Category: Baseball

One thing that has been noticeable this spring is that Blake Butera wants his players to be versatile. A number of Nats players have been playing multiple positions this spring. Between James Wood playing right field and Nasim Nunez playing third base, players are being exposed to new spots. 

Blake Butera admitted that the team is still working out how they will align their plethora of outfielders. However, he said that “I don’t see ourselves pigeon-holing either guy. That is the goal, to have flexibility on the roster”. The Nats want their players to be able to play multiple spots. We may have to view James Wood as just a corner outfielder, rather than a right or left fielder.

I like this idea, and think it will be important this season. Having positional flexibility allows managers to build the best possible lineups. For the Nats to over-achieve this year, they will have to win on the margins. Having guys who can play at multiple different spots is a way to do that.

The outfield is not the only place where we are seeing this push for versatility. Nasim Nunez and Luis Garcia Jr. are examples of infielders who have played multiple spots this spring. Garcia has played first and second base, while Nunez has played shortstop, second base and third base. 

Before this spring, Nunez had never played third base. While Nunez is a great defensive infielder, third base has its own nuances. Blake Butera mentioned that Nunez was working with Victor Estevez on his positioning. As a utility man off the bench, the more positions Nunez can play, the better.

Despite being a smaller guy, Nunez easily has the arm strength to play at the hot corner. He has a comfortably plus arm, and that is part of what makes him such a good defender at shortstop. I like that Nunez can be an option at third. While Brady House has been red hot this spring, he is unproven. Jose Tena is also more comfortable at second base than third.  That makes Nunez a strong candidate to get some reps at third this season.

However, it is not just the hitters that will be versatile this season. The pitching staff will have more fluid roles as well, especially in the bullpen. Butera did point out that it is “Important for a handful of our guys to have some clarity about what they are going to do every night”. 

However, I would not expect the Nats to have a true closer. Butera said he likes to view bullpen roles as “Leverage vs non-leverage rather than having specific innings for guys”. This is a very modern view, and it has some merit. There are times where the highest pressure spot comes in the 7th or 8th against the heart of a lineup, rather than the 9th inning.

The Nats relievers will have roles, but it will be more about leverage rather than innings. For the non-leverage relievers, it will be important for them to go multiple innings. The Nats have guys who can do that, most notably Brad Lord. One great thing about Lord though is that he has the stuff to slide into higher leverage spots if needed.

Versatility will be something that is a big theme this year. Whether that is where you play on the field, or what inning you pitch, roles are going to be more fluid this year. This is not a huge surprise given Blake Butera’s background. The Tampa Bay Rays have been on the cutting edge of all this stuff, and that is where Butera got his baseball education.

Some of the mixing and matching may seem whacky at first, but I think there is a method behind the madness. The Nats are going to have to find every small edge they can this season, and this is one way to do it. Blake Butera is going to mix things up, and Nats fans are going to have to be prepared for that.

The Milwaukee Brewers are back in action today against the nomad Athletics. It’ll be their first day game after a night game this spring following a 1-0 loss to the Guardians last night.

On the bump today the Brewers will have Kyle Harrison continuing to build up. Harrison is in a strong position to land a spot in the initial starting rotation, especially with the news that Quinn Priester will start the year on the IL. Following Harrison will be Craig Yoho, Trevor Megill, and Carlos Rodriguez. This will be Rodriguez’s first Cactus League action in a while as he was with Team Nicaragua in the WBC. Gage Jump gets the start for the A’s.

In the lineup today the Brewers continue to plug in a bunch of their regular starters with less than two weeks to Opening Day. Sal Frelick is leading off, followed by Blake Perkins, Jake Bauers, and Andrew Vaughn. Garrett Mitchell is the DH today batting fifth followed by Luis Rengifo. The bottom of the order is rounded out with David Hamilton, Reese McGuire, and Cooper Pratt who is at second base.

First pitch is at 3:10 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast in Milwaukee on 620 WTMJ and the Brewers Radio Network.

With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Today we are looking at catcher Tucker Barnhart.

It says Tucker Barnhart…

But have you ever considered…

Bucker Tarnhart?

It has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?

Bucker Tarnhart sounds like the name of a hobbit, someone who attended Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday party and drank beer and ate and had a merry old time before diving under the table when the dragon fireworks went off.

Just like every team needs more than five starting pitchers to make it through the season, every team needs more than two catchers to make it through the season. Catchers get banged up, they hurt things, they start just not playing well. They go on paternity or bereavement leave.

And when that happens, a team is going to summon a catcher up from AAA to fill in. Sometimes the filling in is just for a day or two. Sometimes it is for a week or ten days. Sometimes it is multiple weeks. You never know with these catchers. You might even have a situation where the catcher called up from AAA to replace the unavailable catcher temporarily gets hurt, and then you have to find a fill-in for the fill-in.

So if you are a catcher with a modicum of ability, you can hang around for a long time. Not necessarily in the majors, of course. At least, not for a full season, or necessarily even if a definitive period of time. But every team needs a lot of catchers to catch pitchers in spring training, and every team needs players at AAA who, if not exactly capable, are not so inept that they can’t be called upon to be a band-aid for a bit in the bigs.

Which brings us to Tucker Barnhart. Barnhart was, once upon a time, a starting catcher. He was the Reds’ regular catcher from 2016 through 2021, won a couple of Gold Gloves, had a random 3.6 bWAR season fueled by a National League leading 3.1 dWAR, never had a bWAR as high as 1.0 in a season otherwise.

After catching 116 major league games for the Reds in 2021, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers after the season, with the Tigers picking up the $7.5 million club option for 2022 that the Reds were passing on. I remember there being carping from certain circles when that happened, the Reds being ripped for being cheap and just dumping salary, but, well, its Tucker Barnhart we are talking about. Not wanting to have to pay a 31 year old Tucker Barnhart $7.5 million to play for you in the year of 2 thousand and 22 seemed fairly reasonable at the time.

Barnhart promptly put up a 554 OPS in 94 games for the Tigers, went to the Cubs for 2023, only played 43 games, and saw his OPS drop to 541. Games played and OPS dropped again in 2024, with the D-backs, to 31 and 497, respectively.

So last year, Texas brought him to camp, and he was sent to Round Rock to be the catcher behind the glass that you break in case of emergency. Emergency struck at the end of April, when Kyle Higashioka’s hamstring issue necessitated getting a functional catcher on the active roster. Barnhart managed to stick around until the end of May, even once Higashioka and Jonah Heim were both healthy, though he only played in eight games — three as the starting catcher, four as a mid-game replacement at catcher, and one as a relief pitcher.

Barnhart was DFA’d at the beginning of June when Nathan Eovaldi’s injury resulting in Codi Heuer being summoned, with Barnhart being the 40 man roster casualty. He was released, re-signed, spent June in Round Rock, and then retired. His final season in the majors saw him slash .231/.333/.231 in 15 plate appearances.

Given that inoffensive veteran catchers are always needed for the purpose of stashing in the minors, Barnhart could have hung around a while longer, I imagine. However, per B-R, he has earned over $30 million in his major league playing career. I can see why a guy who was a regular for a number of years, who made a lot of money in his career, and who is playing out the string might decide going home and spending time with his family was preferable to trying to hang on as a AAA journeyman.

Previously:

Gerson Garabito

Tyler Mahle

Kyle Higashioka

Adolis Garcia

Luis Curvelo

Alejandro Osuna

Blaine Crim

Jake Burger

Jacob Webb

Nick Ahmed

Jon Gray

Carl Edwards Jr.

Josh Jung

Leody Taveras

Dustin Harris

Marc Church

Luke Jackson

Danny Coulombe

Wyatt Langford

Dylan Moore

Michael Helman

Evan Carter

Cole Winn

Rowdy Tellez

Dane Dunning

Marcus Semien

Billy McKinney

Jose Corniell

Jonah Heim

Cody Freeman

Sam Haggerty

Jacob deGrom

Merrill Kelly

Caleb Boushley

Justin Foscue

Nathan Eovaldi

Chris Martin

Patrick Corbin

Joc Pederson

Phil Maton

Corey Seager

The Phillies weren't letting Kyle Schwarber get away and Pete Alonso knows it originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Shortly after the Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber in December, a team official was asked what Plan B was if the slugger had taken his talents elsewhere.

“There was none,” the official said. “We weren’t letting him get away.”

Pete Alonso, who would have made a lot of sense if the Phillies needed a Plan B for a slugging designated hitter, has no trouble believing that.

“There was a little bit of dialogue, very, very early, more of a ‘Hey, how you doing?’ type of thing,” said Alonso, who was also a free agent this winter. “But they were like, ‘All our eggs are with Schwarbs.’

“And they should have been. Kyle means a lot to that franchise and that clubhouse and I’m really happy for him because he’s in the right spot. He just fits really well with that group and that clubhouse. The Phillies got a good one in Schwarbs.”

Schwarber was pursued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. He returned to the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal. Twenty-four hours later, the Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract. He will play first base for the O’s and bring a slugging bat to their lineup, just like he did for seven seasons with the New York Mets.

Alonso visited Clearwater with his new team Friday. He had a pair of singles against Phillies prospect Andrew Painter. He was booed like a Met. Phillies fans remember those 18 home runs and 62 RBIs he produced against their team in 104 games with the Mets.

“I love playing in Philly,” Alonso said. “The Bank is a fun place to hit. The ball flies. The fans are rowdy. They bring a lot of energy. And the Phillies always have a great team. They’re super talented. You’ve got to bring it when you play them.”

Alonso hit a majors-leading 53 homers as a rookie with the Mets in 2019, Zack Wheeler’s last season with that club. The Mets made little attempt to retain Wheeler when he became a free agent and signed with the Phillies before the 2020 season. Alonso can empathize. He averaged 41 homers and 113 RBIs in his six full seasons (minus the 2020 COVID season) with the Mets, and never played in less than 152 games in a full season. Despite this, the Mets were reluctant to give Alonso more than a three-year contract this winter. He turned 31 in December.

If Alonso’s time in Baltimore is as successful as Wheeler’s has been in Philadelphia, the Orioles will have made a good signing.

“I can’t think of Wheels as anything else other than a Phillie,” Alonso said. “Just like Schwarbs. As soon as he came over, it’s like, this is the best place for him, not just contractually, but the fit is right. He’s unlocked his true potential with the Phillies. He’s a top contender for the Cy Young every year. He’s been an absolute stud.

“As a player, I knew he was nasty because facing him in live at-bats in spring was never fun. I’m happy for him and his family. This is the best version of himself. They’ve been able to get the most out of him.”

Alonso also had high praise for Cristopher Sanchez, who has blossomed into an ace the last couple of seasons.

“The first time I faced him was in ’22,” Alonso said. “Obviously, him throwing harder makes his off-speed stuff play better. The changeup is up there with the best.”

Starting pitching is a Phillies strength. The club led the majors with 84 quality starts last season. The starting staff’s 3.53 ERA was second-best in the majors. As a frequent opponent during his time in New York, Alonso believes catcher J.T. Realmuto has a lot to do with that.

“If you look at what he means to the pitching staff, he’s really an unbelievable asset to have,” Alonso said. “He’s managing games. He posts every day. His 145 games as a catcher are like a position player’s 190 games. What he does is incredible, how he manages the staff. Not just pitch-calling and game management, but he’s won Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves. He’s the whole package, everything you want in a catcher.”

Alonso said he will miss the 13 meetings per year against the Phillies in the National League East, but he’s eager to feel the intensity of the American League East.

“I’m stoked for where I’m at,” he said.

That’s Baltimore.

But if the Phillies hadn’t been able to re-up Kyle Schwarber — who knows? Pete Alonso would have been a good Plan B, even if the Phillies never really had one.

Ahead of Friday’s spring training game against the Phillies, the Orioles delivered some news: Trevor Rogers is going to be the Opening Day starting pitcher.

Though we had some spring weather in Birdland home territory over in the week, things have headed in a colder direction today, so it’s nice that this game will be on MASN and you can watch some Orioles baseball happening in a warmer place. Tough luck for the announcers who are calling the game from Baltimore. That’s the way it goes. At least most games are getting broadcast this year, unlike the mess of recent years. No luck for you if you only have radio available, alas.

Orioles lineup

1. Heston Kjerstad – LF
2. Pete Alonso – 1B
3. Samuel Basallo – C
4. Bryan Ramos – 3B
5. Leody Taveras – RF
6. Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
7. Thairo Estrada – DH
8. José Barrero – SS
9. Enrique Bradfield Jr. – CF

Cade Povich is the starting pitcher for this game. Pitchers who are expected to follow him are Yennier Cano, Jackson Kowar, Tyler Wells, and Grant Wolfram. They may not appear in alphabetical order by last name.

Although Opening Day is only 13 days away at this point, this lineup still strongly has “spring training road game” vibes. I guess those won’t start to be shaken for a few more days yet. Looking at the batters and starting pitcher, it’s quite possible that only two of these guys are in the Opening Day lineup and I would say at most three of them will even make the roster.

Alonso and Basallo are obvious. I don’t think Kjerstad and Taveras could both make it. I don’t think any of those other guys will make it. The set of relievers, at least, is likely to make up the Opening Day bullpen. Cano, Wells, and Wolfram seem like locks, and Kowar is a strong probable as long as the Orioles don’t have six starting pitchers on the roster.

Note that, while Ryan Mountcastle is not in this starting lineup after taking a ball off the hand in the last game, this was a scheduled day off for him and he said he will be ready to resume play tomorrow. That injury situation does not look like it is one that will affect the Opening Day roster composition.

The Texas Rangers have signed lefthanded relief pitcher Jalen Beeks to a one year deal, the team announced today. To make room for him on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have designated relief pitcher Alexis Diaz for assignment.

So this is interesting. The news about Beeks being signed broke yesterday, and in our post, we discussed the ramifications of the signing, including the 40 man roster implications. I said that either Michel Otanez or Dairon Blanco would likely be dropped for Beeks, with offseason free agent addition Alexis Diaz potentially being squeezed out of spot on the Opening Day bullpen due to his spring struggles.

Instead, the Rangers opted to drop Diaz from the 40 man roster to make room for Beeks. Diaz is only set to make $1 million this year, having been released at the end of the 2025 season by the Atlanta Braves, the third of three teams he pitched for in 2025.

Diaz pitched poorly for all three teams, putting up in toto an 8.15 ERA in 17.2 IP over 18 appearances between the Reds, the Dodgers, and the Braves. He was the closer for the Reds in 2023 and 2024, and was rather good in 2022 and 2023, but the past two seasons have seen his walk rate jump and his K rate plummet. He also allowed six home runs in those 17.2 innings in 2025, which seems bad. He had a 5.61 ERA in 27 appearances for the three AAA affiliates of the three teams he pitched for in 2025, as well.

Diaz has options remaining, so I figured that he would simply be optioned to the minors. He’s been so bad though — as the Texas Rangers PR account helpfully noted, Diaz has allowed 8 earned runs over 1.2 IP in three Cactus League appearances this spring — Texas presumably figures that he will clear waivers and they can outright him, and even if another team claims him, well, no real loss.

In the movie Trading Places, there was a shady character named Clarence Beeks who worked for the Duke brothers. He was played by Paul Gleason. I will no doubt be making Trading Places references in regards to Jalen Beeks through the 2026 season.

The Royals announced today that all 162 games will be televised, including 13 as part of a national television package. The remaining 149 games will air on Royals.TV, the new channel created by the Royals after they ended their partnership with Diamond Sports, the group that owned FanDuel Sports Kansas City.

Here is where you can find Royals games that will air on national TV packages.

FOX

The Royals are scheduled to appear on FOX four times this season, starting with their second game of the year, the Saturday night, March 28 matchup in Atlanta against the Braves. The four games that will air are:

• Saturday, March 28 vs. the Atlanta Braves at 6:15 CT
• Saturday, June 13 vs. the Houston Astros at 6:15 CT
• Saturday, August 22, vs. the Detroit Tigers at 6:15 CT
• Thursday, September 17, at the Houston Astros at 6:15 CT

These games are part of regional coverage, so they will not air nationally. These games will air over-the-air on FOX channels. The Royals will also appear four times on FS1:

• Saturday, April 4 vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at 3:10 CT
• Monday, April 20 vs. the Baltimore Orioles at 6:40 CT
• Saturday, May 23 vs. the Seattle Mariners at 3:10 CT
• Saturday, May 30 at the Texas Rangers at 3:05 CT

The FS1 games will be simulcast on Royals.TV as well.

ESPN

ESPN will air 30 games this year, starting on April 15 when they air the Mets vs. Dodgers game for Jackie Robinson Day. The Royals will appear on the Worldwide Leader for an afternoon game on Memorial Day, May 25 at 2:40 CT, when they host Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees in a rematch of the 2024 ALDS. Other dates could be added as ESPN fills out its schedule.

Apple TV

Apple TV returns with “Friday Night Baseball”, and will include the “MLB Big Inning” whip-around show that gives live look-ins and highlights of action around the league. The Royals will appear four times in the first half schedule that has been released so far:

• Friday, April 3 vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at 6:45 CT
• Friday, May 1 at the Seattle Mariners at 8:45 CT
• Friday, June 5 at the Minnesota Twins at 7:15 CT
• Friday, June 19 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:15 CT

More games could be added in the second half. Games will be called by broadcast teams Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), and Heidi Watney (sideline reporter); and Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (sideline reporter), with Rich Waltz, who will join the broadcast team to call select games during the season.

NBC/Peacock

NBC has partnered with MLB for the first time in 25 years, and will air 27 games on their platforms that include NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. They will air Sunday Night Baseball, with the Royals appearing three times:

• Sunday, April 26 vs. the Los Angeles Angels at 6:00 CT
• Sunday, May 10 vs. the Detroit Tigers at 6:00 CT
• Sunday, September 6 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:00 CT

NBC will feature Jason Benetti and Matt Vasgersian on play-by-play, with studio coverage from Bob Costas, Ahmed Fareed, Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, and Anthony Rizzo.

KCTV5

Just like last year, the Royals will air ten home games on free, over-the-air television in the Kansas City area, including the home opener against the Twins. The games that will air on KCTV5 include:

• Monday, March 30 vs. Minnesota Twins at 3:10 CT
• Friday, April 24 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 6:40 CT
• Friday, May 22 vs. Seattle Mariners at 6:40 CT
• Friday, June 12 vs. Houston Astros at 7:10 CT
• Thursday, June 18 vs. St. Louis Cardinals at 6:40 CT
• Friday, July 17 vs. San Diego Padres at 7:10 CT
• Friday, Aug. 7 vs. Chicago Cubs at 7:10 CT
• Friday, Aug. 21 vs. Detroit Tigers at 7:10 CT
• Friday, Sept. 4 vs. Toronto Blue Jays at 7:10 CT
• Monday, Sept. 7 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:10 CT

These games will also be simulcast on Royals.TV.

Royals.TV

All remaining Royals games will air on Royals.TV, which returns the crew of Ryan Lefebvre, Rex Hudler, Jake Eisenberg, Jeremy Guthrie, with Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery on pre- and post-game shows. The broadcast is also adding Eric Hosmer as an analyst and Bridget Howard as a sideline reporter.

Royals.TV will be available on many cable and satellite providers, although the Royals have not announced which ones. They are offering the service as a direct-to-consumer platform as well, available for fans inside the Royals’ home television territory for $19.99 per-month or $99.99 per year. Out-of-market fans can watch Royals games with an MLB.TV subscription for $149.99 per year. You can find more information on how to watch here with a map of the Royals in-market TV territory.

You can also watch two more spring training games for free at Royals.TV – the March 13 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the March 17 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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The Dominican Republic is a huge favorite to beat Korea in their World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup at LoanDepot Park on Friday, March 13.

My top World Baseball Classic best bets expect the Dominicans to win comfortably, while starter Cristopher Sanchez falls short of his lofty strikeout total tonight.

Korea vs Dominican Republic prediction

Korea vs Dominican Republic best bet: Cristopher Sanchez Under 5.5 strikeouts (-150)

Dominican Republic lefty Cristopher Sanchez only pitched 1 1/3 innings in his first start of the World Baseball Classic, and while he has the swing-and-miss stuff to pile up punchouts, I’m not anticipating him pitching deep enough into tonight’s game to record six or more strikeouts.

The Dominicans have a deep bullpen, and manager Albert Pujols hasn’t sent his starter out for more than five frames in the tournament.

Plus, the Koreans have averaged just nine strikeouts a game, and Sanchez’s 23.2 strikeout percentage in the bigs is a middling mark. 

Korea vs Dominican Republic same-game parlay (SGP)

The Dominicans have scored a tournament-high 41 runs with 13 homers and massive 1.130 team OPS. Additionally, while I don’t anticipate Sanchez racking up strikeouts, I do expect him to pitch better than he did in his first start.

The crafty lefty spun a tidy 2.50 ERA and 2.77 xFIP across 202 innings in the majors last year, after all.

Turning to the Over, Korea has averaged seven runs per game and has enough pop in the lineup to help push this total Over the number.

Julio Rodriguez star player prop

Julio Rodríguez 1+ RBI (+115)

Dominican center fielder Julio Rodriguez projects to bat down the order behind the who’s who of MLB stars in the lineup, so he’s positioned to have plenty of ducks on the pond to bring home tonight.

Rodriguez also posted a high-end .354 wOBA against lefties over the past three MLB seasons, and Korea is sending southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu to the hill.

Korea vs Dominican Republic opening odds

• Moneyline: Korea +600 | Dominican Republic -1000
• Run line: Korea +4.5 (+105) | Dominican Republic -4.5 (-130)
• Over/Under: Over 10.5 (-115) | Under 10.5 (-105)

How to watch Korea vs Dominican Republic and game info

Korea vs Dominican Republic weather

Cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Not that it really matters, but the New York Yankees are tied for the Grapefruit League lead with a 13-6 record after beating the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. On Friday, they will visit the Atlanta Braves in North Port, with left-hander Ryan Weathers looking to bounce back after putting up a stinker the last time out.

Facing the Mets last Sunday, Weathers conceded six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks, striking out three. It’s a big contrast in comparison to how he looked in his first spring start in late February vs. the Nationals, striking out five in 3.2 scoreless frames. The 26-year-old trade acquisition has been a hot topic among fans because of his fastball velocity, which touched 99.5 mph the last time he pitched and averaged 98.2 mph. Getting whiffs with his secondary pitches will be the key, though.

Didier Fuentes, the Braves’ starter, is a legitimate prospect, ranked third in their system. The 20-year-old boasts a big fastball that averaged 97.4 mph the last time he pitched and could be a good starter or a shutdown reliever someday. Atlanta also has a track record of being unafraid of aggressive promotions, and indeed, he made his MLB debut last year just three days after turning 20. He made three more starts after that but returned to Triple-A afterwards and ended the year in Gwinnett after suffering right shoulder inflammation.

Since this is a mid-spring road game, the Yankees are sending out a lineup full of mostly reserves and players fighting for relevance, but also with some regulars. Leadoff hitter Trent Grisham made the trip, as did Cody Bellinger and Ryan McMahon. They’ll be joined by Randal Grichuk, Oswaldo Cabrera, Max Schuemann, Jonathan Ornelas, Ernesto Martínez Jr., and Payton Henry.

The Braves welcome the return of Ozzie Albies to their starting nine after he spent some time away from the team playing for Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. He’ll be joined in the lineup by plenty of other likely faces who will play roles for Atlanta in 2024, including Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Mike Yastrzemski, Mauricio Dubón, and Jonah Heim. Kyle Farmer, José Azócar, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. round out the batting order.

How to watch

Location: CoolToday Park — North Port, FL

First pitch: 1:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: MLB Network, Gray TV (ATL)

Radio broadcast: ESPN 103.7 (ATL), available via MLB.tv

Online stream: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

First pitch against the Boston Red Sox is at 1:05 at JetBlue Park and the Red Sox will be providing radio coverage.

Previous Winner

Adrian Santana, SS
20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155
A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K

Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?

Santana sneaks a win through despite three other prospects getting 5 votes in Overn, recently optioned Mesa Jr., and Valdez. Next round adds 2025’s top international signee.

Candidates

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

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

Alex Cook, RHP
25 | 6’2” | 220
AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB

The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.

Maykel Coret, OF
18 | R/R | 6’4” | 187
DSL | .273/.294/.370 (115 wRC+) 188 PA, 2 HR, 15 SB, 12.8% BB, 22.3% K

Tampa Bay’s top signee from the 2025 international class, Coret reported tall and young with a lot of projection. His future depends mostly on his hit tool, with prospect evaluators divided on a player that has a long way to go, but the exit velocity (111 mph) and foot speed are plus for his age. Promisingly, after he had a hot start to his professional career, Coret saw his strikeouts elevate in July, but he got them back under control in the final month. A move to the complex league in 2026 would be aggressive.

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

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

Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C
18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220

The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.

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

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

Dean Moss, OF
19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180

Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.

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

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

Émilien Pitre, 2B
23 | L/R | 5’11” | 185
A+ | .268/.356/.393 (122 wRC+) 524 PA, 9 HR, 14 SB, 11.6% BB, 20.4% K

The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.

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

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

Alex Cora was right. The Red Sox should win some sort of award for getting their guys ready to play entering the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

Boston’s bats hit .310 during pool play and contributed to some of the tournament’s best performances thus far. The most impactful of all entering 2026? Jarren Duran balling out for Team Mexico. 

Watching Roman Anthony start every game and contribute at a high level for Team USA is super encouraging. But if the Red Sox are going to be a playoff team in 2026, Duran has to perform like an All-Star caliber offensive weapon. He’s done that so far this spring.

Here are three reasons the Red Sox should feel great about Duran with two weeks to go before Opening Day. 

The Power Surge

Duran has left the yard six times so far this spring. His two most recent homers came against Matthew Boyd in Team Mexico’s pool play battle with Team USA, emphasizing the 29-year-old’s sizzling start to competitive action this season.

Duran hit 21 homers in his All-Star 2024 season, but dropped back down to 16 home runs in 2025. The left-handed bat flashed raw power as a prospect, though the ability to bring that thump consistently in the big leagues hasn’t always been there. Swing changes and approach tweaks have reshaped Duran’s offensive identity, but he can contribute to the 20+ home run club that’s become a major talking point around the Red Sox lineup.

Put it this way: the math looks great. Across 27 total spring training and WBC at-bats, Duran homered in nearly a quarter of them. Only Vinny Pasquantino joins the Red Sox outfielder with a trio of WBC long balls. 

Lefties? No problem. 

For the Red Sox to produce at an efficient level in 2026, their young left-handed bats have to meet the matchups against southpaws. That especially goes for Duran, Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu. 

Duran felt the dropoff against lefties in 2025 with just a .211 batting average and .600 OPS. He has to be better and voiced his intention to make the right adjustments in 2026: 

Well, he’s mashing lefties this spring. THAT is the storyline of his strong start. If Duran holds his own left-on-left, Boston’s offense could reach a completely different level.

Oh, and about that power surge we talked about above: of those six homers, four came against left-handed pitching. 

Leaning into athleticism

Duran’s defense was concerning at times in 2025 (-4 OAA, 18th percentile), headlined by his inability to secure an Aaron Judge line drive that led to the Yankees taking the lead in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series. 

The Red Sox outfielder already turned in a quality defensive moment for Mexico when he started a timely relay to cut down USA’s Anthony at the plate early in the pool play matchup. 

The speedster nabbed a pair of stolen bases as well in WBC action. 

All of these trends point to the way Duran has to attack with his playing style in 2026: Play loose. Dominate with athleticism. Make the adjustments. 

With 13 days to go before Opening Day, the Orioles have their starting pitcher. The team announced before Friday’s spring training game against the Phillies that the dominant star from last year, Trevor Rogers, is getting the nod for the first start of the season.

On one hand, it’s no surprise that the guy who had a 1.81 ERA across 18 starts last season, who accumulated 5.5 bWAR in only 109.2 innings, is getting lined up as the #1 starter for the season. If he had performed like that over a full season, he would have been an easy winner for the AL Cy Young award.

On the other hand, it’s at least a tiny surprise, if only because there’s also Kyle Bradish, who is longer-tenured with the team and still looked pretty ace-like in his return last year from Tommy John surgery. By starting Wednesday’s spring training game, Bradish appeared to be lined up for Opening Day on regular rest. The team has gone in another direction.

As of this writing, there has not been any official indication from manager Craig Albernaz about how he might line up his other starting pitchers. Given that there are six starting pitching candidates, he hasn’t even announced whether he will do a six-man rotation. For now, my best guess is that things will line up with Rogers followed by Bradish, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and Dean Kremer, with Zach Eflin getting something like a two-week rehab stint at the start of the season to fully build up from last year’s back surgery.

The team has continually not indicated Eflin is behind schedule, though, so I’m starting to doubt that as the resolution. If nobody gets hurt between now and Opening Day, are they going to put Kremer in the bullpen? Send him to the minors? Though the #1 spot is resolved, many questions remain here. The Orioles probably have an idea internally what they’re going to do about these things, but they haven’t showed their cards yet.

Jordan Wicks has been a bit of an enigma for the Cubs. When he first came up, he was an effective lefty starter, but those results haven’t been consistent, and he keeps getting hurt. He’s starting this season on the IL, along with Porter Hodge, who didn’t look good. Neither injury is said to be long-term, but you never know. Wicks hasn’t pitched yet this year.

Wicks is still just 26 but the clock is running and the luster has been worn off of the #21 overall pick in 2021. He’s pitched to a lifetime 6-6 record, with a ghastly 5.21 ERA and 1.516 WHIP and 0.5 bWAR (0.3 fWAR).

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly the problem is. His stuff is not bad. He clearly puts in the effort and the coaches says he puts in the work. His K/9 is in the eights. He gives up around 1.5 HR/9.

Projections have him as a spot starter, and that’s probably his future, if he gets into major-league games at all. Wicks might be better off in another organization where he’ll have more chances to throw in the bigs, but he’s a tough sell right now, and teams hate to give up on first-rounders historically, because of their potential.

Wicks has a five-pitch mix — FB, sinker, slider, curve, change. He’s also thrown a cutter in the past but not in 2025. Let’s hope that the Cubs’ coaches can determine what the issue(s) is/are, and Wicks can regain the effectiveness that got him drafted in the first round.

Here are the lineups for today’s Grapefruit League matchup. Let’s discuss!

For the Phillies:

For the Orioles: