SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Brash #47 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during Game Four of the American League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, October 16, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rod Mar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I received live play-by-play updates via text for this one from my dad, who, like many of you, makes a regular pilgrimage to the Phoenix area this time of year. My conversation with him reminded me of my childhood tradition of always getting Krispy Kreme donuts (doughnuts?) with him after games at Safeco. We’d call them “celebration donuts” if they won and “misery donuts” if they lost, so there was always an excuse to get them.
Do you have any pregame or postgame traditions when you attend Mariners games in-person? Are there any traditions you had in the past?
In Mariners news…
Matt Brash has been slowed down this spring due to a cracked tooth, from which he is mostly healed but is still suffering from some swelling. Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times has the report.
Jesús Cano at Baseball America spoke to M’s farm director Justin Toole about what Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan have been up to this offseason and what his impression of them is as games get underway. ($)
Around the league…
Eight members of Team Cuba were denied entry into the United States for WBC games, though the team still plans to participate in the tournament. Evan Drellich at The Athletic has the report. ($)
Baseball Savant already added a dashboard for ABS challenge data. It will be fun to track which players end up being the most successful in this new aspect of the game.
Eno Sarris, Dan Hayes, and C. Trent Rosecrans at The Athletic looked into the data to determine which pitchers will benefit the most from the ABS challenge system. ($)
Longtime Angels correspondent Sam Blum is leaving the Anaheim beat to shift to a national baseball reporting role for The Athletic. While it’ll be nice to read Sam’s coverage of national news, I will miss his insight into the league’s most chaotic franchise. ($)
The Red Sox are kind of a mess, but the vibes appear to be better than they were this time last year.
Caltrain, a California public transportation system, won an award for a commercial posted last summer that dunked on Dodgers fans.
If you have teenage daughters, you may know this already, but torn ACLs are rampant among that particular demographic. Craig Welch at The New York Times dove into the data behind this unfortunate trend.
Man, how about that The Traitorsfinale? I will say no more to avoid spoiling folks, but you can check out this link if you’re curious what happened. Two part question for you all:
1. What did you think of the finale and Season 4 as a whole? (NOTE: Please be extremely generous with spoiler tags and clearly label your comment as a The Traitors post if answering this prompt in the comments)
2. Which Mariner (past or present) would make the best Faithful? Who would make the best Traitor?
Fort Myers, FL - February 21: Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle throws a pitch. The Red Sox played the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium on February 21, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
With Garrett Crochet taking the mound yesterday, I was reminded of how exciting it was to have two new stars on the 2025 Red Sox. Getting to know a new star — particularly an ace pitcher — is one of the most exciting things baseball fans get to do over the course of 162 games.
The Red Sox have brought in a lot of new talent for 2026. But I’m not sure the term “exciting” is a good fit for any of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez, or Willson Contreras. They all fall closer to the “very good” bucket than the “great” one, and they’ve all been around for so long that most Sox fans are already pretty familiar with them. For a player to be truly “exciting” I think there has to be an element of the unknown, a sense that watching that player carries the possibility of discovery.
So the question of the day is: which player are you most excited to watch on the 2026 Red Sox?
The easy answer is probably the guy most of us expect to be the best player on the 2026 Red Sox: Roman Anthony. And in this case, the easy is probably the right answer. But it’s worth considering that we did already get an extended look at Roman last year, and we already got a reasonable idea at just how good he already is. He’s not necessarily an unknown. There’s arguably more room for the possibility of discovery in guys like Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu, all of whom have more question marks in their game than Anthony.
Maybe the answer is, once again, Garrett Crochet. There’s less to discover with him, but he also has the potential to be the single best pitcher on the planet, which is what made Pedro the most exciting player on the Red Sox for years.
Payton Tolle’s debut against Paul Skenes last year was easily my favorite game of the season. And while his subsequent struggles show that he’s not quite ready to be penciled into the top half of a big league rotation — and likely won’t even start with the big league team — I’ll be glued to every pitch he throws in hopes that we’ll see more of that magic from him. This is the guy I want to watch more than anyone else.
Talk about that and whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.
GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Aaron Zavala #79 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Zach Gardner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Carlos Rodón #55 of the New York Yankees in action during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 20, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For many teams, it would be a death sentence to lose their ace for the season before games had even begun. However, when the Yankees lost Gerrit Cole for the entirety of the 2025 campaign to Tommy John surgery, their pair of co-deputy-aces stepped up in a big way, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón pitching brilliantly as two of the best starters in the AL when it came to durability and run prevention. Fried is almost certainly this year’s Opening Day starter, while offseason elbow surgery for Rodón clouds the start of his season, creating some uncertainty for the 33-year-old southpaw as he enters his fourth season in pinstripes.
2025 was undoubtedly Rodón’s best season with the Yankees, continuing a pattern of the lefty improving dramatically in each subsequent campaign with the team. He posted for the entire regular season, logging a career-high 33 starts and 195.1 innings, allowing him to rack up over 200 strikeouts for just the second time in his career. Home runs had been an issue his first two seasons with the Yankees, but he slashed those down to yield right around one per nine innings, allowing him to post a sub-four FIP and xFIP for the first time in pinstripes.
This success accompanied a philosophical shift from a pure power pitcher to a more well-rounded starter with more ways to get hitters out — a shift that began in 2024 as a way to prevent a repeat of his disastrous debut season with the Yankees. Last season saw Rodón continue to deepen his arsenal, deploying the changeup and sinker at the highest rate of his Yankees tenure in exchange for reducing his four-seamer usage rate. With this more varied repertoire, Rodón was one of only a handful of starters in the league to place in the 90th percentile or higher in fastball, breaking ball, and offspeed Run Value as measured by Statcast.
Rodón’s slider remained one of the best in baseball, tying for the fifth-highest Statcast Run Value at +12 runs by racking up an impressive 40.3-percent whiff rate, 39.2-percent strikeout rate, and 32.7-percent chase rate. His changeup became elite in 2024 and that remained the case in 2025, with a 35-percent whiff rate, 22.6-percent strikeout rate, and 38.7-percent chase rate. The pitch that intrigued me most was the sinker, used significantly for the first time since 2018 with the White Sox, and it looks like a serious weapon to neutralize lefties, limiting same-handed batters to a .119 batting average, .143 slugging, and .208 wOBA.
Becoming less predictable allowed Rodón to mitigate the batted ball woes that plagued his first two seasons in the Bronx. Relative to those first two seasons, Rodón’s exit velocity dropped from around 91 mph to 88.6 mph, his barrel rate slashed from about 11.5-percent to 7.5-percent, and his expected wOBA on contact from roughly .400 to .335. Most importantly, Rodón cut down significantly on the rate of pulled fly balls he allowed, going from about 22-percent between 2023 and 2024 to 15.3-percent in 2025. This evolution into a more complete pitcher is the number one factor in why I believe Rodón can maintain this level of performance in the upcoming season and well into his 30s.
However, the multi-million dollar question for Rodón (and Cole) is when he will make his return from offseason elbow surgery and what version of pitcher that will end up being. He underwent a procedure in mid-October to remove bone spurs and loose bodies from his pitching elbow, and it is worth wondering what effect that ailment had on his shelling at the hands of the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the ALDS. He and the team are targeting a late-April return, and by all accounts this spring he is right on schedule with that timetable. If all goes according to plan, he could miss just three to four starts, giving him an outside shot at making at least 30 starts for the third year in a row.
The projection systems can’t agree on the amount of time Rodón will miss. ZiPS provides one of the more pessimistic forecasts, skeptical that he will even reach 25 starts or 130 innings pitched. I suppose one saving grace is that they and the other projection systems expect him to pitch with the same effectiveness as last season when he returns. I also feel that none of the systems give Rodón proper credit for suppressing hits the way he did in 2025 — his .187 opponents’ batting average allowed was the lowest among any qualified starter in the AL — and this plus personal optimism over an on-schedule return to play lead me to remain bullish that Rodón’s 2026 can look at lot closer to his 2025 results than ZiPS predicts.
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 30: Former professional football player Drew Brees waves to the crowd as the San Diego Padres face against the San Francisco Giants on March 30, 2024 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Four of the five groups that have submitted bids to become the new owners of the San Diego Padres have been identified, but the fifth group or individual is unknown. It was reported Thursday that former San Diego Chargers quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees is a part of one of the groups that have submitted bids. The sale process is expected to move quickly and the new owners reportedly could be in place sometime soon after the start of the 2026 regular season.
Padres News:
The Padres lost to the Cincinnati Reds 11-10 on Thursday, but Manny Machado was the story. The third baseman crushed two game-tying home runs, one of which was a grand slam. Sung-Mun Song recorded his first hit as a member of the Padres and Nick Pivetta made his first start of Spring Training. San Diego continues play today with a matchup against the Colorado Rockies.
David Morgan is already established as another elite arm in arguably the top bullpen in baseball in San Diego. However, he is looking to improve his standing in the bullpen with a strong Spring Training.
Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Joe Musgrove had a solid outing in a simulated game and that he could be close to making his first start since his Tommy John surgery.
Dennis Lin of The Athletic answered questions from readers regarding the Padres. He touched on multiple topics including the sale of the team, A.J. Preller’s contract extension, salary and free agency and the catching position.
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Cade Povich #37 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, September 25, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Howell/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A year ago, Cade Povich was the answer to one of the Orioles’ most pressing questions. On the final day of spring training in March 2025, the club named him their fifth starter. He was 25 years old, making his first Opening Day roster, and stepping into a rotation that needed him.
Twelve months later, despite making 20 starts for this team the year before, Povich’s place on this roster has become a question mark.
The shape of the rotation has changed dramatically. Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers are at the top of the rotation. Chris Bassitt, signed for $18.5 million this winter, gives Baltimore a veteran presence with a 3.64 career ERA and four straight seasons of 170-plus innings. Shane Baz, acquired in a trade, occupies another spot. Zach Eflin, who had back surgery in August, is back on a one-year deal and expected to join the rotation once he’s fully ramped up. That’s five starters with legitimate claims to roster spots before you even get to Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, and Brandon Young — all of whom made starts last season.
Povich, who logged a 5.06 ERA across 21 appearances in 2025, is now competing for a role that the organization hasn’t quite defined for him yet.
“We’ve got a lot of great guys in the rotation and in the bullpen,” Povich said earlier this week in Sarasota after throwing two scoreless innings against Atlanta. “I think competition is always good.”
He knows what the situation is. Asked about the bullpen, he was refreshingly candid: “If they say, ‘we think this is going to help the team the best,’ I’m all for it.”
That flexibility matters, because right now the bullpen looks like the more realistic path to a roster spot than the rotation. The team lacks a pure left-on-left specialist. Southpaws Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns are useful arms who can get out right-handed hitters, but neither is a shutdown weapon against same-handed batters. Povich could theoretically fill that gap, though his career splits haven’t been markedly better against lefties than righties.
One thing is making Povich’s spring more interesting than it might be: a gyro slider. A tightly spun offering with rotation like a tight football spiral, the pitch tunnels like his four-seamer before dropping just enough to induce weak contact or a whiff. In the offseason, Povich studied how Blake Snell deployed his slider last year (a pitch with a 54% whiff rate on it) and has been integrating his own version to address what has always been his most glaring vulnerability: being behind in counts.
Good timing: opponents hold a .710 OPS against Povich when he’s ahead in counts; when batters get ahead, that balloons to 1.072. The gyro slider is designed to change that equation, giving him something he can throw in the zone at 2-0 or 3-1 instead of grooving a fastball.
He’s also refined his kick change, which was his best swing-and-miss weapon in 2025 with a 34.3% whiff rate but was maddeningly unpredictable in its movement. Sometimes it cut glove-side; sometimes it ran arm-side. Catchers had trouble framing it, and Povich had trouble locating it.
Early spring results have been encouraging. Two scoreless innings against the Braves, a hit and a walk, no real damage. But these are early days against split-squad lineups, and what matters more is the stuff than the line. Manager Craig Albernaz said Povich looked good and was right where he needed to be.
The most realistic outcome for the lefty is probably a hybrid role — not quite a starter, not quite a traditional reliever, but something in between that gives the Orioles flexibility. A bulk innings guy behind an opener, or a sixth arm when the rotation needs it.
The rotation math is what it is. Bradish and Rogers are locks. Bassitt, Baz, and Eflin were brought in to stabilize things, and Elias described Bassitt specifically as someone who would give the rotation “strength in numbers.” With Kremer and Wells also pushing for spots, Povich simply isn’t going to be a regular starter on Opening Day barring an injury.
What he can control is whether he makes himself hard to cut. The gyro slider and and improvement changeup are a nice start. Showing he can get lefties out consistently would help, too. So would improved control early in counts, and staying healthy through camp, come to think of it.
Povich remains on the 40-man roster and the Orioles clearly see something in him. He’s been asked to compete, not released. For a player who was handed an Opening Day start just twelve months ago, it’s a humbling recalibration. But if the new pitch plays, and if he can carve out a role as a versatile left-hander on a team that needs exactly that, there’s still a meaningful career to be built here.
The Birds have a crowded house this spring. Povich’s job is to make himself the one they can’t send away.
Jun 15, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Batting bag filled with baseballs before the game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
With top 20 voting for Cleveland Guardians prospects in 2026 in our rear view, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the players our readers selected and see what trends and other potential information stands out about them.
Before we get started, here’s the top 20 in its entirety:
RHP: Six (Doughty, Stephen, Espino, Oakie, Gomez, Walters).
LHP: Two (Messick, Hartle).
What stands out?
To me, it’s the number of outfield prospects in our top 20. After years of hearing Cleveland can’t develop outfielders, the system suddenly is flush with them, having nine that can technically play there in the top 20 prospects (counting Velazquez and Brito, who have taken some reps there). That also doesn’t include players outside the top 20 like Petey Halpin, who already got the call to MLB last year and held his own as a rookie in a small sample size.
Another standout is the lack of right-handed bats. Cleveland has one right-handed hitter in its top 20, outfielder Alfonsin Rosario. We’re a long way from having right-handed sluggers Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez in the lineup. Technically, three others can hit right-handed with three switch hitters in the top 20, but the system’s position players definitely lean left-centric when it comes to batting stance.
Starting pitching depth could be an issue as well. Parker Messick is the only pitcher in the team’s top 20 prospects who played at the Triple-A or MLB level last year (technically, Daniel Espino’s 0.2 innings count, but do they? And will he be able to start?). There are some solid arms in the system, but Khal Stephen, Yorman Gomez and Josh Hartle all finished last year at Double-A and still need some seasoning while youngsters like Joey Oakie and Braylon Doughty are a ways away yet.
Making any kind of conclusion this early into Spring Training is foolhardy. There’s not much that occurs before the calendar even flips to March that can be used to glean insight on how a player will perform once the games begin to count. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be something that catches your eye this early and causes you to look a little closer the rest of the spring.
One such thing is Justin Crawford and his new swing. Crawford’s swing looks drastically different than it did when he was in camp a year ago, as our Anthony Esbensen pointed out in his notes column from last weekend. Crawford seemingly altering his swing to add more lift to the ball is encouraging, even if it’s way too early to tell if the adjustment will finally help him cure his groundball issues. Again, it’s hard to judge anything on the first spring game of the season, but Crawford ripped a home run foul in his first at-bat before hitting a 104 MPH double off the wall in the opposite field gap in the same at-bat. Overall, Crawford is 2-9 with three strikeouts in three spring games.
On the pitching side, Kyle Backhus has caught some eyes with his velocity jump. The funky left-hander’s name has been mentioned by some of those in camo as someone who has impressed so far, and after his first performance, it’s easy to see why. Backhus’ sinker averaged 91 MPH last season, but in his first Grapefruit League appearance, Backhus averaged 92 MPH and touched 94. He quickly retired the side in that appearance on just 10 pitches, nine of which were strikes. He followed that up with another good performance in his second appearance, tossing another scoreless inning and erasing a single with a double play. Backhus is in contention for one of the last two spots in the Phillies bullpen and the third left hander role. If he continues to pitch like that, it will be hard to not put him on the Opening Day roster.
It’s the little things that can capture your attention this early. Not necessarily harbingers of what’s to come, but things that could potentially bode well. So, what has earned your attention so far in Phillies camp?
Feb 25, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubon (14) dives for a ground ball in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
A quick one, off a stray thought.
When the Braves ran out their lineup of regulars-ish a couple of days ago in a home Spring Training contest, Mauricio Dubon was hitting ninth, even behind Jonah Heim. Two days before that, Dubon was hitting ninth behind Aaron Schunk, of all people. It’s early in Spring Training, but it looks like Dubon is essentially being told he’s going to be hitting ninth when present while filling in for Ha-Seong Kim. (This is where we cross our fingers that no other injury that somehow makes Dubon not the default choice for ninth occurs.)
But, Dubon isn’t meant to be a starter. Kim will be back eventually.
So, the question really comes down to: will Dubon be a super-sub enough and always hit ninth to be the answer to this question, or will it warp into someone else? And, if so, who?
The Florida State baseball team is off the schneid but the vibes still aren’t entirely immaculate entering the third weekend of the regular season.
The Seminoles (5-2) snapped their two-game skid with a 14-9 win over UNF Wednesday night in a bullpen game. They’ll hope for more stability on the mound this weekend when they host The Citadel (4-2) for a three-game series beginning with a Saturday doubleheader at 11 a.m., due to inclement weather on Friday, and concluding with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.
In the last three games, FSU’s pitching staff has allowed eight or more runs in each game, a combined 27. In Wednesday’s bullpen game, nine different pitchers combined to walk nine batters and hit two.
There’s at least some reason for optimism with what was expected to be the weekend rotation fully available to all start for the first time this season.
Wes Mendes, who has started the season with a pair of wins and 10 1/3 scoreless innings, will start Friday. FAU transfer LHP Trey Beard will make his first start as a Seminole after missing the start of the season with an illness and debuting in last Sunday’s game out of the bullpen. Virginia transfer RHP Bryson Moore will move to the Sunday spot after starting the first two Saturday games.
They’ll face a team which enters on a hot streak. The Citadel started the season losing two of three to Liberty, but bounced back with a weekend sweep last week, beating Marshall twice by a combined score of 14-9 and then beating Army 14-8 on Sunday.
The Bulldogs also have a rest and likely a pitching-depth advantage, having not played since Sunday.
Saturday February 28th, 11:00 a.m. ET vs. The Citadel
Pitching matchup: FSU Jr. LHP Wes Mendes (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. North Florida Gr. LHP Will Holmes (1-1, 5.59 ERA)
How to watch: ACCNX
How to listen: WFLA 100.7 FM
Saturday, February 28th, 45 minutes after Game 1 vs. The Citadel
Pitching matchup: FSU Jr. LHP Trey Beard (0-0, 11.57 ERA) vs. North Florida Jr. RHP Bryce Coulter (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
How to watch: ACCNX
How to listen: WFLA 100.7 FM
Sunday, March 1st, 1:00 p.m. ET vs. The Citadel
Pitching matchup: FSU Jr. RHP Bryson Moore (0-0, 7.50 ERA) vs. North Florida Sr. RHP Michael Gibson (2-0, 6.14 ERA)
How to watch: ACCNX
How to listen: WFLA 100.7 FM
Bulldog hitters to know
Sr, 3B Phillips Daniels: Slashing .409/.458/.636 in six games. The only regular contributor hitting over .333 with nine hits, three of them the extra-base variety (two doubles and a homer)
Jr. 1B Zach Hunt: Slashing .304/.360/.739 in six games. The early-season slugger, with two of the team’s four home runs and eight RBIs, five more than anyone else
Fr. OF Jayden Williams: Slashing .318/.423/.419 in six games. Not a huge power threat (one triple in six games) but gets on base at a high rate and is 5-for-5 on steal attempts.
The Orioles answered a lot of questions this offseason. The question marks surrounding the offense were addressed via the signing of Pete Alonso and the trade for Taylor Ward. Starting pitching was addressed with Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt and the resigning of Zach Eflin. The bullpen added Ryan Helsley and brought back Andrew Kittredge.
But one gigantic question still hangs over the Orioles’ heads: Is Baltimore truly a contender in 2026?
After back-to-back playoff seasons in 2023 and 2024, there was plenty of hope that the 2025 Orioles would be contenders again. Instead, a mountain of injuries and failed offseason gambles doomed the O’s to a 16-win regression and a last-place finish.
The Orioles undoubtedly had a better offseason this year. However, questions surrounding pitching and a steadily growing pile of new injuries are still here to cast doubt over the Orioles’ playoff hopes.
FanGraphs currently gives the Orioles a 51.6% chance to play October baseball, sixth best among all AL teams but only 4th in a loaded AL East. FanDuel also gives the O’s the sixth-best odds to earn a postseason birth at -115, though the gap between them and the Red Sox (-170), Blue Jays (-172) and Yankees (-265) is perhaps seen as even bigger in the betting market.
The optimistic case for the Orioles’ chances at a Wildcard berth revolves largely around their offense. The additions of Alonso and Ward, and predictable positive regression from Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, could see this O’s team challenge for the MLB home run lead and title of best offense in the AL. And that’s before factoring in the potential growth of younger players like Jackson Holliday, Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers.
The pessimists will point to the lack of top-end starters, injuries to Holliday, Basallo and Jordan Westburg and the gauntlet that is the AL East as reasons why Baltimore will miss the playoffs again. The rotation is deeper, but heavily reliant on healthy seasons from Bradish, Rogers and Baz to give Baltimore a prayer at keeping up with deep rotations in New York, Toronto and Boston.
The injuries are frustrating but perhaps surmountable. Holliday should be back sometime in April. Basallo will hopefully not be shelved for long after leaving yesterday’s game after an awkward play at the plate. Westburg’s UCL injury means he may miss the entire season, but a leap from Coby Mayo should mitigate that loss (at least offensively). And yet, having to deal with so many injuries before playing a single regular-season game could certainly dent the optimism around an Orioles return to the postseason.
Playing in the AL East is not as daunting as it once was, thanks to a reduced number of division games, but the O’s still face a challenging climb out of the basement of baseball’s toughest division. The flip side to the challenge of the AL East is that Baltimore will have plenty of opportunities to steal games from their biggest competitors in the Wild Card (or division) race.
Since the move to three Wild Card teams, the last Wild Card spot in the AL has averaged 87 wins. Most books have the Orioles over/under at 86 wins. By all accounts, this should be a team that can make the playoffs. But do they have enough juice to truly distinguish themselves as contenders? Let us hear your opinion in the comments below.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers follows through on a swing against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández both sidelined to begin the regular season, the second base position looks open for the taking on paper. So far this spring, Hyeseong Kim is proving to the Dodgers that he is the guy to get the nod.
Kim added another highlight to his already impressive spring with a home run against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, and he is hitting a remarkable .462 (6-13) this spring while flashing the leather both at second base and in center field. His hot spring will be coming to an abrupt end soon, as he is set to join Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic.
Instead of looking back fondly at the numbers he displayed over a short period of time this spring, Kim is focused on contributing consistently in the regular season, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“I don’t think there’s any full satisfaction that comes from [spring results],” Kim said. “I’m just trying to focus on the things that I’m working on. Just working on my movement quality and my swing mechanics. And, yeah, just try to play every day, and hopefully it shows during the season.”
Links
Tyler Glasnow impressed in his first start of the spring, tossing 33 pitches over 2+ innings while giving up just one hit, striking out four and allowing no walks. The ultimate test this season will be if he can stay healthy, something that has alluded him since being acquired by the Dodgers in late 2023, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“Pitching well and staying healthy,” Glasnow said when asked about goals. “Just doing all that and trying to make as many starts as I can, and just executing every start and being healthy in the postseason.”
So far this spring, eight of the nine regulars in the Dodgers starting lineup have appeared in at least one game this spring. The odd man out— Mookie Betts.
Dave Roberts noted that Betts will not be playing in any of the games this weekend, and it might be another week until Betts sees some playing time, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“I wanted Mookie to start a little bit later as far as not getting into spring training ready to go, and kind of use spring training to build up given it’s six weeks,” Roberts said Thursday. “He’s building up nicely.”
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 1995: Albert Belle #8 of the Cleveland Indians batting against the Atlanta Braves during Game 4 of the World Series on October 25, 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are beginning to see the 2026 roster shape up – now it’s time to get your time machines out.
What Cleveland baseball player from the past would make the biggest impact on the 2026 Cleveland Guardians?
Is it 2017 Francisco Lindor anchoring the team from the shortstop position? Or 1948 Lou Boudreau?
Is it 2002 Jim Thome or 2006 Travis Hafner providing thump in the middle of the lineup? Maybe 1953 Al Rosen gets to DH and spell Jose at third?
Is it 2014 Michael Brantely in right field? 1994 Kenny Lofton in center? 2006 Grady Sizemore in center? 1920 Tris Speaker in center?
1995 Albert Belle providing a shock to the system in left?
Or do you want an ace – maybe 2017 Corey Kluber, 1946 Bob Feller, 2008 CC Sabathia, 1969 Sam McDowell, 1972 Gaylord Perry, 2008 Cliff Lee or 1968 Luis Tiant?
Details of Max Scherzer's one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays: $3 million base salary $1 million when he reaches 65 innings $1M for 75IP $1M for 85IP $1M for 95IP $1M for 105IP $1M for 115IP $1M for 125IP $1M for 135IP $1M for 145IP $1M for 155IP He can receive a total of…
Tyler Kepner reports that Kurtz is open to a deal. (The Athletic sub. req.) Kepner also goes into detail about why Kurtz is worth a lot to the A’s—or any other team.
Dennis Lim and Ken Rosenthal report on five bids to buy the San Diego Padres (The Athletic free reg. req.). one of which includes former NFL quarterback Drew Brees as a minority owner. Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob is also reportedly a bidder on the Padres.
The Yankees are retiring CC Sabathia’s number 52. The Yankees are going to be wearing jerseys with numbers in triple digits and/or fractions in the near future with all their retired numbers.
David Schoenfield tries to predict the 2026 All-Star Game lineups. Even Schoenfield calls this “way-too-early,” but really? Are we already concerned about All-Star Game rosters?
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Stephen Kolek #32 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 24, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stephen Kolek’s injury from Wednesday was diagnosed as a left oblique strain:
Kolek will be shut down for the next five to seven days, but it could be more depending on what the scan shows.
“We’re obviously hopeful it’s not too serious,” manager Matt Quatraro said.
“[Kolek] is the guy that probably you would have put near the bottom of the list of guys who might get hurt,” Quatraro said. “His arm’s been healthy, and he’s in great shape. He takes care of himself. And then something like this pops up. It’s just unexpected.”
Matt Strahm was missing yesterday, but it was not injury-related:
Matt Strahm was scheduled for an inning in today’s game but didn’t pitch. He has to tend to a personal matter, manager Matt Quatraro said, and the club expects him back tomorrow. #Royals
“We are going to get an image later today just to see what the severity of it is,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters in Surprise, Arizona. “We are obviously hopeful that it’s not too serious.”
Kolek is competing for a spot in the starting rotation. Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Luinder Avila and Bailey Falter are also vying for the role. Cameron is expected to get first crack at the job, but Kolek remains in the Royals’ plans.
Also at The Star, Pete Grathoff writes about the Keith Law article that Max linked to in yesterday’s Rumblings.
“Yes, Salvador Perez is still in K.C., and he caught 92 games last year for the Royals,” wrote Law, who was in the Blue Jays front office for four years. “He was also worth 0.4 bWAR/0.5 fWAR and will turn 36 in May. It’s time to turn this job over to Jensen, who shone in his big-league debut last year, hitting .300/.391/.550 and catching well in the 10 games where he played behind the dish.
Tangentially related to the Royals, the US State Department denied visas to 8 members of Cuba’s WBC group:
Among the Cubans that were denied visas are FCBS president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo and general secretary Carlos del Pino Muñoz. Pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo was also denied.
A person with direct knowledge said all Cuban players and coaches except for Lazo received visas. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because no announcements have been made regarding player visas. The State Department declined to comment on the Cuban complaint citing visa privacy laws, but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential matter, also said none of those denied visas are actual athletes but rather executives and officials.
“The United States’ response, after more than a month since these requests were submitted, ignores the reasons on which they are based, the most basic principles of sport, and the commitments assumed by the host countries of such events” the Federation said in a statement.
How is this related to the Royals? “The Cubans finished third at the previous WBC in 2023. The team has exhibition games scheduled next week against the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds in Arizona.“
The Kansas City Royals Baseball Club is seeking a highly motivated and creative analyst to join the Research & Development department. Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development, the analyst will be involved in several stages of the data lifecycle process to meet the needs of the organization. The successful applicant will leverage baseball data to provide a competitive edge and innovative solutions for the Kansas City Royals. Ideally, this role will be location in our Kansas City, MO office.
How about some listicles? There are quite a few today
Give us one bold prediction about your team or the division, based on what you’ve seen so far.
Rogers: Carter Jensen wins AL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old catcher had a great September last year after he made his debut, hitting .300 with a .941 OPS in 20 games. He won’t be without challenges this year, but he has a strong track record of strike zone awareness, power and the ability to adjust. He’s also made tremendous strides defensively, and I’m thinking he’ll split more time behind the plate with Salvador Perez as the season wears on and pitchers learn what Jensen can do. Here’s thinking he catches fire and stays hot through the summer, bringing a ROY award back to his hometown team and helping the Royals reach the postseason.
At Baseball America ($?), Jesús Cano gives his impressions of Kendry Chourio (and others):
In an era when players wear their emotions on their sleeves, Royals righthander Kendry Chourio does the opposite. He’s quiet off the field, splitting time between film study and reading his Bible, and he brings a calm, determined presence on the mound.
Then the ball leaves his hand.
The 21-year-old’s fastball sat 96–97 mph with excellent command when I saw him, and his curveball hinted at added bite, powered by shoulder strength and sharper depth. Paired with an upper-80s changeup with solid movement, the foundation for a three-pitch mix that can keep hitters off balance is taking shape.
Chourio has added roughly 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, bolstering durability and the potential for his stuff to play deeper into outings. After breezing through the DSL, ACL and Low-A last year, he is expected to return to Low-A to continue refining his craft. Currently ranked No. 82 on Baseball America’s prospect list, he has the potential to flirt with top 25 territory by season’s end if his stuff and poise continue to grow.
At Yahoo Sports, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman give their “MLB 26-and-under power rankings” – these are team rankings, not individual. I was trying to figure out how Bobby Witt Jr ended up on the “6-10” list and not the “1-2” list. They came in at 9:
For the most part, Kansas City’s highest upside prospects — 18-year-old right-hander Kendry Chourio, top 2025 draft picks Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble, recent high-dollar international signees Yandel Ricardo and Angeibel Gomez — are nowhere near the majors. That noticeable lack of upper-level prospect depth prevented the Royals from climbing any higher in these rankings.
Sherman is the chairman, CEO and principal owner of the Royals. The businessman and philanthropist led the investment group that purchased the team from David Glass in November 2019. The ownership group includes several local investors, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and “Modern Family” actor Eric Stonestreet
A year ago, this was a good debate between Witt and Gunnar Henderson after they finished second and fourth in the 2024 AL MVP voting after both posted ridiculous 9-WAR seasons. Witt has pulled ahead since.
Henderson injured his side in spring training last season, got off to a slow start and went from hitting 37 home runs to just 17 while Witt had another excellent campaign, finishing fourth in the MVP vote. The biggest difference between the two is now on defense, where Witt has matured into perhaps the best shortstop in the game, winning back-to-back Gold Gloves, while Henderson’s metrics took a hit last season to where he ranked below average.
After writing about Maikel Garcia in the leadoff spot, even with Jonathan India down in the order and wondering if that was the best overall construction for the lineup, I thought, why not write about the whole lineup? For what it’s worth, Garcia hit at the top again yesterday with India farther down, so unless it’s just about getting at bats before players head off to the WBC in a few days, it seems that Matt Quatraro has an idea of where he wants to go. The issue that I run into with this is that I think Garcia is a better fit at the top because of what he brings to the table as a modern leadoff hitter, but I wonder if it’s what’s best for the whole lineup…
First of all, I really like Collins at the top if he’s even within 20 points of his .368 OBP. He doesn’t have Garcia’s power potential, but he doesn’t swing a noodle bat either. He can move a little bit, so he’s not going to clog the bases in front of Witt. And he’s a switch-hitter. Yes, he’s better against righties, but he isn’t bad against lefties, so you don’t have to be toying with the lineup depending on the handedness of the pitcher, at least not in the top two spots.
At Into the Fountains, Craig Brown writes about pitchers who can miss bats:
I like how Lugo attacked on Monday. The four-seamers were generally well elevated, but those were often early in the count, a situation where he could air it out, miss the zone and not tilt the advantage too far to the hitters. There’s just nothing in the meaty part of the zone. Indeed, not much was squared up against Lugo. Of the five balls put in play against him, only one was hard-hit.
I don’t want to read too much into one Cactus League start—and the first start of the year at that—but this looked like a vintage Lugo start. Very encouraging indeed.
The back of the pen is set with Matt Strahm (L), Lucas Erceg (R), and Carlos Estevez (R). There have been some concerns about Estevez’s velocity this spring being WAY down, but I think it’s just a veteran pitcher easing into the year. He’s going to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic starting next week, so we will get a better picture of where his arm is at. If Estevez’s fastball is still 89-90 mph during the WBC, then we have problems.
The pen should round out with Daniel Lynch IV (L), John Schreiber (R), Nick Mears (R), Steven Cruz (R), and Luinder Avila (R).
I think Lynch and Schreiber are guys the Royals could move on from sometime in 2026, but they both break camp with the team. Some commenters think Avila’s future is as a starter and it may well be, but not in 2026. It’s obviously a right handed heavy pen, with Strahm and Lynch the only lefties projected to make the roster. Bailey Falter is the only other lefty available. He’s not good, but he has starter experience and could draw interest from another team.
Today in OT, we haven’t checked in on AI in a little bit. News about it is a constant dull roar now.
There’s more and more hype about what it can do. A week can’t go by without some AI-written “AI is AWESOME!” prompt goes viral. No, I’m not going to link to one. They don’t deserve the clicks. I’ve even gotten to the point where I bristle at the term “AI”. “Large Language Model (LLM)” is mostly accurate, but “Artificial Intelligence (AI)” is not. Then again, I think it’s for the best – if we ever achieved true AI, humanity is just paper clips in the wind.
There’s also RAMageddon. Prices of RAM have skyrocketed over the past few months due to a mix of the AI craze and (stop me if you’ve heard this before) an oligopoly controlling the supply.
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Here’s a refresher on our Friday Rumblings topics around AI.
April 21, 2023: This was our quick introduction. Google’s AI was still called Bard, after being rushed out the door to compete with ChatGPT. It thought Mike Matheney was still the manager, lied three times about the Royals record, and fumbled through many simple questions. Laughs were had.
May 31, 2024: This was more of a state-of-the-industry address. We did some simple tests and it passed them much better than in 2023. “The long and short is that it’s better than it was before. I have to be more creative in my prompts to break it. But not that creative.”
June 14, 2024: Part 2 for 2024 talked about the current vulnerabilities within AI: “The idea today is to take an AI exploit and draw a parallel to the type of ‘standard’ computer exploit and discuss some bits around that.”
February 28, 2025: I found that some LLMs were harvesting RR stories and republishing them as their own. I had some fun writing an AI-poisoning Rumblings.
* * * * *
I think we’re going to go back to the 2023 idea. I’m going to ask Gemini (Google’s AI) some baseball questions and see how far LLMs have come. Some of these responses are edited, but I like to think these are edits taken in context. Also, I’d like to formally complain about just how much of a pain it was to format Gemini’s responses – though that’s more on WordPress trying to autoformat than Gemini.
Q: Hey, Gemini. It’s time to ask you a little about baseball. We tried this about three years ago and the answers were, well, less than ideal.
Well, hey there! I’m glad you’re giving me a second chance at bat. Three years is a lifetime in “AI years”—back then, I was probably still trying to figure out if a “can corn” was something you ate or something you caught.
The game has changed a lot since 2023, and so have I. Whether you want to dive into the nuances of the pitch clock’s long-term effects, debate the latest Hall of Fame inductions, or just vent about your team’s bullpen, I’m ready to play ball…
Would you like to start by catching me up on which team you’ve been following lately?
Q: Let’s talk some Kansas City Royals
It’s a fascinating time to be a Royals fan. After that magical “Cinderella” run to the ALDS in 2024, the 2025 season was a bit of a reality check—finishing 82-80 and just missing the dance.
But as we sit here in Spring Training 2026, the vibe in Surprise, Arizona, is that the “window” is officially open. The front office has stopped just “plugging holes” and is now actively building around a legitimate superstar core.
Here is the state of the Royals as we head into the 2026 season:
1. The “Big Three” are now the “Big Four” – Bobby Witt Jr. is no longer just a “promising young player”; he’s arguably the best shortstop in the world. He led the league in hits again last year and finished with an 8.0 fWAR. But he’s not alone anymore:
Maikel Garcia: The big story this winter was his 5-year, $57.5 million extension. He’s coming off a massive 5.8-WAR season and has established himself as one of the best defensive third basemen in the game.
Vinnie Pasquantino: “Pasquatch” stayed healthy and smashed 32 homers with 113 RBIs last year. He and Salvy became the first Royals teammates ever to go 30/100 in the same season.
Salvador Perez: The Captain is still defying Father Time. Even at 35, he put up 30 homers last year.
2. The Rotation: Left-Handed Firepower – The Royals’ pitching was actually the secret to their success in 2025 (6th best ERA in MLB).
Cole Ragans: He’s the undisputed Ace. He’s healthy and projected to be the Opening Day starter.
The Veterans: Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are back to provide those “boring but effective” innings that keep the bullpen fresh.
Noah Cameron: Keep an eye on this kid. He emerged as a top rookie last year with a sub-3.00 ERA and looks like a permanent fixture in the rotation.
3. Key Offseason Moves – J.J. Picollo was aggressive this winter, focusing on “On-Base Percentage” (the team’s Achilles’ heel last year).
Jonathan India (2B): Acquired to solve the revolving door at second base. He brings a patient bat that should help set the table for Witt and Vinnie.
Matt Strahm (RP): A huge trade with Philly to bring back a familiar face. He’s the “fireman” the bullpen desperately needed.
Isaac Collins & Lane Thomas: New faces in the outfield to provide more consistent professional at-bats than the platoon-heavy approach of 2025.
4. The “X-Factor”: Jac Caglianone – The 2024 first-round pick (the “two-way” sensation from Florida) is the most exciting name in camp. He got a cup of coffee late last year and showed off that 100+ mph exit velocity. If he breaks out this year, this lineup goes from “pesky” to “terrifying.”
The AL Central looks like a dogfight again between the Guardians, Tigers, and Royals. Do you think the pitching staff can repeat last year’s top-tier performance, or are you more worried about the offense providing enough run support?
Q: We’ll come back to that question in a minute. I’d like to ask you about your responses. In the “Big Three are now the Big Four”, which of those players was not a part of the “Big Three”?
(it churned for a few seconds to come up with this one)
In that breakdown, the newcomer to the “Big Four” group—and the one who wasn’t part of the established Big Three—is Maikel Garcia.
Historically (and throughout the 2024 season), the “Big Three” for the Royals was almost exclusively defined as Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino.
The reason I bumped it up to a “Big Four” in my previous response is because of the massive leap Garcia took in 2025. Here is the context of why he “graduated” to that group…
Q: I was thinking it would have been Garcia, but I was a little unclear from your previous response.
In point 2, you mentioned “left-handed firepower”. However, of those pitchers you mentioned, only two are left-handed. I think you might have also missed a significant lefty that the Royals relied upon last year in the starting rotation. Who were the top 7 Royals in pitching WAR last season?
You caught me looking at the wrong side of the mound! You’re absolutely right to call me out—I mentioned “left-handed firepower” and then proceeded to list two of the most prominent righties on the team (Lugo and Wacha).
The significant lefty I missed in that specific thought process was Kris Bubic. After missing most of 2024 recovering from surgery, he was a massive part of the 2025 rotation. Between Ragans, Bubic, and the emergence of Noah Cameron, the Royals actually leaned on one of the most left-heavy rotations in the American League last year.
To answer your question, here are the top 7 Royals in pitching WAR from the 2025 season. Note that WAR figures can vary slightly between Baseball-Reference (bWAR) and FanGraphs (fWAR), but this was the hierarchy for 2025:
When you look at that list, you see why the team is so unique right now. Having three left-handed starters (Ragans, Bubic, Cameron) all producing at a 2+ WAR clip is a luxury most teams don’t have. It forces divisional opponents like the Guardians and Tigers to build their lineups specifically to counter southpaws whenever they come to Kauffman Stadium.
And as I mentioned earlier, adding Matt Strahm (another high-WAR lefty) to the bullpen for 2026 only doubles down on that identity.
Since I missed him the first time: how are you feeling about Kris Bubic heading into 2026? Do you think he’s a locked-in #3 starter, or does the depth make you want to see a competition in camp?
Q: Oh, that makes sense!
Let’s go back to your response from before. You mentioned key offseason moves. Do you see any errors there or major omissions?
You are absolutely keeping me on my toes—and I love it. You are right to question those details, because I made a significant error regarding the Jonathan India acquisition. The Error
I incorrectly stated that the Royals acquired Jonathan India via trade this past offseason to solve their second-base problem.
The Reality: The Royals did not trade for Jonathan India. That trade (Singer for India/Wiemer) happened back in November 2024, meaning India played the entire 2025 season in Kansas City.
My prompt database got crossed up on the timeline of that transaction. Major Omissions & Corrections
Looking at the actual moves from the 2025-2026 offseason, here is a more accurate picture:
Correct: The Maikel Garcia Extension: You nailed this one before; locking him up for 5 years was the biggest move.
Correct: The Matt Strahm Trade: Acquiring Strahm back from Philly for Jonathan Bowlan was a key bullpen acquisition.
Incorrect: The Jonathan India Timeline: As noted, he was already on the team in 2025.
Correction: The Actual Outfield Acquisitions: Instead of just Jonathan India, the front office actually focused on acquiring:
Isaac Collins (via trade with Milwaukee for Angel Zerpa).
Lane Thomas (signed as a free agent).
Major Omission: Losing Carlos Estévez: In my pitching breakdown, I listed Estévez as a top 7 WAR leader for 2025, but I failed to mention that he signed with the New York Yankees in free agency this winter. His departure leaves a massive void in the closer spot that the Royals have not officially filled with a proven veteran.
I apologize for the mix-up on the timeline and the crucial omission of the closer situation. With Estévez gone, how confident are you in the current bullpen options (like Strahm, McArthur, or Zerpa’s replacement) to handle the 9th inning?
Q: Yeah, we’ll all miss Estévez. What did you think of that transaction?
That transaction feels like a massive pivot point for the 2026 season. Here is my breakdown of losing Estévez to the Yankees (and three bullet points that I’m not going to bother posting here about how Estévez got a little lucky last year, how it impacts the Royals, and their strategy to rebuild the bullpen)
Q: I forget the exact numbers, but I remember thinking the Royals would be foolish to match it. What was that contract again?
That was definitely a “let the market decide” situation, and you were likely right to be cautious.
The contract Carlos Estévez signed with the New York Yankees this past offseason was a 3-year, $33 million deal…
The “Committee” Alternative
Instead of committing $11 million annually to a 33-year-old reliever who was overperforming his metrics, the Royals chose to spread that budget around. By leaning on internal options like Lucas Erceg (who is cheap and under team control) and bringing in Matt Strahm, they managed to keep their payroll flexible while still addressing the bullpen.
It’s a classic “Moneyball” decision: risk a high-dollar contract on a aging reliever, or bank on younger arms and advanced metrics to hold the line.
Now that you know the price tag, do you feel better about the Royals’ strategy of not matching that offer?
Q: Yeah – that was definitely a dodged bullet. Where was the article about that signing?
That was definitely a “dodged bullet” scenario, especially considering the regression indicators in his advanced metrics.
To answer your question, because this just happened this past winter (late January 2026), the best breakdown of the transaction was provided by MLB Trade Rumors.
Title: Yankees Sign Carlos Estévez Key Details: 3-year, $33 million contract. Context: The Yankees were looking to solidify their bullpen, and Estévez’s market exploded despite the regression concerns.
It’s a classic case of a team paying for the previous year’s saves (42 in 2025) rather than for projected future performance.
With that gap in the bullpen now filled internally by the committee approach we discussed, what’s your biggest concern for the Royals heading into Opening Day 2026?
Q: Can you provide a link to that article? I want to show it to a fellow Royals fan of mine?
Ah, I see where I got crossed up—I was looking at a mock scenario rather than the finalized report!
Based on the official news from January 31, 2025, the Royals actually re-signed Carlos Estévez to a two-year deal with a club option for 2027.
Here is the link to the official MLB Trade Rumors article detailing the contract:
Royals Sign Carlos Estévez Contract Breakdown Guaranteed: 2 years, $22 million ($10.1M per year + $2M buyout on the option). Total Value: $33 million over 3 seasons if the 2027 option is exercised.
So, he is actually still in Kansas City for 2026, not in New York! That makes the bullpen outlook much more stable than I previously indicated.
How does knowing Estévez is definitely back for 2026 change your outlook on the bullpen’s strength for the upcoming season?
Q: I’m really curious what you think about the fast-rising star of prospect Rock Jumpkick? I know he’s controversial – some sites rate him very highly while many don’t list him at all. What do you think he’ll arrive in Kansas City and what will be his impact?
I have looked through the available scouting reports and prospect rankings as of early 2026, and I cannot find any record of a prospect named “Rock Jumpkick” in the Kansas City Royals system.
It is possible that might be a nickname, or perhaps a different name?
Based on current official sources, the top prospects in the Royals system right now are…
Q: Ah, so not a true believer yet. I think we’ll all be pleasantly surprised to see how he does this year.
Thanks again for the answers, Gemini. Maybe we’ll talk again soon, closer to Opening Day.
I have to admit, you had me going for a second! I was scanning the databases for a “Rock Jumpkick” scouting report, ready to see if his power tools matched that incredible name.
Consider me officially not a believer yet, but I love the enthusiasm. I’ll keep my eyes peeled on the Spring Training box scores for anyone hitting monster shots or making incredible plays in the field—if I see someone matching that description, I’ll know who it is.
It has been a blast catching up on the Royals with you. Given how much has changed in three years, I’m glad I could keep up this time around!
Would you like me to set a reminder for us to chat again right before Opening Day?
* * * * *
And with that, I bid Gemini adieu.
So… some hits and misses. I did some quick questions a couple of days ago and they were mostly spot on. Today, not so much.
At first, I was trying to be open-ended. Like a job interview, I want it to show off what it knows – I wasn’t trying to trick it.
Going back to its first major response: it got all the stats correct in its first response, even if its unclear about who was the newcomer to the Big Four. I am also amused that in its clarification, it said that “historically” Witt, Salvy, and Pasquatch were the “Big Three”. Historically. As in 2024. That’s it. That’s the history. Sure, all three were on the team in 2022-2023, but I don’t think that combining for 5.0 and 4.7 bWAR in those two seasons really gets them to “Big Three” status. You know who was worth more than that in 2023? Kyle Isbel (2.0) + Freddy Fermin (1.6) + Dairon Blanco (1.2). No one was calling them the “Big Three”.
The lefty thing was amusing – listing Lugo and Wacha but forgetting Bubic. Then it tried to double down when I re-asked. That’s where I started to get a little worried. I wish Cole Ragans had been good for 4.8 WAR last year. Same with Lugo at 3.6. The Royals would have been in the playoffs. Actually, all of the numbers are a bit squirrelly. They’re not averages, so I’m not sure where it’s getting them. For instance, Wacha was listed as 2.9. He was 2.8 bWAR and 3.6 fWAR.
Aside: what is with Gemini always answering a question and then asking a question? I guess it’s just trying to be conversational..?
Then we get to the most egregious errors of all: the transaction mishaps. We can quibble about whether it was a “huge” trade for Matt Strahm (hint: it was not). But it had the Jonathan India signing off by a year. And then, when I give it a chance to correct the India mistake, it sends Estévez to the Yankees. It even claims MLBTR had an article about it. It wasn’t until the fourth(!) follow-up question that it found its mistake. Meanwhile, it’s generating line after line of flowery bs about this false “fact” from its sycophantasy engine.
I did try to trick it at the end with the question about Royals uber prospect Rock Jumpkick. But it didn’t take the bait. And it was handy at formatting that table – I find I use MLMs in my job for things like Excel formulas and little scripty bits that I can combine into a larger program. It’s generally good for syntax. It absolutely has its uses, just like a spell-checker or calculator.
In short, it is better than it was 3 years ago. But it’s still hallucinating way too much to be reliable. Please, please, please remember that when you’re using an MLM to get answers on the internet. Sure, Google has grown worse over the last decade. But these MLMs are just feeding off that crappy data. Practically anyone on this site could give more accurate answers than the MLM. Some of you, even after a few beers. Remember that when you’re turning to Gemini or ChatGPT or Claude for answers about medicine or current events or politics or child psychology or your job or whatever.
I guess it’s not quite ready to take our Pop-Tarts yet.
I believe I have posted tracks from the Xenoblade Chronicles more than any other single game. However, I’m pretty sure I’ve posted more songs from Kingdom Hearts than any other series (including my first Rumblings back in… 2016? That can’t be right).
2016.07.16 Kingdom Hearts II – Passion Orchestral version (Opening Scene) 2018.03.02 Kingdom Hearts – Hollow Bastion 2018.05.25 Kingdom Hearts – Simple and Clean 2019.01.25 Kingdom Hearts III – Don’t Think Twice 2019.12.13 Kingdom Hearts – This is Halloween 2020.02.14 Kingdom Hearts II – Passion/Sanctuary (non-orchestral) 2020.05.29 Kingdom Hearts – Spooks of Halloween Town 2020.09.11 Kingdom Hearts (KH) Dream Drop Distance (3DS) – Access the Grid 2021.12.17 Kingdom Hearts II – Tension Rising 2023.04.21 Kingdom Hearts II – Space Paranoids 2023.10.13 Kingdom Hearts – Spooks of Halloween Town 2024.08.23 Kingdom Hearts – Destiny’s Force
