Category: Baseball

Last season was a year of roster transition for the Dodgers, who cut ties with longtime mainstays Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes in May, then Clayton Kershaw retired after 18 seasons. Those were the three longest-tenured players on the team.

So let’s look at the current roster and find the new deans. If we go by date added to the 40-man roster, Max Muncy is the longest-tenured Dodger, having joined them on April 17, 2018. If we go by date joining the organization, it’s catcher Will Smith, who signed on June 21, 2016 after getting drafted in the first round. Each are second on the other list, and both will be around for a while. Muncy signed through 2027 with a club option in 2028, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that goes even longer through the end of his career. Smith is signed all the way through 2033.

For purposes of accounting, if a player reached free agency and re-signed with the Dodgers without going anywhere else, I included them as having stayed continuously. Evan Phillips, who was non-tendered in November but re-signed last week, still counts has having been a Dodger since they claimed him off waivers during the 2021 season, for instance. Neither Smith nor Muncy have reached free agency since joining the Dodgers.

A few other fun facts about the Dodgers 40-man roster:

• Edgardo Henriquez, born in June 2002, is both the second-youngest Dodger on the roster (one month older than Ronan Kopp) and fourth-longest-tenured, having signed in September 2018.
• Andy Pages, born in December 2000, is the fifth-youngest Dodger and the third-longest-tenured, having signed in March 2018.
• Ryan Ward was just added to the 40-man roster in November but has yet to play a game in the majors, but he was drafted in the eighth round in 2019 and is the fifth-longest-tenured player by date acquired.
• Mookie Betts and Brusdar Graterol are tied for fourth-longest on the 40-man roster, both acquired back on February 10, 2020, and are tied for seventh-longest in the organization.

Pos	Player	2026 age	Birthdate	40-man	Acquired
3B	Max Muncy	35	Aug 25, 1990	Apr 17, 2018	Apr 28, 2017
C	Will Smith	31	Mar 28, 1995	May 27, 2019	Jun 21, 2016
RHP	Blake Treinen	38	Jun 30, 1998	Dec 15, 2019	Dec 15, 2019
RHP	Brusdar Graterol	27	Aug 26, 1998	Feb 10, 2020	Feb 10, 2020
SS	Mookie Betts	33	Oct 7, 1992	Feb 10, 2020	Feb 10, 2020
LHP	Alex Vesia	30	Apr 11, 1996	Feb 12, 2021	Feb 12, 2021
RHP	Evan Phillips	31	Sep 11, 1994	Aug 16, 2021	Aug 16, 2021
1B	Freddie Freeman	36	Sep 12, 1989	Mar 18, 2022	Mar 18, 2022
OF	Andy Pages	25	Dec 8, 2000	Nov 15, 2022	Mar 1, 2018
IF	Miguel Rojas	37	Feb 24, 1989	Jan 11, 2023	Jan 11, 2023
SP	Gavin Stone	27	Oct 15, 1998	May 2, 2023	Jun 17, 2020
RHP	Bobby Miller	27	Apr 5, 1999	May 23, 2023	Jun 22, 2020
SP	Emmet Sheehan	26	Nov 15, 1999	Jun 16, 2023	Jul 23, 2021
IF/OF	Kiké Hernández	33	Aug 24, 1991	Jul 25, 2023	Jul 25, 2023
RHP	Kyle Hurt	28	May 30, 1998	Sep 12, 2023	Feb 12, 2021
SP	Landon Knack	28	Jul 15, 1997	Nov 14, 2023	Jun 29, 2020
DH/SP	Shohei Ohtani	31	Jul 5, 1994	Dec 11, 2023	Dec 11, 2023
SP	Tyler Glasnow	32	Aug 23, 1993	Dec 16, 2023	Dec 16, 2023
SP	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	27	Aug 17, 1998	Dec 27, 2023	Dec 27, 2023
OF	Teoscar Hernández	33	Oct 15, 1992	Jan 12, 2024	Jan 12, 2024
LHP	Justin Wrobleski	25	Jul 14, 2000	Jul 7, 2024	Jul 26, 2021
SP	River Ryan	27	Aug 17, 1998	Jul 22, 2024	Mar 28, 2022
IF/OF	Tommy Edman	31	May 9, 1995	Jul 29, 2024	Jul 29, 2024
RHP	Ben Casparius	27	Feb 11, 1999	Aug 18, 2024	Jul 23, 2021
RHP	Edgardo Henriquez	24	Jun 24, 2002	Sep 24, 2024	Sep 25, 2018
LHP	Jack Dreyer	27	Feb 27, 1999	Nov 19, 2024	Aug 3, 2021
SP	Blake Snell	33	Dec 4, 1992	Nov 30, 2024	Nov 30, 2024
2B/CF	Hyeseong Kim	27	Jan 27, 1999	Jan 3, 2025	Jan 3, 2025
LHP	Tanner Scott	31	Jul 22, 1994	Jan 23, 2025	Jan 23, 2025
SP	Roki Sasaki	24	Nov 3, 2001	Mar 17, 2025	Jan 22, 2025
C	Dalton Rushing	25	Feb 21, 2001	May 14, 2025	Aug 1, 2022
RHP	Will Klein	26	Nov 28, 1999	Jun 2, 2025	Jun 2, 2025
IF	Alex Freeland	24	Aug 24, 2001	Jul 29, 2025	Aug 1, 2022
RHP	Paul Gervase	26	May 23, 2000	Jul 31, 2025	Jul 31, 2025
OF	Alex Call	31	Sep 27, 1994	Jul 31, 2025	Jul 31, 2025
RHP	Brock Stewart	34	Oct 3, 1991	Jul 31, 2025	Jul 31, 2025
LF/RF/1B	Ryan Ward	28	Feb 23, 1998	Nov 6, 2025	Jun 11, 2019
LHP	Ronan Kopp	23	Jul 28, 2002	Nov 18, 2025	Jul 23, 2021
RHP	Edwin Díaz	32	Mar 22, 1994	Dec 12, 2025	Dec 12, 2025
OF	Kyle Tucker	29	Jan 17, 1997	Jan 21, 2026	Jan 21, 2026
OF	Michael Siani	26	Jul 16, 1999	Feb 3, 2026	Feb 3, 2026

Baseball is finally back!

After one of the most interesting offseasons in franchise history, the new era of Colorado Rockies baseball finally begins today with the first game of Cactus League play. The Rockies open up play against their roommates, the Arizona Diamondbacks, at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Antonio Senzatela will take the pill for the Rockies, kicking off what may be an important spring training for the veteran right-hander. 2025 was a disastrous year as Senzatela struggled to be effective and was eventually relegated to the bullpen. However, one of the important things was that he was able to stay healthy. Under the new leadership, Senzatela is aiming to expand his pitch-mix and prove himself a capable starter in the final guaranteed year of his contract.

For the Diamondbacks, Thomas Hatch will make his first start of spring training. Hatch signed a minor league deal with Arizona after posting a 5.82 ERA in 12 appearances, including one start, with the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins last year. He made 18 starts with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate, recording a 4.22 ERA in 91 2/3 innings and joins a field of players battling for one of the few rotation spots for the Snakes.

And now to the details.

First Pitch: 1:10 MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: 850 KOA

Lineups:

For the visiting Diamondbacks:

Nature is healing. Baseball is back. pic.twitter.com/f38tCTqBMX

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 20, 2026

and the home Rockies:

Baseball, we've missed you.

Watch today's game for FREE on https://t.co/DQSFgj6oQO! pic.twitter.com/T3Xg5QVGxA

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) February 20, 2026

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

Previous Winner

Tre’ Morgan, 1B/LF
23 | L/L | 6’0” | 215
AAA | .274/.398/.412 (119 wRC+) 402 PA, 8 HR, 8 SB, 15.9% BB, 19.2% K

Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.

Rank	Player	Position	Votes	Total	Percentage	Last Season
1	Carson Williams	SS	14	25	56%	1
2	Brody Hopkins	RHP	19	25	76%	8
3	Jacob Melton	OF	14	28	50%	NA
4	Theo Gillen	OF	14	26	54%	13
5	Ty Johnson	RHP	12	25	48%	15
6	Daniel Pierce	SS	13	23	57%	NA
7	Jadher Areinamo	INF	15	28	54%	NA
8	TJ Nichols	RHP	13	28	46%	NR
9	Michael Forret	RHP	8	33	24%	NA
10	Santiago Suarez	RHP	11	30	37%	16
11	Anderson Brito	RHP	7	28	25%	NA
12	Xavier Isaac	1B	9	28	32%	3
13	Caden Bodine	C	10	25	40%	NA
14	Brendan Summerhill	OF	11	27	41%	NA
15	Slater de Brun	OF	10	25	40%	NA
16	Nathan Flewelling	C	8	26	31%	NR
17	Trevor Harrison	RHP	9	26	35%	10
18	Jose Urbina	RHP	13	26	50%	25
19	Tre’ Morgan	1B/LF	15	25	60%	4

Morgan pulled 15 votes in the previous round, tied for the second most in any poll this off-season. We didn’t get a poll up on Wednesday, sorry about that friends, but we are back at it for an interesting vote over the weekend. In the round for No. 19 only one player had multiple votes other than Morgan, and that was Baumeister (8). Next round adds Fabricio Blanco.

Candidates

Jackson Baumeister, RHP
23 | 6’4” | 224
AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB
AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB

A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.

Fabricio Blanco, SS
17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161

A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.

Homer Bush Jr.
24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215
AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K

Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.

Cooper Flemming, SS
19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190

One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).

Brailer Guerrero, OF
20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215
A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K
AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA

Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.

OF Victor Mesa Jr.
24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195
AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K
MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA

This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.

Austin Overn, OF
23 | L/R | 6’0” | 175
A+ (BAL) | .242/.367/.386 (127 wRC+) 341 PA, 8 HR, 43 SB, 15.5% BB, 28.2% K
AA (BAL) | .266/.326/.427 (112 wRC+) 136 PA, 5 HR, 21 SB, 6.6% BB, 25.0% K

Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.

Aidan Smith, OF
21 | R/R | 6’2” | 190
A+ | .237/.331/.388 (114 wRC+) 459 PA, 14 HR, 41 SB, 11.5% BB, 31.2% K

Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.

Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B
24 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
AA | .173/.289/.286 (77 wRC+) 437 PA, 8 HR, 17 SB, 14% BB, 27.7% K
AFL | .264/.400/.472 (.384 wOBA) 65 PA, 1 HR, 5 SB, 12 BB, 19 K

Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.

Victor Valdez, SS
17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186

A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.

We’re so close to two very pivotal things! The start of baseball, and the end of the Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List. On Saturday, the San Francisco Giants play their first Cactus League game of the year. On Wednesday, we wrap up the communal rankings of the top 44 prospects in the organization.

Taking home the most votes on the last ballot is catcher Jancel Villarroel, who makes his CPL debut as the No. 42 prospect in the system.

Villarroel, a right-handed hitter, is one of the newest prospects on the farm, as he came over just before the start of camp in the Kai-Wei Teng trade. So we’ve yet to see him don a Giants jersey.

The recently-turned 21-year old signed with the Houston Astros late in 2022 out of Venezuela, and had a strong 2025. He spent the bulk of the year with Houston’s Low-A affiliate, where he posted a .746 OPS and a 123 wRC+, with six home runs in 85 games, and 20 stolen bases in 27 attempts. That earned him a late-season promotion to High-A, where his numbers came down a bit: he had a .699 OPS, a 91 wRC+, two home runs in 15 games, and no stolen bases.

While Villarroel didn’t post a great batting average (.259 across the two levels), like so many players the Giants have targeted lately, he kept the strikeouts in check, running just a 17.8% rate, made even better by a 10.4% walk rate.

There are questions about how Villarroel will perform as he climbs the ladder. He’s a very short player, listed at 5’8 and probably not much taller than that. He’s played all over the diamond (he has a not-insignificant amount of time at first base, second base, and all three outfield spots), but his lack of speed and agility make it hard to see him playing up the middle, and his lack of power makes it difficult to envision a career at a corner, so it’s probably catcher or bust. But catchers who can hit are always valuable, and that’s the hope with Villarroel, who should open the year as the primary catcher for High-A Eugene. It will be fun getting familiar with one of the organization’s newest members!

Now let’s add to the list. For the final time, we have some new names to choose from.

The list so far

1. Bryce Eldridge — 1B
2. Josuar González — SS
3. Jhonny Level — SS
4. Bo Davidson — CF
5. Dakota Jordan — CF
6. Luis Hernández — SS
7. Gavin Kilen — SS
8. Carson Whisenhunt — LHP
9. Blade Tidwell — RHP
10. Keyner Martinez — RHP
11. Jacob Bresnahan — LHP
12. Trevor McDonald — RHP
13. Argenis Cayama — RHP
14. Luis De La Torre — LHP
15. Trevor Cohen — OF
16. Jesús Rodríguez — C
17. Parks Harber — OF/3B
18. Carlos Gutierrez — OF
19. Drew Cavanaugh — C
20. Daniel Susac — C
21. Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP
22. Josh Bostick — RHP
23. Lorenzo Meola — SS/2B
24. Will Bednar — RHP
25. Yunior Marte — RHP
26. Joe Whitman — LHP
27. Joel Peguero — RHP
28. Alberto Laroche — RHP
29. Trent Harris — RHP
30. Carlos De La Rosa — LHP
31. Diego Velasquez — 2B
32. Lisbel Diaz — OF
33. Maui Ahuna — SS
34. Cam Maldonado — OF
35. Victor Bericoto — OF/1B
36. Reid Worley — RHP
37. Jack Choate — LHP
38. Rayner Arias — OF
39. Nate Furman — 2B
40. Jakob Christian — OF
41. Juan Sánchez — LHP
42. Jancel Villarroel — C

Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.

No. 43 prospect nominees

ScottBandura — 24.6-year old OF — .626 OPS/88 wRC+ in AA (186 PA); .838 OPS/136 wRC+ in High-A (373 PA)

Sabin Ceballos — 23.5-year old 3B — .670 OPS/102 wRC+ in AA (420 PA)

Reggie Crawford — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)

JoseOrtiz — 21.7-year old OF — .803 OPS/134 wRC+ in Low-A (66 PA)

Jean CarlosSio — 21.10-year old INF — .808 OPS/130 wRC+ in High-A (122 PA); .821 OPS/129 wRC+ in Low-A (385 PA)

Charlie Szykowny — 25.7-year old 3B/1B — .816 OPS/122 wRC+ in High-A (549 PA)

TylerVogel — 25.3-year old RHP — 18.00 ERA/6.47 FIP in AAA (2 IP); 1.13 ERA/2.42 FIP in AA (16 IP); 2.83 ERA/3.86 FIP in High-A (41.1 IP)

Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page. All stats are from the 2025 season.

It’s here. The first Orioles game of the spring training schedule is happening today in Sarasota. The game will be aired on both MASN (TV/streaming) and WBAL (radio) in Baltimore, so if you have access to either of those, you can even follow along. It’ll feel a little warmer with baseball going on somewhere.

This being the Grapefruit League, no questions about anything will be answered today. If someone does well, it doesn’t matter. If someone sucks, it doesn’t matter. Everything over the next month is just about getting everyone prepared for the real games come Opening Day.

As nice as it will feel to have good results, particularly the closer we get to Opening Day, really all that matters is getting through the camp season without more injuries piling up on top of what was already there when players reported. There’s already bad injury news here on Friday with the Orioles having announced the official diagnosis for Jordan Westburg, revealing an elbow injury that’s cropped up during his oblique rehab.

Here’s the lineup for the opener:

1. Gunnar Henderson – SS
2. Pete Alonso – 1B
3. Samuel Basallo – C
4. Tyler O’Neill – RF
5. Colton Cowser – CF
6. Adley Rutschman – DH
7. Heston Kjerstad – LF
8. Coby Mayo – 3B
9. Jeremiah Jackson – 2B

Trevor Rogers is the starting pitcher for this opening game. Pitchers expected to be used after him are: Keegan Akin, Jose Espada, Rico Garcia, Trey Gibson, Jean Carlos Henriquez, Enoli Paredes, and Grant Wolfram. They will probably not appear in alphabetical order by last name. Dean Kremer is set to start tomorrow. Further than that has not been lined up (or at least not revealed publicly) just yet.

New manager Craig Albernaz has already offered caution not to read too much into any spring lineup. We certainly should not make assumptions about how the team is leaning for regular season lineups based on this first spring game.

My question for you is, how much do you think this lineup will resemble the one we’ll get for Opening Day? I think there’s probably seven out of the nine Opening Day players here. This being the first game of spring, we’ll probably only see them for four or five innings and then it will be time for the reserves. Some of the reserves might even be players you’re excited to get to see a bit in the early games.

Friday notes…

• CUBS vs. SOX: According to my research, this will be the 601st game of all kinds between the Cubs and White Sox. They have met in 152 regular-season games, six World Series games and 442 exhibition games, including pre-season, in-season and post-season. Of all exhibition games, the Cubs have won 204, lost 226 and tied 12. Of the 197 pre-season games outside Chicago, they have won 103, lost 87 and tied 7. Of all pre-season games, including those in Chicago, they have won 128, lost 113 and tied 7. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• THE NEW GUYS: Of the 60 players in Cubs camp, 20 were not in the Cubs organization at all last year.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

We are soooo back.

Watch today's game live on Marquee Sports Network. pic.twitter.com/dKB9CmufVJ

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 20, 2026

White Sox lineup:

White Sox baseball is back! pic.twitter.com/QCMZik9tyU

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 20, 2026

Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Porter Hodge, Gavin Hollowell, Connor Noland, Grant Kipp and Connor Schultz. Also, minor leaguers Frankie Scalzo, Zane Mills, Vince Reilly and Nick Hull.

Jonathan Cannon will start for the White Sox. Other Sox pitchers scheduled today: Tyler Schweitzer, Zach Franklin, Jairo Iriarte, former Cub Tyson Miller, Ben Peoples, Garrett Schoenle and Frankeli Arias.

Today’s game will be on Marquee Sports Network. There will also be a radio broadcast on 670 The Score, as well as on the White Sox radio channel, ESPN 1000.

MLB.com Gameday

Please note that during spring training, Gameday sometimes doesn’t go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season — if not, it will update after each at-bat.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

Please visit our SB Nation White Sox site South Side Sox . If you do go there to interact with Sox fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.

These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Kazuma Okamoto is a 29-year-old, right-handed hitting corner infielder from Gojo, Japan. He’s played 11 seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball. The Jays signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract (Ben Clemens at FanGraphs figured him to sign four years and $72 million).

Not that it means much, but he’s shown a nice sense of humour (he is serious and manly) and sense of fun in the few days he’s been at the Jays spring camp.

Rogers hopes to grow the Blue Jays’ brand in Japan. We are going to Japan next month. I’m going to bring a bunch of Blue Jays caps with me. Every holiday, I end up trading a Jays cap for something

Career he’s hit .277/.361/.521, with 248 home runs. Last year, he was limited to 69 games with the Yomiuri Giants because of an elbow sprain, but he hit .327/.416/.598 with 15 home runs. FanGraphs notes that he has the second-most homers in NPB since 2019.

He’s lowered his strikeout rate the last two seasons (15.9% in 2024, 11.3% last year). And there is a note that he’s hitting better against fastballs the last couple of years. He’s a pull hitter.

There are questions about his defense at third. FanGraphs says this:

Okamoto can show you nimble lower body stability and has feel for bouncing off the dirt and spinning into accurate throws, but he lacks range and struggles making plays to his glove side.

Baseball America likes his defense more:

In the field, Okamoto is an above-average defender at third base, and he’s won multiple NPB Gold Glove equivalents. He’s a plus-plus defender at first base and offers his signing team defensive versatility.

With Vlad at first, third is Kazuma’s spot. I am interested in seeing his defense this spring. I’m guessing he’ll move to first on Vlad’s DH days.

How will he hit? I’d like to think he’ll be around 25 home runs, maybe a .250ish average, .340-.350 OBP.

Steamer? They have him playing 130 games, 22 home runs, a .251/.323/.446 batting line with a 2.3 fWAR.

One of the best days of the year is here! Spring training has officially opened, the Yankees kicking off their Grapefruit League exhibition series with a trip to Sarasota to take on the Orioles. The offseason may have been “brutal”’ and “frustrating”’ at times as Aaron Judge put it, but baseball is back and we can finally look forward to the season. Let’s take a look at the players who will be suiting up for both division rivals.

Elmer Rodríguez takes the mound as the Yankees’ top ranked pitching prospect according to several publications. The 22-year-old righty vaulted his way to becoming a consensus Top-100 Prospect in baseball after being named Baseball America’s New York Yankees Minor League Player of the Year. In 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A, Rodriguez went 11-8 with a 2.58 ERA across 150 innings, finishing with the second-most strikeouts (176) in the minors behind the Mets’ Jonah Tong. He has a chance to impact the big-league club season, and gets his first true audition this afternoon.

Trevor Rogers was one of the biggest stories for the Orioles last season, going from a Triple-A demotion following his 2024 Trade Deadline move from Miami to one of the most effective pitchers in baseball when he was one the mound in 2025. Among starters with at least 100 innings, Rogers was second only to Nathan Eovaldi with a 1.81 ERA, also placing in the top-ten league-wide in FIP (2.82) and home runs per nine (0.49). He made a pair of starts against the Yankees last year, pitching six shutout frames of one-hit ball in their first encounter before getting tagged for six runs across three innings a week later. The 28-year-old southpaw leads with a four-seamer that sits 93, backed up by a pair of nasty breaking balls, his slider and sweeper both inducing whiff rates in excess of 37-percent. In 18 starts, Rogers went 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA (223 ERA+), 2.82 FIP, 103 strikeouts, and 3.3 fWAR across 109.2 innings.

For those disappointed not to see Aaron Judge’s name in the Yankees lineup, the captain generally has not travelled to away games during spring training. We will at least get to see four major leaguers start, with Austin Wells, José Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Amed Rosario making up the top four of the batting order. The rest of the lineup consists of non-roster invitees: Ernesto Martinez Jr., Marco Luciano, Duke Ellis, Kenedy Corona, and Ali Sánchez

The Orioles meanwhile go with a starting nine that could very well resemble their Opening Day lineup. Gunnar Henderson bats leadoff while Pete Alonso takes his first competitive swings in an Orioles uniform after his big money move from Queens to Baltimore in free agency. The rest of their expected infield has taken a hit, however, with both Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg absent after suffering a broken hamate and partially torn UCL, respectively.

How to watch

Location: Ed Smith Stadium — Sarasota, FL

First pitch: 1:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: Gotham Sports App, MASN, MLB Network (out-of-market only)

Radio broadcast: WBAL 1090 AM (Orioles broadcast)

Online stream: Gotham Sports App

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Let the games begin 👊 #RepBXpic.twitter.com/qpMUQM7bV5

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 20, 2026

We've got ourselves a baseball game today 😏 pic.twitter.com/kra3igaFj1

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) February 20, 2026

The injury bug continues to bite Jordan Westburg and the Orioles.

The talented, yet oft-injured third baseman has been diagnosed with a partial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear in his right elbow, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias told reporters Friday.

He is set to receive a platelet-rich plasma (PR) injection Friday, but will miss all of April with the injury and his timeline is uncertain, according to MLB.com.

This injury is a tough blow for both the player and the team, and it’s possible the situation could worsen should the PRP injections not work and Westerburg has to undergo surgery.

The 2020 first-round pick is productive when healthy, but staying on the field has been an issue.

He appeared in just 68 games in his rookie season in 2023, 107 in his second season in 2024 after suffering a fractured right hand and 85 this past season while battling multiple injuries during a disaster campaign for the Orioles that resulted in a last-place 75-87 finish.

Westburg had been dealing with a tweaked right oblique in camp he suffered in January, which left him “physically unable to participate” in camp before this reveal.

“Right now, he’s physically unable to participate,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Thursday, according to MLB.com. “He’s getting evaluated by a medical team, and also outside people, to make sure we have a plan in place and see what’s going on with Jordan and get him going.”

Westburg, when healthy, has slashed .264/.312/.456 with 38 homers and 127 RBIs in his career, producing 18 long balls and 63 RBIs in his 107-game season in 2024.

This injury now leaves the Orioles without half of their projected starting infield, with Jackson Holliday already sidelined with a broken right hamate bone.

Coby Mayo stands to potentially benefit from Westburg’s absence, per MLB.com.

The Orioles had an aggressive offseason to rebound from their 2025 flop, adding Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward and Chris Bassitt, among other moves.

The long wait is almost over. After an active offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Spring Training is getting ready to kick off games this coming weekend, with the Grapefruit League getting rolling on Saturday afternoon. The Bucs will play 31 Spring Training games, running all the way up until March 23. They will play 16 home games and 15 away and open up on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

This is all in leadup to the regular season Opening Day, when the Bucs take on the New York Mets at Citifield on March 26 at 1:00pm eastern. They have their home opener on April 3, taking on the Orioles once again, with a 4:00pm eastern start.

The Bucs will again play live on Pittsburgh Sports Net, and they are set to televise 15 of Pittsburgh’s preseason games, including 9 home broadcasts and 6 away.  You’ll also be able to catch the Buccos on 93.7 The Fan, 100.1 FM, AM 1020 KDKA as well as the Sports Net Pittsburgh app, SNP 360.

Here’s the Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 MLB Spring Training Schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Opponent	SportsNet Pittsburgh
Sat, Feb 21	1:00 PM	@ Orioles	No
Sun, Feb 22	1:00 PM	vs Rays	Yes
Sun, Feb 22	1:00 PM	@ Phillies	No
Mon, Feb 23	1:00 PM	vs Yankees	Yes
Tue, Feb 24	1:00 PM	@ Red Sox	Opposing Feed Possible
Wed, Feb 25	1:00 PM	@ Braves	Opposing Feed Possible
Thu, Feb 26	1:00 PM	vs Twins	Yes
Fri, Feb 27	1:00 PM	vs Orioles	No
Sat, Feb 28	1:00 PM	@ Astros	No
Sun, Mar 1	1:00 PM	@ Cardinals	No
Mon, Mar 2	1:00 PM	vs Rays	Yes
Tue, Mar 3	1:00 PM	vs Team Colombia	No
Thu, Mar 5	1:00 PM	vs Cardinals	Yes
Fri, Mar 6	1:00 PM	vs Phillies	No
Fri, Mar 6	1:00 PM	@ Blue Jays	Opposing Feed Possible
Sat, Mar 7	1:00 PM	@ Tigers	No
Sun, Mar 8	1:00 PM	vs Red Sox	Yes
Mon, Mar 9	6:30 PM	@ Yankees	Opposing Feed Possible
Wed, Mar 11	1:00 PM	@ Orioles	Opposing Feed Possible
Thu, Mar 12	6:00 PM	vs Braves	Yes
Fri, Mar 13	6:00 PM	@ Tigers	No
Sat, Mar 14	1:00 PM	vs Orioles	Yes
Sun, Mar 15	1:00 PM	@ Rays	No
Mon, Mar 16	1:00 PM	@ Twins	Opposing Feed Possible
Tue, Mar 17	1:00 PM	vs Astros	No
Wed, Mar 18	6:00 PM	vs Tigers	No
Thu, Mar 19	6:00 PM	@ Orioles	No
Fri, Mar 20	6:00 PM	@ Braves	No
Fri, Mar 20	7:30 PM	Spring Breakout vs Tigers Prospects	Yes
Sat, Mar 21	1:00 PM	vs Blue Jays	No
Sun, Mar 22	1:00 PM	vs Red Sox	SportsNet Pittsburgh+
Mon, Mar 23	1:00 PM	vs Braves	No

Hope springs eternal this time of year, particularly if you’re a hitter in the hot, dry air of Arizona. The Royals typically perform pretty well in the Cactus League, which means absolutely nothing since the games don’t count. But you can be excused for getting a teensy bit excited about a player who seemed to figure things out in spring training. Hope is a good thing, after all!

I am usually quite dismissive of guys launching bombs in Arizona. But I couldn’t help but get a bit excited about Peter O’Brien in 2017. I had liked O’Brien as a college player at Miami, and when the Royals picked him up, I thought there was a chance he could help the team. Then he got to Surprise and started launching bombs. He smacked seven home runs – the only players in all of baseball who hit more that spring training were Greg Bird and Bryce Harper. Could O’Brien be our Bryce Harper? No. O’Brien was sent to the minors and hit .162 with three home runs in 27 games before being released.

The next year, it was Frank “The Tank” Schwindel. He tied for the most spring training home runs in baseball with seven (Salvador Perez and Jorge Soler each hit six, giving Royals fans visions of a Murderer’s Row). His line of .366/.381/.976 wasn’t enough to make the team, so he hit 24 home runs for Omaha. He made the Opening Day roster the next year, but lasted just six games before it was back to the minors. He would find some limited success in 2021, hitting 14 home runs with the Cubs.

Hunter Dozier had a terrific 2019 season, and although his pandemic-shortened 2020 season had mixed results, he was rewarded with a four-year, $25 million deal in February of 2021. That seemed to be a potential steal when he destroyed Cactus League pitching that year, smashing five home runs with a line of .289/.373/.733. But it proved to be fool’s gold as he posted a career-worst OPS+ of 76 that year, part of a rapid decline that turned that contract into a dud.

Ruben Gotay, Mike Jacobs, and Kila Kaaihue are some other Cactus League MVPs. Who was your favorite performer in Royals spring training?

Dalton Rushing got his first taste of the major leagues last season, and all of its ups and downs. Now, he heads into potentially his first full season in the majors.

As the backup to Will Smith, it’d be tough for anyone to find a rhythm at the plate playing once or twice per week behind the plate. That proved true for Rushing last year, hitting just .204/.258/.324 with a 37.4-percent strikeout rate in 155 plate appearances. His highest strikeout rate in the minors was only 21.5 percent, in Triple-A Oklahoma City before his call-up in 2025.

Dalton Rushing as a professional

• 2022: Class-A (all but two games), 134 PA, 213 wRC+
• 2023: High-A, 381 PA, 147 wRC+
• 2024: Double-A & Triple-A, 503 PA, 146 wRC+
• 2025: Triple-A, 149 PA, 143 wRC+
• 2025: MLB, 155 PA, 62 wRC+

Rushing’s calling card has always been his bat, and he found time in the minors to get more reps at the plate by playing first base, designated hitter, and sometimes left field in addition to catching. Now on the Dodgers, he joins a depth chart with those positions suitably filled, with Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman plus Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández in the corners.

Katie Woo at The Athletic on Friday wrote about some spring storylines, including a bit about Rushing’s role:

Rushing is in line to be the backup catcher behind Will Smith again, but Roberts would like to find ways to get Rushing more at-bats. That could mean using Rushing at first base on days when Freeman needs a spell. The outfield, Roberts said, will not be an option for Rushing.

Ohtani started 317 of 324 games at designated hitter the last two seasons, and while Freeman has been an ironman for most of his career, his last two seasons have proven more challenging. Freeman started 147 games in 2024, and 145 games in 2025.

That still leaves some time at first base for Rushing to at least occasionally play. Last season he played eight games and 28 total innings at the position with the Dodgers, but his lone start at first came in the final weekend of the season, the day after the team clinched the division.

Today’s question is how many non-catcher starts will Dalton Rushing make in 2026?

News came out today that California prep prospect Jared Gridlinger is set to reclassify and move from the 2027 MLB Draft into the 2026 MLB Draft. Gridlinger ranked as high as No. 3 overall and No. 1 prep player in the 2027 class, and adds another premium talent into what is already a strong draft class. This move comes after the deadline to make the move, though Gridlinger was able to secure a waiver from MLB to give him access.

The 2026 MLB Draft class just got better. Former 2027 eligible two-way player Jared Grindlinger has reclassified for 2026.

Grindlinger ranked as the No. 3 high school player in the 2027 class. @BenBadler has more: https://t.co/QkvV35wWCj

— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) February 19, 2026

To give you a little more background on Gridlinger, he will be just 17 years and two months old at the time of the 2026 MLB Draft, making him especially young for the draft. As a player he is one of the most legit two-way prospects we have seen at the top of the draft since Brendan McKay back in 2017. He’s a 6’3”, 185-pound lefty at just 16-years-old presently, but is seen as a projectable pitcher with a fastball already up to 96 MPH and potentially both a plus slider and change. That goes with plenty of power and a feel for taking good at bats as a hitter. If his name sounds familiar, that would be because he is the younger brother of Tennessee freshman catcher Jared Gridlinger – a name you may remember leading up to the 2025 MLB Draft.

This impacts the Braves in a big way as it adds another premium talent to a loaded 2026 class that sees them pick twice in the first round and five times in the first 112 picks. While Gridlinger is the type of prospect capable of going in the Top 10 and pushing another guy, such as a Cam Flukey or AJ Gracia, down to the Braves at No. 9, it is more likely that as of today he has that impact with pick No. 26 instead. That is because scouts and front offices will have to play a little bit of catch up on him, and he has a long list of proven college players to push past to go Top 10.

Gridlinger is also a player who could appeal to the Braves themselves. They have taken their share of two-way guys from the likes of Austin Riley, Michael Harris, Owen Murphy, and even Cam Caminiti, and also their analytics models do like picking players who are young for the class. When you factor in that he is an arm with top of the rotation potential, or a premium bat, it’s hard to picture the Braves not at least tracking him closely.

Is the game on TV?

Yes! This is one that NESN never misses. Check it out at 1:05 PM.

What’s the lineup?

What should we watch for?

From an on-field perspective, the most interesting thing here is Kristian Campbell in centerfield, by far. But that’s not what today is about. Today is about looking away from the snow that’s still outside your window and drowning in the sounds of baseball. It’s back.

Who’s the Pack playing?

Opponent: Princeton

Mascot: Pooh’s Jumpy Friend | School Location: Eponymous, NJ | Conference: Ivy

2026 Record: 0-0 (0-0, T-1st) | 2026 RPI Rank: 285

2025 Record: 12-31 (8-13, T-5th) | 2025 RPI Rank: 270

2024 Record: 18-26 (12-9, 2nd) | 2024 RPI Rank: 182

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When? Where? How do I watch?

Location: Doak Field at Dail Park (Raleigh, NC)

Game Time(s): Fri, Feb 20 @ 3:00pm | Sat, Feb 21 @ 2:00pm | Sun, Feb 22 @ 1:00pm

TV: Friday (ACCNX) | Saturday (ACCNX) | Sunday (ACCNX)

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Friday | Saturday | Sunday)

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Tell me about this team

Last year was a rough go of it for Princeton, slogging their way to a 12-31 overall record with the underlying stats that say that record probably should have been worse. Collectively, the Tigers hit just .209/.320/.302 with a 11.7 BB% and 26.1 K%. Turns out that notching just 77 extra-base hits over 43 games is not an ideal way to score a lot of runs.

The pitching staff wasn’t any better, and was certainly hurt by the loss of staff ace Sean Episcope after just four starts (Episcope, a draft-eligible sophomore, ended up a 5th round pick of Milwaukee). That group had a combined 6.92 ERA with a 11.3 BB% and 15.8 K%, and didn’t help themselves either by plunking 94 opposing hitters.

This is a new year, though, and in the transfer portal era a team can rebuild itself quickly… except for military academies and Ivy League schools. Princeton brought in zero transfers, but does have an 8-man freshman class that looks promising. It’ll need to rely on them – as well as a couple arms that are returning from injury – if it’s going to rebound from last year’s subpar performance.

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Pitching Matchups

Friday: LHP Ryan Marohn (JR) vs RHP Justin Kim (SR)

Saturday: RHP JacobDudan (JR) vs RHP Liam Kinneen (SO)

Sunday: LHP Cooper Consiglio (JR) vs RHP Brady Kaufman (FR)

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Key Players:

Offense

INF Jake Koonin (SR) – .236/.385/.460, 6 2B, 8 HR, 14.5 BB%, 20.5 K%, 10-12 SB. Winston-Salem native who attended Mount Tabor HS. Had a down year in 2025 but is a bounce-back candidate based on his 2024 showing (.319/.402/.528, 22 2B, 4 HR, 7.9 BB%, 17.3 K%, 11-11 SB) in which he earned 2nd Team All-Ivy League honors.

UTIL Nick Shenefelt (SO) – .206/.308/.257, 3 2B, 0 HR, 12.1 BB%, 15.9 K%, 0-1 SB. Started 38 games as a freshman and the BB and K rates tell you he wasn’t overmatched, and the .248 BABIP last year tells you an upward regression is in the mix for 2026.

INF Jake Kernodle (JR) – .213/.333/.238, 3 2B, 0 HR, 13.1 BB%, 22.8 K%, 0-0 SB. Charlotte native has started 72 games over his Princeton career. While his 2025 was awful, like Shenefelt, he’s an upward regression candidate after posting a .286/.367/.429, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8.0 BB%, 29.3 K%, 4-6 SB line as a freshman. That 2024 triple slash with his 2025 BB% and K% would be a nice season for him.

Pitching

RHP Justin Kim (SR) – 2-5, 3 SV, 5.26 ERA, 49.2 IP, 9.6 BB%, 18.4 K%. Key reliever for Princeton during his freshman and junior years, while he also served as a starter his sophomore year but had issues with control and didn’t miss many bats (2-2, 4.66 ERA, 38.2 IP, 13.8 BB%, 8.6 K%). Will get another go at the starting rotation this year.

RHP Liam Kinneen (SO) – 3-5, 5.80 ERA, 49.2 IP, 13.4 BB%, 18.9 K%. Big 6’4, 210 lbs second year player who should make a nice sophomore jump if he can reign in the control. Spent his entire freshman year in the starting rotation and will be a mainstay again.

RHP Brady Kaufman (FR) – True freshman two-way player who will be making his college debut on Sunday, assuming he doesn’t play in the field ahead of time (he should). Solid build at 6’2, 190. The next earned run he allows will be the first against him since his junior year of high school.

RHP Elliott Eaton (JR) – 0-0, 8.71 ERA, 31.0 IP, 15.5 BB%, 16.8 K%. Good frame at 6’5, 210 lbs. Control issues are what keeps him back with 43 BB, 28 HBP, and 15 WP in 59.0 career innings.

RHP Will Sword (rJR) – Cary native who attended Thales Academy and missed all of the 2025 season due to injury. Prior to that pitched to a 2-4, 6.52 ERA, 48.1 IP, 12.3 BB%, 18.2 K% in 2024. Has made 13 starts over his 22 career appearances with the Tigers. Could be a key component to the bullpen this year.

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Quick! Fun Facts!

Princeton coach Scott Bradley had that program rolling early in his tenure, taking the Tigers to five NCAA Regionals in a seven-year span from 2000 to 2006.

The Tigers have a daunting opening slate for 2026. They play three games in Raleigh this weekend, then head to Durham next weekend for a four-game series with Duke, and then head to Columbia the following weekend for a three-game set with South Carolina.

Despite having just 30 players drafted since 2000, seven Princeton baseball alums have made it to the MLB level: RHP Ross Ohlendorf, OF Will Venable, RHP Chris Young, RHP Danny Barnes, RHP David Hale, 1B Mike Ford, and RHP Matt Bowman. Each of those players had multi-year MLB careers.

Ivy League teams typically play a smaller schedule versus other D1 teams. Princeton has 42 games scheduled for this year compared to 56 for the majority of non-Ivy League schools.

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The Key To A Series Win For State

Princeton doesn’t have the pitching depth to stay in this one, so a patient approach to work the pitch counts of the starters will get the Pack deep into a Tigers pitching staff that won’t be able to keep up. The key for State is simple: hunt your pitch at the plate and don’t swing at junk.

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Prediction

The Wolfpack will score a bunch of runs and Princeton will not, but the Tigers will show more punch than they did in 2025.

Outcome: State sweeps