MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Maikel Garcia #11 of Team Venezuela celebrates after an RBI single in the seventh inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Semifinals between Italy and Venezuela at loanDepot park on March 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vinnie Pasquantino incorrectly noted which teams were in the WBC final four and apologized. Oops. It’s ok – he’s highly caffeinated and we all make mistakes when we’re W I R E D.
“It’s amazing,” Pasquantino said. “I don’t know how many people would’ve picked the Dominican Republic, Japan, the United States and Italy in the final four, but we’re here now, so we’re going to enjoy this for the probably next few hours. We’ve got a flight to catch. This is incredible, man.”
Pasquantino’s comments came hours before Venezuela advanced to the final four by defeating Japan.
The Royals Spring Breakout game will be televised on the Amazon MLB FAST channel on Friday.
Caglianone’s expected stats, which take quality of contact into account rather than the actual results, not only indicate he was much better than his OPS implies, they show he was one of the unluckiest hitters in the game.
In fact, he had MLB’s largest unlucky gap (the difference between his expected and actual production) in all three of these categories (minimum 100 PAs):
Colleran was the Royals’ 2024 seventh-round pick out of Northeastern and in his first year of professional ball in 2025, he went from Low A to High A and even pitched in one game at Double A, going a combined 9-0 with a 2.85 ERA in 66 1/3 innings with 72 strikeouts. He was so dominant that he represented the Royals in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted an impressive 1.17 ERA over seven relief appearances. He’s on a fast track to the majors and I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes his major-league debut sometime this year once his slider becomes more consistent and he throws more strikes.
Matt Quatraro, manager: “Dennis has been absolutely electric. He has an upper-90s fastball coming out of a low arm slot with an emerging slider. Hitters have really had uncomfortable at-bats against him.”
Verdict: Real. Witt had 32 home runs in 2024 before dropping to 23 in 2025, so we know there’s 30-homer power here — and maybe closer to 40 with the new ballpark dimensions. He’s entering his age-26 season, a common age for a player’s best season. Add 20 points or so back to his batting average, and reaching 92 extra-base hits is in play.
Last season, the Royals opted to let Massey be the everyday second baseman, and India rotated as a utility guy in left field and at third base at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, the move was disastrous for India, especially on defense. India posted a -5 FRV in 3B, and that poor defense carried to second base, as he posted a -4 FRV at the keystone. The poor defense seemed to have a mental impact on India’s bat, and he ended up having his worst season at the Major League level.
Quatraro is intent on India being their regular second baseman, with Massey mixing in here and there based on matchups. So far this spring, it seems like that has helped India be in a better headspace in 2026.
John Smoltz was his typical downer self about Paul Skenes on the broadcast for the WBC. Some unfortunate honesty in there, though I have no love for Smoltz as a commentator.
The Chiefs have their new interim starter/backup for when Patrick Mahomes comes back next season – it’s Justin Fields. CBS Sports has a grade for the trade.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 04: Ethan Holliday #18 of Team USA looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) made his debut with the Colorado Rockies big league club on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields. The shortstop – who was drafted fourth-overall in the 2025 MLB Draft – played six innings and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts at the plate, but also made a spectacular diving stop to nab first baseman Carson Kelly right before being lifted (the clip below doesn’t do it justice, but alas).
“It was a blessing to be out there with those guys,” Holliday said after the game. “I look forward to things like this in the spring. I was super fortunate to be able to go out there, enjoy some baseball and get better. It was fun.”
Holliday, of course, is the son of Rockies legend Matt Holliday and has grown up around the game. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready for MLB action quite yet. In 18 games with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies in 2025, Holliday batted .239/.357/.380 with 14 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and six RBI. He also walked 12 times (14.3%) and struck out 33 times (39.2%).
“You don’t really know how it feels until you experience it,” he said. “When you first get out there, the speed of the game gets on you a little bit, but take a deep breath and just remember you’re playing a game that you’ve always played, and it’s the same game you played back when you first started.”
He’s also taking camp one day at a time, “making adjustments, and [I] still have some time until the stats really matter.
“I’m just trying to improve my game every single day and trying to get my body healthy and get ready for it to be worked this season,” he continued. “And I’m just really trying to prepare for what’s ahead, but focus on the now and just try to improve every day.”
Holliday is in his first spring training, but it’s not his first experience with the Rockies – both from his dad’s time and his own short experience last summer after his draft. But he’s taking note of the new atmosphere surrounding camp.
“It’s been great [with] the new front office and a lot of new faces around here, even from when I was just here for the summer,” he said. “It’s been really cool to kind of get to know these people. And there’s a really cool buzz around this place right now, and it’s a super exciting time to be a Rockie and we’re in a really cool spot. So I’m super excited.”
In addition to his normal routines, Holliday has also been selected to represent the Rockies in the Spring Breakout game next weekend and was also selected to play for Team USA in their exhibition game against the Rockies on March 4.
“It was insane,” he said of the Team USA experience. “I walked out there and Clayton Kershaw was on the mound. You look around and you’ve got Hall of Famers all around you, and it’s an emotion you really aren’t ready for. But you get out there, and it was so much fun. I really enjoyed it, so it was a great experience.”
Even though he was surrounded by baseball giants, there was one player in particular he was excited to meet.
“Bryce Harper was pretty cool to meet,” Holliday said. “I’d heard a lot of things about him, and I’ve always looked up to him. I’ve always watched him since I was young, so it was really special to interact with him.”
But he added that, “all of the guys treated us like we were part of the team, so that really meant a lot.”
Finishing out the spring, Holliday said, “everyone’s goal is to get up to the big leagues fast and have success” but their timelines are out of their control.
“It’s one of those things where you work for it every day and you follow a process, but the answer people want is to get up there as fast as [they] can,” he said. “That’s what I want, so I’m going to work hard every single day and help the team win.”
“And I’ll be ready,” he continued. “When my time’s right, I’ll be ready.”
We always know that baseball is a family business a lot of the time, and Saturday was no different. Rockies bench coach Jeff Pickler served as the manager for one of the split squads, and his dad, Scott, served as his bench coach. It was a fun full-circle moment not only for the Picklers, but for many players and coaches who knew Scott from previous teams he coached them on.
Cade Horton looked damn good, throwing 10 Ks in five innings of work. The Cubs that were willing to ride the bus or unable not to did a good job, with Scott Kingery swatting a two-run homer and Matt Shaw making good contact. Brett Bateman made good contact as well, though his was against the center-field wall. Colin Rea also threw very well.
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RIP Tony Balsamo.
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SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My brain refuses to wrap itself around the fact of Taylor Ward being on the Orioles. I’m well aware that they traded for him since I wrote about that here on Camden Chat when it happened. It’s just not real yet. Spring training hasn’t done enough for the idea to sink in that the O’s have this guy – presumably an everyday corner outfielder – for the year.
Ward is coming off a 2025 season with the Angels where he socked a career-high 36 home runs. As we all remember quite well, the 2025 Orioles were lacking in home run threats in the lineup, with no one hitting more than 17 homers as an Oriole. Acquiring Ward was one part of Mike Elias’s plan to fix that. Maybe he’ll do something to make me happy to remember him as the season goes along.
Here’s how two of the big projection systems look at Ward for this season:
ZiPS (FanGraphs): .243/.328/.454 with 27 home runs, 2.7 WAR
PECOTA (Baseball Prospectus): .232/.317/.411 with 22 home runs, 2.4 WAR
We will all be hoping things turn out more like ZiPS for Ward than that PECOTA projection. If Ward hits only 22 home runs, not many people are going to fondly recall the trade, without even getting into what happens with Grayson Rodriguez in Los Angeles.
What do you expect from Ward this season? Do you think he’ll be bombing balls over Walltimore 2.0 for the year, or will he just be bombing his way out of the starting lineup?
Feb 25, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees infielder George Lombard Jr (96) hits a two-RBI double during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
With the World Baseball Classic stealing the show this spring training, the spotlight in Yankees camp has turned to the team’s young prospects. Namely, manager Aaron Boone has been able to give plenty of looks to the up-and-coming trio of Jasson Domínguez, Spencer Jones, and George Lombard Jr. Lombard, who was named New York’s new top prospect for 2026 by MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and Baseball America, is gearing up for a vital season in his development — with eyes on becoming the next great Yankee shortstop in the next few years.
The precocious young infielder and son of a former big leaguer-turned-coach by the same name tore up the High-A South Atlantic League with the Renegades for 24 games to start the year before getting the call to the Patriots in May. His production there was unspectacular (.215/.337/.358), but he continued to showcase his stellar athleticism in the field and on the basepaths (24 steals). And ultimately, it wasn’t a terrible showing at the dish for the youngest qualified hitter at the Double-A level.
Lombard’s tools are loud; he should have far more thunder in his bat than Anthony Volpe, the previous heir apparent at shortstop. Acknowledging that this is a bit of a subjective, his talent jumps off the screen in a way that Volpe’s never really did, even though he was also once a highly acclaimed prospect. (And if you’ve ever seen Lombard’s glovework in person, you know just how dazzling it can be.) While his Grapefruit League results didn’t blow anybody away—he hit under .200 with a .740 OPS and just one homer—you see a sparkle of superstardom in every game he plays. Take that one spring homer: a leadoff comet off a 97-mph heater from AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet.
The former two-sport athlete credits his time as a top-flight soccer player in helping to develop his physical and mental game. Let that be a lesson to parents who want their kids to specialize in a sport right away!
I don’t bring it up for nothing: that mental maturity manifests in his plate discipline. While most young hitters are overly aggressive hotshots at the dish, Lombard’s outstanding walk rate shows he has a discerning eye and won’t make pitchers’ lives easier with poor swing decisions. The key will be making sure he doesn’t become overly passive and spot them extra strikes by waiting for the perfect pitch to hit. Lombard himself said as much: “I think the most important part is just competing, having competitive at-bats and not giving any free ones away,” he told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
However, what he does outside the zone is less important than what he does within it. With that, we must discuss his greatest weakness as a prospect. From MLB Pipeline’s latest scouting report writeup:
“Despite an efficient right-handed swing and a patient approach, Lombard has persistent issues making contact against in-zone fastballs.”
That’s a pretty big warning sign which threatens to undermine the strides he’s made in taking walks and hitting the ball in the air.
With the wealth of data all young players have access to, Lombard and his camp have probably already diagnosed the issue and formulated a plan to improve. This season will be a referendum on whether his strategy works. If Lombard can take a major step forward in Bridgewater, he could be on the fast track to the Bronx; as every prospect buff knows, the jump from Double-A to Triple-A is significantly smaller than High-A to Double-A.
Last week, Lombard was sent to minor-league camp to continue preparing for this consequential campaign. He had no realistic shot of battling for a roster spot, though the Yankees have been effusive about his work ethic and his defensive bona fides. Brian Cashman went as far as to say he “could play defense in the big leagues right now”—they’re just waiting for the bat to come along.
The Yankees don’t have quite as many blue-chip prospects as they did when the Baby Bomber era began a decade ago. But when they do come along, Cashman and his braintrust tend to give them every possibility to succeed. Lombard will get plenty of opportunity to make their jobs tougher if he takes a big step forward in 2026. Even with Volpe, José Caballero, and Ryan McMahon already covering the left side of the infield, it’d be hard to argue against bringing him into the fold if the complete version of GLJ starts to shine.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 27: A general view of the stadium before Opening Day between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on March 27, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier in the spring, I took a swing at predicting how the final roster was going to be constructed for opening day, and it’s important to note that the roster on March 26th could wind up looking a lot different on May 1st or even August 3rd. This exercise is intended to take a snapshot of where the roster currently stands with the context we have gathered from decisions and comments gathered from decision makers. I’m certain that not everyone will be happy about how I see the final roster looking 9 days from now, when the clydesdales are galloping around the warning track, and the DeWitt’s are standing at home plate shaking the hands of the men carrying on the tradition of Cardinals baseball for the 2026 season.
Analysis: Matthew Liberatore came into spring as the favorite to lead the rotation to open 2026 after trading away staff ace Sonny Gray in the offseason. Liberatore has done nothing to fall short of that expectation in Spring action, and he has also added a split-finger fastball grip to his arsenal that should help further neutralize right-handers. The key will be putting two full halves of a season together in 2026, similarly to Alec Burleson in 2025, when questions lingered about his ability to perform at a high level for a full season. This is the next step for Liberatore, and I believe he is poised to take it.
Dustin May came into Spring camp 20 pounds heavier than he was when he finished the 2025 season in Boston, and that is very encouraging, given that his velocity was down 2-3 MPH after suffering an esophageal tear that put his life in danger. May, in his 2 outings so far this Spring, has sat 97 MPH on his FB and has touched 99 on several occasions. He appears on track to be the Dustin May of old; the only question will be health and his ability to hold up for the first 4 months of the season. The Cardinals had a lot of luck and success in regulating pitcher workloads last season, and the possibility exists that May has the most healthy and successful season of his career so far in 2026.
Michael McGreevy enters the regular season as a young, reliable innings-eater type who will provide a solid floor for the big league club, as a command and control righty of yesteryear we commonly found ourselves watching during the John Mozeliak era. Mired as the 6th starter for a team capable of being a big league contributor behind a staff that saw no injuries in 2025 is no longer a factor, as McGreevy found himself all but penciled in before the season began. A full season of results will be of great intrigue to follow.
Andre Pallante has had a solid spring training, and after he told us at Winter Warm Up about his struggles with build-up before the 2025 season, that was going to be a point of emphasis heading into this season. The probability of him regaining his 2024 form, where he was 2nd in most fans’ eyes in terms of confidence in pitchers in the rotation. I keep coming back to that point because it’s not like I, or the Cardinals, are trying to convince you this is Miles Mikolas who “still has something left in the tank.” Down years happen for young players, especially those who take on foreign workloads when it comes to regular rest and recovery with that grind. I have a reasonable expectation that Pallante will be a reliable back-end starter through the duration of the 2026 season.
Kyle Leahy earns the final spot in the rotation, and I was pretty convinced he was going to be the 6th man/swing starter, much like Steven Matz was in 2025, until we had the opportunity to speak with Manager Oliver Marmol this past Friday were he laid out what he is seeing from Leahy and his lofty personality comparisons he used when describing the same level of competetitor Leahy has displayed. Therefore, it’s my belief he will be in the rotation and be given a real shot and extended opportunity (those who said runway in their heads owe a dollar to the swear jar.)
Bullpen
CL – Riley O’Brien
SU – JoJo Romero (L)
SU – Matt Svanson
MRP – Ryne Stanek
MRP – George Soriano
MRP – Matt Pushard (R5)
MRP – Justin Bruihl (L)
SP6/LRP – Richard Fitts
Analysis: Riley O’Brien would be the odds-on favorite to close out games early in the season. With 4 years of control remaining and the high-octane stuff he works with, that’s the type of reliever contending teams will pay significant price tags on at the deadline for. At 31 years old, O’Brien is nearing the end of his physical peak, and projecting forward, the Cardinals would be smart to try and parlay 4 strong months of 2026 on top of a strong 2025 performance into added prospect capital.
Speaking of relievers who are destined to move at the deadline, JoJo Romero and veteran Ryne Stanek enter the season as the expirienced grizzled vets of the group that will lead and foster the young arms as they ascend to the major leagues. Romero had a sparkling 2.07 ERA in 2025, but his underlying stats severely underwhelmed when it came to comparing against peers in a similar bracket. 2026 will be important, not only getting guys out, but how he does it that will dictate a deadline return. You should expect to see him get some save opportunities in games that feature a lefty-heavy lane in the 9th inning, but I don’t anticipate him being penciled in as that primary closer unless things change (and they always do, so who knows)
Matt Svanson enters 2026 looking to build on a very impressive rookie campaign that has him positioned as the clear heir to the closer’s role as early as the 2nd half of 2026. Svanson will likely be deployed similarly to how Kyle Leahy was a season ago in a fireman-type high-leverage role as Oliver Marmol’s “queen-like” chess piece; he can move up or down based on in-game need. Armed with an upper 90’s sinker and hard-biting slider, Svanson is the exact prototype right-handed hitters have nightmares trying to adjust to late in games.
George Soriano and Justin Bruihl are two beneficiaries of the rebuilding season, as both players are out of options and looking for an opportunity to latch on and find their major league footing. Soriano, acquired for Andre Granillo early in spring, has 4 unique pitches that offer an answer against both sides of the plate. The rationale behind swapping the two was that Soriano could handle both lefties and righties with his impressive changeup to offset the strong side platoon and mid-90s fastball and big slider to beat the righties. The Cardinals felt that Granillo did not have an answer against lefties in his repertoire, thus they executed that swap. Justin Bruihl came over in a cash deal from the Cleveland Gaurdians and he will give fans some John King vibes as the 2nd lefty out of the pen with a sinker primary but where as King had a less deceptive secondary slider offering Bruihl’s sweeper against lefties is a true swing and miss option that should give him a chance at marginal success greater than John King couldve offered. It’s important to note that the Cardinals are not married to either of these players in a sense, and if either doesn’t perform, they won’t be held onto for dear life the way the previous regime tended to do when confronted with a “path of least resistance” ideology.
Matt Pushard has had an okay spring, and I still think the Cardinals like what he has to offer, and I think they will be willing to carry him into the season and give him a shot. But, the pressure will be on him to show something worth keeping around, as referenced with Bruihl and Soriano, they have a bunch of options that will be waiting in the wings at AAA, ready for their shot if this trio does not perform or show tangible growth.
Richard Fitts has impressed in Spring action with the high-velocity fastball and pitch mix and looks to be someone who will have the opportunity to pitch multiple-inning outings for the Cardinals in 2026. What role that comes in will be dependent on several variables, but Fitts appears to have the inside track at a spot on the roster and will hold significant value when it comes to trying to get through a full season. Being that Fitts has remaining options, he may ride the Memphis shuttle a time or two just because they have the flexibility with him to do so.
I did want to acknowledge that both Chris Roycroft and Gordon Graceffo have had excellent springs, and should they carry that into the regular season with Memphis, they will likely have their opportunities in St. Louis this season as well. Ryan Fernandez appears to be more on a DFA trajectory, which is unfortunate, after the promise he displayed in 2024. The league, unfortunately, has seemed to figure him out, and he has been unable to this point to adjust back to it.
Starting Lineup
Vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen
2B JJ Wetherholt
SS Masyn Winn
1B Alec Burleson
DH Ivan Herrera
3B Nolan Gorman
LF Nelson Velazquez
C Pedro Pages
RF Jordan Walker
CF Victor Scott II
Analysis: In 221 PA in AAA JJ Wetherholt had a .416 OBP and .973 OPS, this spring, in 33 PA as I write this on Sunday the 15th, Wetherholt has a .455 OBP and a .955 OPS with 8 BB to only 5 K’s. Wetherholt might not only be the best lead-off option for the Cardinals in 2026. He might be their best CURRENT hitter on the team, and he’s never taken a big league at bat. The process is elite, the swing decisions are terrific, his ability to control the strike zone and do damage when pitches are in the zone, and to “not do too much” based on where the pitch is thrown means he will be happy to take his hits the other way. Normally, yes, you try to ease young players into roles, I think, and I believe the Cardinals think as well, that JJ has been preparing for this for over a year now and is ready to take on such an assignment. Normally, such small sample sizes are easily explained away, but when it’s an impressive continuation of what we had seen all of last year in the upper minors and in college previous to that, at some point, you have to just believe what you see and let it ride. Wetherholt should bat lead off opening day and if anyone is going to lead the team in PA this season, it SHOULD be Wetherholt. This guy is an elite processor, and the MORE reps he gets the better and better he will be.
Masyn Winn in the 2 spot, I know will give some fans heartburn, “his OBP is terrible, why would they put him at the top of the order!” Masyn himself has been very public about his approach over the last 2 seasons, and he admitted he was just up there trying to hit home runs and do as much damage as possible. When we talked to Oli on Friday, he told us that Masyn has made an important approach change, is focused more on spraying the ball all over the field, and picking and choosing where he takes his shots when trying to muscle up in favorable counts and against favorable pitchers as well as being more open to taking his walks and letting the guys behind him do the damage. You put Masyn Winn and his hit spray/ line drive approach behind JJ Wetherholt and Victor Scott II after the lineup turns over, and you’re really setting a table for your 4 most dangerous bats in Burleson, Herrera, Gorman, and Velazquez. The other point I will offer is that Winn has been the 2nd best baserunner on the team over the last 2 seasons, behind only Victor Scott II in terms of baserunning value according to Baseball Savant, and you want the faster/smarter/ more aggressive runners ahead of your production guys.
I don’t think I need to say much about Alec Burleson, steady, dependable, contact-oriented with 20+ HR pop, and I think he will impress a few people with how well he moves at 1B as a defender. Set it and forget it type player who will be a driver of offense all season long.
Ivan Herrera at DH more predominantly throughout the season will irritate some fans, and I hear you on that. According to Derrick Goold of the STL Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals dont view the Ivan Herrera catching question as one that was ever going to be decided before the season began, that also comes with the caveat that, Herrera wasnt likely to take the bulk of reps behind the plate throughout the season anyhow, and now with yet another lower body injury Herrera is working through in spring the question about a position switch continues to linger over his head and I’ve been adamant all along that if his catching gets in the way of his bat being in the lineup and his health is negatively affected in such a way that the carrying tool (Bat) is compromised then it’s not worth it. Herrera has enough athleticism to play a less demanding defensive position, such as 1B or even LF, and the offensive production he provides will certainly play in those positions. This will be one of the single most intriguing storylines for me to follow in 2026. Is Herrera able to overcome the nagging injuries and come out on the other side as one of the most valuable hitting catchers in baseball, or is it just not meant to be, and you still have a really impressive hitter on your hands who needs a less demanding spot on the field so that his true tools can shine?
Nolan Gorman, I have espoused my fair share of criticism over the last couple of seasons when it comes to approach and controlling the strike zone. The power has always been undeniable; the question has always been, will he hit enough to tap into it? This Spring Gorman has demonstrated an offseason approach change that he worked with a reported “mystery hitting Guru,” according to a piece written on MLB.com, and the work has been continued with hitting coach Brant Brown very diligently, which appears to be yielding positive results and reviews from Cardinals decision makers. Gorman could finally be on the verge of a breakout, and the Cardinals as an organization could be in positon to cash in on him as an asset should he do so.
Nelson Velazquez has probably been the single most impressive performer not named JJ Wetherholt this spring, and as I’m typing this, he just belted his 4th spring home run to lead the team in that category. When you watch the plate appearances, he controls the strike zone, works counts, has impressive all-field power, and more specifically, he hits right-handed to offer some balance to what could have been a lefty-heavy lineup. It’s part of the reason why I see Lars Nootbaar putting more pressure on Jordan Walker early on than Joshua Baez. If Walker isn’t producing and Velazquez is, Nootbaar will slide into Walker’s spot and could cause the Cardinals to more seriously consider a demotion, and by midseason, if Baez is continuing to do what he showed in spring and all of last season, he could pass Walker by as well. If Velazquez doesnt carry over his impressive spring into the regular season, then Walker is afforded more time.
Speaking of Jordan Walker, it’s continued to be a struggle for consistent success this spring, and he has been working hard on the back fields with Cardinals coaches, trying to refine his approach. I asked Oli about Walker and Velazquez, and he told me, “Walker keeps us up at night.” The raw talent is obvious, the drive and desire to improve are there, a decision point is coming sooner than later for Walker, and it seems as though he’s really starting to feel the pressure of his opportunity. I’ve been reminded that pressure is privilege, and the people who feel it the most are the ones with the most to gain. Odds at this point are against Walker, but there is still an internal belief that they can unlock him, and he becomes the talent the organization hoped he could be when they drafted him.
Pedro Pages, because of his limited offensive ceiling, will draw unjust criticism from the fanbase when the offense struggles, because his value lies on the other side of the ball, even though if the Cardinals were to have a capable competetive offense on the field regularly Pages would not be nearly as much of a lightening rod if it meant the Cardinals were winning and he was contributing in a relative to league average way for catchers. Pages is viewed as a leader in the clubhouse, someone who is respected by the pitching staff, and has displayed flashes of offensive production. Could he take another step? Not impossible, but maybe most of the fan base would bet against it.
Victor Scott II will enter his 3rd major league season, after an offseason where he spent a large portion of it working with a bio-mechanical specialist who focused on making him more efficient with his swing and rebuilding it from the ground up. Vic also spent the offseason working on his bunting and will look for more ways to leverage his speed and athleticism into more consistent production. Manager Oli Marmol has talked about Vic as one of the guys whose spring stats don’t look very good, but the “under the hood” numbers are encouraging. Scott’s baserunning and defense are borderline elite tools, and if he can even get to league average offensively, that’s a real weapon and building block type talent for future contending Cardinals teams. This could be a very important season for Scott, and for Cardinals fans’ sake, it’s hopefully another positive step forward.
Bench
C/1B/DH Yohel Pozo
INF Ramon Urias
UTL Thomas Saggese
UTL Jose Fermin
Analysis: I caught some flak the first time around for projecting Yohel Pozo on the bench in the capacity that I described above, and that’s exactly how the Cardinals have deployed him this spring, and he lines up to be the backup coming into 2026 again. Pozo is beloved in that locker room, and he seems to have really flourished as a Cardinal. Pozo is an average-ish defender behind the plate, a solid framer, a decent blocker; the throwing arm seems to be below average, but the overall catcher profile you can live with as a backup. Offensively, he makes a ton of contact, avoids striking out, but doesn’t walk either. He has played some 1B in the minors and would seem to be comfortable enough over there should Burly need a spell from the lineup a few times this year.
Last time I did this, Bryan Ramos was on the roster, and I was admittedly intrigued by the potential he had untapped at the big league level. That seemingly didn’t matter when the Cardinals claimed Zak Kent for the 49th time and then subsequently DFA’d him again when they signed Urias. Ramon Urias has a gold glove to his name, and he can play all over the infield. He offers some right-handed pop to counter a tough lefty and will provide the “veteran leadership.” At least he projects to offer more offensively than Brandon Crawford or Matt Carpenter…
Thomas Saggese has added outfield to his list of credentials, and we could see him out there a fair bit. Could he be the next version of Brendan Donovan/Tommy Edman? Maybe. He’s still away at the WBC with the espresso-drinking Italian team that’s become the cinderella of this year’s classic. More ways to work Saggese into the fold isnt a bad thing and perhaps he could find a home in the outfield should an opportunity present itself.
Jose Fermin represents the 26th man on the roster and is out of options. Fermin works counts well and can reasonably play most defensive positions. I know this is probably a spot some fans would’ve liked to see Nathan Church grab. But I’ll get to him in a moment. Fermin came into spring with the opportunity to win a job in LF and early on looked like he was trending that direction. Velazquez has pretty much put that conversation to bed in the last week and a half, respectfully. Fermin is someone the organization is probably fine with being a bench piece, providing good clubhouse presence, and playing sparingly while they get extended looks at other guys they want to see on a nightly basis.
The aforementioned Nathan Church is someone who is starting to grow on me. I thought 4th outfielder at best, and thought that was a reasonable outcome. It seems as though Church might have more in the tank offensively, and if that’s the case and he projects as more than just a 4th outfielder bench bat type, then I want him playing every day in Memphis in CF as Victor Scott insurance and playing on a winning team between Josh Baez and Chase Davis every night rather than sitting the bench maybe playing twice a week, some would argue it shouldnt be that way, but in reality it would be, and if you believe there is more in the tank then the best thing for him to is keep playing and wait for his opportunity to play everyday in the big leagues.
Wetherholt and Velazquez will require 40-man spots to be added to the roster. There are a few relatively painless routes that could alleviate this. Nick Raquet, “Mr. Bulletproof” as I’ve jokingly referred to him, is someone who could reasonably be DFA’d and more than likely wouldn’t be claimed, but if he were, you still have 5-6 LH relief options in-house that the loss of depth isn’t heartbreaking. With the emergence of JJ Wetherolt and Bryan Torres, Cesar Prieto doesn’t appear to have a long-term fit with the Cardinals. This could be a trade opportunity or just a flat DFA gamble. But one way or another, it could solve one of your roster-related conundrums relatively pain-free.
The last one would be a little more disheartening for Cardinals fans, and I don’t have a good updated timetable for Lars Nootbaar, but a 60-day IL trip could kick the can down the road on a roster decision, and perhaps the Cardinals wouldnt mind giving Lars the additional time until what would be May 25th at the earliest. That has to be an option the Cardinals’ front office is weighing as they continue to shrink the spring roster.
We’re just 9 days away from the return of Cardinals baseball. SINGLE DIGITS FOLKS, GO CRAZY!
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) hits a double during the first inning of their National League Division Series game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We’re back with another Brewers Reacts Survey, and in this week’s edition, we’re asking fans who they think will win the NL Central!
As we do every year, we’ll be providing a week full of staff predictions leading into Opening Day next Thursday, including standings in the NL Central. Last year, the Brewers stormed back to take the NL Central from the Cubs for the third straight season, finishing at an MLB-best 97-65 while the Cubs took the top wild card spot at 92-70. The Reds eked into the postseason as the final wild card team at 83-79, while the Cardinals finished at 78-84 and the Pirates finished in last place at 71-91.
For reference, last year’s Reacts Survey resulted in 82% of fans picking the Brewers to win the division, followed by the Cubs (12%), the Reds (4%), the Pirates (1%), and the Cardinals (1%). Will this year’s survey yield similar results?
Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 13: Baltimore Orioles Pitcher Infielder Pete Alonso (25) talks with Philadelphia Phillies Infielder Trea Turner (7) during the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 13, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Gunnar Henderson #11 of Team United States hits a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Friends, if you haven’t been following the World Baseball Classic, you have been missing out. This year’s tournament has been as thrilling as always, and the drama has ratcheted up this week. From Team Venezuela knocking out defending champion Japan, to Team USA eking out a nail-biter over the Dominican on a controversial game-ending called strike, we’ve seen plenty of exciting baseball even before the MLB regular season begins.
Last night, Venezuela punched its ticket to the championship for the first time, riding a late-inning comeback to overtake Italy, the previously undefeated Cinderella team of the tournament. That sets the stage for the WBC finale tonight between the U.S. and Venezuela. And here in Birdland, there’s one question we’re particularly invested in: will Gunnar Henderson be in the starting lineup?
Gunnar’s playing time hasn’t been easy to come by amid a stacked USA roster. With Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop and Alex Bregman at third, Henderson has started just three games. But he’s certainly made the most of his opportunities. He’s gone 6-for-14 and crushed two home runs, tied for the most on the club, including his mammoth, game-tying dinger in the win over Team D.R. on Sunday.
Coming off a somewhat down year (for him) in 2025, Gunnar is playing like a guy with something to prove. Starting 2026 by being thrown into a high-octane, pressure-packed tournament like the WBC is certainly a different vibe than playing meaningless spring training games, and Henderson has risen to the occasion. With any luck, he’ll bring that kind of intensity back with him to the Orioles as they prepare to start their season next week. Meanwhile, his O’s teammates have been watching Gunnar’s sterling performance and are hoping he’ll be starting tonight.
Listen up, Mark DeRosa: do the right thing. Put Gunnar Henderson in the lineup.
After back-to-back rainouts, the Orioles are scrambling to get enough innings for their pitchers before Opening Day. Any chance Team USA needs some extra arms tonight?
I’m pleasantly surprised that the Orioles rank fourth. FanGraphs is projecting both a modest bounceback by Adley Rutschman and a solid rookie season for Samuel Basallo. I’d take that in a heartbeat.
Melewski takes a look at the Orioles’ best non-Basallo international prospects. A 22-year-old lefty throwing high-90s heat? Yes, I will jump aboard the Luis De Leon bandwagon, thank you very much.
This spring the O’s have tended to take a conservative approach with their ABS challenges, preferring to save them for important late-inning at-bats. That game-ending strikeout for the Dominican WBC team is a good example of why.
He’d darn well better be. All this guy does is hit dingers on Opening Day! Bench him for the next 161 games for all I care, but you can’t have an Opening Day lineup without O’Neill.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 36th birthday to current Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge, although it’s probably not that happy, considering he’s out with shoulder inflammation and will miss the start of the season. And happy birthday as well to newly minted Orioles Hall of Famer Chris Davis, who turns 40 today. Other former Orioles with St. Patrick’s Day birthdays are right-hander César Valdez (41) and catcher Raúl Chávez (53).
In the entire 72-year history of the Orioles, they’ve made only one roster move on March 17. That was in 1955, their second year of existence, when they acquired right-hander Erv Palica from the then-Brooklyn Dodgers for first baseman Frank Kellert. Palica, who had debuted in the majors at age 17, spent two years with the Orioles as a swing man, going 9-22 with a 4.28 ERA. What’s your favorite Erv Palica memory, O’s fans?
Build Your Winning Bracket!
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
Mar 14, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Venezuela right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (21) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Japan in the first inning during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The World Baseball Classic comes to an end tonight, as Venezuela ended Italy’s magical run to join the United States in the Championship Game. Despite an impressive pedigree of players from the past 20 years — Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, Magglio Ordóñez, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Johan Santana, Félix Hernández, Francisco Rodriguez, etc. — this is Venezuela first time appearing in the WBC title game. Will they win it all? Or will Team USA win its second after 2017, avenging their 2023 WBC Championship Game loss to Shohei Ohtani and Japan?
We’ll know soon enough. We want you to make the call for our Question of the Day. Here’s a little more on the matchup, from Peter’s recap last night:
Just like that, we have our WBC Championship Game set, and what a matchup it’s shaping up to be. Both lineups for Team USA and Venezuela are packed with All-Stars, both teams possessing bona fide game-winners. Team USA has the distinct advantage of a day’s rest after downing the Dominican Republic, 2-1, on Sunday, while Venezuela’s bullpen is taxed after two heavy usage elimination games in three days.
USA manager Mark DeRosa selected Mets sophomore pitcher Nolan McLean to start the game despite the hard-throwing 24-year-old having given up three runs in three innings on a pair of home runs in his team’s 8-6 loss to Italy in the final game of pool play. Venezuela will turn to former Red Sox/current Diamondbacks southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, who could be in for a stern test against Aaron Judge and the rest of the Team USA offense.
I think I probably lean Team USA because the Venezuela pitching staff is just about gassed, as Peter noted. The lineups are pretty comparable, so it comes down to the men on the mound, and USA should have an advantage.
Of course, the USA offense has also somehow never really into the kind of groove that one might expect from a starting nine of this caliber, at least not since the opening contests against the inferior Brazil and Great Britain pitching staffs. If they’re only OK, then that opens up the door for Venezuela. It may just be like Sunday night’s game against the Dominican Republic, which was a taut 2-1 affair decided entirely on solo shots.
So who ya got? And who wins MVP? Let us know!
Today on the site, we have some double-decker prospect preview action, as Jeremy’s on shortstop George Lombard Jr. and Kevin will handle Elmer Rodríguez. Jonathan will celebrate the birthday of former Yankees/Padres southpaw Tim Lollar, who had a fascinating follow-up to his MLB career, and Peter will see what’s up next for said Padres in this topsy-turvy 2020s decade of San Diego baseball.
Mar 6, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Termarr Johnson (81) reacts after hitting an rbi single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are making their way through the Spring Training roster cuts, and among those players is one of their top prospects, Termarr Johnson.
Johnson was reassigned to the Pirates’ Minor League spring camp after having a strong stint in Bradenton as a non-roster invitee. In 19 appearances, Johnson had a strong .368 batting average to go along with a .500 on base percentage and five RBIs. The 21-year-old second baseman is currently the number seven ranked prospect in Pittsburgh’s Minor League system.
In the midst of all of the top prospects that the Pirates have had over the past couple of seasons, Johnson has been somewhat overshadowed. The Atlanta native was drafted in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, and has slowly but surely working his way up through the Minor League ranks. Last year he played exclusively with Double-A Altoona and did not disappoint. In 119 games Johnson slashed .272/.363/.382 and had nine homers with 35 RBIs. In 2024 Johnson was selected to the All-Star Futures Game.
Despite Johnson’s strong spring, his relegation to Minor League camp has not dimmed his spirit. In his last game in Bradenton Johnson did not play but did show immense support for his teammates, a testament to the kind of leader he’s become in the Pirates’ Minor League ranks.
“I’ve been around for a few years now, so I know these guys,” Johnson said. “My cheers for them are authentic. We talked early in camp about positive reinforcement and supporting the team. I’m just trying to be myself — energetic and enthusiastic.”
Since the day he was drafted, Johnson has done what he can to keep improving, and he carries that same mentality heading into this season.
“I’m just staying prepared and doing what I need to do to get on the field,” Johnson said. “I’ve been continuing with the work. I think that’s the most important thing.”
Johnson is currently projected to make his MLB debut in 2026 according to MLB.com’s list of the top prospects in baseball, but of course his path to the Majors is more complicated than ever. With the acquisition of Brandon Lowe, the Pirates finally put to rest on who their every day second baseman will be, an issue they’ve dealt with for the past couple of seasons. In 2025, Johnson played exclusively at second base but has played at shortstop previously in his career. However, Konnor Griffin is the heir apparent to the Pirates’ shortstop spot and may already be miles ahead of Johnson in his brief career.
While it’s not impossible for Johnson to make his MLB debut with the Pirates this year, his opportunities to do so are certainly slimmer than they have been in years past. Still though, Johnson is only gonna be 22-years-old this season and still has plenty of runway in front of him to finally takeoff once he makes it to the Majors. This offseason, he took a big step forward in conditioning and nutrition to come into camp healthier than he’s ever been, and has worked hard to continue to improve his approach at the plate as well.
Pirates’ manager Don Kelly was complimentary of Johnson and the work he’s done this spring in Bradenton.
“He continues to grow as a person and player and refine his skills,” Kelly said. “We’re definitely excited about what he’s been able to do this spring.”
Although his time in the Majors is being delayed once again, Johnson has certainly made a strong impression through this offseason and into Spring Training.
They are quite familiar with the unrest in Venezuela, but sorry, they’re not about to go near the subject.
Instead, they are hoping they can help with the healing, and provide a sense of national pride, going where no Venezuelan baseball team has gone before.
The ballpark was packed with 35,382 fans, with about 35,000 of them rooting for Venezuela in a Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area where about 250,000 Venezuelans reside.
“This is a dream come true for me,’’ Venezuela manager Omar Lopez said. “What could I do to give some joy to my country? In Venezuela we have over 30 million people that are willing to see Venezuela winning, and I'll find a way to do that together with my people.’’
Well, on this night, the sellout crowd didn’t want to go home, chanting and cheering as they slowly made their way out of the stadium. The players and Lopez huddled briefly in the clubhouse, cranked the music, and started dancing the night away.
This was a historical moment for Venezuelan baseball, and at least for a few days, their success can help heal a country. It was no different than two days ago, when they stunned Japan, the defending WBC champions, and secured a berth in the 2028 Summer Olympics, the first time they have reached the Games.
The party started and hasn’t stopped.
“My country right now is celebrating,’’ Lopez said after beating Japan to reach the semifinals. “It's extremely happy. It's on the streets. They're drinking right now, and that makes me happy than anybody else in this world because that's the only thing that I can do. That's the only thing that I can do for my country.
“We win, the entire country can celebrate.’’
The heroes of this night, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Maikel Garcia, who helped trigger the three-run outburst in the seventh inning with their back-to-back run-scoring singles, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead, also understood the impact of their victory.
Venezuela lost their ace when Pablo Lopez underwent Tommy John surgery in February, and insurance wouldn’t cover All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve or World Series hero Miguel Rojas, but they refused to concede, or feel sorry for themselves.
They believed in themselves, and knew just what it could mean for their country.
“Our country deserves the game (Tuesday)…’’ Acuna said. “The country deserves that.’’
This is why the clubhouse was filled with a lot of dancing, plenty of celebrating. But they know they still have one last step to climb, to be the ones standing on the center-field stage Tuesday night, receiving gold medals.
“We have to show the world,’’ Garcia said, “who Venezuela is.’’
They’re not simply playing for the country of Venezuela, they say, but all of Latin America. They may be bitter rivals on the baseball field, but for a night, they’ll be united in hopes of reaching the pinnacle of international baseball.
“Very happy for that support because we are all Latin America,’’ Acuna said. “We are always together. The Dominican Republic loves me and I love them.’’
Said Garcia: “Dominican Republicans, Puerto Ricans, they want us to play for Latin America. But as Venezuelan players, we are playing for our country. And, of course, putting Latin America in a high position, showing that we have great baseball, we have great talent.
“But we are playing for Venezuela in the first place.’’
This is why the game, each said, will be the biggest of their careers. Acuna, the former MVP and five-time All-Star who has played in five postseasons, won a World Series ring in 2021 with Atlanta (though he was injured and couldn’t play in their title run). Garcia played with the Royals during their 2024 postseason run, but they fell short of the American League Championship Series.
“I would put this as No. 1 in my career,’’ Acuna said. “I love the Atlanta Braves, but before playing for the Braves, I was born in Venezuela. I would put this as No. 1 in my career. I am very happy for representing my country.’’
Said Garcia: “Yes, same for me. Representing your country feels differently.’’
It’s unknown just what will happen after the starters come out of the game. Even with the Venezuelan bullpen pitching 7⅔ shutout innings, Lopez said that everyone is available, including their famous pitching coach, Johan Santana, he joked.
USA manager Mark DeRosa says he’s counting on closer Mason Miller being available, but the San Diego Padres may balk, considering it would be Miller’s third appearance in five days. The Boston Red Sox may be reluctant permitting setup man Garrett Whitlock, who made three appearances in the last nine days, to pitch in the championship game. The Yankees have privately voiced concern with reliever David Bednar throwing again after pitching four times in the last 11 days. And even with McLean limited to 65 to 70 pitches, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says he has mixed feelings about him making the start.
“We’ll be praying,’’ Mendoza told reporters at the Mets’ spring training camp.
So will Team Venezuela, but for different reasons.
“God willing, we want to give that joy to the people,’’ Lopez said. “That would make us very happy because that way we would be contributing to the mental health, life for our people in Venezuela.’’
A mere baseball game can’t change anything politically in Venezuela, but it can bring momentary joy.
“Our goal has been to be champions,’’ Venezuelan reliever Daniel Palencia said. “It would mean a lot to the Venezuelan people, to everybody who loves baseball, and we are going out to fight. To win. And to do our best.’’
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 11: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: As spring training nears an end, these are some interesting observations or storylines to follow. Due to a minor setback, Cam Schlittler’s buildup time was pushed back a little, so while he’ll probably only be able to throw 70 or so pitches come Opening Day, the Yankees can leverage a piggyback situation for his season debut since they won’t need a fifth starter the first time through the rotation. Outside of that, Carlos Lagrange and Kervin Castro are names to watch. While the former will likely continue to build up as a hard-throwing starter in the minors, both could make an impact out of the bullpen at some point this year.
New York Post | Mark Suleymanov: Following the United States’ victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday night, Aaron Judge spoke to reporters about the atmosphere that he’s been a part of during the World Baseball Classic. Captain America compared the atmosphere of the tournament to the World Series we don’t talk about and said that it’s “been bigger.” It makes sense though as fans get to cheer for their countries here and display national pride, and right now his team’s winning as they get ready to play Venezuela in the final tonight.
FanGraphs | Davy Andrews: It’s everyone’s favorite time of year — Power Rankings Season! Between now and Opening Day, FanGraphs will be going around the diamond and doing a positional power ranking to see how teams stack up against each other. They start with catchers and the Bombers come in just outside of the top five in sixth place. Though Austin Wells is coming off a down year in 2025, he’s still projected to be a solid lead backstop for The Bombers and legitimate power threat who can really be an asset at home plate. This ranking also factors Ben Rice into the catching mix, even though he’ll likely see little-to-no playing time there, barring an emergency, but they’re also still high on J.C. Escarra.
FanGraphs | Eric Longenhagen: When MLB is considering any drastic rule changes, they first pilot them in the minors to see how players adapt to them and see what kind of results they produce. So it’s always interesting to see what rule changes MLB is trying out in the minors, as they announced their latest set of experimental rules. Granted none of these are locks to make it to the majors, but still fun to see and think about. Some of the more interesting ones include rules to allow a starting pitcher to re-enter a game after being removed and introducing a “Check-Swing Challenge” to go along with the ABS system. Outside of that, they’re experimenting further tinkering with rules around mound visits, pitch clocks, batter disengagements, and the position of second base.
With very little action in the first, Lenyn Sosa picked up a walk in the second, but the White Sox failed to do anything. Josh Jung tripled in the bottom of the second and crossed the plate when Danny Jansen doubled, putting the Rangers on the board.
In the top of the third, Tristan Peters was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Derek Hill singled on a bunt. With two outs, Everson Pereira drew a walk to load the bases for Jarred Kelenic, prompting a pitching change for the Rangers. Josh Hejka stepped in. Naturally, Kelenic grounded out to end the inning.
In the fourth, LaMonte Wade Jr. picked up a four-pitch walk with one out and stole both second and third, but was caught in a rundown on Curtis Mead’s grounder. Mead made it to second base on the rundown and got to third on a wild pitch, but it was all in vain when Korey Lee struck out.
After giving up a walk and hit by pitch in the bottom of the fifth, Sean Burke was pulled and replaced by Ben Peoples. Thankfully, Peoples got Jake Burger to line out and end the inning. After giving up that run in the first, Burke settled down pretty well, going 4 ⅔ innings with three hits, three walks and four Ks.
[Quick World Baseball Classic update: Sam Antonacci showed off his White Sox skill set by leaving the bases loaded for Italy while watching his third strike fly by in the sixth inning.]
Back to Arizona, where Jordan Leasure came in to face the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh and immediately gave up a double to Ezequiel Duran. With one out between plays, Wyatt Langford walked, putting runners in the corners. Burger ended the threat after being called out on strikes.
In the mix of the inning, there was a really great catch from Hill:
In the eighth Alejandro Osuna singled with one out, and Cooper Johnson picked up a walk. Jansen managed his second RBI double of the night, making it 3-0. Those two insurance runs would loom large in mere minutes …
… because just as I was writing the team off with a funny comparison of cold bats and the city of Chicago’s cold front, the White Sox scored two late runs. Dustin Harris hit a one-out double, and Oliver Dunn brought him in with a home run to make it 3-2.
CWS – Oliver Dunn 2-run HR (3) 🌴 Spring Training 🌴
📏 396 ft | 💨 103.4 mph | 📐 32° ⚾️ 86.1 mph cutter (TEX – RHP Peyton Gray) 🏟️ Out in 29/30 MLB parks
Alas, the ninth-inning rally would be fruitless after William Bergolla Jr. lined out, and Lee struck out swinging. Lee would end up with a golden sombrero, whiffing all four times up to the plate. Come back soon, Kyle Teel!
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds the bases after his home run during the first inning against Team Japan during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a battle of the relative underdogs in this semifinal, Venezuela appearing in this round for the first time in 17 years after eliminating tournament favorites and defending champions Japan in the quarters, while Italy made its first ever appearance this late in the tournament. Italy rode their patient, disciplined approach this far in the tournament, but could never come through with the big hit tonight against a transcendent Venezuela bullpen, allowing Arepa Power to come from behind in the seventh and punch their ticket to the World Baseball Classic Championship Game against Team USA.
Semifinals Game 2: Venezuela 4, Italy 2
Michael Lorenzen was supposed to start this game for Team Italy, but manager Francisco Cervelli had a last minute flash of inspiration and switched to Aaron Nola, hoping the Phillies veteran’s experience could carry the day against the dangerous Venezuela lineup. Maikel Garica was the game’s first baserunner, reaching on a one-out bunt single in the first, but he was doubled off at first by a cannon throw from center fielder Jakob Marsee on a Luis Arraez fly out. A more conventional double play ground ball ended the bottom half after Jon Berti reached with a one-out single.
Venezuela starter Keider Montero was on a strict 45-pitch limit after pitching twice over the previous five days, and it became clear in the second why his manager had such a short leash. He gave up a one-out single to Zach Dezenzo and then walked the next three batters he faced, putting Italy on the board, 1-0, and ending his outing at just 34 pitches. Therefore, it was up to a Venezuela bullpen taxed by their efforts against Japan in the quarterfinals to pitch the final 7.2 innings of this game. Dante Nori then rolled over a grounder to the right side resulting in Italy’s second run to score on a fielder’s choice out at second.
Eugenio Suárez signed a one-year deal to return to the Reds this offseason and he finally stamped his mark on this tournament. His 325 home runs are third-most all time for a Venezuelan player behind Miguel Cabrera and Andrés Galarraga, and he did what he does best in the fourth inning, pulling an 0-1 knuckle curve from Nola into the seats in left to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.
The game slowed to a relative lull for the next two innings, neither team managing more than a single here, a walk there, a hit batsman there. In the sixth, Italy created their best chance to score since the second, loading the bases on a Dezenzo single, J.J. D’Orazio intentional walk, and Nori single. However, Venezuela reliever Angel Zerpa — yet to give up a run in four relief appearances this tournament — struck out Sam Antonacci to leave all three ducks on the pond.
Originally scheduled Italy starter Lorenzen did come on in relief of Nola after the fourth, and Cervelli’s decision to flip-flop his pitchers appeared paid off with a scoreless fifth and sixth. That is, until there were two outs in the seventh. He issued a leadoff walk to Gleyber Torres but then tallied a quick pair of strikeouts to pull close to escaping the jam. However, he surrendered a pair of ground ball singles to Jackson Chourio and Ronald Acuña Jr., the latter plating pinch-runner Andrés Giménez as the tying run. That prompted Cervelli to emerge from the Italy dugout, but it appeared that Lorenzen managed to talk his manager into staying in the game after a lengthy mound visit, and that’s a decision he and his manager instantly regretted. Lorenzen yielded another pair of two-out singles to Garcia and Arraez to give Venezuela their first lead of the game, 4-2.
From there, the credit belongs to Venezuela’s heavily-used bullpen. Things looked like they could get out of hand after Montero was chased from the game having recorded just four outs. However, Ricardo Sánchez, Luinder Avila, Zerpa, Eduard Bazardo, Andrés Machado, and Daniel Palencia issued a relief gem, tossing 7.2 scoreless frames with just three singles and two walks allowed. Palencia in particular was untouchable, striking out the final two hitters on 99 mph fastballs to lock down the victory, 4-2.
Just like that, we have our WBC Championship Game set, and what a matchup it’s shaping up to be. Both lineups for Team USA and Venezuela are packed with All-Stars, both teams possessing bona fide game-winners. Team USA has the distinct advantage of a day’s rest after downing the Dominican Republic, 2-1, on Sunday, while Venezuela’s bullpen is taxed after two heavy usage elimination games in three days.
USA manager Mark DeRosa selected Mets sophomore pitcher Nolan McLean to start the game despite the hard-throwing 24-year-old having given up three runs in three innings on a pair of home runs in his team’s 8-6 loss to Italy in the final game of pool play. Venezuela will turn to former Red Sox/current Diamondbacks southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, who could be in for a stern test against Aaron Judge and the rest of the Team USA offense. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT with the broadcast on FOX.
