NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hader has missed most of Spring Training with biceps tendinitis.
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader will begin the season on IL, according to a report by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Hader, who missed the last 2 months on the 2025 season with a shoulder capsule strain, experienced biceps tendinitis while rehabbing and was shut down. Yesterday, he threw his first bullpen session in weeks, as we detailed here:
Hader reportedly threw 15 fastballs, getting as high as 87 MPH before being instructed to back it down. Hader’s normal fastball velocity last season was 95.5 MPH per Statcast.
With Hader missing the start of the season, Bryan Abreu will be the interim closer. Bryan King, Bennett Sousa and Steven Okert are all expected to have roles in the pen.
With 3 spots in the pen open, the Astros will likely choose from among AJ Blubaugh, Ryan Weiss, Kei-Wei Teng, Rule 5 pick Roddery Munoz, Peter Lambert and Christian Roa to fill those 3 spots.
According to McTaggart’s report, the capsule has not been an issue for Hader while rehabbing.
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 09: Braves pitcher Spencer Strider during the Saturday afternoon Spring Training baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles on March 9, 2024 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hmm… looks like we’re having some backend CMS difficulties. Oh well, no one wanted to read my rambling about stuff anyway.
Kyle Teel lies on second base after his sixth-inning double turned into a right hamstring strain during World Baseball Classic play. | (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel left Tuesday night’s World Baseball Classic tilt between Team Italy and Team USA after suffering right hamstring discomfort while running the bases.
White Sox and Team Italy catcher Kyle Teel is leaving with an injury. You could see him in pain just after he rounded first base pic.twitter.com/wOXUqINGgA
Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli confirmed the injury as a right hamstring strain and that the team will replace Teel on the roster with Andres Annunziata.
Teel was cooking before injury struck. The 24-year-old launched a solo homer in the second, then ripped a double to right in the sixth. But rounding first on that two-bagger, the hamstring barked. Teel slid in, safe but furious, and that was it. Cervelli immediately removed him from the game for a pinch runner. Before exiting, Teel finished the game 2-for-2 with the home run and double as Italy built a large early lead on its way to an 8–6 stunning victory over Team USA in pool play.
The Chicago White Sox have not yet officially announced the severity of the injury, and his status for the start of the season remains unclear. Teel did seem to be in good spirits after the game, so that’s promising.
Unfortunately, soft-tissue issues have become an all-too-familiar storyline for the White Sox in recent years. Hamstrings, obliques, calves — if it can strain, pull, or tighten, it seems to have found its way onto the South Side injury report at some point over the past several seasons. Whether it’s bad luck, conditioning questions, or just the randomness of baseball injuries, the Sox have rarely enjoyed a clean bill of health for long.
Any extended absence for Teel could have ripple effects for Chicago behind the plate, where catcher Edgar Quero would likely see increased opportunities if Teel misses time. Korey Lee is also suddenly a lock to make the roster. Seems like the strategy of stacking as many quality catchers as possible is working out. Looks smart right now. Ask again in a month.
For now, all White Sox fans can do is wait and hope the hamstring gods show mercy.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros at CACTI Park on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Pensiero/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Houston Astros (6-8-3) travel to Jupiter, FL to take on the Miami Marlins (6-9-1).
RHP Tatsuya Imai will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Max Meyer for the Marlins.
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP Tatsuya Imai is set to make his third start of the Grapefruit League. In his last start on March 5 at MIA, he allowed one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
In January, the Astros signed free agent Imai to a three-year deal. In 2025, he was an All-Star for the Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB), where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games. Among qualified pitchers, Imai posted the lowest WHIP (0.89) in the Pacific League, while ranking second with 178 strikeouts in his 163.2 innings pitched.
Imai has been an NPB All-Star three times in his career (2021, 2024, 2025) that has spanned parts of eight seasons (2018-25). He went 58-45 overall with a 3.15 ERA in 159 games in the NPB.
TODAY’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: RHP Spencer Arrighetti, RHP Anthony Maldonado, LHP Steven Okert and RHP Christian Roa.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, March 11, 12:10 p.m. CST
Location: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter, FL.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 19: Fans watch the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees from the The Battery at Truist Park on July 19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the Atlanta Braves is at 1:05 at CoolToday Park and the Braves will be providing TV and radio coverage.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in action today with a game where they will take on the Baltimore Orioles in Spring Training.
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 13: Phil Maton #88 of the Texas Rangers reacts after allowing a solo home run to James McCann of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on August 13, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at reliever Phil Maton.
The life of a useful but not great major league reliever is a life where you don’t put down roots. You’re a vagabond, going from city to city, rarely staying in any one place for very long.
Take Phil Maton, for example. He first appeared in the majors in 2017. He’s made at least 30 major league appearances every year since his debut, other than in 2020, when he appeared in just 23 games, for obvious reasons. He has appeared in at least 63 games in each of the past five seasons.
Per B-R, Maton has accumulated eight years and 47 days of major league service time. In accumulating those 8-plus years of service time, he has played for seven teams. Barring something unforeseen, he will chalk up a major league appearance for his eighth team — the Chicago Cubs, who signed him to a two year plus option deal this offseason — in roughly two-plus weeks.
He was traded by the San Diego Padres, where he started his career, and for whom he pitched for two-plus seasons, to Cleveland in 2019 for international bonus slot money. He was traded two years later in a deadline deal to the Astros, along with Yainer Diaz, for Myles Straw.
That had to have hurt, having a team not just trade you for Myles Straw, but have to include another player in the deal because you aren’t, on your own, good enough to be traded straight up for Myles Straw.
Maton was purchased in July, 2024, from the Rays by the Mets, which is probably worse than being traded for international slot money or as part of the acquisition price for Myles Straw, since it was an instance of a team just wanting another club to take him off their hands.
And of course, Maton was traded again at the deadline in 2025, to Texas. Texas gave up Skylar Hales, Mason Molina and international bonus slot money for him, and I’m wondering if he’s the first player to be traded twice in deals for international bonus slot money.
Maton had pitched well for the Cardinals, and the package the Rangers gave up was fairly light. Neither Hales nor Molina are currently listed among the Cardinals’ top 30 prospects per BA. Hales is a reliever who got hammered while pitching for Frisco and Round Rock before being traded, and then got hammered while pitching for Memphis post-trade. Molina is a pitchability lefty starter in A ball who the Rangers got for Grant Anderson the previous winter. Neither is likely to do anything of note in the majors.
In his first five games for the Rangers post-trade, Maton allowed one run in five innings over five outings. In his final 16 outings, he allowed three runs over 15.2 innings over 16 appearances. That’s very good!
The two appearances Maton made between those stretches, however, are probably what Rangers fans will end up remembering him for, as they involved him taking the “L” in two of the most gut-wrenching, stomach-punching, devastating losses the Rangers experienced all year.
You remember that game. Phil Maton had an immaculate inning with an asterisk, striking out the final batter of the eighth inning on three pitches, and then striking out the first two batters he faced in the ninth on six pitches. With the Rangers up 4-2, the Shed rocking, Rangers fans thought that Pat Green’s voice was imminent.
Instead, James McCann, of all people homered. And then Blaze Alexander was hit by a pitch, and Geraldo Perdomo walked on four pitches, and then Ketel Marte, for the second day in a row, hit a ninth inning game winning homer.
I am feeling nauseous even now, thinking about that, remembering it.
Two days later, in Toronto, with Texas up 5-2 in the eighth, Danny Coulombe gave up three singles without retiring anyone, resulting in Maton being summoned to put out the fire. Like Billy Joel, Maton didn’t start the fire. Unfortunately, he didn’t put it out, either. A walk and a K was followed by a bases loaded walk, and then Alejandro Kirk singled in a pair of runs. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the top of the ninth on 11 pitches, and that was that.
Phil Maton, overall, pitched pretty well for the Rangers in 2025. Texas got a 3.52 ERA and 2.70 FIP out of him in 23 appearances. For what they gave up, you’ll take that all day, every day.
Unfortunately, his time with the Rangers was ultimately defined by the two awful losses in the midst of an awful stretch in August.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 08: J.J. D.'orazio #28 of Team Italy celebrates his solo home run with teammate Vinnie Pasquantino #9 in the third inning against Team Great Britain during a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game at Daikin Park on March 08, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 World Baseball Classic has been great viewing for my baseball-deprived soul. I really struggle to pay attention to or care about Spring Training games, unless there is a pitcher’s velocity drop to freak out about. Mix that same baseball with a dose of patriotism and nationalism, however, and I’m all the way back in.
The teams and players don’t look like they are in midseason form yet, but the creativity around home run celebrations is in peak form. I love the Great Britain celebration, honoring the Buckingham Palace Guard:
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino shoulders a large responsibility in this celebration; he uses the Nespresso machine to make the espresso shot and gives Milwaukee Brewers prospect Andrew Fischer an il bacetto. Royals fans saw the il bacettolast season between Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, who are both playing for Team Italy.
Both of these home run celebrations made me wish that the Royals had a more thematic home run celebration. The Gladiator Mask has been around since 2023, and it’s fine. I look at the Seattle Mariners and their home run trident, however, and think that there is room for improvement.
What I like about the Buckingham Palace, espresso, and trident celebrations is that they are thematically linked to their respective teams and the places those teams represent. I think there’s enough material around the Royals and Kansas City that we can find something that feels more appropriate to this specific team. In no particular order, these are the best home run celebrations I could come up with:
If you want to use headgear, the Royals should at least use a crown instead of a gladiator mask. I think a giant crown would work best; the more obnoxious the crown, the better.
Upon returning to the dugout after a mighty blast, the hitter needs to eat a barbecue rib. Joe’s KC is already at Kauffman Stadium, so I assume a partnership can be worked out. The rib needs to be dripping in sauce, to the point that some of the players have barbecue sauce stains on their jersey for the rest of the game.
In honor of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, hitters come back to the dugout, grab a badminton racket, and smash a shuttlecock. Like the crown celebration, the larger the shuttlecock, the better.
All the people in the dugout line up on opposite sides of the dugout; some against the railing and some against the bench. The returning home-run hitter then drag races down the middle of the dugout like it’s Southwest Boulevard. The prop could be a remote control car or a child’s push-around car that they direct down the middle.
The team can channel their inner Charlie Parker and blast some notes from a saxophone after they blast a dong. Bonus points if any of the hitters can actually play a tune.
I was trying to incorporate fountains into one of the celebrations, but I think the Salvy Splash has the team covered there. These are the best five ideas that I could come up with, but I trust in the wisdom of the crowds here and assume the commenters will come up with something better. What do you think would be a great Royals home run celebration? Let us know in the comments!
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Matt Thaiss #25 of the Boston Red Sox takes batting practice during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What’s been the story of Spring Training so far? If we’re talking big picture stuff, then it’s probably either the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation or the questions about Marcelo Mayer’s role on the team. But if we’re talking strictly about on-field matters, then I think the answer is Braiden Ward, who has stolen 16 bases in 15 Grapefruit League games. Not only do those 16 steals lead all of baseball this spring, but they are 10 more than the players in second. But while Ward’s been fun to watch, his profile just doesn’t really fit the team’s needs right now, which is why he’s looking like someone who could be a big fan-favorite in Worcester this year. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
There may be an emerging storyline that many didn’t see coming: a battle for the backup catcher spot. Alex Cora has had some nice things to say about Matt Thaiss, and it’s recently been reported that Thaiss has an upward mobility clause in his contract that kicks in before Opening Day. That means that, if the Red Sox do not put him on the MLB roster and another team does want him for their big league team, he’ll be free to leave. Meanwhile, Connor Wong has an option remaining and can be sent to Worcester. (Darragh McDonald, MLB Trade Rumors)
The battle for the backup catcher spot will obviously have a significant impact on the pitching staff. For now, though, the Sox’ pitchers are mostly focused on their own development. Case in point: Sonny Gray, who is focused on repeating his delivery and getting the right spin on the ball. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Greg Weissert’s probably already pretty happy with how his stuff is looking. He struck out Aaron Judge last night to conclude one of the most significant upsets in World Baseball Classic history:
As for that fifth spot in the rotation, it looks like we can remove Patrick Sandoval’s name from contention for now. The Red Sox are slowing him down for a “deload week.” He now may not even make a start this spring, and he doesn’t sound too happy about it: “I’ve been going pretty hard out here since the beginning of January. I’m not the biggest fan of this deload, but it’s what they prescribe and what they think will be good for me in the long run. I’ve trusted them so far, so I’m going to keep trusting them.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Dominic Canzone #8 of the Italy runs to first base in the first inning against Brazil during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Brazil and Italy at Daikin Park on March 07, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m putting the open thread up today, because the Jays don’t play until the evening and there is nothing pressing as far as Jays news. I have a couple of things I want to write about, but they will take awhile.
Jose Berrios wanted to play for Puerto Rico but can’t because of insurance issues. It seems funny that a guy making $19 million this year, won’t be playing because of insurance issues. But then it isn’t health insurance, it is insurance for his contract. If he were to get hurt and miss this season, the insurance would be needed to cover his contract. I can understand insurance companies not wanting to be on the hook for the, roughly $70 million left on his contract. Especially with him missing time last year with an elbow issue.
The WBC is a bit of a tough sell for MLB teams. If something bad was to happen to the top player from the Yankees or Blue Jays or whoever, you know that it will be harder to get them to let players go to it in the future. But it is fun to watch the baseball (especially the big upsets). I wonder how much a $100 bet on Italy would have paid? Likely not as much as I think, because a number of people will bet on the long shot.
Anyway, as always, use the thread to talk about whatever you are interested in (within site rules). I’m all for religion and politics, as much as I like people swinging their arms, but just not in my face. I do have a personal rule, I’ve hit that age where I’m sometimes sitting with groups of men around my age, having coffee and I’ve said I’m happy to sit and chat but when politics become the subject I get up and leave. I’m not going to change a mind, and they aren’t going to change my mind, so let’s not do it.
Though, strangely enough for a devote atheist, I’ve been having pretty deep conversations with friends about religion lately. As long as they understand they aren’t going to convert me, I’m ok with it all.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - AUGUST 06: Sebastian Walcott #1 of the Frisco Rough Riders looks onward from the dugout during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Braeden Botts/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Baseball America: 24th in organizational rankings, 2 Top-100 prospects: SS Sebastian Walcott, 16th, RHP Caden Scarborough, 65th
Baseball Prospectus: 28th, 1 Top-101 prospect: SS Sebastian Walcott, 11th (70 OFP)
FanGraphs: Org rank ended 2025 ~21st, 5 Top-100 prospects: SS Sebastian Walcott, 30th (55 FV), SS Yolfran Castillo, 70th (50 FV), RHP Caden Scarborough, 71st (50 FV), RHP David Davalillo, 89th (50 FV), RHP Winston Santos, 103rd (50 FV)
MLB Pipeline: 25th, 1 Top-100 prospect: SS Sebastian Walcott, 7th (ETA 2027)
What with the mess in Texas? If you’ve read the first two installments in this series, you’ll know the Rangers are the culprits of their own success in some ways that escape traditional prospect rankings. Baseball Prospectus has SS/2B Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers at No. 2, OF Max Clark also of Detroit at No. 6, SS Aidan Miller of the Phillies at No. 13, and Seattle’s own SS Colt Emerson at No. 15. What do they all have in common? They’re 2023 draftees, who’d be joined or surpassed by OF Wyatt Langford in all likelihood if the 23 year old hadn’t rocketed to the bigs and spent his healthy time in Arlington for the past three years.
Not everything can be accredited to the promotions of players like Langford, OF Evan Carter, INF Ezequiel Duran, RHPs Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, and OF Alejandro Osuna, though. Texas dealt away their 2025 first round pick, INF Gavin Fein, and others to bring in LHP MacKenzie Gore and shore up the big league club. Their 2024 selection, last in the round following their World Series championship in 2023, was C Malcolm Moore, has yet to hit in pro ball after a strong Pac-12 career. Rocker and Leiter were the club’s top picks in ‘22 and ‘21, and while both are early enough into their big league tenure to imagine breakouts, they’ve underachieved the 3rd and 2nd pick billing they received respectively. Rounding out the 2020s, data darling 2B Justin Foscue rocketed up draft boards late in the increasingly infamous 2020 draft, but is on the fringes of Texas’ 26-man and now 27 years old with a lost 2025 that’s still looming, with a hamstring strain likely to delay the start of his season. SS Yolfran Castillo is the latest in a series of high-upside, tools first, everything else later prospects in the Rangers’ system and it’s fair to be skeptical of that developmental group, given the hiccups seen with Carter, Josh Jung, and Leody Taveras who’ve flashed promise more than sustained it.
In their system now are a wave of pitchers with promise and an absolute smorgasbord of injury/durability issues and question marks. But the most promising – and frightening from a Mariners perspective – prospect suffered an injury this offseason that will at least delay, if not fully waylay, his 2026.
Player
Age
Position
Highest Level
ESPN
FanGraphs
Baseball America
Baseball Prospectus
The Athletic
MLB Pipeline
Sebastian Walcott
20
SS
AA
5
30
16
11
16
7
Yolfran Castillo
19
SS
A
70
Caden Scarborough
21
RHP
High-A
99
71
65
David Davalillo
23
RHP
AA
89
The Wall Got Caught
Like the Athletics a week ago, the system’s heft rests heavily on one elite middle infield prospect. SS Sebastian Walcott, who will turn 20 this March, is a Bahamian wunderkind whose potential has surpassed his countryman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to be the most hyped player in the history of the Commonwealth. His torn UCL this winter required surgery for an internal brace, which he’s already undergone, and the club suggested it’s possible Walcott returns to play in August or September of this year.
The expectations are understandable – Walcott is a big young man with titanic raw power and arm strength, along with the ample athleticism needed to cover the left side of the infield and maturity to be challenged with a Double-A Frisco assignment at just age 19. While Walcott didn’t star there, he hit competitively, and looked more than adroit in every area of his game.
As with Leo De Vries in Sacramento, there’s a year or two until Walcott is likely to impact Seattle most prominently. But Walcott should see his debut come as Corey Seager makes a more pronounced shift off shortstop, allowing the slugging lefty to focus on his offense. Walcott’s not a lock for short, but his arm is strong enough to be a standout third baseman as well. Walcott’s length and fluidity is impressive, but he does look at times more like Oneil Cruz than Elly De La Cruz at short. Still, combine a left side infielder with 30-30 potential at the dish and that’s as good as anyone in baseball. The Rangers of 2027 and beyond are likely to go as this young man does.
The Heat
Depending on your trusted prognosticators, there may be no other Rangers prospects in the Top-100, or a handful of arms. Much of that stems from your relative taste for some edge-case arms. Scarborough looks the part in many ways that Ryan Sloan does, with a huge frame and deceptive delivery that augments multiple impressive secondaries. The 6’5 righty was a prep signee in the sixth round of the 2023 draft who utterly dominated both Single-A levels. The Sloan mention is physical in part, but ties mostly into the question mark for a 21 year old hurler who completed six innings just once in 2025 and made it through five only four times. While his velocity sits more 93-96, he’s the arm to watch as an ascendant possible top-tier arm for Texas.
Beyond him are a bevy of hurlers with promise and injury troubles. RHP Emiliano Teodo missed much of the 2025 season with injury, but has electric stuff that could charge up a big league bullpen late in 2026 or early in 2027. Also in the mix are RHPs David Davalillo and Winston Santos, both of whom were mere five-figure signing bonus players who’ve crept up the system through diligent improvement. Santos hits upper-90s heat but hasn’t quite figured out a great pairing, making his strikeout numbers in the minors slightly suspect, and dealt with back and hand injuries in 2025 and this spring, respectively.
Davalillo, by contrast, may be convenient for those of you used to watching a Texas pitcher with alliterative Ds for his name play a swingman or back-of-rotation role with plus command and a kitchen sink approach. Dane Dunning, we’ll never forget you, especially if you’re in Tacoma this year. The electrick Izack Tiger is yet another RHP with high-level stuff who is still experiencing delays from his UCL tear, likely to pitch at 25 this year but without innings above High-A. There are a handful more players of this sort in the Texas system than Seattle’s, big stuff, big tools, but track record paucity. It is high-variance, but currently at its low ebb.
Ignorant of Ignorance
The issue with this system is a dearth of depth. The big league roster, were Rocker and Leiter to both deliver on their promise and all else stay equal, would be potent. But a bevy of moderate disappointments once folks have entered this system has left the club shallow, from OF Aaron Zavala (38th pick in 2021) still yet to debut and lacking much sheen, with little in the outfield behind him, while his draftmate UTIL Cameron Cauley (73rd in 2021) swings and misses a lot for someone with his skillset, capping the potential of his blazing speed.
But where this issue shows up most potently is behind the plate.
I mentioned Moore in the introduction, and it bears repeating: the Rangers’ 2024 first round pick is not considered a top-10 prospect in the system, and the system is not well regarded. BP has Moore 15th, BA 13th, and MLBP 18th. When FanGraphs publishes their updated rankings, it’s likely Moore falls similarly, and it is not clear another big league catcher exists in this system even with a heavy squint. Athletic backstop Ian Moller was a fourth rounder in 2021, but has not been able to match the Harry Ford sweet spot in the slightest as a pro. A few rounds later, Texas took C Liam Hicks as well, who’d have helped arrest the cliff dive Jonah Heim took the past two years before departing in free agency, had he not been dealt to Detroit for Carson Kelly. Now in Miami’s backstop rotation, Hicks is one of just four backstops drafted in the 21st century by Texas to both make the big leagues and accrue positive WAR (1.3, second only to Jose Trevino, who also accrued it playing somewhere other than Texas).
That’s all fine if you’re identifying solid contributors like Heim, Robinson Chirinos, or Mike Napoli in trades and on waivers, or going for high-outcome free agents like Danny Jansen or AJ Pierzynski. But the Rangers are not seeming to find their next Pudge Rodríguez, through the draft as the Hall of Fame Puerto Rican would’ve been found if he’d come up a few years later, or elsewhere. That’s the biggest hole in a Texas system that often is so focused on upside, it’s missing anyone who could take a squat. -JT
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Team Italy reacts to the win following a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Italy and the United States at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wow. What an evening in the World Baseball Classic. All of a sudden, Team USA is in real danger of not making it out of pool play for the first time ever.
Puerto Rico had already qualified for the quarterfinals, but Canada can now knock them out of the top seed after they beat Puerto Rico 3-2.
Former Twins reliever Jordan Balazovic started for Team Canada and got off to a rocky start. After he walked the first two batters, Nolan Arenado singled home the first run of the game [VIDEO] before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first.
As you can see from that play, Canadian center fielder Denzel Clarke threw out Heliot Ramos trying to go from first to third on the play.
The score stayed 1-0 until the top of the third when Puerto Rico starter José De León couldn’t throw a strike. After recording the first two outs of the inning without issue, De León gave up singles to Clarke and Edouard Julien. Then De León hit Josh Naylor to load the bases and walked the next two batters, Tyler O’Neill and Tyler Black, to force in two runs and give Canada a 2-1 lead.
Puerto Rico got to within 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Arenado scored on a Martin Maldonado ground out.
After that, the bullpens for Team Canada and Team Puerto Rico traded zeros the rest of the way. Canadian Brock Dykxhoorn, who has pitched the last six years professionally in Taiwan, retired the last nine Puerto Rico batters of the game in order to record the save. He also helped himself out with this defensive gem. [VIDEO]
Canada plays Cuba today at 2 p.m. CT. Should Canada win, they will win the group with a 3-1 record and be a one-seed going into the quarter finals. Should Cuba win, Cuba will be the two-seed, Puerto Rico will be the one-seed and Canada will go home.
Italy stunned Team USA by jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the sixth inning and surviving a furious comeback to win 8-6.
Mets pitcher Nolan McLean got the start in this one and he looked more like someone who has only 48 innings in the majors rather than a guy with 57 strikeouts in those 48 innings and a 2.06 career ERA. After striking out the Italy side in order in the first, Kyle Teel hit a solo home run off of him to put Italy up early. [VIDEO]
Former Cub Brad Keller came on to pitch in the sixth inning with a man on second and one out. After walking Caglione, Keller looked to be out of trouble with a tailor-made double play on a grounder back to the mound. Except Keller made a bad throw to second base. [VIDEO]
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong just missed a solo home run early in the game when the ball curved foul down the right field line. But PCA was not to be denied in the seventh inning, sending the ball 402 feet with two men on [VIDEO]
All of a sudden, it seemed possible that Team USA would pull this one out, especially after Bobby Witt Jr. singled after PCA’s second home run.
But Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert struck out Henderson and Aaron Judge to end the game.
Team USA finishes pool play at 3-1 and could miss going on to the quarterfinals if Mexico beats Italy tomorrow at 6 p.m. CT. Here are the scenarios as they stand now.
If Italy wins, they win the group and Team USA advances as the second seed.
Should Mexico win, there will be a three-way tie for two places at 3-1. Because each team would be 1-1 against the other two, the decision goes to fewest runs allowed divided by outs recorded. So basically, the two teams that allowed the fewest runs over their two games with the other teams advance.
Team USA has allowed 11 runs.
Italy has allowed 6 runs and still has Mexico to play
Mexico has allowed 5 runs and still has Italy to play.
So if Italy wins OR if Mexico wins and scores five or more runs, then Team USA will mostly likely advance. A tie will most likely go to Team USA because the third tiebreaker is earned runs allowed divided by outs recorded and three of the runs today were unearned. However, if the game goes to extra innings tied 4-4, then Mexico and Italy would advance on a 5-4 Mexico win, which is quite possible since Mexico is the home team.
Pool C (Tokyo):
It’s all over in Tokyo as Japan and Korea advance to the elimination rounds. But I wanted to show the standing ovation that the fans at the Tokyo Dome gave Czechia pitcher Ondrej Satoria, a full-time electrician and part-time baseball player who pitched 4.2 scoreless innings and struck out three against Japan yesterday morning.
Satoria has been a bit of a legend in Japan since he struck out Shohei Ohtani with his 78 mile per hour fastball back in the 2023 WBC. He’s retiring from baseball after this game. It’s moments like this that make the WBC special.
Israel scored five runs in the sixth inning and held the Netherlands to three hits en route to a 6-2 win.
The Netherlands took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off of Team Israel starter and Tigers minor leaguer Carlos Lequerica. Druw Jones walked, Ceddanne Rafaela singled him to third and Jones scored on this fielder’s choice by Xander Bogaerts. [VIDEO] As you can see, Israel tried to get two outs on the grounder and ended up getting none.
There was a cool moment in this game next as 38-year-old Shairon Martis threw 3.1 innings, allowed no runs and one hit. He struck out two and walked no one. [VIDEO]
Why is that such a cool moment? Because exactly twenty years ago to the day in the very first WBC, Martis threw a seven-inning no-hitter for Team Netherlands. It was a nice bookend to his WBC career.
But once Martis left the game, Team Israel went to town on Rays reliever Kevin Kelly, scoring five runs in the top of the sixth. Blue Jays minor leaguer RJ Schreck tied the game with an RBI single. [VIDEO]
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14, 2025: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals pitches during the fourth inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on September 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Nationals beat the Pirates, 4-3. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
This morning, the Washington Nationals officially announced that Cade Cavalli will be their Opening Day starter on March 26th. If you have been following the team, this is not much of a surprise. However, it is still a cool moment for Cavalli, who will be making just his 12th career start.
It is rare to see a pitcher that inexperienced take the ball on Opening Day, but it is fitting for the Nats. The team is entering a new era, which Cavalli should be a big part of. He was always the favorite to take the ball on Opening Day after the MacKenzie Gore trade, but Cavalli’s performances this spring have solidified things.
Cavalli has the best stuff on the team, with an upper 90’s fastball and a filthy curveball headlining his arsenal. He also added a sweeper this offseason to fix his issues against right handed hitters. In his two starts this spring, Cavalli has looked electric and worthy of an Opening Day start.
He is my favorite breakout pick on the team because of his nasty stuff and bulldog mentality. Cavalli was one of the best pitching prospects in baseball a few years ago before Tommy John Surgery changed everything. His recovery from the surgery was slow and he was out for basically two years. However, he re-established himself last year and now the 27 year old is ready to truly break out.
This is super cool. Cade Cavalli, after working back from a lengthy Tommy John surgery rehab, will start for the Nats at Wrigley Field on Opening Day.
An insanely hard worker, a great dude, and a guy possessing nasty stuff. Cade gets the ball in Game One. https://t.co/EW9kythhgm
As the spring has progressed, I have become more optimistic about the Nats rotation. Outside of Cavalli, there is not anyone with huge upside, but there are a lot of dependable arms. That is especially true after the recent addition of Zack Littell. The pitching staff was a major weakness last year, but I anticipate a turnaround and hopefully the results can look more like they did in 2024.
For Cavalli, this is a big moment in his career. He is now the ace of this staff, despite only making 12 starts. Cavalli was clearly fired up by the opportunity to take the ball on Opening Day. The Nats shared a video of Blake Butera telling Cavalli he was getting the ball to start the season, and it was a cool moment.
Cade Cavalli has all the ingredients to be a high level starting pitcher, but he needs to put it all together. I think this could be the year where he does that. With a new pitching apparatus, Cavalli will have a good chance to make the most of his elite tools. I also believe he will enjoy the challenge of being a front of the rotation arm. He seems like a real competitor, and I think he will love the challenge of being an ace.
Hopefully the Nats are not in a spot where they are starting a guy with just 11 career big league outings on Opening Day moving forward, but I think Cavalli is ready for this challenge. He has gone through so much adversity over the past few years, but now he is healthy and ready to roll.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 27: A view of an Apple TV microphone during the ninth inning between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Apple TV on Wednesday announced its schedule of ‘Friday Night Baseball’ games for the first half of the 2026 season, through the end of June. Included are three Dodgers games, two at Dodger Stadium and all in California.
The Dodgers’ first game on Apple TV in 2026 comes April 24 against the Chicago Cubs at home. The Saturday game of that weekend series is also exclusively on national television, on Fox.
Other Dodgers games on Apple TV in the first half of the season are May 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies at home, and June 26 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego.
The broadcast teams for Apple TV’s slate of Friday games include Wayne Randazzo, Alex Faust, and Rich Waltz on play-by-play, Dontrelle Willis and Ryan Spilborghs as analysts, plus Heidi Watney and Tricia Whitaker as field reporters.
Willis has called games for Apple TV since 2023, in addition to his broadcast role for the Dodgers. In addition to his role as studio analyst on SportsNet LA, Willis in 2026 will also call some Dodgers games on the network, as he did in 2022-23.
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Spring Training progresses for the 2026 Atlanta Braves, it is becoming clearer by the day that for Atlanta to once again be a true contender, their offense must be among the best in the league. And while the likely loss of Jurickson Profar for the season is a setback, nearly every other offensive regular has been highly productive over the past few weeks.
Among the top performers are Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, and Mike Yastrzemski, i.e., the projected starting outfield. On paper, this group has the potential to be one of the better outfields in the game, especially offensively. However, due to the loss of Profar, they are also one big injury away from having to shuffle their way through “next man up” options with the hope something works (which has been a less than ideal strategy from the past two years.) Ideally, both availability and playing to the best of their abilities will be defining characteristics of the 2026 Braves outfield.
Right Field
Perhaps the easiest truth about the Braves is that a healthy Ronald Acuña Jr. is the biggest singular factor in them returning to contention. If you need any proof of why that is, simply watch the highlight reel of Acuña from Monday night’s Venezuela vs Nicaragua World Baseball Classic game. You also can relive how electric Acuña was at the plate upon immediately returning from a second ACL tear.
Acuña is healthy, locked in, and having fun — that version of Acuña is one the five best singular sources of offensive production in baseball. This is likely a big reason as to why Acuña will once again be leading off for the Braves in 2026.
Most 2026 projections agree with this sentiment, as Acuña is routinely among the top five position players in baseball in terms of wRC+. The average of all the projections at Fangraphs have Acuña right at 150 wRC+. While that is certainly encouraging, nearly every projection source also points to a bit of regression in terms of Acuña’s power and speed compared to the pre-second knee surgery version of himself. Acuña posted a .228 ISO in 2025, and is projected to produce a similar power output in 2026. Furthermore, nearly every projection source has him around 25 stolen bases, clearly indicating the sense that Acuña will run significantly less than he has in the past.
ZiPS itself is right in line with these predictions, suggesting 27 home runs, 24 steals, and a 156 wRC+ for Acuña this season. Perhaps the most eye-opening prediction from ZiPS is those numbers coming in just 119 games, which suggests Acuña could be viewed as having heightened injury risk compared to his peers. Without a doubt, if Acuña is healthy for a full season, there is a very, very good chance that he exceeds these offensive numbers. However, following multiple significant leg surgeries over past few years, a few injury scares have a chance to occur this season.
In the case that Acuña were to need a day off or be sidelined for a bit of time, Yastrzemski, Eli White, and Mauricio Dubon are all options to man right field. This is notable, because to keep Acuña fresh and improve the chances he remains healthy throughout the season, days off will likely be needed. Ensuring Acuña. is available for the full season and hopefully a playoff run should be a top priority for the Braves, because any time he is on the field, he has the ability so single-handedly deliver a victory for Atlanta.
Center Field
If the availability of Ronald Acuña Jr. is the biggest factor in the Braves returning the contention, the consistent ability of Michael Harris II to play to his potential may be the biggest X-factor. In the first half of 2025, Harris had the second-worst wRC+ (47) among qualified hitters. In the first six weeks of the second half of 2025, he had the seventh-best wRC+ (164) among qualified hitters. The true version of Harris is neither of these outcomes, which makes his whole self a bit of a mystery. However, the exciting thing is that the realistic version of Harris is some sort of middle ground from 2025, which easily is a 3-4 WAR player with clear All-Star potential.
Another way of putting this: Harris has been extremely streaky throughout his career, with the variance in outcomes getting larger by the year. Perhaps the biggest reason for the streakiness is his inability to take walks, which only got worse as the team actively tried to walk last year. For Harris II to gain more consistency, he must put together longer stretches of productive at bats, with a bit of an OBP floor.
Fortunately, early indications are that Harris focused on that exact part of his game in the offseason. While three walks in 21 PAs may not seem to be that significant, it certainly is a welcome improvement. Harris is also putting the ball in play with a 92.6 average exit velocity, an improvement of over 2 MPH compared to the past three years. Harris has obviously made some adjustments to get better and more consistent results, and the projections like his chances of doing just that.
While most of the projections see Harris still walking under five percent of the time, they do feel his quality of contact will return the levels of his first two seasons in the majors. Harris produced a .249 average, .160 ISO, and 83 wRC+ last year, which resulted in 2 fWAR. ZiPS has Harris at a .275 average, .179 ISO, 109 wRC+, and 3.8 fWAR. That type of leap in production for Harris would be a welcome development for many, and would he a huge boost to the offense overall.
Of course, a big source of value for Harris is his stellar defense, which is expected to remain in place for years to come. But one area where Harris could significantly outproduce his projections is stolen bases. None of the projections see Harris stealing 20 bases, despite the fact he has produced that exact amount of steals in three of his four seasons. If he can improve his ability to get on base, he will find himself having plenty of conversations with new first base coach Antoan Richardson. With how well Richardson helped the Mets improve their running game last year, Harris being on base more often could easily lead to 25-30 steals.
One positive from Harris last year is that he played in 160 games, an increase from earlier in his career. Harris remaining healthy is also critical for the Braves outfield and defense as a whole. While White, Dubon, and Yastrzemski could man centerfield for a short time, the Braves are at their best when one of baseball’s best defenders is manning center field. And if Harris can prove the projections to be true, he and Ronald Acuña Jr. could turn into one of the best outfield duos in baseball.
Left Field
Since 2022, the Braves have the second-worst overall fWAR (1.7) and wRC+ (87) among MLB teams in terms of production from the left field position. Due to injuries and other factors, several below-replacement players have manned the position for the Braves. The hope was that this year would be different with Profar and Yastrzemski serving as the main two options for that position. But now without Profar, the Braves badly need Yastrzemski to deliver a big year.
One thing Yastrezemski has proven to be over his career is consistent. He has produced between 1.5-2.5 fWAR each year of his career, including 2.4 fWAR last year. His wRC+ marks over the past five years are 106, 99, 111, 106, and another 106 last year. He combines good power and plate discipline, though his power did regress a bit last year. However, the projections seem to suggest his power should bounce back a bit while he maintains an above-average walk rate. For instance, ZiPS has Yastrzemski at 2.0 fWAR, which comes with 16 home runs, a nearly 11 percent walk rate and a 108 wRC+. In other words, Yaz is expected to maintain his career norms when it comes to offensive production.
Along with a bit of regression in power, a few other areas of slight decline compared to 2025 may be his defense and strikeout rate (19.5 percent in 2025 was a career low). However, he could be subbed out for a better defender late in games and he will mainly be used against right-handed pitching. A big number to follow for Yastrzemski will be his wRC+ vs righties. If he can produce around or above 120 wRC+ vs right-handers, he will be doing exactly what the Braves need him to do.
The guy who could replace Yastrzemski late in games will also be his likely platoon partner vs left-handed pitching, which is Eli White, pending a late addition by the Braves. From a counting stats perspective, White had a career year with the Braves (if only every game could be in Tennessee). However, in terms of quality, White showed why he is likely most valuable as a bench player. He produced an 84 wRC+ overall, including a 100 wRC+ vs. left-handers. Most projection systems have him around a 85 wRC+ for 2026. ZiPS has him with eight homers, an 85 wRC+, and 1.1 fWAR. His above-average defense remains a good source of his value.
While the Braves should be confident Yastrzemski will be a valuable addition against right-handed pitching, they should remain focused on finding a another outfielder over the next few weeks. The new addition would essentially be replacing Profar on the roster, but the hope is also the new outfielder would have more offensive upside than White, especially against left-handed pitching. Internally, the Braves also hope to get Ha-Seong Kim back in early to mid May, which would allow Mauricio Dubón to potentially platoon with Yastrzemski. Outfield depth once again is a need for the Braves, and their best value will likely come from an external addition over the next few weeks.
Organizational Outfield Depth
A big reason why the Braves should continue looking for outfield help before season the starts is because they do not have any reliable options on the minors that could provide depth at the MLB level during the 2026 season. While some of the more intriguing positional prospects in Atlanta’s system are outfielders, they are still a few years away from making an impact. As a result, White, Dubon, Jorge Mateo, and perhaps Spring Training options such as Dominic Smith or Ben Gamel are your current outfield depth for the big league Braves. That group is not exactly inspiring, especially if another injury were to occur. As a result, outside of pitching, another outfield bat remains a clear need for the Braves.
If the Braves outfield can remain healthy and consistent, they can be one of the better offensive outfields in baseball. This especially needs to be true vs. right-handed pitching for the Braves to return to contention. However, as the past few years have shown, it is far from a guarantee that health will be in the Braves favor. As a result, Alex Anthopoulos will likely continue to search for depth over time. But once again, if health can remain in a good spot, the Braves projected starters play a big role in their offensive success overall.
