Category: MLB

Logan Webb took the mound tonight, just not for our humble San Francisco Giants, but for Team USA in their World Baseball Classic opener. His second pitch for the Stars and Stripes got blasted nearly 400 feet. He went on to retire the next dozen batters, discarding half of them by way of the K. My patriotism levels are admittedly very low right now, my Giants pride is through the roof, so… Good show, Logan! Way to bring it to those Brazilians!    

Meanwhile, the boys scrapping it up back in camp improved to 10-2 in a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. 

RHP Tyler Mahle made his second start of the Cactus League and wrestled with command over his two innings. Three walks put Mahle in the weeds, but he bushwhacked out of trouble with four strikeouts and minimal contact meant stranded runners and a scoreless outing. The live-play workload has been minimal so far for the veteran, who is returning from a clipped 2025 campaign thanks to shoulder fatigue, but fans got a taste of an effective mix that leans heavily on a rise-and-ride four-seamer and split-finger. 

RHP Trevor McDonald took the ball in the 3rd and put together another convincing roster audition over the next three frames. He managed some traffic in the 3rd and stranded Tyler Stephenson at second, after a very loud double, in the 5th with the help of six groundouts. The uptick in velocity has turned heads, but a sustained success for McDonald lies on his ability to do what he did this afternoon: work efficiently by dictating contact into the ground. 

Competition for the fourth outfield spot stayed hot after positive days from top contenders and peripheral candidates.

While long-shot for the role due to his non-roster invitee status, Jared Oliva started in centerfield and batted lead-off. After getting plunked by Red starter Andrew Abbott, he promptly swiped two bases and scored on another NRI Victor Bericoto’s sacrifice fly. Bericoto would double in his next at-bat (9-for-18), setting up Matt Chapman’s 454-foot homer, his second of spring. 

But it was Luis Matos who was loudest with the bat today. Option-less and backed into a corner, Matos bears the burden of proof. If he believes he should be in the San Francisco clubhouse in two weeks, he needs to supply evidence to back up his claims. He can’t beat around the bush anymore, he needs to be emphatic — an apt word to describe the kind of exit-velocity and distance he generated with his bat Friday afternoon.

A first inning double off the wall in center would’ve been a homer in every Major League Park. The knock easily scored Bryce Eldridge after his triple. Matos followed his second double with his second homer of spring off right-handed reliever Yunior Marte in the 6th.

Matos has 9 hits in 20 at-bats so far in Arizona and has yet to strike-out. Impressive, while not totally surprising given his known bat-to-ball skills. What comes as a bit more of a shockis Grant McCray, the 40% K-rate Kid, has kept his free-swingin’ ways in check. He’s struck out just twice so far in 20 trips to the plate and worked 6 walks. Another base-on-balls to go along with a bunt single this afternoon, and McCray had a productive game checking-off items on his To-Do list. If he makes this a habit, and pairs some plate discipline with his raw athleticism, he might find his way on the Opening Day roster.

The same can’t be said for Jerar Encarnacion. As a PH-DH, he went 0-for-2 today and is now just 4-for-23 with no walks, no extra base-hits, no RBIs. Now Spring Training performances aren’t everything, but considering how the likes of Matos and McCray are playing right now, the big man is in serious danger of getting left behind.

Here are the latest updates on current Mets who are playing in the World Baseball Classic...

March 15

USA vs. Dominican Republic

It was not Juan Soto's day at the plate as the Dominican was knocked out of the WBC with a 2-1 loss to the United States in the semis on Sunday night in Miami.

Soto finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout and grounding into a 6-3 double play with runners on first and second to end the fifth inning. He was robbed of a hit to start the fourth inning when ex-teammate Aaron Judgemade a nice diving grab in right.

Of course, the Mets' slugger did have some horrible luck on the strikeout as home plate umpire Cory Blaser called him out on a 1-2 slider from Garrett Whitlock that appeared two inches below the zone.

Soto did have a running grab in the gap in left-center to rob Will Smith of a hit to start the top of the fourth.

Huascar Brazobán continued to have a very strong spring in the WBC and Grapefruit League, as he looks primed to make the Opening Day roster. The right-hander retired all four batters he faced, including striking out the side in the sixth, first getting Smith swinging through a cutter above the zone, Roman Anthony looking at a 96 mph sinker on the corner at the knees, and Brice Turang whiffing on a changeup off the plate.

Brazobán needed just 14 pitches and got four whiffs (on six swings) and four called strikes. 

The USA sealed the win with the tying run on third base thanks to another generous called strike three from Blaser. This time, Mason Miller got Geraldo Perdomo looking at a 3-2 slider that was even lower than the one to Soto.

Juan Soto tracks it down in left field

(via @WBCBaseball) pic.twitter.com/J0vqROHCvB

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 16, 2026

Huascar Brazobán strikes out the side in the 6th

(via @WBCBaseball) pic.twitter.com/EiaQtgyzqM

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 16, 2026

March 13

Dominican Republic vs. Korea

Team DR crushed Korea in the quarterfinals on Friday night, beating them by the mercy rule, 10-0, in just seven innings.

While Yankees catcher Austin Wells delivered the final blow with a walk-off three-run homer, Juan Soto's slide was the highlight of the night.

Soto hit a leadoff single in the third inning and then scored from first base on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s double, using a perfect swim move to avoid the tag at the plate. Korea challenged the safe call, but it was upheld and pushed the Dominican Republic's lead to 4-0.

He finished the game 1-for-4 and is hitting .316 with a 1.090 OPS during the tournament.

The DR will now face the United States, which beat Canada, in the WBC semifinals on Sunday in Miami.

JUAN SOTO WITH THE SWIM MOVE TO SCORE!

(via @WBCBaseball) pic.twitter.com/xZcJIvKYbI

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 13, 2026

USA vs. Canada

Down 5-3 in the ninth, Team Canada asked Mets outfielder Jared Young to pinch-hit. Leading off against Mason Miller, Young fought back from a 0-2 count to work it full.

Young, however, struck out looking on a pitch that may or may not have clipped the inside corner. 

Canada would ultimately lose to the USA and Young's WBC ends with him going 1-for-6 with three strikeouts.

March 11

Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela

Team DR closed pool play with a win on Wednesday, and two Mets were directly involved in the victory. 

Juan Soto got the scoring started, lifting the first of four DR homers on the night, giving them a two-run advantage just three batters into the game.

Venezuela was able to retire Soto in his next two ABs, but he reached on an infield single in the top of the seventh and then drew a two-out walk in the ninth, raising his OPS to 1.233 for the tournament. 

He's also hitting .333 with a double, two homers, and four RBI. 

Huascar Brazoban also enjoyed a strong night on the mound, striking out three batters around a leadoff walk and stolen base in the bottom of the fourth. 

Brazoban has five strikeouts over three scoreless appearances in the tournament. 

The DR will now play Korea in the quarterfinals on Friday night.  

Italy vs. Mexico

Mets prospect Nick Morabito came off the bench as a pinch-hitter late in Italy's victory over Mexico, and he grounded out in his only at-bat. 

It was just Morabito's second appearance of the tournament. 

The Italy victory is good news for Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes, though, as Team USA advanced to the knockout round, where they'll take on Canada on Friday night.  

March 10

Italy vs. USA

Mets rookie Nolan McLean was on the mound starting for Team USA on Tuesday night against Italy. It was the young right-hander's WBC debut and it started off great.

McLean needed just 11 pitches to strike out the side in the first inning. That dominance carried over into the second inning when he got the first two Italian batters to ground out. However, young White Sox catcher Kyle Teel ambushed McLean, swinging at a 96.3 mph fastball in the zone and sending it 347 feet over the Crawford Boxes in Houston's Daikin Park. 

The second inning would get worse for McLean after he hit Jac Caglianone with a pitch and went up against Sam Antonacci. The shortstop squared up McLean's fastball at the top of the plate and sent it 403 feet to give Italy a 3-0 lead.

McLean would have a better third inning. After walking Jakob Marsee to lead off the third, he got Jon Berti to fly out and Vinnie Pasquantino to strikeout looking. After a walk to Dominic Canzone, McLean ended his night getting Zach Dezenzo to ground out.

McLean pitched three innings (55 pitches/34 strikes), allowing the three runs on two hits, two walks and striking out four batters. With Team USA falling 8-6, McLean took the loss.

Israel vs. Netherlands

Young Mets pitcher Ben Simon finished off Israel's 6-2 win over the Netherlands on Tuesday afternoon.

Simon walked three but struck out three in his one inning of work. 

March 9

Mexico vs. USA

A pair of Mets each delivered scoreless innings of effective relief work in Mexico's 5-3 defeat to the Americans on Monday night in Houston.

Alex Carrillo, who made his big league debut for the Mets last season and is on the 40-man roster but assigned to minor league camp, allowed a single and a walk while striking out two in the fourth inning on 23 pitches (14 strikes).

After allowing a leadoff double to Bobby Witt Jr., the 28-year-old got Bryce Harper swinging on a down-and-in splitter. And after walking Aaron Judge, the righty got Kyle Schwarber swinging at another down-and-in splitter before inducing Alex Bregman to pop out to short.

Daniel Duarte, who signed a minor league deal with the Mets this offseason, was charged with getting Mexico through the bottom of the sixth and keeping it a three-run deficit. And the 29-year-old righty walked Witt to start the inning and saw him steal second. Duarte then got Harper swinging through a 97 mph fastball in the zone, and Schwarber to fly out to the big part of the park in center, needing just 15 pitches (eight strikes) to strand the runner.

Venezuela vs. Nicaragua

Mark Vientos went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Nicaragua's 4-0 loss to Venezuela. In that game, Mets minor league right-hander Carlos Guzman allowed a single and a walk in 0.2 innings for the victors.

Dominican Republic vs. Israel

Juan Soto went hitless in four times up with a walk and a strikeout in a 10-1 win.

Cuba vs. Puerto Rico

MJ Melendez, serving as the DH, went hitless in two at-bats with two walks, a run scored, and a strikeout in a 4-1 win.

Colombia vs. Panama

Jose Ramos, on a minor league deal, had aRBI single in four at-bats with two strikeouts and a run scored in a 4-3 defeat.

March 7

Great Britain vs. USA

In his 2026 WBC debut for Team USA, Clay Holmes looked unstoppable in his three innings of work. The right-hander struck out six, including former Yankee teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the sixth inning, and allowed just one hit while throwing 38 pitches (28 strikes).

Holmes entered in the fourth inning with Team USA down 1-0 after starter Tarik Skubal allowed a run on two hits while striking out five in his three innings of work. Team USA broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring five runs and taking the lead, which put Holmes in position for the win.

Israel vs. Venezuela

Young Mets pitcher Ben Simon took the mound to start for Israel on Saturday. However, the right-hander's night was short-lived. He allowed four runs on three hits and a walk, and recorded a single out -- a strikeout -- before he was pulled. The big blast was the two-run shot from Eugenio Suarez that gave Venezuela a 4-0 lead that they wouldn't give up. 

Nicaragua vs. Netherlands

Mark Vientos had another tough night at the plate. Starting as the team's DH on Saturday afternoon, Vientos went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. The young Met is still looking for his first WBC hit as the Netherlands walked off Nicaragua, 4-3. 

Clay Holmes strikes out the side in the 5th 💪 pic.twitter.com/JrACacYkD4

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 8, 2026

March 6

Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua

Juan Soto helped Team Dominican Republic in their WBC-opening game against Nicaragua.

The Mets slugger went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Soto did have an error in the outfield that allowed a Nicaraguan run to score, but Team DR still rolled to a 12-3 win.

Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban helped DR by pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of starter Cristopher Sanchez.

On the other side, Mark Vientos went hitless in his four at-bats, but did walk and made a nifty snag at third base to rob Fernando Tatis Jr. of a hit.

Mexico vs. Great Britain

In an earlier game, Mets reliever Alex Carrillo allowed a tying home run to Great Britain in the sixth inning.

Despite that, Carrillo struck out one in his 0.2 innings pitched.

1.2 scoreless innings for Huascar Brazobán with Team Dominican Republic 👏 pic.twitter.com/iEzZHkLO7J

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 7, 2026

When New York Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter on Jan. 16 outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster, the expectation was that the Blueshirts would be busy ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. 

That was partly correct. 

The Rangers made a major move before the Olympic break, trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional third and fourth-round pick.

Panarin was expected to be traded, given that he was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season, and the Rangers did not intend to offer him a contract extension. 

After Panarin was traded, the attention shifted to Vincent Trocheck, who many expected to get dealt before the March 6th deadline. 

Trocheck even addressed the media earlier this week, where he openly discussed the possibility of moving to a different team and what that might look like. 

On March 5, Trocheck was held out of the Rangers’ lineup due to roster management, as a trade appeared to be imminent. 

However, the Rangers opted not to trade Trocheck despite all of the speculation and retooling direction. 

Drury ultimately wasn’t satisfied with the value Trocheck was generating on the trade market and decided it was best to hold onto him.

“Vincent Trocheck is a great player,” Drury said “He's been a great Ranger for us and a leader on and off the ice. Broadly speaking, to any player in the organization as it pertains to a retool and this trade deadline and moving forward is we're going to make deals that make sense. 

“The deals we made today and leading up to this deadline, to us made sense. Certainly weren't going to make a trade on any player just to say we made a trade. We will always continue to try and make the team better. It certainly doesn't stop today at the 3 o' clock deadline.”

The Rangers were relatively quiet in the days leading up to the trade deadline. 

The Rangers traded Sam Carrick to the Sabres in exchange for a third and sixth-round pick while also sending Brennan Othmann to the Calgary Flames for Jacob Battaglia, but no substantial move outside of the Panarin trade was made by Drury.

Rangers Trade Brennan Othmann To Flames In Exchange For Prospect The New York Rangers have reportedly traded Brennan Othmann to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Jacob Battaglia. 

There still may be seismic shifts to the Rangers’ core on deck, but we’ll have to wait until the offseason to see where this “retool” takes the franchise. 

"There's a certain amount of teams, obviously, that are pushing towards getting in the playoffs. Teams and rosters look to get reset and do different things in the offseason,” Drury said.

“Teams will be looking at free agents and different things, and maybe moving draft picks once picks are set in stone after the lottery and after the playoffs. So, a lot of factors that go into it, and we'll certainly be ready and opportunistic when and where we can."

Sean Manaea worked a ton over the offseason to rediscover his arm slot. 

The left-hander, of course, experienced a breakthrough with the Mets down the stretch in 2024 thanks to a lower slot, but he struggled mightily last season after lowering it even further. 

Manaea battled through a loose body in his elbow, as well. 

Now healthy and back closer to where he was, he’s feeling good. 

“I think it’s good,” he said. “I feel strong, I feel all of these things and I’m not worried about it -- that’s the biggest thing, just going out there and throwing and not worrying if I’m too over the top or too low, so yeah, I feel good about it.”

And Manaea certainly looked as such on Friday as he made his first start of the spring. 

The veteran southpaw gave up a two-out solo homer to Conor Norby in the bottom of the first, but that was it as he worked his way through three efficient innings in a loss to the Marlins.

He struck out just one batter on the night, but stretched out to 33 pitches. 

“I felt good,” Manaea said. “I mean, some pitches need a little work, but I felt healthy, for the most part was throwing strikes -- overall it was a good one to build off of, and just got to continue from there.”

Manaea dipped into his full arsenal but mainly leaned on his cutter, four-seam, and changeup. 

His fastball velo sat a couple of notches below last season's average, but nobody is sweating it after just his first time out. 

“I feel healthy, so I’m not worried,” Manaea said. 

“Not going to make too much out of the first one,” Carlos Mendoza added. “I liked the movement of all of his pitches -- he says he feels really good physically, so no concern.”

The 34-year-old staying healthy and finding his way back to that ’24 form would be a ginormous boost towards helping this rotation. 

TAMPA — The last, but perhaps most anticipated, piece of the Yankees’ projected Opening Day rotation has finally joined the fold. 

Cam Schlittler, slowed earlier in camp by mid-back/left lat inflammation, made his spring debut Friday night, throwing 2 ¹/₃ scoreless innings against the Rays at Steinbrenner Field. 

As long as he continues to bounce back well the rest of the spring, the Yankees believe Schlittler can get built up to throw around 65-80 pitches in his regular-season debut. 

“We got a plan laid out, so I’m very confident that I’m going to be good to go that [first] weekend,” Schlittler said. 

The 25-year-old right-hander brought the heat from the jump, striking out the first batter he faced on three pitches, capped off with a 99.4 mph fastball.

That pitch averaged 98.7 mph across his 39 pitches, scattering two hits and one walk while striking out four. 

But the pitch that may have jumped out the most Friday was Schlittler’s cutter, which he used to strike out a pair of batters. The pitch peaked at 96.5 mph and averaged 94.9 mph, up noticeably from the 91.9 mph it averaged last season. 

“It’s nasty, too,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Couple of his live [batting practices], just standing behind him, it’s kind of wicked. I think if he can get the consistency on that downer curveball that he has, then if you want to count the cutter as the third fastball [along with a four-seam and two-seam], the three fastballs with the curveball, then he gets pretty tough to deal with.” 

Schlittler credited Gerrit Cole with having him split the cutter into two pitches before his final start of the regular season last year, focusing on a harder cutter that he predominantly threw up in the zone. 

“Continue to hopefully keep the velo and location as well,” he said. 

Schlittler has the potential to elevate the Yankees’ rotation this year if he can build off his 14-game cameo last season, when he was called up in July to replace the injured Clarke Schmidt and pitched to a 2.96 ERA the rest of the way. He was even better in the playoffs, delivering an historic performance against his hometown Red Sox in the clinching Game 3 of the AL wild-card series, striking out 12 across eight shutout innings. 

Boone said that Schlittler’s confidence, combined with his competitiveness, is what impressed him the most. 

“He comes up and he’s able to make adjustments without it being stressful,” Boone said. “He was just at ease right away, in the best kind of way.”

A high schooler got the best of Aaron Judge during Friday’s World Baseball Classic matchup between Team USA and Brazil.

Yes, a high schooler.

With the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, 17-year-old right-hander Joseph Contreras — son of former Yankee pitcher Jose Contreras — got Judge to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Contreras fared better against Judge than Brazil starter Bo Takahashi, who gave up a two-run homer to the three-time American League MVP that gave the U.S. an early 2-0 lead.

Despite his brief appearance, Contreras’ outing was impressive, throwing a fastball in the high-90s while giving up one earned run in 1⅓ innings.

Contreras is the youngest player in the entire 2026 WBC, and currently attends Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia.

According to MLB.com, Contreras is ranked as the No. 47 draft prospect and is committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt.

“He could fit into the top two rounds as one of the higher-ceiling arms in the high school class, though teams will have to sign him away from a Vanderbilt commitment,” Contreras’ MLB.com prospect profile says. “He still has room to pack plenty of muscle on his lanky frame, so he could add more power to his heater and his secondary offerings.”

Contreras’ father, Jose, spent 11 seasons in the big leagues (2003-13), spending time with the Yankees, White Sox, Rockies, Phillies and Pirates.

Across his MLB tenure, Jose posted a 4.57 ERA and 889 strikeouts through 299 appearances, along with having an All-Star appearance in 2006 with the White Sox.

Despite Jose being from Cuba, Joseph is eligible to play for Brazil in the WBC because his mother is Brazilian.

The Dodgers were able to bounce back after suffering a walk-off loss on Thursday by shutting out the Kansas City Royals 6-0 on Friday.

The Dodgers wasted no time putting the ball in play to begin the bottom of the first, as Miguel Rojas and Freddie Freeman knocked a pair of singles to strike first on the scoreboard. Mookie Betts knocked his first extra-base hit of the spring to bring home Freeman before Teoscar Hernández traded places with Betts to make it a 3-0 Dodger lead before the Royals recorded an out.

Both Rojas and Hernández finished their evening going 3-3, with Rojas hitting a trio of singles and Hernández smacking a double and two singles. Freddie Freeman finished with three RBI on the night while Hernández plated two, both contributing in the second three-run inning for the Dodgers as they led 6-0 after four innings.

Ryder Ryan was given the start for the Dodgers having given up just two runs over five previous innings. Ryan struggled with command in the first inning, issuing two consecutive walks to Nick Loftin and Isaac Collins, but Ryan managed to pick off Loftin between first and second base and Dalton Rushing threw out Collins attempting to steal second base. Ryan had an easier time on the mound in the second inning, tossing just seven pitches and picking up a strikeout to end his day at the office.

Will Klein faced his former team for the first time in his career, giving up a single from Connor Kaiser as well as a walk to Peyton Wilson, but worked around the two baserunners with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless third inning. Tanner Scott took over on the mound in the fourth inning, pitching a perfect inning on just 10 pitches with a pair of bookend strikeouts.

Antoine Kelly, Ronan Kopp, Edgardo Henríquez, Chris Campos and Wyatt Mills each combined for a five scoreless innings to close out Friday’s contest, allowing just two hits while striking out eight and walking three hitters.

UP NEXT

The Dodgers are back under the lights at Camelback Ranch on Saturday to host the Colorado Rockies (5:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Landon Knack gets the start for the Dodgers, facing southpaw Sean Sullivan.

Expectations were high for Cam Schlittler’s first spring start, and he did not disappoint. Over 2.1 innings and 39 pitches, he struck out four Rays and looked really good while doing it. Meanwhile, Trent Grisham came up clutch on offense, driving in two runs on a single in the second inning. The rest of the game was relatively uneventful, with both teams’ pitching carving up batters left and right. When all was said and done, the Yankees came away with the win, a quick 2-0 affair.

How about Schlittler, though?! I try not to get too excited about spring starts, but the big righty’s outing was certainly encouraging. He started his night by striking out Taylor Walls on three pitches, with an assist from the new ABS system:

I have no idea why the ump called it a ball in the first place, but I guess they’re still a bit rusty.

To their credit, the Rays did not go quietly after that, as Theo Gillen worked a walk, and Ryan Vilade singled to put runners at first and second. However, Schlittler was unfazed, freezing Jacob Melton on a perfectly located 99 mph heater to get him looking for the second out. The BABIP gods then tested Schlittler’s resolve by turning a Ben Williamson squibbler into an infield single to load the bases, but Schlittler got Hunter Feduccia to ground out to short, escaping the inning unscathed.

The Yankees would generate some traffic of their own in the bottom of the first. After a Grisham strikeout, Ben Rice worked a walk, then advanced to third on a Cody Bellinger single. However, Giancarlo Stanton went down looking, and even though Bellinger stole second, Ryan McMahon could not bring him or Rice home, lining out to left for the third out.

Schlittler picked up right where he left off in the top of the second, inducing groundballs from Logan Davidson and Xavier Isaac before striking out Raynel Delgado for a clean 1-2-3 inning. The offense put men on base again in the bottom half, and this time, they did not disappoint. Although Paul DeJong lined out to short to lead off the inning, Oswaldo Cabrera started his comeback the right way by working a walk, and Max Schuemann doubled to put runners at second and third. Payton Henry struck out looking, but Grisham came through, slashing a base hit to right field to drive in two.

Rice continued the rally by doubling to center field, with Grisham advancing to third, but Bellinger lined out to right to end the threat. Still, the damage was done.

Schlittler finished his night by striking out Taylor Walls for the second time, this time getting him to swing through a high cutter. His final line – 2.1 innings, four strikeouts, zero runs, two hits, and a walk. He certainly brought the heat, hitting 99 mph several times, but his secondaries were sharp too, with his cutter and curveball looking quite good. He was also able to avoid the heart of the zone, generally commanding his pitches well. There were nothing but positives from his start, and I eagerly await his next one.

Not a whole lot happened for the rest of the game, as both the Yankees’ and Rays’ pitchers put up a bunch of zeros. On the Rays’ side, Joe Boyle impressed despite the Grisham hit, striking out six in his 3.0 innings and showcasing some premium stuff. Ian Seymour relieved Boyle in the fourth inning and was even better, pitching 3.1 innings, striking out six, and not allowing a single baserunner. Alex Cook came on with one out in the eighth and closed out the inning without issue. Joe Rock had the worst day of the bunch, as his wild pitch in the ninth inning allowed Kenedy Corona to score from third (after having stolen second and third!), and walked an additional two batters in the frame before striking out George Lombard Jr. to escape the inning. Still, it was an impressive showing from the Rays’ pitching corps.

All of this would have been mildly irritating if not for the fact that the Yankees’ pitchers had themselves a day, too. Tim Hill, Brent Headrick, Zach Messinger, and Danny Watson combined for 6.2 innings, 14 strikeouts, and just two baserunners. Granted, they were facing a quite toothless Rays lineup which lacked Yandy Díaz, Junior Caminero, and Jonathan Aranda, but it was a great showing nonetheless. Aside from Hill, these pitchers project to be on the Scranton shuttle rather than regular bullpen contributors, but having depth arms that won’t embarrass you is important over the course of the 162-game season.

As a small Aaron Judge/Team USA update: he clobbered a two-run homer off of Brazil’s Bo Takahashi. Great to see our Captain showing out on the international stage — even if former Yankees pitcher José Contreras’ 17-year-old son surprisingly got him to hit into a double play in his second at-bat!

The Yankees’ next game will be against the Nationals, at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on 6:05pm ET tomorrow evening. Will Warren is slated to start against Josiah Gray.

Box Score

Freddy Peralta hasn’t even thrown a pitch that counts in a Mets uniform yet, but he already knows that this is where he wants to be. 

“I’m really comfortable here,” he told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “I’m not going to lie, I’d love to be here, and I’d love to stay a long time.”

Peralta, of course, is a free agent this offseason and he told Heyman that he is seeking a seven or eight-year deal. 

It remains unclear if he's had any talks with the Mets on a potential extension to this point, but he did play coy following his first start of the spring, simply offering no comment and a big smile. 

The 29-year-old reiterated that comfort he’s felt with the organization.

“Everything has been amazing,” he explained. “Talking from the bottom to the top, the people in the front office, everyone -- they’ve been very easy for me, easy to work with, and I’m just happy because I feel they have my back.”

While David Stearns has been hesitant to hand out long-term pacts to pitchers over the years, perhaps he’d be willing to change things up for an arm he's comfortable with having dealt for twice in his career.

Stearns acquired Peralta as a prospect in Milwaukee, and now brings him to the Big Apple, where he'll provide a significant boost to the Mets' rotation this year... and potentially beyond. 

We’re about halfway through spring training, which means position battles are heating up. Earlier this week, we asked who you thought had the best chance to break camp with the Rockies, and you answered!

The vast majority of you believe that newly-acquired first baseman TJ Rumfield has the best chance of doing just that.

Rumfield was acquired on January 28th in a trade that sent RHP Angel Chivilli to the New York Yankees. He has contributed well this spring, slashing .350/.500/.950 with four homers in 10 games. He has also walked four times and walked just once.

Behind him, 19% of you believe that Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) could break camp. The rest of the candidates each earned less-than 10% of the vote.

Do you agree that TJ Rumfield has the best chance? What have you liked from him so far this spring? Let us know!

Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

The Mets were defeated by the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. 

New York is now 5-5 in Grapefruit League play.

Here are some takeaways...

- Sean Manaea was strong in his first outing of the spring. The left-hander needed just four pitches to retire the first two batters he faced, before Conor Norby lifted a solo homer over the left field fence. He was then helped by a caught stealing and an A.J. Ewing diving catch in shallow left to work around a walk in a scoreless bottom of the second. 

Manaea ended his day with an eight-pitch third inning, closing his line with just the one run against, but he was only able to generate one swing-and-miss and averaged just 88.1 mph on his fastball, down 3.4 mph from last season. 

- Ewing was impressive again after being praised by Carlos Mendoza pregame. The top outfield prospect not only had the diving catch, but he also ripped an opposite-field single in the second and picked up his second stolen base of the spring, again showing the many different ways he can impact the game.

- Devin Williams needed just six pitches to retire the first two batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk, but he handled a comebacker cleanly to escape the inning easily. The Mets' new closer has been solid so far, other than the solo homer he gave up on the first pitch he threw this spring. 

- After going hitless over his first two games, Francisco Alvarez picked up his first two knocks of the spring. The slugging backstop laced a leadoff double in the left-center gap leading off the top of the third, then lined a single to left with a man in scoring position in the sixth. 

- Ryan Lambert and Craig Kimbrel struck out two batters in a scoreless inning each, but lefty Bryan Hudson struggled in his spring debut, as he was pulled after allowing a run on two hits. 

- Marcus Semien singled up the middle after striking out each of his first two times up, and Carson Benge singled in the eighth after being retired each of his first three times up. 

Highlights

A.J. Ewing lays out to make an incredible catch! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XKSlVjsIgx

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 7, 2026

Sean Manaea's first strikeout of the spring! pic.twitter.com/ymSz9LIQbe

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 7, 2026

A leadoff double for Francisco Alvarez ♨️ pic.twitter.com/6WP3iT16Ac

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 7, 2026

Devin Williams throws a scoreless 5th inning pic.twitter.com/WoRxqWjFRe

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 7, 2026

What's next

Kodai Senga makes his spring debut, as the Mets head to Jupiter to take on the Cardinals.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. 

JUPITER, Fla. — A.J. Ewing’s goal entering the season is the same as it was last year: “Dominate the level where I’m at.” 

The Mets outfield prospect got from Low-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton last year and has been among the group of young players that has stood out to Carlos Mendoza so far this spring. 

“He’s a baseball player,’’ the manager said prior to Ewing starting in left field and hitting seventh in a 2-0 loss to the Marlins on Friday at Roger Dean Stadium. “There’s a lot of different ways he can help a team win a baseball game: Whether it’s the way he plays defense, the way he runs the bases [or his] good at-bats. He puts the ball in play and drives the ball. He’s another kid, I don’t think people talk much about him. He’s a good one there.” 

Mendoza’s scouting eye is pretty accurate in speaking to other team’s perspective of the 21-year-old, but plenty of people have taken notice of Ewing as he enters his third full season in the pros. 

Ewing certainly grew offensively in 2025, as he said he “learned who I was as a hitter.” 

And that, according to Ewing, is this: “I don’t think putting the ball in the air should be a big part of my game.” 

Instead, it’s getting on base and moving when he gets there. He swiped 70 bases over three levels last year. 

On Friday, he singled and stole second in the top of the second inning and then made a terrific diving catch in left in the bottom of the inning. 

“Coming in, that jump was impressive,’’ Mendoza said. “Off the bat, you think it’s a base hit. 

Of his speed on the bases, Ewing said, “That’s a big focus of mine. It sets the table for the guys behind me to drive me in.” 

The guys behind him could at some point include Carson Benge, who was also in the lineup versus Miami on Friday as he looks to win the open right field job. 

Asked how that could happen, Mendoza said, “Just continue doing what he’s doing. There are a lot of things out of his control, [but] he’s having a really good camp.” 

According to the manager, that includes controlling the strike zone. 

“I like the quality of at-bats, especially against left-handed pitching,” Mendoza said of the left-handed swinging Benge. “We saw him the other day go the other way with two strikes [for a homer] against a lefty.” 

And Mendoza also noted other aspects of Benge’s game. 

“His defense and the way he’s running the bases,’’ Mendoza said. “There’s a long way to go [until Opening Day], but he’s having a good camp.” 

Chris Suero, another prospect who is primarily a catcher, but also played left field this spring, drew praise from Mendoza, as well. 

Mendoza knows this is the best, and perhaps only, time this season that he’ll get a chance to see some of these prospects in person and he doesn’t want to waste the opportunity. 

He said he watches those players “pretty closely.” 

“It’s part of my routine: Read reports, talk to coordinators, player development [and] staff because we’re gonna need guys like that,’’ Mendoza said of the top prospects. “The exciting part is we’ve got a lot of them. We’ve got a few [in major league camp] and if you go on the backfield [to minor league camp], there’s talent there, too. It’s not only the upper [minors], but the lower level.” 

Despite the fast starts of players like Benge and Ewing, among others, Mendoza said it’s too early to know where they will end up, and who may end up in Queens. 

“A lot can happen between now and when we break camp,” Mendoza said. “The main thing is to keep guys healthy. The goal is to have a lot of tough decisions.” 

Cam Schlittler made his spring debut and looked every bit as impressive as he did last postseason, as he helped the Yankees defeat the Rays, 3-0, on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-Schlittler made his first spring start after back issues set the young right-hander back this month, and he came out throwing. His first pitch was clocked at 97 mph and he reached up to 99.4 mph against the first batter he faced. 

Schlittler worked around a walk and some bad luck, a would-be lineout that right fielder Max Schuemann (an infielder by trade) dropped and a highchopper in the infield that loaded the bases. Manager Aaron Boone said that the plan was for Schlittler to throw 40 pitches, and it took the right-hander 22 to get through the first. 

A 1-2-3 second inning allowed Schlittler to start the third. Schlittler struck out Taylor Walls swinging before Boone pulled his youngster.

Schlittler was impressive, striking out four batters across 2.1 innings (39 pitches/24 strikes), allowing two hits and one walk. 

-Oswaldo Cabrera also made his spring debut on Friday. After suffering a season-ending ankle injury last year, Cabrera worked a five-pitch walk in his first at-bat and looked good running the bases -- running smoothly going first to third on a single. 

Cabrera started at short and played just three innings and only had one at-bat, picking up that one walk and a run scored.

-As for other Yankees regulars, Trent Grisham hit a two-run single in his second at-bat. He finished 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. 

Ben Rice went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. He also struck out.

Cody Bellinger went 1-for-3 with a strikeout, while Giancarlos Stanton went hitless, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. 

-George Lombard Jr. relieved Cabrera in the fourth and got a few at-bats. In his first, the prospect lifted a fastball into the outfield, but right at a fielder. The Yankees' top prospect then struck out in his second AB, and struck out looking with the bases loaded in the eighth to finish 0-for-3. 

-In the bullpen, Tim Hill was impressive. The southpaw struck out four batters in his 1.2 innings of work. 

Brent Headrick, a southpaw looking to break camp with the team, struck out four of the five batters he faced. He now has eight strikeouts across 3.2 innings pitched this spring. 

Highlights

Trent Grisham gets the Yankees on the board 💪 pic.twitter.com/Ls07IUVxuc

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 7, 2026

Cam Schlittler strikes out four in his first start of the spring ♨️ pic.twitter.com/rJlvCy21WF

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 7, 2026

What's next

The Yankees will travel to take on the Nationals on Saturday evening. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.

HOUSTON — So, what did you do during your spring break in high school?

Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son of former All-Star pitcher Jose Contreras, just spent Friday night dazzling the baseball world for Team Brazil against USA, pitching so well that he can brag about it to his buddies at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia.

Contreras, stepping on the same mound where his father won the 2005 World Series championship with the Chicago White Sox in Houston, faced the greatest hitters in the world and excelled.

He came into the game in the second inning, and retired Byron Buxton on a fly ball to right field, and then ran into trouble by giving up a double off the left-field wall to Brice Turang, and then issued back-to-back walks to Bobby Witt Jr and Bryce Harper to load the bases.

Next up, Aaron Judge, who just clobbered a home run in the first inning.

Gulp.

Contreras threw a 97-mph fastball past Judge for strike one. He missed with a 80-mph changeup. And came back with a 94.4-mph sinker that Judge hit to third baseman Leonardo Reginatto, who started an inning-ending double play.

Contreras danced to the dugout, his teammates all stood to congratulate him, and the professional scouts in the stands scribbled frantically.

Expect everything.

17-year-old high school senior Joseph Contreras gets Aaron Judge to hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the ending 😮 pic.twitter.com/R0qH0kODQr

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 7, 2026

If this kid was projected to be a second-round draft pick before the WBC, his stock just soared.

He may be committed to Vanderbilt, but after this night, well, they better come up with a whole lot more NIL money to make sure they get him.

“Can you imagine how much his stock will rise if he pitches well?’’ said FOX announcer A.J. Pierznyski, who introduced himself to Contreras, telling him that he used to catch his father.

The youngster struggled a bit in his second inning by giving up a single to Kyle Schwarber, who eventually scored on Contreras' second wild pitch of the frame, and issued a walk to Cal Raleigh, knocking him out of the game. But the impression was made.

The kid just had a memory he’ll cherish forever.

And, oh, how his high school teammates can’t wait to hear all about that magical evening deep in the heart of Texas.

We finish off the infielders in this batch, which includes a pair of prospects listed in the recent MLB Pipeline update, the man with the coolest nickname in the system, and a veteran who has played more seasons for the D-backs than Tony Womack or Geraldo Perdomo.

Ivan Melendez (85)

We start with the nickname guy, though I can never remember: is is ‘Hispanic Titanic’ or ‘Titanic Hispanic’? Either would seem to work. Melendez reached Triple-A this year, being promoted to Reno at the start of August. His OBP and SLG there were just a couple of points different from the figures in Double-A Amarillo. Though as we should all be aware by now, both locations are very hitter-friendly. The team seems to have given up on him as a possible third-baseman: all his playing time in 2025 was at first or as a designated hitter. Mind you, as a RHB the team could use him to platoon at either position with Pavin Smith long-term.

Cristofer Torin (97)

Coincidentally, as I started on this para, Torin doubled in the game against the Cubs. The middle-infielder was ranked #15 on MLB Pipeline’s list. They like his defense but say “the ball doesn’t come off the bat loud enough”, and conclude “Torin’s lack of impact will be his biggest separator between being a regular on the dirt and a contact-heavy middle-infield option off the bench.” He got a cup of coffee at Amarillo in September, hitting in all eight games he played there. But he went homerless over his first 64 games at High-A Hillsboro, so you can see why Pipeline are skeptical. However, he is still aged only twenty, so early days yet.

Tommy Troy (98)

Also on the Pipeline list, but considerably higher at #4, is our first-round pick (#12 overall) in the 2023 draft – pictured top. He is coming off a strong 2025 campaign, with a slash of .289/.382/.451, including 15 homers, between AA and AAA. That saw him play largely at second-base, having seen more time at shortstop previously. However, last year he also got experience in center field for the first time, and didn’t embarrass himself, with one error over 168 innings there. Though if Jordan Lawlar ends up sticking there, Troy could end up being even more blocked there, than he is by Ketel Marte at second-base. But if he hits, the team will find somewhere for him to play.

Ildemaro Vargas (6)

It will be eleven years ago in May that Vargas first joined the D-backs organization, after being released by the Cardinals – with whom he spent close to seven years before that. This winter was the fourth time Ildemaro has signed as a free-agent with Arizona. That’s in addition to being bought by the team from the Twins in August 2020, and from the Pirates in June 2021. Vargas appeared 38 times for Arizona last year, and would probably have had more, save for fracturing his own foot with a foul ball in June. I would certainly not bet against him making 2026 the seventh season in which he appears for the Diamondbacks.