A three-time Cy Young Award winner, a former MVP, and the first baseman who helped end a 108-year World Series drought are joining NBC Sports. How’s that for an All-Star lineup?
Recently retired stars Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, and Anthony Rizzo will provide their insight as MLB makes its return to NBC and Peacock for the 2026 season. The trio will serve as pregame analysts for the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs this fall and will also appear on select Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts during the regular season alongside hosts Bob Costas and Ahmed Fareed.
Beyond being three of the most recognizable players of their generation, Kershaw, Votto, and Rizzo have combined for 20 All-Star selections. They’ll draw on that experience to deliver informed analysis and fresh perspectives throughout NBC Sports’ MLB coverage.
Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw completed his 18th and final season in 2025 by winning his third World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, Kershaw posted a 223-96 career record for a .699 winning percentage – third best in MLB history (minimum 100 decisions). A left-hander, he recorded more than 3,000 career strikeouts, was an 11-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and National League Most Valuable Player in 2014, a year in which he pitched a no-hitter. In addition, the Dallas native led the NL in earned run average five times and in wins and strikeouts three times. In 2012, Kershaw earned MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award, which is regarded as MLB’s most prestigious individual honor for a player who exhibits exemplary community service, for his charitable work, which included building an orphanage with his wife, Ellen, in Africa.
Joey Votto
Votto spent 17 years with the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he was a six-time All-Star, the 2010 NL Most Valuable Player and 2011 Gold Glove first baseman. Known for his power and patience, the left-handed hitter compiled a .294 career batting average and blasted 356 career home runs while leading the NL in on-base percentage seven times. He helped the Reds reach the Postseason four times in his career. Votto, a native of Toronto, also turned in numerous memorable interviews and mic’d up moments as a player, becoming a fan favorite across the game.
Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo is a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman who is perhaps best known for catching the final out of the 2016 World Series for the Chicago Cubs, breaking the team’s 108-year championship drought. Rizzo also hit .360 in that World Series. In 2016, Rizzo was awarded the Platinum Glove as the NL’s best overall defensive player. Over 14 seasons with the Padres, Cubs and Yankees, the lefty slugger hit 303 home runs and had four seasons with at least 100 RBIs. A survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the Florida native was the 2017 recipient of the Clemente Award for the work of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which benefits cancer research and families affected by the disease.
From an MLB Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 to the Wild Card round of the playoffs, NBC Sports’ 2026 schedule delivers wall-to-wall coverage.
D.J. Short
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When does MLB on NBC coverage begin?
MLB on NBC coverage will begin with an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26, as Paul Skenes and the Pirates will take on Juan Soto and the Mets before the World Series champion Dodgers will raise their banner leading into a primetime matchup against Ketel Marte and the Diamondbacks.
As part of a three-year media rights agreement, MLB will be presented across NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. Sunday Night Baseball will debut on March 29 with a matchup between two 2025 first-place teams, as the Mariners host the Guardians. The 18-game MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule begins May 3, with the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Twins in Minnesota. On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.
Viewers can also look forward to a weekly Sunday whip-around show, a Labor Day special, the MLB Draft, the All-Star Futures Game, as well as highlights, short-form content, and documentaries.
Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
Usually, I run just one sleuthing photo a day on the weekends during the offseason but I came across this one recently and it was too good to pass up. So let’s do a bit of baseball sleuthing as we wait for today’s Super Bowl to begin.
Here we have brothers Joe and Phil Niekro posing at Wrigley Field. The scoreboard is visible, just barely, and only the NL side.
Joe Niekro pitched for the Cubs in 1967 and 1968, and for a few weeks in 1969 before he was traded to the Padres. So that does narrow things down, a bit. The Joe Niekro trade happened before the Braves visited Wrigley Field in 1969, so that year is eliminated.
That would still leave 18 possible dates, as the Braves played nine games at Wrigley in both 1967 and 1968.
I didn’t have to look at a single box score to figure this out, though I did have to check league schedules. Here’s how this one went.
First, the style of road uniform Phil Niekro is wearing wasn’t worn by the Braves before 1968. So that eliminates 1967.
Now, we can’t see much of the board but here’s a portion that we can see, enlarged:
It’s blurry and pixellated but that doesn’t matter. If you are familiar with the Wrigley Field board and how games are designated, it’s 100 percent clear that the white squares in the games above and below the Cubs score line (and that one was in the middle in the 1960s) read NO GAME.
Thus, the Cubs and Braves were the only NL game being played on the day this photo was taken.
So, as I said, I didn’t have to look at a single box score to figure this one out, just the daily schedules. The only day that year that the Cubs and Braves played at Wrigley and were the only NL game was Thursday, April 25, 1968.
In those days, photographers didn’t cover every single game as they do now, and especially not on a chilly April weekday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The reason this photo was taken is very likely the fact that the brothers had pitched against each other in the series opener, Tuesday, April 23. It was the first time the Niekros had faced each other at Wrigley; it had happened once previously in Atlanta, July 4, 1967.
Joe was the winner that day, allowing four runs in eight innings. The Cubs scored five off Phil in three innings and won 10-4. The reason this photo had to wait until Thursday the 25th was that the Wednesday, April 24 game had been postponed because it was 39 degrees and snowing that day in Chicago.
The Cubs won the April 25 game 5-2. Fergie Jenkins threw a complete game and Ron Santo homered twice in front of just 4,399 on another chilly day, with a temperature around 50.
The Joe Niekro trade was one of the worst in Cubs history. Joe had thrown a complete-game shutout in his first 1969 start against the Expos, but then posted a 6.97 ERA in his next three starts, not getting out of the fifth inning in any of them. In a fit of pique, Leo Durocher wanted him traded and GM John Holland obliged him.
Yes, the Cubs got Dick Selma in the deal, and Selma was competent for the Cubs, not to mention fun with his bullpen antics. Selma was traded (with Oscar Gamble) to the Phillies after 1969 for Johnny Callison, another bad trade. Callison didn’t do much for the Cubs and Selma had an outstanding year for Philly in 1970 as a multi-inning reliever, posting 22 saves and 5.2 bWAR in 73 games and 134.1 innings.
Meanwhile, Niekro went on to pitch 19 more seasons for the Tigers, Astros, Braves, Yankees and Twins. He was a teammate of his brother’s in Atlanta in 1973 and 1974, finished in the top three of Cy Young voting in 1979 and 1980 and got a World Series ring with the Twins in 1987. He had 221 career wins and was one of the better starters of his time.
As we conclude our Northwestern baseball 2026 position previews, it’s time to take a look at a relatively experienced outfield group featuring two returning starters and a couple of interesting newcomers. What can the Wildcats’ outfielders offer in 2026?
Jackson Freeman, Junior, RF
After a big first-year season featuring 11 home runs and an OPS of .866, Freeman took a step back statistically in 2025, improving his batting average from .247 to .255 but dropping his OPS to .780 thanks to just six home runs in 52 games. However, fans shouldn’t be fooled by this perceived lack of progress — Freeman is a bona fide star who will be one of the Wildcats’ biggest assets in 2026.
Over the summer, Freeman took his talents to the Cape Cod League to play against the best summer baseball competition in the country. He more than held his own, hitting .259 in a league that is far less hitter-friendly than the Big Ten (for context, the worst team ERA out of 10 Cape squads was 4.92, a mark that would’ve been sixth-best in a 17-team B1G). In addition to his hitting prowess, Freeman showed off his capabilities in both right and center field, starting 38 games for the Chatham Anglers and committing just one error compared to five outfield assists.
Entering 2026, Freeman is expected to slot back into his role as the primary right fielder for the ‘Cats. Finding increased power will still need to be a focus, but in terms of efficiency, the California native projects to take a major step up this year.
Jack Lausch, Senior, CF
Welcome back, quarterback.
Lausch returns to the ‘Cats for his second season of baseball since abandoning his pursuits of being NU’s starting QB. A highly-touted baseball recruit coming out of high school, the Chicago native struggled to readjust at the plate early in 2025. However, he bounced back nicely toward the end of the year, finishing with a solid .268 batting average.
In 2026, Lausch should return to his role as the everyday center fielder for the ‘Cats. With a year of collegiate baseball under his belt, fans should expect Lausch to be a reliable player who can hit in the heart of the order if necessary.
Logan de Groot, Sophomore, LF
With the departure of Preston Knott, the ‘Cats have a big hole in left field, and de Groot is one of several options who could seek to fill it. The California native transferred to NU after a season with UCLA, during which he started four games as a designated hitter and batted .267 across 15 at-bats.
Over the summer, de Groot received regular playing time in the West Coast League, hitting .236. The sophomore saw a lot of time in right field with the WCL’s Bellingham Bells, but he likely has the versatility to play in left if necessary. It is certainly possible that Wildcat coach Ben Greenspan will opt to start a returner in left to begin the season, but de Groot is certainly a viable choice as well.
Griffin Mills, Junior
Mills made two starts in 21 appearances with the ‘Cats last year, picking up six hits in 19 at-bats total. The New Jersey native does have the ability to play all over the outfield, and he made one start as a left fielder against UIC last April. His 2024 batting numbers (.129 average in 62 at-bats) are certainly a cause for concern, but Mills has certainly developed his swing since then, so he’ll likely have a chance to compete for some time in the outfield with the loss of Knott.
Zach Carlson, Sophomore
Carlson appeared in 15 games and made seven starts (all as a designated hitter) last season, hitting .276 across 29 at-bats. It was certainly encouraging to see the Utah native get some looks in meaningful competition as a freshman. If Carlson can continue to grow as a hitter, he could be another legitimate option to get some playing time in the outfield.
Marty Kaplan, Senior
A career .212 hitter, Kaplan has seen his playing time slowly decrease since his first-year season in 2023, although he did make two starts as a DH in 2025. As a senior, Kaplan has the advantage of having been around the Wildcat baseball program for a long time, and he does have 12 career starts under his belt. If he can take a leap at the plate, he may get some chances for action as either a DH or left fielder in 2026.
Masai Marshall, Sophomore
Marshall did not play in 2025, but he was ranked as the No. 12 outfielder in the state of New York coming out of high school. He projects mainly as a depth piece for the ‘Cats, but with a year of NU experience under his belt, he’ll likely get the chance to play in his first game at some point in 2026.
Dominic DeLoreto, First-Year
Also listed as a pitcher, DeLoreto hails from Florida and should be a solid development piece for the Wildcats this year. He may not see action in 2026, but his versatility could allow him to be a key player for NU at some point in the future.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Marco Luciano #37 of the San Francisco Giants poses for a photo during the San Francisco Giants Photo Day at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday, February 20, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It took three trips over the waiver wire through claims by three different teams for former top San Francisco Giants prospect Marco Luciano to finally find a home. He was designated multiple times for so many assignments, but the baseball gods finally took mercy on Luciano and let him pass through waivers and land with the New York Yankee’s Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders.
Earlier today, OF Michael Siani was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Additionally, the Yankees outrighted INF/OF Marco Luciano off the Major League roster and onto the roster of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Luciano used the be the Giants’ top prospect and was considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball, playing in the 2021 Futures Game as a 19-year-old. But his hitting never showed the promise displayed as a 17-year-old playing rookie ball and perhaps most important, couldn’t field at shortstop, something that everyone but Farhan Zaidi had long since acknowledged before 2024, when Luciano got an ill-fated chance at the position — and his injuries didn’t help.
His SF Giants career consisted of 41 games and 126 plate appearances, where he slashed .217/.286/.304 with 45 strikeouts and 11 walks. That’s not enough hitting for a middle infielder, let alone the LF/1B/DH hybrid Luciano has become. The Giants let him go in December to provide a spare roster spot that would allow them to participate in the Rule V draft, meaning they effectively traded him for backup catcher Andrew Susac.
Out of options but still only 24 years old, Luciano remained intriguing for MLB teams. Just not for their big-league rosters. The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Luciano Dec. 5, and he spent a few weeks on their roster before the Pirates made a one-for-three three-team trade, which meant they had to clear two spots on their 40-man roster. Operating on the principle of last-in, first-out, they ditched Luciano, who returned to the waiver wire.
Luciano spent three weeks in limbo after that, because the usual one-week limit for waiver claims doesn’t apply to the holiday season. The Baltimore Orioles claimed him Jan. 7, only to designate him for assignment him Jan. 15 in order to claim left-handed reliever Jose Suarez. One week later, the Yankees claimed Luciano. Five days after that, he got another DFA when the Yankees claimed reliever Don Hamel.
Essentially, all these teams wanted Luciano, as long as he didn’t have to be on the 40-man roster. It’s a brutal system for players who are out of options. Luciano had no idea where he was playing next season for two full months, while being a member of three different major-league teams on paper.
He lands with the Yankees, where he has a real opportunity thanks to the Yankees’ lefty-dominated lineup. They’ve got Paul Goldschmidt at first base/DH backing up lefty Ben Rice, but Goldschmidt is now 38 years old, though no less terrifying if he’s facing the Giants. If Luciano can hit outside the friendly Pacific Coast League, he’s a logical right-handed power options for the Yankees.
He’s probably content with simply leaving the waiver wire.
Mar 2, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Aidan Miller (81) signs autographs for fans before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
We are straight smack in the middle of some of the most exciting parts of the offseason: the release of different national prospect writer’s top 100 lists. It lends itself to some excitement because it is a glimpse of what the future may hold, not only for those teams that are contenders for a World Series, but also for teams that are eager for the future to arrive a bit earlier. Once many of these lists start to arrive, a consensus starts to form where we can see who most people believe is leading the pack for the Phillies.
Aidan Miller has become the team’s top prospect. Where Andrew Painter held that title for a few years, his performance last season, one that was frankly disappointing, couple with Miller’s emergence has led to a swap in their positions. Miller is the top dog while Painter is the clear second banana in terms of how they rank in the eyes of prospect writers.
It has led to a little bit of a frothing at the mouth for Miller to join the team as soon as possible from members of the fanbase. The writeups from the authors don’t help. They’re glowing in their reports of the kid, but they are also dangerous in raising the expectations of what Miller might turn out to be (bolding in the reports is mine).
Even when he was struggling, he didn’t come out of his approach, with strong swing decisions across the board that will probably lead to a high OBP this year when he’s in Triple A, where walk rates are higher anyway due to ABS. I don’t think he needs a full year at that level before he’s ready for the majors, just needing to refine some of his pitch recognition, and there’s a good chance that by July 1 he’ll be the best choice for shortstop at Citizens Bank Park.
He’s trending towards being average or better at everything, and if one of those “or betters” turns into a real carrying ability—the power is the obvious possibility given his frame and occasional ability to launch one spectacularly—there’s star upside with the stick. With the glove, he continues to fall into the “maybe a shortstop, maybe not” bucket, although every year that he plays exclusively there and does so with minimum competence gives more hope.
The Phillies have only ever played Miller at shortstop since signing him, and it’s the position at which he’d be the most valuable, but with Trea Turner entrenched ahead of him, it might behoove them to expand his defensive horizons in 2026 in case, be it via trade or injury, it turns out he’s needed at either second or third. Should he turn out to be a more comfortable, consistent defender at either of those positions, then a permanent move should be considered. Miller is going to be good enough at shortstop to play there, but only just so. If he can be a plus glove at second or third, that might be a better long-term fit.
It’s the Law article that has me believing we should pump the brakes a bit on Miller. Saying that he’ll be the best choice for shortstop by July 1 for the Phillies, choosing him over Trea Turner is a bit much at this point. Turner had maybe his best season for the Phillies last year, giving them a season where he registered near 7 WAR thanks to a tremendous uptick in defense to go with offense that is 20% better than league average. That is a player that should be getting MVP votes, one that isn’t going to be hard to displace. Suggesting that Miller would be a better choice at that position is a rather bold statement to make.
Placing expectations of those kinds of proportions on Miller are a bit unfair. His breaking camp with the team out of spring training would probably mean a few things, good and bad. The good part would mean that Miller is so impressive in how he is playing during spring that the team would have no choice but to find some kind of starting role for him. It happens with rookies, where their spring training sets them up for their earning a starting job for Opening Day. But with Miller, you’d probably want him to start if he gets to the majors and right now, barring injury, there just is no spot for him.
That brings us to the bad. If Miller were to win a spot, that probably means an injury happens. No matter which player it would be – Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott or Turner – having an injury to a starter is a bad thing. Having Miller up in the majors would be great insurance for that injury, something the Phillies haven’t had in quite a while. Yet no one should be wishing for an injury to befall a starter.
The biggest issue is making sure to temper those expectations for Aidan Miller no matter where he begins the season. He’s definitely close to making an impact on the major league team, possibly as soon as this season. Expecting him to come in and perform at an All-Star level, or maybe even something more, would be putting too much weight on his talents. It’s completely fine to believe that in time he’ll get to that level. All of these positive sounding scouting reports should have the fanbase excited that for the first time in a long time, the player development system will have produced a player that can reach lofty heights. But maybe for 2026, let’s keep those expectations in check, just a little bit.
The young Mets right-hander was forced to the injured list with a sprained UCL just nine starts into his big-league debut, and he ended up having to undergo Tommy John surgery.
Scott missed the entire 2025 campaign following the procedure.
He spent that time working his way back, and now he’s officially closing in on his return to the big-league mound.
The 26-year-old is expected to be a full-go for spring training.
“I’m feeling great,” Scott told SNY in Port St. Lucie. “I’m excited to be back, get off the mound in front of these guys again -- it’s nice to be able to come and pitch healthy, and just do what I do and do what I love.”
Sunday was the latest bullpen session Scott has thrown since arriving, but he’s also faced hitters about six times already as he progresses towards getting back into game action.
New York’s first Grapefruit League game is on Feb. 21 against the Marlins.
Scott figures to begin this season continuing to shake off the rust in Triple-A, but if he’s able to do so successfully he should find his way back to the majors at some point this year.
While there were some bumps, the youngster showed plenty of positives before going down with the injury, posting a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across his nine outings.
“Obviously, there’s still stuff to build on and stuff to work on,” Scott said. “Being able to go up there and get that experience and to take that into my rehab, and to really try to build off of what I did good and work on what I did bad -- I’m just really excited to get back out there and get outs again.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #7 of the Toronto Blue Jays tags out Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at second base in the ninth inning of Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Let’s start by stipulating that this signing, player, and scenario are not necessarily what we would’ve chosen for ourselves.
But this is where we are now.
Certainly this isn’t the bat we wanted, but let’s lay that aside for the moment. Let’s think about defense, which is something the Red Sox themselves have pledged to devote more thought and effort to.
Before signing IKF, signs were pointing toward Marcelo Mayer staffing third base, with different reports predicting Nick Sogard, or a Romy Gonzalez/David Hamilton platoon at second.
My gut was telling me that IKF was the better option, defensively. Romy could bedazzle us from time to time, but he made me nervous. Hamilton doesn’t pass the eye test either and bounced down to Worcester accordingly. Same with Sogard.
Baseball Reference offers the Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average metric which they define as “The number of runs above or below average the player was worth based on the number of plays made.” For simplicity, they stylize this as Rtot, so I will too.
Let’s take a look.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
At second base in 2024, across two leagues (playing for both the Pirates and the Blue Jays), IKF had a fielding percentage of .990 which was above the MLB average of .984. IKF’s Rtot was 5 runs above average that year at second. Though he played only 56 games (376 innings) at that position, Baseball Reference extrapolates 17 Rtot over 1,200 innings (roughly 135 games, if he were slotted in there). Not bad.
In 2025 for the Blue Jays, over 13 games at second base, IKF’s fielding percentage was a glorious 1.000, though in a small sample size. His true Rtot was 1, extrapolated to 34 over 1,200 innings.
130.1 innings at 2B, .964 fielding percentage compared to .983 league average, Rtot of -4, and Rtot extrapolated over 1,200 innings: -32. Ouch.
In 2025 at 2B: 288 innings, .978 fielding percentage compared to .982 league average, Rtot of -2, and Rtot extrapolated over 1,200 innings: -9.
I congratulate Romy on improving from the previous season, but the Red Sox new defense-first model shouldn’t tolerate any negative numbers here. Neither can the Red Sox afford it, with so many pitchers—particularly Crochet, Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, and Bello—inducing as many ground balls as they do. And besides roster-specific reasons, we’ve increasingly seen how thin the margins can be in getting to the playoffs. The Red Sox have needed to prioritize defense for a long time.
In 2024 at 2B: 99 innings, 1.000 fielding percentage, Rtot of -1, and Rtot extrapolated over 1,200 innings: -12.
In 2025 at 2B: 65 innings, 1.000 fielding percentage, Rtot of 0-1, and Rtot extrapolated over 1,200 innings: -4.
I’m perfectly comfortable with IKF starting at second over González, Hamilton, or Sogard. I would much rather see him play there and be sure-handed, than mess around with regular platoons. (I say this even as I feel sure that one of the main reasons for acquiring IKF is his versatility in the infield.)
Yes, Romy’s bat is better against lefties, but he isn’t the regular answer in the infield. He’s a valued bench player. I have less confidence in Hamilton and Sogard, but they’re bench players too, if they make the team out of spring training. Give the keys to IKF.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 01: Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, Jasson Dominguez, Cam Schlittler, Anthony Volpe, Clarke Schmidt, Ryan Weathers, Austin Wells, Will Warren and Chase Hampton of the New York Yankees attend the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on February 01, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s Sunday, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! For the third time in four weeks, Jack Frost has taken over New York City, with the wind chill reaching as low as 10 below. Fortunately, the countdown to spring training has reached the single digits, as pitchers and catchers report…this week! That’s right, folks, the long nightmarish winter is beginning to draw to a close, and in just a few days, the Chase for 28 will begin once more. How have the Yankees been spending their last few days before the big day? Let’s find out!
Team Building at the Stadium Series
Although pitchers and catchers don’t report until this week, many Yankees have arrived in Tampa to get some extra work in, much like they have done the past two seasons. It hasn’t been all work and no play, though, as they made sure to catch some hockey together at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (it was part of the NHL Stadium Series). From this, we can see that Austin Wells, Ben Rice, Max Fried, Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, Clarke Schmidt, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Chase Hampton, and new trade acquisition Ryan Weathers have already arrived in Tampa.
February is Black History Month, and the Yankees took to social media to celebrate one of the most important players in Yankee history, Elston Howard.
Belli’s Back, Part III
For the third week in a row, we have some more about Cody Bellinger’s return to the Bronx — in this case, at long last, from the man himself. Just as significant as Bellinger’s post, though, is the number of teammates who responded to the post. Aaron Judge replied to Belli’s “Back in the BX” with “You never left!!” Austin Wells posted a trio of happy emojis. Ben Rice added “You are the greatest.” J.C. Escarra said, “Lesss run it🏃🏽♂️.” Even former Yankee Jameson Taillon, who was teammates with Bellinger in Chicago, celebrated the deal.
Mets pitchers and catchers don’t have to officially report to Port St. Lucie until next week, but more and more players have been trickling in over the past few days.
Francisco Alvarez was the latest to arrive on Sunday morning.
The young backstop played catch with right-hander Christian Scott, then went and got some defense work in, doing some catching drills on the backfields.
It’s certainly encouraging to see Alvarez getting in some early work.
The 24-year-old is coming off another injury-plagued campaign, but he showed signs of a his prolific power-hitting form after returning, hitting .276 with 18 XBH’s and a .921 OPS in the second half.
If he can stay healthy and build off that strong finish it would certainly be huge for this lineup.
Alvarez wasn’t the only Met to get some work in on Sunday, as Scott threw a bullpen session while both Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong threw live BP on the backfields.
Kodai Senga also threw a bullpen with pitching coach Justin Willard looking on.
Senga is coming off another injury-plagued campaign in which he struggled down the stretch, but the Mets are said to be encouraged by what they’ve seen from him this winter.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 09: A Cincinnati Reds mascot stands on the field beofre the game between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 09, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron Doster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aaron Watson has yet to throw a competitive pitch as a professional, but his big frame and big potential was good enough for the Cincinnati Reds to use their 2nd round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft to select him out of high school in Florida – and it was good enough to land him at 16th in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings.
Now, we take the voting into the final few spots, with #17 next up on the list!
Per usual, you can find the link to the Google Form for voting right here, yet it’s also embedded at the bottom if you want to read through first and not have to embark upon the painstaking process of scrolling all the way back up here. Both link and embed will be removed once voting closes so you can’t stuff the ballot post facto, however, so be advised that this paragraph will make zero sense if you stumble back across it a year from now.
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
Arnaldo Lantigua
Jose Franco
Zach Maxwell
Leo Balcazar
Adolfo Sanchez
Carlos Jorge
Aaron Watson
A large list of talented names exists below for spot #17. Have at it with the votes!
Liberts Aponte, SS (18 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.368/.461 with 7 HR, 9 SB in 193 PA for DSL Rojos (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: 29/35 K/BB showed greatly improving strike zone awareness; already a plus defender at short where he projects to be excellent both with range and arm long-term
Cons: Still not viewed as a potential plus with the bat, though early returns are already better than original scouting reports; has a long way to go in terms of physically maturing
The Reds doled out $1.9 million to sign Aponte last January, and that marked the single largest contract they doled out in that particular international signing window. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the #18 player overall in that class, noting he was ‘one of the most skilled defenders in his class’ and ‘offers solid wheels’ with ‘magic in his hands’ while doling out a 65 grade on his fielding ability.
The rest, we knew, would take time, as he was just liked at 6’0” and 160 lbs, and that even felt like a slight exaggeration. To his credit, though, he mashed 7 homers as a 17 year old in DSL play while showing more power than anticipated, and if that aspect of his game grows to match what’s already known the Reds have found themselves a gem.
It will be interesting to see if the Reds push him up to Arizona Complex League play at all in 2026 or give him another year in the DSL seeing as he just turned 18 years old in November.
Luke Holman, RHP (23 years old)
2025 at a glance: ER, 2 H, 10 K, 4 BB in 9.0 IP with Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Florida State League
Pros: Two plus breaking pitches (slider, curve)
Cons: Not a ton of velocity on his fastball, which sits 91-94 mph
Luke Holman threw 109 pitches for LSU in a 6-2 loss to North Carolina on June 1st, 2024, a game in which he yielded 4 ER in 6.2 IP with 7 H, 11 K, and a lone walk. Since then, he’s thrown just 9.0 IP on a mound, total.
Holman, Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in 2024, sat out the remainder of 2024 after being drafted, finishing his calendar year with 91.2 IP of 2.75 ERA ball that included a wonderful 0.98 WHIP and 127/33 K/BB. When his 2025 began in Daytona, all signs looked promising in his first pair of starts only for an elbow issue to subsequently sit him down and require Tommy John surgery, and we’ve not seen him since.
He sat 91-94 with his fastball (and touched 96) before, and has a pair of wicked breaking balls that he uses as his out pitches. If he returns to form in 2026 the way he ways before (or even better!), he still profiles as a back-end starter who should move quickly through Cincinnati’s system after dominating SEC play in stints first with Alabama and later with LSU.
Mason Morris, RHP (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: 9.00 ERA, 7/1 K/BB in 4.0 IP with Class-A Daytona Tortugas; 3.29 ERA, 78/31 K/BB in 54.2 IP with University of Mississippi
Pros: Fastball that can touch 100 mph; four-pitch mix
Cons: Lack of experience
Mason Morris landed with Ole Miss in 2023 primarily as a corner infielder, and the now 6’4” 225 lb righty only recently became a full-time pitcher prior to the Reds selecting him with their 3rd round pick in 2025. He’s got projection through the roof, though, with a 100 mph heater, plus cutter, and a pair of other breaking balls that look like they’ve also got the juice.
The question, though, is how Cincinnati plans to use him.
Morris only got a pair of outings as a pro after being drafted, and it appears the Reds have intentions on seeing if he can develop into a starting pitcher. That’s something he’s never really done before, however, and he’ll turn 23 years old in August of 2026. So, we’ll see how long of a leash the Reds give him with that avenue, since if they want to simply keep him in the bullpen there’s very little reason why he shouldn’t rocket through the minors and give them a legit relief arm at the big league level in short order.
Julian Aguiar, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: Did not pitch
Pros: Four-seam fastball that flirts with 100 mph; five-pitch pitcher with a pair of breaking balls and potentially plus change-up
Cons: Missed all of 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery; roughed up in 31.2 IP in MLB debut in 2024 (22 ER, 8 HR)
Julian Aguiar has risen quietly through the ranks of the Reds after being a 12th round pick out of Cypress College back in 2021, and his 2024 season saw him rocket from AA Chattanooga all the way through AAA and then to the Reds. Unfortunately, his short stint there ended with him requiring Tommy John surgery, and he missed all of 2025 while recovering.
He’s got plus potential with at least three pitches, and has another two that are still passable to keep hitters off-keel. His 360/93 career K/BB in 346.1 IP across the minors shows he’s got good strikeout stuff and a passable ability to keep hitters from free passes, and if his command returns as quickly as his velocity does post-surgery he should be in the mix to get big league batters out in some role as early as Opening Day. My best guess, though, is that he’ll be slated for AAA Louisville’s rotation to re-establish himself as a starter first, and he won’t actually turn 25 until June.
Mason Neville, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.333/.442 with 1 HR, 2 SB in 90 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League); .290/.429/.724 with 26 HR, 9 SB in 280 PA with University of Oregon
Pros: 60-grade power with potential plus arm and plus speed & baserunning; chance to stick in CF, though still profiles as a solid RF if moved to the corner; led Division I with 26 HR in final season at Oregon
Cons: Lots of swing and miss in his game, at times, including a 34.4% rate in his short sample with Daytona
The Reds clearly love Neville, as they drafted him in the 18th round out of high school 2022 only to watch him initially attend the University of Arkansas. After transferring to Oregon and swatting more dingers than anyone else in 2025, the Reds went back to him in the 4th round of the most recent draft.
Neville is incredibly toolsy, his left-handed swing producing significant power when he makes contact. He’s good at working walks despite his swing-and-miss proclivities, and posesses the kind of athleticism and speed to be a legitimate CF.
His tiny sample with Daytona has some red flags with the Ks, but it’s such a small sample that it’s hard to take it with too much certainty. For instance, he hit .298/.365/.526 through his first 17 games there only to go 2 for 20 with 9 Ks across his final 6 games – that could, and likely is, all small-sample noise.
Big tools, that Neville. He could well be the steal of the 2025 draft.
Sheng-En Lin, RHP (20 years old)
2025 at a glance: 3.06 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 61/15 K/BB in 47.0 IP split between ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League) and Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League); .172/.348/.310 with 2 HR in 113 PA with ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League)
Pros: Former two-way player has tons of athleticism; fastball that runs to 97 mph with three-pitch mix including curve and change; excellent command
Cons: Still building up innings; dropping hitting to focus on being a pitcher
Lin was signed for $1.2 million during the 2023 international signing period, and the Taiwan native spent the last trio of seasons in Arizona attempting to do both hitting and pitching. The hit tool stalled, though, as his K-rate spiked and power never arrived, and on pitching he’ll now focus after making a late-season cameo with Daytona after being promoted to full-season ball for the first time.
In very, very small samples, his work on the mound has been excellent. He’s the owner of an impressive 4.07 K/BB rate for his short career, and that’s with an impressive 11.7 K/9 that shows just how much of a strikeout pitcher he can be. His secondary pitches both flash plus grades, at times, and more consistency there with a fastball that hits 97 mph already (with perhaps more velocity coming as he focuses solely on the mound) could see him rocket up these rankings in short order…if he hits the ground running in April.
Ricky Cabrera, 3B (21 years old)
2025 at a glance: .187/.276/.240 with 0 HR, 0 SB in 89 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Above-average power, speed, and hit tool, with an arm that’s good enough to play at 3B (if he can find his accuracy)
Cons: An absolutely lost 2025 season that included a season-ending knee injury
The optimist in you sees that Cabrera only just turned 21 years old in October, and in 2024 posted a 110 wRC+ with 11 HR and 19 SB in the pitcher-friendly confines of the Florida State League with Daytona (with said wRC+, along with his OPS, both ranking among that league’s top 10). That same optimist probably would point out that 2025 saw the Venezuela native play in the cold April weather of the Midwest League with Dayton for the first time, and he struggled mightily in those new conditions before a knee injury rendered his 2025 completely lost.
There’s still a lot to like about Cabrera, even though he’s physically matured off shortstop at this juncture and likely profiles as a 3B, or potentially at 2B defensively – with his defense needing just as much improvement as his bat at the moment, too. If the batting cage stuff can begin to translate onto the field again post-injury, there’s still a ton to like about the former $2.7 million signee and Top 5 overall international prospect from the 2022 class.
I’m assuming there is no pessimist in you, for now.
Tyler Callihan, IF/OF (26 years old)
2025 at a glance: .303/.410/.528 with 4 HR, 6 SB in 106 PA with AAA Louisville Bats (International League); 1 for 6 with an RBI in 4 G with Cincinnati Reds
Pros: Plus bat speed from the left-hand side of the plate; advanced approach at the plate and potentially solid ability to take a walk
Cons: Plays a little bit of everywhere because his defense isn’t great anywhere; injuries have persisted with him just about every single year since being drafted back in 2019
Callihan had barely made his big league debut (and picked up his first career big league hit) in 2025 before he went crashing into the wall in foul territory chasing a Matt Olson liner and shattered pretty much every bone in his arm. That ended his season, obviously, something that Callihan has had to hear told to him just about every year since being drafted – he’s even had Tommy John surgery despite obviously not being a pitcher.
If and when he can stay healthy, there’s always been a bit to like about his offensive potential, however. Drafted as a bat-first guy out of high school in 2019, he signed an over-slot bonus to turn pro because people knew then he could hit, and that’s still the case despite him always having the look of being rusty off a long layoff.
He’s got a bit of speed, a bit of pop, a bit of just about everything, and he also now has experience at 2B, LF, 1B, and even some 3B back in the day, all while swinging from the left side. That has him firmly in the mix for the final roster spot on the Reds come Opening Day, as none of their other litany of utility infield options has both a) big league experience and b) bats from the left side.
Here are two Cubs from the last decade who you likely remember well, Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin. This is another photo courtesy BCB reader Clark Addison.
They are standing together at Wrigley Field, apparently just waiting. There’s no one else on the field, the umpires appear to be having some sort of meeting, and the batter — who has to be a visiting player since Castro and Colvin are wearing their fielder’s gloves — has just walked. We’re somewhere in the middle of the game, as the pitch count says 66.
The next clue is the lights. This is obviously a night game and the lights have… mostly gone out. So the “waiting” is happening because of a power failure of some sort at the ballpark.
I zoomed into the visitors’ dugout to see if I could identify that team. It’s the Dodgers.
Tyler Colvin played for the Cubs in 2010 and 2011. There is only one No. 33 for the Dodgers who played any games at Wrigley Field in those two years. Oddly enough, that’s a guy who would be traded to the Cubs later in 2010, Blake DeWitt.
Then it just took a bit of googling to find out when there was a power outage at Wrigley in 2010.
The lights went out at Wrigley Field and the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cubs was delayed 18 minutes Wednesday night after power lines came in contact with tree branches, causing a power outage.
A bank of lights behind home plate went out as Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny released a 3-1 pitch to Blake DeWitt in the fourth inning. Home plate umpire Wally Bell called the pitch a ball and granted DeWitt first base on the walk. As DeWitt was jogging down the first-base line, the rest of the stadium lights went out.
So there’s the whole story. This photo was obviously taken shortly after that, as players waited for the lights to come back on, and as noted in the quote above, they eventually did.
The Cubs trailed 5-2 when the lights went out. Eventually they closed the gap to 7-5 after eight, but a Casey Blake homer off James Russell gave the Dodgers an 8-5 lead and that was the final score.
The Cubs were 22-25 after this loss and in third place in the NL Central, five games behind the Reds, who eventually won it. The Cubs finished 75-87, in fifth place.
TORONTO - OCTOBER 21: First Baseman John Olerud #9 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during Game Four of the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at the Skydome on October 21, 1992 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays won 2-1. (Photo by MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
Today’s question: Which trade, in Jays history, still bothers you the most? Well, the question was supposed to be “Is this team actually trying to contend or are they just pretending?“ but I didn’t think that would give us much to talk about.
This is an easy one for me, the trade that still pisses me off the most was from 1996, 30 years ago. You’d think I’d be over it by now. But no. In 1996, Gord Ash (actually, the top 10 Jays trades that bother me the most are likely all Gord Ash trades). This one though…this one almost had me questioning whether I wanted to be a baseball fan anymore.
Gord Ash traded John Olerud to the Mets for some Person (Robert Person). Olerud was my favourite. He was 27, just coming into his prime. He was a lefty hitter, I was a lefty hitter (and that’s where the resemblance ended). But he was a spray hitter, walked a lot, and could hit the occasional home run. Kind of the type of player I would have liked to have been, had I any talent at all.
I was looking forward to watching his career.
And we traded him for a pitcher who didn’t strike out all that many hitters, walked far more than any pitcher should. Person went 8-13 with a 6.18 in 61 games 22 starts, in 2 and a bit seasons. A -1.7 bWAR.
We traded him to the Phillies for Paul Spoljaric, who, in his second go around with the Jays wasn’t much better than Person.
Olerud? Well, in three seasons with the Mets, had a 17.3 bWAR and a .315/.425/.501 line with 63 home runs. He had the best run of his career. From there, he went to the Mariners, where he had a 17.1 over four and a half seasons.
The kicker to it all, was that we traded Olerud to make from for an aging Joe Carter to play first. Carter would hit .234/.284/.399 with 18 home runs in the season after the trade and left as a free agent.
Now why did they trade Olerud to keep Carter? Well, Cito Gaston liked Carter and he didn’t like Olerud. And Ash was a young GM, new to the job. Gaston was a World Series winning manager.
I’ve said this before, but a strong GM would have told Gaston that Olerud was a young star, and that we need to keep him. Barring that, a good GM would have traded the young star for, you know, a valuable baseball player. A poor GM would trade Olerud for Robert Person.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Elijah Green #21 of the Washington Nationals bats during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With the Super Bowl tonight, I got to thinking. Which Washington Nationals players could be NFL players? There are a lot of really good athletes on this team, so I had plenty of options. However, I settled on four players. Three of them are currently in the organization, while one is no longer with the Nats.
The four players are Elijah Green, Trea Turner, CJ Abrams and Joey Wiemer. All of them are absolutely freakish athletes that would fit in on an NFL field. All of them have positions on the field that would suit them as well. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Elijah Green has struggled due to hit tool issues in pro ball, but the former top 5 pick might be the freakiest athlete of the four. He is 6’3 225 pounds with an elite blend of power and speed. Football is also in his blood, with his dad Eric being a pro bowl Tight End back in the day.
When you look at him running, you can just picture him being a big safety or a sideline to sideline linebacker. Green is just a freakish mover for his size. There is actually a player in the Super Bowl with a similar combination of size and speed. That is Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori.
Green and Emmanwori have very similar measurables. They are both 6’3, but Emmanwori is 5 pounds lighter at 220 pounds. Emmanwori has been a key part of the Seahawks defense as a rookie. He has been a highly versatile defensive back who specializes playing in the slot. Green has the same sort of movement skills. Given his struggles in pro ball, this could honestly be something to consider.
The only former Nat I put on the list is Trea Turner. You just could not make a list of potential NFL players with Nationals connections without him. Even at 32 years old, Turner is still one of the fastest players in the league. He is also incredibly smooth and fluid as an athlete.
Trea Turner’s Sprint Speed and where that ranks in MLB:
2025- 30.3 (1st in MLB) 2024- 29.6 (21st in MLB) 2023- 30.3 (4th in MLB) 2022- 30.3 (4th in MLB) 2021- 30.6 (1st in MLB) 2020- 29.9 (4th in MLB) 2019- 30.3 (2nd in MLB) 2018- 30.1 (6th in MLB) 2017- 30.3 (5th in MLB) 2016-… pic.twitter.com/rJo5EY2v9A
All of those things would make him a great wide receiver. At 6’1 185 pounds, he would probably have to bulk up a bit though. However, if he put on another 10 pounds, his measurables would be similar to Seahawks star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN is listed at 6’0 197 pounds. Turner is 6’1 185 pounds, so not too far off.
I actually think Turner is a bit faster than JSN. However, Smith-Njigba’s route running is what makes him special. Obviously, Turner would not be that level of route runner, but his speed and overall movement skills would make him a good receiver.
To stop elite receivers like JSN, you need lockdown cornerbacks. This is where I think CJ Abrams could thrive. A lot of the best corners are on the leaner side like Abrams. They rely on their speed and ability to turn and run. Abrams certainly has that ability to run, as we see on the basepaths.
enjoyed this closer look at CJ Abrams
ugly start on a bad team made it hard for him to really pop but a 22-year-old SS w/ 18 HR/47 SB (& only caught 4 times!) should've been a bigger deal
clearly more adjustments needed but the physical tools are still freaky
At 6’0 191 pounds, he also just looks like a cornerback. He is a very similar size to former Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who is 6’0 185 pounds. Both also have dynamic movement skills and speed.
You can just picture Abrams running with receivers and matching them step for step. While he is not on the list, Jacob Young also has the natural athleticism to be one of the rare white cornerbacks. Cooper DeJean showed us it could be done. Maybe in another life, Young could have followed that career path.
Finally, the last player I am going to talk about is not as well-known and is new to the Nationals. The Nats claimed Joey Wiemer off of waivers earlier this winter. They did so because of his defense, athleticism and power. He does not have great hitting ability, but he is a tremendous athlete. Wiemer can make highlight reel plays in the outfield.
At 6’4 226 pounds, Wiemer is an impressive physical specimen. With that size, he could play linebacker in the NFL. Fred Warner, the best linebacker in football, is a similar size at 6’3 230 pounds. Wiemer’s size and speed would make him a formidable backer in the league. He probably has the frame to add about 10 pounds if he really wanted to play football as well.
There are a lot of really high level athletes who have played in the Nats organization. Many of them would not look out of place on an NFL field if that was what they decided to pursue instead of baseball. Maybe we could have seen CJ Abrams trying to guard Trea Turner in another life.
I am very excited to watch the Super Bowl and watch these amazing athletes. Who do you guys think will win tonight? Also, do you think I left off any Nationals players who could have been NFL stars if they played football? Let me know in the comments.
If you had to point to one area leading to the Mets’ dramatic collapse last season, it would be the starting rotation.
A group that started the year consistently putting together quality innings completely faltered off down the stretch, and found themselves costing the team more often than not.
After disappointingly failing to make the playoffs, David Stearns knew he had to fix that weak spot this offseason.
He ended up making just one addition to that group, but it was certainly a big one.
After months of searching, New York was able to land the top of the rotation arm they’ve been looking for, landing two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta in a deal with the Brewers last month.
They did have to pay a hefty price, parting with top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat, but it's certainly worth it to bring in an arm of Peralta's caliber.
The hope is with him and Nolan McLean leading the way, their veterans bouncing back, and some of the other young arms chipping in, this rotation will be able to turn things around.
Some feel another addition is needed, but the organization is said to be encouraged by what they've seen from Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga this offseason after they struggled mightily in an injury-plagued campaign.
Whether or not it'll be enough to pitch this team back into contention remains to be seen.
On paper, though, Peralta and Clay Holmes like how this group is shaping up.
“I’m excited to see what we’re going to bring this season, I see a lot of talent,” Peralta said in Port St. Lucie.
“It’s a great mix,” Holmes added. “We have exciting young guys that can really help us, we have guys coming back who have done things before and it’s just a matter of being those players -- we all have a hunger and desire to really push this team, and to come together as a rotation and truly reach our potential."
You can see that hunger and desire early on.
Peralta, Holmes, Senga, and McLean are among a group of Mets who have been spotted at camp early.
Pitchers and catchers officially report to PSL on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Some players show up to the big leagues just in time to win a championship, or two, or more. Many, many more completely miss the boat. Fritz Peterson was a reliable left-handed pitcher who despite his strong nine-year tenure in the Bronx worthy of a spot on our Top 100 Yankees countdown never appeared in a World Series with them. His career began four years after their most recent title, and three years before the next.
If Peterson had been part of a championship team or three, perhaps he wouldn’t be mostly remembered for an incident which made him tabloid-fodder in 1972: a consensual partner-swap between himself and teammate Mike Kekich. If anyone was going to laugh about the uproar which ensued, though, it would be Peterson, whose congeniality endeared him to writers and teammates alike.
Fred Ingles Peterson Born: February 8, 1942 (Chicago, IL) Died: October 19, 2023 (Winona, MN) Yankees Tenure: 1966-74
Peterson grew up outside Chicago and remained in the state of Illinois for college after a solid high school career. With the Northern Illinois Huskies, Peterson honed his craft on the mound—while playing some hockey on the side. He began to seek professional offers after his junior year in 1963, two years before the advent of the MLB draft. He fully intended to sign with the Yankees, and in July, he got his wish.
The Yankees, of course, had just won the World Series in 1962 and 1961, and were on their way to appear in a third consecutive Fall Classic. While the Dodgers swept them that year, and the Cardinals dealt them a bitter defeat in seven games in 1964, it seemed like young Fritz had a great chance to taste championship glory in the Bronx.
By the time he made his debut, though, the dynasty had crumbled. The Yanks lost 85 games and tumbled to sixth place in the American League in ’65, and would finish dead last in ’66, even as Peterson came up and logged a solid rookie year. The southpaw pitched a complete game in his first start, limiting the Orioles to two runs on six hits in a 3-2 victory. He went on to post a 3.31 ERA in 34 starts—good for a 100 ERA+ in a very pitcher-friendly run environment.
Fritz took a minor step back in 1967 in another cellar-dweller season before enjoying a successful 1968—as most pitchers did, frankly. But a 2.55 ERA in 1969 after the lowering of the mound proved he was for real, even as he traded wins and losses at an even rate (17-16).
Peterson was a control maven who avoided walks like the plague. He posted a WHIP of 0.996 in ‘69, the best mark in the AL. That season was the second of five consecutive in which he led either the AL or all of baseball in walks-per-nine innings. Since Peterson rarely let a man reach base for free, his starts tended to fly by. “I like to pitch fast and get the game over so I can find out who won,” Peterson once said, showcasing the sharp wit which made him even more popular among writers than his expediency did.
Ahead of the 1969 season, the Yankees traded outfielder Andy Kosco to the Dodgers for reliever Mike Kekich. This seemingly inconsequential move on paper would become a deeply important event for Peterson, who became fast friends with Kekich. Their families spent so much time together that Peterson and Kekich would joke idly about trading wives.
Well it was a joke, at first. Then it wasn’t.
By 1972, Peterson found himself in love with Kekich’s wife Susanne. In December, the Peterson and Kekich families made a one-for-one deal. The rest of the world was not thrilled.
Peterson divulged the wife swap to the media in March of 1973, drawing the ire of fans and media. A columnist derided their decision and blamed a lack of leadership from manager Ralph Houk, who had defended Peterson and Kekich. Even the commissioner of baseball, Bowie Kuhn, came down from his perch to issue an unofficial condemnation.
If, to put it in sports terms, this trade had a “winner,” it would be Peterson, whose marriage with Susanne lasted the rest of their lives. Not so for Kekich, who split up with Peterson’s first wife Marilyn only a few months later; she hadn’t been that enthused about the idea in the first place. Kekich went on the record to say that he thought the swap should have been called off shortly afterward, but the Petersons refused. It all made for an uncomfortable situation and Kekich grew estranged, doing everything he could to distance himself from the story (and a now-seemingly aborted attempt by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to make a movie about it).
Let’s skip back to a couple years before “the swap.” Peterson enjoyed the best season of his career in 1970, as the Yankees rose from mediocrity to challenge for the AL pennant. While they finished a distant second place behind 108-win Baltimore, their 93 wins were by far the most since Peterson arrived in the Bronx. Peterson, for his part, reached the 20-win total for the first and only time in his MLB career, while pitching to a 2.90 ERA in 260.1 innings. That earned him his lone trip to the Midsummer Classic; in the game, he faced Willie McCovey with the bases loaded, allowed an RBI single, and was relieved by teammate Mel Stottlemyre. The Senior Circuit won 5-4 in 12 innings.
The southpaw continued to pitch well in 1971 and 1972, but the Yankees had returned to their mediocrity, with consecutive fourth-place finishes in the AL. Following the wife-swap in December, Peterson struggled out of the gate in 1973. Fans and media naturally blamed the swap, but he had been struggling with arm fatigue and shoulder pain. In what would ultimately be his final year in pinstripes, Fritz went 8-15 with a 3.95 ERA. The Yankees finished fourth yet again.
Early in 1974, Peterson was traded to Cleveland after starting the season in the bullpen. He rebounded somewhat in 1975, then wrapped up his career after struggling with injuries and inconsistency across 13 appearances in 1976. His overall career numbers across nine seasons in New York: a 109-106 record and 3.10 ERA (106 ERA+) over 1,857 innings, with 893 strikeouts as opposed to only 332 walks. His solid career never coincided with a World Series appearance, but the Yankees would return to the Fall Classic in 1976, then win their 21st championship in 1977.
Peterson wore many hats on retirement, but started a writing career late in his life. His first book was Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven, released in 2009, a Ball Four-esque account of his old playing days with an Evangelical flavor. His second book, The Art of De-Conditioning: Eating Your Way to Heaven, was a more humorous account of his decision to stop watching what he ate after retiring. Finally, he wrote a more historical-minded account called When the Yankees Were on the Fritz—about the dim era of Yankees baseball which coincided with his career.
Peterson died from lung cancer in October 2023 at the age of 81, though somewhat oddly it wasn’t reported until the following April. While his exploits were largely overlooked and his career often distilled to a controversial life decision, he was a proud Yankee, even when being a Yankee wasn’t always something to be proud of.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
D.J. Short
