NEW YORK — CC Sabathia’s No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O’Neill was honored with the retirement of No. 21 in 2022. Twenty-three numbers have been retired, with No. 8 set aside for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.
New York made the announcement Wednesday night.
Sabathia will join former teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte with plaques in Monument Park, beyond Yankee Stadium’s center-field fence.
Sabathia was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent.
He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees (2009-19), including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for New York.
Feb 25, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) throws a pitch during the first inning against the against the Washington Nationals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Yankees didn’t do much in the way of new addition over this past offseason. The most notable move they made was the signing of Cody Bellinger, but he of course already spent last season in the Bronx. In terms of new pieces, the most notable was the trade for pitcher Ryan Weathers.
The son of former Yankee David, Weathers was coming off two solid seasons with the Marlins, but was far from a marquee acquisition. It mostly seemed like he was depth in both the rotation and bullpen. Well, you shouldn’t judge too much on one spring training game, but it appears he’s actually the Cy Young favorite. To be serious, Weathers looked very impressive in his first outing as a Yankee, as he struck out five Nationals’ batters in his 3.2 innings.
Meanwhile on offense, the Yankees ran out a lineup that only included a couple likely 2026 big leaguers, but they still did the job. Washington chipped in by making three errors in total, as the Yankees cruised to a 7-0 victory on Wednesday night.
The Yankees got the game started on a nice note. After Weathers threw an easy 1-2-3 top of the first, Amed Rosario took the first pitch he saw from Andrew Alvarez out to right for a lead-off homer. An inning later, JC Escarra singled on a slow roller that catcher Keibert Ruiz couldn’t handle. The Nats’ defense got a little farcical after that, as an Alvarez error and a wild pitch later allowed Escarra to come around and score.
On the mound, Weathers looked about as good as you could hope in both his first outing of the spring and first as a Yankee. He ended up throwing 49 pitches over 3.2 innings. He allowed just one hit and no walks, while striking out five and looking downright nasty at points.
Some more shoddy defense allowed the Yankees to tack on three more runs in the fourth inning. Non-roster invite Jonathan Ornelas chipped in with one RBI single, but another two runs scored after former #2 draft pick Dylan Crews made an error on a Rosario batted ball.
Having made a nice defensive play at third base in the top of the fifth, top prospect George Lombard Jr. then flashed some offense in the bottom half of the inning. With two runners on, he took a ball into the gap in left-center field, bringing home both runners for a two-RBI double.
Prospective closer David Bednar was one of the notable names of the bullpen for the Yankees in this one. He came in and threw a fairly easy 1-2-3 inning, but did get some help from the aforementioned nice defensive play from Lombard. Fernando Cruz replaced him in the sixth, and he looked very good, striking out the side in a perfect inning. Tim Hill rounded things out for the regulars by striking out one batters in an easy inning of his own.
Add in the innings from the prospects and non-roster guys, and the Yankees allowed just one hit in total on the night. The only baserunner they allowed was a hit off Weathers, which was then erased by a double play. In total, the Yankees only faced the minimum possible 27 batters.
Tomorrow, the Yankees will be back in action as they host the Braves at Steinbrenner Field at 1:05 pm ET. Following up on an impressive outing in his spring debut, pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez will take the mound again in this one.
On the same day that the Yankees announced they will retire CC Sabathia's No. 52 later this year, another southpaw made his spring debut in pinstripes and dominated.
Ryan Weathers struck out five batters and faced the minimum, pitching into the fourth inning of the Yankees' 7-0 win over the Nationals on Wednesday night at GMS Field.
The Yankees' offense didn't have to do much as they took advantage of three Nationals errors and multiple misplays to push across seven runs, five unearned.
Here are the takeaways....
-Weathers was dominant. After CJ Abrams grounded out on a liner up the middle -- that almost hit the southpaw -- Weathers struck out Dylan Crews and got Keibert Ruiz to pop out in the 11-pitch first inning. He would strike out two more in a 1-2-3 second before giving up his first baserunner, a one-out single in the third. However, Weathers erased him with a 6-4-3 double play to get through three on just 39 pitches (26 strikes).
Weathers got the first two batters out in the fourth before being pulled in the middle of an at-bat after 49 pitches (32 strikes). Danny Watson came in and finished off the at-bat with a strikeout to put an end to Weathers' line.
The young southpaw went 3.2 innings, allowed one hit and struck out five batters.
-Amed Rosario got the Yankees' scoring started with a leadoff, first-pitch homer off of lefty starter Andrew Alvarez. The veteran infielder, who has a spot on the bench locked up, finished 1-for-3 while reaching on an error when Crews dropped a Rosario pop-up with men on first and second and two outs, plating two.
The other Yankees runs came on some shoddy Nationals defense as a wild pitch allowed J.C. Escarra to score from third in the second inning and Jonathan Ornelas' single drove Max Schuemann home in the fourth.
-George Lombard Jr. had himself a good day at the plate and in the field. After going hitless in his first two appearances this spring, the Yankees' top prospect went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run double in the fifth. He also made a strong throw on a soft dribbler to third in the fifth to get the first out.
-In addition to Rosario, the Yankees had three other players who appeared in games last season start in Wednesday's game. But they didn't do much at the plate. The combination of Jasson Dominguez, Ben Rice and Escarra went 1-for-9 with four strikeouts. The lone hit came from the Yankees' backup catcher.
-On the pitching side, manager Aaron Boone got a couple of his high-leverage relievers some work. David Bednar had a 1-2-3 fifth inning while Fernando Cruz struck out the side in the sixth. Tim Hill struck out one in a 1-2-3 seventh inning
The combination of Weathers, Watson, Bednar, Cruz, Hill, and Kyle Carr allowed just one hit and faced the minimum 27 batters in the victory.
Game MVP: Ryan Weathers
Weathers showed why the Yankees traded for him this offseason with the best pitching performance at camp so far.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Los Angeles Dodgers kept raving about Roki Sasaki all spring, believing he was becoming the star pitcher they envisioned all along when they won the sweepstakes for his services a year ago.
Well, Sasaki did nothing to inspire the same euphoria, let alone confidence Wednesday, as he struggled in his spring training debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Sasaki was hit hard, hit often and struggled with his control. He gave up three hits, including two doubles, and three runs to the first five Diamondbacks batters he faced. He threw only 17 of his 36 pitches for strikes, walking two batters with three strikeouts. He was scheduled to pitch two innings, but lasted just four outs.
“I thought he was overthrowing,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after their 10-7 victory, keeping them undefeated (5-0) this spring. “I haven’t seen that all spring.’’
Roberts, who was gushing over Sasaki’s bullpen sessions in his media session Wednesday morning, wasn’t panicking over his performance, saying he could have simply been overwhelmed by an adrenaline rush in his first outing. But Roberts also isn’t simply going to hand him a starting job until he proves he deserves it, either. Sasaki pitched only 36.2 innings for the Dodgers last season, spending four months in the minor leagues while overcoming a shoulder impingement injury.
“I think the first thing is,’’ Roberts said, “is that he’s just got to mix [pitches] better. He’s got to command the fastball. … Honestly, I thought today was the first day he came out of his mechanics. He just didn’t have the feel or control of that fastball.’’
Scouts in attendance also criticized Sasaki’s performance, saying he showed a lack of confidence with his body language, with one scouting saying, “He looked scared to death.’’
Sasaki’s fastball reached 98.6 mph, but there was no movement, with Sasaki giving up two of the hits with an exit velocity of 105 mph.
“In the bullpen, I felt pretty good about the forkball,’’ Sasaki said, “but once I got on the mound, it didn’t go well. And the four-seam, I felt pretty good in the bullpen, but once I got on the mound, it felt a little off.’’
Roberts has made it perfectly clear to Sasaki that he needs to command at least three pitches in his arsenal if he’s going to be a regular in the Dodgers’ ultra-talented starting rotation. Sasaki is trying to incorporate a slider to go along with the fastball and splitter, throwing his new pitch seven times in Wednesday’s game.
“I’m really impressed by Roki in the sense that he’s had a lot of success with the two pitches,’’ Roberts said, “but he has to be open and understand that if he wants to be a great as a starting pitcher in the big leagues, that third pitch is important ...
“We’re expecting him to be good, he’s exepcting to be good, and to continue to get better.’’
Opening day is one month away, and Sasaki must still prove that he can be a bona fide starter after making only eight starts (1-1, 4.72 ERA) and finishing the season in the bullpen. He was a critical piece to the Dodgers’ bullpen in October, yielding just one earned run in 10.2 innings, while saving three postseason games.
Sasaki has made it clear that he wants to be a starter. The Dodgers want him to start. But he needs to prove he can do it.
Sasaki, who is staying in Dodgers camp and not pitching for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, conceded there was at least was one positive aspect of the day.
“I was able to finish my outing,’’ he said, “without getting hurt.’’
Feb 25, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman T.J. Rumfield (64) celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the second inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Earlier today, the Colorado Rockies soundly defeated the Chicago Cubs in a 14-7 routing.
If Carson Benge has more performances like he did Wednesday, then the Mets will have an easy decision come the end of spring training.
The 23-year-old, who is fighting for the starting right field job, went 3-for-3 against the St. Louis Cardinals in Grapefruit League action, recording all three hits with two strikes in the count against major league pitchers.
He singled in the first inning against Richard Fitts, had another in the third off Matt Svanson, and then finished his day with a 10-pitch at-bat against Chris Roycroft, resulting in the third baseknock. After the game, the top prospect discussed what he liked from his ABs and said he simply tries "to take it one at-bat at a time."
"I got to two strikes on all of them pretty quick, so being able to battle for my team and just find a way on base. Feel like that's pretty huge," Benge said.
He then showed how much he cares about working a good hitter's count and not giving up at the plate.
"A lot [of pride]. I hate striking out. That's one thing about me," Benge said. "Being able to fight for every pitch, scrap for it, is really good."
Manager Carlos Mendoza was also impressed with Benge's ability to fight through an at-bat and "find a way" to get on base.
"His ability to stay on the fight," Mendoza said. "Especially when he gets behind in counts. We saw it today, his ability to foul off pitches. And then just using the whole field and putting the ball in play. His bat-to-ball skills, we saw it today. He just finds a way. It was just good to see.
"He probably missed some good fastballs to hit. Even though he got behind in counts, he was able to stay on the fight, like I said, and put the ball in play."
Benge knows he still has a lot to learn, but isn't rushing or forcing results and is using his resources to help him get through the spring.
"Soak up every bit of information I can from all the veteran guys around here," Benge said. "Just take it day-by-day, be myself, nothing else."
He added, "I feel like I'm getting adjusted day-by-day. Kind of seeing how everyone's playing, like what it takes, seeing how good they are. Feel like I'm getting comfortable, really, day-by-day."
The potential Opening Day right fielder made it clear he'll do "anything not to strike out," and that type of mentality may be what helps him make it to Citi Field on March 26.
"I just try to and go in there and fight every AB, not trying to give something away by taking a dumb swing or anything like that," Benge said.
02/13/26: Former New York Mets relief pitcher and now Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz throws during day one of spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale,...
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –– There were no trumpets. It was not the ninth inning.
But a year removed from the Dodgers’ maddening search for a trustworthy closer, the appearance of Edwin Díaz still came as a welcome sight.
For the first time since signing a three-year, $69 million deal to become the Dodgers’ new closer over the offseason, Díaz made his spring debut in the team’s Cactus League contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields on Wednesday afternoon.
But a year removed from the Dodgers’ maddening search for a trustworthy closer, the appearance of Edwin Díaz still came as a welcome sight. JASON SZENES FOR CA POST
Even in his first spring outing, the right-hander was touching nearly 97 mph with his fastball and collecting a strikeout with a swing-and-miss slider. And though he allowed a one-out single and another deep fly ball that Hyeseong Kim had to track down on the run in center, he pitched a scoreless fourth inning in the 10-7 victory.
“Felt really good,” Díaz said afterward. “I was trying to throw strikes … and I think I did a pretty good job.”
Last year, the ninth inning was a nonstop headache for the Dodgers. Tanner Scott flopped as the team’s primary closing option, blowing an MLB-most 10 saves after arriving on his own lucrative free-agent deal. Most of the alternative options fared no better, especially after Evan Phillips went down with Tommy John surgery and Blake Treinen began battling elbow problems.
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Only at the end of the regular season did the Dodgers find some stability, when Roki Sasaki returned from a shoulder injury to anchor the bullpen through much of the playoffs.
On Wednesday, however, Sasaki was the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, beginning his long-planned return to the team’s rotation. Scott, meanwhile, was back at Camelback Ranch, continuing to rectify last year’s struggles in a live batting practice session.
Now, it is Díaz who has been fully entrusted with ninth-inning duties –– representing the Dodgers’ most established closing option since Kenley Jansen departed five years ago.
JASON SZENES FOR CA POST
In some ways, that role makes Díaz an even more critical addition than $240 million outfielder Kyle Tucker was this winter. The Dodgers are banking on the 31-year-old, three-time All-Star to remain arguably the best closer in the league.
Not that the pressure is getting to the nine-year big-league veteran.
After Wednesday’s outing, he talked at length about his excitement for the tournament, which will allow him to play on Puerto Rican soil (where group stage games will be held) for his first time as a professional.
“I think that’s the most important thing for me, pitching in front of my family and friends,” he said. “People from Puerto Rico, they don’t have the chance to travel and see us play in the big leagues. So the chance to play in front of my family and friends will be something I’m looking forward to.”
He also joked that, in order to dye his hair white to match his Puerto Rican teammates, he had to seek out some hairstyling help.
He talked at length about his excitement for the tournament, which will allow him to play on Puerto Rican soil. JASON SZENES FOR CA POST
“If I did it myself,” he laughed, “I’d maybe go bald.”
Díaz said he will make one more Cactus League appearance with the Dodgers before departing for the WBC. He will then try to get through the tournament healthy, after blowing out his knee while celebrating a win in the 2023 edition.
Once he returns to the Dodgers, the next challenge will begin: trying to shore up the biggest weakness from last year’s team and deliver on the reliever-record $23 million his new contract will pay per season.
But for now, Díaz was simply happy to be back in game action, and making his unofficial debut with a club desperate to see him succeed.
“I think I threw the ball really good,” he said. “(I’m feeling) ready to go.”
Díaz said he will make one more Cactus League appearance with the Dodgers before departing for the WBC. Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Ryan returns: Beyond Díaz and Sasaki, there was another notable pitching outing in Wednesday’s game. For the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery as a rookie in 2024, right-hander River Ryan returned to the mound, tossing a scoreless inning in his continued pursuit of an Opening Day rotation spot.
“It was definitely nerve-racking,” Ryan said. Yet, he flashed his potential by hitting 98 mph with his fastball, and showing off what he feels is an improved six-pitch mix, describing his stuff as “just as good, if not better, than before I got hurt.”
“Just got to get feel back with them all,” Ryan added, after retiring two of his three batters and having a walk negated when the baserunner was caught stealing. “But I’m really happy with how the day went.”
Klein gets dinged: Right-handed reliever and World Series hero Will Klein had a less successful day on the mound, giving up a home run to Pavin Smith on a first-pitch fastball he left up in the zone.
Kim patrols center: Wednesday was Hyeseong Kim’s first time playing center field this spring, and he impressed with not only his running catch in the fourth inning to bail out Diaz but also a sliding grab coming in on a ball during the first inning to help limit the damage for Sasaki. While Kim will primarily play the infield this year, his outfield versatility could help him earn more at-bats.
Up next: Tyler Glasnow will make his first start of the spring Thursday, when the Dodgers return to Camelback Ranch to face the White Sox. At 5-0, they will try to remain the last unbeaten team in Cactus League play.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Former New York Yankee CC Sabathia throws the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Get out your pens to mark your calendars, because there’s now an event at Yankee Stadium during this coming season that you won’t want to miss. Just a short while ago, the Yankees announced that this coming September 26th, they’ll be holding a ceremony to formally retire CC Sabathia’s No. 52 and give him a plaque in Monument Park.
Sabathia pitched for the Yankees from 2009-19, helping them to the 2009 World Series title and a number of other playoff appearances. He was a three-time All-Star in pinstripes and he finished top five in Cy Young voting three times while a member of the team. Last summer, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot, and will forever don a Yankee logo on his plaque in Cooperstowjn.
During his 11 seasons with the Yankees, Sabathia was a stellar pitcher for the team, evidenced by what I’ve already cited and also ranking in the top ten in the franchise lists for wins, strikeouts, and more. However, he also became a revered clubhouse leader. When he first got there, he joined in a veteran heavy era, where the clubhouse was led by the likes of then captain Derek Jeter. While never officially named one, by all accounts he served somewhat of that role as the Yankees transitioned to an era led by now captain Aaron Judge. He also always had his teammates’ backs.
If the Yankees had historically been more selective in the numbers they’d retired in the past, you could argue that Sabathia would fall short of that cutoff. However, they haven’t, and CC is more than deserving, especially in light of his recent Hall induction. In addition to being an absolute gamer on the mound, literally going until he physically couldn’t, he’s an extremely likeably human. I personally cannot wait to see him get another day in the sun later this year.
Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) takes a lead off second in the first inning against the against the Cleveland Guardians at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Despite giving up 12 runs on 11 hits — including three home runs — Milwaukee managed to escape with a thrilling walk-off win over the San Francisco Giants. Brice Turang’s two-homer day powered the Brewers to a second straight victory.
After Carlos Rodriguez retired the Giants in order to start the game, Turang crushed his first home run deep into left field. The solo shot put the Brewers on the board in the bottom of the first.
Turang’s home run gave Milwaukee a lead they would relinquish half an inning later, when Luis Matos — who gave the Brewers plenty of trouble in the 2025 regular season — sent a Rodriguez cutter into the left field stands to tie the game at one run apiece.
Garrett Mitchell worked a walk in his first at-bat of the spring after going down in the count 0-2. The red-hot Brandon Lockridge doubled to right field to put runners on second and third, but Jackson Chourio grounded out to shortstop to end the second inning. Rodriguez wouldn’t come back out for the top of the third, with manager Pat Murphy going to Peter Strzelecki. Strzelecki hit the first batter he faced, Christian Koss, before retiring the next two hitters. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t get out of the inning unscathed. Strzelecki’s second pitch to Bryce Eldridge was a 91-mph fastball up in the zone, which Eldridge sent 391 feet for the Giants’ second home run of the game.
San Francisco would tack on five more runs off of prospect Garrett Stallings in the top of the fourth. After a Harrison Bader home run and a Jung Hoo Lee triple, the score was 8-1, and the game looked out of reach for the home team — but only briefly. The bottom of the fourth saw Giants pitcher Carson Whisenhunt (in for starter Adrian Houser) absolutely melt down, walking the first three batters he faced. Joey Ortiz then ripped a bases-loaded single into left field, scoring Andrew Vaughn from third and Luis Rengifo from second. Whisenhunt then walked Brandon Lockridge, and Giants manager Tony Vitello had seen enough. Right-hander Tristan Beck entered the game to face Chourio with the bases loaded.
Chourio worked an 11-pitch walk to keep the bases loaded for Turang. Beck’s first pitch was a slider low and away, and Turang was ready — crushing a 425-foot grand slam to center field. All of a sudden, the game was tied at eight.
Turang’s first home run today left the bat at 106.5 mph, and the grand slam had an exit velocity of 108.2 mph. Neither home run was pulled. For a player who appeared to be tapping into more power over the second half of last season, that’s an incredibly encouraging sign.
In the top of the fifth, Brewers No. 1 prospect Jesús Made entered the game defensively for Turang and wasted no time making his presence felt. In his first at-bat, Made smoked a triple to right field. He scored one pitch later courtesy of a William Contreras home run, putting the Brewers ahead 9-8. Meanwhile, prospects Tyson Hardin, Brett Wichrowski, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Manuel Rodriguez blanked the Giants over the next four innings.
By the top of the ninth, the score was 10-8 Milwaukee (thanks to an RBI single from Made). Edwin Jimenez, in the game for Rodriguez, was unable to get the save. Jimenez gave up hits to Grant McCray and Daniel Susac to start the inning. Jerar Encarnacion then hit a ground ball to prospect Brock Wilken at third base, but Wilken was unable to handle it, allowing McCray to score. Jimenez couldn’t bounce back after the error, allowing the Giants to tack on three more runs wrapped around a pitching change (to Stiven Cruz) before the inning finally, mercifully, ended with the score now 12-10.
After coming back from a seven-run deficit, it briefly looked like the Brewers were going to give this one away. That is, until Matthew Wood started off the bottom of the ninth with a double. Eddys Leonard then hit a bloop that dropped in for a single and the first run of the inning. Twenty-year-old Josh Adamczewski singled as well, putting runners on first and second for Luis Lara, who grounded into a force-out for the first out. The next batter, Freddy Zamora, lined a single into left field to tie the game at 12 and put the winning run at third. Outfielder Greg Jones lifted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Lara from third for the winning run, giving Milwaukee an exciting 13-12 spring victory.
Aside from Turang’s performance (2-for-3, two homers, five RBIs), Brewers fans have a lot to be excited about after this game. Made, who started last season in Low-A, looked the part today. Made went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Adamczewski, one of the biggest breakouts in the farm system last year, came up clutch with a single in the ninth. Ortiz is now hitting .273 this spring after his two-run (bases loaded!) single. Luis Lara scored two runs. Jackson Chourio worked an 11-pitch walk. The future is bright in Milwaukee.
The Brewers are back at it again tomorrow as they take on the Texas Rangers. First pitch is slated for 2:05 p.m. CT.
CC Sabathia salutes fans as he walks out to the field for introductions during Old Timerâs Day before a game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, in Bronx, NY.
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TAMPA — CC Sabathia will enter Yankees immortality later this season.
The Hall of Fame left-hander will have his No. 52 retired by the Yankees and a plaque unveiled for him in Monument Park on Sept. 26, the team announced Wednesday night.
“From the first number that hung in my locker to 52 forever hanging in Monument Park — this HOF journey has come full circle,” Sabathia wrote in a social-media post. “To have my number retired by the New York Yankees this year is one of the greatest honors of my life. The LegaCCy continues.”
A key part of the 2009 World Series championship Yankees, Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 years in the big leagues playing in The Bronx, pitching to a 3.81 ERA across 307 games.
CC Sabathia salutes fans as he walks out to the field for introductions during Old Timers’ Day before the Yankees’ blowout loss to the Rockies on Aug. 24, 2024 at the Stadium. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
He recorded his 3,000th career strikeout as a Yankee and was also the ALCS MVP in 2009.
A strong presence in the Yankees clubhouse, Sabathia was revered by his teammates and pitched with a bulldog mentality. He retired after the 2019 season, having thrown his last pitch in the ALCS when he walked off the mound with a dislocated shoulder.
“When I think of him, I think of ‘teammate,’ ” said Aaron Boone, who played with Sabathia in Cleveland before managing him in New York. “He brought people together. He connected with a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life, while having the presence of being a superstar. He made you feel welcome. And then between the lines, just a really great competitor. I loved playing with him because he was so intense.
CC Sabathia pitching during the 2009 World Series. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“Just an awesome competitor and the best of the best in teammates.”
Observations from Mets spring training on Wednesday:
Back in Action
Francisco Alvarez played his first game of the spring, going 0-for-2 as the DH. He is scheduled to catch in a simulated game on a backfield in Port St. Lucie on Thursday and make his spring debut behind the plate for the Mets on Saturday.
Francisco Alvarez and pitching coach Justin Willard confer in the bullpen during Spring Training at Clover Field, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
If At 1st You Don’t Succeed …
Mark Vientos went too far to his right on a grounder by Nolan Gorman in the first, but Grae Kessinger was there to make the play to end the inning.
Vientos also made a nice scoop on a long throw from Vidal Bruján in the fourth.
Caught by Eye
Juan Soto sat next to Eli Manning on Tuesday night at a TGL golf event and said it was his first time meeting the retired Giants quarterback. “He’s definitely a humble man,” Soto said. “It was cool to talk to a legend like that.”
The conversation, Soto said, focused mainly on golf — although they chatted about New York, as well.
Thursday’s Schedule
Nolan McLean will make the start for the Mets, who face the Astros in West Palm Beach, Fla., at 1:05 p.m.
MESA, Arizona — Things were going on swimmingly at Sloan Park for the first four innings, with good Rockies pitching holding the Cubs down and Cade Horton throwing well after Jameson Taillon got lit up early on.
Then both teams scored six runs in the fifth inning, a frame that took nearly an hour to complete. The final football-like score of Rockies 14, Cubs 7 featured 26 hits, 12 walks, a couple of pickoffs and generally looked like the minor-league game it was after the fourth inning.
About Taillon, he served up a home run to Mickey Moniak on the game’s first pitch. After that a couple more hits led to a second run in the first, and then T.J. Rumfield homered off Taillon leading off the second. Don’t know whether Taillon was still working on mechanics, as he said after his first start, or whether this was something else. Here’s what we do know:
Jameson Taillon said he will make another spring training start on Monday before joining Team Canada for the WBC.
Horton made his first spring outing and it was a good one. He issued a two-out walk in the fourth after retiring the first five hitters he faced. Overall he struck out a pair and threw 17 strikes in his 26-pitch outing. Here’s the final out Horton recorded, a strikeout of Zac Veen on a nasty curveball. He was also sitting at 96 on his fastball:
Most of the damage the Rockies did in their six-run fifth was charged to Caleb Thielbar, though in fairness, with one out and a couple of runners on, Thielbar induced a ground ball that had Michael Busch been playing first base, might have turned into an inning-ending double play with only one run scoring. But it wasn’t, a run scored and the next hitter, Ezequiel Tovar, smashed a three-run homer.
The Cubs scored six in the bottom of the fifth after most of the regulars, who started en masse in this one, had departed. Of those, only Alex Bregman, Ian Happ and Miguel Amaya had hits at all. Happ’s single in the fifth drove in two runs [VIDEO].
The Cubs made it 9-7 in the sixth on an RBI single by minor leaguer Devin Ortiz. Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey both had scoreless innings, and both executed pickoff plays, which was good to see.
Luke Little, unfortunately, again got himself in trouble with walks and then served up a two-run homer to Kyle McCann and wound up charged with five runs in the eighth. I suspect Little’s headed to Triple-A Iowa again. I’d love to see him succeed but he just doesn’t throw enough strikes. Jack Neely threw an uneventful ninth.
Matt Shaw made an error in right field after a single by old friend Nicky Lopez, and I wish I could show that to you but… there’s only a limited amount of video available from these non-televised games.
You have all probably already heard this news, but I wanted to mention it here:
Tyler Austin, who had an inside track for a bench job with the Cubs, will be sidelined for “months” after undergoing a surgical procedure on his right knee, manager Craig Counsell said.
Which now explains why Austin hadn’t played at all this spring. And this is likely why the Cubs signed Michael Conforto. I think of Conforto, Chas McCormick (who was the DH in today’s game and went 1-for-3) and Dylan Carlson, two of those three will make the team — and Moisés Ballesteros likely becomes the backup first baseman. When Ballesteros is ready for game action I suspect we will see him playing a lot of first base.
Attendance watch: A small crowd of 8,919 attended this game, likely the smallest crowd of the spring. That makes the season total for four dates 44,822, or 11,206 per date.
The Cubs head to Tempe to face the Angels Thursday afternoon. Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs and José Soriano goes for the Angels. Game time Thursday is 2:10 p.m. CT. Once again, no radio or TV for Thursday’s game.
The Yankees announced that they will honor CC Sabathia this season by retiring his uniform number (No. 52) and giving him a Monument Park plaque.
The ceremony will take place Sept. 26 when the team takes on the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia will be the 24th Yankees player or manager to have his number retired and the first since Paul O’Neill (No. 21) on Aug. 21, 2022.
After signing with the Yankees as a free agent prior to the 2009 season, the southpaw helped lead the team to a World Series championship, going 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA in 34 starts. That postseason, the Yankees went 4-1 in his five starts, and he earned the ALCS MVP Award, going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in the Yankees’ six-game series win over the Angels.
Over his first four seasons with the Yankees (2009-12), Sabathia went 74-29 with a 3.22 ERA and nine complete games in 129 starts, logging 905.0 innings pitched and making three AL All-Star teams.
In his 11 total seasons in pinstripes, Sabathia posted a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700K in 307 games. In franchise history, he ranks fourth in strikeouts, seventh in starts, 10th in wins and 11th in innings pitched.
Sabathia was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025, his first year on the ballot.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 2-4. Change on 2025: 0. 5-inning record: 1-5
And it was going so well, too… The D-backs jumped on the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki in the bottom of the first. Nolan Arenado doubled in Geraldo Perdomo, and Ildemaro Vargas then doubled in a pair for a quick 3-0 lead. But it was more or less downhill from there. While Arizona actually outhit Los Angeles by a margin of 13-7, errors and walked doomed them: half of the ten runs conceded by the D-backs today were unearned, and their pitchers also issued nine walks. But there were positives, with three Diamondbacks going deep this afternoon for the first time: Pavin Smith (below), Tim Tawa and Jose Fernandez all homered.
It was Zac Gallen who started, though he only went one inning, being a little behind the other pitchers. That may factor into the decision as to who might replace Merrill Kelly as our Opening Day starter. He allowed a lead-off hit, but struck out two and went over 95 mph, including on the last of his 23 pitches. Drey Jameson took over in the second and was touched up for a pair of runs (one unearned), on two hits and a walk, but was also throwing hard, reaching 98 mph. That was the last pitcher the casual fan would probably recognize, and the results thereafter were… mixed, shall we say.
The Dodgers added a four-spot in the fifth, helped out by a pair of bases-loaded walks and an error by Ildemaro Vargas leading to two more unearned runs. They repeated the damage – four runs, two unearned – in the seventh, with a Jose Fernandez error a key play there. Gerardo Carillo and Hayden Durke were the only two of the ten pitchers used by Arizona to throw a full, clean frame, each striking out one in their inning of work. Despite the three errors, there were some good plays by the D-backs, notably a diving catch in left-field (below) by Ryan Waldschmidt. There were four ABS challenges today, only one being successful.
Tawa was the offensive star of the day, adding another hit and a walk to his home-run, while Druw Jones also picked up two hits, and Jordan Lawlar drew a pair of walks. Tomorrow, the D-backs hit the road again, heading off to Surprise to take on the Kansas City Royals. It’ll be our first chance to get a look at left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, with Ryan Thompson and Kade Stroud potentially also taking the mound.
TOPSHOT - Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm in Montevideo on February 23, 2026. (Photo by Mariana SUAREZ / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds ran their win streak to, well, a win streak on Wednesday with a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. It was their first true road game of the season as they shipped over to Camelback Ranch, and the squad got both excellent pitching and a pair of big dingers to win the day.
The Good
Nick Lodolo looked incredibly sharp in his first outing of Cactus League play, fanning 4 and scattering a pair of hits in 2.0 scoreless frames. Luis Mey rebounded from a rough initial outing of the spring to strike out the side for a hold in his perfect frame of relief, while lefty Brock Burke put up a scoreless frame of his own.
The offense, meanwhile, was powered quite literally by Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday. Sal swatted his first dinger of the spring to begin the scoring, a towering 440 foot blast to CF in the Top of the 2nd that gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead. The following inning, Bleday knocked the snot out of an inside breaking ball, leaving a dent some 464 feet away down the LF line – a two-run shot that scored Hector Rodriguez and gave the Reds all the runs they would need on the day.
Nate Lowe singled and walked in his quest to make the Opening Day roster, while Leo Balcazar picked up yet another hit and now boasts a 1.334 OPS in this incredibly small spring sample size.
The Bad
Middle infield depth is already a bit of a question mark on this club, as the team’s regular 2B (Matt McLain) is currently the only other player projected on the roster who can cover SS when Elly De La Cruz needs a break. And on days when that happens, one of Sal Stewart or Spencer Steer would have to cover 2B, in theory, and neither of them has any real big league experience at the position in recent memory (or at all).
So, it’s a bit of a bummer to see both Edwin Arroyo and Michael Chavis have errors charged to them in this one since, in theory, both are glove-first backup options up the middle on the depth chart.
The Ugly
Lyon Richardson got bonked for a homer and a pair of hits in his one IP, failing to strike anyone out in the process. He’s now yielded 5 H and 3 ER with a walk and zero Ks in his pai of appearances so far this spring after having been DFA’d earlier in the winter (and clearing waivers).
There’s still a ton to like in his right arm, but it’s pretty clear he’s not right at the moment.
What’s Next
Chase Burns will make his second start of spring camp on Thursday afternoon back at Goodyear Ballpark when the Reds play host to Nick Pivetta and the San Diego Padres. Once again, there will be no televised coverage of the game, though audio will be provided by 1360 WSAI.
