MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 28: A general view of the Hohokam Stadium signage prior to a Spring Training game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, February 28, 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After yesterday’s excursion into international waters, normal, Cactus League service resumes this afternoon for the D-backs with a relatively short trip to Hohokam Park. The D-backs come into this game with a four-game winning streak (not including yesterday, obvs), not having lost a regular pre-season game in a week. It’s the offense who has been getting it done: while Arizona has conceded 22 runs over those four victories, they have scored 33. They have all been pretty close, each ending in a save situation. In fact, the last six Diamondbacks’ contests have all been decided by three runs or fewer. Here’s the line-up for this afternoon:
After Brandon Pfaadt, candidates to pitch are from the following: RHP Yilber Díaz, LHP Brandyn Garcia, RHP Tom Hatch, RHP Andrew Hoffmann, LHP Philip Abner, RHP Paul Sewald, RHP Isaiah Campbell, RHP Gerardo Carrillo, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga and LHP Spencer Giesting. Plenty to choose from there, and a few names who I expect to be competing for spots in the bullpen by the end of the month. As for Pfaadt, this is his first game in the Cactus League: he has thrown on the backfields. This is because he is being eased into action after having a “side issue” earlier in the off-season. We’ll see how deep he goes into the game today.
No TV or radio today, so a Gameday only kind of afternoon. Probably be fairly quiet.
Mar 1, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies mascot the Phanatic entertains fans against the New York Yankees in the third inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Phillies will embark soon on a season that is under some rather intense scrutiny. It’s not just the fanbase that is expecting some results this year when it comes how and where the team ultimately finishes, it’s national media as well. Look around at different people talking about who is on the hot seat and who is not, you’ll probably find multiple outlets talking about the Phillies. It’s also the players themselves. Everyone kind of knows what is at stake here with the team. While we largely preach patience here when it comes to the team, with the players that are impending free agents and the prospects that are nipping at their heels to take over that vacated spot, this does have a bit of a feel of the last hurrah for this form of the team.
Since 2022, we have come to see the team as it being led by a Bryce Harper-Kyle Schwarber-Zack Wheeler core, buffeted by other players like J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez. With the departure of Suarez this past offseason, we have started to see layers of that team that went to the World Series in 2022 started to fall away. No longer are Suarez and Nick Castellanos gracing the corridors of Citizens Bank Park; now, we will see Adolis Garcia and Andrew Painter. Much as people would like to spin it as the team running it back, a more considered take is that there has been a decent amount of turnover.
Yet the players that remain still have that feel of “we’ve been here before”. Bohm, despite some of the team’s best attempts to move from him, remains probably the best option to give whoever hits third the protection that is required. Realmuto and Schwarber were brought back as the best available free agent options at their positions while Harper, Bryson Stott and Trea Turner continue to provide value in the infield. The outfield does have a different mix of players with Garcia joining Brandon Marsh and (probably) Justin Crawford to form maybe not the most powerful trio of outfielders in the game, but certainly some of the better defensive options the team has had in many a moon.
The pitching staff even has a different vibe to it. This isn’t one led by Wheeler, though he still remains one of the better pitchers in the game. No, this one now has a different Ace in Cristopher Sanchez, backed (at least until Wheeler is ready to resume his duties) by a burgeoning frontline starter in his own right in Jesus Luzardo. The bullpen looks like one of the best overall units on paper now that they have finally decided to hand specific roles to specific pitchers, anchored by Jhoan Duran and Brad Keller at the end of games.
This is a good team, but what ultimately will define a successful season?
The “ring mentality” that has permeated fanbases around the game has warped what constitutes a successful season. We have been conditioned to think that a season is a failure if it is not draped in confetti on the final day the team is together. Many people are criticized for believing that a team has had a good season if they make it to the playoffs, shouted down by those that would like hardware to show for their troubles.
Make no mistake, the Phillies should and could contend for a World Series title this season. Should they join the overwhelming majority of other teams in the game and not hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the season, there will be disappointment to go around for all, but that should not push their season to the dustbin of obscurity. They have a roster that should make the playoffs and should contend for the National League pennant and should put up a fight if it reaches the World Series.
It just has to.
But the question here is: what does the team have to do this year to make it successful? That’s what we ask of you.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Josue de Paula #95 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks before the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers take a break from Cactus League action to host Team Mexico on Wednesday. It’s one of 15 games across Arizona and Florida on Wednesday with a World Baseball Classic team tuning up by playing a major league team.
Tyler Glasnow takes the ball first for the Dodgers against Mexico. Emmet Sheehan is also slated to pitch. Josue De Paula has played nearly every day this spring, but today is his first start.
Following yesterday’s break from Cactus League action to play an exhibition against Team Brazil, the Athletics return to traditional spring training action this afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs will be making the start for the A’s today. He is looking for an improved performance this afternoon after giving up for runs in nearly two innings in his spring debut last Friday. Last year, Springs was reliable and available, finishing the season with a 4.11 ERA compiled over 30 starts. Entering his second season with this team, the A’s need him to continue taking the ball every fifth day and pitching to the best of his capabilities in order for the team to reach its lofty goals.
The A’s lineup this afternoon shakes out like this:
The starting nine the A’s are jotting out today is full of regulars. In fact, the team’s lineup card they submit to the umpires on Opening Day in Toronto may look the exact same, at least the first seven batters. The final two batters, minor leaguers Henry Bolte and Junior Perez, are getting the start due to players still recovering from injury (Lawrence Butler) and with their World Baseball Classic (WBC) teams (Denzel Clarke and Carlos Cortes). After a slow start, Bolte has been playing better the past few days, showing off his all-around skillset that makes him the team’s top outfield prospect.
Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Brandon Pfaadt will be making his 2026 spring training debut. He will likely not pitch more than an inning or two. Here is how Arizona lines up behind him:
The Diamondbacks lineup is largely devoid of regulars, aside from the team’s starting catcher, Gabriel Moreno, who will be their designated hitter this afternoon. This is because Arizona has had multiple starters leave camp to join their respective countries for the WBC. As a result, there is no excuse for Springs to not perform better in his second spring outing as he continues preparing for the start of the regular season.Can the A’s make it three wins in three days? Let’s go A’s!
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 02: Gary Gill Hill #17 of Team Great Britain poses for a photo during the Team Great Britain photo day at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Previous Winner
Gary Gill Hill, RHP 21 | 6’2” | 160 A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB
A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, but got off to a rocky start in 2025, which muddies the water on his statline. On the whole, GGH has the body and the look to be a major league starter, particularly thanks to a plus fastball in the upper 90’s and plus control, but needs to find a longterm solution for opposite handed hitting as he climbs the ladder. Accordingly, he projects as a reliever until his arsenal finds a plus third pitch.
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
The vote was well divided now that Keegan is off the board, eight other players got votes but none more than four, but we landed on Great Britain’s Gary Gill Hill. We add Taitn Gray next. Some suggestions for Testers: Mac Horvath, Joe Rock, Maykel Coret, Alex Cook, Warel Solano, Tatem Levins, Dean Moss, or Jonathan Russell.
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.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
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.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
Few tournaments deliver baseball drama like the World Baseball Classic, and few are more fun to bet.
We’ll be updating this page every day throughout the 2026 WBC with our top baseball picks, best bets, odds breakdowns, and quick-hit analysis for every matchup, from the opening round to the championship game in Miami.
WBC best bets for Saturday, March 7
Game
Pick
Trading Price
Korea vs Japan
Over 10.5
54¢ (-117)
Israel vs Venezuela
Israel ML
28¢ (+252)
Chinese Taipei vs Korea
Chinese Taipei ML
27¢ (+265)
Korea vs Japan prediction
Best bet: Over 10.5 (Yes - small54¢/small)
Japan walloped Chinese Taipei 13-0 in their WBC-opening win, with Shohei Ohtani’s grand slam in the second inning igniting the rout. This is the strongest lineup Japan has assembled for this tournament, with five impact MLB bats.
They face a rejuvenated Korea team that’s full of up-and-coming KBO stars. The trio of Hyun Min Ahn, Do Yeong Kim, and Hyun Bin Moon are all 22 and younger and combined for 70 home runs in the KBO this season.
They scored 11 runs in their opener against Czechia and face Yusei Kikuchi, who has a history of giving up hard contact.
Think of the World Baseball Classic as baseball’s version of the FIFA World Cup, but with more flair, louder horns, and way more bat flips. This isn’t your standard MLB grind; it’s a high-stakes sprint where players swap their club jerseys for their national colors, playing for pure pride for countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the USA.
If you’re used to the slow burn of the MLB regular season, the WBC is a serious shot of adrenaline. For sports bettors, that mix of elite All-Star talent and "win-or-go-home" desperation creates a beautiful kind of chaos.
Between the electric crowds and the elimination game urgency, you get a level of volatility and raw emotion you just don't see in a Tuesday night game in July. When every pitch feels like a Game 7, the betting value goes through the roof.
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4 ways WBC betting differs from MLB betting
The World Baseball Classic may feature plenty of MLB stars, but betting these games is nothing like betting a regular-season big league matchup. Here are four key ways they differ:
1. Pitcher usage: Starters often work on tighter pitch counts, shorter leashes and less predictable schedules, which means bullpens can take over much earlier than expected. That can flip the script on full-game sides and totals in a hurry, and it puts even more value on first five innings markets.
2. Roster makeup: MLB teams are built for six months. WBC teams are built to survive a short, high-pressure sprint. Some lineups are stacked with superstar talent but have real holes in the lower half. Others don’t have the same star power, but they’re deeper, cleaner defensively and more reliable on the mound. In this format, depth can be just as valuable as headline names.
3. Pool-play chaos: Pool-play games don’t always play out like standard baseball games because managers are managing to advance, not to conserve for tomorrow. Bullpen aggression, pinch-hit moves, defensive substitutions, and even run differential can all impact late-game strategy.
4. Variance is king: In MLB, the long season usually smooths everything out. In the WBC, one crooked inning, one elite reliever or one superstar swing can decide everything. That creates more upset potential, more momentum swings, and more value if you’re paying attention to matchup context instead of just brand-name players.
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Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Eagles win this Sunday?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to begin on Wednesday evening. Across the next couple of weeks, 20 countries will compete, with a champion being crowned on March 17.
To no surprise, the United States is one of the heavy favorites in the event. The 30-man roster features a majority of the best players in baseball, including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
Team USA is in Pool B and will play group stage games against Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Mexico. Their first game of the tournament is on Friday, March 6 against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston.
Rivals is looking back at where each member of Team USA played their high school baseball. Rosters will change throughout the event, so we’re looking at the 30 players that will be on the field and in the dugout or bullpen on Friday night.
There are 16 states represented on the roster. California, of course, leads the way with six. Texas and Georgia are next with four and three representatives, respectively. Pennsylvania, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida all have two each.
Pitchers
David Bednar, Mars Area (Mars, Pa.) New York Yankees
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat (23) stretches during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The NL Central’s fiercest rivalry returns today as the Brewers take on the Chicago Cubs for the first time this spring.
Offseason acquisition Brandon Sproat is scheduled to take the mound for Milwaukee. Sproat’s made one appearance so far this spring, surrendering three hits (one earned run) while striking out three in 1.1 innings against the Chicago White Sox. Pitching today for the Cubs is Edward Cabrera, acquired from the Marlins over the offseason for a package that included Owen Caissie. Also scheduled to pitch today for the Brewers are Shane Drohan, Logan Henderson, and Craig Yoho.
Milwaukee’s lineup today remains a healthy mix of major and minor league talent, as is normally the case in Spring Training. Regular starters Sal Frelick, Andrew Vaughn, and Christian Yelich make up the top of the order. They’re followed by Gary Sánchez, Akil Baddoo (hitting .455 this spring), and David Hamilton. The bottom third of the lineup consists of three of the Brewers’ top prospects — Luis Lara (right field), Cooper Pratt (shortstop), and Jesús Made (second base).
First pitch today is slated for 2:10 p.m. You can tune into the game (for free) on Brewers.tv or catch the radio broadcast on WTMJ 620.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 18: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a photo during the Colorado Rockies photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Nic Antaya/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Baseball Classic is in full swing, as teams have begun playing their exhibition games before they head off to Tokyo, San Juan, Houston or Miami for the next steps of their journey (though Pool C is already in Japan and will begin pool play on Wednesday at 10pm ET/8pm MT).
Team USA boasts a formidable lineup that includes such names as Cal Raleigh, Will Smith, Alex Bregman, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. And their pitching rotation features David Bednar, Clayton Kershaw, Mason Miller, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, among others. This David vs. Goliath matchup will be a true test of the Rockies’ new approach at the plate, in the field and on the mound.
“It’s a higher test for the pitchers and the hitters,” manager Warren Schaeffer said before the game. “But for the hitters specifically, you see guys all the time in spring training — the ‘dudes’ first time through — and the best relievers usually throw over the first five or six innings in a spring training game. So it’s not really that much different, I’d say, today. But you don’t ever see a lineup with Bobby Witt [Jr.], Bryce Harper, [Aaron] Judge, so that’s a little different. And it’ll be a nice test for ‘Free’ for his first time out and whoever else is getting in there today.”
Kyle Freeland will make his spring debut against his former team. Freeland pitched on the 2023 WBC team that lost to Japan in the Finals. He has been dealing with some back spasms all spring, but is ready to go. It will also likely feature the debut of his new-look changeup, a pitch he’s been working to harness his entire career.
Schaeffer is looking for Freeland to have “one inning of healthy pitching, looking forward to build on something today moving forward [in his] first time out.”
Freeland will face Yankees’ left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. The 34-year-old southpaw is making his WBC debut after making 19 appearances (eight starts) in the Bronx in 2025. Yarbrough was signed as a free agent by the Yankees in the 2025 offseason, and posted a 3-1 record and 4.36 ERA. So far in spring training, he has made one appearance where he pitched two innings and gave up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Rodolfo Duran #48 of the San Diego Padres swings and hits the ball during a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 24, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Great Britain at San Diego Padres, March 4, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST
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An upcoming MRI could go a long way toward determining whether the Reds can be a surprise NL playoff entrant once again.
Cincinnati ace Hunter Greene will undergo an MRI due to right elbow stiffness that has plagued him since the end of last season, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Greene told reporters that he does not have any UCL damage but has bone spurs, per Charlie Goldsmith, and will separately meet with with Drs. Timothy Kremcheck and Neal ElAttrache.
Greene is the leader of a quality Reds rotation. Getty Images
He’s unsure if he will be ready for the start of the season.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure,” Greene said, per Goldsmith.
“If something has to be done, it’s early and we’ll get it out of the way quick and can have the big chunk of the season. If we have a playoff push, I’ll be ready to go.”
Any type of elbow issue is always problematic for a pitcher, although there’s at least the positive development — as of now — that his UCL is fine.
Greene said he has “stuff floated around” that will have to be managed, per Goldsmith.
The 26-year-old told reporters that he experienced what he labeled as discomfort in his last five or six starts last year while the Reds chased down and passed the Mets in the NL Wild-Card race.
“It was a playoff push, so I pushed through it,” he said, per Goldsmith.
He said he felt fine in the offseason, though he received an injection, and has “been managing” the situation through the early portion of camp.
Greene has been a strikeout machine in the majors. Getty Images
Reds manager Terry Francona added that Greene just hasn’t been recovering as expected, according to Goldsmith.
“It makes sense to do it now. I know I have bone spurs. As of now, there’s no UCL damage. Hopefully it’s just that and we get that taken care of and I can get back out there,” Greene said, per Goldsmith. “We have one of the best staffs in baseball. I’m a big part of that. I want to go out there and compete with the guys. Hopefully I can still make a good amount of starts and not miss a really good chunk of the season and most importantly the playoff push. Hopefully this is quick. I still have to check with the doctors.”
Greene is coming off a 7-4 campaign in which he posted a 2.76 ERA, and has notched that same ERA spanning his last 45 starts over the past two seasons.
For his career, the former No. 2 pick has averaged 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
He anchors a quality Reds rotation that also features Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer and Chase Burns, among others, but losing Greene for a stretch would be a tough blow.
Despite the potential absence, Reds president of baseball operations Nic Krall said the team will not begin engaging with available starting pitchers, per Goldsmith.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24, 2026: Colt Emerson #85 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Seattle Mariners prospect Colt Emerson found out the hard way you can have too much of a good thing. After two successful minor-league seasons, Emerson was pleased, but not satisfied. He felt like there was more he could do to get to his power, and decided in late 2024 to add a leg kick to help the smaller-bodied shortstop tap into more power at the plate. However, as he progressed through levels, the leg kick got more and more pronounced.
“For some reason I thought, the bigger it is, the more I can stay back and then I can be ready earlier,” he said.
Emerson started gradually developing the leg kick towards the end of the 2024 season; the peak of the kick’s height probably came around spring training last year. Here he is in spring of last year homering off Cubs rotation centerpiece Cade Horton:
Emerson had a big spring that helped catapult him onto the national prospect radar. But despite his strong performance, he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his approach after facing big-league caliber arms.
“I felt really good, mostly, but I was just missing pitches by like [pinches fingers together] this much. And with the leg kick, I think it was like, I’m trying to do a little bit more than I need to, trying to do a little too much.”
The kick, Emerson realized, was interfering with his timing. And while he’d been able to get past pitchers in the low minors with slightly imperfect timing, that wouldn’t fly when facing the tougher arms at the upper minors every day, let alone MLB.
“For any kid, the best advice I give is, if you can be ready for the pitch before the pitch is being thrown, you have the most time to recognize what pitch is coming,” said Emerson. “So if you can be set up and ready to fire right when he’s releasing it, you can be on time for that 100 mph fastball. And then, like, you can see, oh, he’s off it? Curveball.”
Post-spring training, by May of 2025, Emerson was already decreasing the leg kick. Here is the apex of his leg kick last spring training vs. what he was doing in late May with Everett:
Unsatisfied with his start to the 2025 season, he consulted video and talked with his dad, who has been his lifelong hitting coach. By June, Emerson had eliminated the leg kick entirely, shifting it to a simple toe tap, as he’d done before.
“I struggled to start off the year, and I was looking back at old videos and I saw a toe tap against Nathan Eovaldi, and he throws 99 but I was ready for it, I hit a double off him. So halfway through the season, I was like, why don’t I just try this?”
It took Emerson a few weeks to adjust, but early indications were good. How good?
Emerson in April/May: .242/.347/.366 EmersoninJune/July: .310/.426/.541
“I saw results immediately,” he said. “And you’re not always supposed to focus on results, but when I say results, I don’t mean stats. I mean the way the ball’s flying. I’m lining out, I’m hitting more doubles, I’m hitting for more power. All because it was allowing me to be ready before the pitcher.”
Emerson finished the 2025 season with a career-high 16 home runs: 11 at High-A Everett, another three after a late-season promotion to Double-A, and another two with Triple-A Tacoma as part of their playoff run.
That’s the same toe tap we’ve seen this spring. It’s consistent, whether he’s facing a righty:
Or a lefty:
For Emerson, the home run surge was nice, but what he’s really enthused about is his newfound ability to consistently hit to the pull side with power, even as he continues to focus on hitting the ball to all fields.
“The power uptick came because I was able to backspin pull-side balls and I was on time with fastballs, so I was able to turn on the fastball. My whole life I’ve had trouble pulling the ball with comfort. Like, I could do it, but it wasn’t comfortable, and I couldn’t do it consistently. It’s taken a lot of trial and error, but now I can.”
Change doesn’t necessarily come easily for Emerson, who prides himself on his consistency both in the field and in the box. His dad has been his hitting coach his whole life, he has a prescribed vocabulary he likes to use when talking about hitting, and his swing largely hasn’t changed from his days as a prep. But as he climbs the ladder towards MLB, he’s learning what it takes to make it and adjusting as he goes.
“Everybody in professional baseball has a good enough swing to play. Instead it’s, can you be on time for everything, make the adjustments when you need to make the adjustments, and stay on time? That’s the hardest part. And I don’t want to say that I figured it out, because no one ever figures out hitting, but I found something for me that I can stay consistent with the whole time.”
Surprise, AZ - February 21: Jose Miranda #64 of the San Diego Padres bats during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on February 21, 2026 in Surprise, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
There is no debate the San Diego Padres have a talented roster. That talent comes from may states and countries and results in a chaotic Spring Training every three to four years when the World Baseball Classic takes players from teams across MLB to compete on a global stage.
The 2026 season is no different, although San Diego Platinum Glove right-fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is making his first appearance in the WBC for the Dominican Republic. He joins Padres teammates Manny Machado and Wandy Peralta on the roster. Xander Bogaerts will play for the Netherlands, Mason Miller will play for USA and Ron Marinaccio and Alek Jacob will play for Italy. Minor-leaguers Victor Lizarraga and Omar Cruz will play for Mexico. Yuki Matsui was originally committed to play for Japan, but an injury will keep him out of the WBC and may jeopardize his status for Opening Day.
With multiple players leaving the Peoria Sports Complex to join their WBC teams, there will be opportunities for more playing time and more exposure for the players remaining in camp. This is most important to a host of players who are competing for roster spots.
The projected lineup based on what manager Craig Stammen has been sending out throughout the spring looks something like this:
Xander Bogaerts – SS
Jackson Merrill – CF
Manny Machado – 3B
Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF
Gavin Sheets – 1B
Ramon Laureano – LF
Jake Cronenworth – 2B
Nick Castellanos – DH
Freddy Fermin – C
MLB teams are allowed a 26-man roster, and they typically split the roster with 13 position players and 13 starters and relievers. After the nine players in the lineup, that means the Padres have four bench spots available. We know one of those spots belongs to a backup catcher and Luis Campusano is the apparent leader for that position. There are three spots remaining.
It is hard to imagine San Diego would not keep Sung-Mun Song on the roster based on the amount he was paid in free agency. The same could be said for Miguel Andujar. That brings the total of position players on the roster to 12 and leaves one spot remaining to be decided between multiple players.
Bryce Johnson would have to be considered the favorite to fill the final roster spot as he is a speedy outfielder who could play all positions on the grass and could provide speed as a pinch-runner. Mason McCoy has shown himself to be a capable defender but does not provide much on offense. Ty France was added to shore up the first base position but does not have much position flexibility and the DH spot seems to be fairly settled between Castellanos, Andujar, Campusano (right-handers) and Sheets (left-hander). Jose Miranda has had a solid spring but only plays the corners of the infield and Samad Taylor is another speedster in the outfield but does not have the same familiarity with the organization as Johnson.
Considering all of this, which player stands to benefit from additional opportunities with WBC players being out of camp? That is the question Gaslamp Ball is asking its readers this week for the Padres Reacts Survey. Results will be posted later this week.
GOODYEAR, AZ − Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene is departing spring training to seek medical evaluations for what the team called right elbow stiffness. Team officials said they expect to have a more full view of Greene's situation by Tuesday, March 10.
Reds manager Terry Francona, along with President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall, told reporters on Wednesday, March 4 that Greene was returning to Cincinnati to see orthopedic surgeon and longtime Reds team doctor, Dr. Timothy Kremchek, on March 6. After that, Greene will consult with Los Angeles-based physician, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, on March 9 due to the stiffness.
Greene is also expected to have an MRI while in Cincinnati.
Greene started one Cactus League game on Feb. 28. He was scheduled to throw a side bullpen session March 3 and reported some stiffness after he woke up that morning. Krall said there wasn't any report that it was really bothering him prior to that.
"He's just not recovering the way, I think, he's comfortable and the ball's coming pretty good, as we saw, but we need to get this − you're asking the guy to go out there and throw as hard as he can," Francona said. "We need to make sure he's OK, so we'll have information, probably, Tuesday."
Greene said he'd been dealing with the issue toward the end of the 2025 season and pushed through it in the midst of the team's charge for the playoffs. Greene went 3-1 over his final eight starts in helping Cincinnati reach the postseason.
"My last five or six starts (in 2025), I had elbow discomfort and obviously, playoff push, so I pushed through it," Greene said. "Felt fine in the offseason. Got an injection about a week before spring training started. Discomfort came back so I've been managing it through camp so far, so we're gonna go check it. Get it looked at."
Greene said he had no injury to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). He emphasized his desire to deal with any medical issue as early in the season as possible.
Francona and Krall said Greene wouldn't throw again this week. They were careful to not speculate on the injury, including Greene's possible availability for Opening Day, although Francona pointed out that missing a week of throwing wasn't advantageous for Greene in terms of Opening Day availability and starting the season on time.
Thursday, March 5 marks three weeks until Opening Day at Great American Ball Park when the Reds host the Boston Red Sox.
"We want to get it checked out, see what it is and we'll have more information for you Tuesday (March 5) after he sees Dr. ElAttrache," Krall said.
Krall said the Reds hadn't reached out to starting-pitcher free agents as a result of the Greene's issue. While there's nothing definitive about what Greene is dealing, the team entered spring training relatively well-situated to absorb an injury to a veteran starter and manage a gap in the rotation if it came to that.
Of course, the starter in question here packs 100-plus mph heat and was in 2025 part of the National League's early-season Cy Young Award chatter. Still, the Reds have liked their depth of starting pitching.
That depth is perhaps most evident in the four-man competition for the fifth spot in the rotation. That race included promising 23-year-olds Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns. Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar, who both have MLB experience and are coming off injury-rehab stints, are also considered candidates for the No. 5 spot.
The 22-year-old Chase Petty made his MLB debut in 2025, ultimately making two starts and appearing three times.
Team USA faces the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in Scottsdale, Arizona, the squad's last tune-up game before opening World Baseball Classic group play on Friday in Houston.
The Americans clobbered the San Francisco Giants 15-1 in their first exhibition game on Tuesday. Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony homered for Team USA in a contest started by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, who gave up one run in three innings.
U.S. manager Mark DeRosa made some changes to his lineup to face the Rockies, with Will Smith, Gunnar Henderson and Ernie Clement in the starting nine. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will start for Team USA, while fellow southpaw Kyle Freeland – who played in the 2023 WBC – takes the mount for the Rockies to get things underway.
Follow for live updates:
How to watch Team USA vs Colorado Rockies
Time: 3:10 p.m. ET/12:10 p.m. PT
Where: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, Arizona
