HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros celebrates after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on September 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SS Jeremy Pena has already resumed throwing, and will begin swinging a bat this weekend:
Clarification: Peña has resumed throwing. He will start swinging again this weekend. https://t.co/gFzpQd5Jsr
Jeremy Peña continues to make progress in recovery from a fractured finger tip and hasn't been ruled out for opening day on March 26 https://t.co/PhZVc21ARw
UT Zach Dezenzo will be limited to DH duties for a little while:
Zach Dezenzo's elbow flared up during Team Italy's WBC run. Dezenzo will continue to DH now that he's back in Astros camp, but won't throw for a few days.
So far, there’s no structural issues with Dezenzo’s elbow:
Zach Dezenzo’s right elbow flared up during the WBC. He can DH but will not throw for the next few days, Joe Espada said. Dezenzo said he had an MRI that showed everything “fully intact” structurally.
Manager Joe Espada intended to give his starters some run in today’s game vs. St. Louis, but wet field conditions changed that plan:
The Astros are pulling players due to the playing conditions here in Jupiter, a team spokesman said. Carlos Correa was just pinch-run for. https://t.co/0fE6V2M7JU
The Astros are pulling starters from today's game early due to playing conditions, per a team spokesperson. (It's been raining intermittently). Isaac Paredes was removed before the bottom of the third and Carlos Correa for a pinch-runner in the top of the fourth.
SP J.P. France started for the Astros today, working 4 innings of one run ball. He allowed 3 hits, struck out 4, and did not walk a batter. He threw 38 of his 51 pitches for strikes. He primarily worked 91-92 MPH with his fastball/sinker, and hit exactly 93 MPH one time. He also threw his cutter, curve, and change.
France projects as minor league depth for the Astros this season. Despite his low velocity since returning from shoulder capsule surgery, he has shown a willingness to battle and has worked hard to set up his pitches for efficiency and effectiveness. His best role is likely long relief, but it could give France another crack at the majors after undergoing an incredibly difficult surgery for pitchers that is known to decrease velocity.
Relievers Steven Okert, A.J. Blubaugh and Kai-Wei Teng all threw shutout innings today. Okert threw 16 of his 25 pitches for strikes, did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out 1. Blubaugh threw 5 of 9 pitches for strikes and started an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play. He did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out one. Teng threw 6 of his 9 pitches for strikes, did not allow a hit or a walk, and struck out one.
Okert is a lock to make the bullpen. Blubaugh and Teng are in the mix for a pen role and both should make the Opening Day roster as righthanded options in the pen.
UT Shay Whitcomb entered the game in the top of the 6th, pinch hitting for Yordan Alvarez, as Espada was unhappy with the wet fielding conditions and was removing starters early. Yordan was supposed to play LF today, but that plan was scrapped roughly two hours before the game.
Whitcomb went 0x2, but drove in the only Astros run of the day with a groundout. Whitcomb utilized situational awareness, and hit a ground ball to the right side, allowing James Nelson to score and Tommy Sacco to advance to 3rd with one out. Situational hitting was a major problem for the Astros in 2025, which is why it is being noted here.
Unfortunately the Astros would not further capitalize, as Riley Unroe flew out to shallow center and Sacco was thrown out at the plate trying to tag up and score.
Whitcomb is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but has shown improved defense at multiple positions, had a solid showing in the WBC and is currently hitting .267 for Houston this spring. He will be minor league depth and could be called up during the season as a injury replacement/bench player.
Nelson, Sacco and Unroe are not likely to see MLB time in Houston this season.
Feb 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The best baseball player on the planet prepares for what will hopefully be another successful campaign with the Dodgers—Shohei Ohtani makes his first start this spring training, pitching against the Giants.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Pitcher Emerson Hancock #26 of the Seattle Mariners walks to the dugout before a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on March 12, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a preview of the Spring Breakout game as the Mariners take on the Brewers in Peoria. Emerson Hancock gets the start as he continues to eye an Opening Day slot in place of the injured Bryce Miller.
Lineups:
Julio back! Julio back!
Injury news:
J.P. Crawford saw Dr. Kenneth Meister yesterday for his injured shoulder and received a cortisone injection. He should be able to resume baseball activity in a few days.
Roster move:
The Mariners optioned RHP Alex Hoppe to Triple-A Tacoma today.
Mar 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
This afternoon, the Yankees proved that one of the most integral parts of the sport, the baseball bat, is completely unnecessary to win a baseball game. In a contest where pitchers on both sides looked dominant—including Gerrit Cole, who pitched the top of the first inning—the only run came on a throwing error caused by a double steal following a pair of walks. That delightful order of operations, as well as great pitching from Cole, Carlos Lagrange, and others, gave the Yankees a 1-0 spring training victory over the Red Sox.
Cole’s return to MLB action post-Tommy John was of course brief, but plenty encouraging. He threw 10 pitches in a scoreless first inning, working around a leadoff bunt single to retire the side. Cole threw his fastball, slider, and knuckle curve—the fastball sat comfortably in the high-90s while the slider hit 91 mph on a delivery to Kristian Campbell. We’re still not likely to get a full day’s work from Cole on a big-league mound until May or June, but it was great to see the progress in a live environment in front of real competition.
But the show on the mound continued even after the Cole Train’s departure. After a scoreless second inning from Harrison Cohen, the hard-throwing prospect Lagrange took over for the Yanks and had his way with the Boston offense—lack of MLB-caliber talent in the lineup notwithstanding. While regularly hitting 100 mph on the heater and pulling the string on his wicked sweeper, he attacked the zone consistently and finished players off in early counts. He completed four scoreless innings for a second straight Grapefruit League outing, striking out four Red Sox and throwing just 60 pitches. Plenty of eyes will be on Lagrange as he begins the minor-league season.
Not to be outdone, Boston lefty Connelly Early looked very impressive against the Yankees’ lineup. Last year’s starter for Wild Card Game 3 sliced and posted five straight zeroes on the box score before allowing a leadoff walk to Amed Rosario to start the sixth and leaving the game. Early racked up seven strikeouts with just one hit allowed and two free passes. It seems quite likely we’ll be seeing more from this Virginian southpaw in 2026.
The pitching clinic continued as neither offense managed to do much of anything through seven. Fernando Cruz danced around some loud contact ahead of the seventh inning stretch, and Red Sox lefty Tyler Samaniego picked up where Early left off with four Ks in two perfect frames.
It looked like Boston would finally win the staring contest in the top of the eighth when they got two men in scoring position with nobody out against Brent Headrick. But try as they might, they couldn’t break through. Kristian Campbell lined a ball that looked ticketed for the left field corner, but a leaping catch by Owen Cobb made it a harmless out. Following a strikeout of catcher Ronald Rosario and a walk to DH Nathan Hickey to load the bases, Headrick managed to induce a soft chopper to short from outfielder Allan Castro, who couldn’t beat Max Schuemann’s throw to first as the Sox left ‘em loaded.
Naturally, the rally which finally brought in a run in this game involved not a single bit of contact from a bat. Reliever Tyler Uberstine issued a pair of one-out walks in the eighth to Kenedy Corona and Cole Gabrielson, who decided to force the issue with a double steal. Their aggressiveness was rewarded as the catcher Rosario’s throw sailed into center field. Corona came home to score the one and only run of this extraordinarily preseason-y contest.
Angel Chivilli got the final three outs without incident to stamp an unforgettably forgettable win. I love it! Beating the Red Sox in the process is the cherry on top.
With officially one week left until the Yankees open the 2026 MLB season in San Francisco, only eight Grapefruit League contests (plus a Spring Breakout game on Saturday) remain on the horizon. Tomorrow is the final true split-squad day of the preseason, with one squad facing the Orioles at home and another hitting the road to Dunedin and facing the Blue Jays. Max Fried and Dean Kremer will be the pitching matchup for the former; Ryan Weathers will tango with Cody Ponce in the latter. Both games will start a little after 1 pm.
GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Ralphy Velazquez #87 of the Cleveland Guardians poses for a photo during the Cleveland Guardians photo day at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Nic Antaya/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Guardians have announced their roster for tomorrow’s spring breakout game. Here it is:
Pitchers: Yorman Gomez, RHP Josh Hartle, LHP Braylon Doughty, RHP Joey Oakie, RHP Matt Wilkinson, LHP Magnus Ellerts, RHP Luis Flores, LHP Jack Jasiak, RHP
Catchers: Cooper Ingle, LHH Jacob Cozart, LHH
Infielders: Angel Genao, SH Ralphy Velazquez, LHH Jose Devers, RHH Dauri Fernandez, SH Dean Curley, RHH Nolan Schubert, LHH Gabriel Rodriguez, RHH Milan Tolentino, LHH
This is an exciting roster! Travis Bazzana will be still playing with the major league team, I’m assuming. I do find it curious that Kahl Stephen isn’t on the roster, but, other than that, it seems to be everyone I would expect to see. It will be exciting to see if folks like LaViolette, Arias, Rodriguez and Fernandez get some playing time.
Here’s what I’d expect to see as a starting lineup: 1. Watson, CF 2. Genao, SS 3. Velazquez, 1B 4. Rosario, RF 5. Ingle, C 6. Chourio, LF 7. Antunez, DH 8. Tolentino, 3B 9. Devers, 2B
And, maybe Doughty taking the start? In any case, tune in at 2PM ET on MLBTV to get a glimpse of a bright future for the Guardians! Let us know who you’re most excited to see in the comments below.
MIAMI, Florida — We’re going to need an entirely new lexicon to describe the celebration that unfolded at loanDepot Park as Cubs closer Daniel Palencia struck out one of Team USA’s hottest hitters, Roman Anthony to end a legendary final in the World Baseball Classic. The win resulted in the first World Baseball Championship for Venezuela and it sent the crowd of more than 36,000 fans into a frenzy. It sent millions of Venezuelans following the action at watch parties all over the country into raucous cheers. It sent Palencia’s glove higher in the air than any bat flip I’ve seen with the exception of one his teammate Willson Contreras sent soaring against the White Sox during the 2020 shortened pandemic season.
Nine innings before Palencia would put a capstone on a historic achievement for Venezuela the vibes were already elite. Even Yankees fans couldn’t resist joining the dance party:
Fans of both countries had every right to be fired up. From the time the teams entered to the moment Venezuela won a close game it was a historic night in Miami:
It was a solid outing for McLean, much better than his start against the upstart team from Italy. But while 4.2 innings with four hits, four strikeouts, one walk and two runs, both earned, was better than last time it was not enough to best the outstanding work Eduardo Rodríguez did for Venezuela. E-Rod threw 4.1 innings of one hit, scoreless baseball for his country. The ovation was electric:
There were two innings late where the tension got the better of the vibes in the stands. As I walked through the concourse during the seventh inning stretch the dance party was a bit muted. When I returned to my seat you could almost feel 25,000 Venezuelan fans counting the outs and strikes until the end of the game. The two-run lead felt fraught. It didn’t seem possible that the capricious baseball gods would let Venezuela march to their first World Baseball Championship so easily. That feeling was ultimately correct as Bryce Harper tied the game with this no-doubt home run in the eighth:
And let’s be clear, Harper understood the assignment. The only item that traveled higher than his bat during this game was Palencia’s glove on the final out:
It’s also worth pointing out that multiple sources reported that at least three organizations asked Venezuela not to use certain relievers on back-to-back nights. We have no word if one of those organizations was the Cubs, but we do know manager Omar Lopez lobbied to change their minds:
Venezuela manager Omar Lopez on potential pitching restrictions after heavily using his bullpen Monday night: ‘I woke this morning, three text messages from different organizations trying not to pitch guys back to back.’’’ He called them back trying to convince them to change…
And of course he lobbied them to change their mind. This is an environment Aaron Judge described as better than the World Series. Venezuela is a baseball country. I don’t really know how to put this into words better than this post:
Venezuela is not just a baseball country — it is a nation that breathes the game, suffers with it, celebrates with it, and carries it in its identity. This is a country where baseball is not mere entertainment, but memory, pride, family, and national emotion all at once. That is…
Whatever Lopez said to those organizations and whether they gave their blessing or not, Venezuela hasn’t given up at any point in this tournament. They did not give up when they were down against Japan or Italy. You could almost feel the crowd exhale as the eighth inning ended and the game was merely tied. Eugenio Suárez made sure the game wasn’t tied for long:
This set the stage for Daniel Palencia’s big moment. Even if the Cubs win a World Series while Daniel Palencia is closing for them, I imagine closing out this game will always mean more to him. You don’t have to believe me, just check out the watch party in his hometown and how they reacted to the final out:
I need to set the stage for this a bit. I was at a watch party the Cubs hosted at Gallagher Way during last year’s National League Championship Series against the Brewers. Admittedly, the Cubs got blown out in Milwaukee that day, but we had maybe 500 fans assembled to watch the game. Check out what last night looked like in Caracas:
This win was World Cup energy applied to baseball for a nation that eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. It was a moment of triumph for Venezuela at a point in time where it’s hard to imagine it mattering more. It was perfection.
The party continued long after the trophy presentation. We danced through the concourse. We chanted with fans from every nation represented at the World Baseball Classic. I saw fans in Japan jerseys, Dominican Republic jerseys and USA jerseys join in the festivities. I myself was in a Mexico jacket. It did not matter where we were from, the joy of the Venezuelans was contagious and all were welcome. This video is as my portion of the crowd began to exit an hour after the final official ceremonies:
At the risk of eliciting some ire in the comments, I’m not sure the United States could win any sport in any international competition that would generate the same level of national unity and pride. Our chanting tends towards the stoic and “USA! USA! USA!” just really doesn’t hit the same way as tens of thousands of people with drums who all know half a dozen common refrains. I was amused to see some United States fans in the lower bowl attempt to mimic the “ponche” (strikeout) chant every fan of Venezuela engaged in for every two strike count of every game I attended. It just didn’t hit quite the same.
I’ll leave you with this audio from Caracas. I imagine this what Wrigleyville must have sounded like after the Cubs won the World Series. Sometimes it takes a place built around baseball winning a championship to truly capture the vibes. Like this audio from Caricuao, Caracas:
Me enviaron este vídeo desde Caricuao, Caracas donde se ve el momento exacto de los festejos por la victoria de Venezuela en el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 14: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves catches a flyball in the outfield during the spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves on March 14, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, FL. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It won’t be until mid-April that the Atlanta Braves face the Philadelphia Phillies again.
What started as a pretty underwhelming showcase today with the Braves turned into a late win (3-2) as the lineup couldn’t manage a hit to get on the board until the bottom of the seventh inning where Michael Harris II hit an RBI single to drive in Dalton McIntyre.
In the same inning, he was able to tie the score (2-2) by gaining a run of his own through a sacrifice-fly from Luke Williams. The Braves were able to get ahead by a run after a fielding error by Phillies’ third baseman (much to Phillies’ fans dismay) Garret Grubs. Outfielder Ben Gamel would get a run off of this error to take the lead (3-2).
As for veteran pitcher Martín Pérez, he was able to manage 3.2 innings and only allowing one run and six hits through switching out a few times with Jacob Kroeger.
Now, though Pérez didn’t show us a lot in today’s outing, one person that is fighting for an Opening Day roster spot—-with an impressive resume building as of now—-is Didier Fuentes. Watch the 20-year old’s improved command at the mound, along with his striking fastball amongst his arsenal that makes him a strong asset for the rotation.
The ABS system was used to his advantage in the top of the sixth and called a strike for the second out of the inning. With eight total strikeouts in today’s game, it’s safe to say that this might be a gem that the team needs to key in on for the long-run.
Could we be seeing another Braves’ Rookie of the Year this year?
The team is off tomorrow, but will be set to take on the Pirates on Friday.
Major League Baseball is facing a turbulent moment right now. Local media rights are unsettled, labor issues are expected to cause a lockout in 2027, and the lack of a salary cap creates payroll disparities. But for private equity, all this volatility is building a perfect storm through which to swoop in.
MLB was one of the first of the major U.S. professional sports leagues to allow PE firms to invest. In 2019, baseball began allowing PE funds to buy up to 15% of a team, with no limit on the number of clubs a fund can invest in. It’s not clear if MLB imposes a minimum dollar amount that funds must spend. And no franchise can sell more than 30% of its equity to PE.
As one of the first to open its doors to PE, MLB has attracted more PE funds than many other sports leagues. (The NBA has more PE investments, but that includes firms like Arctos Partners that have multiple holdings.)
A handful of private equity firms have taken stakes in MLB teams. This includes Arctos, Sportsology Capital Partners and Sixth Street. RedBird Capital, the PE firm from Gerry Cardinale, backs Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Red Sox. Silver Lake owns Diamond Baseball Holdings, which has amassed a collection of 48 minor league teams. (Marc Lasry’s Avenue Capital is an investor in the Baltimore Orioles, but Avenue is a hedge fund and not private equity.)
Ares Management is an investor in Chelsea FC, Inter Miami CF and the Miami Dolphins but doesn’t own an MLB team. Ares did act as a lender to the San Diego Padres in 2021.
Buying a professional sports team is a complicated, capital-intensive and regulated process that can take lots of time. Sportsology spent one-and-a-half years in negotiations before completing their minority stake in the Texas Rangers in February.
Investing in sports teams is still relatively new, said Aaron Mulvihill, global alternatives strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. “Sports investing is quite unique and interesting because it’s emotional and there’s a lot of fan loyalty,” he said. “It’s quite specialized. It’s a little more difficult to predict on an Excel model how a sports franchise will do.”
Private equity has recently hit some trouble. Some funds with exposure to the so-called SaaS-pocalypse are facing withdrawals as well as sharp stock declines. Particularly hard-hit is Blue Owl, which last month reportedly restricted investor withdrawals from one of its retail-focused funds. Blue Owl is the parent of the HomeCourt Partners fund which buys minority stakes in NBA franchises. Shares of Blue Owl are down 57% from their 52-week closing high of $21.65 that it reached in March 2025.
Still, there are many reasons to invest in professional sports teams, one being the scarcity of teams, with many leagues capped at around 30 clubs.
Soaring team valuations provide another reason to invest in sports. In 2001, Forbes valued the Dallas Cowboys at $743 million, a figure that rocketed to $13 billion in August’s Sportico valuations, making Dallas the world’s most valuable sports team.
While baseball lags the NFL, in part because MLB takes in far less money in national TV rights deals, its franchise values are growing, too, with the average team up 12% this year alone.
The New York Yankees again toppedSportico’s new list of most valuable MLB franchises at $9.4 billion, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers at $9.05 billion and the Boston Red Sox placing at $6.65 billion.
How to Value
When it comes to valuing a club, many professional sports teams operate with negative cash flows, so traditional valuations metrics like EBITDA are useless, according to the Corporate Finance Institute. This is why MLB teams are often valued as a multiple of revenue. Using a revenue multiple allows clubs to capture revenue from local media and the intrinsic value of each team.
Valuing teams with an EBITDA multiple also doesn’t allow teams to include their scarcity value. “Sports team ownership, for an individual, in many ways is more analogous to the ownership of a valuable piece of art than it is to cold economic rationality,” said Stephen Amdur, a partner with law firm Fried Frank, who has advised on sports transactions such as the sale of Chelsea FC and the San Francisco Giants’ partnership with Sixth Street. “I don’t know how a person ultimately decides exactly what a Picasso should be worth, just as I don’t know how a person decides exactly what the Chicago Bears should be worth. It all depends on the team, the situation and your own personal enjoyment of the sport.”
The average MLB team is worth $3.17 billion, according to Sporticodata. This translates to an average multiple of about 7.2x revenue. This low valuation is mainly due to the league’s looming labor issues. The current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association is set to expire on Dec. 1, and many expect a work stoppage.
A major point of contention is the salary cap. The NFL, the NHL and the NBA each have salary caps, but MLB doesn’t, which has led to spending disparity and competitive imbalances. While MLB officials have discussed adding a salary cap and a salary floor, the players union has long been against pay limits. “Leagues that have salary caps like NFL have more predicable costs, which is helpful for investors in long-term planning,” Mulvihill said.
There are also media rights issues. In November, the MLB signed off on a package of new, short-term media rights deals with NBC Universal, ESPN and Netflix. Local media rights for the league remain unsettled.
When asked for comment, an MLB spokesman referred to Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred’s recent remarks. “We haven’t even started the process. Candid conversations around (seeing) things that need to be addressed doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to make this proposal or that proposal. I think we have to wait and see how things unfold at the table,” Manfred said during a WFAN radio interview in January.
Broken player economics, including the lack of a salary cap, is suppressing MLB multiples, according to one private equity executive, who declined to speak on the record.
A second PE exec, who also asked not to be named, thinks there will be a delay to the 2027 season with games likely starting in June.
Some bankers and PE executives believe all this volatility makes MLB a great place for private equity to invest right now. They say there are some longtime owners with majority stakes who are economically exposed to baseball’s volatility and would welcome taking money off the table.
Once MLB fixes its problems, including clinching a new CBA, team valuations are expected to jump. Until then, there is good value in the MLB, including for the San Diego Padres, which went on the market in November.
Conviction has helped private equity during broader economic troubles. Many PE funds that invested during the 2008 financial crisis did well. For example, Blackstone acquired Hilton Hotels in 2007 in a deal valued at $26 billion, right before the onset of the global financial crisis. When Hilton faced distress, Blackstone had to restructure the hotel’s debt in 2010. But by 2013, Blackstone took Hilton public and made a $14 billion profit, still considered one of the best PE returns in the industry.
“It is always incredibly hard to time investments whether it’s buying stocks or buying sports teams,” Mulvihill said. “It’s really about being comfortable with that investment in the long term.”
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Bryce Rainer #28 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Spring Breakout series has been a pretty big hit with fans since its implementation back in 2024. For Detroit Tigers fans, the farm system vs. farm system exhibition have has offered first looks at the Tigers’ top picks from the previous summer’s draft the past two years, often with eye-popping results. Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark played well in the first one, and last year Bryce Rainer announced his presence with a 114 mph laser the opposite way in his first professional at-bat since being drafted out of the high school ranks. This year’s matchup is set for Friday, March 20 at 7:35 p.m. ET between the Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton. Let’s take a quick look at who will, and who won’t, be joining manager Alan Trammell’s team of Tigers farmhands.
The most notable part of the announcement of the Tigers’ roster, is that Kevin McGonigle isn’t on it. Does that mean the Tigers are taking him north? I expect that decision has already been made either way, but it sure feels like a good sign on his behalf. On the other side, the game’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, will be on hand to lead the Pirates’ youngsters.
The Tigers will be led by Max Clark, their second ranked prospect and a national top 10 prospect in most sites’ opinion. Clark’s stint in major league camp was marred by a couple of dropped fly balls in the sun and then a truly ridiculous amount of ragebait from various influencers trying to cash in on Clark’s online presence and notoriety. No doubt that was a learning experience for the hard-working and thoughtful young center fielder, or at least some practice in terms of blocking out the noise that grows louder the closer a prospect gets to their major league debut.
Clark will be joined by shortstop prospect Bryce Rainer, who will make his first public appearance since separating his shoulder and undergoing surgery last May. Rainer was off to a pretty scorching start prior to the injury, so it’s great to see that he’s healed up and ready for action. The Tigers’ third ranked prospect showed outrageous raw power and a huge throwing arm in his short Single-A debut, but did have some trouble handling better breaking stuff and offspeed than he’s seen before.
The two new faces we’ll be most focused on are 2025 first round pick, shortstop Jordan Yost, and the Tigers’ top international free agent signing last year, 18-year-old outfielder Cris Rodriguez. Yost already announced himself with a grand slam in his first at-bat in major league camp over the weekend, illustrating that concerns about his raw power development on draft day were overblown. Rodriguez just turned 18 in January but did so well in the DSL last year that the Tigers deemed him ready to come stateside and work in the Complex League this season. The Spring Breakout game will be our first good look at him, probably in right field.
We’ll also get a look at 2025 first round competitive balance selection, Michael Oliveto. We’ll assume he’ll be in the DH slot, but it would be great to see him behind the plate after eight months of working on his defense with the Tigers’ coaching staff. Other notable position players listed includes catcher Eduardo Valencia, outfielders Brett Callahan and Jackson Strong, and third baseman Carson Rucker.
The Tigers won’t have any of their top pitching prospects on hand, going with right-hander Hayden Minton and a few veteran minor league starters, and some of their relief prospects, including Dylan Smith, Moises Rodriguez, Johan Simon, Marco Jimenez, Tanner Kohlhepp, and Yosber Sanchez.
Next year, MLB plans to develop the Spring Breakout games into an ongoing short tournament between farm systems. That will be fun, but either way, the Spring Breakout games have been a cool way to acclimate young prospects to bigger crowds and some national attention, while giving fans a look at their teams’ players of tomorrow. It will be broadcast on MLB Network, and we’ll be following along.
Managed by undefeated Spring Breakout skipper Alan Trammell, your 2026 roster is here ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/aRZsNAx0Hu
Jace Bowen has legitimate five tools | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Over the past several seasons the San Diego Padres’ president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, has traded from the team’s minor league talent pool to acquire major league players. In an effort to keep their window of contention open for as long as possible, the Friars have used their prospect capital to buy major league talent rather than develop that capital.
That has resulted in the present minor league system being the lowest-ranked in baseball by many evaluators. Although the internal evaluations usually differ from the wide view, it cannot be argued that upper-level position player prospects are largely missing. Preller spent most of his offseason signing free agent minor league players that the team believes will help in the present and the future.
Through the course of spring games, some of that talent has had an opportunity to show some of their abilities. Even though the Spring Training environment is not the same as the regular season, the quality of some of the players should give the organization some minor league depth that has been lacking in years past.
Position player options
The whole of spring has provided a platform for the bench competition that has multiple players vying for the last bench job available. When healthy, Sung-Mun Song will be the utility player for the Padres. He will start the season on the IL and will be built up as he recovers from a reoccurring oblique strain. The plan was to get him work at all the infield positions, as well as corner outfield spots, during spring workouts and games. That work will now have to occur in the minor leagues as Song is on the IL and recovers/rehabs.
This leaves a spot open for an opportunity while Song gets to where he needs to be for the Padres purposes. The leading candidates for that opportunity are Jose Miranda and Ty France. They have both distinguished themselves with Miranda hitting .325/.386/.575 with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI in 40 at-bats. France has a .325/.372/.500 line with four doubles a home run and eight RBI in 40 at-bats. They both play first base and third base with France having experience at second base as well.
Both are on minor league deals but France has an opt-out on March 21 that allows him to leave and take a job elsewhere if he is not placed on the roster. If placed on the roster, neither can be optioned to the minors. If the Padres want to keep both, they can place France on the roster and Miranda can start in El Paso. The problem occurs when Song is activated as France has two more opt-outs during the season and can then choose to find another team.
No matter which way this ends up going, it provides the Padres with Miranda as depth to begin the season. They also have Nick Solak, Mason McCoy, Pablo Reyes and a currently injured Will Wagner for added infield depth available. Both McCoy and Wagner have less major league success and experience compared to France and Miranda.
It should be pointed out the outstanding performance by an infielder this spring belongs to prospect Romeo Sanabria. The first baseman is tied with outfielder Jase Bowen for the team lead in RBI with 11. He has hit all spring and opened some eyes during the early weeks of camp.
The outfield is also in good shape. Bryce Johnson has played well the past two weeks after starting slow. He has a .310/.356/.524 line with three doubles and two home runs with six RBI. He is a switch-hitter with speed and plays good defense. He is also the only other true centerfield talent besides Jackson Merrill. Ramon Laureano can play centerfield in a pinch but his range is not as good.
The minor leagues will boast Samad Taylor, Nick Schnell, Carlos Rodriquez and Bowen. Bowen is a legitimate five-tool player who has shown up this spring. He is hitting .289/.333/.667 with five doubles, four homers and 11 RBI (tied with Sanabria) while playing excellent defense with five-of-six stolen bases. He is also a centerfielder but is not on the roster and Johnson is out of minor league options. If Bowen was given the opportunity to start with the Padres, Johnson would have to clear waivers and choose to stay. At 25, Bowen still has plenty of time to prove he is a major league player and the Padres could use him as the season progresses.
Catchers
Catching depth is an issue for the Padres. Freddy Fermin will be the primary catcher but has never played a whole season as the No. 1 and will need a 1-B. As of now, Luis Campusano is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster. He has spent the spring working on his catching skills and developing a working relationship with the pitching staff. It is not surprising that his hitting has suffered. The reality is that he has yet to establish himself as a major league hitter. His lack of success over multiple seasons ends this year if he wants to be considered a major league catcher.
Manager Craig Stammen and the Padres are expressing unwavering faith in him in order to bolster his confidence and provide him with the best environment to succeed. If he doesn’t come through, there is no fallback option.
Blake Hunt was signed during the offseason to be the safety valve and he was injured early in camp and has not played in a game. Rodolfo Durán, 28, has played the most next to Fermin and Campusano. He has 19 at-bats and has a double and two home runs for a .263/.462/.632 line. Should either Fermin or Campusano get injured, a catcher would have to placed on the roster in order to be called up.
Pitchers
This is where the organization has its most and least depth. For the starters, the depth does not go very far. While Joe Musgrove and Griffin Canning work their way back from surgical rehab, the Padres will have to rely on Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez and the two pitchers who win the spring battle for the rotation.
At this point, it seems likely that Walker Buehler and Germán Márquez will be those two pitchers. Buehler has been very good and easily gets the fourth spot. Márquez has been up and down but really excelled in his start on Tuesday, completing five innings with nine strikeouts and allowing three runs, including two home runs. He commanded his knuckle-curve exceptionally well and his velocity on his fastball was up to 95 mph at times.
They both have one more Cactus League start before the season begins.
The rest of the depth is shaky with Musgrove and Canning unavailable. Triston McKenzie is wild but has exceptional velocity on his fastball. He is a project and will need more time. JP Sears is a workhorse but with very unreliable command up to this point. Marco Gonzales hasn’t fooled anyone and needs pinpoint command as his fastball tops out in the low 90s.
Matt Waldron pitched two innings on Tuesday versus the Seattle Mariners, showing increased velocity on his fastball (up to 95 mph) and good use of his off-speed, including his knuckleball. He will start on the IL and be built up to starter status. Unfortunately, he is out of options and has to be promoted to the Padres or they will lose him.
The minor leagues otherwise have lefty Jackson Wolf, who has pitched very well this spring but is not on the roster. Miguel Mendez is on the roster but still has command issues to work out in the minors.
The emergency option would be to deploy either Kyle Hart or Logan Gillaspie, both of whom are being used as “bridge” pitchers currently. Gillaspie is not on the roster and is out of options. Hart is a lefty who has pitched very well, so well that his ERA is still 0.00 after 11.2 innings pitched.
This is the area of most concern for the organization. When everyone is healthy, there will be a logjam with both Buehler and Márquez being veterans with opt-outs and/or no options. Baseball has a way of working these issues out and injuries always figure into these situations. You can never have too many starters but keeping them all on the team could be a challenge.
Bullpen depth
The bullpen, on the other hand, is the biggest strength on this team. There will be very good pitchers who don’t make this roster, probably more than one.
The for sure choices?
Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, Wandy Peralta and some combination of Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio or Logan Gillaspie as the long/bridge pitchers. Marinaccio is out of options and Gillaspie is not on the roster.
It appears Jason Adam and Yuki Matsui will begin the season on the IL to recover/rehab from their injuries. The options to fill out the bullpen are David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriquez, Alek Jacob and Ty Adcock. Adcock just came back from an oblique injury and the team announced Tuesday he was optioned to El Paso.
If they keep Marinaccio and Gillaspie, not wanting to lose major league quality arms, then both have to be on the roster and can’t be sent to the minors. But Hart is the only lefty besides Peralta, and Matsui is down until he recovers from his groin strain.
If there are no trades then the bullpen has room for Hart and one other, besides Gillaspie and Marinaccio. That means either Morgan or Rodriquez break with the team, but not both.
When Matsui and Adam are ready, there are more decisions to be made and losing pitchers without options remains a real possibility.
Having too much pitching should never be complained about. Preller and his team will have lots of decisions to make before March 26. The roster has to be set that morning. Those final cuts could be painful.
The upside of all this is that the depth of this team is the best we have seen for years. After depleting the minor league system over the past three to four years, Preller made some great moves this offseason to bolster the minor league options while adding to the major league team.
The competition is still on and the final decisions will prove to be difficult.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Pitcher Sam Moll #50 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium on March 06, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The knowns about the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff for next week’s Opening Day game against the Boston Red Sox are, for now, the following:
Andrew Abbott is the scheduled starter for Opening Day, and he’ll be backed by Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer
With Hunter Greene on the shelf following elbow surgery, each of Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson have made the Opening Day roster – that’s six starters who’ll work through five roles
Only seven true bullpen roles remain open, and lefty Caleb Ferguson will miss the start of the season with his own injury issues
Based on contracts and easy assumptions, each of Emilio Pagan, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, Pierce Johnson, and Brock Burke are locks to form the bulk of the bullpen on Opening Day, and we learned yesterday that Connor Phillips has earned a spot on it, too. That leaves just one open spot in the bullpen, and MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed on Tuesday that both Kyle Nicolas and Hagen Danner are now out of the running for it.
Sam Moll, who is out of options, is likely the leader in the clubhouse for the final spot, as he’s a perfect situational lefty that will help ease the pain of losing Ferguson. Williamson and Burke are the other two lefties already on the staff with yet-to-be-defined roles, but Williamson will get treated more like a starter and Burke’s lack of platoon splits means he’ll be used more like a traditional reliever (and face plenty of righties). Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey are still in the hunt, in theory, but their ownership of options means they’ll likely begin at AAA and be the first wave of support should something go awry.
That’s more or less the story with Hagen Danner, who pitched brilliantly this spring. He’s not on the roster and out of options should the Reds ever choose to add him, so the risk of losing him on waivers is heightened. He’s going to get his chance this year at some point unless the wheels fall off, but the Reds are going to simply be much more strategic about when they begin the administrative tightrope of promoting him.
Nicolas, on the other hand, is simply behind schedule. The early March deal that brought him in from the Pirates organization came when he was already at World Baseball Classic duties with Team Italy, and he simply didn’t get enough game action while at the WBC to be 100% ready to begin a big league season next week. Cincinnati clearly has high hopes for him after dealing Tyler Callihan to acquire him, but they’ll use an option on him and let him build up both in Arizona and potentially AAA Louisville before he joins the mix.
What’s clear here is that the Reds certainly expect that they’ll need a ton more than 13 pitchers this season – last year, 28 different pitchers threw in games for the Reds. These moves are the best combination of getting the best possible group for Opening Day while also baking in the most depth to get them through 162 regular season games (and beyond, hopefully). You can never have too much pitching depth, and that’s what helped fuel these moves today.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 06: Jose Quintana #62 of Team Colombia pitches against against Team Puerto Rico during the first inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 06, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s no World Baseball Classic championship game, but the Colorado Rockies are back in action this afternoon. The Rockies are putting tires to the road and heading to Goodyear, Arizona for a match-up against a split squad Cincinnati Reds.
Veteran lefty and off-season acquisition Jose Quintana will be making his third start of camp for the Rockies. After a quick single inning taste before the World Baseball Classic and strong work on the mound for Colombia during the tournament, Quintana struggled in his return to Rockies camp against the Texas Rangers last week. In 3 1/3 innings he allowed five earned runs on four hits and struggled with his command. He walked six batters and hit one, though he also tallied five strikeouts.
Much like his other veteran teammates, it’s difficult to read too much into these performances during the spring. Quintana is likely tinkering with grips and mechanics as we near ever closer to Opening Day and his spot in the rotation is essentially secured.
Starting for the Red Legs is the right-handed Brady Singer, coming off a four inning shutout appearance against the Giants last week. Singer is a high extension pitcher with a one-two punch slider and sweeper combo to back up his low 90s sinker. He also throws a cutter and a four-seam fastball.
First Pitch: 2:05 PM MDT
TV: Reds.tv
Radio: Reds Radio WSAI 1360
Lineups:
Update: Tyler Freeman (back tightness) has been scratched from today’s lineup. Jake McCarthy will start in left field while Cole Carrigg will bat second and play center field.
The 2026 MLB rookie crop is deep, offering a little bit of everything for fantasy managers, with several bankable fantasy prospects looking like favorites to break camp with their respective teams.
Even some of those who won’t break camp will offer significant value to fantasy squads in 2026.
Since playing time has a huge impact on our rankings, the rookies appearing on this list are players we believe will have greater opportunities to produce and even end up on the opening-day roster with prominent roles for their respective clubs.
In order of projected fantasy impact, here are this year’s top 15 most impactful rookies:
Top 2026 MLB rookies for fantasy baseball
1. 1B/3B Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds. Stewart made his MLB debut last September, slashing .255/.293/.545 with five home runs in 55 at-bats. This line came after he slugged 20 homers and hit 34 doubles across upper-level affiliates. Stewart, 22, had his breakout season fueled by higher hard-contact rates and a willingness to sit middle-in to slug pitches over the left-field fence without compromising his natural, opposite-field gap approach. He should produce more of the same, likely as the Reds starting first baseman.
2. SS Konnor Griffin, Pittsburgh Pirates. A loud 2025 season, across three levels, propelled the 19-year-old to the top spot on nearly every prospect list this winter. The ninth overall pick from the 2024 draft, Griffin destroyed minor league pitching in his debut, slashing .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases. Griffin’s hit, power and speed tools should carry him to impactful production in most fantasy formats.
3. RHP Nolan McLean, New York Mets. A former two-way player, McLean, 24, dazzled in his late-season big-league debut in 2025. In 48 innings, McLean went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.042 WHIP and 57 strikeouts. Not bad for someone who became a full-time pitcher in June 2024. McLean throws a kitchen sink assortment of pitches, relying more on overall stuff and movement than precise command.
4. OF Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies. Crawford, the son of former MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, posted his best season in the minors last season in Class AAA, slashing .334/.411/.452 with seven homers and 46 steals. The 22-year-old improved his ability to elevate the ball, though he’ll still likely turn in high ground-ball rates. Defense and speed are his carrying tools. With likely a solid average, Crawford’s ability to swipe bases will sustain high fantasy value.
5. 1B/3B Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox. The White Sox signed Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contact after a successful career in Japan. A slugger by trade, the 26-year-old is known for his pristine plate discipline, his exceptional hard contact rates and his dismal contact rates. Despite struggling with injuries in 2025, Murakami still slugged 22 home runs in 56 games with the Yakult Swallows. A third baseman in Japan, he is slated to be Chicago’s opening-day starter at first.
6. RHP Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates. Like McLean, Chandler is a former two-way player, who committed full time to pitching after the 2022 season. The 23-year-old had an up-and-down season in Triple-A before a late-season promotion to Pittsburgh. He left his struggles with command in the minors and proved his stuff, especially his high-riding fastball, against big-league competition.
7. OF Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians. DeLauter has the tools to be a significant fantasy producer. The 24-year-old has been a fixture on the injured list, dating to before he was a first-round pick in the 2022 draft. When he’s on the field, he has dominated. In 138 career minor league games, DeLauter slashed .302/.384/.504 with 20 homers and 40 doubles.
8. 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt, St. Louis Cardinals. The seventh pick in the 2024 draft, Wetherholt has a tremendously high floor. The 23-year-old is known for his double-plus hit tool, which overshadows the rest of his toolshed. Last year, Wetherholt slashed .306/.421/.510 with 17 home runs, 23 steals, and nearly as many walks as strikeouts (72 BB,73 SO). The sneaky power and sneaky speed should play right away.
9. 3B Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays. The 30-year-old Okamoto, like Murakami, is not really a prospect, though he’s an MLB rookie, having come over from Japan. With the Yomiuri Giants last year, he slashed .327/.416/.598 with 15 homers in an injury-shortened season. Power production likely doesn’t follow Okamoto to the big leagues, but the hit and on-base tools should play.
10. OF Dylan Beavers, Baltimore Orioles. Beavers enjoyed a breakout 2025, mostly spent at Triple-A before a late-season promotion took him to Baltimore. The 24-year-old slashed .304/.420/.515 with 18 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 94 games. Beavers’ ability to get on base is his calling card but his double-plus speed doesn’t carry exceptional stolen base skills. His average power should play in the big leagues.
11. SS Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers. McGonigle’s hit tool is exceptional, which carries his profile, but don’t sleep on his power, which is plus. In 88 games, McGonigle slashed .372/.462/.648 with 19 home runs, walking 59 times and only striking out 46 times. The 21-year-old has struggled with injuries the last three seasons and has yet to appear in 100 games.
12. OF Carson Benge, New York Mets. The Mets drafted the former two-way player in the first round in 2024. Benge, 23, had a stellar season, showing the ability to work the gaps. In 116 games across three levels, Benge hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 steals.
13. C Carter Jensen, Kansas City Royals. Jensen is an offense-first backstop who rode loud contact rates to his big-league debut in 2025. The 22-year-old hit .290/.377/.501 with 20 home runs across upper-level affiliates and continued to show on-base skills and power during his MLB debut. He and Salvador Perez likely split reps between DH and catcher in 2026.
14. C Samuel Basallo, Baltimore Orioles. The 21-year-old Basallo was overmatched during a late-season big-league call-up after bullying minor league pitching. It’s a double-plus power tool, fueled by exceptional bat speed and feel for barrel. Basallo is still figuring out launch angles though. The hit tool fuels batting average with a chance for more.
15. RHP Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays. The unexpected hero of Toronto’s American League championship run, Yesavage, 22, will be splitting innings with one of the deepest rotations in baseball. His split finger is a true double-plus offering, especially when commanding his flat-angled fastball. Even the slider is capable of getting whiffs.
Chris Blessing writes about minor league prospects for Baseball HQ. For more in-depth fantasy baseball stats and analysis subscribe to BaseballHQ.com.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison throws a pitch against the Seattle Mariners on March 8 at American Family Fields of Phoenix. | Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Brewers are in split-squad action this afternoon against two of the teams alongside the Brewers near the bottom of the Cactus League standings. In one of the games, Milwaukee will send a group to play the Seattle Mariners, who are in last place with a spring record of 7-17, while the other half of the squad will stay at American Family Fields of Phoenix to take on the 12-14 Angels.
Kyle Harrison will make the start in the home game vs. the Angels. Harrison has allowed a bunch of runs this spring — eight of them, seven earned, in seven innings — but he’s also struck out a ton of batters (12 of them in seven innings) and his stuff has generally looked good. Given the injury to Quinn Priester and the slow ramp up for Brandon Woodruff, Harrison has a good shot at sticking in the rotation, so he’ll be looking to build on that. Scheduled to follow Harrison on the mound today are the team’s two lefty swingmen, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall.
In Peoria against the Mariners, Carlos Rodriguez will get the start. It’ll be Rodriguez’s second appearance with the Brewers after returning from duty with Nicaragua’s World Baseball Classic team last week; he threw two innings last time out. Also scheduled to pitch for the Brewers in this game are Easton McGee and Jacob Waguespack.
The stronger lineup is pretty clearly the one at home versus the Angels; all nine players in that lineup should make the Opening Day roster. The Mariners game, which can be seen on Brewers.TV, features another player freshly back from the WBC, Tyler Black, leading off, along with an interesting team of young players including Jett Williams, Brock Wilken, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, and Marco Dinges.
First pitch in both games is at 3:10 p.m. CT, and as mentioned, the away game against the Mariners can be seen on Brewers.TV. The Angels game, with the varsity squad, can be heard on WTMJ and the Brewers Radio Network.
Feb 24, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Mike Tauchman (50) runs onto the field before the game against the Houston Astros at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
With an off day for the Mets in Grapefruit League action today, there are just four days’ worth of games left before Opening Day next week. After spring training concludes, I will post a final poll with all of our candidates’ cumulative spring training stats and KoST point totals and we will determine a winner. In the meantime, let’s see where things stand with our field of KoST candidates as we approach the final stretch in the 2026 KoST contest.
Cristian Pache – .464/.516/.786 in 28 ABs
With just four days’ worth of spring training games left to go before Opening Day, Pache shares the team lead in hits with Carson Benge with 13. One of the hits he amassed since our last update was a home run, his second one this spring.
“He’s an elite defender,” Carlos Mendoza said of Pache, who has impressed on both sides of the ball this spring. “Offensively, we’ve seen him hit the ball hard up the middle and run the bases. There are a lot of tools there. It’s good to see him getting results.”
He is not likely to make the team, but he is definitely a KoST favorite as a guy who perfectly embodies the spirit of the contest: someone who came out of nowhere and turned some heads. He will be useful depth for the Mets to have in Triple-A.
KoST Points: 4 Total KoST Points: 12
MJ Melendez – .364/.364/1.000 in 11 ABs
No updated stats for MJ Melendez, who was optioned to minor league camp yesterday in a flurry of cuts. His sample size is probably not large enough to be a serious KoST contender due in part to his participation in the World Baseball Classic, but he is a worthy mention for having made an impression during his brief time in camp.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 4
Austin Barnes – .313/.389/.500 in 16 ABs
Barnes has logged just two at-bats since our last update, but he got a hit in one of them, which improves his already impressive overall Grapefruit League batting line slightly.
KoST Points: 1 Total KoST Points: 4
Mike Tauchman – .280/.419/.520 in 25 ABs
Mike Tauchman continues to be in the starting lineup most days for the Mets in Grapefruit League action and it’s becoming increasingly likely he may make the Opening Day roster even if Carson Benge also earns a spot. Something that is working in his favor is that he holds an opt out for March 25, so if he doesn’t make the roster, the Mets risk losing him altogether.
Could a healthy Francisco Lindor open the door for the Mets to carry five outfielders? Here, I suggest there's room for both Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman (who holds an opt out for March 25, per league sources): https://t.co/elCjU7Vv1j
Tauchman has been productive this spring and although he has more of a major league track record than some of our other KoST candidates, he deserves a lot of consideration if he forces his way onto the roster with his spring performance—an outcome that was perhaps unexpected at the start of spring training. Of Tauchman’s seven hits in Grapefruit League play, four went for extra bases, including a home run. He also walked four times and drove in six runs.
KoST Points: 3 Total KoST Points: 8
Vidal Bruján – .231/.375/.231 in 26 ABs
Another player who continues to get looks is Vidal Bruján, who has an outside chance of making the team if the Mets decide they need an infielder instead of a fifth outfielder. But as Francisco Lindor continues to progress and remain on track for Opening Day, Bruján’s chances of making the roster decline. Also in decline is his statistical output since our last update when he was first added to the KoST field.
KoST Points: 1 Total KoST Points: 5
Tobias Myers – 1.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 12 Ks in 9 2/3 IP
Myers continues to be excellent overall this spring, even if his most recent outing against the Marlins wasn’t as stellar as his other appearances. His 12 strikeouts are tied with Freddy Peralta for the second-most on the team behind Clay Holmes. The Mets are tinkering with Myers’ arm angle and his repertoire and the results have spoken for themselves so far, particularly when it comes to the induced vertical break on his fastball. Myers is a lock to make the bullpen as the Mets’ long man, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up in the rotation at some point if he continues pitching well.
Myers is prepared for whatever role the Mets have for him. “To be DFA’d three times when you’re still starting your career really opens your eyes and makes you realize you need to go out there and get it,” Myers recently said to the New York Post. “I learned you’ve got to be good when called upon. You’ve got to commit and be available.”
KoST Points: 3 Total KoST Points: 7
Robert Stock – 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 6 Ks in 3 IP
Obviously no new updates on Robert Stock, who is dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome. We will always remember his brief, shining KoST campaign.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 3
Austin Warren – 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2 Ks in 4 IP
Warren has not made any appearances since last week’s update, but remains in big league camp for now.
KoST Points: 0 Total KoST Points: 3
Matt Turner – 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6 Ks in 5 IP
Matt Turner was reassigned to minor league camp at the beginning of the month and while he still logged some appearances in Grapefruit League action after that, he hasn’t appeared in any games since our update last week. He ends his KoST campaign with a perfect 0.00 ERA and has an intriguing KoST case if you want to get a little weird with it.
