Category: MLB

Good morning, baseball fans!

Boy, do I have great news for you today. We are officially one week away from Opening Day 2026! That’s right, the San Francisco Giants will be playing meaningful baseball exactly one week from today!

So today, I wanted to check in with you all to see what you’re watching for from the team over the last few days of Spring Training games and exhibition play.

Personally, after the potentially devastating injury news facing Hayden Birdsong, I’m really just hoping everyone can stay healthy and not get hurt before the season starts. Baseball injuries suck no matter when they happen, but there’s something that feels even more cruel about injuries happening before the season can even begin.

Of course I’ll also be keeping an eye on the roster, and the pitching depth, etc. But at this point, I’m mostly just hoping everyone stays healthy!

What will you be keeping an eye on over the last week of pre-season play?

Friends, we are just a week away from Major League Baseball returning in full force and the Colorado Rockies opening up the season in Miami on March 27. Camp is winding down, which means the team will have to start making decisions about who will be on that plane to Florida. So, without further ado, let’s predict what the Opening Day roster could look like. For a further exploration of each position, be sure to check out our State of the Position series.

Catcher: Hunter Goodman, Brett Sullivan

It’s no surprise that we can pencil in Hunter Goodman as the Opening Day catcher for the Rockies. After a breakout All-Star season in 2025, Goodman more than earned his spot heading into the offseason. Yes, Goodman hasn’t had the best time in Cactus League play, slashing .147/.225/.324 with two home runs in 40 plate appearances, but he’s earned the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Can he replicate last season?

As for the backup catcher spot, I’m going with Brett Sullivan over Braxton Fulford. Sullivan has had a phenomenal time at the plate in camp and presents a left-handed alternative to Goodman. Additionally, much like Fulford, Sullivan isn’t too bad on the base paths, presenting the athleticism this team appears to be valuing. Despite having roughly the same number of big league games under their belt, Sullivan edges out Fulford as someone with plenty of professional experience and has shown a keen ability for game calling and working with the pitchers. Fulford would then get the chance to play nearly every day in Triple-A to continue developing.

First Base: T.J. Rumfield, Edouard Julien

T.J. Rumfield has made the most of the opportunity to win the first base job since coming over from the New York Yankees. His lengthy minor league experience back to 2021 has left him with nothing else to prove, and now he looks to finally get his shot at the big league level. His solid defense and contact-heavy bat with some power potential harkens back to a certain Hall of Famer for the Rockies.

There are a few other options worthy of a first base spot, but I’ll give it to Edouard Julien. Acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, the Rockies seemed intent on bringing in Julien and using him in some capacity, and he is out of options. Julien has shown in the majors and the minors that he can be a good addition to the lineup, even though he has struggled at the plate over the last two seasons. High contact with some power mixed in against right-handers is great, and his ability to play second base rounds out some depth. Of course, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) and Troy Johnston are also right in the mix at the time of writing.

Second Base: Willi Castro

For a brief moment, it seemed that Willi Castro could be taking over third base while someone like Julien took over at second base. However, due to developments at the hot corner, Castro is poised to handle second base regularly. This is the best-case scenario, as the middle infield is more in line with Castro’s natural abilities, but he’ll still have his chances to show off his versatility around the diamond. He’s looked good at the plate in Cactus League play as well as in the World Baseball Classic, and could end up being an incredible first position player free agent signing by the Rockies’ front office.

Third Base: Kyle Karros

There were some questions about whether Kyle Karros would be able to make third base his own, and he has provided plenty of answers in spring training. There was no doubt he could handle the position defensively, but whether or not the bat would follow was an entirely different matter. Through his own determination and adjustments over the offseason, both mechanically and physically, Karros has left little doubt he is ready to take on a full season of Major League Baseball.

Shortstop: Ezequiel Tovar

Injuries hindered Ezequiel Tovar in 2025, preventing him from ever finding an offensive groove and doing anything close to what was done in 2024. Tovar has only played five games with the Rockies in spring training because he’s been part of Team Venezuela in the WBC. Tovar has looked like his old self in the atmosphere of the WBC, which will hopefully carry into the regular season. Gold Glove defense and the All-Star potential if he can refine some of his offensive follies could result in the best season yet of Tovar’s young career.

Outfield: Jake McCarthy, Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck

At first, it was unclear exactly why the Rockies acquired Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but as spring training has progressed, it has become quite clear. The Rockies are hoping that McCarthy can tap back into the things that made him successful at times in Arizona and be a spark on offense. They want him to get on base by any means necessary, steal bases, and score runs. They are also banking on his center fielder pedigree to aid in covering the expanse of left field at home, while also serving as a more reliable back-up to Brenton Doyle in center field.

Doyle faced ups and downs in 2025, both on and off the field, but started to look like the breakout player from 2024 in the latter part of last season. He has battled a few things in camp already, namely a sprained wrist, but he has looked excellent in the games he has played. Of course, he’ll look to reclaim his Gold Glove title in center field after failing to become a finalist last season.

Jordan Beck will be making the move to right field on a more regular basis, at least while the Rockies are playing at home. Beck showed flashes of his potential in 2025 and will need to find more consistency at the plate this season to take the next step forward and prove to the Rockies he can be a long-term answer in the outfield corners.

Designated Hitter: Mickey Moniak

Mickey Moniak will get plenty of time in the outfield, but it looks like he’ll also get the majority of at-bats as the designated hitter. Moniak put up a career year last season with the Rockies and will get the chance to replicate and build upon it this season. The Rockies will also use the DH spot to cycle in other players to get them off their feet in the field and give other players chances to play.

Utility: Tyler Freeman, Ryan Ritter

Tyler Freeman took up quite a few games as the Rockies’ DH and right fielder in 2025, but looks to move around a bit more and perhaps use his infield abilities a bit more. He proved a lead-off revelation for the club last season, so manager Warren Schaeffer needs more options to plug him into the lineup.

Ryan Ritter showed some flashes during his big league stints last year and has impressed in spring training this year. Ritter has been learning the outfield in camp to go along with his infield experience. Two super utility players in Freeman and Ritter give the Rockies some versatility around the diamond to mix and match and try to put forth the best lineup each game.

Starting Rotation: Kyle Freeland, Michael Lorenzen, José Quintana, Tomoyuki Sugano, Chase Dollander

Kyle Freeland continues to be a rock in the rotation and will be the Opening Day starter once again. The free agent additions of Michael Lorenzen, José Quintana, and Tomoyuki Sugano bring much-needed experience, and all had some inspired outings in the WBC. The final rotation spot looks to be coming down to Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander. I’ll go with Dollander since being around the other veteran pitchers could go a long way in helping his development, and he does have some excellent raw abilities; it just needs to be refined still. It’s also possible that Feltner could stay on the big league roster in the bullpen.

Bullpen: Jimmy Herget, Antonio Senzatela, Zach Agnos, Juan Mejia, Victor Vodnik, Seth Halvorsen, Brennan Bernardino, Parker Mushinski

There are plenty of options for the bullpen, so it’s a bit easy to pick and choose what arms to put into the mix. Senzatela will look to thrive as a long reliever, while Jimmy Herget, Victor Vodnik, and Seth Halvorsen will fill in the mix at the backend of the bullpen. Juan Mejia was excellent last season and has had some good moments with Team Dominican Republic in the WBC. Zach Agnos has looked excellent in spring training with a new sinker he’s been working on. Brennan Bernadino has quietly had a good spring with the Rockies and Team Mexico and represents the de facto lefty in the pen. I added Parker Mushinski since it would give the Rockies another lefty in the bullpen, and it feels like either him or fellow non-roster invite John Brebbia could make the roster.

Closing thoughts

We’ll start to hear more about roster decisions in the coming days, and there could always be more twists and turns and surprise moves before the 27th. Is there someone you think will make the roster instead? Be sure to carry on with your thoughts below!

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‘We’re obsessed with it’: Rockies aiming to ‘elevate’ team atmosphere | MLB.com

The goal of the Rockies’ leadership this year is to change the atmosphere surrounding the team. The club is hoping to improve every aspect of how they operate as a team in preparation, performance, and overall environment in the clubhouse.

Brecht, Herring highlight talented Rockies pitching prospects | MLB.com

Jim Callis breaks down a pair of exciting arms in the Rockies system, with Brody Brecht and Griffin Herring wielding plenty of upside.

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As we are in the final stages of spring training, that limbo where you think you know what’s going to be the final roster but not quite, I am sort of at a loss on what to write about. So I’m going to provide some links to Cardinals-related news around the world wide web.

As it turns out the Opening Day roster is far from set. Brandon Glick observed that, according to Derrick Goold, Ramon Urias has some soreness in his elbow while swinging, and that Ivan Herrera has a little soreness in his knee, which won’t prevent him from seeing some time at catcher before spring training ends.

It sounds as if Herrera will be more of a third catcher, and that the Cardinals will be having him occupy the DH position mostly. I’m a little surprised by this, because it seemed that they had every intention of having him catch more often earlier in the year, but if he is an easily injured player, I suppose his playing time must be limited while catching, the main goal being to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible. If there’s a knee involved, catching doesn’t seem ideal.

Urias’ injury seems to be a bit more of a mystery at this point. He will need to swing the bat again to see if it is ready to go. Maybe this is what brings Saggese back into the fold.

Bill Ladson at MLB.com gives us a good article on Herrera. He provides a little more detail on the injury. Ivan says he’s not sure how he got an inflamed knee, speculating it could’ve happened while running and then while being in a car for a long ride back to Jupiter. But it wasn’t swollen until he woke up the next day. This was back on March 6th. He has resumed baseball duties for a week now and will see playing time soon in spring training.

It’s interesting to see how DriveLine improved Herrera’s offense. On such a young team, Herrera ends up being both a team leader and a cheerleader, saying not to write them off because of their talent. I see a lot more talent than what a sub-70 win team would show. I still think the projections are lowballing the Cardinals because there isn’t enough data, and when looking at the various projection systems there is a ton of variance in projecting this roster. This is because Chaim Bloom has built in so many players with a higher ceiling and lower floor. 2026 is a gamble. But also a way to find which players are best, there is some depth there in the farm system.

Patrick McAvoy at Sports Illustrated sounds a little wowed by the potential of the future of the Cardinals middle infield. I concur! Masyn Winn hitting 16 home runs while playing some of if not the best defense in the NL sounds very much ok to me, and JJ Wetherholt being potentially one of the best hitting second basemen in the game is a future to build around. Winn’s only spring malady was some mild elbow soreness early in March. Sounds like early March was not very nice to our team. But I’m glad Winn and Herrera are feeling better.

Alec Burleson is 3 years older than Winn and 2 years older than Herrera, and is also a new father. So he seems like an elder of the clubhouse at this point. Are you worried about Burleson playing first base? Well, think again! I just had a random thought: how will Burly’s good throwing arm be a part of the infield defense?

Here is Masyn Winn talking about Burleson stealing 18 bases! And Burleson goes 3-3 with his new son in the stands. Here is Burly way back at Winter Warmup.

JJ Wetherholt is definitely generating a buzz! It would appear that JJ is probably a lock to be the opening day second baseman, and possibly leadoff hitter, at least to start the season. It is certainly possible they will make him work his way up the totem pole of the lineup order, but I’d be fine letting him lead off each game, especially since he’s sort of used to it anyway. Let’s not forget he is one of the overall top prospects in MLB. This is very exciting!

Over at third base things weren’t so clear until Nolan Gorman had a resurgent spring training. He is finding his groove at the hot corner, at least on offense, because of studying with the other Nolan’s (Arenado) hitting guru. That could prove to be a difference maker, or the end of the Gorman experiment. Because he has surely been tested with erratic playing time, moving around the infield, and just having a propensity to strike out as a major feature of your game. Maybe he can get the Ks down and the HR back up, because he did hit 27 home runs one season, and could hit 30 without too much trouble because he has always had massive power potential.

For more on Nolan Gorman, I encourage you to read this in depth article. Perhaps the most interesting takeaway is Gorman referencing Barry Bonds:

“When you can control your body in the box (it’s great),” Gorman explained. “I think Barry Bonds says it a lot. ‘Just control everything.’ The move. The strike zone. Everything. When you can do that and be in a good position to hit, you’re going to have a lot more success.” _{(Nolan Gorman quote stltoday linked above)}

Is Barry Bonds the mystery baseball guru working with the two Nolans? I hope so! I don’t really think so. Another big takeway is that it sounds as if Gorman is now able to make mid swing adjustments. I think it’s the same as last year, if one of Gorman or Walker can figure out how to hit home runs, we might stand a chance. Add Baez to the equation and who knows. Maybe Velazquez ends up good too. Might as well enjoy the hope for now.

Victor Scott II short interview

Jordan Walker is a mystery wrapped inside an enigma proposed as a riddle and we will not speak of him here

Nelson Velazquez gives me a sense of vague hope. If we can convert an ex-Cubs/Royals player into a good player, that would be very cool. It would appear that we may have caught lightning in a bottle, but I remain skeptical because it seems most people are. From what I’ve seen, though, Velazquez has made me a spring training believer. And he did have some potential in the past.

Do you think that the Cardinals could’ve found a diamond in the rough with Nelson Velazquez? I certainly do. And that excitement is palpable.

Make Viva El Birdos your hub for entertainment!

1982

Ok so I have been going off about every year about my life. I was born in 1975. This is my 8th week in a row and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon! To change it up this week, I am going to list my top albums of 1982 first, and go back to the Top 10 format for now.

1. Prince – ‘1999’ I definitely have a soft spot for this album because it was one of the first tapes I owned, and I was just starting to get into music at this age. I had a cassette copy of this album from my sister, which I played through a Walkman gifted to me by my sister’s Japanese foreign exchange student, and it was twice as loud as American portable cassette players. Purple power forever.
2. Captain Beefheart – ‘Ice Cream For Crow’ the Captain’s last musical adventure before he became a fine artist/painter. I feel like this one is a bit overlooked in his catalog. It may not be him at his peak, but he wraps up the musical adventure of the Magic Band very nicely here.
3. Chrome – ‘3rd From The Sun’ The top three I have outlined for 1982 could go in any order, in my opinion. This one is a little more raw and bursting with new ideas than the first two, but Damon Edge and Helios Creed are piloting uncharted territory here, influencing others in the THE FUTURE. The original industrial metal band, but with a psychedelic punk edge.
4. Sonic Youth – ’Sonic Youth’ only reason this isn’t any higher is that this is pretty much their demo, they’re super young *literally youth, and yeah it’s not a whole album of material. But what we hear here is a glimpse into their future as well as the future of music. They’re babies here but still a leap forward in the realm of musical expression. One of my favorite bands.
5. Allan Holdsworth – ‘i.o.u.’ absolutely also deserving to be in the top 5 is this early Allan Holdsworth album, a guitarist who redefines music in my opinion. Jazz fusion for the early 80s, but this album was recorded years earlier, in the 70s, and not distributed until 1982. Some say Holdsworth played while drunk as part of his style, but whatever his secret was, he was a guitar legend. Another guy ahead of his time.
6. King Sunny Adé & His African Beats – ‘Juju Music’ one of the most magical psychedelic albums I’ve ever heard. I look forward to hearing this album more, always. What a discovery!
7. SPK – ‘Leichenschrei’ at the inception of the industrial music genre and still at the top, total experimental cyberpunk genius, listen to the whole thing, don’t give up. Another very interesting discovery. Uneasy listening, though!
8. X – ‘Under The Big Black Sun’ another album that could easily be #1… X covers all the bases and becomes one of the most important rock n roll bands of all time, if never making it big they were originators… their variety in songwriting, and ability on all approaches make them a most definitive punk rock band to remember!
9. Oppenheimer Analysis – ‘New Mexico’ actually listened to this album while moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico. For fans of new wave and goth! And early industrial dance.
10. Junior Delahaye – ‘Showcase’ one of the most intense dub reggae productions you’ll hear in the early 80s or anytime, really… lovely genius. Red tape dub sound delivered with unique vocal stylings.

Honorable mentions to The Cure, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, The Clash, Bad Brains, etc. Not hating on them, I am just into these ten albums more, what can I say…

1982 Playlist

What was happening in 1982?

• Ozzy Osbourne was treated for rabies after biting the head off a bat. There’s a pizza bar that plays heavy metal music in St Louis called The Headless Bat! They have really good pizza. Maybe I’ll join you.
• The first computer virus was invented by a 15 year old. It effected Apple computers, oddly enough.
• First emoticons posted.
• E.T. blew away the competition at the box office, what would be controversial today, Tootsie, was the second highest-grossing movie of 1982, An Officer and a Gentleman, Rocky III, and Porky’s rounded out the top 5. My favorite flick of ‘82, Star Treck 2: The Wrath of Khan was 6th at the box office, and don’t forget 48 Hours and Poltergeist, a movie which scared the absolute shit out of me for at least a whole year after seeing it.
• Delving a little more obscure, you had some amazing movies like Basket Case (one of my favorite b-movies!), Conan the Barbarian, Firefox, Bladerunner (!), Tron, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, and The Beastmaster.

And of course, to wrap up, 1982 in Major League Baseball was the year I became a Cardinals fan. Obviously, the Cardinals won the World Series over the Brewers that year, but what else? Cal Ripken Jr and Steve Sax won Rookie of the Year in 1982. Dale Murphy and Robin Yount were the MVPs. Steve Carlton and Pete Vuckovich won the Cy Young Award in their respective leagues. The Brewers were really good that year with both and MVP and a Cy Young Award winner. But the Cardinals still were able to take them down.

Keith Hernandez and Ozzie Smith won Gold Glove Awards on the Cardinals. The Cards were first in the NL East winning 92 games, while the Brewers had won 95 that year. To reach the World Series, the Cardinals swept the Braves while the Brewers had a tougher path through the California Angels who had won 93 games that season.

Milwaukee would not return to the World Series until 2008, so this was the last AL postseason appearance by the Brewers. They were also in the postseason in 1981. For the Cardinals, it was their first postseason appearance since 1967! And just imagine going all the way to the World Series after 15 years! That must’ve felt quite nice. The Braves had had a nearly as lengthy postseason draught, since 1969. 1982 was the 9th World Series Championship for St Louis.

The World Series itself was a battle between two very, very good teams and went 7 games. The Cardinals overtook the Brewers at the end, winning by 12 runs in Game 6 and then the 1982 Cardinals lineup took out the Brewers bullpen and won Game 7. Had the Brewers manager kept starter Pete Vuckovich in the game, who know who what would’ve happened. Vuckovich also played for the Cardinals during the years 1978-80, and was later cast as slugger Clu Haywood in the movie Major League.

The Atlanta Braves turned in mixed pitching performances on Tuesday, with Spencer Strider and Reynaldo López each partaking in spring festivities. In North Port, Strider faced a lineup full of Boston Red Sox minor leaguers. He threw five innings and surrendered a run. His fastball touched 96MPH, but he stayed around 93-95MPH.

Strider pitched five innings against a group of Red Sox Minor Leaguers today. FB was 93-95. Touched 96 in the first. Got out of a bases-loaded jam with a 1-2-3 DP in the third. Only run came via a leadoff walk and outfield misplay in the second

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 17, 2026

In Fort Myers, Reynaldo López and the Braves took on the Boston Red Sox, where they fell 4-3. López tossed a long 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out six.

As Opening Day nears, the Braves will likely feel encouraged by Strider’s steady progress while hoping López can sharpen his command in his final exhibition outings.

More Braves News:

The Braves will continue to represent QUIKRETE on their uniforms, after their partnership was extended through 2036.

The Braves have reportedly signed left-hander Kyle Nelson on a minor league deal. 

MLB News:

As we preview each of the Braves’ 2026 opponents, it’s time to take a look at the AL Central. 

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Team Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic, defeating Team USA in the championship.

Joe Torre would talk a lot, and probably still does, about how a good bullpen shortens the game. Now, he had Mariano Rivera, and the Sandman spent the better part of 20 years turning Yankee games into eight-inning affairs. When paired with a setup man like David Robertson, or a fireman like Dellin Betances, those clubs could carve out another inning or so. Sure, there was the odd blowup here and there but that consistently high floor was predictable year after year.

In the Baby Bomber era, the Yankees haven’t had a Mariano Rivera — then again, who has? — but for how sweaty and tumultuous Aroldis Chapman was by the end of it all, he had a 3.05 ERA and struck out 37 percent of batters he faced from 2017-22. Chad Green and Zack Britton helped to shorten up games too, and that high floor of the bullpen stayed pretty reliable, a hallmark of Brian Cashman’s approach to rosterbuilding: have just enough starting pitching to get through five or six innings with the score close, your hitters will grind down the opposition and your relievers will put up zeros, and you’ll win more than you’ll lose.

Last year, and headed into 2026 though, that floor doesn’t seem to be there in the same way. David Bednar is, for my money, as good a closer as you’ll get in the game today. The unit surrounding him just carries more downside risk than we’re used to seeing from Yankee squads. The bullpen for ‘26 is projected for 4.1 fWAR, which would actually be a considerable upgrade over the past two seasons, but is at least a half-win weaker than the 2023 group, and two-plus wins worse than in ‘22 or ‘21 — side note, that 2021 season saw 7.2 fWAR from the bullpen…we used to watch gods!

More than a third of that projected fWAR comes from Bednar, and the rest highlights how high-ceiling, low-floor the rest of the relief corps is going to be. Camilo Doval and Jake Bird never really got off the ground since coming to the Yankees around the trade deadline, with Bird almost immediately optioned to Triple-A Scranton and Doval’s ERA ballooning by more than a run and a half post-deadline. His fastball isn’t as good as the pure velo would read and he walks far too many people, but in front of a competent defense you can see how some tweaks to his sinker could turn him into Zack Britton On The Cheap.

And really that seems to be the overall goal, Zack Britton or Aroldis Chapman or even Mariano Rivera on the cheap. The Yankees seemed to have learned the pitfalls of long-term contracts for relief pitchers, and given their annual payroll constraints having that kind of cost flexibility probably helps them give an extra year to a Max Fried or something similar.

However, the volatility inherent in relief pitching, the volatility that builds so much risk into longer term contracts for relievers that we know, increases in the relievers we don’t know as well. Matt Blake’s career is based around “we can rebuild him”, and he has a track record of it working, but when you don’t have the existing baseline performance of a Zack Britton or even a Chad Green, your downside risk is proportionally huger.

The Yankees will probably be fine with their bullpen, but not the perennial top 5 grouping they were at the start of the Baby Bomber era. Their rotation should be a lot better than its been in previous seasons which picks up some of that slack, but outside of the ninth inning we may be gritting our teeth more than we’re used to in 2026.

The victors erupted onto the field and into multiple dogpiles. Some wore national flags around their shoulders. Within minutes, the Venezuelans wore T-shirts that read: “The Best Baseball in the World.”

The players from the United States watched from their dugout. Within minutes, they trudged back onto the field so a silver medal could be draped around their necks. Not every player wore the medal all the way back to the dugout.

You can say all you want about how the World Baseball Classic has matured into a must-see event for fans and a must-play event for the game’s elite players. You can salute Venezuela for a spirited and thrilling victory, and the Venezuelan fans for nine innings of joyful delirium.

But you also can say this: A U.S. team billed as featuring a killer lineup could not hit, and the U.S. could not use its best pitcher because the San Diego Padres said so. The result: For the second consecutive World Baseball Classic, the U.S. lost the championship by a 3-2 score.

“I’m not OK with winning silver,” Bryce Harper said. “I don’t want to win silver.

“I want to win gold, just like anybody else. But, at the end of the night, they did it, they won, all the congratulations to them. They fought hard. I’ve got nothing but respect for them.”

By the time the eighth inning rolled around, the mighty U.S. offense had not gotten a runner into scoring position on Tuesday, and had gone scoreless for 18 of its previous 19 innings. With two out in the eighth, and Venezuela up 2-0, Bobby Witt Jr. walked, and Harper followed with a 432-foot home run, so monstrous that Venezuelan pitcher Andres Machado could only watch the flight of the ball and smile.

Harper stood and watched too, then he flipped his bat toward the dugout. At third base, he stopped to give a salute, then spotted the cameraman trailing him around the bases and pointed to the American flag on his left sleeve.

Read more:Plaschke: Get all beaned up and enjoy the surprisingly profound World Baseball Classic

“Just enjoying the moment,” Harper said. “Super grateful for it.”

With the game tied 2-2 entering the ninth, the pitcher trotting in from the U.S. bullpen should have been Mason Miller, who had not given up a hit in the WBC and struck out 10 of the 14 batters he had faced.

Before the game, U.S. manager Mark DeRosa had said Miller would be available. After the game, DeRosa said he and Miller’s employers, the Padres, had agreed Miller would only be used to protect a lead.

Once the game entered the ninth, Miller would not be able to protect a lead, since the U.S. was the home team and there could be no save situation for him. DeRosa nonetheless declined to use Miller.

“Honoring the Padres,” DeRosa said.

This is not on DeRosa, but that is nonsense. If a closer cannot be used three times in five days — with another week to ease into the regular season by throwing bullpens or in structured B games, or taking a few days off, or whatever — then he should stay home.

Read more:Shaikin: U.S. showing class at WBC no matter how the White House might react to a title

Venezuela scored the winning run in the ninth off Garrett Whitlock, on a walk, stolen base and RBI double by Eugenio Suárez.

In its final five WBC games — after routs of Brazil and Britain — the U.S. scored more than five runs once, with a two-run win, a two-run loss, a two-run win, a one-run win, and a one-run loss. In the semifinal and final, the U.S. combined to bat .159 and strike out 25 times, and every run came on a home run.

That — not any attempt at small ball — is American baseball. And the U.S. was outslugged by six other teams, including Australia and Italy. For glory, as the U.S. team hoodies said.

“A lot of pop ups, a lot of just-missed pitches,” U.S. captain Aaron Judge said. “I wouldn’t say we tensed up. We just didn’t execute when we needed to.”

Said DeRosa: “I mean, surprised because of the names at the back of the jersey, but not surprised because of where they're at in spring training.

“Yeah, that's my answer. I really don't have a rhyme or reason to why. I just think you're either hot or not in a seven-game blast like this.”

The WBC absolutely was a blast. The Venezuelan fans delivered concert-level noise all night long, without needing a silly stadium host or scoreboard command to do so. The WBC allowed fans to bring in 16 “permissible instruments,” including bongos, cowbells, maracas and trumpets.

“There’s bands playing,” Judge said. “There’s chants going on. You don’t usually hear that too much in the World Series games. That’s amazing. So much fun.”

More Americans watched the U.S.-Dominican Republic semifinal than watched last year’s NBA All-Star Game, according to Fox. The championship game almost certainly will have drawn more viewers than at least one game of last year’s NBA Finals.

In the 10 minutes I spent along the concourse before Tuesday’s game, I counted fans wearing the jerseys of many national teams and 17 MLB teams, plus the late and greatly beloved Montreal Expos. Japan did not qualify for the final four, but I nonetheless counted 11 fans in Japan jerseys with Shohei Ohtani’s name on the back. The advertisers believed too: DeRosa spoke in front of a banner displaying the logo of nine corporate sponsors, eight of them Japanese.

After such a lively event, can these players get fired up to go back to spring training, and then for the grind of a 162-game season?

“I’m always fired up for the Yankees, but I’m still pissed about this,” Judge said.

“I’m looking forward to the next time we get a chance to throw on the red, white and blue and take care of business.”

That would be the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where Dave Roberts has expressed interest in managing Team USA at Dodger Stadium. The major leaguers are almost certainly coming, even if the details are still being worked out.

See you there, Bryce Harper?

“I hope so,” he said. “I really do.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Good morning Birdland,

The World Baseball Classic is over, and Venezuela are your 2026 champions. They beat the United States by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday night in Miami. Orioles star Gunnar Henderson did not enter the game until the ninth inning, when he was used as a pinch hitter for Alex Bregman. Henderson grounded out against Venezuela closer Daniel Palencia.

Team USA collected three total hits in the losing effort. The only two runs they scored came in the eighth inning, when Bryce Harper smacked a two-run homer, which tied the game.

Bregman, who USA manager Mark DeRosa continued to start ahead of Henderson throughout the tournament, went 0-for-3. He finished the competition with a .143 batting average and .578 OPS, among the worst marks on the team. Henderson hit .400 with a 1.267 OPS, both numbers were the best on the team. A real head scratcher.

But let’s not dwell on the losers here, and instead give a hearty “Congratulations” to Venezuela. They beat the behemoth that is Japan in the quarterfinals, and then topped the tournament darlings Italy in the semis on their way to this matchup. And then within the game itself it always felt like they were outpacing the US. When the final out was recorded, the stadium erupted with cheers. Although the final was played in the United States, and there probably were more Americans in attendance, it sure sounded like the Venezuela supporters well outnumbered the hosts. Perhaps it was the byproduct of the joy that they brought with them to the game.

That’s a wrap on major international baseball until 2028, when it will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2020. The next World Baseball Classic is slated for 2030.

Back in Orioles camp, the O’s and Tigers played to a 1-1 tie in Lakeland. Bryan Ramos went 3-for-4 with a double and solo homer. Samuel Basallo doubled as part of his 1-for-4 game. On the pitching side of things, Chris Bassitt tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, striking out four in the process. Rico Garcia and José Espada both worked clean innings to maintain their spotless spring ERAs.

The Orioles will head to Dunedin to take on the Blue Jays at 1:07 p.m. today. That game will be shown on MASN.

Links

Bassitt uses bluntness to guide Orioles’ teammates | Baltimore Baseball
I’m a big fan of the Bassitt addition. Does he truly elevate the rotation? Eh, probably not. But he definitely secures their floor. The Orioles need arms they can depend on, and Bassitt (along with Kremer) is certainly that. It doesn’t hurt that he’s had as good of a spring as you could hope.

Basallo gets the best of Verlander, Bassitt pitches into sixth, Ramos comes within triple of cycle in 1-1 tie | Roch Kubatko
Roch gives you the rundown on Tuesday’s game, which doesn’t sound like it was the most exciting affair. That’s how it goes in the spring sometimes. I think we are all just ready for “real” games at this point. Only a few more days left!

Why a tennis racket is part of Orioles outfield coach Jason Bourgeois’ training methods | The Baltimore Banner
If Mookie Betts thinks a drill is helpful, then I’m good with it! The Orioles’ defense needs to jump up a level across the board this year. That includes the outfield, where it looks like Colton Cowser will be the everyday center fielder next to a slew of corner outfielders that might change day to day.

The goal for the O’s starting rotation in 2026: ‘Surprise people’ | MLB.com
There have been a few headlines recently that describe the Orioles rotation as “underrated.” Well, they certainly aren’t overrated. Most outlets view them as an average-ish group, which feels fair. They have two potential aces in Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers, but there are legitimate questions about both. Shane Baz is a variable that could really elevate the unit, but we need to see it first. Beyond that, it’s the trio of Bassitt, Kremer, and Zach Eflin. Those are three bonafide big leaguers, but they aren’t exactly game-changers. And health is a concern for every team.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Chris Vallimont turns 29 today. His lone MLB appearances came with the Orioles on July 3, 2023.
• Trey Mancini is 34 years old. The Notre Dame product became a fan favorite during his time in Baltimore from 2016 through 2022. That reverence was only strengthened when Mancini missed the 2020 season due to a battle with stage 3 colon cancer. He returned to the lineup in 2021 and regained his place as one of the most important players on the team. The O’s traded Mancini the following season, allowing him to win a World Series with the Houston Astros. He has not appeared in a major league game since 2023, but spent 2025 in the Diamondbacks minor league system, and is currently in camp with the Angels.
• Craig Tatum is 43 today. The Orioles used him as a backup catcher from 2010-11.
• Gerónimo Berroa turns 61. A journeyman outfielder for 11 seasons, he spent a portion of the 1997 campaign in Baltimore.
• Randy Miller is 73 years old. He pitched in one game for the 1977 O’s.
• The late Dick Littlefield (b. 1926, d. 1997) was born on this day. He came with the organization when it moved from St. Louis to Baltimore. The lefty had played two seasons with the Browns and then made three appearances in an Orioles uniform in 1954 before he was traded to the Pirates.

This day in O’s history

It has been a slow day in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. Instead, here are a few happenings on this date from beyond Birdland:

1959 – The Hawaii Admission Act is signed into law, dissolving the Territory of Hawaii and establishing the State of Hawaii. It goes into effect on August 21.

1965 – Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov becomes the first person to walk in space, leaving his spacecraft for 12 minutes to do so.

1968 – The United States Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back US currency.

1990 – The largest art theft in US history takes place. A total of 12 paintings, worth $500 million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

Great game. Mark DeRosa is terrible.

Phillies News

• Orion Kerkering faced hitters in a minor league game on Tuesday and threw about 16 pitches. It’s getting late for him to be ready by opening day.
• Johan Rojas was officially suspended for 80 games for violating MLB’s drug policy.
• Just watch the ball Bryce Harper hit:

MLB/WBC News

• Mark DeRosa said before the WBC final that closer Mason Miller would be available.
• The Red Sox signed Tommy Kahnle to a minor league deal.
• 33 veteran players with looming opt-out dates in their minor league deals.

Free of charge for the discerning reader.Charlie Lau passes, and other stories.Welcome to the Tokyo Dome.

Today in baseball history:

• 1886 – The New York State League admits clubs from Buffalo, Toronto and Hamilton. The inclusion of the Canadian teams causes the league to change its name to the International League.
• 1942 – Two black players, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, request a tryout with the Chicago White Sox during spring training in Pasadena, California. Sox manager Jimmie Dykes allows the two to work out but later dismisses them. Robinson will have to wait five years before making his major league debut.
• 1943 – Due to wartime travel restrictions, spring training camps begin opening in northern locations. Some of the locales include Bear Mountain, New York (Brooklyn Dodgers), French Lick Springs, Indiana (Cubs and White Sox), Asbury Park, New Jersey (Yankees), Medford, Massachusetts (Boston Red Sox) and Wallingford, Connecticut (Boston Braves).
• 1953 – The Milwaukee Braves become the first franchise to move since 1903, when the Baltimore Orioles became the New York Highlanders. The Braves have been in Boston, MA for 77 years. In a related move, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers move to Toledo, Ohio, where they become the latest incarnation of the Toledo Mud Hens.
• 1970 – The Cleveland Indians and Seattle Pilots play an exhibition game with the experimental X-5 ball, which is reported to be five per cent livelier than a regulation ball. The Pilots beat the Indians, 19-14. One week later, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders the livelier ball to be discontinued.
• 1984 – Charlie Lau, renowned batting instructor, dies in Key Colony Beach, FL, at age 50 after a long bout with cancer. Lau, whose major league career batting average was .255, earned his fame as the Kansas City Royals batting coach from 1971 to 1978, where his star pupil was George Brett. Lau also served as a batting coach for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox and wrote a book called The Art of Hitting .300. 
• 1985 – Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Fame members Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, who had been banned from association with organized baseball by former commissioner Bowie Kuhn due to their employment by Atlantic City casinos. Ueberroth’s ruling will allow both men to pursue employment with major league teams.
• 1990 – Major league players and owners reach a new collective bargaining agreement that will end the 32-day lockout of spring training camps. Highlights of the deal include increasing the clubs’ contributions to the players’ pension fund, raising the major league minimum salary to $100,000, and a compromise on salary arbitration that leaves 17 percent of players with between two and three years of major league experience eligible.
• 2009 – The Chicago Cubs announce that they will retire number 31 on May 3rd in honor of Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux. 
• 2025 – The first game of the 2025 MLB season features the Cubs playing the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome, with both teams starting a Japanese pitcher – Shota Imanaga* for Chicago and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles. Both pitchers do well, but it’s Shohei Ohtani who plays local hero with two hits and two runs to lead the Dodgers to a 4-1 win.

Cubs Birthdays: Jimmy Callahan, Hiram Bithorn, Dick Littlefield, Fernando Rodney, Trey Mancini.

Today in history:

• 37 – Roman Senate annuls Tiberius’ will and proclaims Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (aka Caligula = Little Boots) emperor.
• 1314 – Jacques de Molay, the 23rd and the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, is burned at the stake by King Philip IV of France.
• 1662 – First public bus service begins, promoted by Blaise Pascal, operates in Paris as the “Carosses a Cinq Sous” until 1675.
• 1881 – Barnum & Bailey Circus, traveling as “The Greatest Show on Earth”, debuts at Madison Square Garden in New York City following the merger of two existing circus groups.
• 1965 – Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov leaves his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes and becomes the first person to conduct a spacewalk.

*pictured.

1901
After two seasons with Boston in the National League and ready to take on a bigger role at catcher, Billy Sullivan joined the exodus of players moving from the Senior Circuit to Junior by signing with the White Sox. Sullivan would play with the White Sox for the rest of his career, spanning 13 seasons. The first 12 was as a regular on the roster, with a 13th coming with a one-game cameo in 1914 after sitting out for a year. His career with the White Sox remained the longest in team history for a player until 1925, when fellow catcher Ray Schalk played his 14th (of 17) seasons with the team. Interestingly, it was Schalk, a teammate of Sullivan, who supplanted the senior player as Chicago’s starting catcher. And like his mentor, who managed the team in 1909, Schalk would eventually manage the White Sox as well.

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1938
It was a challenge trade of first basemen that ended up as a win for the White Sox.

Chicago sent 29-year-old Zeke Bonura to Washington for 31-year-old Joe Kuhel. Bonura’s first four MLB seasons, all on the South Side, earned MVP votes in 1935 and 1936 and amassed 15.5 WAR and a slash of .317/.396/.487. Kuhel earned MVP votes in 1933 and 1936, but had suffered some pitfall seasons as well.

Neither player was any good in 1938, and both bounced back in 1939 (Bonura having moved on to the New York Giants and a 3.5 WAR, Kuhel a 3.2 WAR and 21st in MVP voting), but Kuhel also was a start in 1940 (3.7 WAR, 13th in MVP voting). Bonura continued to slump and was out of the majors by 1941, while Kuhel (flip-flopping once more to Washington and the White Sox again) would play until age 41. Over 18 seasons in the game, Kuhel put up 30.5 WAR and is regarded by JAWS as the 84th-best first baseman ever.

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1942
White Sox manager Jimmy Dykes granted Black players Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland a tryout with the White Sox, while the Pale Hose conducted spring training in Pasadena, Calif. Neither player made the cut.

After also failing to make the Boston Red Sox after a tryout, Robinson was signed to play for the Kansas City Monarchs three years later, becoming an All-Star as a rookie and breaking the color barrier in MLB in 1947. Moreland had pitched in 15 games for the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues in 1940, but would pitch in just one more Negro League game after his tryout with Chicago.

Interestingly, the White Sox were on the brink of a trade to bring Robinson to the White Sox in 1955, but the Cincinnati Reds claimed him on trade waivers, nixing the deal.

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1964
The White Sox purchased the contract of veteran pitcher Don Mossi from the Tigers for $20,000. Mossi would have a spectacular season for the White Sox — who lost the pennant by one game — going 3-1 with seven saves and an ERA of 2.92. Mossi teamed up with Hoyt Wilhelm and Eddie Fisher to give the club the best bullpen in the league.

At the end of the year, however, Mossi was released.

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1981
Carlton Fisk officially and finally signed a free agent deal with the White Sox, beginning the process of turning a purse-string organization into a competitive major league franchise. The All-Star catcher and future Hall-of-Famer got his free agency after the Red Sox did not tender him a contract by the CBA’s required date. Immediately, White Sox co-owner Eddie Einhorn and GM Roland Hemond jumped at the chance to get a player of Fisk’s caliber on to the team. For more than a week Fisk’s five-year, $2.9 million contract went unsigned, as minor tweaks to the deal continued.

Fisk would play 13 years on the South Side, make four All-Star teams as a member of the White Sox, and have his No. 72 retired in 1997. At the time he retired, he also held the team record for most home runs, as well as most home runs in MLB history hit by a catcher. His two best seasons were in 1983 (when he rebounded from a very slow start to hit .289 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs for the Western Division champions, finishing third in the MVP voting) and 1985, his career season (Fisk hit only .238, but blasted 37 home runs with 107 RBIs). 

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2016
The ongoing embarrassment that surrounded the retirement of Adam LaRoche ended, at least officially, with a statement released by the player explaining his side of the story.

Just hours earlier, Chris Sale had kicked off what would be an utterly bizarre year for him by speaking out in support of LaRoche — and against his own GM, Ken Williams. As South Side Sox’s Josh Nelson wrote in his story on Sale, collectively “the White Sox unlocked a new level of awkwardness by making a dumb situation even dumber.”

The crux of the biscuit came down to LaRoche claiming that, contrary to what was promised when he signed with the White Sox, his son Drake recently had been completely banned from spring training — on-field, in locker room, full stop. Williams proffered that he’d spoken to Adam about lessening Drake’s constant presence with the team (as prompted by players like Jimmy Rollins, who talked to the GM about this strange, unprofessional and intrusive arrangement), lost his cool when after that he saw Drake on the pitcher’s mound during infield practice and issued a complete ban, then subsequently walked that back somewhat.

The 2016 season would end up fairly tainted by the incident, as White Sox stars Sale and Adam Eaton lined up in loony support of the LaRoches. Sale saved his greatest embarrassment for later in the year, however, when on July 23 he shredded 1976 throwback jerseys in the clubhouse with a knife before his scheduled start.

The Yankees entered the offseason with a hole in center field, but it was one that was filled pretty promptly. They extended the qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, and Grisham accepted it, setting him up to start in center in the Bronx on Opening Day.

But Grisham will be a free agent again after 2026, and the Yankees will have another choice to make. That choice stands out; other than second base, center field is the only position where the Yankees’ current projected starter isn’t under control for multiple years. It begs the question: who is the Yankees’ center fielder of the future?

As it stands, there seem to be four primary options, and the one that will fill the role in 2026 might be the least likely of them all. Grisham turned in a fantastic 2025 campaign, and the Yankees should be pleased to have him back for another year at a $22-million rate. But with Grisham set to hit free agency again, it’s easy to envision one of two scenarios: him either repeating his breakout 2025 and signing a long-term contract somewhere else, or Grisham regressing, leaving the Yankees uninterested in further retaining his services.

Should Grisham leave, could the team turn back to Cody Bellinger? The 30-year-old was actually the team’s starter in center on Opening Day last year, but quickly ceded the role to Grisham once the latter started raking. Bellinger is an excellent athlete who has played center field at a high level at various points in his career, but he’s entering his 30’s, and rated as just passable in center in a small sample last year. Would the Yankees entrust the position to him as he enters or nears his decline phase?

Then, there are the youthful options. Jasson Domínguez once looked ticketed for the role, an uber athlete that, coming up through the minors, looked like a good bet to remain in center. Yet Domínguez has found himself in left in recent years, and has largely looked like a liability. Spencer Jones actually seems like the more likely option to be able to handle center in the medium-term, with scouts putting average-to-plus grades on each of Jones’ speed, arm, and fielding. Jones, though, comes with more questions regarding his bat, as it’s anyone’s guess at this point whether Jones will limit swings and misses enough at the big league level to access his mammoth raw power.

What do you think? Is the Yankees’ center fielder of the future on the active roster right now, or somewhere down on the farm? Or, is he not even in the organization yet?

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On the site today, Andrés previews an interesting figure in the Yankees organization, that of Dax Kilby, the club’s 2025 first-round pick. We’ll also see Michael look over the Cubs as part of our MLB Preview, while Jeff wishes a happy birthday to Brian Fisher. And be sure to catch the start of today’s spring training game, as it will be Gerrit Cole’s first live action since 2024.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

Time: 1:05 p.m. EST

Video: YES, MLBN (out-of-market only), NESN, Gotham Sports App

Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL

MIAMI — They sat in the clubhouse late Tuesday evening still numb, with several stars so distraught that tears streamed down their faces.

Team USA spent only two weeks together, but they bonded quickly in Arizona, hung out for 10 days in Houston, and by the time they reached Miami, it felt like they’ve been teammates their entire careers.

This is why it stung so badly, losing 3-2 to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic title game. Several players were so angry that when they were given their silver medals on the field, they yanked them off their neck before even getting back to the locker room at loanDepot Park.

“It hurts, it really hurts," said USA designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who struck out three times. “I always say you expect to win a baseball game when you walk out of the room, and to not have that to have that happen? It hurts.

“But give credit to Venezuela."

The USA players conceded afterwards that as badly as they wanted to win, they didn’t deserve to.

They produced just three hits against six different Venezuelan pitchers night.

They scored just four runs in the last 21 innings of the tournament.

They didn’t even have a single runner in scoring position for the last 14 innings.

Sure, it’s not like the grief of losing the final game of a World Series or postseason game, saying good-bye to your teammates that you’ve been with for six months and won’t see again until spring training. But it’s pretty damn close. Pitchers like Matthew Boyd of the Chicago Cubs, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and Clay Holmes even left their spring-training camps to return to the USA team, wanting to be together one final time.

“Obviously, disappointment," said USA captain Aaron Judge, who thanked his teammates in a clubhouse speech. “You know, hats off to Venezuela for going out there, doing their thing, playing a great, clean ball game, and coming away with the win. But obviously you're disappointed.

“We came here, all of us put on this uniform, signed up to go out there and get a gold medal, and we fell short of that."

If it wasn’t excruciating enough just losing the championship game, the Americans had to stand around and watch Venezuela wildly celebrate their first WBC title while waiting for the medal ceremony. They stood in silence, lined up to receive their silver medals from commissioner Rob Manfred and union chief Bruce Meyer, with several almost taking it immediately off their neck.

Harper, who hit the dramatic game-tying two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning – calling it his second-greatest homer behind only his game-winning homer in 2022 to clinch the National League pennant – stopped standing in line. He walked over and congratulated nearly half of Venezuela’s teams with hugs.

“I just feel like in those moments, I mean, it's like the Olympics or anywhere else, right?," Harper said. “I'm really happy for them. Obviously, I want to win…but in that moment, it's not about me. It's about us in our game. They had a great tournament. ...

“I'm not OK with winning the silver. I don't want to win silver. I want to win gold, just like anybody else. But at the end of the night, man, they did it. They won. I’ve got all of the respect for them and what they did.

“They’re on top."

This wasn’t a case of Team USA being overconfident. There were no tiebreaking rules or anyone misspeaking. It was an elimination game, just as it was when they beat Canada in the quarterfinals and the Dominican Republic in the semifinals.

While USA manager Mark DeRosa was told by the San Diego Padres that he couldn’t use closer Mason Miller unless it was a save situation, the loss had nothing to do with pitching restrictions. Venezuela was playing by the same rules, with manager Omar Lopez saying he received messages from three teams instructing him not to use their relievers this game. While USA even had a day of rest, Venezuela was playing back-to-back nights after beating Italy in the semifinals Monday.

“We were feeling at home," MVP Maikel Garcia said. “There were more Venezuelan fans than American fans. We were used to this at stages, but not the American players. And that was clear during the game.

“There is no favorite in baseball. Look at Italy. Italy was underestimated, and they made it to the semifinals. …We showed the whole world that in Venezuela, we have talented players, and we know how to play ball. ...

“God just gave it to us because our country," Garcia said, “they need this. A lot of Venezuelans aren’t out of Venezuela, and they need this. And we need this too."

Winning the game also was a financial windfall for the Venezuelan players and federation. They received a $2.5 million bonus for winning the game, and walked away from the tournament with $6.75 million. It will be divided equally between the players and the federation, giving the players about $112,500 apiece.

But that's chump change on a team filled with stars. They just desperately wanted that gold medal, particularly after losing to Japan in the last WBC in 2023. They’ll likely meet up again in the summer of 2028, with MLB players expected to play in the Olympics for the first time.

“Baseball is in a really good spot,’’ Harper said. “There's a lot of young talent in all countries. I think the world saw that baseball is a great game. It's a lot of fun to watch, and the cultures from every other country and ours. It's one of the best sports in the world, and to be able to bring them together, and teams together, players together, to do that these last two weeks has been a blast."

The players, leaving loanDepot Park nearly two hours after the game, boarded the team bus and headed back to their hotel. They will pack their bags, and return to their spring-training camps Wednesday. The players who train in Arizona will be provided a charter flight by MLB to Phoenix.

The 2026 season starts in a week, but for these players, they’ll have to overcome a severe emotional letdown. It’s tough to play for your country in front of a raucous sellout crowd one night, and be returning to Surprise, Ariz., the next, like Bobby Witt, Garcia and Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals.

“It was action-packed out there,’’ Judge said. “It was incredible getting a chance to see all of the fans coming out. They’re cheering. They’re screaming. They’re on their feet from the very first pitch. So, I loved it."

Judge then paused, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

“But," he said, “I'm still pissed about this."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA baseball stunned by World Baseball Classic championship defeat

Fans have been wondering, with bated breath and bitten nails, whether Jacob Lopez is fully healthy following his season-ending IL stint from the dreaded “forearm tightness”. Turns out fans weren’t the only one expelling bricks though orifices.

I sat down with Lopez on Monday, March 16th, for what turned out to be an abbreviated interview because after 5 minutes I could see him looking out at the field anxiously even though he never said he needed to go. Clearly he did and so I did a shorter interview than usual — but still was able to cover the key topics that had made him one of my requested targets this spring.

Nico: So first of all, you’re coming off a great outing on Saturday. You’ve been through injuries and rehabs before, and then you had a scare at the end of last year, or maybe more than a scare, because you were on the IL. But can you talk a bit first about what happened at the end of last year, what it felt like, how it felt compared to what you had been through before (TJS)?

Lopez: Yeah, it was pretty scary that day in Seattle, because I felt a little bit of tightness in the bullpen, but I didn’t think much of it because you know, later in the year you feel a lot of things. But I think once I started doing arm care after my outing, I really flared up and I was like, “Oh no, this feels worse than when I did have TJ” and it was, it was in that scary spot, you know? So I was just thinking all the worst things, but luckily it ended up just being like some kind of soft tissue thing where my ulnar nerve used to be before they moved it back in 2021. So it ended up being something that could heal on its own. So that’s what it did this off season and I feel pretty good.

Nico: I feel like pitchers have this constant difficult decision to make where they do feel something — they feel soreness, they feel tightness, they feel something that’s kind of like pain or that reminds them of an injury that was serious. And then they have to decide, do I go out and throw anyway? Do I say something? What do I do? So can you kind of walk us through that experience as a pitcher trying to figure out like what to make of something?

Lopez: Yeah, I think once I went through the TJ process, I really learned what’s actual pain and what is something that you can kind of toughen out and push through. So for me personally, there’s probably only three or four starts last year where I felt 100%, probably June through July, my whole, I don’t know, I had some upper back problems that wouldn’t go away. And I think adrenaline helps take over, but in between starts, it’s like, “All right, what can we do every day in the training room and the strength room to really figure it out and get back out there in five days?” So I think that’s the most important thing for the starting pitcher.

Nico: Now, that outing in Seattle, fans are watching, and you’ve had such a great year. And obviously, you’re having a rough outing. What are you feeling out on the mound? Do you think you should have gone out there?

Lopez: Yeah, there is no doubt. If you tell the coaches you’re good, you’ve got to be fully confident. And it’s one of those things like, I can’t just stop in the middle of the first inning or something and leave the rest of my team out to dry. So no, when I’m out there I don’t think anything. I just believe in the full confidence and compete as best as I can.

Nico: There was a moment in Saturday’s start where you threw a pitch, you thought it was a strike. It was called a ball and you challenged and I saw you walk off to the back of the mound and the way that you got into it and you kind of let out a grunt I thought “Oh no he’s hurt,” you know, but it was all over a ball-strike call and it was a called third strike so it sounds to me like even in a spring training game the competitive juices are really flowing.

Lopez: Oh, no, I mean, yeah I’m just a really competitive guy. I mean, when I was younger, I was way more emotional, so hopefully it doesn’t show too much. That Shea challenge nailed it for the strikeout, so that was huge. I think it’s kind of fun. I loved it in AAA, the ABS, so it just helps keep the game smooth. But yeah, I’m an emotional guy, so I try to be as professional as I can out there. You know, my first live ABs this spring training, over at Fitch on the backfield felt the same as my MLB debut. So I guess that’s a good thing. I get a bunch of butterflies, so I just kind of learned how to control those.

Nico: So I guess the question that’s probably on every fan’s mind right now is how you’re feeling physically and where you are in terms of injury and health at this very moment going forward.

Lopez: Yeah, I just feel 100 % and I felt like that really the whole off season. So yeah, I feel really confident to help this team. We have some pretty high goals and we’re gonna do our best as a team to fulfill those goals.

Nico: Now, you have an unusual motion. You know, you have a very deceptive delivery. {Here Jacob starts looking antsy and keeps monitoring the field} Can you just talk about that and then I’ll let you go. How did you develop that?

Lopez: I just, that’s how I’ve always thrown. It was worse in college and stuff, then my pitching coach in college is really the first person to really help control that. But no, I haven’t really worked ever, even in pro ball with pitching coaches, too much with my mechanics. Which has been a good thing to be as natural as I can.

And with that Lopez, who was apparently due on the field with a pre-game group, exhaled and sprinted out to the infield even quicker than his best fastball.

Next up: Pitching coach Scott Emerson discusses the “kick change,” Jack Perkins’ role, and how he feels about Trainman (well, maybe only 2 of those 3)…

It was a tough night offensively for Team USA in Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic Championship game.

Going up against Venezuela, the high-powered USA lineup just did not show up in their 3-2 loss, and that includes Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

Judge, who was captain of this iteration of Team USA, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. However, it was not just Judge's results that were disappointing for Team USA, but the timing.

In the first, Judge struck out looking on a questionable third-strike call to end the inning. He struck out swinging in his second at-bat with the bases empty and Team USA down 1-0. 

Judge's third at-bat saw the two-time AL MVP come up as the tying run. Team USA was down 2-0 and they had a runner on first base with two outs. Judge grounded out to third base to end the inning. 

"Surprised because of the names on the back," Team USA manager Mark DeRosa answered when asked if he was surprised by his team's lack of offense. "Not surprised because where they’re at at spring training... That’s my answer. I don’t really have a rhyme or reason as to why. You’re either hot or not in a seven-game blast like this."

“They made their pitches, worked the corners on both sides. When we did get a pitch we either popped it up or hit it on the ground. Stuff like that can’t happen," Judge said. "When you get a pitch to hit, you have to be able to drive. Even if you get one pitch in a game, you got to do something with it. They executed their pitches and their gameplan. And we just couldn’t get rolling offensively."

Aaron Judge on facing Venezuela:

"When we did get a pitch we either popped it up or hit it on the ground. Stuff like that can't happen. When you get a pitch to hit, you gotta be able to drive it" pic.twitter.com/7CDVFKoEzJ

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 18, 2026

Judge wasn't the only superstar who had a bad offensive night. Venezuela starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed just two baserunners (one hit and one walk) in his 4.1 innings pitched, and Team USA never had a runner get into scoring position once. Even when Bryce Harper tied the game in the eighth with a two-run bomb, it was with a runner on first base.

After the homer, Judge came up for his fourth at-bat as the potential go-ahead run. Judge was called out on strikes to end the eighth, in what would be his final AB.

"Pitching wins championships," Harper said of the lack of offense. "Roddy threw the ball great tonight, kept everyone off balance. I was happy when they took him out of the game…sometimes that’s going to happen, that’s part of the game, that’s part of baseball. Pitching wins, they had timely hitting tonight and they made things happen."

In total, Team USA had three hits and Harper had two of them. The other came from Brice Turang in the third inning.

Three of Team USA's top four batters (Bobby Witt Jr., Judge and Kyle Schwarber) combined to go 0-for-10 with two walks and six strikeouts. DeRosa credited Venezuela's pitching for keeping Team USA's bats at bay, but the manager said his team's lack of baserunners just allowed Venezuela to keep the momentum for most of the game.

"We didn’t put any pressure on them offensively," DeRosa said of the game. "There was a passed ball there early, they got a sac fly, grabbed the lead and keep the fans involved. It wasn’t a mistake on our end. We just never put any pressure on them."

The Mariners played their first split-squad game of the spring this season now that they finally have enough players back from the WBC and split the games, losing at home against the Padres and winning on the road against the Rockies.

Home game: San Diego 9, Mariners 6

It wasn’t as bad as the 27-6 blowout from the other week but San Diego’s offense once again ran roughshod over the Mariners pitching. The Rad Dads dinged Luis Castillo for two solo homers and a boatload of hard contact – although he only surrendered runs on the two solo shots. The rest of the pitchers didn’t fare well, either: Andrés Muñoz gave up a solo homer to new Padre Nick Castellanos [scans headlines urgently] plus another run; Gunner Mayer, a pitcher I hadn’t heard of before today, gave up two homers and three runs in just a third of an inning; and José Ferrer, despite striking out the side, also gave up a two-run homer to the Padres’ second-string catcher. The best pitching performance of the day was turned in by Casey Legumina, who pitched two perfect innings behind Castillo.

The Mariners offense made a steady effort, holding a slender 4-2 lead through the sixth thanks to Legumina’s effort, with the runs coming on this Luke Raley opposite field shot:

Perfect day for an oppo taco 🌮 pic.twitter.com/fs7Qr0zKvQ

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 17, 2026

And this Colt Emerson homer, his second of the spring:

Colt puts one on the berm 🚀 pic.twitter.com/kMVkywg8NY

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 17, 2026

Emerson was also involved in the Mariners’ go-ahead score in the fifth; he made a gutsy challenge on a called strike three and instead got it called a ball for a walk. Luis Suisbel then doubled, and Brendan Donovan sacrificed him home to give the Mariners the go-ahead run.

Another young player helped the Mariners pad their lead in the sixth, with Cole Young continuing his strong spring with an RBI single scoring Luke Raley, who had singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.

San Diego opened up the scoring after that, beating up on the Mariners bullpen, but the young kids did claw back another pair of runs late, with Felnin Celesten coming through with a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh and Austin St. Laurent adding one last run in the ninth on an RBI single scoring Colt Emerson, who had doubled for his second hit of the day in a nine-inning effort.

Away Game: Mariners 10, Rockies 6

Cooper Criswell turned in a solid effort, albeit with some loud contact: a 114 mph EV single in the first, and back-to-back 100 mph+ EV doubles in the second that led to two runs for Colorado, tying the game after the Mariners had struck first. He wasn’t especially efficient, needing 61 pitches to clear his three innings of work and giving up five hits, but he also struck out five, working out of jams by enscorcelling the Rockies with a beautiful changeup and a devilish cutter. The loud contact is worrisome, but Criswell has enough craft in his arsenal to be able to survive a lineup at least once through.

Meanwhile, the Mariners “B” offense went to work on the Rockies tandem of Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander, who are fighting it out for the fifth rotation spot like George Kirby and Matt Brash back in 2022, but like, badly. The Mariners hitters tagged Feltner for three runs over 3.1 innings, taking advantage of some poor command – four walks – and then beat up on Dollander for another five runs over 3.2 innings, again taking advantage of three walks, although Dollander struck out four. The big blows came off Dollander in the sixth, who gave up three doubles in a row to Rhylan Thomas, Connor Joe, and Carson Taylor, giving the Mariners an 8-5 lead

The Mariners got another pair of runs in the top of the ninth on a homer by prospect Colin Davis, scoring J.T. Arruda, who I am embarrassed to say I’ve never heard of before today. So we’re at that point of spring training. That would give the Mariners a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish, securing a split in today’s split-squad action.