CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Kyle Backhus #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning of a spring training baseball game at BayCare Ballpark on February 22, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies kicked off the start of their season over the weekend with games against the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates. Many of the names competing for the final few spots in the bullpen and bench played and look to make good impressions for the rest of camp.
The first two games of spring training will not tell you much how the season is going to go. It would take some scenarios no one wants to imagine for Bryse Wilson to start on opening day or for Trevor Richards to pitch in high leverage but there are still things to take note of.
Justin Crawford’s swing
Here is a Justin Crawford swing on February 23 of last year:
And now here is a Justin Crawford swing from February 21 of this year:
I’m not a swing expert but there are two easy things to notice. His hands are a bit lower in the second clip and it’s helping him get to a more compact swing. The second thing is that his lower half is more in sync with his upper half, which might help him access more power either of the gap to gap variety or homers.
For most of Justin Crawford’s professional career, it often looked like the bat was swinging him and there were big questions about how he was going to cut down on the groundballs he hit. Matt Winkelman took a deeper look into Crawford’s season in AAA and found his groundball rate dropped over six percent from July to August that can be tied to swing adjustments he made.
Crawford is betting on those swing adjustments as he looks to solidify himself as the Phillies center fielder for 2026.
A Pair of Velocity Bumps
One pitcher fighting to make the final 26 who caught attention this weekend was left-hander Kyle Backhus. He throws from a funky, dropped-sidearm slot with over 7 feet of extension. He pitched 25.1 innings for a depleted Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff last year. He excelled against left-handed hitters but got barreled against righties.
It seems like his strong first impression to start camp translated to Sunday’s outing. Backhus’s sinker was up a tick from 91.0 mph last season to 91.9, and he flashed 94. Any extra velocity to help him against right-handed hitters would be huge for his chances of making one of the final two bullpen spots.
The Phillies spent most of their offseason looking to bolster their right-handed reliever depth. They swapped Matt Strahm for Jonathan Bowlan and signed Brad Keller. They signed Zach Pop to a major league deal, added three right-handed arms to their 40-man roster from other organizations, and signed another 3 arms that have extensive major league experience to minor league deals.
But their only external left-handed reliever adds this off-season were the aforementioned Backhus and Génesis Cabrera on a minor league deal. With José Alvarado and Tanner Banks as the only lefties out of the bullpen on the major league roster, there is room for Backhus to make the club with a good spring.
Seth Johnson was granted a fourth minor league option this off-season and showed some flashes in 12.2 innings last season. He struck out over 31% of hitters he faced at the big league level in 2025 with a slider that generated a whiff rate north of 40%.
Johnson flashed 99 mph and sat 98.3 against the Blue Jays on Saturday. He threw noticeably more fastballs that outing, probably to work on something, because it’s February but it’s still worth paying attention to.
Among 40-man pitchers with minor league options that are expected to pitch in AAA and the majors this season, Johnson flashes the most upside because of his velocity and ability to generate whiffs. The problem with him is that he does not throw enough early count strikes and has to throw more four-seam fastballs because of it.
MESA, AZ - OCTOBER 14: Jackson Baumeister #32 of the Mesa Solar Sox pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Mesa Solar Sox at Sloan Park on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Previous Winner
Jackson Baumeister, RHP 23 | 6’4” | 224 AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB
A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
The top 20 is a bit of an inflection point for our list. Thus far half of the players ranked did not appear on last years list, with eight having been newly added to the Rays system during that time. Players from last year’s list that have not ranked yet made the list:
Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B (2nd)
Aidan Smith, OF (6th)
Dom Keegan, C (9th – added as candidate for this vote)
Gary Gill Hill, RHP (11th)
Brailer Guerrero, OF (14th)
Cooper Kinney, 2B/3B (19th)
Dylan Lesko, RHP (20th)
Homer Bush Jr., OF (21st)
Maykel Coret, OF (23rd)
Joe Rock, LHP (24th)
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.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Dom Keegan, C 25 | R/R | 6’0” | 210 AAA | .241/.306/.429 (89 wRC+) 297 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, 8.1% BB, 30.6% K
Keegan is at an inflection point in his minor league career, having joined the 40-man roster as the third catcher, and overall the jury is still out. Trusted more at first base than backstop at Vanderbilt, the Rays have kept him behind the dish but reports still have his defense below average, and 2025 was a wash after an elbow injury in the Spring sank his season, in particular his bat speed. While the lack of progress on the edges of his game has some evaluators calling into question his once-sure major league projection, he’ll get a long look in Spring Training, where his ability to punish mistakes in the zone may flourish.
OF Victor Mesa Jr. 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
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.
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
DENVER, CO - JULY 6: Kris Bryant sits on the bench in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Coors Field on July 6, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies provided injury updates on Monday morning.
Two players — INF/OF Kris Bryant and RHP Jeff Criswell — are on the 60-day injured list. Bryant, of course, is dealing with lumbar degenerative disc disease while Criswell is continuing his throwing program on his way back from Tommy John surgery.
A new potential addition, though, is RHP Pierson Ohl, who was came to the Rockies from the Minnesota Twins with Edouard Julien. Ohl suffered a right UCL tear and will undergo Tommy John surgery.
The other notable injury is to OF Jared Thomas (No. 5 PuRP), who was a non-roster invitee. Thomas suffered a right hamate injury and underwent offseason surgery.
Otherwise, many Rockies are day-to-day with various injuries.
RHP McCade Brown is day-to-day with right shoulder inflammation. He is progressing in his throwing program.
RHP Brayan Castillo is undergoing treatment for right lat tightness. He is not throwing.
LHP Kyle Freeland is progressing with treatment for mid-back spasms and will begin throwing this week
INF/OF Tyler Freeman is day-to-day with a low back strain and is doing on-field work.
OF Mickey Moniak is taking live BP after suffering from right oblique tightness. He is scheduled to see game action this week.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 16: Ryan Yarbrough #33 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning of the game at Target Field on September 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring training keeps rolling on as we all get used to daily baseball back on our televisions. Today, the Yankees take the bus down to Bradenton to meet the sorta-trying Pittsburgh Pirates, who made a run at guys like Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suárez this offseason, but had to settle for their big coup being Ryan O’Hearn.
Ryan Yarbrough gets the start for the Yanks as he looks to get himself ready as the team’s next man up in the pitching rotation. Pitching injuries are inevitable, so it would not be a surprise if Yarbrough were in the Opening Day rotation. He should be fine in that role if he replicates his 2025 production, which saw the soft-tossing lefty post a 4.36 ERA in 64 innings across 19 games and eight starts, but if he has to start more than those eight games he did in 2025, there’s something very wrong.
We’ll get to see one of the more exciting young arms in baseball for a few innings today, as Bubba Chandler gets the start for the Pirates after his up-and-down 31-inning stint in the bigs last season. He still has rookie eligibility, so the 23-year-old flamethrower will look to refine his location with his four-pitch mix to get more whiffs and strikeouts. Chandler’s command is very mature for his age, walking just four batters in the majors last season across those 31 innings.
Ben Rice will make his spring debut for the Yankees, leading off and DHing. Jasson Domínguez bats second in left field, followed by Ryan McMahon, Paul DeJong, and Spencer Jones. The bottom of the order is full of Triple-A depth, with Max Schuemann in right field, Seth Brown at first base, Zack Short at second base, and Paxton Henry behind the plate.
Oneil Cruz will lead off for the Pirates and will be joined by fellow regulars Nick Gonzales, Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O’Hearn, and the newly-signed Marcell Ozuna. One-time top prospect Joey Bart will catch for the Buccos, and they round out their lineup with former late first-round picks Davis Wendzel and Alika Williams.
Fort Myers, FL - February 12: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early throws live batting practice. The Red Sox held Day 3 of Spring Training at JetBlue Park on February 12, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Is it on TV?
No! What a crock! We’re all stuck at home under a foot and a half of snow and we can’t even get some spring training baseball to keep us emotionally warm. Listen to it on WEEI, sickos.
What’s the lineup?
What should we watch listen for?
The pop of the mitt on Connelly Early’s heaters, I guess?
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Nacho Alvarez Jr. #24 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first weekend of the Grapefruit League season for the Atlanta Braves has come and gone and now we’re starting to get into the swing of things (for lack of a better term) as routine starts to set in here in the early goings. The Braves are now in Sarasota with Garrett Baumann serving as the starting pitcher today for their clash against Cade Povich and the Baltimore Orioles.
Again, this is a road game early on in spring training which means that we’re going to see more of the organizational depth rather than the guys who you’d expect to see plenty of during the regular season. Ben Gamel will be looking to build off of his impressive performance on Saturday and we’ll also be seeing familiar faces like Chadwick Tromp and Nacho Alvarez Jr. making appearances as well. Dominic Smith will be making his spring debut with the Braves after signing a minor league deal around a week ago.
“I was really shocked that Pete would leave New York for Baltimore,” Strawberry said Monday at spring training. “Pete could have broken all the records and could have been on top of every offensive category for this organization and then sometimes when you don’t see that and realize how important that is, one day he is going to wake up just like I did and regret you didn’t stick where you are at.”
Strawberry, who left the Mets through free agency to join the Dodgers after the 1990 season, said Alonso — who received a five-year contract worth $155 million from the Orioles — should have never opted out from his contract after last season. Alonso would have received $24 million this season from the Mets if he didn’t opt out.
After his opt-out, Alonso never received an offer from the Mets. According to sources, the team was expecting him to circle back after exploring the market, but the length of the Orioles’ offer made it a moot point.
Pete Alonso stretches before the Orioles’ spring training game against the Yankees on Feb. 20, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostDarryl Strawberry speaking at Citi Field last season. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“The biggest mistake I saw was after they lost in Miami he opted out,” Strawberry said, referring to the Mets’ final game last season. “I think if he just waited and said, ‘OK, I’ll stay at that, but give me a four-year deal, something like that, they could have worked it out.’”
Strawberry was asked if the Mets should have fought harder to keep Alonso.
“I think it’s a combination,” Strawberry said. “I think they both could have fought harder in that situation.”
Alonso last season eclipsed Strawberry’s previous franchise record of 252 homers. Like Strawberry, he was a homegrown Mets player.
“He worked his way up to become the player that he was,” Strawberry said. “He deserved all the credit for that and what he accomplished. I just don’t leave New York to go to Baltimore. Don’t get me wrong, I am not getting on Baltimore. But I am saying, this is New York, come on. Baltimore is a good place, but it’s not New York.”
This Vote represents the last in our series this year, as we are into Spring Training and also now bumping right up against the Top 100 countdown. Our voters play an important role in almost half of that list, but it doesn’t make much sense to be voting on players who are already showing up in the Top 100 profiles.
And in fact, this year’s Vote went longer than any other we’ve run under “normal” circumstances. (In 2020, we ran the Vote to 50 rounds given there was no baseball being played/minors season cancelled outright, and in 2018 we ran the Vote well into the regular season as a first-time effort.)
It was a fitting, even poetic, end to the polling, as Reudis Diaz finally advanced, on his 33rd ballot. That is doubtlessly an all-time record span on the ballot for our Prospect Vote.
Diaz in fact won this round with authority, outpacing fellow long-balloter Aldrin Batista by 18 votes. Making an enormous jump of five spots on the ballot and 23 total votes, Diaz routed the rest, with 28 of 71 (39%) votes:
This was Diaz’s first time in our voting. Perhaps next year he won’t have to linger so long on the ballot.
Diaz also become the fourth right-handed reliever to advance, as well as the third RHRP in the last six results:
Here’s the overall breakdown of our readership winners: one catcher, three second basemen, two third basemen, four shortstops, one left fielder, three center fielders, four right fielders, seven right-handed starting pitchers, nine left-handed starting pitcher, four right-handed relievers and one left-handed relievers. There were no first basemen voted forward this year.
Overall, that’s 21 of 37 winning prospects being pitchers, and 16 of 37 winners being starting pitchers.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2026
Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
Aug 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
No Bo in the Mets’ lineup, which is normal for a road spring game. Teams tend to let veterans skip bus trips.
The Jays have set their pitching rotation for the week:
Blue Jays upcoming Grapefruit League starters
Tues vs NYY— TBD, likely a minor leaguer Weds @ DET — Cody Ponce Thurs vs MIA — Kevin Gausman Fri @ TBR — Eric Lauer Sat vs PHI (SS) — Dylan Cease Sat @ NYY (SS) — Jose Berrios
Today it is Jose Berrios’ first time on the mound since last September, before he went on the IL and then was left off the playoff roster. I’m sure he feels he has something to prove this spring.
As always, don’t read anything in a Spring Training batting lineup. Veterans progress in their own ways in spring. George Springer is planning to have his first game on Thursday
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
MJ Melendez – RF
Mark Vientos – DH
Ronny Mauricio – 3B
Jared Young – 1B
Hayden Senger – C
Vidal Brujan – SS
Jackson Cluff – 2B
Nick Morabito – LF
Ji Hwan Bae – CF
Clay Holmes – RHP
Blue Jays lineup
Andres Gimenez – SS
Ernie Clement – 2B
Vladimir Guerrero – 1B
Alejandro Kirk – C
Addison Barger – RF
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Daulton Varsho – DH
Nathan Lukes – CF
Davis Schneider – LF
Jose Berrios – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:07 PM EST TV: Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Manager Kevin Cash #16 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s seize the means of production the coveted Grapefruit League title
No TV covereage today, but the game can be heard through the radio.
First pitch is 1:05 against the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 20: Mick Abel #20 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Cleveland Guardians on September 20, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch (CT):12:05 TV: NA Radio: Tigers – WXYT 1270 Know Yo’ Foe: Bless You Boys
We don’t normally include a lot of info on Spring Training games, but let’s try a new “what to watch” section since stats and results and ultimate don’t matter. I suppose today, “what to watch” would be more “what to look for in Statcast player tracking data” due to the game not being available.
What to watch: Can Austin Martin actually play CF? If Martin is able to be a legitimate option there, it would solve a lot of roster issues in one fell swoop.
Feb 11, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nate Lavender (98) throws during spring training. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
It’s not all that common for a relief pitcher in the minors to generate even a moderate level of prospect buzz, but Nave Lavender garnered such attention when we put together our list of the Mets’ top prospects a couple years ago. Coming off a strong season in Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, the 6’ 2” then-23-year-old looked like he’d have a shot at getting a call to the big leagues in 2024.
Unfortunately, the left-handed Lavender made just five appearances with Syracuse to start that season before he hit the injured list. And he went on to have internal brace surgery a few weeks later, ending his 2024 season.
The Mets left Lavender exposed in the Rule 5 draft following the season, and the Rays took him, hoping that they’d get to give him a shot at pitching for them at the major league level in 2025. But Lavender’s recovery wasn’t a smooth one, as he didn’t pitch at all at any level during the season. When the organization designated him for assignment after the season, he cleared waivers and was returned to the Mets.
Taken by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2021 draft, Lavender recently turned 26. Given the fact that it’s been nearly two years since he pitched in a game, he’ll really just be looking to prove that he can get back on the mound and stay healthy during spring training.
If Lavender can do that, it’ll be interesting to see what he looks like in Triple-A Syracuse, assuming that’s where he starts his season. Over the course of his minor league career thus far, he’s flashed incredible strikeout rates, particularly in the aforementioned 2023 season, walked more batters than you’d like to see, and didn’t have much of an issue with home runs until he got to Syracuse.
And while it seems unlikely that Lavender’s spring training showing could be so good that he’d make the Mets’ Opening Day roster, the Mets’ bullpen isn’t exactly stacked with players who are certain to make the team.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 21: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals throw against the Toronto Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You know the Royals are in a differYou know the Royals are in a different era when they enter camp with few roster spots on the line, rather than holding an open tryout for the lineup. The Royals are pretty much set with their starting nine and rotation, but if there are roster spots to be won, they’ll be in the bullpen. The Royals have the late innings figured out – Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez will shut things down late in games. Matt Strahm will likely set those two up, and face the tough lefties. The middle innings will likely be John Schreiber and Nick Mears.
That leaves some jockeying for position for the last three spots in the pen when the team begins the season in Atlanta on March 27. For once, the question isn’t whether the Royals have enough arms — it’s which capable arms won’t make the team. Here’s who could be competing.
The favorites
Alex Lange led the Tigers with 26 saves in 2023 before suffering lat injuries that derailed his career over the last two seasons. The Lee’s Summit native grew up a Royals fan and can miss bats with a 96 mph fastball and a knuckle-curve that opponents hit just .178 against in 2023. But his injuries are a concern, and he has had trouble throwing strikes at times with a high walk rate and a league-high 15 wild pitches in 2022. He pitched just one big league game, spending most of the second half of last year in the minors. Lange has an MLB contract, but has an option year remaining, so the Royals could give him some time to get acclimated in the minors.
Daniel Lynch IV seems like a good bet to be in the big leagues, but with the acquisition of Bailey Falter last summer, he seems somewhat redundant as a left-handed long reliever. Lynch posted a 3.06 ERA in 57 games last year, but he had the third-lowest strikeout rate among relievers and pitched primarily in low-leverage situations. He has an option year remaining as well, but he could become a trade asset with the Royals looking to sell high on his performance last year.
Starter or reliever?
Ryan Bergert would have a chance to crack the starting rotation for many other teams, but will likely be on the outside looking in with the Royals. He flashed some great stuff last year, but had some inconsistent results, so the Royals could very well have him stretched out in Omaha to be the de facto sixth starter. However, he did make four scoreless relief appearances last year, and if they feel like his stuff could be a weapon in the pen, he could make the team.
Mason Black was acquired from the Giants this offseason after making eight starts for San Francisco the past two years. He has struggled both at the big league level and in the upper minors, but could be a good project for Brian Sweeney and the coaching staff. Black throws from a lower arm angle, which could give hitters a different look if he comes out of the pen. Black has an option year, so he’s likely to begin in the Omaha rotation as a depth piece.
Bailey Falter no longer has options remaining, unlike Bergert or Stephen Kolek. That will likely mean he makes the team, although they could try to pass him through waivers and hope no team is willing to take on his $3.6 million salary. Falter was solid in 50 starts for the Pirates in 2024 and 2025, although with a low strikeout rate. But he struggled after being traded to the Royals last July, ending the year on the Injured List. Falter has much better strikeout numbers in his 31 career relief appearances than he does as a starter, so he could prove to be more useful in that role.
Stephen Kolek, like Bergert and Falter, was acquired last summer, but Kolek had the most success with a 1.91 ERA in five starts with the Royals. He doesn’t miss many bats either, but he throws strikes and gets groundballs. He wants to rely on his four-seamer to get more whiffs, and he did have a noticeably higher velo and strikeout rate in 2024 when he worked exclusively as a reliever. Kolek has an option year and seems likely to be sent to the minors to keep him stretched out as a starter, but an impressive spring may make it hard not to carry him in the pen.
Mitch Spence was acquired earlier this month as rotation depth, but he made 24 relief appearances with the Athletics last year. He was solid in 2024, but had mixed results last year, although a lot of that could be due to poor numbers at the home ballpark in Sacramento. He has a high chase rate and a groundball rate of 46 percent, and was more effective as a reliever than a starter last year. He has an option year, but the Royals love his flexibility, and he could be used out of the pen.
Competing for a spot
Luinder Avila is one of the top pitching prospects in the organization and impressed in a cup of coffee last year with a 1.29 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings. He brings an electric four-seamer with a hammer curve and a cutter with good break, giving him a three-pitch mix that produced a 50 percent groundball rate in his limited action. Manager Matt Quatraro has suggested the 24-year-old could be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher someday, but for this year, he could cut his teeth in the big leagues as a reliever.
Steven Cruz turned a corner in 2025, reducing his walk rate and making 47 appearances in the big leagues with a solid 3.74 ERA. He doesn’t strike out as many hitters as you would expect for a large-framed right-hander with a fastball in the high-90s. He could rely more on his slider this year, as big league hitters struggled to touch it, hitting just .156 against it with a 24.5 percent whiff rate.
José Cuas was effective for the Royals over 2022-23, but has had trouble throwing strikes since they traded him away. He has returned as a non-roster invitee, so the Royals would need to clear a 40-man roster spot to add him to the team. His sinker has been pretty ineffective the last few years, but if he can get back to throwing strikes and getting groundballs, he could be an option for the Royals.
James McArthur led the Royals with 18 saves in 2024, but lost his effectiveness and suffered an elbow injury late in the year that required surgery. He sat out all of last year, and will look to recapture his 2023 performance, when he had a 23-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 games. McArthur has an option year, and could begin the year in the minors to work his way slowly back to the big leagues, but the Royals hope his curve can be a weapon later this year.
Eli Morgan was a pretty savvy signing, joining the Royals on a minor league deal. He had a 1.93 ERA in 32 games with Cleveland in 2024, but appeared in just seven games with the Cubs last year due to an elbow injury. Morgan mixes a 92 mph four-seamer with a slider and changeup, and if healthy, he provides another veteran bullpen arm that throws strikes.
Héctor Neris had 17 saves for the Cubs in 2024, but had an ugly 6.75 ERA last year in 35 games. Despite that, he had a very high strikeout rate, so the Royals will bring the 36-year-old right-hander in to see if he has anything left in the tank. Neris has been plagued by control issues the last few years, but he does miss bats with a solid splitter that opponents had a 36 percent whiff rate against last year.
Long shots
Eric Cerantola is on the 40-man roster, which could give him a leg up, and he did have an intriguing strikeout rate of 11.6 per-nine-innings in Triple-A Omaha last year. He also missed six weeks with injury and had mixed results overall with a 4.04 ERA and a high walk rate. He will be pitching with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, which could hurt his chances of making the team, but realistically, his hope is to pitch well in Omaha and become a factor in the pen later this year.
Helcris Olivárez is a 25-year-old the Royals signed in the offseason who has pitched in the Rockies, Red Sox, and Giants organizations, but has yet to make his MLB debut. He’s a lefty who throws in the mid-90s and held opposing lefties to a .136 batting average in the minors last year. He’s almost certainly ticketed to Omaha, but lefties are always needed and it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see him in Kansas City at some point.
Aaron Sanchez faced the Royals in the 2015 ALCS as a member of the Blue Jays and was an All-Star the following year, but has not pitched in the big leagues since 2022. Right shoulder injuries have kept him out of action, and he did not even pitch in the minors last year, but he impressed scouts with his performance in the Dominican Winter League over the offseason, winning Pitcher of the Year honors. A former starter, Sanchez seems likely to be used as a reliever at this point in his career, but he will need to show he can stay healthy and induce groundballs the way he did a decade ago.
