Category: Baseball

We’re back with another daily question, and today’s question is: How will MLB’s new ABS challenge system change baseball?

After an ongoing conversation that has seemingly lasted for a decade, MLB’s automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system is officially here. The new system, which has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022 and made an appearance in MLB spring training last season, was approved last year to make it to the bigs in 2026.

Widely seen as a happy middle ground between so-called “robot umps” and the current human-run system, the ABS Challenge System monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the specific batter’s zone.

A few FAQs on the system, helpfully compiled by MLB:

• How many challenges does each team receive?
  • Each team starts the game with two challenges apiece.
• Do teams get an extra challenge in extra innings?
  • Yes, because teams are initially managing their challenges under the assumption that the game will be nine innings, not longer. If a game goes into extra innings, any team that starts the extra inning out of challenges will get one challenge for the 10th inning. If they exhaust that challenge, they will then get another challenge for the 11th, and so on. If a team has challenges remaining at the start of the 10th inning, they will not get an additional challenge for that inning, though they will for any subsequent inning if they are out of challenges at the start of the inning.
• Will the ABS Challenge System be in use for every MLB game at every ballpark?
  • It will be used in every game at an MLB ballpark, however, there are a few exceptions. The Mexico City Series (Diamondbacks vs. Padres, April 25-26), the Field of Dreams game (Twins vs. Phillies, Aug. 13) and the Little League Classic (Brewers vs. Braves, Aug. 23) will all be played in non-MLB stadiums, meaning they don’t have the infrastructure to support the system.
• Will it be in use during the postseason?
  • Yes
• Who can issue a challenge?
  • The batter, the pitcher or the catcher can challenge an umpire’s call. No one else — no, not even the manager — may do so. Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire’s call, without assistance from the dugout or other players. Notably, MLB has reported that some teams have already indicated that they will forbid their pitchers from challenging, preferring they defer to the catcher’s vantage point.
• How is a challenge issued?
  • The player taps his cap or helmet to alert the umpire to his desire to challenge the call. Players are also encouraged to verbalize their challenge, to leave nothing to doubt, but the cap/helmet tap represents the official challenge.
• How is a call reviewed?
  • An animated pitch result graphic is shown to those in attendance via the video board and to home viewers via the broadcast. If you’ve ever watched tennis on TV, it’s similar to the Hawk-Eye technology they use.
• Are successful challenges retained?
  • Yes. A team only loses its challenge if the umpire’s call is confirmed. Because challenges can be lost, it is incumbent upon the player to be judicious about asking for a challenge (i.e., not “wasting” it in a low-leverage spot so that it is available to his team in a high-leverage spot). So in that sense, the ABS Challenge System adds strategy to the sport.
• How long do players have to issue a challenge?
  • Immediately after the pitch (roughly within two seconds). If there is an ensuing play (such as a checked-swing appeal or a play involving a runner), the challenge may be made at the conclusion of the play.
• Can an umpire disallow a challenge?
  • Yes, if the umpire determines that the players’ decision to challenge was aided by other defenders, runners or the dugout, the request will be denied (with the team retaining its challenge). Same goes if the challenge was not requested in a timely manner.
• Are there any scenarios in which a pitch may not be challenged?
  • When a position player is pitching, challenges are not permitted. Also, challenges are not permitted after replay reviews, so as to avoid a complex series of challenges. If there is potential for a replay review after an ABS challenge, umpires will check to see if either manager wants to initiate a replay review before restarting the pitch clock. (If a challenge and a replay review are requested simultaneously, the ABS challenge will be accepted first.)
• How much time does the review add to the game?
  • In 288 games with the ABS Challenge System during Spring Training 2025, there were an average of 4.1 challenges per game, and those challenges took an average of 13.8 seconds. In total, the average game saw about 57 seconds of added time, effectively “giving back” only a small portion of the 26 minutes that the average game time was reduced from 2022 (the last MLB season without the pitch clock) to 2025.
• Does the system lead to more pitches per plate appearance?
  • No, according to the data from testing. In Triple-A, there were an average of 3.92 pitches per plate appearance before ABS and 3.9 afterward. In MLB Spring Training games, the average was static at 3.92.
• Can challenges affect runner placement?
  • Yes. Inevitably, there will be instances in which teams want to challenge a pitch that was called during a play while other things happened on the field. So the umpires will determine whether that call on the field had an impact on the subsequent behavior of the defenders and baserunners. The umpires will let stand any calls unaffected by the incorrect call. As an example, say there is a runner at second with none out, and the batter is in a full count. The 3-2 pitch is thrown and called a ball, while the runner attempts to steal third. The runner beats the throw from the catcher and is called safe at third, but then the catcher challenges the ball call. Upon review, the pitch is revealed to be a strike. Rather than send the runner back to second base, the runner gets to remain at third, because the initial ball/strike call did not impact the catcher’s ability to try to throw him out. The batter is now out, but the runner is still safe. Also note that if a catcher drops a pitch that is initially ruled a ball but is overturned for strike three, the batter is out without requiring the batter or first base to be tagged (as would be required in the event of a traditional dropped third strike).
• How often are challenges successful?
  • During Spring Training, players challenged 2.6% of all called pitches, and the overturn rate was 52.2%. This was higher than the 50% overturn rate at Triple-A last year. Interestingly, during Spring Training, defensive players (pitchers and catchers) were more successful in their challenges (54.4%) than hitters (50.0%). Also, as was the case in MiLB, the overturn rate generally tended to decline as the game went on – from 60% in innings one through three to 51% in innings four through six to 43% in innings seven and eight to 46% in inning nine.
• How is the ABS strike zone measured?
  • Like the plate, it is 17 inches wide. The top end of the zone is at 53.5% of the player’s height, while the bottom is at 27% of the player’s height. The depth of the zone is 8.5 inches from both the front and back of the plate to its center. This means players like Aaron Judge will have a different strike zone than players like Jose Altuve. (Extra note on player heights: All position players in Spring Training camps have their heights measured by a team of independent testers conducting manual measurements and by representatives from a research institute using biomechanical analysis to confirm the manual measurements and safeguard against potential manipulation. Players are measured standing straight up without cleats.)
• How does this compare to the human umpire zone?
  • The umpire-called zone has generally been more rounded and more lenient to pitchers, with a 55.6% max up top and 24.2% minimum at the bottom.
• Will challenge statistics be kept for individual players?
  • Yes. Baseball Savant will add this information to its treasure trove of data. So you’ll be able to see, for instance, which catchers are most successful not just at framing pitches but challenging calls.

Note: This is not the full FAQ list from MLB, as there are several questions on there that I wouldn’t really consider “frequently asked.” That being said, you can view the full list here.

In my view, the new system is ideal for a team like the Brewers. While William Contreras is a pretty good catcher, he’s nowhere near one of the best (he ranked 21 out of 57 in framing among semi-regular catchers last season), and in theory, the ABS system eliminates framing. It’s also a positive for players who have fairly keen eyes at the plate, perhaps most notably Tyler Black, who is Joey Votto-esque in terms of his ability to draw walks.

What do you think? Will the new system be a net positive or net negative for the Brewers and baseball?

Weigh in in the comments, and join us throughout the month as we keep these conversations rolling into spring training. Have a question you’d like to ask in a future BCB Daily Question? Drop one in the comments, and we may use it later this month.

It’s another day removed from the Castellanos release and it’s still by far the biggest news surrounding the team right now. It takes a lot to distract from the Ace’s rib being in a closet.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Castellanos admitted to having beer in the dugout in Miami. Rob Thomson was happy with that final admission.
• Kyle Schwarber talked today about the moves, dodging anything controversial and wishing him the best of luck.

MLB news:

• The details surrounding the Emmanuel Clase case are getting worse and worse for him. Now, he’s accused on throwing pitches for gamblers in the playoffs.
• Shelby Miller won’t throw a pitch this year, but the Cubs gave him a deal in order for him to throw pitches next year.
• MLB has been going around talking about the ABS system that is coming to all of the clubs. Here is an update on the new rules.
• Finally, a survey given to a bunch of executives around the game about the upcoming season ($).

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section!

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Don’t say a prospect unless they are on the 40-man roster!

But even then, be careful… Prospects will break your heart.

The Cardinals have had one of the more interesting off seasons in recent memory. Chaim Bloom did his best to keep the fanbase engaged by completing one big transaction each month starting with Sonny Gray in November and culminating with the Brendan Donovan trade in February. Despite Bloom’s best efforts to keep us entertained, there is only so much enjoyment one can derive from offseason trade rumors and updated prospect rankings. With pitchers and catchers reporting and spring training games now only a week away, we will soon have real results and on-field performances to dissect and overanalyze. The biggest spotlight this spring is going to be on top prospect JJ Wetherholt, but there are going to be plenty of other stories and developments to follow. Here are nine stories I will be following far too closely and reading way too much into during spring training.

1. Joshua Baez Playing Time

I could make the argument that Baez is one of the most important players in the organization both in the near and long term. The Cardinals outfield has been a complete mess in recent years. Since ranking third in baseball in outfielder WAR during the 2021 season, the Cardinals have ranked 8th, 20th, 26th, and 26th. Over the last two seasons combined, they have ranked dead last in baseball in home runs from their outfield. Enter Joshua Baez, who boasts some of the best exit velocity and advanced hitting metrics in the minor leagues. Baez’s playing time in spring training will give us a clue as to how the Cardinals view the timeline of a major league debut. Will he be given a handful of at-bats throughout the spring or given something closer to a full workload of 40 to 60 plate appearances? Performance will, of course, be a key factor in how much of the Grapefruit League spotlight Baez earns, but we could get some hint about his timeline based on the opportunities he is given. After the Victor Scott and Jordan Walker rushed debuts, many fans are leery of pushing prospects too quickly, but I have confidence that the front office will not do anything to compromise Baez’s development.

2. Increased Velocity

Every spring reports come trickling out of camp that some pitcher has added three or four miles per hour to his fastball. It may be a selective memory on my part, but these reports seem to have more signal than many of the offseason adjustment stories you hear. Before his breakout in 2024, Quinn Mathews came to spring training pitching in the mid-90s after living in the low-90s at Stanford. Last year, Brycen Mautz and Cooper Hjerpe came to camp with fastballs that had ticked up in velocity. While Hjerpe ended up missing the season with Tommy John surgery, Mautz parlayed his improved velo to an excellent Double-A season and the Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. The Cardinals seem to think that Red Sox acquisition Blake Aita has room to add velocity. Perhaps former bonus babies Branelli Franco or Reinier Lopez will come stateside and start lighting up radar guns in Florida. From the 2025 draft class, Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin got most of the attention, but Cade Crossland and Ethan Young got big bonuses as well and are gearing up for their first professional seasons. The Cardinals are playing a numbers game when it comes to pitching development, and with the stockpile of promising arms in the system, we are sure to have a few big velocity gainers emerge this spring.

3. Infielders in the Outfield

Chaim Bloom is still indicating that the Cardinals are looking to add an outfield bat, but how  serious of a look will Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin get in the outfield this spring? Assuming Wetherholt makes the opening day roster, playing time on the infield could be a bit tight. Both players could give themselves a huge advantage in finding their way into the lineup if they can improve their versatility. For the Cardinals, finding a right-handed hitting outfielder internally to stopgap any potential poor performance from Walker or a slow recovery from Nootbaar could do wonders in raising the floor of the team. Saggese has not played any outfield in his professional career, and Fermin only has a handful of games under his belt, but both players are athletic enough that it is easy to imagine them handling the transition without too much issue. Saggese in particular is well positioned with 78th-percentile sprint speed.

4. Aggressive Minor League Promotions

Which minor leaguers will be promoted more aggressively than anticipated? Last season, the first hint that Ixan Henderson was an up-arrow guy was when he broke camp with the Double-A club after only six starts at the High-A level. While Bloom has the reputation for being relatively conservative with minor league promotions, there are still going to be some players to receive an aggressive assignment, which will be a great window into how the Cardinals view their progress to date. The reporting from minor league spring training is much more difficult to come by than on the big league side, but there should still be plenty of information coming in around the action on the backfields.

5. Starting Pitching

The Cardinals have a clearly defined top seven starters with Liberatore, May, Leahy, Pallante, McGreevy, Dobbins, and Fitts. The battle for the starting rotation will be interesting enough, but how will the Cardinals deploy the depth that does not make the rotation? We are likely to see some version of a six-man rotation in the early going to reduce workloads. The Cardinals could also use one of the seven in the swingman/spot starter position that Steven Matz occupied last season. If they elect to send one of the potential starters to Triple-A, he will be joining an incredibly full starting pitcher depth chart in the minor leagues. Guessing the minor league rotations at this point in the spring is a fool’s errand, but to give some perspective on how crowded things are, below are starters that should be competing for spots at the various levels.

AAA: Quinn Mathews, Tink Hence, Brycen Mautz, Ixan Henderson, Pete Hansen, Max Rajcic, Ian Bedell

AA:  Liam Doyle, Jurrangelo Cijntje, Chen-Wei Lin, Hancel Rincon, Jose Davila, Darlin Saladin

A+: Brandon Clarke, Tanner Franklin, Braden Davis, Nate Dohm, Frank Elissalt, Leonel Sequera, Mason Molina, Blake Aita

A: Yhoiker Fajardo, Cade Crossland, Ethan Young, Andrew Dutkanych, Jacob Odle, Tyler Van Dyke

The list above does not even include starting pitchers like Jason Savacool and Brandt Thompson that started a lot of games last year and may still be battling for rotation spots at the various levels. This picture should get even more crowded depending on when and how injured pitchers Cooper Hjerpe, Brian Holiday, Payton Graham, Zack Thompson, and Sem Robberse return to action. There is also the possibility (probability?) that Cade Winquest will not make the Yankees major league roster and will be returned to the Cardinals as well. There is no such thing as too much pitching, particularly when the major league rotation projects as below average, but it will be fascinating to see how the pieces of the puzzle come together this spring.

6. Use It or Lose It

By my count, there are four fringe roster players that must make the opening day roster to guarantee the Cardinals retain their rights. Justin Bruihl, George Soriano, and Bryan Ramos are all out of minor league options. Matt Pushard was the Cardinals’ Rule 5 pick in December and must remain on the active roster all year or be offered back to the Marlins. If these players look good, they will have a leg up on the players with the flexibility to spend time in the minors like Gordon Graceffo, Nick Raquet, Ryan Fernandez, and Bryan Torres. 

7. Mountaineers Going Oppo

Both former West Virginia Mountaineers, Victor Scott II and JJ Wetherholt, talked about using the opposite field more effectively in 2026. I wrote at length about Scott last week, but Wetherholt had some interesting comments at Winter Warmup too. He believes the Cardinals’ player development crew was too focused on him adding pull power to his game that he got away from his biggest strength, opposite-field power. It will be interesting to see if either player is making an obvious change to their approach in Spring Training.

8. Sorting Through the Catchers

Tracking Ivan Herrera’s progress behind the plate will be a big storyline this spring. Oli Marmol has already stated that he is going to need more than just spring training to prove he can handle the catcher position, so we can expect the trial run to extend into the regular season. With Herrera still feeling his way through things,  two of the Pedro Pages, Jimmy Crooks, Yohel Pozo group will also make the opening day roster. While depth is always better than the alternative, this still seems like a misallocation of resources. Crooks is a real prospect with starter upside and will need regular reps when he is in the big leagues. Pages and Pozo have both proven to be viable major league catchers as well, but one of the three will have to start the season in Triple-A. Is Chaim Bloom still open to trading one of the catchers in spring training? He has shown much more creativity making trades than his predecessor, so I still think there is a chance one of these players is  moved before opening day.

9. Sleepers to Make the Roster

Every spring it feels like there are only a couple of battles at the back end of the roster, and then by the time opening day rolls around, Jordan Hicks, Victor Scott, Jordan Walker are on the team, or Matthew Liberatore is in the starting rotation. Injuries or performance could still create some chaos and leave an opening for a surprise addition. The Cardinals are light on right-handed bats and first base types, so could a lane open up for Blaze Jordan? Could Quinn Mathews come into spring throwing strikes and sitting in the mid-90s? If so, he would look like the best pitcher in the organization and could force the Cardinals’ hand. Could Ixan Henderson or Brycen Mautz make a play to start in the bullpen? Individually, the odds for any of these players are pretty low, but there is a decent chance someone completely off the radar forces their way into the picture.

One of the most fun things about spring training is the annual emergence of one young player who makes the whole camp his own. Two years ago it was Ceddanne Rafaela. Last year it was Marcelo Mayer. This year could it be Kristian Campbell, someone who has already won a player of the month award at the MLB level? After a strange and ultimately disappointing rookie year, Campbell is back trying to find a place for himself in the big leagues. And while he admits that he was nervous last year, he thinks this spring is going to be different. This year, I feel like I’m a lot more under control and calm. I know what’s going on around me. I know more people in the locker room this year. It’s a better environment, for sure, for me, personally. I feel a lot more comfortable.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

Campbell probably will be able to fly under the radar a bit this year. Most of the spring training attention falls on the new faces, and the Sox have plenty of them, especially on the mound. And one of those new faces, Sonny Gray, says that, “on paper,” this Red Sox rotation is the best one he’s ever been a part of. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Johan Oviedo is another one of those new faces, though in his case it seems like he is in the media shadow of both Gray and Ranger Suárez. He’s also already really close to at least one of his new teammates as, even before he was traded he Boston, he spent the winter working out with his countryman Aroldis Chapman. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

And speaking of being in the shadow of bigger names, how many baseball fans even realize that Patrick Sandoval is on the Sox this year? Right now, it’s looking unlikely that the man who once led the league in shutouts (with, uhh, one) will start the season in the Red Sox rotation, both because there’s a lot of competition and because he hasn’t thrown a competitive pitch in a looooooooong time. But he feels like he’s getting closer. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

I think most people assume that Oviedo has the inside edge on the fifth rotation spot, if for no other reason than that the Sox gave up a lot to get him. But according to Craig Breslow, there will be competition for the role this spring, including not only Oviedo and Sandoval but also Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and Kutter Crawford. (Tyler Maher, NESN)

The Sox have so many new pitchers that Brayan Bello is now the most-tenured guy in the starting rotation (most tenured in a Sox uniform, that is.) That seems wild given that most fans still thing of him as a young arm who is continuing to hone his game. Case in point, he recently received some pitch grip tutelage from Ranger Suárez. (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)

And on the other side of the ball, Trevor Story is now the second-most tenured position player. Which is why he’s being called “unc” by the kids. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

Unc will open the 2026 season with an entirely new infield than the he opened 2025 with. Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin will be in the infield somewhere, but at what positions? They’re both going to work out at both second and third for now, and Alex Cora doesn’t seem too stressed about it: “We went through this dance last year. I know how to dance it. Just be patient.” (Kaley Brown, Boston.com)

To David Hamilton, formerly of the Sox,
Watching you play often made my insides balk.
Your errors were many, your hits were quite few.
I’ll admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of you.

But since you’ve been traded,
I’m distinctly less jaded.
Happy for you, that you’ve found a new place,
Thrilled for us, with new hope for second base.

You may be Quad-A
Which is why you struggled to stay
With Boston’s MLB club.
You were asked to do too much, too often.
It’s not all your fault—we kept you too long in Boston!
But I wish you the best as you leave The Hub.

I hope you impress in Milwaukee
And that your second stint there won’t be so rocky.

May your batting get better and the ball find your glove,
From a distance, I send you this Valentine’s love.

Around this time every year, prospect hounds across the country release all their lists, from team Top 10 lists, Top 100’s, and farm system rankings. The last few years, the Yankees haven’t looked so hot on those farm system ranks. This year, ESPN had them 23rd, and Baseball Prospectus put them at 22nd. It was a similar story last year, when ESPN pegged the Yankees 21st, while BP had them in 25th.

Those placements compare poorly to those of the Yankees’ direct rivals. The Rays perennially have one of the best farm systems in the sport, and perhaps most concerningly, the Red Sox and Blue Jays, probably the two biggest threats to the Yankees in the AL East, still sport above average farms per most sources despite pushing a lot of chips into the middle in the past year.

Is the Yankees’ lagging farm a serious issue? In theory, it seems like it could be a major long-term problem. At the major-league level, not much separates the Yankees from Boston and Toronto; the recently released PECOTA projections have New York as AL East favorites, but barely over the rival Red Sox and Jays, and with only roughly a 40-percent chance of winning the division. If the Yankees have only a narrow edge in the bigs right now (or arguably a non-existent edge, given they did just lose the division in 2025, albeit via tiebreaker), then it stands to reason that their rivals equipped with deeper farms could ease by them in the near future.

On the other hand, the Yankees’ farm system has generally ranked poorly in recent years, but has still managed to produce both major-league contributors and prospects that Brian Cashman has traded for productive veterans. Even as the system lagged heading into 2025, Cashman turned a host of prospects into David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, and more at the deadline. Plus, most prospect lists didn’t have the likes of Ben Rice or Cam Schlittler very high a year ago, yet those two look like they could be stars at the major-league level as soon as this season.

So which is it? Will the Yankees continue to squeeze big-league talent and impact trades from their farm system, in spite of meager farm system rankings? Or will it eventually catch up to them?

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Today on the site, Matt goes back to the 1940’s to tell us about a strange game in Yankees history, where a player allowed one hit and zero earned runs but still lost handily. Also, Maximo writes that there shouldn’t be any Max Fried Postseason Narrative, and Nick gives us the next entry in our Yankee Birthday series, celebrating former reliever Damaso Marte.

Nick Castellanos ships out west, Phillies still on hook originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

On Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Nick Castellanos signed a one-year agreement with the San Diego Padres.

It’s on the Major League minimum. The Padres will pay $780,000, while the remaining $19.22 million stays on the Phillies’ books. Philadelphia will save just over $1.6 million with the 110% luxury tax penalty.

Castellanos’ departure from Philadelphia felt inevitable for months, but the landing spot adds an interesting wrinkle. Earlier this offseason, he went on MLB Network and expressed interest in learning first base, a move that would expand the number of teams that could carry him without asking him to play the outfield every day.

That’s the idea in San Diego.

Even with a down 2025 overall, Castellanos still brings a clear skill: he has a career .853 OPS against left-handed pitching. That matters for a Padres lineup that’s set to start left-handed hitting Gavin Sheets at first base. Sheets hit a career-high 19 home runs last season, but only two came against southpaws, and he posted a .669 OPS in those matchups.

The way the roster fits suggests Castellanos won’t be an everyday player on Opening Day. After last year’s trade deadline, that detail certainly did not make the former Silver Slugger satisfied.

It looks more like a platoon role, with some first base mixed in, designated hitter reps, and minimal time in right field — especially assuming the health of Rawlings Platinum Glove winner Fernando Tatis Jr.

And defensively, the contrast is sharp. Castellanos’ Outs Above Average, which measures range, sat at -12 last season. Tatis posted 8 OAA.

Castellanos has found a new home, but he hasn’t hit much at Petco Park. In 28 career games, including the postseason, he owns a .222/.257/.352 slash line (.608 OPS).

If anyone in Philadelphia is circling a date, the wait won’t be long. The Padres open a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park on June 2.

That series will be the first real moment for the fan base to decide what the Castellanos era was. Some will remember the October swings, especially the 2023 NLCS. Others will focus on how the ending played out.

Either way, the beer, the letter and the clubhouse issues are part of the past now. The saga is over. The bill, for now, isn’t.

Giants' Jung Hoo Lee prioritizing team amid move to right field for 2026 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SCOTTSDALE — Tony Vitello has never managed a game at Oracle Park. But when it comes to figuring out the Giants outfield, he’s very familiar with what the dimensions can do to the men chasing down fly balls through the marine layer. 

“At Oracle,” Vitello said this week, “You have to have a center fielder in right field.”

The Giants are moving their center fielder to right, although not because of the dimensions. The addition of Harrison Bader, a former Gold Glove Award winner, bumped Jung Hoo Lee to the corner after a disappointing defensive season. On Friday, speaking to reporters after a workout at Scottsdale Stadium, Lee said he fully understands.

“I played that position back in the KBO,” he said through interpreter Justin Han. “Going back to the past season, if I played better in center field, the organization would have kept me in center field. But, whatever it takes to make the team better. I’ve always been for the team.”

Lee initially came over from South Korea to be a center fielder and leadoff hitter, and there surely is some disappointment about where he stands after his first full season. There’s a chance that the other offseason addition, Luis Arraez, vaults to the top of the pecking order when it comes to the “bat control expert tasked with hitting atop the order” power rankings. Bader already has taken the spot in center field.

Lee has a lot to prove, and that’s exactly how Vitello wants many of his players to feel this spring. It’s particularly important in the outfield, where Heliot Ramos faces similar questions on the other side. 

Ramos and Lee were unexpectedly shaky last year, and as a result, the Giants tied for last in the big leagues in Outs Above Average on the grass. Defensive Runs Saved wasn’t much kinder; they came in at 28th. Bader alone won’t fix the problem, but the staff doesn’t expect that anyway.

Ramos has drawn rave reviews for his winter work — “Ramos has worked his butt off all offseason,” ace Logan Webb said Friday — and Lee certainly has the physical tools to be a plus right fielder. He ranked in the 91st percentile in arm strength last season while playing center.

Vitello traveled to South Korea last month to spend some time with Lee, but he got his first in-person, on-field look this week. He said he thinks Lee’s arm could “be a weapon out in right field.”

“He doesn’t even have to really let it go full steam,” Vitello said. “He’s quick with his release, accurate with his throws. And you know, we all know he can swing the bat, but I think it could be a fun deal out there and in right field for him. I know the fans will take to him in that corner, and they’ll be a little closer to him.”

The Giants had an eye on Bader for a while, but the move still caught parts of the front office by surprise. The marketing department is scrambling to figure out what to do with the Jung Hoo Crew section in the bleachers, and Lee smiled Friday and indicated he was curious, too.

Vitello suggested utilizing the cove, although he might reconsider when he finally does get to Oracle for a chilly night game. Whatever the Giants decide, the seating alignment could end up being the most dramatic part of the position change. By all accounts, Lee handled it well. 

“He almost tried to make it easier on me,” said general manager Zack Minasian, who called Lee when the Bader deal was being finalized. “Basically the message to me was — short and sweet — it was, ‘Whatever I can do to help us win.’ He was great.”

The Giants are confident it will be the right fit for Lee as he enters his third big league season, and Lee said he’ll call former teammate and good friend Mike Yastrzemski later this spring to get some pointers on the dimensions. The defensive side isn’t the only place where Lee has something to prove, though. 

He had a wRC+ of 107 last year, with eight homers, 12 triples and 10 stolen bases. The overall numbers were fine, but there were some deep slumps filled with grounders to second base, and he has yet to fully unleash the all-around game that led the Giants to give him a $113 million deal. Their hope is that there’s more power in the tank; he could certainly run more under Vitello, too.

Vitello said new hitting coach Hunter Mense already has had conversations with Lee about what he saw in the analytics. But some of this might just be about the new staff finding a way to bring out a bit more confidence.

“For me, he looked unsure,” Vitello said. “I know that there’s mechanics to it and what pitch it was and depending on what guy he’s facing — there are crazy arms in the league — but there were moments where he looked unsure. I’m kind of stealing his answer, because we’ve had some good conversations, and he’s looking to eliminate that.” 

Lee said he’s hopeful that he’ll benefit from having a full year of facing big league pitching under his belt, but some of his 2026 success at the plate also may be up to his new manager. Last year’s staff pushed Lee hard early in the season and then started mixing in more off days to keep him fresh, and Lee admitted in September that he lost about 12 pounds over the course of the season. 

The increase in depth on the position player side should make it a bit easier for Vitello to keep Lee fresh, and the outfielder said learning the intricacies of right field might not be the only thing he’s focused on when the Giants return home. 

“First of all, I have to eat a lot,” Lee said. “I like to sleep in a lot before a night game, but maybe I should wake up a little bit early, grab breakfast, then go back to sleep.”

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Manager Craig Stammen has made it clear since his first media scrum on the opening of spring camp that he sees Luis Campusano as the San Diego Padres’ No. 2 catcher. More than once, Stammen has cited Campusano’s hard work and success in Triple-A last season. In his media scrum Friday morning, Stammen remarked on Campusano’s haircut while giving a big vote of confidence.

“He cut the dreads, got a new haircut, looks good and I know he’s excited about the opportunity and probably the first time in his career that he has had a little bit of a runway to take control of that job and win it in Spring Training and be the number two when we leave camp.”

The professional journey that Campusano has traveled has been rocky, to say the least. Coming up to the Padres in 2020 at 21, Campusano played the most in 2024, where he appeared in 91 games with a .227/.281/.361 line and a -0.7 fWAR reflecting below average defense. His eight home runs and 40 RBI did not offset the difficulties he had behind the plate. Then manager, Mike Shildt, appeared to have seen enough and never gave Campusano an opportunity to catch during his 10 game appearances in 2025. All of his 21 at-bats were as a DH and he had no hits and six walks with 11 strikeouts.

Stammen played with Campusano when he was a pitcher in the Padres bullpen. From his first comments after getting the manager job, Stammen has expressed support and belief in Campusano. He indicated from the beginning that the now 27-year-old would get every opportunity to prove he can be a major league player.

When president of baseball operations A.J. Preller acquired Freddy Fermin during the trade deadline last season, it became clear that he would be the front-line catcher going forward. He learned the staff on the fly after coming to the team and was far superior offensively to the aging Elias Diaz and Martin Maldonado.

Fermin has never been the number one guy for a team and has never played more than 89 games, which was last season. He started 39 of the Padres 52 games after coming over from the Kansas City Royals and before that his previous high was 72 games as a backup to Salvador Perez.

“I think to not burn Freddy out, Campy, if he’s the No. 2, he’s got to catch a lot,” Stammen stated. “To get those guys off to a good start in the season, maybe not exactly equal playing time, we’ll see how it shakes out, but Campy will play a lot.”

Stammen also brought up the other catchers working with the Padres pitchers in camp. Both Blake Hunt and Rodolfo Duran are sharing catching duties with Fermin and Campusano. All four, as well as top prospect Ethan Salas, will catch Padres pitchers in spring games. Either Hunt or Duran will likely be Campusano’s backup and if he doesn’t perform well, it is likely one of them will be the No. 2 to begin with.

Another interesting topic to be discussed in the scrum was Stammen’s dislike of dedicated catchers for specific pitchers. “I think every catcher needs to catch every pitcher, and every pitcher needs to throw to every catcher. Now, will there be, ‘Hey, these guys are just way better together?’ That could definitely happen, but you never know. You can’t pigeonhole them, because say one guy gets hurt and then all of a sudden, the backup has to catch those guys too.”

The subject of Matt Waldron was also brought up and Stammen said all catchers will work with him and Campusano has already brought a glove for Waldron. He acknowledged not everyone can catch a knuckleball pitcher so the best one will get the job.

Campusano caught Dylan Cease’s no-hitter, the second one thrown by a Padre, on July 25, 2024. But his inconsistency behind the plate apparently cost him the trust of his manger. With Stammen as the new leader and Kevin Plawecki as the new catching coach, Campusano is going to get a fresh opportunity to show if he is capable of being a major league catcher. There has been no discussion of giving him time at first base, despite Stammen acknowledging that he played some first base last season. His job is to catch and earn the backup job. If he is not able to do so, he is out of options and will either be traded or have to pass through waivers to be sent to the minor leagues.

To make his job more challenging, the ABS system will be part of the major league game this year and both catchers will probably be primarily responsible for judging balls and strikes in order to challenge pitches. Fortunately, the system has been in place in the minor leagues for years and Campusano has lots of experience. Stammen said they will develop a strategy as spring progresses and games begin.

If instilling confidence and expressing belief in a player can make a difference in if they perform well, Campusano should thrive this spring. Stammen has gone out of his way to publicly support and express faith in the still-young catcher. This is definitely his last and best chance. Let’s hope he takes the opportunity and runs with it.

This is exactly the offense Husker head coach Will Bolt envisioned when he dipped into the portal with the main focus of bringing in bats that can turn around a game in a hurry. Nebraska hit .471 on the game, but when you look at the other metrics where the team really struggled last year, they were ever better. Hitting .571 with 2 outs, and .636 with runners in scoring position.

Connecticut actually got the scoring started in the top of the first against Husker ace Ty Horn. Horn sandwiched a pair of strike outs around a hit batter to start the game off. Two ground ball singles brought in the lone run against Horn, who would fall just shy of the goal Coach Bolt put out earlier in the week of getting the starters through 5 inning on about 100 pitches. Horn struck out 6 batters, and only gave up 3 hits in his 4.2 innings, but the 4 walks and 1 hits batter offer something for him to focus on going into his next outing.

Nebraska wasted little time in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of freshman catcher and leadoff hitter Jeter Worthley being hit by a pitch, and Josh Overbeek taking a 4 pitch walk with 2 outs. Dylan Carey drove in the first run, depositing a curve ball into left field to bring in Worthley. Max Buettenback worked a walk off a 3-2 count to load the bases, and the Bolt watched one of his new toys, DH Cole Kitchens, clear the bases by smashing a fastball into the right field corner for a 3 RBI double, and a 4-1 Husker lead.

FULLY STOCKED. 🌽🌽🌽

Cole Kitchens clears the bases. pic.twitter.com/wC8LwVZGTI

— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) February 14, 2026

Worthley reached again in the second, this time on a walk. He would eventually come around to score on a bases loaded fielders choice off the bat of Overbeek.

The teams would trade zeros through the next few innings, despite putting the pressure on the pitchers with numerous base runners. It looked like UConn might jump right back in the game in the 4th with 2 runners on and 2 outs as leadoff batter Rob Rispoli drove a ball deep seemingly to the gap, but Husker left fielder Will Jesske ran it down and made a sliding basket catch to preserve the 5-1 lead.

With style! 🔥

Jesske, Worthley, Buck due up at the top of the 5th. pic.twitter.com/sPm3j0tI7w

— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) February 14, 2026

Nebraska opened it up in the 6th. After second baseman Jett Buck walked and first baseman Case Sanderson singled into right, Overbeek collected RBIs number 2 and 3 on the day with an opposite field shot to the right field corner for a stand up double. He would advance to 3rd on a wild throw home, and pound his chest, much to the delight of the third base dugout. He didn’t get to stay long, as Carey singled to left on the very next pitch, and made it 8-1 Big Red.

COME ON BEEK! pic.twitter.com/q4AFuZCTPq

— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) February 14, 2026

Nebraska reliever Caleb Clark had come in to finish the 5th inning with a strikeout, and struck out 2 more in the 6th, but had three straight long battles to start the 7th in which he gave up 2 walks. Tucker Timmerman, the man who took a 106 mph comebacker to his face the last time he was on the mound in Arizona, came in the get the Huskers out of the jam with the preseason Big East player of the year in Tyler Minick striding to the plate. Minick did get the best of “Tuck”, plating a run on an RBI single, but Timmerman responded by inducing a double play by the next batter and limiting the damage.

Just as they did previously, the Husker offense responded to the run by putting up 4 more of their own. Worthley doubled to lead off, his 4th time reaching base. (Not a bad debut for a freshman leadoff hitter.) Buck traded places with him on an RBI double of his own. Rhett Stokes came in to pinch run for Buck, and just as quick as he came out of the dugout, he ran right back in off a Sanderson RBI single. Josh Ovebeek stayed hot and singled on his first pitch, setting up Carey again, and again DC delivered. Carey who came back to NU because the pro scouts told him he needed more power, burned the center fielder hitting a ball to the wall, and getting a stand up, walk off, 2 RBI mercy rule triple. (I think thats enough adjectives to describe it.) Huskers win big, 12-2.

MERCY RULE!

GO BIG RED pic.twitter.com/g3czKjFoiA

— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) February 14, 2026

Carey led the way on offense with 4 RBIs and had three hits. (And see below for an outstanding play by the Husky third baseman that kept those numbers as low as they were.) Sanderson and Kitchens had 3 hits of their own, with Kitchens adding the 3 RBIS.

Hale comes in and gets out of trouble! #HookCpic.twitter.com/rAbqgADup3

— UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) February 14, 2026

The Huskers will be back at it again Saturday night at 7:30pm CST in Arizona against another team of Huskies, this time of the Northeastern variety.

Yahoo! Sports | The Associated Press: All aboard the Cole Train! Yankees ace Gerrit Cole took the mound yesterday for his first bullpen of the spring, marking the next major milestone in his return from last March’s Tommy John surgery. Speaking to reporters, Cole reiterated that his elbow feels better than it has in two seasons – remember, he missed the first half of 2024 with an elbow injury – and remains on track for a late spring/early summer return.

SNY | John Flanigan: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman addressed a number of topics yesterday, including the roster status of Jasson Domínguez. Despite the team’s decision to re-sign Cody Bellinger this spring, the Yankees still have high hopes for the former top prospect. This means, of course, that the team will have a decision to make: do they roster the Martian in the hopes that his athleticism and strong bat from the left side can be a weapon off the bench with the big league club, or do they send him down to Triple-A Scranton so that he plays every day and continues to develop? Time will tell — because let’s be honest, the baseball gods, not the manager and front office, are always the ones to make these decisions anyway.

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: (subscription required) One of my favorite parts of spring training is getting to hear a bit about the dynamics between players, especially between former stars like Paul Goldschmidt and up-and-coming youngsters like Ben Rice. If you have access to The Athletic, I encourage you to take a look at this piece about the Rice/Goldy relationship from Brendan Kuty, especially if you’re a little unsure about the Yankees’ decision to re-sign Goldschmidt. While it’s clear the 2022 NL MVP’s best days are behind him, it’s clear that the organization — and Rice — are eager for their young first baseman to learn everything they can from him.

To bookend the week in the same vein as Monday’s Purple Row After Dark question, I have another one for you. Many folks have complained that last weekend’s Super Bowl was one of the most boring Super Bowls in recent memory, even though the final score was 29-13.

Baseball-wise, though, we had a great World Series this year (minus the champion). The Dodgers cakewalked through the National League, despite having a “down year” but then were taken to seven games by the Toronto Blue Jays, who had some stiff competition in the American League and nearly won the whole thing. Last year, the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in five games after an exciting run-up that almost saw them get bounced by the San Diego Padres.

So the question tonight is this: would you rather watch boring playoffs but exciting World Series, or exciting playoffs but a boring World Series?

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