Three months after their baby’s death, Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia and his wife, Kayla, paid tribute to the little girl with a touching social media post.
The Vesias shared a snap of them on Tuesday embracing in front of a sunset with the caption, “Sterlings mom and dad .”
In the picture, the two had smiles on their faces.
It’s the first time Kayla has put anything on her Instagram grid since Nov. 7, when she and Alex announced they had lost their daughter on Oct. 26, just two days after the Dodgers and Blue Jays began the World Series.
Alex Vesia and his wife, Kayla, have been dating for years. @babyy_vesia/Instagram
Alex was left off the roster for the championship games with what the Dodgers called “a deeply personal family matter.”
In the Vesias’ announcement of Sterling’s passing, they wrote, “There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her.”
They also penned a thank you message to the Dodgers, the Blue Jays and all their fans for their support.
“Our little angel,” they added in the caption of the post that showed them holding hands with their little girl, “we love you forever & you’re with us always.”
Alex and Kayla Vesia shared a photo of them holding their daughter’s hand when they announced her tragic passing. Alex Vesia
Vesia, 29, made his MLB debut in 2020 for the Marlins and then made his Dodgers debut in 2021 following a trade from Miami.
Fox Sports unveiled the bulk of their 2026 schedule on Friday, which includes six planned exclusive Saturday games on Fox and two more games on FS1.
Saturday games on Fox are exclusive broadcasts, which means no local telecast for those games, no SportsNet LA broadcast for the Dodgers games. The Dodgers’ six games exclusively on Fox include facing each of their last two National League Championship Series opponents as well as a 2024 World Series rematch against the Yankees in The Bronx. All of these Saturday games starting at 4:15 p.m. PT, except for July 18 against the Yankees:
April 25 vs. Chicago Cubs
May 2 at St. Louis Cardinals
May 23 at Milwaukee Brewers
July 18 at New York Yankees (5:08 p.m. PT)
July 25 at New York Mets
August 15 vs. Brewers
The Dodgers also had exactly six games exclusively on Fox each season dating back to 2022, the first four years of the network’s seven-year contract with Major League Baseball that runs through 2028.
Two other Dodgers games in 2026 will be on FS1, which are non-exclusive broadcasts and available locally, offering the rare dual-broadcast option for folks in the home markets for these games. Both of the FS1 Dodgers telecasts are road games — Monday, April 6 at the Toronto Blue Jays, and Thursday, August 27 at the Atlanta Braves.
Here are all the Los Angeles Dodgers games during the 2026 season that will be available to watch on television or streaming nationally.
NBC Sports is the newcomer among Major League Baseball’s broadcast partners this season, signing a three-year deal to take over the former ESPN ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ slate as well as Sunday leadoff games on NBC, NBC Sports Network, and Peacock. ESPN will still have exclusive games this season and through 2028, but those will now be during the week.
Other national broadcasters are Fox Sports, Apple TV+, and TBS.
Six Dodgers Saturday games will be exclusively televised by Fox this season, beginning on April 25 against the Chicago Cubs. Two more games will be on FS1, though those games aren’t exclusive, which means the Dodgers’ own telecast on SportsNet LA will be available locally as well.
Apple TV+ has not yet announced any of its exclusive Friday Night Baseball broadcasts. Typically, Apple TV+ announces the first half of its schedule before the season, then announces each successive month over the course of the season.
Seranthony Dominguez, the long time Baltimore Orioles reliever whom the Blue Jays acquired at this past season’s trade deadline, has signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the deal is for two years and $20 million. Dominguez has been a steady performer throughout his career, with an ERA between 10 and 30% better than league average in all but one season and a 3.50 mark overall in 306.0 innings. Since missing 2020 and most of 2021 with injury, he’s managed at least 54 appearances and 50 innings in four straight seasons. His 10.5% career walk rate and very good but not elite 27.9% K rate aren’t quite high end closer material, but he has consistently limited hard contact and fits as a high quality setup man in a contender’s bullpen.
After being traded to Toronto in exchange for Juaron Watts-Brown, the Jays’ 2023 third round pick, he posted a 3.00 ERA in 24 appearances with 12 hits, 12 walks and 25 strikeouts in 21.0 innings. He also appeared in a dozen games during Toronto’s playoff run, allowing four runs over 11.1 innings.
This winter, he entered free agency in the second tier of the relief market, behind elite closer Edwin Diaz. His contract is 10th in AAV and seventh in total value among relievers who have signed.
The White Sox seem like an unlikely landing spot for an expensive 31 year old reliever. They project as one of the three worst teams in the league and solidly the worst in the American League. They have money to spend, though, with only four players making over a million dollars. The signing will push their payroll up from 30th in the league to 28th, ahead of the Miami Marlins and roughly tied with the Cleveland Guardians. They’ll also likely be able to flip him at either this deadline or the next, especially if they’re willing to keep some money. That’ll secure some prospect capital to continue their never ending rebuild. From Dominguez’s point of view, he lands a solid payday and a closer job, and while he isn’t going to get a chance for a ring in Chicago he might wherever they inevitably deal him.
For the Jays, this further reinforces that they’re probably done on the free agent market. The position player market is all but barren, with arguably no one left who would crack the starting lineup. Barring a shocking move for Framber Valdez, the same is true of the rotation. Dominguez coming off the board also means that there’s no remaining reliever who would move the needle. Any additions at this point will have to come from trades, if they don’t feel like they’re ready with the roster they currently have.
This would be a significant change on the trade winds rumor front.
According to former Fox 26 Houston Sports Director Will Kunkel, the Astros are not currently in trade discussions with the Boston Red Sox for OF Jarren Duran:
The Houston Astros are NOT in trade talks for Red Sox OF Jarren Duran , per source.
Now, trade talks and rumors are a fickle entity, as not currently being in trade talks doesn’t mean they weren’t previously in trade talks, nor does it mean they cannot be involved in future trade talks. However, at the current time, it would appear these trade talks have stalled/ceased.
The Astros have also been linked to another Red Sox player, OF Wilyer Abreu. While not possessing Duran’s offensive upside, Abreu is also a lefthanded hitter, is younger, and has won 2 consecutive Gold Gloves in the outfield. Abreu is not arbitration eligible until 2027, making him far cheaper than Duran.
As posted on Crawfish Boxes yesterday, the Red Sox may be transitioning off of Isaac Paredes and looking for a more defensive-minded player for 2B instead. You can see that information here:
The Astros are still considered likely to clear up their current logjam in the infield by trading either Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker. Paredes has far more value, and a Walker trade would be more of a salary dump.
The Milwaukee Brewers play big. The zythophilian juggernauts of the NL Central have the same number of division titles as the Dodgers over the past half decade. They’ve been punching down on the incompetent and/or uncompetitive clubs in their division, while managing to outmaneuver the Chicago Cubs, and pushing the St. Louis Cardinals into their first period of irrelevance in the 21st century. Many of those haymakers have come from a vaunted pitching development program, generating aces from unexpected places. Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta have benefited from brilliant bullpens, too, with Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill blossoming on the West Coast (of Lake Michigan).
The newest focus for the Brew Crew, however, has been on punching up. While they can frequently outfox their low-effort division-mates, what’s put Milwaukee in perennial competition in recent years has been the capacity to literally punch up. Milwaukee had the shortest position player group in MLB last year, in particular on the infield dirt. None of 3B Caleb Durbin (5’7), SS Joey Ortiz (5’10), 2B Brice Turang (5’11), nor 1B Andrew Vaughn (5’10) clear the six-foot line. Both OF Isaac Collins, since traded to Kansas City, and OF Sal Frelick, are also just 5’8. These are normal sized human beings, even on the taller end in some cases. But like Leo Rivas, clocking in at 5’8, 150, they are players against the grain of the modern, tools-oozing Adonises who will often earn the centerfold from scouts and analysts.
MLB has always had room for the little guy. Unlike basketball and football, which have the occasional pint-sized performer (or have narrow, specialized niches for such players), baseball players have always been able to more easily walk down the street without being immediately identified as athletes. It’s an endearing feature of the game, one that allows people of all ages and sizes to identify more easily with those on the field. There is an immense amount of work that goes into being a pro athlete in any sport, but most of us could simply never be Aaron Judge or Rob Gronkowski, Josh Allen or Victor Wembanyama.
But Leo Rivas? Leo Rivas could be anybody.
The good-natured Venezuelan turned 28 this past October, famously celebrating his birthday with one of the biggest hits in Seattle Mariners history. His game-tying pinch-hit RBI single capped a stellar second season, with Rivas performing his way into a key role late in the season as the 2B and backup infielder.
With Jorge Polanco gone, there’s a case for Rivas to take on the starting 2B spot. After all, in half a season of total big league games, he’s mustered a 107 wRC+ with a patient approach, steals bases frequently and efficiently, and can cover the entire infield capably. Switch-hitting makes him more versatile than many utility players, and yet Seattle seems unlikely to give Rivas the pole position.
Cole Young, no towering titan himself, is much younger and more heralded than the man who came to Seattle as a minor league free agent. Despite a disappointing debut season, Young has shown higher capacity to hit the ball hard, and has on paper and otherwise similar profile to that of Little Leo. I can’t say I disagree ferociously with Seattle’s assessment. After all, for nearly a decade, Rivas struggled to separate himself as a minor leaguer. The area in which hitters who lack meaningful big league power can still be successful is a target you’d want George Kirby or Bryan Woo to be aiming for.
Still, I am concerned Rivas is being literally overlooked. Much of Milwaukee‘s lineup has been effective, not just because of their skill, but because they have been given consistent opportunities. Rivas does not look like most of the sport’s best players. And yet, everything he did last year looked at least like a solid big leaguer. Going out on a limb for players who looked like Rivas has been a boon for the Brewers. In Seattle, soft line drives and free passes are the bread and butter of their long time stalwart shortstop, J.P. Crawford. Why shouldn’t it be the foundation for their keystone as well?
Rivas will likely start 2026 in competition with Miles Mastrobuoni for the utility spot on the bench. Because he still has minor league options remaining, it’s likely the switch hitting Venezuelan starts his season in Tacoma. I can’t help but wonder if he’s capable of more.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll ranked ninth on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now countdown earlier tonight. The two-time All-Star, who was ranked 32nd on the Top 100 Players Right Now countdown last year, finished one spot ahead of five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays and one spot behind 2025 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. On Carroll, MLB Network analyst Steve Phillips said, “He now is that combination of power and speed, and those are the most impactful players in the game. Those 30-plus homers, 30 doubles from him, the stolen base numbers from him, and he’s doing such unique things right now with what he’s done at the plate.”
In addition to Carroll, teammate Ketel Marte ranked 19th last night while Geraldo Perdomo ranked 24th on Monday on the Top 100 Players Right Now. Here is the top 25 listing, along with the previous year’s position in brackets.
Shohei Ohtani, DH/P, Dodgers (1)
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (2)
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (3)
Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners (59)
José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians (9)
Juan Soto, SS, Mets (4)
Paul Skenes, P, Pirates (15)
Tarik Skubal, P, Tigers (11)
Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (32)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (13)
Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets (6)
Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox (56)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers (63)
Ronald Acuña Jr., RF, Braves (16)
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, Padres (22)
Julio Rodríguez, CF, Mariners (23)
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies (65)
Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers (5)
Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks (18)
Will Smith, C, Dodgers (60)
Kyle Tucker, RF, Dodgers (14)
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers (8)
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (no rank)
Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks (no rank)
Trea Turner, SS, Phillies (35)
Obviously, the Dodgers lead the way, with six (!) players on the list above. But nobody else has as many as the Diamondbacks, which is nice. The problem, of course, is not the top of the Arizona roster. It’s the sharp drop-off after that trio which is going to limit the D-backs. You have Gabriel Moreno, who should be solid. But otherwise? With all respect to the likes of Blaze Alexander, Alek Thomas, etc. I can’t feel they were unjustly overlooked for the top 100. The lack of pitchers is also apparent. Maybe next year, the Diamondbacks might have some listed here? Corbin Burnes and, perhaps, Ryne Nelson would be nice.
It’s also interesting to see Perdomo ranked below Carroll and Marte, even though by all metrics he was clearly more valuable than them last season. I think it’s Gerry’s lack of track record which is likely responsible for that. Perdomo was almost the highest new entry on the list this year, just one place beyond Nick Kurtz, who had a similarly unexpected breakout campaign. Anything close to the same season for Perdomo in 2026, and he could be looking at joining Carroll in the top ten.
The regular MLB Network Top 10 Right Now at each position gets under way on Monday. First up are the second baseman, and based on the above, Marte should be leading that group. But for now: what do you think – both of the Arizona player placements, and the top 25 in general?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming to the end of their offseason, which has been busy to say the least.
The Pirates have done a decent job acquiring offensive talent, including Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, among others. Some members of the Bucs Dugout staff put their two cents in on the team’s grade for the offseason.
Austin Bechtold: B
The Pirates offseason is still incomplete, in my mind. They need to add a third baseman and left-handed fifth starter. Eugenio Suarez and either Tyler Anderson or Jose Quintana would be an A. Right now, it’s a B. They finally signed a free agent to a multi-year deal and I’m intrigued by O’Hearn. I like the Lowe and Garcia trades from Tampa and Boston. They need to solve third. I’m encouraged but what they’ve done and give Ben Cherington credit for the moves he’s made, but add one significant bat at third and it’s a great offseason.
Darren Yuvan: B+
That might be on a slight curve given that I wasn’t expecting the things that they did, but it was a successful offseason nonetheless. But not perfect, so that’s why it’s not an A. They still need help at third, maybe one more outfielder, and probably another left-handed arm, but there’s no doubt that this team improved.
Ethan Coulehan: B
They made more moves than I thought they would in the offseason. They didn’t sign anyone groundbreaking but I do think the moves they made and the pitching rotation that the Bucs have I think they could be a sneaky playoff team for 2026.
Jaiman White: B+
They added some good pieces on offense that should help to improve what was a terrible lineup in 2025. Adding two All-Stars like Lowe and O’Hearn was a very uncharacteristic move for the Pirates and it should give this lineup a much needed facelift. The Buccos sacrificed some starting pitching to get those pieces, but with one of the best rotations in baseball already the team should be in a good spot. Resigning McCutchen to one last contract will make this the perfect offseason.
Jeremy Brener: C
I think most of my Bucs Dugout comrades have been generous to Pirates general manager Ben Sherrington and what the team has done. The Pirates have made moves, but there’s no guarantee any of these will be a slam dunk. Lowe and O’Hearn are solid signings compared to what they have done in the past, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will get the Pirates out of the doldrums of the NL Central standings.
They have missed on some opportunities, but have made a considerable effort to improve the roster. To me, that results in an average offseason, which explains the C grade.
BD community, what do you think of the team’s offseason? What grade would you give the Pirates for the offseason? Chime off in the comments section below.
Righty Chase Petty has the stuff to potentially end up #1 on this list at some point. He also had a poor enough 2025 season that a repeat of said production could see him off this list altogether by 2027.
Here’s hoping the uber-talented starter figured it out over the winter and shows up to Goodyear in February ready to take it to the next level. He’s the #9 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings according to you, the esteemed voters.
By now you know the new voting rules here. There will be an embedded poll at the bottom of this post where you can cast your vote until the poll closes, but if that’s stripped out for you for some reason there will exist a link right here to take you to Google Forms to vote. Both of those will magically disappear when voting closes, though, so that internet chicanery cannot come in after the fact, dump votes, and change the already created history of the world.
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
A few new names have been added to the mix for spot #10. Have at it with the votes!
Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida
Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in
Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown
One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.
However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.
Jose Franco, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: 3.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 118/54 K/BB in 110.0 IP split between AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League) and AAA Louisville Bats (International League)
Pros: Fastball that flirts with triple digits with ease
Cons: Secondary pitches need work, and that’s impacting his overall command (and ability to limit walks)
Franco turned 25 years old in November and earned a promotion to the 40-man roster of the Reds shortly thereafter due to his consistent performance across the upper levels of their farm system.
The Reds have a few hulks they’ve put on the mound in recent years, and Franco thoroughly qualifies. He’s listed at 6’2” and an oddly specific 257 lbs, and his size and frame allows him to tap into his excellent fastball velocity with ease. It’s the pitch he misses bats with the most, but how well he can differentiate his breaking pitches (and improve his changeup command) will determine whether or not he can a) get left-handed hitter out with aplomb and b) avoid ending up in the bullpen.
He’s been a late bloomer, in part due to injuries that cost him his entire 2023 season, and if he continues the path he’s been on since getting healthy there could be a whole lot more from him as early as 2026 for Cincinnati.
Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF
Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness
If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).
However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.
Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.
Zach Maxwell, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: 4.50 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 13/4 K/BB in 10.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds; 4.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 59/32 K/BB in 49.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League)
Pros: Huge. Literally gigantic (6’6”, 275-ish lbs). Throws gas (100 mph+) with a devastating slider (70-grade). And he’s titanic.
Cons: Struggles with control (6.1 BB/9 across 172.1 IP in his minors career)
Maxwell, a former 6th round pick out of Georgia Tech, throws the ball up to 102 mph with his heater, and it’s clear that hitters have just about as little idea where it’s actually going to be as Maxwell himself. That’s the rub here, really, in that Big Sugar has the pure stuff to turn even the best hitters into guessers, and it comes down to whether they’ll guess wrong more often than Maxwell misses the zone in each and every PA.
If they swing, though, they’re likely going to miss, and that’s why he’s right in the mix for a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen again in 2026 after making his debut there in 2025. He can be a bit wild if it’s effectively wild, and that’s a tightrope he’s been walking since his days back at North Paulding HS in Dallas, Georgia. When he’s locked in, though, the heater is backed up by an absolutely devastating slide piece, and that two-pitch mix – again, when he’s locked in – is good enough to be closer material. He’s just got to continue to refine his delivery.
Leo Balcazar, SS/2B (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .263/.339/.381 with 12 HR, 8 SB in 560 PA split between A+ Dayton Dragons (Midwest League) and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Southern League); .277/.340/.340 in 103 PA with Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)
Pros: Good strike zone judgement and plate discipline (52/75 BB/K in 2025); well-rounded tools, continuing to improve off ACL surgery
Cons: Not a ton of power yet; some question whether he’ll be able to stick at SS long term
It’s easy to forget just how good of a start Balcazar had to his pro career after signing with the Reds for $100,000 out of Venezuela. He posted an .882 OPS in 2021 in Dominican Summer League play, an .886 OPS in 2022 with the Arizona Complex League Reds, and was off to a wicked start (.897 OPS) across the first 18 games of his 2023 season with Class-A Daytona before he tore his ACL.
2024 was a bit of a rough year for him, however, as the layoff and working back from the surgery clearly impacted his performance (.264/.295/.354 in 410 PA). However, 2025 saw him look a lot more like his former explosive self – both at the plate and in the field – and he clearly was healthy enough once again as he logged a combined 663 PA across all leagues.
He’s still just 21 years of age (22 in June of 2026), and if he’s shaken the rust off completely and enters this season after a normal winter, there’s a chance we see a whole lot more from him, too.
Arnaldo Lantigua, OF (20 years old)
2025 at a glance: .268/.345/.519 in 206 PA with ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League); .261/.318/.445 in 129 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League)
Pros: Above-average bat speed and raw power; mashes left-handed pitching; good eye at the plate
Cons: Likely destined for corner OF as his range is a concern, though his arm continues to play
The Cincinnati Reds helped the Los Angeles Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki by shipping them international bonus pool money, and in return for it they landed Lantigua, who only turned 20 in December after holding his own across 32 games in the brutal hitting environment of the Florida State League (where right-handed hitters, in particular, are seriously stifled).
You wont see Lantigua winning sprint titles. You won’t see him making plays in the outfield that simply wow you. There’s not a batting title in his future, I don’t imagine. However, there’s a very real chance he continues to evolve into a classic bat-first corner outfielder who can swat over 30 homers a season, and that’s something the Reds have (as you may have noticed) really failed to produce off their farm for quite some time. He’s not on this list because he’s well-rounded, in other words, but the bat/power combo is a skillset where he’s really impressive already at such a young age, and that’s unique among this class.
Adolfo Sanchez, OF (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: .339/.474/.504 with 2 HR, 10 SB in 154 PA with DSL Reds (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: Left-handed hitter who profiles to have a plus hit tool and potentially plus power; arm good enough to play RF if he doesn’t stick in CF; shaved 20% off his K% year over year; plus runner
Cons: Questions whether he’s already physically matured to the point where projecting him to be much better exist
The Reds signed Sanchez for $2.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 and kept him there to ply his trade professionally in the Dominican Summer League. Things went quite poorly for him there during his age 17 season, and he subsequently stuck around there to repeat in 2025 – though this time, things went swimmingly.
He’ll undoubtedly play in the States in 2026, but the question now is just how quickly the Reds might try to move him up if he hits the ground running. At 6’3” and 200 lbs already, he’s not the kind of prospect where you say he’s X now, but when he gets bigger and stronger he’ll be Y in two years. In other words, if he looks the part now, he needs to be challenged immediately, and my hope is that he gets time with Daytona right off the bat.
He’s got a hit tool that comes with all-fields power, excellent patience at the plate, and I really do think his swing will continue to play. Still, it’s likely he ends up in a corner spot in the OF, which means the power’s going to need to continue to show up for him to project as an everyday regular – at least vs. RHP.
The White Sox didn’t wait long to reinvest their Luis Robert Jr. savings.
Chicago struck a two-year, $20 million deal Friday with veteran reliever Seranthony Dominguez, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
The White Sox cleared that $20 million off their books earlier this week when they sent the oft-injured center fielder to the Mets in a two-for-one transaction.
Seranthony Dominguez during the World Series. Getty Images
When combining the two moves, the White Sox essentially traded Robert for Dominguez, infielder Luisangel Acuna and pitching prospect Truman Pauley.
There’s certainly the chance that the final outcome could result in Dominguez being turned into more prospects since the White Sox could struggle to contend and relievers are always in high demand.
For now, though, Dominguez is a solid piece to an interesting White Sox offseason.
The 31-year-old posted a 3.15 ERA across 67 game with the Blue Jays and Orioles last year, finishing the season with Toronto in the World Series.
He owns a career 3.50 ERA across seven seasons, six with the Phillies.
Chicago previously added Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami after he smashed 265 homers across eight seasons, and also acquired pitching depth.
While Acuna only showed flashes with the Mets, White Sox general manager Chris Getz is quite bullish on the youngster’s upside.
Luis Robert Jr. at Citi Field in 2023. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We’re talking about a player that’s five-plus years of control, one of the younger, exciting players in our game,” Getz told reporters earlier this week. “Hasn’t really gotten a runway at the major league level. We have opportunity here and we can provide that runway to show off his talent and his ability and his ceiling, in which the industry’s been very high on this player for a long time.
“(The Mets) did not want to get rid of him, I know that. That’s because of how valuable he can be to the team. Now, he was on a roster that didn’t really allow him to let him go out there and show what he could do on a regular basis, which we’re going to be able to provide that.”
The White Sox are looking to climb back toward respectability after three seasons with 61, 41 and 60 wins, respectively.
Thankfully for Chicago, playing in the AL Central usually allows for an easier path to contention.
Don’t look now, but pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training is really and truly right around the corner. In less than three weeks, San Francisco Giants will be descending upon Scottsdale, ready for a new season and all the hopes, dreams, and platitudes that come with it. We won’t be done with our Community Prospect List by then, but we’ll be getting fairly close.
We’re into the 30s now, and the next name on the list is someone who is likely in consideration to be a non-roster invitee next month: it’s second baseman Diego Velasquez, who has been named the No. 31 prospect in the system. That’s a drop of 15 spots for Velasquez, who was No. 16 in last year’s CPL.
Velasquez’s fall is less about his 2025 performance, and more about the increasing strength of the system … after all, a full third of the 30 names above him are new to the organization, while a sizable handful are players who weren’t even in consideration for last year’s CPL before breakout campaigns. While the Giants handled those breakouts and welcomed in those newcomers, Velasquez simply held serve with a full season at AA Richmond.
A switch-hitter who was signed out of Venezuela in 2021, Velasquez showed off his outstanding contact skills and control of the zone in 2025 with the Flying Squirrels, as he struck out just 14.3% of the time, while sporting a 12.4% walk rate (for context, those rates were ninth and 24th, respectively, out of the 58 Giants prospects with at least 200 plate appearances last year). Despite the strong contact skills, Velasquez’s batting average took quite a tumble in 2025, which he can’t really afford given his lack of power. He ended the year with a .256/.362/.315 line, for a .677 OPS and a 107 wRC+, while hitting two home runs and stealing 19 bases in 128 games.
It was a bit concerning seeing Velasquez move in the wrong direction statistically, after he ended 2024 with a late season promotion, and posted a .763 OPS and a 127 wRC+ in 42 games with Richmond. But adjustment periods have funny trajectories, and the positive side is that Velasquez remains on the young side. He turned 22 after the season ended, and spent the season playing in the Eastern League, where he was two-and-a-half years younger than his average peer.
One of the notable things about Velasquez’s season was that the Giants finally committed to him having a spot on one side of the bag only. Velasquez had spent most of his prospect career splitting time between second base and shortstop, with evaluators pegging him strictly as a second baseman. Perhaps the Giants took until 2025 to agree, or perhaps it was a logistical matter (Velasquez had a natural shortstop partner in Richmond in Aeverson Arteaga), but he played just one game at the six last year, while manning second base 123 times.
He’s a decent enough defender at second that a path exists for him to make the Majors … albeit a slim path, given his lack of positional versatility and, more damning, his almost complete lack of power. If his profile remains as an all-contact, no-power player, he’ll need everything to go right to have a sustained MLB career. But he is young, so maybe there’s a little extra power hiding in there somewhere.
Given his so-so season, and that the Giants should have Tyler Fitzgerald and Osleivis Basabe manning the middle of the diamond in Sacramento, I’d guess that Velasquez is slated for a return to Richmond in 2026, though a promotion isn’t out of the question. It could prove to be a critical year for him.
Now let’s add to the list! As a reminder, voting now takes place in the comment section.
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.
With 2026 Topps Baseball Series 1 releasing on February 11, 2026, I took a look at its rookie cards and ranked them by their 1st Bowman Chrome Auto prices using recent eBay sold listings. The Series 1 base set contains 350 cards. Of those, 69 are rookie cards featuring players with the RC designation. I found 1st Bowman Chrome Auto sales data for 50 of those rookies. The remaining 19 do not have a 1st Bowman Chrome Auto or had no valid sales data available. All prices come from verified eBay sold listings for raw, ungraded 1st Bowman Chrome Autos. Graded cards, color parallels, and numbered parallels are excluded to keep comparisons consistent.
Below are the top 20 rookies ranked by their 1st Bowman Chrome auto prices. For the full list of the top 50 rookies, subscribe to my substack.
1. Roman Anthony (Red Sox) | $664 | 2023 Bowman
Roman Anthony entered the 2025 season as one of the most highly touted hitting prospects. He began his season at Triple-A, where he slashed .288/.423/.491 with 10 HR before making his MLB debut in June 2025. He slashed a .292/.396/.463 line with 8 HR over 71 games before landing on the IL in early September with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Prior to being placed on the IL, Anthony won AL Rookie of the Month for August.
2. Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) | $223 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Misiorowski had an electric start to his MLB career in June 2025, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA over his first five starts and throwing triple-digit heat with a plus curve. He cooled off big time in the second half, however, posting a 5.40 ERA over his final 12 outings, and hit the IL in early August with a left tibia contusion from a comebacker. If he can refine his command and maintain consistency through a full season in 2026, he has frontline starter potential with that fastball-curve combo.
Caglianone tore through the minors in 2025, hitting .322/.389/.593 between Double-A and Triple-A with massive power numbers, but he struggled badly when he got to the majors, slashing just .157/.237/.280 with 7 HR in 41 games. He went on the IL in late July with a left hamstring strain, then came back and raked during his rehab stint (.385 with 5 HR in 16 games at Triple-A). His raw power is elite and exit velocities are solid, but he needs better plate discipline and a defined defensive position to stick as an everyday player.
4. Nolan McLean (Mets) | $218 | 2023 Bowman Draft
McLean absolutely dominated in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 innings before getting called up in mid-August. He made an immediate impact in the majors, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings, showing a rare combo of high strikeout rates (30%) and ground balls (60%+). Since 2026 will be his first full year in the majors, the big question is whether he can handle 150+ innings and keep lefties from exploiting him.
Chandler had a tale of two seasons in 2025, dominating early at Triple-A (2.03 ERA through his first 11 starts) before struggling badly from June on, finishing with a 4.05 ERA and 53 walks. He got called up in late August and was solid in seven MLB appearances (4-1, 4.02 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 31.1 innings), including five perfect innings against Washington. The fastball is legit, sitting 98-101 mph and touching triple digits, and he led the International League with 121 strikeouts, but the command and control issues are real.
Schlittler debuted in July 2025 and posted a nice 2.96 ERA over 14 starts with a fastball that averaged 98 mph and held hitters to a .178 average. He looked great in the Wild Card round (8 shutout innings vs. Boston), but his overall postseason was more mixed, including a rough ALDS start against Toronto. His biggest issue is pitch mix; he leans way too heavily on the fastball (55% usage), and his breaking stuff hasn’t caught up. The Yankees will likely keep him in the rotation to start 2026, but he needs to develop an off-speed pitch and improve command of his breaking balls to avoid becoming too predictable against good lineups.
7. Samuel Basallo (Orioles) | $142 | 2023 Bowman Chrome
Basallo crushed Triple-A in 2025 (.270/.377/.589 with 23 HR in 76 games) and got called up in mid-August, but he struggled at the plate in the majors (.165 with 4 HR in 31 games). He made some noise with a walk-off homer against the Dodgers and became the youngest catcher in Orioles history to go deep. His defensive tools are mixed (elite power and arm strength, but shaky receiving and blocking), so the Orioles might manage his workload by rotating him between C, DH, and 1B. If he can make adjustments against MLB breaking balls, the raw power gives him middle-of-the-order upside.
Beavers won the International League MVP in 2025 after slashing .304/.420/.515 with 18 HR and 23 SB at Triple-A, showing excellent plate discipline (68 BB, 76 K). He got called up in mid-August and flashed promise (.240/.383/.423 with 4 HR in 33 games), though he faded badly in September (going 5-for-43 with 14 K over his final 12 games). The power-speed combo and plate discipline are legit tools, and he can play all three outfield spots. He keeps rookie eligibility for 2026 and could be a Rookie of the Year candidate if he stays healthy and builds on the late-season experience.
9. Chase Burns (Reds) | $84 | 2024 Bowman Draft
Burns dominated at Double-A in 2025 (6-1, 1.29 ERA, nearly 12 K/9 over 42 IP) and got the call to the majors in late June, where he showed electric stuff but struggled with results (0-3, 4.57 ERA in 8 starts). He struck out the first five batters he faced in his MLB debut and finished with 67 strikeouts in 43.1 IP. The fastball-slider combo is legit, and he had great control in the minors, but MLB hitters adjusted to his patterns, and he gave up too many walks and mistakes over the heart of the plate.
Montgomery had a wild 2025, struggling badly in Triple-A early (.149 average through his first 103 PA), getting reset in Arizona, bouncing back briefly, then slumping again before finally getting called up in July. He made an immediate impact in the majors, hitting .239 with 21 HR and 55 RBI in 71 games, and finished 5th in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The power is undeniable (21 HR in 71 games), and he has the tools to stick at shortstop despite being 6’3″ and 225 pounds.
11. Jonah Tong (Mets) | $80 | 2025 Bowman
Tong absolutely dominated the minors in 2025 with a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, posting the best K/BB% in full-season minor league ball at 29.9%. He got called up in August but struggled in five starts (7.71 ERA, though his 3.96 xFIP suggests he was unlucky), showing that his stuff can still miss bats but his command needs work. His fastball sits mid-to-upper 90s with elite vertical break, and his changeup is a legit weapon, but he leans too heavily on the heater, and his slider needs development.
Caissie crushed Triple-A in 2025 (.286/.386/.551 with 22 homers and a .937 OPS) before getting called up to the Cubs in August, where he hit just .192 in limited action across 12 games. In January 2026, he got traded from the Cubs to the Marlins in the Edward Cabrera deal, which changes his path to the majors and could give him more playing time opportunities. The power is real and his plate discipline improved down the stretch in the minors, but he needs to prove he can make consistent contact against big-league pitching and stay healthy. His strikeout rate is still high, and 2026 will be about whether he can translate his Triple-A dominance into MLB success with his new organization.
Tolle had a strong 2025 in the minors, posting a 3.04 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 91.2 innings across High-A and Double-A before getting called up in late August. He made his MLB debut against the Pirates and looked good (5.1 IP, 8 K, fastball near 99 mph), but finished with a 6.06 ERA in 7 games (3 starts) as MLB hitters adjusted. The big lefty (6’6″, 250 lbs) stayed healthy all year with no reported injuries, which is encouraging given his size and workload. His fastball sits 95-98 mph and touches higher, and he has a slider, changeup, and curve/sweeper to work with, though the changeup is seldom used and his command in the majors was shaky.
14. Kyle Teel (White Sox) | $44 | 2024 Bowman
Teel earned White Sox Minor League Player of the Month in May 2025 after hitting .333/.444/.613 at Triple-A, then got called up in early June and posted a solid .273/.375/.411 line with 8 HR and 35 RBI in 78 MLB games. He showed excellent plate discipline (high walk rates) and good defensive tools behind the plate, including a strong arm and solid blocking and framing. The power is decent but not elite, so developing more pop will be key to raising his ceiling.
15. Carson Williams (Rays) | $43 | 2021 Bowman Draft
Williams is the best defensive prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline (70 grades for both glove and arm), but his bat is still a major work in progress after hitting .213/.318/.447 with 23 HR at Triple-A in 2025. He got called up in August when Ha-Seong Kim went on the IL and struggled badly (.172 average with a 41-42% strikeout rate in roughly 100 plate appearances), though he did hit 5 HR. The strikeout issues are real and got worse as he moved up levels (35% K rate at Triple-A), and his contact problems against breaking balls are a major concern. If he can cut down the strikeouts and improve his pitch recognition in 2026, he has 20/20 potential.
16. Cole Young (Mariners) | $34 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Young crushed Triple-A in May 2025 (.366/.467/.673) and earned a promotion to the majors, but he hit just .211 with 4 HR in 77 games before losing playing time in September. The plate discipline is legit (strong walk rates, low strikeouts in the minors) and he has speed (23 steals at Double-A in 2024), but the power hasn’t translated to the majors yet. He can play both second base and shortstop, which helps his versatility.
17. Jakob Marsee (Marlins) | $32 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Marsee won NL Rookie of the Month in August 2025 after slashing .352/.430/.629 with 4 HR and 9 SB following his debut on August 1, though he faded in September (.231/.292/.327). Before his call-up, he hit .246/.379/.438 at Triple-A with 14 HR and 47 SB in 98 games, showing elite plate discipline and speed. His strengths are his elite eye at the plate (he walks more than he strikes out at times), plus speed, and solid center field defense, but his power ceiling is limited by lower exit velocities.
18. Brice Matthews (Astros) | $30 | 2024 Bowman
Matthews put up big numbers at Triple-A in 2025 (.260/.371/.458 with 17 HR and 41 SB), then got called up in July and hit just .167/.222/.452 with 4 HR in 42 AB. The power-speed combo is real, and he has positional versatility since he can play second base and center field. The strikeout rate balloons as he moves up levels, and his .167 average in the majors shows he needs to make better contact and improve his plate approach against big-league pitching.
Garcia posted solid numbers at Triple-A in 2025 (.271 average, .498 slugging, 18 HR in 88 games) and made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in late August, though he went just 1-for-7 in 5 games. After the season, he got traded to the Pirates in the Johan Oviedo deal. The power potential is clearly there (21 total HR across Double-A and Triple-A), and he can play all three outfield spots, but his strikeout rate is a problem at around 30%.
20. Alex Freeland (Dodgers) | $29 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Freeland hit .263/.384/.451 with 16 HR and 18 SB at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025 (115 wRC+), then struggled in his MLB debut with a .190 average and 36% strikeout rate in 29 games. As a switch-hitter, he is much stronger from the left side against righties, and his plate discipline (high walk rates) is a real strength.
Ah yes, the dream of spring. With a major winter storm barreling down on the Philadelphia area this weekend, thoughts of Clearwater are most welcome. The Phillies have obliged by giving us their list of non-roster invitees that will make the trek to spring training.
The Phillies have invited the following 27 players to attend major league spring training as non-roster invitees:
Pitchers (9): Left-handers – Génesis Cabrera, Tucker Davidson, Tim Mayza and Andrew Walling. Right-handers – Andrew Bechtold, Jonathan Hernandez, Michael Mercado,…
Lots of interesting names here. Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller stand out (note: Crawford is not on the 40-man, hence the invite) as ones that have a shot at making the major league team, Crawford a near lock to be in the Opening Day lineup.
Here is the full list of names:
Pitchers: Génesis Cabrera, Tucker Davidson, Tim Mayza, Andrew Walling, Andrew Bechtold, Jonathan Hernández, Michael Mercado, Trevor Richards, Bryse Wilson
Catchers: Kehden Hettiger, Mark Kolozsvary, Paul McIntosh, René Pinto, Caleb Ricketts
Infielders/Outfielders: Keaton Anthony, Christian Cairo, Carson DeMartini, Aroon Escobar, Aidan Miller, Liover Peguero, Bryan Rincon, José Rodríguez, Felix Reyes, Dylan Campbell, Justin Crawford, Bryan De La Cruz, Dante Nori
Henry Chadwick, who is often referred to as the “Father of Baseball”, pioneered statistics and overall was a huge proponent of the game of baseball. He is credited with some of the first journalistic covering of the sport, as well as the first database of statistics of the sport. Chadwick was an outspoken critic of the ‘bound rule’ – if a batted ball bounced once and a fielder caught the bounce, it was recorded as an out. In 1864 this rule was changed for fair territory, but it took until the 1880’s for it to change with foul balls.
In addition to all of these advancements, he also used the word ‘battery’ to mean the duo of catcher and pitcher for the offensive team. It later evolved to mean a pitcher and their favorite catcher.
There have been many famous batteries throughout baseball history, and some cool facts about those duos.
The record for most games together belongs to Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina have the most team wins together, with 213 of their 328 games started as a battery.
Max Scherzer and Willson Ramos had two no-hitters together in 2015 for the Washington Nationals. One duo had already done them one better, however.
In 1938, Johnny Vander Meer and Eddie Lombardi orchestrated back-to-back no hitters with no runs allowed in a five-day span. The second of those was against the Brooklyn Dodgers and happened on the night of the first ever night game at Ebbets Field. Vander Meer somehow managed to complete the second no hitter despite walking three (!) batters in the ninth inning. For a more complete look at that crazy game, ESPN has a great article covering it here.
Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey were the first battery mates to each hit a grand slam in the same game when they both did it on July 13, 2014, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The first battery comprised of all Black players was that of George Stovey and Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1887. The duo played for the Newark Little Giants. Over their first 10 starts together, Stovey went 10-0. On July 15th of that year, the players from the Chicago White Stockings refused to take the field if Black players were allowed to play, an incident which helped usher in the league’s segregating baseball again.
As far as the Dodgers go, both Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale had over 200 starts with catcher John Roseboro. Roseboro took over backstop duties for the Dodgers after Roy Campanella was involved in an auto accident that ended his career. Roseboro went on to catch four World Series, with the Dodgers winning three of those.
In 1965, Roseboro was involved in a game in which Juan Marichal took things too far in retaliation, and was hit in the head at least twice by Marichal’s bat. Roseboro sustained a huge gash on his head which required 14 stitches.
The Dodgers had the first all Jewish battery in MLB history in brothers Larry and Norm Sherry. Larry was on the mound for all four of the Dodgers wins in the 1959 World Series and was the winner of record in two of them.
The most recent favorite battery in Dodgers history was of course that of Clayton Kershaw and A.J. Ellis. The duo had 64 regular season starts together, including Kershaw’s no-hitter in 2014. Both players were devastated when their careers together came to an abrupt end when the Dodgers traded Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies in August of 2016.
Who is your all time favorite pitcher-catcher pairing?
There will be a significant change concerning Mets broadcasts this season on SNY.
Longtime director John DeMarsico is departing the network after 17 seasons at the helm of the game broadcasts featuring the popular booth trio of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling.
“This wasn’t easy to write. Thank you for taking a moment with it,” DeMarsico wrote on X. “After 17 seasons with the Mets on SNY, my time directing games there has come to an end.
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Director John DeMarsico inside the SNY production truck outside of Citi Field as the Atlanta Braves take on the NY Mets on June 26, 2025. Michael Nagle
“I was incredibly fortunate to help tell the story of this team for nearly half my life, after a lifetime of fandom that made the opportunity feel almost impossible when it began. From the very start, I believed deeply in the idea that baseball is cinema. I poured myself into that belief, grateful for the trust to take creative risks in service of the game and the fans who embraced them.”
Without specifics, the Emmy-winning director cited “the broadcast moving in a different creative direction” as one reason for his departure. DeMarsico added that he’s unsure of his next professional move.
“Coming to terms with that hasn’t been easy, especially when the work mattered this much, and I felt so deeply tied to who I am,” he wrote. “Mets baseball and the community around it became part of my identity in ways I’m still processing. That doesn’t disappear just because a chapter ends.
“I’ve never been a free agent before. I’m taking a breath, looking ahead, and carrying a lot of pride and gratitude with me, While remaining open to the next place where that same care, curiosity, and belief in storytelling can live. I love this game, this art form, this crew, and the fans who made it matter, and I’ll miss it all more than I can put into words. Thank you for watching.”
