Feb 28, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Tobias Myers (32) pitches in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
The Mets mounted a late rally but fell short, dropping their game to the Cardinals by a 4-3 score on Friday afternoon at Clover Park. The Mets were blanked through seven, managing just two hits, before scoring three in the eighth. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome an early four-run deficit.
Tobias Myers got the nod and pitched two innings of one-run ball. He allowed a solo home run to Ramón Urías in the first inning but did not allow any other hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Luke Weaver pitched a scoreless third inning, working around a two-out single while striking out one to keep his spring ERA at 0.00.
Speaking of spotless ERAs, Brooks Raley pitched a scoreless fourth to keep his ERA at zero on the spring. He navigated two hits while striking out one.
Earlier today, the Mets optioned Austin Warren to the minors which, as Anthony DiComo pointed out, “further strengthening left-hander Bryan Hudson’s position for that final bullpen spot”. Hudson did himself no favors today, allowing three earned runs on one hit and two walks in the fifth inning. The big blow was a Iván Herrera two-run home run, which led to Carlos Mendoza removing Hudson from the game (he would then go back to Hudson to start the inning, removing him after he recorded the first out of that inning).
On offense, the Mets managed just two hits in the first seven innings—a Vidal Bruján fifth-inning single and a Carson Benge sixth-inning single. The Mets finally broke through in the eighth against Gerson Moreno. Cristian Pache walked to lead off, followed by an Antonio Jimenez walk. Tyrone Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, and Ben Rortvedt drove home the team’s first run on a sac fly. After a Corey Collins walk, St. Louis substituted Austin Love into the game to pitch, and he allowed a two-run double to D’Andre Smith. That would be New York’s final hit of the game.
Benge continued his strong spring with a hit and a walk as he started in right field for the Mets. His average now stands at .412 and his OPS at .987 for the spring. Joel Sherman, for what it’s worth, says that Benge has made the club, but the Mets have not officially announced it yet.
Mark Vientos took another 0-fer as he went hitless in three at-bats while serving as the DH.
Jul 24, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers first round draft pick Malcolm Moore throws out the first pitch before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
A group of Texas Rangers prospects take on a group of Kansas City Royals prospects in this year’s Spring Breakout contest where the Rangers farmhands will be the home team at Surprise Stadium.
Here’s a look at which prospects Texas has available today, including their MLB Pipeline rankings:
PITCHERS (8) Ismael Agreda, RHP, No. 28 Wilian Bormie, RHP, NR Gavin Collyer, RHP, No. 30 Aidan Curry, RHP, NR Joey Danielson, RHP, NR Eric Loomis, RHP, NR Dalton Pence, LHP, No. 12 Josh Trentadue, LHP, No. 23
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Jordan Lawlar #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks signs autographs before a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re now less than a week from Opening Day, and things are certainly coming into focus. While spring training statistics are basically useless in terms of predictive value, when has that ever stopped anyone from looking at them and drawing conclusions? So, based on the Cactus League results so far, here are three players – a hitter, a starting pitcher and a reliever – whose stock seems to have risen as a result of their performance, and three others about whom there might be reason for concern.
Three up
Jordan Lawlar
There are a few candidates here: Alek Thomas, Jorge Barrosa and Jose Fernandez all have an OPS over 1.000. Lawlar is right there with them, his triple-slash being .293/.420/.610 for a 1.030 OPS. But he was also having to learn a whole new position, playing the outfield for almost the first time in his professional career. He has done well: he committed his first error the other day, but a couple of hitters later, made a highlight reel play. Lawlar has played so well, it leaves Torey Lovullo with a tricky decision: should he or Thomas play CF? “They’re running balls down out there. They’re going out there and playing solid defense. Who gets to start in center or left, I haven’t figured that out.”
Of the two dozen D-backs’ pitchers to have thrown at least five innings this spring, there is only one who has yet to allow an earned run: Morillo. Across 7.1 innings, he has eight strikeouts, compared to only two walks, and so far has held opposing hitters to a .167 average. It’s numbers which compare very well, in a similar sample size, to more established relievers like Ryan Thompson or Jonathan Loaisiga. It’s easy to forget Morillo appeared 42 times for Arizona last year, a number surpassed only by Thompson and Jalen Beeks, with an ERA+ of 104. He may end up squeezed out of the Opening Day roster for “veteran presence.” However, I predict it won’t be long before he’s on the bus up from Reno.
Three down
Corbin Carroll
Spring had barely started, when Carroll had to go on the back burner, after fracturing the hamate bone in his hand while swinging. This was initially expected to rule him out for Opening Day, but he set a near-record pace for recovery, returning to the line-up less than four weeks after surgery. The concern is whether the surgery might have a lingering impact, particularly on his power. Although the data doesn’t support that, he has got off to a slow start since his return. Carroll is 2-for-12 with no walks and four strikeouts. While he did hit his first home-run on Wednesday against the Cubs, his OPS to date is only .583. Hopefully, it’s just a case of lingering winter rust being knocked off.
Merrill Kelly
As with Carroll, the issue here is probably as much a health concern as anything. He is no longer feeling any problems with his back, the area which forced him into a late spring start and out of Opening Day. However, Merrill still thinks he will need to start the year on the Injured List. He has made two starts so far, and the results haven’t been good: 11 hits across 4.1 innings with just one strikeout. Though it is true Kelly will be behind opposing hitters in terms of workload, so that may be responsible. The bottom line is, a healthy and effective Merrill is almost essential for the Diamondbacks to have a chance this year. We haven’t enjoyed that so far this pre-season.
Kade Strowd
There are several candidates here. Kevin Ginkel and Brandyn Garcia also have spring ERAs in double digits, rocking chances for an Opening Day spot. But neither were traded this winter for a fan favorite. Strowd came from the Orioles for Blaze Alexander, and expectations were he would be able to contribute immediately to the beleaguered D-backs bullpen. Stroud has been missing some bats, with nine strikeouts over 7.2 innings. But he has also been missing the strikezone, issuing five walks. Add in eleven hits, including two home-runs, and you’re looking at an ugly 10.57 ERA. He has begun to fall off roster projections. Blaze, meanwhile, is expected to start for Baltimore on Opening Day.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
LocalBlueWhaleRuinsEverything asks:Judge is getting pretty well-flamed online for his poor performance in the WBC. How seriously should we take those stats compared to, say, his post-season performances?
Even less serious than the postseason narrative, which is to say not that much. Judge’s overall performance in the WBC was more than adequate, posting an .845 OPS with two homers and five RBI in seven games played — and those are the numbers after he went 0-for in the finale. That’s the equivalent of a single drawn out round of postseason play in the Championship Series or World Series, and that performance wouldn’t be enough to draw the blame for anyone except for a player of Judge’s status (and for that matter, it’s a better line than Judge posted in the ALCS or World Series in 2024).
Judge’s overall postseason track record is certainly less than his regular season excellence, but even there it’s not as bad as it’s made out to be: a career .822 OPS with 17 homers and 41 RBI in 65 games. There have been highs — his most recent performance in 2025 was dominant, his first taste of October was more than fine in 2017, and the Yankees’ short stay in the 2018 playoffs could in no way be blamed on Judge and his 1.447 OPS in the ALDS. But there have certainly been lows, most notably that 2024 run up until the infamous Game 5 against the Dodgers and a rather dreadful 2022 performance that saw them get bounced by their nemesis in Houston.
All of this to say, that Judge’s overall numbers are far from the narrative that he’s a playoff choker. Did he have a good game in the championship against Venezuela? No, far from it — but the US superteam at large was getting shut down by Eduardo Rodriguez for 4.1 innings, and that man’s run an ERA north of five for the last two seasons. The US lineup in general never got going in this tournament outside of their initial blowouts against Brazil and Great Britain, and Judge was one of the few bats alive enough to beat Mexico and force that three-way tie atop their group. There hasn’t been an extended run where Judge has stayed on a heater like he has for some of these individual series or matches, and if he gets one then I think the narrative would be broken, but until then any singular big game flop will be enough to bring out the hecklers.
The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Who makes money off the WBC? I have to assume players and MLB make some money, I’m curious how it’s distributed.
The tournament drew a massive pot of cash this year, reportedly offering a $37 million prize pool to the participants when all was said and done thanks in large part to a $100 million broadcasting rights deal that Netflix struck to cover the games in Japan. That pool is then divided up to each competing team with a starting payout of $750,000 and scaling up for each round that teams advanced through. Once a team’s placement has been finalized, their payout is then evenly split between their team federation (which pays for the coaches and staff) and the players on the team, with Venezuela getting the biggest cut for winning it all at a $6.75 million payout.
As for the overall profit generated from the tournament, The Athletic reports that there’s a one-third split going to MLB, one third to the player’s union, and a third split to a trio of other organizations: the World Baseball Softball Organization, the KBO, and the NPB.
OLDY MOLDY asks:Will there be inning limits on Schlittler?
I doubt it, for a couple of reasons. First, Schlittler ended up throwing a combined 149.2 regular season innings last season split between the minors and the majors, a 29-inning increase in workload from his 2024 setting himself up nicely to push towards the 170-180 inning range for 2026. That’s probably about how much the Yankees would love for Schlittler to handle this year, so no real need to manage his innings on a day-to-day basis. On top of that, Schlitter’s slow start to spring while handling his sore back puts him in the position to potentially get skipped over a couple times while the team only needs four starters in the opening weeks of the season, further reducing the need to worry about his season-long workload.
MESA, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Blake Mitchell #8 of the Kansas City Royals hits a double in the second inning during the 2025 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on Sunday, November 9, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
At 3 PM Kansas City time, the Royals and Rangers prospects will kick off a Spring Breakout game, meant to highlight what the two farm systems have to offer. The rosters have been set, but here is the starting lineup for that game:
For many Royals fans, this will be the first opportunity to see last year’s first-round draft picks Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond in action, playing the positions they’re projected to play when they reach the bigs. Lefty pitcher Justin Lamkin was a Competitive Balance Round B pick, so he was taken early in that draft as well. Everyone in that lineup is a top-30 prospect for the Royals, with the lone exception of Carson Roccaforte, who has nonetheless excelled in the minors. It’s available to watch for free at Royals TV and it should be a lot of fun.
In the evening, a lot of Kansas City’s regulars will be in lineup for the penultimate Cactus League game against the Giants:
The only guy missing from a lineup that seems like it could be very similar to the one we will spend most of the year watching is Carter Jensen, who caught last night, and so gets tonight off. Luca Tresh, the Royals’ Spring Training home run leader, will start at catcher and bat ninth. Unfortunately, though not unexpectedly, this game won’t be televised and it won’t be on the radio either, but you can listen to it online at royals.com or with your MLB app.
It’s good to see Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Maikel Garcia back in the lineup after their adventures in the WBC. Here’s hoping they play some more palatable spring ball than we were able to get without them.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (10-12-3) host the Miami Marlins (8-12-3) in Grapefruit League play.
RHP Hunter Brown (0-0) will make his fourth start in an official Spring game tonight as he takes on Marlins RHP Eury Perez (0-1).
BROTHER BROWN: In his three previous official Spring starts, RHP Hunter Brown has allowed one run and just two hits in 8.2 innings of work for a 1.04 ERA. Earlier in Spring Training, Astros Manager Joe Espada announced that Brown will be the Astros Opening Day starter on March 26 vs. LAA.
Brown was a 2025 All-Star and finished third in the AL in Cy Young voting after turning in the best season of his career with a 12-9 record and a 2.43 ERA (50ER/185.1IP). Among AL starters, he ranked first in opponent SLG (.318) and second in ERA (2.43). He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for June after going 1-0 with a 1.19 ERA (4ER/30.1IP) in five starts.
TONIGHT’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: LHP Bryan King, RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP Christian Roa, RHP Enyel De Los Santos, RHP Logan VanWey, RHP Amicar Chirinos, RHP Alex Santos.
VS. THE FISH: Tonight is the sixth and final matchup between the Astros and Marlins this Spring. HOU is 4-1 thus far vs. MIA.
The Astros prospects also defeated MIA in yesterday’s Breakout Game, 7-6.
In the regular season, MIA will vist the Astros for a three-game series at Daikin Park, July 20-22.
PITCHING IN: The Astros have posted a 3.33 Team ERA (80ER/216.1IP) this Spring, which ranks second in the Majors.
TRIUMPHANT RETURN: Astros bench coach Omar Lopez rejoined the club yesterday afternoon, fresh off of managing Team Venezuela to its first WBC championship.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, March 20, 5:05 p.m. CST
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, FL
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Brad Keller #40 of the United States takes the field during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the players behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.
Had I told you that the Phillies have a right hander that is pretty important to the whole bullpen operation, the first one you’d think of is Jhoan Duran and you’d be right. He is the one that makes everyone else’s job a little easier, gives each pitcher something of a more defined role that many relievers crave.
Yet the other right hander that is going to play a rather large role in determining how well this bullpen functions is Brad Keller.
Signed this offseason to a sizeable contract after only relieving consistently for a single season, Keller parlayed a huge 2025 season into a two-year security blanket for the Phillies. Basing it off of last year, it was a well deserved contract at a not crazy number. His 2.10 ERA was 15th best among 147 qualified relievers last year. After the All-Star break, Keller allowed one earned run. One! There is a good argument to be made that after that All-Star Game, he was the best relief pitcher in the game.
Yet it was just one season in which he was dominant. The World Baseball Classic appearances he had didn’t exactly inspire confidence that the signing was a wise one. Making snap judgements on these handful of games is foolhardy, of course, so the work he has done in the past will have to be our guide.
Can he continue to show the form he had in the second half of 2025?
His arrival and expected performance means everyone in the bullpen outside of Duran will have a different role. No longer will it be Jose Alvarado needed for the 8th inning. He can instead be deployed in high leverage situations that come up earlier in the game if need be. The team won’t be as dependent on Orion Kerkering to get back to the confident self after his disastrous end of season outing in Los Angeles. Everyone has a better, more suited role in the bullpen now that they theoretically have a dominant arm to pair with Duran at the end of games.
It’s all part of the front office’s plan to have a better bullpen as a whole unit. Last year’s version really never took off until Jhoan Duran came to settle things down. Of course, they had to trade yet even more prospects for him, so acquiring more relief arms this offseason both of the free agent and trade variety has allowed them to stockpile some depth that they previously may not have had. Having to rely on Jose Ruiz last year for actual important innings at any point was simply asking for disaster and they very nearly found it had they not had an excellent starting pitching staff to take the bulk of innings. This year, that rotation depth is a little thinner, the questions about them a little louder, thus making bullpen strengthening a priority. Keller (plus full seasons from Duran and Alvarado) gives them that strength. On paper, this is a good group to have.
They just have to prove it on the field, led by Keller and the questions about his ability to repeat 2025.
It’s the last tuneup for Shane Smith before his Opening Day assignment on Thursday. | (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)
After two late games last night, the White Sox are back for a single afternoon game here in the home stretch of the Cactus League. Many games have been pushed back to night due to the wild heat wave (104° at game time in Peoria, Ariz. last night!), but today both clubs will have to bulk up on their electrolytes.
But first, a batch of outright cuts from White Sox camp:
Pretty brutal for LaMonte Wade Jr., who’s had a great camp and clubbed two homers in the loss to the Padres just last night.
A win at the Angels will assure the White Sox will avoid a losing record this year, as Opening Day starter Shane Smith gets his last tuneup for the season:
Given the proximity to the end of Spring Training, this lineup is more a late-stage tryout as it is a throwaway post-night doubleheader. Sam Antonacci might well be in the starting lineup by the second half of 2026, but for now he exists as a in-case-of-emergency-break-glass factor. There is a chance he beats out Curtis Mead for an infield spot, but the White Sox want Antonacci in an everyday role. Although he is playing left field over fighting-for-life Derek Hill (DH), so …
Why is Jarred Kelenic still in camp? He has played with little urgency and even less results. Hill has had a much better camp, although Kelenic set the bar low. Tristan Peters might beat out both.
Game time temp in Tempe will be 95°, rising to 104° by game’s end. Otherwise it’s another mystery game, so follow on Gameday or find a way to tune in to Angels radio. I’ll be here with you postgame.
Mar 16, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jett Williams (76) reacts after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers’ top prospects are set to host the Seattle Mariners’ top prospects in the third annual Spring Breakout at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Friday evening. For a full guide to the Spring Breakout, click here.
Bishop Letson, Milwaukee’s No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will get the start on the mound for the Crew. Letson, 21, was an 11th-round pick by Milwaukee in 2023 and is coming off a solid season. He made 10 appearances (eight starts) with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, pitching to a 1.69 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings. He also made one start with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, allowing four runs with six strikeouts across four innings in that one. Letson will start opposite Mariners’ No. 3 prospect and MLB No. 33 prospect Ryan Sloan.
Milwaukee’s lineup features a slew of top prospects, including Jett Williams (team No. 3/MLB No. 51), Jesús Made (team No. 1/MLB No. 3), and Luis Peña (team No. 2/MLB No. 26) filling out the top third of the order. They’re followed by Cooper Pratt (team No. 4/MLB No. 64), Jeferson Quero (team No. 8), and Luis Lara (team No. 12). The lineup is rounded out by Josh Adamczewski, Brock Wilken, and Braylon Payne (team Nos. 11, 22, and 14, respectively).
The Mariners’ lineup also features four top 100 prospects in Jonny Farmelo (No. 78), Michael Arroyo (No. 67), Colt Emerson (No. 9), and Lazaro Montes (No. 43) batting in the top four spots of the order. Seattle’s team Nos. 7, 8, 10, and 12 are also included in the lineup. Of note for Northwoods League followers — Seattle’s No. 12 prospect is Korbyn Dickerson, who had a strong summer with the Madison Mallards in the 2023 and 2024 summers (.272/.357/.453 with 10 homers, 62 RBIs, and 50 runs scored across 71 games).
First pitch in this one is at 4:10 p.m. CT. You can tune in on MLB TV or, if you’re out of market, on MLB Network.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning in game two of a split doubleheader at Nationals Park on September 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The headline speaks for itself,
Officially a week a way, The Atlanta Braves will be taking on the Kansas City Royals at Truist Park with Chris Sale (2025 ERA: 2.58) taking the mound.
He will be facing Royals’ starter Cole Ragans (2025 ERA: 4.67 ERA), who will be looking for his first Opening Day victory out of his past two starts.
Making his seventh career Opening Day start (second with the Braves) the 2024 NL Cy Young award winner will look to kick the Braves off on a high note in contrast to last year’s start on the West Coast.
Picking up where he left off, Sale pitched in a total of 21 games after coming off of a back spasm set-back in 2024, that took him out of the remainder of the post-season competition in September.
Fast forward to 2025, Sale started a healthy campaign during his return, despite the overall team’s disappointing record. Though being moved to the 60-day IL list due to suffering a fractured rib cage in June, he made a successful comeback in late August to finish up his 21 game and 125.2 inning stint to complete the year with 165 total strikeouts, 161 ERA+ and 2.67 FIP.
It was also announced a month ago that Sale and the Braves had agreed to a one-year, $27 million extension that includes a $30 million option for 2028. This will guarantee him for next year and was noted by Braves’ reporter Grant McAuley, that the deal represents the highest AAV (Average Annual Value) ever given by the club.
Sale remarked prior to the extension that he wanted to retire as a Brave when the time came, but don’t think he won’t give the remainder of his career all he has to close out on a high note.
His 2026 campaign is officially a week away, and this start also makes him the 14th-oldest pitcher in Braves franchise history to start on Opening Day, as well as the sixth left-hander in franchise history to start multiple Opening Day contests.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 07: Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews (3) celebrates scoring a run with teammates in the dugout during a MLB spring training game against the New York Yankees at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 7, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Paul Toboni pulled the trigger on a massive move by sending Dylan Crews to Triple-A to start the season. Even as Crews struggled mightily this spring, I did not think they would pull the trigger and send him down. However, I was wrong and the former second overall pick will be starting his season in Rochester.
The Nationals have made the following roster moves:
Optioned to Triple-A Rochester: -OF Dylan Crews -RHP Jackson Rutledge
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) March 20, 2026
This is a statement move by the new regime and shows that nobody will have a spot handed to them this year. There has been a lot of talk about a fresh start for these young players and that is certainly the case. However, this fresh start goes both ways, as we see here. If you are not producing, this new regime will not just hand you a spot in the big leagues.
We wrote about the idea of demoting Crews a few days ago. I thought it was a move that made sense, but did not think they would do it. Demoting a former top pick who was marketed as the future face of the franchise would be a gutsy move. Paul Toboni has made it clear that he is more than willing to make gutsy moves.
I don’t think it will happen, but the Nats should consider sending Dylan Crews to AAA and it is not just because of his slow spring https://t.co/QQTjdRg6cu
If you just go off of this spring, the move makes a ton of sense. Crews was 3/28 this spring and mostly looked lost at the plate. He was also making mistakes in the field and looked like a guy who was pressing. It was similar to what we saw last year, but to an even more extreme degree. The whiffs were out of control, and when he did make solid contact, it was usually on the ground.
Sending Crews to AAA allows him to try and get right away from the spotlight. A re-set could be exactly what the 24 year old needs. He needs time to find himself again and regain that confidence that was beaming from him when he was at LSU. It is a tough pill to swallow, but it is probably what is best for Crews’ career.
Even when Crews was in Triple-A the last time, he never truly dominated the level. He hit .265 with a .795 OPS, which is solid, but not elite. It is clear that Crews was rushed due to the fact people assumed he would be a quick mover when he was drafted. When he had good, but not great results in the high minors, he went straight to the big leagues anyway.
Now, he will get that chance to dominate in AAA and re-establish himself. He will also get to work with really sharp hitting minds like Travis Fitta, which could help him out. This is a surprising decision, but not shocking either, given how his last couple years have gone.
The Nationals have optioned Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester. Absolutely a surprise, though it felt as though this could be in the cards.
It will be interesting to see how the outfield shakes itself out now. With Crews out of the picture, the Nats have Daylen Lile, Jacob Young, James Wood, Joey Wiemer and Christian Franklin as options. Will they keep all five or will they cut one more guy? I think Wiemer and Franklin will battle it out for the last spot in the outfield. Wiemer not having any minor league options likely will give him the edge.
Overall, this is a big time move by Paul Toboni. By cutting Crews, he is showing that nobody is safe and production will be valued over pedigree. As for Crews, he will have a role to play on this team at some point this season. However, he will have to earn it in AAA. There is a chance this could be the best thing to happen for Crews if he takes it the right way.
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.
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
27
Adrian Santana
SS
6
26
23%
N/R
28
Austin Overn
OF
7
21
33%
N/A
29
Taitn Gray
1B/OF/C
8
23
35%
N/A
30
Victor Valdez
SS
6
22
27%
N/A
The voters abandoned ship on Mesa Jr. for the final round, and Valdez came out of nowhere to grab the final official slot on this year’s list. For this bonus round, we will have a different approach for honorable mentions.
How to vote
In this round, I will include all the candidates here below. If you believe any of these candidates are worthy of an honorable mention rec the comment with their name. This approach will allow you to vote for as many of the candidates if you’d like.
If there’s a player you’d like to be included as an honorable mention not listed, put them in Others so folks can consider them for a vote as well. On Monday, we will tally the recs and look for a clear dividing line in the vote for a reasonable cut off.
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.
Tampa Bay’s top signee from the 2025 international class, Coret reported tall and young with a lot of projection. His future depends mostly on his hit tool, with prospect evaluators divided on a player that has a long way to go, but the exit velocity (111 mph) and foot speed are plus for his age. Promisingly, after he had a hot start to his professional career, Coret saw his strikeouts elevate in July, but he got them back under control in the final month. A move to the complex league in 2026 would be aggressive.
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).
Cooper Kinney, 2B/3B 23 | L/R | 6’1” | 200 AA | .242/.299/.386 (103 wRC+) 501 PA, 13 HR, 0 SB, 7.2% BB, 25.0% K
After a bounce back year in 2024 (137+ in High-A), Kinney underwhelmed with a 103 wRC+ at Double-A. Kinney’s calling card is a pretty swing and masterful control of the strikezone, but with a higher than average injury risk. He would have been on track for a potential appearance at the MLB level, but with his performance last season he might even be ticketed back to Montgomery. Were the problems related to a nagging shoulder injury? After a 200 wRC+ April, his performance at the plate steadily declined, and Kinney hit no homeruns between July 13 and the end of September. The org played him 60 games at second base in 2026, 28 at third, and the rest at first or DH.
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.
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.
Joe Rock, LHP 25 | 6’6” | 220 AAA | 5.21 ERA, 5.13 FIP, 96.2 IP (32 G, 15 GS), 21.1% K, 9.3% BB MLB | 2 ER, 7 H (1 HR), 7.2 IP (3 G), 11 K, 2 BB
Rock got the call for the first time last season, riding the Durham shuttle in June and again in September after being acquired from the Rockies for former first rounder Greg Jones in an org roster shuffle ahead of the 2024 season. Rock’s calling card is a borderline double-plus slider that’s complimented by league average stuff from his sinker and change, although he’ll pop a high four-seam to keep ‘em honest. His arm action starts with a high back elbow and ends in a lower release point, and the look elevates his profile through deception. He’s most likely in a relief role.
Jonathan Russell, RHP 21 | 6’1” | 180 CPX | 3 H (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 3.0 IP A | 2.17 ERA, 2.15 FIP, 37.1 IP (25 G, 0 GS), 30.5% K, 7.3% BB
The Rays signed Russell (no relation to yours truly) out of Cuba in May 2023 at 18, slotting him directly into the DSL team where he made the All-Star roster. The Rays brought him stateside in 2024 and it didn’t go great! He started in the FCL again in 2025 though and in two weeks he was at Charleston, getting 15 appearances as their closer and pitching to a 2.17 ERA, striking out 46 batters in 151 faced (30%) with only 11 walks. Where he should have been thinking about Bowling Green next, the Rays decided to give him some chances in the Arizona Fall League, where he closed out two games in six appearances. It’s majority fastball with some slider, mechanics are solid, if anything I’d like to see him try to get his release
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 04: Paul Sewald #62 of the Detroit Tigers looks on prior to game one of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on October 04, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rodriguez is entering the third year of a four-year, $80 million deal he signed ahead of 2024. He was not brought on to be an ace, but rather to bring veteran stability to the D-backs’ rotation after posting a career year in Detroit during the 2023 season.
The results have not yet begun to show to that degree. An article from Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly listed Rodriguez as the worst-value contract on Arizona’s roster.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have not named their closer to start the 2026 season, and they simply may not.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday he is close to announcing his rotation behind Opening Day starter Zac Gallen. The closer role, however, will likely be revealed when Arizona faces its first save situation.
“You’ll probably figure it out as I’m doing it,” Lovullo said. “That’s kind of the mindset I’ll have right now. I love where a few guys are at.
Jason Benetti handles play-by-play, joined by analysts and World Series heroes Luis Gonzalez and Orel Hershiser.
Gonzalez, a five-time All-Star, played 19 MLB seasons (1990-2008), highlighted by eight years with the Diamondbacks. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Gonzalez hit the game-winning single as Arizona won its first championship. The Fall Classic heroics capped his best statistical season as he won the Silver Slugger with a .325 batting average, 57 home runs and 142 RBI. An analyst for select Diamondbacks games, Gonzalez won the 2005 Branch Rickey Award for community service.
An MRI revealed that Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki has a strained PCL after injuring his right knee Saturday while trying to steal second base during Samurai Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the update “good news” and noted that the injury is “minor in nature,” according to MLB.com.
This raises an interesting hypothetical insofar as the 2030 WBC is concerned: What might the Team USA lineup and rotation look like four years from now?
This, of course, is a highly speculative exercise given that, you know, it’s four years away, which means we’re going to have to make some (lightly) educated guesses as to which players, young to young-ish in the here and now, are at the top of their guild come 2030. In other words, expect a lot of roster turnover from the current team (speaking of which, only one player in Team USA’s starting lineup on Tuesday night — Kyle Schwarber — was in the lineup for the 2023 title game).
On the heels of another fun World Baseball Classic — this one with an unexpected result, as Venezuela emerged with the gold — it seemed a good time to review how it’s being received by White Sox fans. There has been a fair amount of discussion over the timing of the tournament, what with the potential for injury (Kyle Teel of the White Sox will miss a month with a strained hamstring, for example).
Most of you remain OK with the tournament being held during Spring Training, however:
There were a fair number of you, let’s just call you cranky fans, who think the WBC should not be played at all. One option not presented in the poll (and mentioned in the comments on the original posting) was an All-Star break WBC. It still feels like much too much of a distraction mid-season, and would truly change the nature of a baseball season for the first time in almost 100 years, the dawn of the All-Star Game. But surely an All-Star break WBC would have gotten some votes above.
The national questions you were asked this week all were WBC-centered as well:
“Nothing” being the most enjoyable part of the WBC is an interesting answer. THOSE are readers dedicated to answering every survey question!
Have to say, if you are voting for the U.S. as the most entertaining team in the WBC, you are hate-watching it.
There is healthy debate over when and if the WBC should be held. But the notion that players are more apt to be injured in the WBC vs. Spring Training games still seems to be a stretch.
Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays is congratulated by George Springer #4 after Guerrero scored against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the seventh inning on June 7, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even after recording the best record in their league, winning a pennant, and getting to within a fateful bounce or two of winning the World Series, the road is not always easy in perhaps the league’s most competitive and balanced division. That is precisely where the 2026 Blue Jays find themselves.
2025 was a resounding success, and with much of the core from last year’s American League champions still in tact, expectations will be high this season. Despite that, their division is tough, and they have nearly a rotation’s worth of good pitchers beginning the year on the injured list. Matching last season’s success will be anything but easy for the Blue Jays, but the potential is there.
While the lineup that propelled the Jays to a pennant last season is largely in tact for 2026, the projected starting group did undergo some changes. Bo Bichette left for the Mets in free agency, signing a three-year $126 million deal. On top of that, Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year deal worth nearly nine figures before his dismal 2025 season, underwent labrum surgery last month that will keep him out for the majority of the regular season.
It was not all losses, however, as they signed infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year from the NPB over the offseason. He began his career in Japan with six consecutive 30-home run seasons, and is coming off of a shortened year where he posted a 210 wRC+ in 293 plate appearances in one of the world’s best leagues. Projections see him as a legitimate everyday bat, with solid power in a well above league-average profile.
Outside of the changes, the lineup still remains strong at the top. After it appeared he may be just about washed with the bat, George Springer bounced back in 2025 with a shocking career year at 35, and he’ll look to ride that wave into ‘26. Daulton Varsho experienced a renaissance as well, setting career-highs across the board and hitting 20 homers in just 71 games. Guerrero is a star despite the occasional ups and downs, and the supporting cast of Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, Andrés Giménez, and Ernie Clement is more than serviceable.
On the pitching side of things, the situation is not as sturdy in Toronto. Veterans Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease lead the way. Gausman had a good bounce-back in 2025, and the strikeout-heavy Cease will look to have one of his own after signing a seven-year $210 million deal this offseason. Max Scherzer returned to the club on a one-year deal to provide some stability in the back of the rotation, but beyond that, things get shaky.
To begin the season, each of Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and hotly-anticipated sophomore Trey Yesavage will begin the season on the injured list. The confidence their two veterans provide for their teammtes will be missed, and Yesavage appears to have ace potential, which the Jays will surely be eager to get back. At full strength this is a rotation that features top-notch talent, with veteran depth that would be highly valuable in a potential October run. The question, however, is when at least most of them can get healthy at the same time.
As for the bullpen, Toronto retains almost everyone who helped them get to the doorstep of a title in the 2025 postseason, with closer Jeff Hoffman, playoff workhorse Louis Varland, and contributors Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, and Braydon Fisher back in the fold. The notable exception is a free agent swap of Seranthony Domínguez (now of the White Sox) for the crafty-but-effective Tyler Rogers, who signed a three-year, $37 million contract after leading the majors with 81 games pitched in 2026 between the Giants and Mets, recording a 1.98 ERA and 0.944 WHIP.
Coming off of a pennant-winning campaign, the talent and potential in Toronto is clear, but they do not come without some uncertainties. Health is an issue out of the gates, but they also occupy a notoriously competitive division. In the American League East, FanGraphs projects all five teams to go at least .500, and for the Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles all to finish within three games of each other. Though it won’t likely finish that way, it’s telling of the balanced and talented state of the AL East, which makes the path to good postseason position difficult for any team, including the defending pennant winners.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
