Category: MLB

Over the last few years, we have seen a number of rule changes to Major League Baseball. This year is no different, with the addition of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) at the major league level. 

It was originally implemented in the minors starting in 2022, and a few stadiums began using it in spring training last year. It has also been used in the Arizona Fall League since 2024, and they added a “check swing challenge system” last year that may be on the horizon.

MLB players and fans got their first glimpse of the future at the 2025 All-Star Game when the system was implemented.

But the Colorado Rockies got their first taste of it last Friday with the start of spring training games. Opinions varied, but, overall, players and coaches think it’s a good addition to MLB — plus, many of them first experienced ABS in Triple-A Albuquerque.

“I think it’s good,” said Warren Schaeffer. “I’m looking forward to seeing how each team handles it differently. It’s definitely a point of strategy, and each team is going to do it differently.”

Brenton Doyle sees in it a way to keep everyone honest.

“It keeps umpires accountable here and there,” Doyle said, “and when [the umpires] do miss, they know you know where they’re missing. So I think it’s a good reminder for them, and it’s also a chance for us to maybe get some good out of it, too.”

For Hunter Goodman, it’s a way to empower hitters.

“I think it’s interesting,” said Goodman. “But I think in those big situations – in big games – it gives the player the power if they think something was wrong versus getting rung up in a big situation. Now you have the power to say, ‘Alright, I think that was wrong.’ So I think it’ll be cool to see. I think there’ll be some fan interaction with it, and that’ll be exciting as well. I think it’ll be fun.”

Goodman also offered some insight as to how the Rockies are practicing with it during spring training.

“In some of the live at-bats, we would have the TrackMan up, and I’d catch a pitch and be like, ‘That’s a strike,’” he said. “And then we look at the TrackMan and see what it was and stuff like that. 

“Or even our hitters sometimes in lives, (with) the pitching coach or the hitting coach calling pitches,” he continued, “and then they call one and the hitters say, ‘I think that was off,’ and then you look at the TrackMan. So we’re trying to figure it out in different ways.”

Tanner Gordon said they’ve discussed a slightly different ABS strategy for pitchers..

“We’ve talked about just kind of feeling out the game,” Gordon said. “Obviously, you’re not going to challenge the second pitch of the first inning, but a high-stakes pitch, maybe. Maybe with the game on the line, maybe in the seventh or eighth inning that can turn the game one way or another.”

“You definitely want to use it in key situations,” Braxton Fulford added, “big counts, 1-1 counts are a big one. There’s a big difference between a 2-1 count and a 1-2 count.

“Same thing offensively,” he continued. “If you have runners on base and it’s late in the game, you want to use it in those key situations as opposed to just using it. Early in the game, when you think it might be a strike, might not be the best time to use it.”

Fulford was also part of two challenges on Friday – one that went his way and one that went the other way.

“I was struck out on an ABS strike, and then I got one myself, which is a good feeling,” he said. “You think it’s a strike, but you could never do anything before, and now if you think it’s a strike, you can challenge it and get it overturned. It’s kind of a big momentum swing for you and your team.”

Jordan Beck and Kyle Karros acknowledged the inconsistencies they’ve faced with it, but overall are still in favor.

“I think when I was out there on Day 1 (in Triple-A), it seemed like it was pitcher friendly that day because the catcher was, like, 4-for-4 or something,” Beck said. “But I think it’s good. Pitchers still have to throw strikes and stuff, and hitters need to know their zones as well, so I think it’s good.”

“Friday was a unique day,” Karros said. “I feel like literally every single ABS challenge was called a ball and then overturned into a strike — oftentimes two strikes — and that was the end of your at-bat, which feels a little weird just waiting to see if you get punched out. But I think it’s going to be good.”

Karros also acknowledged that he never used it in Triple-A because he wasn’t sure it was a worthwhile skill to learn.

“I felt like it didn’t really make sense to use it,” he said. “If we [didn’t] use it in the big leagues, why would I use it in Triple-A? So I didn’t use it at all then, but I know some guys were challenging.”

He did say he will “100%” start challenging now, though.

Like everything else, Schaeffer has a plan and a framework for teaching his players how to navigate the ABS system effectively.

“It’s not in the hard rules but more about education of the players in terms of game situations and general game awareness, especially in the minor leagues when you’re trying to develop more game awareness,” Schaeffer said.

“When to use it in a higher leverage situation, and if it wasn’t used in a higher leverage situation, it was a conversation behind closed doors about getting better decisions made. Pitchers were not allowed to challenge because of, I think, for obvious reasons, in terms of their body’s moving, their head’s moving, the catcher’s moving the ball… there’s a bunch of different things. And the catcher pretty much knows the strike zone back there.”

Goodman also acknowledged that everyone is experimenting and getting used to the new system.

“During spring training, everybody’s trying to figure things out, whether it’s hitting or pitching or defensive stuff,” he said. “So it’s a great time for us as catchers and hitters to figure out the zone and challenge things and see where we’re at.”

So far, the Rockies have been part of 23 challenges so far and have won 10. 

This will be a story to watch in 2026.

Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado ‘will be a force’ in NL West, Rockies’ Warren Schaeffer says | Denver Post ($)

Over the weekend, Patrick Saunders and I walked across the concourse into “enemy territory” to chat with an old friend wearing a different uniform. Nolan Arenado is turning 35 in a few months, but is hoping to bounce back after a down year in St. Louis. Warren Schaeffer offered some memories of their playing days, as well, and is excited to play against him in a different role.

My take will run next week on the SB Nation MLB home page, so be on the lookout!

Amador looking to make noise in Rockies’ 2B battle | MLB.com

Adael Amador is one of many young Rockies fighting to break camp this year. After a meteoric rise, the middle infielder hit a snag as soon as he hit the majors and seems to be slowly fading behind other players who are more MLB-ready. Warren Schaeffer and Josh Byrnes offer their insights as to what Amador could bring to the table in 2026, and the 23-year-old himself says “my confidence was always high.”

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Anne Rogers writes about the pitchers working on new pitches this spring.

Add Schreiber to the list of pitchers working on a kick-changeup, a pitch he introduced last season but then worked on consistently the entire offseason. The right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA and will be a reliever the Royals turn to in middle- to high-leverage situations again, but he has to be able to get lefties out. Last season, left-handed batters had a .754 OPS in 111 plate appearances against Schreiber compared to a .671 OPS in 154 plate appearances for right-handers. With his four-seam, sinker, sweeper and cutter, Schreiber has the east-to-west movement plot covered.

Stephen Kolek was scratched from his outing on Wednesday due to tightness in his side.

“If they can figure out what it is [inside at the complex], we’ll have an answer,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “If not, we’ll have to get him more testing. But we were just being cautious and not forcing him out there.”

Jaylon Thompson writes about how Noah Cameron is preparing for his sophomore season.

So this offseason, Cameron did some scouting of his own — some self-scouting. He went back and looked at some of his starts with the Royals and found that his optimal success came from suppressing his pitch count and being effective in the strike zone.

“I think in the minor leagues, it’s pitch however long you can and have as good of stats as you can,” he said. “You know, feel the best and that’s all you can do. But here (in the majors), it doesn’t matter how you feel and how sexy your stats are. It’s just to help the team, pitch deep and limit their runs. That’s just the name of the game.”

Pete Grathoff writes that Royals broadcasts this year could feature drones.

Craig Brown writes about whether Bailey Falter can add velocity to his repertoire.

Touching 96 mph is a nice goal and everything, but I feel like it’s important to note that Falter has topped 95 mph with his fastballs just twice in his major league career. He did it one time last season, on a sinker, right before he was traded to Kansas City. Of course, all these guys are looking to add velocity these days…and visiting different pitching labs and training facilities with their own coaches to find that edge that will get them a tick more. Especially guys who know they are fighting for a spot on the club and the rotation. This will be an interesting development to monitor going forward.

David Lesky writes about Seth Lugo’s first spring start.

Nothing was in the middle. Last year, after the break, it felt like he was either missing big out of the zone or leaving a pitch right in the middle of the plate to get crushed. I think if my math is right, he’ll make one more start in Royals camp before leaving for the WBC, though I may be off on that, depending on how the Royals set that up. But I’ll be curious to watch the command and that slider in his next outing. It’s easy to lament giving him $20 million per year for the next two, and it would hurt if he pitches like he did in August again, but if he can give the Royals even just league average for 175 innings per year, that’s a reasonable cost to pay for that

And Witt’s drive to improve is relentless. J.J. Picollo, the head of baseball operations for the Royals, wrote in a text, “[Witt] is so easy to deal with because he takes such good care of himself that we have little-to-no concern. More of what we discuss with him is how we can keep him fresh and strong throughout the season.

“Some of the finer points of base stealing are things that are always being discussed, but he is clearly a very good baserunner.”

He is clearly very good at everything.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Keep wonders if the curve is the key to Lugo’s success.

Buster Olney at ESPN ranks Bobby Witt Jr. as the top shortstop in the game.

And Witt’s drive to improve is relentless. J.J. Picollo, the head of baseball operations for the Royals, wrote in a text, “[Witt] is so easy to deal with because he takes such good care of himself that we have little-to-no concern. More of what we discuss with him is how we can keep him fresh and strong throughout the season.

“Some of the finer points of base stealing are things that are always being discussed, but he is clearly a very good baserunner.”

He is clearly very good at everything.

Keith Law ranks Carter Jensen tops on his rookies list.

Jensen has a long history of getting on base, the power is real and he’s a strong defensive catcher. I understand the desire for loyalty, especially given Perez’s tie to the 2015 World Series winning team, but Jensen should be the Royals’ primary catcher this year, with Perez backing him up and maybe playing some first or DHing if there’s a need. Assuming the Royals go that route, Jensen will be a strong contender for Rookie of the Year.

The Yankees are still open to adding a platoon bat.

The Padres shut down pitcher Matt Waldron after a hemorrhoid procedure.

Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day.

Angels owner Arte Moreno says fans don’t really care about winning that much.

What are teams paying per-win in free agency these days?

Tarik Skubal will only pitch once for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

The Yankees will retire the number of pitcher CC Sabathia.

The Pirates are open to a long-term deal with top prospect Konnor Griffin.

Should the Rays have a 5.5-man rotation?

Harrison Bader dents a food truck with a home run, and signs the truck.

An umpire has five consecutive pitches overturned on ABS challenges.

Would you let Jacob Misiorowski throw a fastball to hit an apple on your head?

MLB players want to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

How Salt Lake City is becoming a frontrunner for MLB expansion. [$]

The NFL is not expected to get a proposal to ban the “tush push.”

Bodø/Glimt pulls off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history, knocking out Inter Milan.

An FCC study shows TV station consolidation has led to lower quality for viewers.

Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, Oasis, and Pink are among the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Do we really need this much protein?

Your song of the day is Sebadoah with On Fire.

Chase DeLauter was a last minute scratch in yesterday’s Spring Training game against the Texas Rangers. All reports are saying the scratch was out of an abundance of caution when DeLauter reported lower body soreness following the heavy on-field activity to open camp. DeLauter was already not scheduled to play today.

Yesterday also saw Steven Kwan playing center field. Unfortunately the game was not televised or broadcasted anywhere so there is nothing to really report on his performance.

José is already looking to be in great form, having hit two home runs so far this Spring. He technically hit three, but the umps called on a ground rule double, proving they too need Spring Training to get warmed up.

Off the field, José continues to be as great as he is on the field. José teamed up with Franklin Sports to release his own line of limited edition batting gloves. In addition to releasing his own design, José is donating 75 pairs of batting gloves to the Cleveland RBI baseball and softball teams.

Around the League

The ABS challenge system is in full display at Spring Training. Multiple major league players are testing their eye by utilizing the system previously only reserved for the minor leagues. There has been some entertaining results, including Matt Olson challenging a Paul Skenes pitch that was originally ruled a strike and overturned to a ball.

LGFT CC Sabathia’s number will be retired by the New York Yankees this September.

The 2026 Yankees are defined, at least so far, by continuity: the organization opted not to make a major splash this winter, with all but two members of last year’s ALDS roster returning for this year’s campaign. Even in such an inactive offseason, though, a number of players find themselves in new uniforms this season. While no truly big-ticket players have departed this winter, there has still been enough turnover for us to take our annual look throughout the league to check out old friends in their new threads.

Luke Weaver

Arguably the biggest departure of the winter was Luke Weaver. A former starting pitcher who reinvented himself as a dynamic reliever and became a fan favorite both for his fun personality and his strong performance as the closer during the Yankees’ trip to the World Series in 2024, Weaver signed a two-year, $22 million deal to join former Yankees closer Clay Holmes in Queens.

Devin Williams

Of course, Weaver wasn’t the only former Yankees closer to make the trip across town this winter. Two weeks prior to Weaver’s signing, Devin Williams inked his own three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets. While very few Yankees fans will lament Williams’ departure, as he never quite got into a groove with the Bombers, this does continue a rather strange trend in recent years of the Mets targeting former Yankees in free agency.

Jonathan Loáisiga

The longest-tenured Yankee to depart this winter, Jonathan Loáisiga joined the Arizona Diamondbacks on a minor league deal after his team option was declined in November. Johnny Lasagna looks to bounce back after struggling in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Ian Hamilton

Ian Hamilton joined the Atlanta Braves organization on a minor league deal after being non-tendered in November. He spent three years with the Yankees, starting with an elite 2023, a solid 2024, and a lackluster 2025.

Mark Leiter Jr.

Acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the 2024 trade deadline, Mark Leiter Jr. was left off the postseason roster in 2024, then added as an injury replacement, and got critical outs as the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians to punch their ticket to their first World Series since 2009. Unfortunately, that would be the highlight of his career in pinstripes. Due to his inconsistency, the Bombers opted to non-tender him this past winter, and he inked a deal with the Athletics.

Scott Effross

Sensing a theme, here? The sixth Yankee reliever to depart in free agency this year, Scott Effross was supposed to be a dominant reliever with several years of team control when the Yankees acquired him from the Cubs at the 2022 trade deadline. Unfortunately, the injury bug got him, and he wound up making just 27 appearances across four seasons in pinstripes. Looking to revamp the bullpen, the Yankees non-tendered him in the winter, and he found himself in Detroit on a minor league deal.

Austin Slater

The only non-reliever to depart this winter, Austin Slater was acquired at the trade deadline last year to give the Yankees some pop against lefties. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to just 14 appearances, and while the Yankees had some interest in bringing him back, he opted for a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers, where he is competing for the fourth outfield spot.

Former Prospects

Several Yankees prospects departed this winter, most of them as a result of minor trades. These include Dillon Lewis, Dylan Jasso, and Brendan Jones, who were traded to the Marlins for Ryan Weathers, and T.J. Rumfield, who is now a Rockie.

It was nice to see a healthy dose of Phillies regulars in the game yesterday. It’s hard to stay tuned into spring training games, especially this early, but seeing some of the players you recognize helps. Well at least it will until most of them leave for the World Baseball Classic next week.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Zack Wheeler discusses his surgery and recovery and doesn’t see why there’s any reason why he won’t be back to his old self this season. ($)
• There aren’t many position battles for the Phillies this camp, but there’s two spots up for grabs in the back of the bullpen and the robust competition showcases the Phillies new reliever depth. ($)
• You won’t have to wait much longer to get a look at Andrew Painter, as he is scheduled to make his spring debut this Sunday.

MLB news:

• Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott, the number five prospect in all of baseball, will be out 5-6 months after undergoing elbow surgery.
• Dodgers postseason secret weapon Roki Sasaki made his first appearance of 2026, and it did not go well.
• The family of Tyler Skaggs speaks for the first time after their contentious court battle against the Los Angeles Angels ended when the family agreed to a settlement. ($)

Hello, friends.

Today marks exactly one month until Orioles Opening Day! The team will be playing exhibition games from now through March 23 to get ready for that. After yesterday’s 4-3 victory over the Rays, the Orioles are now 3-2-1 in Grapefruit League action. Awaiting today is a 1:05 game against the Tigers that will be broadcast on MASN. Dean Kremer is lined up as today’s starter. A day farther out, Shane Baz will get into his first organized spring game as Friday’s starting pitcher.

Yesterday’s win saw three scoreless innings from Trevor Rogers, who’s yet to allow a run in spring action. For anyone who was looking for a reason to believe that he’ll be able to pick up where he left off at the end of last season, that’s really not a bad thing to latch onto. It’s less outlandish of a belief now that we’ve seen him do what he did last year.

Another early spring standout is Tyler O’Neill. There’s a guy who was not exactly showing us success last year. It’s early and it doesn’t matter yet, and staying healthy might be his biggest issue rather than performance anyway. Still, O’Neill seems to be taking good at-bats and getting good results early on. One path to a better team in 2026 is to have last winter’s big signing start to get that contract out from being a waste.

If you’d already given up prospect Vance Honeycutt, the 2024 first rounder, as a bust, you might not have noticed that he’s gotten a pair of spring training homers, including one yesterday. He stunk in 2025, there’s no getting around that, and same as any of these other guys, it doesn’t matter yet. Still, it has to be nice for him after a tough year to get a positive early vibe from 2026. It will take a lot more homering in real games for this to connect into anything. I like the start.

With a few players leaving camp to participate in the World Baseball Classic – including O’Neill, who’ll be joining Team Canada – there’s going to be a bit more room for prospects to get playing time this year. If Honeycutt or others are able to take advantage of that, good for them.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

More notes from Orioles 4-3 win over Rays (School of Roch)
Roch Kubatko runs through more of the stuff from yesterday’s game. It wasn’t all positive, with Andrew Kittredge having a bit of a clunker.

Orioles believe bullpen’s a strength: “I think we’re going to surprise some people” (Baltimore Baseball)
Gotta love a dose of spring training optimism.

Pete Alonso broke this comedian’s son’s heart, and now wants him to be an Orioles fan (Orioles.com)
This is about the son of John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight and a Mets fan, now getting a personal appeal from the Polar Bear to change fandoms with him. I’ve watched Oliver’s show and I think he’s absolutely ready to experience Orioles fandom.

Taylor Ward learned to embrace change. Then he got traded. (The Baltimore Sun)
I keep forgetting that the Orioles traded for Taylor Ward. I hope he doesn’t make me wish I could forget when the season happens. Although that’s also up to Grayson Rodriguez, who the O’s traded to the Angels.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Nothing of particular note has happened on this day in Orioles history. Unless there’s bad news, that probably won’t be changing today.

There is one lone former Oriole with a birthday today. Happy 49th birthday to 2001-02 pitcher Josh Towers, who had a 5.05 ERA in 29 games across his two seasons with the team.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright/poet Christopher Marlowe (1564), author Victor Hugo (1802), blue jeans manufacturer Levi Strauss (1829), cereal creator John Harvey Kellogg (1852), chemical maker Herbert Henry Dow (1866), animator Tex Avery (1908), musician Fats Domino (1928), and musician Johnny Cash (1932).

On this day in history…

In 1616, the Catholic Church officially banned Galileo Galilei from teaching that the Earth orbits the sun.

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the island of Elba, where he had been exiled following his defeat a year prior.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation that established Grand Canyon National Park. Exactly a decade later, President Calvin Coolidge signed legislation establishing Grand Teton National Park.

A random Orioles trivia question

I received a random book of Orioles trivia for Christmas. I’ll ask a question each time it’s my turn in this space until I run out of questions or I forget. I’m skipping stupid questions; we’re already on question 48 today. The book gives multiple choice answers but that would be too easy for us, wouldn’t it? Here’s today’s question:

Which pitcher’s 15 wins led the 2005 Orioles?

If you are answering the question early in the day, please be considerate and place your guess behind spoiler text so that others arriving later can still make a fresh guess. Thank you!

The answer to Sunday’s question: which year did the B&O Warehouse open? 1904!

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on February 26. Have a safe Thursday.

We’re a week into spring training games getting underway now, and the Yankees have some interesting highlights develop already. Perhaps the most intriguing name on everyone’s tongue after his first appearance has been Ryan Weathers, the left-handed arm that proved to be one of the few new faces the Yankees brought on board over the course of the offseason.

Weathers landed in New York via a trade with the Marlins for a package of four minor leaguers with the main purpose of boosting the early season rotation while several key arms finish up recovery from surgery and go through rehab stints. He likely is set to slide into the bullpen afterwards, but he can make his case to be something more if he can consistently showcase his new form. Weathers touched 100 mph on his fastball in a 3.2 inning start against the Nationals, allowing just a single hit and striking out five while getting over a 50 percent whiff rate on the day. Weathers’ stuff impressed as soon as camp opened, with his versatile repertoire catching people’s eyes, but to be in this form after his first start of spring eyebrows across the league are getting raised.

The Yankees are no strangers to spring successes, and plenty have translated while others fizzled out immediately. Just last year the team enjoyed a renaissance spring from Carlos Carrasco, gave him the fifth starter job as a fill-in with Gerrit Cole out for the year, and watched as he turned into a pumpkin as soon as April rolled around. Weathers is a lot younger than Carrasco, so the stuff disappearing is less of a concern, but he does carry a lengthy injury history around already and last year was no exception — he made just eight starts and pitched 38.1 innings overall. So do the Yankees have something to get excited about in Weathers, or should calmer minds prevail before shooting off fireworks about snagging him out of Miami? It’s completely fair to want more than just a single spring start before declaring him a budding ace for the rotation, but do you think he could prove to be a significant contributor throughout 2026?

Today on the site, John takes us through the time-honored tradition of taking a look at where all of the recent ex-Yankees landed for 2026. Then, Estevão recalls the career of Johnny Blanchard and his contribution to the early 60s Yankees on his birthday, Michael previews Ben Rice’s upcoming season after dominating the metrics but getting unlucky in the process, and Nick gives us our next team preview with the Twins on the docket. Finally, after today’s spring training game Andrés writes about the benefits to the race for the last few bullpen spots being highly-competitive.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves

Time: 1:05 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, Gotham Sports App, Gray TV, MLB Network (out-of-market, only)

Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL

Bryce Eldridge excited about potential Giants lineup tandem with Rafael Devers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants could have one of MLB’s best power-hitting tandems in the middle of their order for years to come.

A potential one-two punch of slugger Rafael Devers and top prospect Bryce Eldridge consistently could generate 60-plus home runs in the heart of San Francisco’s order, and with the 2026 MLB season right around the corner, Giants fans might get their first look at what the two can do in their first full seasons with the team.

Eldridge spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic on the latest “Giants Talk” podcast, and was asked about the prospect of hitting next to Devers and what that potential power tandem can offer San Francisco.

“It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous. I just think it’s really cool to have two big lefty bats, first baseman/DH, in the middle of a lineup,” Eldridge told Pavlovic. “I think it’s going to be really dangerous.

“It’s cool, he’s such an amazing guy and he’s really been great to me, which I really appreciate. Our relationship is just getting started, but he’s been great to me at first base, cracking jokes, making it fun out there when it sometimes gets difficult, and he’s picking me up if I have a bad day on defense or in the cage or whatever. So I’m excited to keep getting to know him and to keep playing with him and do some damage in the order, maybe park some balls in the bay.”

The Giants acquired Devers last season in a stunning blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox in June, and in 90 games with San Francisco, Devers blasted 20 home runs to give him 35 total on the season.

Eldridge made his MLB debut on Sept. 15 last season, and while he did not homer in his brief, 10-game cup of coffee at the major-league level, the 21-year-old’s eye-popping raw power is undeniable.

By adding Devers, who transitioned from third base to first last season, the Giants no longer had a clear and obvious path for Eldridge, who many believed was the team’s future first baseman before Devers took over that role midway through the year.

Now, both are expected to see time at first and designated hitter this season, with the top prospect also getting in outfield work early in spring training.

Eldridge has worked closely with Devers throughout their brief time as teammates and has not been surprised by the nine-year veteran’s willingness to take him under his wing.

“I wouldn’t say it surprises me, but obviously, you hear stories about guys who have been around for a long time, they kind of stick to themselves and do their own thing,” Eldridge shared with Pavlovic. “But I haven’t seen that with anyone here. Everyone here, from top to bottom, we’ve got a fantastic group of people. I think that’s what starts a great team, the people on the team, not the players. We’re going to keep rooting for each other, supporting each other, helping each other out on the defensive side and the hitting side.”

It’s unclear if Eldridge will break camp with the Giants this season or begin the 2026 campaign in Triple-A, but whenever he does stick at the major-league level, it’s safe to say he and Devers could be a very formidable duo in San Francisco for years to come.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Bryce Eldridge has Gold Glove aspirations as he battles for Giants roster spot originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SCOTTSDALE — The infield drills at Scottsdale Stadium on Monday morning were a bit more animated than usual, as new Giants manager Tony Vitello teamed up with third base coach Hector Borg to hit the grounders while infield coach Ron Washington gave constant encouragement and advice. When the work was over, Washington made a beeline for young first baseman Bryce Eldridge, who had alternated reps with Rafael Devers. 

“I think that might have been my best day yet,” Eldridge said. 

Washington nodded and patted Eldridge on the shoulder.

“It was,” he said. “Don’t go down. We’ll keep going up.”

For Eldridge, that is always the plan anyway. 

The 21-year-old has always been confident, which makes sense given the fact that he has been the most dangerous hitter on the field in nearly every game he has ever played. Eldridge has the raw power to lead MLB in homers one day and the overall hitting talent to be an All-Star or MVP candidate, but his aspirations are just as grand on the defensive end. 

During an interview for the “Giants Talk” podcast, Eldridge smiled when asked about Washington’s desire to work him so hard that his legs are burning after taking grounders.

“He definitely kicks our butt a little bit out there and gets the legs fired up,” Eldridge said. “But down the road, when hopefully I’m winning Gold Gloves with this team, I’m going to look back on it and say it’s all worth it.”

For now, Eldridge might have to break into the big leagues as a designated hitter because of the presence of Devers. Giants officials think Devers, a long time third baseman, has the footwork and instincts to turn into a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman himself. 

With Eldridge, they’re trying to play catchup given how new the position is, but he’s aiming high. The goal is to one day be elite. 

“Oh for sure, for sure. That’s something that — obviously the hitting side of it, I’ve got goals there — but I set goals out once I got here and realized that I was far behind defensively and I knew I had some work to be done,” Eldridge said. “That’s definitely been a goal of mine one day to win a Gold Glove. I know I’m athletic enough, I know I’m going to work hard enough to try to do it. Having Wash around now is giving me more confidence to try and do that one day.”

On paper, at least, Eldridge has the tools to be well above average at first. At 6-foot-7, he’ll be the tallest target in the league, and while sprint speed will never be the thing that jumps off his Baseball Savant page, he moves around well for his size. As a former pitcher, he’ll bring a good arm to the position when it’s needed. 

Washington said Eldridge has been putting in all the necessary reps early in camp. He believes the prospect can reach his lofty goals if he continues to grow. Thus far, the focus has mostly been on using his legs more to be in a better position as he crouches and reaches for balls. 

“We’re out there making sure that he learns how to get into his legs,” Washington said. “Every day that he leaves from (the infield) he’s complaining about how his legs are burning, and I let him know, ‘They’re burning because you’re doing everything right.’ It’s going to come to the point where you’re not going to feel that, and when you stop feeling that, you’re going to be one of the best first basemen in the game, when you stop feeling that.

“He’s working. He’s a very hard worker and he’s got a good work ethic. He wants to be good, and that’s the key. The word ‘want,’ and he wants it.”

Eldridge said he feels “miles better” at first than he did last spring. He works on his feet every day, and the strength coaches are fond of pulling out the agility ladder to try and get him to be a little quicker. 

“I think I’m just really getting comfortable with my footwork,” Eldridge said of the difference year over year. “I think a lot of guys will tell you once your footwork gets cleaned up the glove hand gets cleaned up a lot. That feels true with me.”

There is still a long way for Eldridge to go, and there’s no guarantee he’ll even be on the big league roster on Opening Day. Some in the front office would prefer that he get more time in Triple-A, and that’s understandable. Eldridge has fewer than 1,000 at-bats in the minors, and there are adjustments to be made on both sides of the ball.

Vitello, who unsuccessfully tried to recruit the Vienna, Virginia, native to Tennessee a few years ago, has not tipped his hand one way or another. But it’s clear the Giants are going to get every data point they can this spring before making what likely will be their most scrutinized decision ahead of the March 25 opener against the New York Yankees. 

Eldridge has played in all five spring games and is second on the team in plate appearances to Jung Hoo Lee, who is trying to quickly get ready for the World Baseball Classic. In Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Eldridge hit his first homer of the spring, raising his OPS to 1.205 over the first week of action. 

Even if Eldridge wins a spot, there will be another significant hurdle in his bid to become one of the league’s best first basemen. Devers also is getting better day by day, and the 29-year-old is signed through 2033. He’ll almost certainly be the starter at first on Opening Day, and if his preference continues to be playing the field — something he has said multiple times — it may be years before the Giants truly need Eldridge on the dirt every night.

With that in mind, Vitello asked Eldridge to take fly balls earlier this spring, and he continues to work on the corner outfield spots. He wants to be great at first, but he also knows that moving around — and DHing often — might be the easiest path to a lineup spot every night in 2026. 

If there’s any sort of rivalry forming at first, it hasn’t shown. Eldridge said his combination with Devers will “be dangerous” at the plate, and he noted that the veteran has helped him quite a bit this spring as they both have worked to improve. 

“He’s been great to me at first base,” Eldridge said. “He’s cracking jokes, making it fun out there when sometimes it gets difficult. He’s picking me up if I have a bad day on defense or in the cage. I’m excited to keep getting to know him and to keep playing with him and keep doing some damage in the order.”

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Castellanos prefers managers with relatable track: 'emotions still intact' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There were a number of hiccups toward the end of Nick Castellanos’ tenure in Philadelphia.

When the club released the 34-year-old, Matt Gelb of The Athletic published an investigative piece on what actually transpired behind closed doors and inside the dugout.

One of the central issues: Castellanos’ “disdain” for manager Rob Thomson and hitting coach Kevin Long. An intriguing note, given how well-respected both men are across baseball.

The reported reason was that Castellanos didn’t fully respect the tandem because neither played professionally. So when he hit free agency, where did he land?

With the San Diego Padres, led by first-year manager Craig Stammen, a 41-year-old who spent 13 seasons as a big-league reliever, six with San Diego, before retiring after 2022.

“I have a lot of good relationships with the coaches just because they all have been playing recently,” Castellanos told the Ben & Woods show on 97.3 The Fan in San Diego on Wednesday.

“I really enjoy talking to coaches that have put it down within the last decade. Their emotions are still intact. They talk to you from a physical standpoint, but there’s also a lot of emotional relatability there because they’re still connected,” he said.

Castellanos, entering his 14th big-league season, has experience with player-managers.

In his second season in 2014, the Tigers, under Dave Dombrowski, hired Brad Ausmus, who played 18 seasons in the majors, won three Gold Gloves behind the dish and had retired just four years prior. Castellanos played four seasons under Ausmus.

There’s no shortage of successful managers and hitting coaches throughout baseball history who never played at the big-league level. Hall-of-Famer Jim Leyland, whom Castellanos coincidentally played 11 games for in his first season in 2013, Earl Weaver and Buck Showalter never appeared in the majors.

It’s a personal preference, and one that may help explain why Castellanos was at least comfortable signing with the Joe Girardi-led Phillies ahead of 2022.

The emotional relatability he described is something he takes genuine pride in. As he walked off the field for the final time in a Phillies uniform after Game 4 of the NLDS, he stopped to console Orion Kerkering as they neared the dugout.

“The play happened. It’s over. So immediately my attention went to him,” Castellanos said of Kerkering’s series-ending throwing error. “I don’t know what that exact situation feels like, but I know what it’s like to be on a field with 40,000 people and lose it — let alone in that moment in the playoffs. I’ve had moments where I felt that low. I had to make sure I was right next to him.”

Castellanos’ character as a teammate was questioned throughout Gelb’s piece, which drew from more than a dozen anonymous players and coaches. Whatever you make of those accounts, his response to Kerkering in that moment was hard to dismiss.

In San Diego, Castellanos projects as the oldest position player to break camp, and he’ll be leaned on as a veteran presence alongside his childhood friend, Manny Machado. His role isn’t yet defined. He’s taken most of his reps at first base but has made it clear he’ll go wherever allows him to get his bat in the lineup the most.

“The thing that has gotten me to the big leagues is that I’m a kid who believes in himself and knows he can hit,” Castellanos said. “Craig just said, ‘hey, you ready to go back to the outfield?’ I’ll do whatever you need. I’ll play first. I’ll play left. If [Fernando] Tatis needs a blow, I’ll play right. I’ll DH.”

The Padres leaned heavily on the bargain market late in the offseason. Within a week, the club added Castellanos, utility man Miguel Andújar and starters Germán Márquez, Griffin Canning and Walker Buehler, the latter on a minor league deal.

The Castellanos-Phillies storyline won’t quiet down anytime soon. Philadelphia heads to Petco Park from May 26-28, and Castellanos returns to Citizens Bank Park from June 2-4. That should be fun.

Max Scherzer is not ready to step off the mound just yet.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner is set to return to the Toronto Blue Jays for his 19th season in MLB, according to multiple reports.

Scherzer and the Blue Jays have agreed to a deal that carries a $3 million base salary for 2026 with up to $10 million in incentives, Sportsnet baseball columnist Shi Davidi reports.

Scherzer returns to a team that reached the World Series, going all the way to Game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer was given the ball to start that Game 7 at home on Nov. 1 and went 4.1 innings, striking out 3. He exited with a 3-1 lead, but Toronto eventually lost 5-4 in extra innings.

The headline says it all, but the Jays have signed Max Scherzer to a one-year contract. He’ll make $3 million with ‘up to’ $10 million in incentives.

He won’t be starting the season with the Jays. I’d imagine the plan will be to get him going in May with the idea he could join the major league team in June or July (unless there is an injury or two in the rotation).

I’m not all that excited. I didn’t think he was all that terrific last year. He had a 5.19 ERA n 17 starts. In 85 innings batters hit .262/.313/.497 against him.

He made one start in the ALCS, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned, with a home run, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. In the World Series he made two starts, 8.2 innings, allowing 9 hits, 4 earned, 2 homers, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Max is 41 now, he’ll be 42 on July 27.

I think he’s a great teammate, but I don’t know that I’d want to give him starts.

There is also a note that Jays minor league pitcher, Chay Yeager is going to have UCL surgery and is out for the season. He split last year between Vancouver and New Hampshire, with a 3.23 ERA in 42 games, 1 starts and 55.2 innings. He allowed 36 hits, 20 walks and 64 strikeouts.

Randal Grichuk signed a minor league deal with the Yankess. He hit .228/.273/.401 in 113 games last year split between the Diamondbacks and the Royals.

Max Scherzer is coming back for a 19th season.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has agreed to a deal to return to the Blue Jays, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.

The deal is for one year and $3 million, according to multiple reports.

Scherzer, 41, told The Athletic in January that he was “healthy and ready to sign at any moment if certain teams call” but was willing to wait until Opening Day to make his decision.

The right-hander now heads back to Toronto, where he pitched last season.

Scherzer went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts during the regular season, but pitched well over three starts in the postseason.

He memorably won Game 4 of the American League Championship Series — jawing on the mound with manager John Schneider — to stay in the game before completing 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball.

The eight-time All-Star made two more appearances in the World Series, starting Game 7. He went the first 4 1/3 frames, striking out three and holding a vaunted Dodgers lineup to just one run.

Scherzer made clear after the final game of the Fall Classic, which the Blue Jays lost in heartbreaking fashion, that he was not done pitching.

“The only thing I can say is it’s going to take some time to give a full answer to that but there is no way that was my last pitch,” Scherzer told reporters. “That loss is so tough because you’re so close to everybody. This team had that closeness, had that camaraderie. We had that passion not only for the game but for each other.”

Toronto, in its efforts to get back to the World Series, has been active this offseason. It has added pitchers Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers to bolster the rotation and bullpen.

Observations from Yankees spring training on Wednesday.

Going deep

Amed Rosario crushed his first home run this spring training, going deep on the first pitch he saw from Nationals lefty Andrew Alvarez in the bottom of the first inning.

DC comical

It might be a long season in the nation’s capital. The Nationals recorded more errors (three) than hits (one) in their 7-0 loss to the Yankees.

Their only base runner of the night was immediately erased in a double play.

Caught my eye

George Lombard Jr. turned in a dazzling night on both sides of the ball.

The top prospect made what Aaron Boone called a “special” play at third base, charging a chopper down the line, barehanding it, and firing to first for the out.

He later added a two-run double that came off the bat at 108.8 mph.

Thursday’s schedule

Pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez will make his second start of the spring when the Yankees host the Braves at 1:05 p.m.

MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: The previous edition of the Yankees news roundup noted that the Yankees were still considering adding a platoon bat. Well they may have found one in a player who has surfaced in various Yankees rumors for a few years now: Randal Grichuk. Formerly a pesky division rival with the Blue Jays from 2018-21, Grichuk had a penchant for making his pop count in New York, as he has 18 career homers in 63 games against the Yankees. Grichuk had a 139 OPS+ in 279 PA for the D-backs in 2024 and blistered lefties to the tune of a .941 OPS from 2022-24 but dipped this past year with Arizona and Kansas City, so at age-34, he had to settle for a non-roster invitation from the Yankees. Still, while Grichuk might not be a lock for the Opening Day roster, this may be just another sign that Jasson Domínguez is heading to Triple-A to start 2026.

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Entering play on Wednesday, the Yankees have gone 6-for-7 in ABS challenges in Grapefruit League action. The lone loss came on Austin Wells challenging behind the plate, but challenges from the hitters have been well-timed and correct. The club has long preached hitters’ knowledge and control of the strike zone, and that seems to be paying off in the big-leaguers’ first taste of the review process. The team is still dialing in how it’ll implement their own challenge strategy once the games count for real, but for now, they might just be best off to keep doing what they’re doing.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: My least-in-demand party trick will require an update, as the Yankees announced that CC Sabathia’s No. 52 will be retired, with a plaque ceremony taking place pregame on September 26, 2026. Monument Park isn’t just a collection of Yankee greats, but a who’s who of some of the most dominant players to ever put a baseball jersey on, and it’ll be great to see the former ace take his rightful place in Yankee history. For more on CC, check out Matt’s breaking news story from last night.

New York Post | Greg Joyce: Will Warren is going to be called upon to start the season strong, as the Yankees wait for a couple of their bigger arms to recover from injury. While he wasn’t exactly bad in 2025, bouts of inconsistency especially against left-handed batters plagued the righty, and lowering that platoon tax is a major focus of Warren’s time in camp. Fortunately, Warren seems to have been taken under the wing of Clarke Schmidt, who was in a similar position to Will two years ago and if it weren’t for Tommy John surgery, would have made that jump from touch-and-go hurler to respectable rotation piece.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: One of the recurring themes of Yankee spring is that because the team inks so many players to major deals — deals that command a roster spot of their own virtue — there are plenty of “bubble” players who have to prove themselves in camp. Jasson Domínguez is likely to be one of those hard-luck losers, with a stacked outfield and frankly a need to polish up some defense and hitting from the right side, perfect for a Triple-A assignment. The bullpen picture is also muddy so far, with newbie Angel Chivilli and last year’s pickup Brent Headrick both in competition for the last MLB roster slot.