MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26, 2026: Tyler Soderstrom #21 of the Athletics bats during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Hohokam Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
That spring training results mean little, yes. That the A’s are having a terrific spring training so far because no one has gotten majorly hurt, yes. But there must be some significance in some of the play on the field, no? The answer to that is an emphatic and resounding maybe.
What we’ve seen so far that could be meaningful unless it isn’t:
Max Muncy
Two things stand out with regard to Muncy so far in spring training. One is that it really does appear that 3B is his job to lose. He is tied for the team lead with 21 at bats and has been frequently a starter at 3B.
The other is that true to his profile, the bat seems to be ahead of the glove. There are many aspects of Muncy’s hitting to like so far, from how hard he is hitting the ball to his 4 walks in 25 PAs, helping him to a .286/.400/.524 line so far. But he continues to throw erratically and to play 3B very much like someone still learning on the job — or someone for whom defense just doesn’t come naturally.
It looks like 3B is not a position where the A’s are going to emphasize defense first, most likely handing Muncy the keys and trusting that his bat will be good enough to overcome shakiness with the glove — and also hoping Nick Kurtz can save many of Muncy’s low and wide throws.
Luis Morales & Jack Perkins
Morales and Perkins have in common that their stuff plays and their upside is significant, but they are also wild cards with regard to how ready they are to be consistent at the big league level.
So far both have shown that up-and-down combo with Morales giving up a 6-spot in one start, then pitching great his last time out until he ran out of gas in the 4th and walked 2 before exiting, and Perkins flashing good stuff but having trouble throwing enough strikes.
It’s fair to say that the A’s fortunes in 2026 will rest largely on the shoulders — that is arms — of their young pitchers and so far the group has generally looked raw. These are also tiny samples early in spring training, so they barely count for anything other than reinforcing what we already know.
The exception has been Gage Jump, who has arguably been the best of the bunch and might have accelerated his ETA from mid-season to more like May. And we haven’t yet seen Jacob Lopez, whose continued success would be pivotal to enhancing the A’s rotation.
Tyler Soderstrom
Again, spring results are not terribly meaningful even if 9 for 20 with 2 HR is a mighty nice way to begin the year. What might be meaningful, though, is that these are Soderstrom’s first 20 at bats since signing an extension and if nothing else, it’s fair to say he has not come out pressing or trying to do too much as we may have seen with Lawrence Butler.
It’s great that the A’s scored 4 players in the top 100 recently suggested by MLB Rank, but how was Soderstrom not one of them? He is poised to make that list look silly.
Leo De Vries
Who knows how quickly the 19 year old wunderkid will reach the big leagues? Once thought to be positioned for a call up maybe late in 2026, De Vries is proving that he may be even closer than that. He has been anything but over matched by his elders, 7 for 19 to start the Cactus League.
Granted 6 of the 7 hits are singles but no one really questions his power or whether he can spray doubles from line to line. He has consistently been patient and gotten into hitter’s counts and just seems to have that natural feel for the pace of the game, the strike zone, you name it.
De Vries isn’t on the cusp of the big leagues as a teenager because his ST batting average is .368, but he is on the cusp based on how well matched he looks so far on both sides of the ball playing against big leaguers.
Overall Pitching
If spring training stats are meaningless in general then spring training team ERA is even more so. You have the desert air and wind playing tricks with fly balls, A ball scrubs tossing the last 3 innings, so many reasons why results just don’t tell you a whole lot, especially on a team level.
That being said, the A’s pitching was a weakness in 2025 and their team ERA so far in the Cactus League — whether it’s meaningful or not — stands at 6.51. You can take solace that one of the 4 teams worse in MLB happens to be Seattle (7.68), more proof that spring training team stats don’t mean squat. But what you can’t do is celebrate that A’s pitchers so far are having a ton of success.
So there are some observations about things that mostly don’t matter or are utterly misleading, which is what happens when fans are forced to write about the team they love at a time when the players are just getting stretched out physically and working on their craft without much concern about the results.
In other words, it’s time to fully panic and at the same time reserve your post-season tickets.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Dominic Smith #7 of the San Francisco Giants catches for an out during the game at Oracle Park on September 9, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dominic Smith is in the driver’s seat to make the Opening Day roster. The subtractions of Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar make it all but a certainty. Mark Bowman feels that Smith is your designated hitter versus right handed pitching coming out of the gate. It’s difficult to argue that point, so I’m going to get used to this idea and dig deeper to see what he can bring. I may have more of a deep dive soon, but the first thing that caught my eye were Dominic’s comps from Baseball Savant. The Braves’ former catcher’s 2019 season was listed there.
There are some parallels between the two. Travis had a .745 OPS in 2019 versus .750 for Smith’s 2025 season. Travis had 2.79 strikeouts per walk and Smith was at 2.65. Smith had a 111 wRC+ against Travis’s 100. So you don’t have to squint too hard on the overall numbers. But after that, the numbers diverge.
Dominic’s splits make the case for his contribution as a Braves. He had a 119 wRC+ versus righties last season and a 100 wRC+ for his career. So as long as that’s all the Braves are asking him to do, it will be fine. I think I would rather have 2019 Travis d’Arnaud to start this season. This would allow decent hitting from the catcher spot and allow Baldwin to play as a DH more. But for now, Dominic Smith with his similar numbers from the DH spot should be fine.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Carlos Lagrange #84 of the New York Yankees takes the field before the game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Baseball is nearly in full swing as spring training has played out for a few weeks now, and players are getting their legs underneath them. The Yankees have lots of players looking to catch the attention of coaches throughout camp, as this is the biggest spotlight they’ll get before the minor league season begins and top prospects get to work on a path to the majors. There’s a number of promising arms that the Yankees have in the pipeline, and they’ve taken centerstage as the B teams hit the road for a number of these exhibitions. So naturally, we wanted to know which ones have caught your eye.
Overwhelmingly, the star of the staff thus far by your vote has been Carlos Lagrange. The soon-to-be 23-year-old has been flashing consistent 100-mph heaters, even topping out at 103 mph on the radar during his two spring training games, and that’s building a lot of confidence from some of the leaders of the clubhouse that this kid could be something special in the near future. Both Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole have commented on how impressed they are with Lagrange’s stuff and the potential he has to be a top of the rotation type of arm, and after a season in which Lagrange jumped up to Double-A and posted a 3.22 ERA with 104 strikeouts in just 78.1 innings at that level there’s a lot to be excited about with him.
Elmer Rodriguez came in a distant second here, but there’s plenty of enthusiasm for his potential as well. Ranked in the back-half of the top 100 prospect lists for major outlets like Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and Baseball Prospectus (and slightly higher ranked than Lagrange is on average between the three), Rodriguez was acquired from Boston for catcher Carlos Narvaez last year and shot through the system. He pitched to a sub-3 ERA at both High-A and Double-A across 145 innings, even getting a taste of Triple-A Scranton to end his year.
Ben Hess comes in third here, and that’s reasonable given how much farther down the line Hess is compared to the other two in terms of development — Hess has just one professional season under his belt — but there’s a good amount of results already showing to generate some excitement. Hess debuted in High-A, and already made it up to Double-A in the middle of the year while continuing to put up zeroes. The organization has a heaping of pitching talent working their way up the farm system now, and soon enough fans will be able to see some of them break through instead of just envisioning how they might fit.
We also had a secondary topic on hand, with the news that the Yankees were retiring CC Sabathia’s No. 52 jersey and putting it up in Monument Park for the rest of time. The majority of you found this a fitting honor for the now-Hall of Famer who went into Cooperstown with a Yankee cap on, as Sabathia arrived in New York and immediately anchored the pitching staff as the ace of a World Series championship team. CC wound up achieving incredible milestones at the end of his career, including his 3,000th strikeout and 250th career win in his final season, and that combined with his dominant first four seasons as a Yankee combined with his ability to retool himself in his latter years on top of just being the central figure of the clubhouse throughout his tenure in the Bronx gave him more than enough of a resume to earn his Monument Park plaque. Sabathia knows and appreciates the weight of the enshrinement well, calling the Yankees’ decision “one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Touching on some MLB-wide topics, the ABS system was introduced at the MLB level for the first time back in last year’s All-Star Game and now it’s gotten a wider look at it makes its spring debut, and it’s drawn rave reviews. Applicable only by the catcher, pitcher, or batter, the challenge calls are quick enough to not interrupt the flow of the game too much and lessen the severity of an umpire having an off-night — so long as you still have your challenges.
Teams have been gung-ho about utilizing the feature thus far, challenging early and often, which often leads to them running out of challenges if they reach for questionable ones. Austin Wells went on a spree of challenging calls that didn’t wind up overturned early in spring, but the Yankees at large have been pretty successful at nailing their spots otherwise. Whether it’ll assist offenses more than pitching remains to be seen, but the weight of keeping a rally alive by a batter successfully challenging a call might feel more significant than a pitcher getting themselves out of one via similar means and thus create the feeling that it aids batters more. It does detract from a catcher’s ability to frame the ball and “steal” strikes as often, especially if teams retain their challenges for later innings when an important at-bat hinges on the correct call, which is purely a benefit for hitters. We’ve all seen the umpire who manages to miss a strike straight down the middle here and there though, so pitchers will undoubtedly be pushing the button for themselves as well.
The polls have closed and the votes are in! At Bucs Dugout, we polled how excited Pittsburgh Pirates fans were for the regular season after the team’s hot start to Spring Training. 82% of those who voted said that they are more excited than normal for the regular season after the Buccos dominated Grapefruit League play.
The Pirates as of Friday have a 10-4 record in Spring Training, and fans have a lot to be excited about ahead of the regular season. The story of the Pirates’ offseason of course has been how differently they’ve approached building their lineup. Signing All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn was a sign of good faith that the Buccos were looking to get serious. The organization also made a monster trade that saw All-Star Brandon Lowe and prospect Jake Mangum come over from Tampa Bay. Very quickly they completely transformed the lineup, and then kept adding when they signed Marcel Ozuna to be the team’s designated hitter.
The emergence of Konnor Griffin as the top prospect in baseball has dominated headlines, and to this point, he has absolutely looked like a future star in Major League Baseball. Other prospects like Jhostynxon Garcia, Braxton Ashcraft and Esmerlyn Valdez have also been turning heads in camp and have their own share of highlight moments.
Pittsburgh’s pitching rotation is what will get butts in seats this season, as they are projected to be one of the best in baseball. Paul Skenes is the reigning National League Cy Young winner and is primed to have another strong season. Bubba Chandler is still one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball, while Mitch Keller will provide the veteran leadership to keep the group on track.
FanDuel Sports Network has the Pirates at -520 odds to win 70 games in 2026. Pittsburgh won 71 games in 2025.
There’s a lot of reasons for Pirates fans to be more excited than usual for the upcoming season, and there should be no shortage of fireworks going off at PNC Park this year.
DUNEDIN, - MARCH 03: Brandon Valenzuela #59 of the Toronto Blue Jays makes a catch during the game between the Team Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Dunedin, Flordia. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Brandon Valenzuela is a 25-year-old switch-hitting catcher born in Hermosillo, Mexico (he has a good role model as a Mexican-born catcher in Kirk). The Blue Jays picked him up from the Padres in trade for Will Wagner. MLB.com has Valenzuela as #24 on their Jays top 30 prospect list. He was added to the Jays’ 40-man last November.
The Padres signed him as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a $100,000 signing bonus. He has all three options left.
Last year, splitting time between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Buffalo, he hit .224/.309/.383 with 15 home runs. As a switch-hitter, he’s been pretty even on each side (last year a .725 OPS vs. LHP and .680 vs. RHP). He struck out a lot (24.0% of the time) but then walked a fair bit (10.9%). He has a bit of pop.
But offense isn’t what has put on prospect lists. His defense is what has him on the edge of a major league job. Last year, he threw out 34% of baserunners. He’s said to good at blocking balls in the dirt and that he calls a good game.
Baseball America says:
The switch-hitting Valenzuela is a glove-first catcher without a lot of offensive upside. Valenzuela’s righthanded swing is better than his lefthanded swing, leading to average results against lefthanded pitching. He shows below-average contact skills with an advanced approach that should lead to at least an average walk rate. There will be a fair amount of strikeouts as Valenzuela is a well below-average contact hitter against righthanded pitching. He hit 15 home runs in 2025 and shows fringe-average game power. To Valenzuela’s credit he has average exit velocity data with lofty launch angles. Behind the plate he’s a plus defender with an above-average arm that keeps runners in check
He’s having a good spring, with 4 hits and 3 walks, in 12 at-bats, and, to my eyes, has looked good behind the plate.
If Tyler Heineman hits like he did last year (and he’s also a good defensive catcher) and stays healthy, we won’t see much of Valenzuela, but if Heineman goes back to hitting the way he has in the past, well, the team is still likely to stay with the catcher they know. Then, catchers do tend to hit the IL at some point during a season, and Brandon would be next in line. Ali Sánchez got into 20 MLB games last year.
Valenzuela is nine years younger than Heineman. All things being equal, I’d rather have Valenzuela on the major league team than Heineman, but Tyler would likely either retire or look for a job with another team if the Jays wanted to send him down. Valenzuela pretty much has to do whatever the Jays tell him to.
Heineman didn’t get his first MLB at-bat until he was 28. And, before the age of 30, Heineman only played 20 games. If Brandon doesn’t get any major league time this year, he’s got lots of time to ‘make it’.
Steamer figures he’ll play 8 games this season, hitting .201/.272/.315 with 1 home run.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 07: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japangets tag out by Hyeseong Kim #3 of Republic of Korea in the fifth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 07, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early Saturday morning action in the World Baseball Classic gave us a battle between two Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani and Hyeseong Kim each homered, and Japan beat Korea 8-6 at the Tokyo Dome.
Japan joins Australia at 2-0 in Pool C in Tokyo, with two games left to play, with Korea falling to 1-1.
Ohtani walked and scored in the first inning, then hit a solo home run to tie the game in the third inning. With a runner on third base and two outs in the seventh inning, Ohtani was intentionally walked, and later scored in a three-run frame.
In two games so for in the WBC, Ohtani has reached base seven times in eight plate appearances, with two home runs, a double, and two walks, with four runs scored and six runs batted in.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 7, 2026
Down 8-6 with two outs in the eighth inning, Kim batted with the bases loaded but struck out looking in Korea’s last threat of the game.
Edwin Díaz closed out Puerto Rico’s 5-0 win over Colombia with a scoreless ninth inning on Friday, following a leadoff single with three straight strikeouts. Díaz threw 24 pitches in his first game action since last Saturday for the Dodgers.
Díaz also came the game using his entrance music at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On the mound to close it out for Puerto Rico: Edwin Diaz 💪
Lucas Ramírez, the 20-year-old son of former Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramírez, hit a leadoff home run for Brazil off Logan Webb in the first inning on Friday.
June 27, 2014: San Francisco Giants fans hold a birthday sign during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, USA. The Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-2. (Photo by John Hefti/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Happy weekend, baseball fans. How ‘bout them Giants? They’re cruising! Try to forget that the Cactus League is mostly meaningless, and live in a happy world of dominant Giants baseball.
Sami usually writes the BPs, but a combination of sickness and birthday celebration has put me on the duty for a few days. But, had she stayed in good health, her plan was to write about Giants birthday memories.
My birthday is right before Spring Training, so I’ve never had the joy of watching the Giants play on my increasingly terrifying special day (though today is my brother’s birthday, so everyone wish him a happy day please). But I can share Sami’s with you. Her lone notable Giants moment for her early-March birthday is an unfortunate one: Hunter Pence breaking his wrist in a Cactus League game.
And just like that, I’m no longer sad about not having a baseball birthday (I have, however, had the Super Bowl land on my bday a few times, for better and for worse).
Many of you are in the same boat as me, but the baseball season — especially if you include Spring Training — fills more than half the calendar. So the bulk of you should have baseball birthdays. A few of you might even have World Series memories from your annual celebration.
So what are you favorite Giants birthday memories?
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 06: Gunnar Henderson #11 of Team USA tips his cap during player introductions prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Brazil at Daikin Park on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The World Baseball Classic has been underway for a few days now, but Friday was the busiest slate so far. Eight games took place, including the opener for Team USA. They beat Brazil 15-5, although that scoreline is not reflective of just how close Brazil kept things for most of the evening. It was an 8-5 game going into the ninth inning, and that is where the US pulled away as Brazil was on its eighth and ninth pitchers of the contest.
But Brazil had more feel good stories than the US, for whatever that is worth. Lucas Ramirez, the 20-year-old son of Manny Ramirez, launched two home runs as Brazil’s lead-off hitter. Joseph Contreras tossed 1.1 innings for Brazil, which included getting Aaron Judge to hit into a double play. Contreras is just 17 years old, can touch 100 mph, and is in the middle of his senior year at a Georgia high school. Amazing stuff.
Team USA walked 17 times in the game while striking out only twice. Brice Turang led the team with three hits, two doubles, and four RBI out of the nine hole in the order. Judge also had a two-run homer and scored three times. Alex Bregman walked four times. Roman Anthony and Kyle Schwarber had two hits apiece.
There was no Gunnar Henderson in this one. He seems to be the backup at both shortstop and third base for Team USA. One would imagine he will get a start at some point, at least in group play, but who knows. If manager Mark DeRosa prefers his speed and left-handed bat coming off the bench, then that is the role he will handle. Hopefully it doesn’t have a negative impact on Henderson’s ability to ramp up to the regular season with the Orioles.
The Orioles also played a game on Friday. It did not go as well, particularly for Albert Suárez (L, 2.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR). They lost 10-2 to the Cardinals. But there were positives. Chris Bassitt gave up just one run and struck out two over three innings. Yennier Cano had another shutout inning. Ryan Mountcastle was 3-for-3. And although he did not hit a home run, Vance Honeycutt remained perfect this spring with a single in his lone at-bat.
The O’s will play two games today. It’s a split squad special. They will host the Twins in Sarasota, and they will head to Venice for a matchup with the Braves. Both games start at 1:05. MASN and local radio coverage will broadcast the game in Sarasota, but it looks like the Braves networks will cover the other game, so MLB TV subscribers should be able to watch/listen to that as well.
Links
Because You Asked – Another Simple Favor | Roch Kubatko Lots of bullpen questions in this one, and for good reason. Outside of Ryan Helsley, little is settled in the team’s relief corps. Andrew Kittredge dealing with shoulder inflammation doesn’t help. It seems inevitable that they sign…someone by Opening Day. But it’s common for Mike Elias to wait on that. He probably wants to see a little bit more from the guys in camp before adding a known commodity like a veteran reliever.
Polar Bear Q&A: Alonso on 1st half of camp, leadership, World Series aspirations, more | Orioles.com Pete Alonso has very quickly become the face of the Orioles franchise. He’s not their absolute best player, obviously, but he does seem the most comfortable with being the guy to talk to the media and guide the culture of the team. That’s something they needed. Hopefully it comes with a bunch of homers this season.
Nick Ciuffo turns 31 today. He spent two games as an Orioles catcher in 2021.
Joe Carter is 66 years old. A team legend with the Blue Jays, Carter’s time with the Orioles was less remarkable. He played half of the 1998 season in Baltimore.
This day in O’s history
1999 – It is announced that the Orioles will travel to Havana, Cuba for a March 28 exhibition game against the Cuban national team. It is the first time in 40 years that a team from the United States will play a professional game in Cuba.
Ben Brown didn’t exactly put his best foot forward, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings against the Padres. He was a little wild.
The Cubs had those special bats with ball-avoidance radar. One run would have been enough to defeat them.
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Colorado Rockies Infielder, Kyle Karros steps up to the plate during the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Every spring training has roster battles. That part isn’t new.
What feels different about Rockies camp this year is who is competing — and why.
When ‘veteran presence’ replaces production
Last year, many roster decisions felt tied to something other than baseball performance. Several spots went to players whose value was often described in terms of ‘veteran presence’ or ‘clubhouse leadership.’ Players like Kyle Farmer, Thairo Estrada, Nick Martini, Sean Bouchard and Jacob Stallings (and later Orlando Arcia) were frequently framed as stabilizing influences for a young team.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with veteran leadership. Teams benefit from players who know how to prepare, handle adversity, and model professionalism for younger teammates.
But leadership only works when it’s paired with production.
The quintet of Farmer, Estrada, Martini, Bouchard and Stallings combined for 742 plate appearances in 2025 and produced -3.4 bWAR (per Baseball-Reference). That’s not exactly a formula for success.
The best version of the ‘veteran presence’ model looks something like this: productive core players, young contributors developing around them, and a few experienced veterans reinforcing professional habits and clubhouse culture.
Not every veteran on the 2025 roster was there solely for leadership. But as injuries mounted and on-field production declined, the narrative increasingly shifted toward intangible value.
That’s where the equation starts to break down. When leadership becomes the primary justification for playing time, its value quickly erodes. Leadership can amplify talent, but it can’t replace it.
A structural shift inside the organization
Structurally, things feel different for the Rockies this spring.
The organization’s evolving leadership structure — including the influence of president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes — has emphasized process, player development, and more modern decision-making. If that philosophy is beginning to shape roster construction, spring training is exactly where it would start to appear.
And this year, it does.
Competition based on baseball skills
The competitions in camp this year are largely centered around actual baseball skills and roster impact, not reputation or tenure. The players pushing for spots are younger, more athletic, and trying to establish themselves rather than simply extending their careers.
Players like Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Ryan Ritter, Kyle Karros, and TJ Rumfield represent different kinds of roster pressure. They’re not competing for symbolic opportunities — they’re competing because their tools and upside could genuinely help the roster.
Even the possibility of someone like Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) pushing the timeline adds another layer to the competition. When prospects start forcing their way into the conversation, the roster naturally becomes more dynamic.
At the same time, the Rockies did bring in players with experience. But those additions feel fundamentally different from last year’s veteran-heavy approach.
Players like Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy, and Edouard Julien weren’t brought in to provide leadership speeches in the clubhouse. They were brought in because they offer specific baseball tools. They are all under 30 years old and are being looked upon for on-field contributions.
Castro brings versatility and athleticism. McCarthy adds speed and defensive range. Julien provides on-base ability and offensive upside.
Instead of simply filling up space until prospects arrive, these players give the Rockies flexibility while still allowing younger players to compete for real opportunities.
Where veterans still make sense
The one area where veteran presence is still noticeable is in the pitching rotation. But even there, the reasoning feels much more baseball-driven than narrative-driven.
Pitching at Coors Field is difficult, and stability matters. The veterans competing for rotation spots weren’t brought in simply to mentor younger pitchers or guide the clubhouse. They were brought in because they can absorb innings, stabilize games, and provide durability in a challenging environment.
That’s a baseball reason for having veterans.
In other words, the Rockies appear to be prioritizing function over reputation.
Why it matters
Several roster spots remain genuinely unsettled as camp progresses. First base, second base, third base, fourth outfielder/utility roles, the fifth starter spot, and the left-handed bullpen role are all still being sorted out.
None of those competitions involve superstar players. But they matter because they shape the architecture of the roster.
These decisions determine how athletic the team is, how much flexibility the bench provides, and how many opportunities exist for young players trying to establish themselves at the major league level.
Ironically, real competition often creates the best clubhouse culture.
When playing time is earned, not granted, it brings accountability, urgency, and energy. Those traits build stronger teams than any imported ‘veteran presence.’
That’s why this spring feels different. The roster battles feel real, and the outcomes feel tied to performance.
And for a team coming off a 119-loss season, that difference matters.
If the Rockies keep rewarding performance when the games count, this spring might represent more than just another camp. It might signal a meaningful shift in how the roster is built.
The real question is whether that philosophy will hold once the season begins. If younger players outperform veterans in April and May, should the Rockies commit to them or fall back on experience?
A Pirates fan at Last Word on Sports floated a hypothetical trade sending catcher Joey Bart to the Rockies in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Sean Sullivan. The idea hinges on Pittsburgh’s crowded catching situation potentially making Bart available. Colorado would get a capable big-league catcher, while the Pirates add a young arm. It’s more of a thought experiment than a prediction, but an interesting one for both sides.
Ryan Ritter has been one of the Rockies’ early standouts this spring, swinging a hot bat and forcing his way into the roster conversation. The young infielder has delivered several big hits as Colorado sorts through its infield competition. If he keeps it up, Ritter could turn a strong camp into a real opportunity.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 06: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds first bases after hitting a double against Team Kingdom of the Netherlands during the first inning of a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 06, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Baseball Classic continued on Friday, and this time, Ronald Acuña Jr. faced Ozzie Albies. Acuña Jr. and Team Venezuela came out on top, winning 6-2. The Braves outfielder set the tone early with a leadoff double and crossed the plate a couple of times.
Ronald Acuña Jr. jumps on the FIRST pitch and drills a double off the wall in the World Baseball Classic! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sf2G3l1rAi
Albies and the Netherlands offense struggled to get much going in the matchup, with the Braves second baseman finishing the game hitless. Even so, the head-to-head between two Atlanta teammates added an interesting storyline to the early stages of the tournament, with Acuña getting the better of the matchup this time around.
More Braves News:
Reynaldo López threw four innings during a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Welcome to Pinstripe Alley’s coverage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic! We previewed Pool A, Pool B, Pool C, and Pool D in the linked articles. Since the first several days of the WBC feature a bevy of games, we’ll be recapping them in batches. Enjoy!
It was wall-to-wall baseball on Friday, the WBC truly exploding into action with eight games on the docket. Tournament favorites USA and Dominican Republic both opened their tournaments with statement wins, their star-studded lineups combining for 27 runs. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in.
Pool A: Puerto Rico (1-0) 5, Colombia (0-1) 0
Brilliant pitching by the Puerto Rico staff and a five-run fifth inning outburst by their offense told the whole story of this game. 2024 Al Cy Young runner-up Seth Lugo was on the mound for Puerto Rico and he already looked to be in midseason form, leaning on his nine-pitch arsenal to twirl four scoreless innings with Colombia scattering just three hits and a pair of walks. The six relievers that trailed him out of the bullpen followed suit, combining for six scoreless innings allowing just three hits and three walks. Colombia’s best chance to score came in the eighth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Yankees setup man Fernando Cruz induced a Jordan Diaz fly out to end the threat. Newly-minted Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz stamped an exclamation mark at the end, striking out the side after a leadoff single to nail down the combined shutout, exorcising some of the demons of the season-ending knee injury he suffered during the last WBC.
The Puerto Rico offense is seriously neutered after the likes of Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and others found themselves unable to participate in the tournament after failing to secure insurance. It certainly looked the case, the Colombia pitchers facing the minimum in seven out of the nine innings. However, that didn’t prevent them from exploding for five runs in the fifth after they got into the Colombia bullpen, the newest Rockies starter Jose Quintana having thrown three scoreless to start the game. Carlos Cortes and Darell Hernaiz led off with a pair of singles, the former scoring on a Gio Urshela fielding error at third on an Emmanuel Rivera grounder. Eddie Rosario followed with a single of his own to plate Hernaiz, and after a Matthew Lugo groundout, Martín Maldonado came through with the fourth single of the frame to score Rivera. Following a pitching change, Willi Castro doubled to right to bring Rosario home and advance Maldonado to third, who was then able to jog home on a Heliot Ramos sac fly to deep right.
Pool A: Dominican Republic (1-0) 12, Nicaragua (0-1) 3
Cristopher Sánchez finished runner-up to Paul Skenes in last year’s NL Cy Young balloting, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way he struggled against Nicaragua in the early innings of this game. He loaded the bases surrendering two singles and a walk with one out in the first, and though a strikeout-wild pitch allowed the opening run of the game to score, it also allowed Sánchez to become one of a few pitchers in WBC history to record four strikeouts in an inning. His offense grabbed the lead in the bottom half on a Ketel Marte RBI double and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. RBI groundout, only for Sánchez to cough it back up in the second. Cristian Sandoval led off with a single, Freddy Zamora doubled him home, and a Chase Dawson single to left and subsequent fielding error from Juan Soto plated Zamora as Nicaragua retook the lead.
From that point on, it was all Dominican Republic. Julio Rodríguez leveled the scores at three apiece with a two-out RBI single in the third. Junior Caminero gave his team their second lead with a two-run bomb in the sixth after Manny Machado led off with a double.
Vlad drove in his second run of the game in the seventh with a sac fly with the bases loaded, though Caminero left the bases juiced when he grounded into the inning-ending double play. It all proved a prelude to the DR’s six-run eighth to make a laugher out of a game that was close throught the first five innings. Rodríguez kicked things off with a leadoff home run and Oneil Cruz — pinch-hitting for Marte — followed with a 450-foot, three-run missile to right after Geraldo Perdomo walked and Fernando Tatis Jr. singled. Soto walked and Vlad collected his third RBI with a double to left, and after Machado drew a walk, Rodríguez came to bat for the second time in the inning, picking up his third RBI of the contest with a single to drive Vlad home.
You want your captain to set the tone in tournament opener, so of course Aaron Judge homered in his first ever WBC at-bat. Judge declined to participate in the last tournament, but was the first player to commit to the team this time around, manager Mark DeRosa hand-selecting the three-time AL MVP to be the team captain, a role he already holds with the Yankees. After Bobby Witt Jr. singled to open the contest, Judge got the green light, 3-0, and leaned on a sweeper right down the middle, sending it 405 feet into the stands in right for a two-run blast.
They had to feel good handing a two-run lead to one of the most consistent starters in MLB over the last few years in Logan Webb. It took him a batter to settle into his outing, surrendering a leadoff home run to Lucas Ramirez — at 20 years old the youngest of Manny Ramirez’s three sons — but Webb would then retire the next 12 batters he faced, six by strikeout. It was certainly a day to remember for the Ramirez the younger, the High-A right fielder in the Angels system smacking his second solo shot of the game in the eighth off Michael Wacha, this pair of home runs made all the more remarkable by the fact that Ramirez has all of three home runs to his name in his professional career.
Ramirez wasn’t the only son of a former big leaguer to impress for Brazil. Joseph Contreras is the son of former Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras, and at just 17 years old he is still a senior in high school in Georgia. However, he seemed unfazed by the moment, pumping in 97 mph fastballs and a nasty vulcan grip forkball right out of his father’s playbook. With the bases loaded in second, he broke Judge’s bat, getting the USA captain to ground into the inning-ending double play.
Other than a Victor Mascai two-run homer in the seventh off Gabe Speier to briefly make a contest of this game, those were about all the highlights for Brazil. A super-patient approach by the entire US lineup, a home plate umpire whose zone clearly favored the home team, and a trepidatious Brazil pitching staff terrified of making mistakes in the zone combined to create one of the most remarkable (and admittedly painful) on-base displays in recent WBC memory. The US lineup combined to draw 17 walks including five free passes/hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded. Brazil’s nine pitchers combined to throw 221 pitches, and you seriously worry how they are going to make it through pool play.
USA’s biggest outburst came in the fifth and ninth, when they scored four and seven runs, respectively. Brice Turang’s three-run double was the big blow in the fifth — part of a 3-for-6 day with four RBIs for the Brewers infielder. Kyle Schwarber and Roman Anthony each contributed a pair of singles, the latter driving in a pair on the night. Judge finished the day 1-for-4 with the homer, two walks, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
It was hardly a flawless performance from Team USA, with the offense going 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position and stranding 13 men on base. However, this patient approach looks like it can grind down any pitching staff, and we see the offense they are capable of at the end of games. (Shoutout to Brazil and anyone who had them out-homering the US on their bingo card.)
Pool A: Chinese Taipei (1-2) 14, Czech Republic (0-3) 0
The nightcap featured the two early doormats of the tournament, and poor Czechia can’t catch a break. After some strange scheduling conspired to have them play a day game after a night game (both losses), they found themselves on the receiving end of a drubbing by Chinese Taipei, themselves still smarting from getting mercy ruled by Japan earlier in the day.
Chinese Taipei ambushed Czechia starter Jan Novak for six runs in the first two innings and continued to pour it one from their as Czechia’s offense simply had no answer. Tsung-Che Cheng and Stuart Fairchild singled to open the contest. A double steal attempt and throwing error by the catcher allowed Cheng to score the game’s opening run, and a Yu Chang single plated Fairchild as the second run of the frame. In the second, Chen-Wei Chen singled while Tsung-Che Cheng and Cheng-Hui Sung drew a pair of two-out walks, setting up a Fairchild grand slam, a feat he never achieved in his 277 major league games.
After a brief reprieve in the third, Chinese Taipei put their foot back on the accelerator in the fourth. Chang drove in another pair that frame one a two-out line drive single to center, and then in the fifth, Lyle Lin doubled to lead off, advanced to third on a Kun-Yu Chiang single, and scored on a Chen sac fly. That set up a five-run blitz in the sixth that brought this game to a merciful end for the Czechs. Fairchild drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and scored on a single from Chang, his fourth RBI of the contest. Czech relievers then plunked back-to-back hitters to load the bases, after which a Chiang walk plated a run and a Chen double brought home a further pair. Cheng rolled over a soft grounder to score the 14th and final run of the game, which ended after seven innings thanks to the mercy rule in effect for the tournament.
It’s another action-packed day of baseball on Saturday, with another eight-game slate for all our enjoyment. Just like we did yesterday, we will break down the recaps into two posts, one for the first four games of the day, followed by a recap of the four late games to run later on (likely tomorrow morning). Here’s what to look forward to today:
South Korea vs. Japan (Pool C) Pitching matchup: RHP Young Pyo Ko vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi Time: 5:00 a.m. ET TV: FS1 Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Colombia vs. Canada (Pool A) Pitching matchup: RHP Julio Teheran vs. RHP Michael Soroka Time: 11:00 a.m. ET TV: FS2 Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, PR
Nicaragua vs. Netherlands (Pool D) Pitching matchup: RHP Erasmo Ramírez vs. RHP Jaitoine Kelly Time: 12:00 p.m. ET TV: Tubi Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL
Brazil vs. Italy (Pool B) Pitching matchup: TBD vs. LHP Sam Aldegheri Time: 1:00 p.m. ET TV: Fox Sports App Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Panama vs. Puerto Rico (Pool A) Pitching matchup: RHP Ariel Jurado vs. LHP Eduardo Rivera Time: 6:00 p.m. ET TV: FS1 Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, PR
Israel vs. Venezuela (Pool D) Pitching matchup: RHP Ben Simon vs. LHP Enmanuel De Jesus Time: 7:00 p.m. ET TV: FS2 Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL
Great Britain vs. United States (Pool B) Pitching matchup: RHP Tyler Viza vs. LHP Tarik Skubal Time: 8:00 p.m. ET TV: Fox Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea (Pool C) Pitching matchup: TBD Time: 10:00 p.m. ET TV: FS2 Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) works during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Sean Manaea finally made his spring debut against the Marlins. He was solid in his three innings of work but the offense was stymied by Marlins pitching.
Manaea’s final line against the Marlins was 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Craig Kimbrel pitched a clean inning and struck out two in his appearance
Devin Williams walked one and struck out one in his one inning of work
A.J. Ewing went 1-for-3 with a stolen base while also making a nice diving catch in left field
Carson Benge went 1-for-4
Next up Kodai Senga will make his first appearance this spring against the Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida. Game action kicks off at 1:05pm.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 3: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pulls Roki Sasaki #11 from the mound during the first inning of the spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 3, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Roki Sasaki has been a mess in his first two starts this spring, still working through some new pitches and fighting his command, having through 38 strikes and 43 balls thus far in Cactus League play, allowing seven runs and recording 10 outs.
And now, Sasaki’s release point is drifting. Instead of getting the ball out at full extension, his arm is drifting out and up. That’s going to affect movement and command, but it’s also going to hurt the perceived velocity on his fastball: an even 100 mph during last year’s postseason, down to 98.5 mph now.
“I talk to our guys every day about playing for something bigger, and I try to remind myself all the time that I’m a baseball fan first,” Roberts said. “And yes, I’m going to manage to win and make our players better. But I don’t ever want to lose sight of how great this game is.”
“It’s like playing at home,” Zazueta said. “Even in the minors, I’ve seen so much support from a lot of the Mexican fans. It makes being part of this organization even more special.”
MLB Pipeline unveiled its updated Dodgers top-30 prospect list, which included Zazeuta at 10th in the system, after being outside the top 30 before last season. Said Jim Callis of MLB.com: “Roughed up in his first crack at Single-A in 2024, he dominated in his return at age 20 and already is one of the system’s more polished pitchers.”
Fort Myers, FL - February 15: Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer and teammates work out in small groups on a drill. The Red Sox held Day 6 of Spring Training at JetBlue Park on February 15, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
At this point in spring training, the starting second baseman remains a mystery, but Red Sox fans should be ready to go along for the ride. Bring an open mind and a hopefulness that comes from knowing that the Sox seem poised to get better contributions from the keystone position than they have been in some time. Instead of making assumptions and predictions, which Alex Cora himself has been discouraging, let’s lay out what we know.
What Do We Know About Second Base in 2026?
We know a lot, even if nothing is set in stone.
The first thing to know: the Red Sox have lots of options. The two primary ones are Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer. Durbin came over from the Brewers primarily as a third baseman, which is the position Mayer (a natural shortstop) temporarily took over during Alex Bregman’s absence last season.
Next, Alex Cora hasn’t made any promises to anybody. He’s deliberately played both Durbin and Mayer at second, as well as at third. He’s challenged Mayer publicly to step up his game and win a spot on the roster, without indicating where that spot could be.
Also, the Sox made a long-overdue institutional decision to strengthen their defense at all levels. This resulted in several offseason acquisitions of glove-first players, rather than the clear power bat most expected after Bregman’s departure. Clearly there isn’t room for all of these players in Boston (and maybe not even at the minor-league level), but the Red Sox have depth options now that they didn’t previously have. The infield is nothing if not deep, and most of these players can play other positions.
That segues to injuries. The Red Sox have already had two that affect the second base position directly: Romy González and new pickup Brendan Rodgers.
The trends so far for 2026 seem to be defense, versatility, and depth. A head-spinning array of options is just how Alex Cora likes it, and a deep bench and Triple-A team will proactively address injuries. The Red Sox weren’t prepared in past seasons and were forced to call up Quad-A players far too often for far too long.
The Starter
Well, we’re not sure yet. But that’s okay. As Alex Cora said earlier in spring training: “Everybody is competing for something here and I think the roster will dictate what we do.”
He has steadfastly refused to be pinned down about the infield, playing both Durbin and Mayer at second and third, and saying things like: “It’s not a given that [Mayer’s] second baseman or third baseman for this team.”
The Red Sox officially haven’t made any decisions yet, but there are clues all over the place…or are they red herrings? And some of the clues contradict each other. Both Durbin and Mayer are versatile: Mayer is originally a shortstop and covered third base for the Sox when Alex Bregman was injured last season. In that small sample size, he had 3 OAA. Durbin has played second, third, and short in the minors but was primarily a third baseman in Milwaukee. Comparing their time at third base (both relatively small sample sizes, as Durbin is only entering his second year in MLB), Avery Hamel notes that Mayer might be the more agile fielder, which could give him an edge at getting the job at second base.
The Bench
Romy González is injured, so we’ll put him aside for now. Look for him to return to his spot on the bench and to doing his share of mashing lefties when he’s ready.
For a short time, it looked as though Isiah Kiner-Falefa might be the starting second baseman, or at least platoon with González. Durbin’s arrival has changed the infield equation, and that’s to Izzy’s liking. He embraces his role as a super utility player and wants to be among the best there is in 2026. He’ll spend time at second, third, and short.
Andruw Monasterio is another Swiss Army knife, but his primary positions are second and third base. He’s had a good spring and likely positioned himself to take Romy Gonzalez’s spot on the bench, especially since he hit lefties well in 68 games with the Brewers. If not, he’ll spend significant time in Worcester, working on his pop—which hasn’t been a problem at all in spring training. If he goes to Worcester, he’ll be a spot call-up, and will also help in developing minor league players like Mikey Romero.
Though his primary positions are outfield and third base, don’t be surprised to see Nate Eaton slot in occasionally at second. There’s no denying his speed, versatility, and the way he contributed down the stretch in 2025.
Minor League Depth and Other Options
It’s hard to know if Nick Sogard will win a spot on the bench or begin the season in Worcester. With Monasterio’s hot spring, Worcester seems most likely for Sogard, but expect to see him as a callup at second base as needed.
Mickey Gasper is another utility guy, a switch hitter who is primarily a catcher but who has played second base in a handful of games at the MLB level. He’s had a good spring. Look for Cora to use his versatility with the glove and bat from time to time, but he’ll mostly be stationed in Worcester.
Anthony Seigler is yet another recent arrival who could play second or third. Craig Breslow has had only good things to say about Seigler, who performed well in Triple A last season for the Brewers.
Claimed off waivers as a glove-first guy, Tsung-Che Cheng is another insurance policy at various positions, including second base. He’s currently representing Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic and came off the bench in their only game. With all of the options the Red Sox have available, Cheng will start 2026 in Worcester.
Vinny Capra is another versatile infielder who can play second, third, and short. He’s a glove-first player who doesn’t hit. He will help with developing young minor leaguers but won’t see much (or any) time at the big-league level.
Although Cora praised Brendan Rodgers’ defense and expressed hope that he’d unlock some offense, the frequently injured Rodgers will almost certainly require surgery on his shoulder after a spring training dive went wrong. His future for the 2026 season, let alone at the MLB level, is uncertain at best. He signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox, and may never play for them outside of spring training.
The Future
The same theme emerges: versatile players who can play multiple positions. Mikey Romero and Franklin Arias seem to be the future of the infield in one way or another. Romero plays second, third, and short. Though he’ll probably start the season in Triple A, he is likely to see a callup in 2026 as another utility infielder. Arias is primarily a shortstop who occasionally handles second base. We won’t see him this year, but he is likely to anchor the Red Sox infield in some way down the line.
Who Definitely Won’t Play Second Base?
It’s useful to consider who won’t play second. Not only is this category easier to predict, but it’s also helpful to see the path the Sox have traveled to arrive at a point of much-needed depth.
The many second-base options at this point are partly a testament to kicking the tires in spring training, and also to Alex Cora’s devotion to moving players around and making aggressive moves with matchups. But these Not Second Basemen are worth noting:
Thankfully, David Hamilton has returned to Milwaukee from whence he came, removing Cora’s deep and abiding temptation to get him into the lineup.
We can also expect not to see Ceddanne Rafaela at second in 2026. Although this promise was made early in the offseason, it became a possibility again after Alex Bregman decamped to Chicago. However, the front office has worked hard to bring in needed depth. With the quantity of infielders and utility players who have arrived, Rafaela should stay firmly in center field where he belongs, and where he can help the team most.
Less confidently, Kristian Campbell can be added to this list. After 2025, Campbell has most likely converted into an outfielder/first baseman. He looked awkward at second, and the experiment ultimately affected his play and confidence. The Sox may have learned a lesson about quick promotions and asking too much of a player, a very young one at that.
What About the Offense?
We don’t need a table to know that not a single one of these players are so-called big bats. They are glove-first, which will bring its own rewards like cleanly fielding all the ground balls generated by Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, and Brayan Bello. Durbin consistently gets on base, so no matter what position he plays, look for him to do that and get driven home. Mayer has yet to prove what he’s capable of offensively. It’s still too early in his career to make any predictions there.
Don’t think the Red Sox have lost speed at second with Hamilton’s departure and González’s injury. Spring training has brought reports about Mayer’s speed, and Durbin is highly regarded for his speed but even more for his baserunning smarts. Eaton’s speed is a known quantity, should he get time at second (and is a lock to steal bases no matter where he plays). Given the likely roster makeup, look for an increased emphasis on manufacturing runs: out of Durbin’s singles, stolen bases, and turning on the speed to stretch out base hits.
Around the AL East
There’s been a lot of turnover at second base in the AL East since October; possibly only Jazz Chisholm, Jr. of the Yankees will look familiar as a regular. Jackson Holliday broke his hamate bone in spring training, so the Orioles will rely on depth to start the season. Like the Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays also find themselves considering multiple options, partly because of Ernie Clement’s red-hot 2025 postseason. Andrés Giménez, the primary second baseman last season, and Davis Schneider are in the mix too. Gavin Lux, offseason addition to the Tampa Bay Rays, is expected to be the primary second baseman as they return to Tropicana Field, but the team has taken a slow approach with him during spring training due to upper body soreness, so it’s difficult to say. He may share time with Richie Palacios. With all these unknowns, including for the Red Sox of course, it’s impossible to attempt any rankings at this point. Let’s put in a pin it for now and circle back later, after the Sox infield settles into some kind of groove.
Second base has gone from being a black hole in 2025 to the great unknown, and it’s exciting. Let’s go.
