABIP’d to death. Still, the stuff developed, his command started to come around as the season progressed, and he made 21 starts and threw 93 innings.
That pro debut didn’t wow anyone, and Minton wasn’t jumping up any prospect lists, but his 2025 season showed signs of growth. He cut his walk rates down to nothing in seven starts at Single-A Lakeland to start the year, then made the move to High-A West Michigan. He had some trouble making the move, giving up a few more home runs as he continued to tweak the fastball and slider in particular. His results were fine in June, but the strikeouts were lacking a bit, and then he had a rough stretch of starts in July that contined after the All-Star break.
Finally, everything started clicking for Minton in August, and he posted a 2.63 ERA for the month. His fastball velocity was up a bit and his ability to command the slider and curveball combination sharpened up considerably. Over his final six outings, he issued just five walks, while striking out 29 hitters and allowing just two home runs across 29 innings. The timing couldn’t have been better as the Whitecaps stormed down the stretch with momentum that would carry them to a Midwest League championship. Minton’s contribution was six no-hit innings with five strikeouts and one walk to lead the Whitecaps to a divisional title over Lake County on September 11. You can watch that outing here courtesy of Tigers Minor League Report.
At season’s end, Minton looked like a much more well rounded pitcher. He was sitting 94 mph consistently and touching 96-97 when he let it all out. He appears to be mixing in more fourseamers with the sinker and is getting more whiffs up in the zone as a result. His low three-quarters armslot doesn’t produce great ride, and this is still an average set of fastballs, but by mixing types and taking advantage of his extension and improved command, he’s become much more effective with it. A steadier bump in velocity or some tweaks to get a little more seam-shifted wake movement will still be required to really develop an above average heater, but he’s a lot closer than he was at the beginning of 2025. The hints of 96-97 mph heat showing up bodes well for his future.
Another area in which he shines is in pairing the tilt on his slider and curveball to keep hitters guessing. The slider will draw plenty of whiffs and is an above average pitch when he’s dialed in. The curveball is fringe average, but because he’s able to make the pair look the same out of his hand, he’s often able to get hitters off balance and induce routine contact off the curveball. His changeup still has nice depth, but his command of it remains fairly crude. As a result, Minton was really tough on right-handed hitters, but sometimes struggled against lefties.
Essentially he reminds me somewhat of another Sawyer Gipson-Long in the making. It’s natural to look for guys with plus raw stuff and hope they round out their arsenal and develop command. Eye-popping stuff is the quickest path to big bonuses and focus from prospect hounds. Minton is a bit ahead of the curve in terms of command, particularly for a pitcher with a fairly long arm path. He also now boasts a pretty well rounded pitch mix. Still, it’s true that the stuff is still pretty average overall with the exception of his slider.
While Minton will be 25 this year and has two full seasons of pro ball under his belt, I still think his limited college career, size, and extension bode well for a little upside remaining in terms of pure stuff. Some of those late bloomer tendencies have already come to pass to get him this far. He’ll need a bit more to make the leap and thrive at the Double-A level this season. If things come together a little more the Tigers will have a pretty good depth starter candidate who can swing to middle relief as well.
Sep 20, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (48) hits a single during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Howdy friends! It’s the final weekend before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. As the offseason draws to a close, here are the big stories of the day.
In Mariners news…
Amanda Lane Cumming told the story of the Seattle Alkis, the first base ball club to grace the city way back in the late 1800s.
Daniel Kramer provided a primer for Mariners spring training, including the timeline of major events and information for those interested in attending games and workouts.
The A’s hired former All-Star slugger Mark McGwire as a special assistant to the player development department.
Longtime Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez announced that he is retiring.
Former Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig was found guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials investigating an illegal gambling operation.
We are launching a new daily article here at South Side Sox, more prominently than our items that pop up on The Feed. It falls under the category of White Sox Discussions, which you’ll see in a few weeks will also be our new branding for Game Threads.
The World Baseball Classic is back this spring, with action kicking off at the Tokyo Dome on March 5 (9 p.m. CT on March 4). The White Sox are sending five players to the WBC: Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci (Team Italy), Curtis Mead (Team Australia), Munetaka Murakami (Team Japan) and right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez (Team Dominican Republic).
Murakami is the only player to have previously appeared in a World Baseball Classic; in 2023, he hit a two-run, walkoff double in the semifinals and a game-tying solo homer vs. Team USA in the finals.
Of course, you don’t have to root for a team with a White Sox player on the roster. But White Sox reps or no, who you got in the WBC?
