Category: Baseball

Box Score

Yesterday, the Brewers’ offense was almost held completely in check. Today, they let out all of the offense that they’ve been holding back. Three big innings by the Brewers’ offense made up all of the offense in this one, as the Brewers defeated the Dodgers 24-9.

The game started with the Dodgers’ offense in high gear. Chad Patrick escaped the first inning with just a single allowed. He faltered a bit in the second, giving up two singles and a walk as the Dodgers scored a run. In the third, he struggled a lot. After allowing back-to-back walks to start the inning, Teoscar Hernández hit a three-run home run to center field that put the Dodgers up 4-0. After another walk, the Brewers brought in Patricio Aquino from the bullpen. He allowed a fourth walk in the inning, and two batters later Eliezer Alfonzo doubled to bring them both in. It was a five-run inning for the Dodgers, who were up 6-0. Patrick came back in for the fourth inning and allowed a solo home run to Max Muncy. That was it for Patrick, who finished his day with 3 1/3 innings pitched, six runs, five hits, and four walks. He also struck out two.

As for the Brewers offense, Tyler Glasnow kept them in check for the first four innings. All he allowed in those innings was a Luis Rengifo single to lead off the game. In the fifth inning, they finally broke through. Joey Ortiz led the inning off with a walk, and Brandon Lockridge singled behind him to put runners at the corners. The first run came from Jett Williams, who singled and put the Brewers on the board.

That was just the start of the inning. Williams stole second with Brock Wilken at the plate, but Wilken struck out. Glasnow’s day ended there and Jerming Rosario entered the game. He would not record an out. Luis Lara singled to bring in Lockridge and Williams, and Lara reached second on a fielding error. Rengifo followed that up with another single to put runners at the corners, then Andrew Vaughn was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two more singles, this time from Tyler Black and Gary Sánchez, closed the gap to 7-6.

The Dodgers brought in Blake Treinen with two runners on base and one out. He promptly hit Ortiz with a pitch to load the bases once again. Lockridge then put the Brewers up with a grand slam, a 103.1 mph shot out to center field that gave them a 10-7 lead.

Meanwhile, the Brewers’ bullpen entered the game and mostly shut down the Dodgers for the next two innings. Trevor Megill struck out all three batters he faced in a scoreless fifth inning. Tyler Koenig allowed a leadoff single, then struck out three more Dodgers in a scoreless sixth.

In the seventh, the Brewers’ offense surged once again. Singles by Ortiz and Lockridge led off the inning, and a Williams walk loaded the bases. Pinch-runners Brady Ebel and Ethan Murray replaced Ortiz and Williams as Cooper Pratt came to the plate. Pratt hit an easy ground ball to second, but shortstop Noah Miller missed the throw and everyone was safe. That scored Ebel and increased the Brewers’ lead to 11-7. Lara added on another run with an RBI single. Back-to-back walks by Luke Adams and Mike Boeve increased the lead to 14-7.

Black hit a sacrifice fly out to left field for what should have been an easy out, but Zyhir Hope missed it and the bases cleared, with Black making it all the way to third base. He would score on a Ramón Rodríguez groundout, the Brewers’ first out of the seventh inning after they had scored eight runs. They would add on a ninth run in the next at-bat as Ebel hit a solo home run.

The bullpen did give the Dodgers a couple runs back in the next two innings. Grant Anderson walked the first two batters he saw, and a fly out and sacrifice fly brought in a run for the Dodgers. Anderson finished the inning with no other damage, but also did not record a strikeout. Jack Seppings came in for the eighth inning but struggled. He walked two batters with a strikeout in-between, then allowed an RBI single to Hope that made it a 19-9 game. Will Childers finished the eighth with two strikeouts.

The Brewers’ offense came back for one more encore in the ninth inning, with Lucas Wepf pitching for the Dodgers. All five Brewers that faced him reached base. Ebel led off with a walk, and back-to-back singles by Josiah Ragsdale and Murray loaded the bases. Pratt walked to bring in the Brewers’ 20th run of the game. Braylon Payne also walked to make it a 21-9 game. The Dodgers switched to Robby Porco, who walked Luke Adams — the third straight walk from the Brewers and fourth in the inning. It took Porco eight pitches before he finally threw a strike. On the ninth pitch, Boeve singled to bring in another run. The Dodgers finally recorded two outs when Eddys Leonard hit into a double play, but that scored Payne. After Rodríguez was hit by a pitch, Ebel struck out swinging to end the inning. It was a five-run inning for the Brewers, and the score after that was 24-9.

Joe Corbett took the ninth for the Brewers, and a calm 1-2-3 inning finally brought the game to an end. It was a three hour, 54 minute spring training game with a combined 33 runs, 24 hits, 22 walks, three errors, and two hit batters.

The Brewers’ offense had 24 of those runs, 16 hits, and 12 walks. They were also well-distributed throughout the lineup. Lockridge led the offense with a 3-for-5 day with four RBI and three runs scored. Rengifo, Williams, and Lara each had two hits. Adams didn’t record a hit but walked in all three of his plate appearances. Tyler Black had only one hit but his sacrifice fly brought in three runs. Lara also had three RBI, and Pratt added two of his own.

After that barrage of offense, the Brewers get a day to rest before returning to action with a split-squad day on Wednesday. One squad to travel to face the Mariners, while the other will remain home and host the Angels. The road game against the Mariners will be on Brewers.TV, and the home game will be available on the Brewers Radio Network. First pitch in both games is set for 3:10 p.m.

The Dodgers opened up their final week of Cactus League play with a lopsided defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, relinquishing a seven-run lead and falling 24-9.

Tyler Glasnow was given an extended leash as he worked his way into the fifth inning. He tossed 79 pitches (46 strikes) while striking out six and walking just one hitter, but was charged with three earned runs as the bullpen failed to preserve the Dodgers’ lead prior to the start of the inning. Jerming Rosario and Blake Treinen couldn’t stop the bleeding as the Brewers rallied for a 10-spot, highlighted by a grand slam from Brandon Lockridge.

The Brewers rallied again in the top of the seventh inning for an additional nine runs, extending the lead to 12 and giving Milwaukee 19 unanswered runs. Dino Ebel was not in attendance to see his son, Brady, cap off the scoring with an opposite field home run. The Dodgers managed to respond with a sacrifice fly from Chris Newell in the seventh inning and an RBI single from Zyhir Hope in the eighth inning, but still trailed by double-digits. Milwaukee eventually returned the favor in the ninth inning with an additional five runs.

Teoscar Hernández has been on a recent power surge over the past week, and it continued on Monday as he launched a three-run home run of Patrick for his third home run of the spring to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. Hernández is now hitting .459 (17-36) across 14 games, with his 15 RBI and 1.298 OPS both ranking best on the team among regular starters.

Max Muncy connected for his third home run of the spring, tying Hernández for the team lead, blasting it 454 feet to deep right center field.

Hyeseong Kim has played well in the two games since returning from the World Baseball Classic, going 2-6 with a pair of stolen bases and three runs scored. Kim is now hitting .421 in 19 at-bats this spring and he appears to be the heavy favorite to win the starting second base job for the start of the regular season.

Zach Ehrhard continues to flourish this spring, as he drove in the first run of the game and is now hitting .327 with a .940 OPS across 20 games.

Monday’s contest marked the largest margin of defeat for the Dodgers this spring, but they still maintain a positive run differential of 21. Their 166 runs scored are the most among both Cactus League and Grapefruit League teams.

UP NEXT

The Dodgers are on the road as they take on the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night at Surprise Stadium (6:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Roki Sasaki makes his third start of the spring, facing left-hander Bailey Falter.

Today the Texas Rangers have waited for the evening to play their latest Cactus League contest with the Chicago White Sox in Surprise, AZ for a spring tussle.

LHP MacKenzie Gore will take the hill for Texas in his latest rehearsal opposite RHP Sean Burke for the American League’s Chicago squad.

You can catch the game on television via CW33 or MLB Network out of market. Alternatively, you can listen to the game via 105.3 The Fan or follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.

Go Rangers!

TAMPA — Cam Schlittler pitched to minor leaguers at a mostly empty and silent Steinbrenner Field on Monday morning.

Two starts from now, he could be throwing against the Giants at a packed and loud Oracle Park in the second game of the season.

On the final “off-day” of Yankees spring training Monday, Schlittler got his work in by building up to 54 pitches across four innings of live batting practice against minor leaguers, keeping him on track to potentially follow Max Fried in the rotation to begin the year.

“Whatever they want me to do, whether I throw that series or not, I’m prepared to do that,” Schlittler said after pitching in front of a handful of Yankees personnel, including Hal Steinbrenner.

The hard-throwing right-hander, whose camp ramp-up was slightly delayed by mid-back inflammation, should be in line to throw around 65-70 pitches in his regular-season debut, as long as his spring finale (likely on Saturday) goes according to plan.

There should be much more adrenaline readily available for Schlittler’s first start of the season than there was on Monday morning, though he was encouraged by how he threw.

“Felt good, felt in control, didn’t have a walk, so that’s a really good feeling,” Schlittler said.

The 25-year-old was pitching the morning after staying up to watch Team USA knock off the Dominican Republic in a thrilling WBC semifinal, which included teammates Aaron Judge, David Bednar, Austin Wells and Camilo Doval. 

There were “some conversations” over the offseason about Schlittler potentially joining USA’s roster, he said, but they did not go too far because it was “already kind of decided” he would not participate given that he was coming off a career-high workload last season.

That said, Schlittler indicated he would be interested in pitching in the event the next time around.

“For sure,” he said. “Just wasn’t an option this year with the workload I threw last year. So hopefully I get another opportunity to do that in a couple years.”

Will Warren is scheduled to make his penultimate start of the spring Tuesday afternoon against the Rays, which could line him up to start the third game of the regular season.

The right-hander has had one of the strongest springs of any Yankee, pitching to a 1.65 ERA across four starts and 16 ¹/₃ innings.

The White Sox will face an evenly-matched Rangers team this evening.

Sean Burke will be on the mound tonight. Burke has been roughed up during Spring Training, owning an ERA of 6.75, giving up nine hits, six earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts over eight innings pitched. We will also see Korey Lee, who will need to prove he can fill in at catcher while Kyle Teel is out for a few more weeks.

Southpaw pitcher MacKenzie Gore will be the starter for the Rangers. While Burke hasn’t had the best showing so far, Gore has been much worse. With only 6 1/3 innings pitched under his belt, Gore owns an ERA of 12.79, giving up 12 hits, nine earned runs, three walks, a hit-by-pitch and just three strikeouts. Worth noting, our old friend Jake Burger will be at first base and batting cleanup tonight.

If you have MLB Network, the game will be live at 7:05 p.m. CT. If not, I’ll be here for your postgame recap.

We’re just one game away from the finale of what’s been an unforgettable World Baseball Classic. Team USA punched their ticket to the Championship Game last night with a pitching masterclass to silence the potent Dominican Republic lineup, clinging on to a narrow 2-1 victory. Relative tournament upstarts Venezuela and Italy face off tonight for the right to play the US on Tuesday in Miami and hoist the WBC trophy for the first time.

Venezuela eliminated tournament favorites, defending champions, and three-time winners Japan on Saturday, Shohei Ohtani popping out to end the game. Italy meanwhile have been the story of the tournament — surprise winners of a Pool B that include the US — and undefeated thanks to espresso-fueled slugfests and led by captain Vinnie Pasquantino and his three-homer game against Mexico.

The question tonight is whether Aaron Nola will be able to hold down the star-studded Venezuela lineup. The former Phillies ace was brilliant in his lone start of the tournament — five scoreless innings allowing four hits and a walk with five strikeouts against Mexico in the final pool play game.

However, Venezuela is another story entirely, led by former NL MVP and leadoff hitter Ronald Acuña Jr. There are All-Stars up and down the batting order — the Royals’ Maikel Garcia at third, the Giants’ Luis Arraez at first, former and current Red Eugenio Suárez at DH, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, former Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, Boston’s Wilyer Abreu in left, and the pair of Milwaukee stars William Contreras behind the plate and Jackson Chourio in center. If Nola can keep them in check, he’ll hand the ball over to an Italy bullpen featuring several former Yankees including Adam Ottavino, Greg Weissert, and Ron Marinaccio.

How to watch

Location: loanDepot park — Miami, FL

First pitch: 8:00 pm ET

TV broadcast: FS1

Radio broadcast: MLB.com

Online stream: Fox Sports App

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

Record: 11-12-1. Change on 2025: -2. 5-inning Record: 7-15-2.

It isn’t typically a good day when every pitcher bar your ninth inning guy gets tagged for one or more earned runs, but today had its positives for the D-backs. The first would be a good start from Ryne Nelson, who went four innings, and gave up just a solo home-run. There were four hits in total, plus a walk, but six strikeouts. Kevin Ginkel, however, lasted just seven pitches, allowing a two-run homer, and I have to wonder if something was up with that. Philip Abner, Ryan Thompson and Taylor Clarke each allowed one run – Abner’s outing lasted 1.2 innings – before Kade Stroud finally became our only pitcher to escape undamaged, with a scoreless ninth.

This one was 10-1 to Arizona by the end of the fourth, and that was also good to see. We got a five-run third, highlighted by James McCann’s first spring homer, a two-run shot. The Diamondbacks followed that up with a four-run fourth, LuJames Groover also going deep for the first time, this one plating three runs. Jacob Amaya had three of Arizona’s fourteen hits, with McCann and Grover each adding a knock in addition to their home-runs. Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar each notched a hit and a walk, while Manuel Pena drew two walks. The team was also active on the base-paths, Amaya swiping a pair of bags, and Lawlar getting his first SB.

The D-backs will stay at Salt River Fields for tomorrow’s game, which sees the Cubs come to visit. First pitch will be at 1:10 pm, with your scheduled starter Merrill Kelly, as he continues making his way back.

TAMPA, FL – Detroit Tigers prospect Jordan Yost hit a grand slam in his first plate appearance of MLB spring training. His family members celebrated from the stands in front of the press box, repeating the same phrase after the ball landed in the right-field bleachers.

I can't believe it.

I can't believe it.

I can't believe it.

"I didn't hear many people running around the bases," Yost said. "I knew what was going on – just overjoyed, excited running the bases. I wouldn't say I blacked out, but it was a good moment."

MORE ABOUT HIM: Why Tigers took some risky picks on Day 1 of 2025 MLB Draft

The Tigers called up Yost as an extra player from minor-league camp for Sunday's 12-1 win over the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, planning to get him a plate appearance as the designated hitter in the later innings of the game.

The 19-year-old – a left-handed hitting shortstop – is the Tigers' No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, but he is still awaiting his professional debut in the minor leagues after the Tigers selected him No. 24 overall in the 2025 draft out of high school.

In Sunday's game, the Tigers gave him an early taste of life in the big leagues – pinch-hitting for Kerry Carpenter with no outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Yankees.

"It was exciting," said Yost, who learned Saturday afternoon from assistant general manager Ryan Garko and minor-league field coordinator Travis Chapman that he would travel for Sunday's game. "Fun to be out there and get an opportunity. Made the most of it, I guess."

It was a hometown moment in a familiar ballpark.

The Tigers drafted Yost out of Sickles High School in Tampa, just 10 miles away from George M. Steinbrenner Field, home of the Yankees in spring training, where he played high school tournaments.

"It's always nice for these guys to come over and get a look at what big leaguers look like and who they aspire to be," manager A.J. Hinch said. "I try to get these guys in the game as best I can."

INSIDE THE PICK: How a Tigers scout basically lived at a high school to watch Tigers' top draft pick

Before the game, Yost took ground balls at shortstop with Javier Báez.

He finally entered the game after two rain delays.

Hinch joked that the only fans left in the stands would be Yost's family and friends. He had his parents, grandparents, friends and high school coach in attendance.

"I'm glad they waited," Hinch said.

It was a two-pitch plate appearance: Yost watched a fastball sail above the strike zone for a ball, then turned on an up-and-in 95 mph fastball from right-handed reliever Zach Messinger for a grand slam. He pulled the pitch 379 feet to right field with a 102.1 mph exit velocity.

He wasn't trying to hit a grand slam.

The result was a product of his approach.

"Just do my job," Yost said. "I know it's bases loaded, no outs. If anything, get the ball to the outfield, put together a good at-bat. ... I was ready for the heater, and I was able to put a good swing on it."

Did he know it was going to be a home run when he made contact?

"Yeah, I got it pretty good," Yost said.

BIG BONUS: Tigers sign top two 2025 MLB Draft picks, save $850K to use on other picks

Beyond the home run, Yost – known for his contact and plate disciple, but not power – showcased a different body than he had when the Tigers drafted him in July 2025.

A lot has changed in eight months.

"I gained about 13 pounds," Yost said. "That was the main priority, especially coming into the spring. My offseason goal was just to get bigger, stronger, and I think that's helped in all areas. I've actually gotten faster, too. The strength coaches are great. They're working with me every single day to try to get me bigger and stronger, and I think it's paying off."

He also added a toe tap to his swing mechanics.

The toe tap is a timing mechanism that helps hitters be ready for high-velocity fastballs – just like the one he crushed for a grand slam in Sunday's 12-1 win over the Yankees in MLB spring training.

"It's produced some good results so far," Yost said.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers prospect Jordan Yost hits grand slam in MLB spring training

Venue: loanDepot Park — Miami, Florida, USA

The stage is almost set for the grand finale of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. As Team USA defeated the team from the Dominican Republic last night in a close, hard-fought pitcher’s duel—that was not without controversy—tonight’s semifinals match-up will determine their opponent.

Regardless of the result, Team USA will face off against a team making the final round for the first time in the tournament’s history.

After knocking Japan out of the tournament in Saturday’s upset victory, Venezuela now has their eyes on the prize with the goal of defeating Italy tonight and the United States on Tuesday. The Venezuelan team presents a very well-balanced front. Their solid, top-ten offense has hit .276/.354/.482 with 11 doubles and eight home runs while demonstrating speed on the bases with eight steals. Their pitching staff has posted a 3.20 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 48 strikeouts so far, but they’ve also given up the fourth-most home runs.

Taking the mound tonight will be Detroit Tigers righty Keider Montero, who is making his first start of the tournament. Montero previously pitched three scoreless innings of relief against Nicaragua, giving up three hits and striking out two batters.

Should he be in the lineup tonight, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar could continue to be a spark plug for Venezuela. Tovar is shining in the international spotlight. Against Japan he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base, and solid defensive play.

Venezuela will be facing the surprise top seed and only remaining undefeated team in this year’s tournament: Italia.

Italy has never made it to the final four in the history of the World Baseball Classic, let alone gone undefeated while facing baseball powerhouse opponents like Mexico and the United States. Italy defeated both in convincing fashion with both exuberance and flair. Their designer jacket, espresso machine home run celebration, and of course il bacio from their captain Vinnie Pasquantino draw your attention while their strong play on the field keeps it.

Italy’s potent lineup packed with talent like Kansas City Royals stars Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone have hit a combined .287/.401/.581 with 12 home runs—the second-most in the tournament to this point. They’re also a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases.

Their pitching staff—while not as flashy as other delegations—has quietly turned in repeated strong performances. Their 3.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP have gotten the job done, and their 54 strikeouts are the fourth-most of any team. Italy’s pitching has also kept bats quiet when it comes to home runs, giving up just four.

Italy originally planned to send Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen to the mound tonight, but will instead have Philadelphia Phillies ace Austin Nola make the start instead. Nola worked five shutout innings against Mexico his last time out, striking out five batters while giving up four hits and a walk.

Depending on how tonight’s game goes for Nola, Lorenzen may appear out of the bullpen. If he does not—and Italy wins—Lorenzen is the likely starter for the championship game.

First Pitch: 6:00 PM MDT

TV: FS1

Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM

Lineups:

RHP Keider Montero vs RHP Austin Nola

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

Monday notes…

• SEIYA SUZUKI UPDATE: He’s having an MRI today on the knee he injured in the WBC and more information should be available tomorrow.
• WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: For those interested, there will be a WBC semifinal game thread posting at 6:15 p.m. CT for the Venezuela vs. Italy game that begins at 7 p.m. CT.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Guardians lineup:

Cade Horton will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Colin Rea.

Gavin Williams will start for the Guardians. Other Guardians pitchers scheduled today: Connor Brogdon, Peyton Pallette, Trevor Stephan and Tim Herrin.

Today’s game is on Guardians TV. There will be a radio broadcast on the Guardians flagship station, WTAM 1100.

MLB.com Gameday

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

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

As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 8 p.m. CT and 9:35 p.m. CT.

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

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Previous Winner

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.

Voting is tapering, but that’s natural at this stage, and Overn was the clear winner regardless. We add Joe Rock!

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.

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.

Joe Rock, LHP
25 | 6’6” | 220
AAA | 5.21 ERA, 5.13 FIP, 96.2 IP (32 G, 15 GS), 21.1% K, 9.3% BB
MLB | 2 ER, 7 H (1 HR), 7.2 IP (3 G), 11 K, 2 BB

Rock got the call for the first time last season, riding the Durham shuttle in June and again in September after being acquired from the Rockies for former first rounder Greg Jones in an org roster shuffle ahead of the 2024 season. Rock’s calling card is a borderline double-plus slider that’s complimented by league average stuff from his sinker and change, although he’ll pop a high four-seam to keep ‘em honest. His arm action starts with a high back elbow and ends in a lower release point, and the look elevates his profile through deception. He’s most likely in a relief role.

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.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The San Diego Padres entered Spring Training with questions about their starting pitching rotation. There were rumors in the offseason about Mason Miller being converted back to a starter – he will not be. There was also talk about David Morgan and/or Brian Hoeing being stretched out to become starters because the Padres knew they would not have much of their 2025 rotation returning. Morgan remains in the bullpen and Hoeing will be lost for the season after needing elbow surgery.

Dylan Cease reached free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Michael King also reached free agency, but after time on the market he re-signed and returned to San Diego. Nick Pivetta was still on the team, but rumors about a possible trade involving Pivetta percolated in many of the early offseason conversations – he remains on the roster. It was announced that Yu Darvish would miss the entire 2026 season after offseason surgery on his elbow and Joe Musgrove was returning from his own surgery and what he could provide over 162-game season was unknown.

San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller turned to the free agent market, but after re-signing King, he seemed reluctant to add a free agent pitcher on much more than a minor league deal. He did add German Marquez and Griffin Canning on major league deals, but Marquez received a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027 for $1.75 million and Canning got a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027 for $2.5 million. Other than Marquez and Canning, Walker Buehler, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie were all added on minor league deals. JP Sears and Matt Waldron were already on the San Diego roster and were starting rotation options heading into Spring Training.

Padres manager Craig Stammen announced Monday that Musgrove would likely not be on the Opening Day roster after having difficulty bouncing back from his last throwing session and a start against Great Britain, who was preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Pivetta recently missed time with arm fatigue and recently returned, but there was a moment of concern for Padres fans.

The current San Diego rotation is:

1. Michael King
2. Nick Pivetta
3. Randy Vasquez
4. TBA
5. TBA

The expectation is that Buehler and Marquez will occupy those positions because Canning will be out until sometime in May after recovering from his own injury that occurred last season. Gonzales was hammered his last time out against the Texas Rangers and McKenzie has had trouble with control throughout spring, but his velocity has been impressive. Sears has continued to allow home runs and Waldron is trying to work back to the mound after having surgery to address a hemorrhoid issue.  

It would appear the San Diego rotation is in shambles with only King and Pivetta as front of the rotation pitchers. Vasquez will move up out of necessity, but that means the back of the rotation will be filled by some combination of Marquez, Buehler, Sears, Waldron, McKenzie and Gonzales at least until Canning is cleared to return. The typical disclaimer applies; this is assuming Preller does not make a trade to address the starting rotation like he did when he added Cease prior to the plane taking off for Korea to open the 2024 season.

Gaslamp Ball would like to know what your level of concern is regarding the Padres’ rotation with Opening Day just 10 days away. Results from the Padres Reacts Survey poll question will be announced later this week.

In the quiet aftermath of a national heartbreak, the words of Shohei Ohtani carried the weight of an entire baseball nation on Monday when the two-way sensation wrote a heartfelt message on his Instagram account.

Last Saturday night in Miami, Team Japan – the gold standard of the World Baseball Classic with three titles – watched its dream dissolve under the bright lights of LoanDepot Park. 

After dominating group play on their home soil at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, the Samurai traveled to Miami to face Venezuela in the quarterfinals. 

Japan led 5-2 in the game, thanks in large part to Ohtani’s game-tying blast in the bottom of the first inning, and his Dodgers’ teammate, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s stellar start. 

However, Venezuela stormed back and stunned the defending champions 8-5, marking the first time in the tournament’s 20-year history that Japan failed to reach the semifinals. 

It was the kind of loss that lingers.

And Ohtani knew it.

Two days later, as he traveled back to Glendale, Arizona for the quiet rhythm of spring training, the Dodgers superstar wrote a message of gratitude, disappointment, and reflection.

View this post on Instagram

“Dear fans, thank you very much for your support. Your cheers gave us a push in the back every day,” Ohtani wrote in Japanese.

Then came the honesty.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted, and I’m pained by my shortcomings.”

Those words landed with the humility that has defined the most recognizable player in baseball. Ohtani thanked the players, coaches and staff who shared the dugout with him, acknowledging that even a short tournament can feel like a lifetime when worn across the chest of your own country.

“To the players, manager, coaches, and the staffers who supported the team, it was a short time, but I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart that I was able to experience baseball with you as a representative of Japan.”

“Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the players from the countries we played starting in the first round.”

He even tipped his cap to the team that ended their run.

“Also, to the folks from victorious Venezuela, congratulations.”

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

That’s who Ohtani is. Even in defeat, the perspective remains bigger than the scoreboard.

In 2023, Ohtani stood atop the baseball world, striking out his former teammate Mike Trout to seal Japan’s championship and create one of the sport’s most iconic moments.

Now, Ohtani returns to Camelback Ranch chasing something else entirely –  a third straight World Series title and another chapter in a career that increasingly feels less like a baseball story and more like mythology wearing cleats.

Japan’s tournament ended in shock.

Ohtani’s pursuit of greatness, however, never stops.

For the first time in its 64-year history, Dodger Stadium is attaching itself to a corporate sponsorship.

Katie Woo of The Athletic first reported Sunday that the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a deal with Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo to be the official field presenting partner of the historic ballpark. Uniqlo does not have the naming rights to Dodger Stadium itself, as the team reportedly made it a priority to keep the only name the ballpark has ever had intact.

"That has never been for sale,” team president Stan Kasten told the Los Angeles Times in 2017. “It never will be for sale.”

Rather, the sponsorship is for the playing field alone and will likely be something along the lines of Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.

It's a similar setup to another historic LA venue — the playing field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the home of the USC Trojans football team, has been known as United Airlines Field since 2019 while keeping the stadium's name.

Uniqlo began as a fast-fashion brand based in Japan in 2017 and has since grown to over 1,000 stores worldwide. As part of the deal, it will have a prominent presence throughout the ballpark, including a new sign in the center field plaza. Per The Athletic, Uniqlo will also hold exclusive marketing and promotional opportunities as the organization’s top sponsor.

Coming off a successful stint with the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Carlos Mendoza has confirmed that Huascar Brazobán will be a part of the Mets’ bullpen if he remains healthy to finish off the spring. When speaking about his 36-year-old right-hander, Mendoza added, “If everything continues to trend in that direction…he’s going to be a part of our bullpen.”

Mendoza faced 13 batters in the WBC and struck out seven of them. He walked one and did not allow a hit over four shutout innings. Brazobán has also allowed one hit and walked one while striking out five over three shutout innings with the Mets this spring prior to his WBC performance.

Brazobán was second among all Mets relievers last season with 63 innings pitched, trailing only Edwin Díaz on that front. Meanwhile, he was fourth in appearances (52) behind Ryne Stanek (65), Díaz (62), and Reed Garrett (58). He finished the year with a 3.57 ERA and a 4.04 FIP, with 57 strikeouts and 27 walks. Brazobán still has a Minor League option, which made his spot in the bullpen anything but a guarantee, but his strong spring performance made it an easy choice for Mendoza.

The Mets have now essentially locked in six of their seven bullpen spots with closer Devin Williams, set-up man Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Luis García, Tobias Myers, and Brazobán. With the team expected to deploy a six-man rotation, Mendoza will run a seven-man bullpen, leaving one spot left to fill. Craig Kimbrel is the most high-profile name remaining, but his performance this spring has done little to earn him a spot. He is competing against guys like Bryan Hudson, Austin Warren and Joey Gerbe, to name a few. The Mets are expected to make their decision as close to Opening Day as possible, to allow for more time to analyze their options. The Mets open their season against the Pirates on Thursday, March 26 at 1:15 pm at Citi Field.