Category: Baseball

Jaylon Thompson writes that Michael Massey is looking to put last season behind him.

“A lot of guys have tough years,” he said, “and you just keep fighting and you learn something from it. You learn from it, you move on and you kind of leave the result in the past.”

Massey is excited for a fresh start at spring training in Arizona, where the Royals played the Texas Rangers in their Cactus League opener on Friday. The Royals will utilize him in more of a hybrid role this season because of how their roster is constructed. It’s expected he will see time at second base and keep working in the outfield, as well.

Bailey Falter also has a lot to prove.

“He looks great physically,” Quatraro said. “His demeanor has been tremendous. He’s healthy and he’s throwing the ball with great extension and great carry.

“I think in fairness to Bailey, he came over and he was in a tough spot. He was banged up a little bit and we probably saw him at his worst. I think to his credit, the way he’s put that behind him and moved forward throughout the offseason has been tremendous.”

David Lesky considers if the Royals could use a six-man rotation.

Theoretically, going with a five-man rotation for a full year gives two guys 34 starts and three guys 33. Going with a six-man rotation all year gives everyone 27 starts. Six or seven starts coming off the arm could be the difference between freshness for the playoffs or not. But one thing that I think you have to keep in mind with that six-man rotation is that you do have a deficiency now in the bullpen, so I think the extra rest will have to be used to give starting pitchers a bit of a longer leash. Again, I don’t have the biometrics or anything so I’m just talking here, but if you’re counting on 15-18 outs every night, I think that needs to be bumped up to 18-21.

Matt Quatraro thinks Luinder Avila could be an ace someday.

Asked Q if he sees Luinder Avila as a starter or a reliever:

“Shoot, I see him as a front-of-the-rotation starter down the road.” #Royals

— Jack Johnson (@JohnyJ_15) February 19, 2026

Craig Brown wonders if Avila could be a potential starter.

However, Quatraro’s assessment has me reconsidering. Having Avila in the rotation was always a possibility, but “front of the rotation?” Whoa. In order to make that happen, he’s going to have to refine and rely on that changeup a little more. That would give him another weapon against left-handed hitters. If Avila starts attacking hitters with three pitches—curve, four-seam, sinker against righties and curve, four-seam, change versus lefties—that changes the calculus in determining his future role on the big league club. If I were to tell you something to watch this spring, it would be Avila’s pitch mix. Let’s see if he throws the change with more frequency. Could he even add another pitch to the mix? He’s talented enough to pull something new out of the bag.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Keep considers catching metrics for the Royals.

Twins ace Pablo López will have season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg has a UCL tear.

The Blue Jays are in talks with Max Scherzer.

How can the Braves build rotation depth with their pitcher injuries?

Freddie Freeman wants to play til he’s 40 years old.

NBC plans to use local analysts for Sunday Night Baseball telecasts.

MJ Melendez is bringing defensive versatility to the Mets?

The biggest storylines in spring training this year.

Buster Olney omits Jonathan India in his ranking of top second basemen in MLB.

The big questions for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

MLB owners are stocking up about $2 billion in anticipation of a work stoppage.

USA’s win over Canada in the Olympics was the most-watched women’s hockey game ever.

Sporting Kansas City trades longtime winger Daniel Salloi to Toronto FC.

Can social media age verification really protect kids?

AMC Theaters won’t show an AI-generated short film that is running before some movies.

A judge rules Buffalo Wild Wings can keep “boneless wings” on the menu.

Your song of the day is Joe Walsh with Ordinary Average Guy.

Good day everyone! It’s Saturday, and we’ve got some news from around the league to share with you.

In Mariners news…

• Cal Raleigh played a major role in Mitch Garver’s return to the team.

Mitch Garver is in camp and ready to go. Said Cal encouraged him to give the Mariners a call and the deal was done within 24 hours.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) February 20, 2026

• Davy Andrews at Fangraphs provided his analysis of the Mariners’ re-signing of Garver, in which he tries to figure out what happened to the catcher’s once-incredible bat.

Around the league…

• It’s official: Twins right-hander Pablo López will undergo Tommy John surgery.
• Though Jen Pawol will serve as an umpire throughout spring training for the third straight season, she did not get a permanent umpiring job for the regular season.
• Bradford William Davis reports that Orioles owner David Rubenstein set himself up to profit from Donald Trump’s mass immigrant deportations.
• Angels owner Arte Moreno is crying poor over the team’s failing TV deal, but pledges that payroll will increase again once the situation is settled.

Over 22,000 players have played Major League Baseball. A small fraction of those players are remembered for their on-field accomplishments. An even smaller subset are remembered for their personalities and the joy they brought to the game. Oscar Azócar was one of those special people.

Oscar Azócar
Born: February 21, 1965 (Soro, Venezuela)
Died: June 14, 2010 (Valencia, Venezuela)
Yankees Tenure: 1990

Azócar was scouted by the Yankees out of Venezuela as a pitcher. He fared reasonably well in this role, posting a 3.31 ERA in 171.1 innings, but these were mostly spent in the lower levels of the minors, where the southpaw never showcased the stuff to turn himself into a viable prospect. But, in 1987, during his first season as manager of the Low-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees, a 30-year-old Buck Showalter saw enough out of the young hurler as he took batting practice that the future Yankees skipper engineered a positional switch, moving Azócar to the outfield. He hit .359 in 195 plate appearances that year, rewarding Showalter’s confidence in his ability to swing the bat.

Azócar then began a precipitous climb to the bigs. He was added to Yankees’ 40-man roster on November 8, 1988, alongside more recognizable names including Kevin Maas, Hensley Meulens, and a fellow young outfielder named Bernie Williams. Azócar got his first taste of Yankees glitz the following season when he was a teammate of Deion Sanders at Double-A Albany-Colonie while the two-sport athlete was working his way up to the Yankees. “He brought me a hat,”’ Azócar said while showcasing a Falcons cap before adding, presciently, of the future Pro Football Hall of Famer, “I think he wants to play football, though.”

After hitting .292 in 504 at-bats at Triple-A in ‘89 and ‘90, Azócar got called up in July 1990 to replace Mel Hall, who’d landed on the shelf after pulling a muscle in his thigh. He joined a Yankees team that was floundering, sitting at 31-54 in the standings. On the day the team elevated Azócar, manager Stump Merrill candidly told the press of his team’s woes: “It can’t get any worse.”

It was into this subdued environment that Azócar arrived and, in the context of a near-hopeless team, briefly looked like a savior. The 25-year-old recorded a hit off Royals pitcher Steve Farr in his first at-bat, homered twice in his first week, and, at the end of July, was hitting .386 with a 1.053 OPS in 15 games.

Yankeeography: Oscar Azocar pic.twitter.com/0SdMjA5CZV

— Gershon Rabinowitz (@GershOnline) January 6, 2023

Alongside Maas and Jim Leyritz, Azócar gave hope that a youth movement was taking hold in the Bronx. “They’re going out and playing, and it’s contagious,“ Merrill said. “They don’t quit.” Future captain Mattingly said the trio, along with Sanders, boasted “some serious talent.” Merrill was particularly effusive in his praise of Azócar. “The reason Oscar hits for average is that he doesn’t walk and doesn’t strike out,” the Yankee manager said. “The reason he hits for average is that he uses the whole field, from line to line.” For his part, the rookie was blasé about his first brush with MLB competition. “There’s no difference,” Azócar said. “In the minor leagues, there’s tough pitching, too, just like here. There’s absolutely no difference. The only difference is the people in the stands.”

In his debut, Azócar quickly demonstrated an aggressiveness and verve that both won him praise and limited his ceiling. With “going all the way,” as his mantra, the outfielder played the game at a breakneck pace, both running hard on every play and swinging at nearly every pitch. When asked by his teammates why he ran in from left field at full speed to back up third on routine plays, Azócar offered a simple and earnest reply: “because that’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Despite earning a starting role and, amidst a thin Yankees roster, a shot to stick, Azócar trailed off, hitting below the Mendoza line after his dynamic July and eventually finding his way to the bench. The free-swinger would end the year with an unviable .257 on-base percentage, signaling his limits as a legitimate prospect.

Still, after his extended action the year prior, Topps made a 1991 Yankees card for the Azócar. It would prove an enduring showcase for his childlike love for the game of baseball, showcasing the outfielder balancing a baseball between two bats with a wry smile on his face.

Oscar Azocar? Debatable that he maybe doesn't fit as he did get a chance, but kind of played himself out of the bigs. On the other hand, he hit .386 in his first month in '90, and 12 year old me thought he was going to the HOF pic.twitter.com/GPEMPKBvUx

— Long time listener 🍁 (@Trammell87MVP) July 26, 2024

Despite making it onto a 1991 Yankees baseball card, Azócar wouldn’t stick in the pinstripes that year. He was designated for assignment during the offseason when New York signed Farr, the pitcher against whom Azócar had gotten his first hit, as a free agent. On December 3, 1990, he was traded to the Padres for a player to be named later who became Mike Humphreys, an outfielder who saw limited action during three seasons in the Bronx.

Azócar spent two years in San Diego. He appeared mostly as a pinch-hitter, batting .204 with a .479 OPS. It would be his final MLB action. On the way out, though, he made time to pose for one more iconic Topps baseball card. In this one, he holds his bat tight to his head with an eyes-closed, playful smile upon his face.

#WhoAmI

Oscar Azocar@benmallerpic.twitter.com/2GmV0ZT1Er

— MallerProp – 2024 Mallerpalooza Seat Filler (@MallerProp) August 15, 2023

After his time in the US, Azócar took his enthusiastic brand of baseball to the Mexican League, where he’d spend eight seasons. As late as 2000, at the age of 35 and eight years removed from his last season with the Padres, he hit .377 with the Guerreros de Oaxaca, finishing third in the batting title race behind fellow MLB castoffs Ivan Cruz and Warren Newson.

Azócar died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2010 at just 45 years old. He would be 61 today. Despite his brief tenure in the majors, he is remembered for the joy and enthusiasm he brought to the game he loved so dearly.

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Spring Training is back! As the frost of a baseball-less winter finally melts away, we’re here to heat things up with picks while every team gets into full swing today.

Take a look at why I’m focusing on a couple of plus-money teams in my MLB picks for Saturday, February 21.

Spring Training predictions for February 21

Pick #1: Phillies moneyline

+120 at DraftKings

Spring Training games often hinge on bullpen depth and timely hitting which is two areas where the Philadelphia Phillies have been pretty steady this time of year.

With the Toronto Blue Jays slightly favored (around -142) and Philly sitting at +120, the Phillies bring some nice value if their early arms give them solid innings and the offense can scratch across runs.

I’m expecting a tight, competitive game, but Philadelphia’s underdog price and recent edge in the matchup make them a strong moneyline lean against Eric Lauer.

Pick #2: Red Sox moneyline

-112 at DraftKings

Lately, when the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have met in Spring Training, things have usually leaned Boston’s way, including last year’s 6–5 Grapefruit League win in a pretty similar spot.

Boston’s deeper lineup and balanced position group could give them an edge, especially in key at-bats and late-game situations.

Minnesota is expected to hand the ball to Joe Ryan to start, and they may mix in different bullpen looks early, which can lead to some uneven innings.

Boston, on the other hand, tends to use these spring games to get its regular hitters into a steady rhythm at the plate.

Pick #3: Giants moneyline

+120 at DraftKings

With plenty of young hitters and players competing for roster spots, the San Francisco Giants tend to take a scrappy, opportunistic approach early in the year and that style can really pay off in close spring games when pitching is all over the place.

This one could be a low- to moderate-scoring affair as both Hayden Birdsong and Emerson Hancock, along with the spring bullpen arms, work on finding their best grips and rhythms.

Still, San Francisco’s offense has shown it can put runs on the board against the Seattle Mariners in spring matchups, and at +120, the Giants look like a smart moneyline play here.

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

Good morning! The Red Sox will play actual Major League competition today. We’re getting there, even if the weather outside doesn’t exactly look like baseball season.

For today’s question we’re looking for some optimism: Which Red Sox player will take a leap this year?

There are a number of candidates, thanks to the plethora of young players on the roster. But if, say, Roman Anthony has an all-star season, would that count as a “leap”? He played at an all-star level last year already. On the pitching side, Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo are well-positioned to make a leap, but there’s no guarantee either one will. Hell, given the pitching depth, it isn’t hard to imagine a scenario where neither one of them finishes the year in the rotation.

Offensively, Wilyer Abreu would probably be my leading candidate. He’s already just shy of all-star caliber and Alex Cora sounds prepared to run him out there against lefties. Ceddy should be considered, of course, but I have a feeling we’re going to spend the next four-five years hoping he finally improves his pitch recognition and becomes a monster.

What say you? Talk about whatever you want and, as always, be good to one another.

Washington Nationals baseball is back folks. After six long months, the boys are back in town. It will be a much different vibe from the last time we saw the Nats play though. At the end of September, they were at the end of a long and unsuccessful slog. Now, they are at the start of a new era.

Everyone will have chances to prove themselves and roster spots will be up for grabs. I cannot remember a Spring Training where so much is up in the air. That is only natural because there is a new POBO, a new GM and a new manager. They are going to want to get close looks at these players.

Today, the new braintrust will have a chance to see a lot of different players, as the Nats are playing two games. There is a split-squad, with one group playing the Astros on Nationals TV, while the rest of the team is playing against the Cardinals in Jupiter.

wake up, we have LINEUPS 🙌

→ split squad vs. astros live (and free) on https://t.co/iUBDqlACVspic.twitter.com/Jty7ejUSwA

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 21, 2026

Based on the lineups, the team in West Palm Beach is the stronger one. That team will feature the likes of CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz and Abimelec Ortiz. The Jupiter team has Harry Ford and other roster contenders like Joey Wiemer and Matt Mervis. Sam Petersen is an interesting prospect at the bottom of that lineup.

We are not going to see much in the way of well known pitching, at least to start. Jake Eder and Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be the starters today. Both are long shots to make the roster, but could get looks at some point this season. The reason they are the ones pitching today just has to do with their throwing schedules. I would not read much into that.

Spring starters set.

Jake Eder opens Grapefruit League play. Shinnosuke Ogasawara starts the split squad game in Jupiter.

More about schedules than roster locks, but baseball is back 👀

Info via @MarkZuckerman. pic.twitter.com/TfmQwWZJ5c

— natsfanatics (@natsfanatics_) February 18, 2026

However, it is still fun to see the team back on the field. This is the first time we will see the boys back in action in the Paul Toboni era. I am curious to see if we will be able to see any notable changes today. It is much easier to spot changes in pitchers than hitters in Spring Training though.

It is easier to identify changes with pitchers right away. You can see the velocity on the radar gun and the shapes of the new pitches. Speaking of the radar gun, we will have a better read on that this year. Every Spring Training site now has statcast, so we will be able to see all of that data. That is very helpful and it will be something I will follow.

It allows us to track things like the progress of Cade Cavalli’s new sweeper and whether Robert Hassell’s added muscle is allowing him to hit the ball harder. Shoutout to the MLB for adding statcast to all the spring sites.

Another thing statcast allows for is the ABS challenge system. With the challenge system coming to the MLB this season, catchers are going to need to learn what to challenge. Spring Training will give the Nats catchers important reps. Since it is so early, there are no main strategies for challenging. Spring Training will give catchers trial and error opportunities. 

Most importantly, baseball is back. I am so excited to watch the first Nats game on Nationals TV. Some people say Ground Hogs day can be the start of spring, but in my opinion, the first game of Spring Training is when spring truly gets underway.

The San Diego Padres started their Cactus League season against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. and the game ended with the Friars falling, 7-4. Players often say the result of the game is not the focus in Spring Training, instead they focus on their results. If that is the case, Jose Miranda is pleased after he recorded a two-run home run and a double in his first game with the San Diego organization. Miranda is one of several players looking to make an impression early and often in an effort to make the big-league roster. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball said the final bench spots are one of the three questions the Padres need to answer before the conclusion of Cactus League play.

Padres News:

• Much has been said and written about the depleted San Diego farm system, but the starting pitcher for the first game of spring for the Padres, Jagger Haynes, showed enough potential to elicit a vote of confidence from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball.
• Craig Stammen wasted no time differentiating himself from former Padres manager Mike Shildt. Stammen’s first lineup had Xander Bogaerts leading off with Fernando Tatis Jr. batting cleanup. It’s the first lineup and the first game of Cactus League play, but AJ Cassavell of Padres.com thinks it might be a sign of things to come under Stammen’s tenure.
• Stammen revealed reliever Yuki Matsui suffered a groin injury during a live batting practice session on Thursday, which could cause him to miss the World Baseball Classic. While Matsui will have to determine how best to rehab and recover from his injury, his bullpen mate Jason Adam continues his quest to return to the field with fielding drills to test the stability of his repaired quadriceps tendon.

Baseball News:

• The ABS challenge system was put to the test with the first Spring Training games of the season. Brent Maguire of MLB.com says there were 23 challenges and 13 calls overturned. Two of the overturned calls were made by Luis Campusano and one call that was not overturned was Cal Raleigh who challenged a called ball against Jackson Merrill that was confirmed as a ball.
• Pete Alonso introduced himself to his new Baltimore Orioles fanbase with a home run in his first Spring Training action.
• Munetaka Murakami almost missed his debut because he was stuck in traffic on his way to the stadium. He arrived just in time to make the start and recorded two hits in the game.
• Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association are each preparing for a work stoppage by setting aside money to deal with a prolonged absence of games.
• The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly talking to free agent pitcher Max Scherzer about a return to the team for the 2026 season.
• The Minnesota Twins will officially be without starter Pablo Lopez for the 2026 season after it was reported he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week.

The Orioles’ farm system might be past the point of boasting the consensus #1 prospect in baseball every year. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and the like have long since graduated to the majors. But there’s still plenty to like about the Orioles’ prospect pipeline. And there will be no shortage of promising youngsters whose progress we can follow throughout the 2026 season.

The one who most interests me is a guy we got a long look at in the Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener yesterday: Trey Gibson. A year ago, Gibson isn’t someone who was on my prospect radar, considering his unheralded background as an undrafted free agent signing who had just completed his first year of full-season pro ball. But Gibson’s dynamic arsenal and stupendous 2025 season, highlighted by a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts at Double-A Chesapeake, have rocketed him to a status as arguably the Orioles’ best pitching prospect. He’s ranked as a top-100 prospect by ESPN, Baseball America, and FanGraphs. His intriguing arm was on full display against the Yankees yesterday as he pitched three scoreless innings to complete the Birds’ shutout win. Gibson will begin this year at Triple-A Norfolk but has a great chance to contribute to the Orioles’ rotation at some point this year.

What about you, Camden Chatters? Which Orioles prospect are you most excited to follow this season? Is it former first rounder Enrique Bradfield Jr., or 2025 breakout prospect Nate George? A power arm like Luis De León? Perhaps one of last year’s top draft picks, Ike Irish or Wehiwa Aloy? Or someone else? Let us know in the comments.

Major League Baseball doesn’t have a long offseason by calendar days. But man, it’s been a long one this season. It’s time for getting your nearly everyday baseball fix. Although, for the next few weeks it’s going to be more like Braves ‘n’ Friends. We’re getting Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli White, Jorge Mateo and the kids. And on the mound, it’s Carlos Carrasco. This is pretty good in that they have on the Braves uniform and everything. But you know what I want. At least we’ll get to see John Gil.

Yesterday I repaired my HVAC insulation and watched ice hockey. And I liked it. You tell me how ready I am for first pitch.

It’s been a few months since Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski made public comments questioning Bryce Harper’s status as an elite player. Harper certainly didn’t have an elite season in 2025, but is that enough to demote a player entirely?

Harper has admitted to still being baffled by the comments, but the good news is that he often performs at his best when he has a chip on his shoulder.

So, what say you? Is Bryce Harper still an elite player?

Bill Mazeroski, the Gold Glove former second baseman of the Pittsburgh Pirates who danced around the bases after his bottom-of-the-ninth, solo home run beat the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, died at the age of 89.

“The author of one of the game’s most indelible moments, Bill Mazeroski will be remembered as one of baseball's most respected figures – both for his character and for his brilliance on the field as one of the game’s best second basemen," Baseball Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said.

"Maz remained humble about his career, even as he was celebrated in Cooperstown. On behalf of his Hall of Fame family, we send our deepest sympathies to his loved ones and to Pirates fans everywhere.”

Mazeroski was an amazing defensive player who could turn the double play in a blink. He was a shortstop when he signed with the Pirates in 1954, at 17, but Branch Rickey promptly moved him to second base.

Late Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince called Mazeroski "The Glove." He had the defensive statistics to back up his excellence, and they helped put him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

But as a career .260 hitter, he also got a big boost in that induction from his monumental homer – still marked by a plaque on a Pittsburgh sidewalk where it cleared the left field wall at since-demolished Forbes Field. Today there is a statue of Mazeroski outside Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

Mazeroski was 24 on that Oct. 13, 1960, day when, at 3:36 p.m. ET, he blasted into baseball immortality against the Yankees. He was 64 and white-haired in 2001 when he got a private tour of his exhibit at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, a few days before his induction.

On that tour, he recalled to USA TODAY Sports that he was "floating" as he rounded the bases in 1960 after hitting a one-ball, no-strike slider for a home run off Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry. The ball barely cleared the ivy-covered wall.

"Fantastic. It's something unbelievable that you just never would expect to happen to you," Mazeroski said then. "All of a sudden, here it is. It gets a little overwhelming."

Who has the ball?

In 2010, on the 50th anniversary of the home run, Mazeroski told USA TODAY Sports' Mike Dodd that as the kid of a coal miner he grew up dreaming of hitting a home run to win a World Series: "But it was with a broomstick and a bucket of stones. I wore out a lot of broomsticks, (pretending), 'I'm Babe Ruth and I'm hitting a home run to win the Series.' "

While Pittsburgh partied that 1960 day, Mazeroski and his wife, Milene, went to a quiet park to savor the moment.

The home run ball won't be on display at the Hall of Fame. Several fans claimed to have it.

"Everybody wanted a hundred bucks," Mazeroski said. "There were so many of them, nobody knew for sure. I have one or two."

Unlike a typical Hall of Fame visitor, he alone knew just how that bat in a third floor display case felt in his hands when he used it to hit his World Series-winning homer against the Yankees.

"You can still see the spot on the seams where I hit the ball. It dug into the bat," Mazeroski said during his 2001 Hall tour.

Defense his calling card

Mazeroski didn't get close to 3,000 hits (2,016) or 300 homers (138).

But defense is part of the game, too. On his Hall of Fame tour, as he passed a wall of balls from no-hit pitching performances, he saw one from a 1970 no-hitter by former Pirate Dock Ellis against the San Diego Padres.

"I saved that one," Mazeroski said of the no-hitter. "Line drive up the middle. I dove and backhanded it about a foot off the ground."

He won eight Gold Gloves, but the gloves he actually used looked as if they wouldn't bring a buck at a yard sale.

“It’s pretty simple: He was the best I ever saw at turning a double play," Hall of Famer Joe Torre said of Mazeroski.

He figured he used about four gloves from 1956 to 1972, and they were barely gloves at all. He liked them small, and he always removed the padding from the heel for better feel. When a glove wore out, he got it fixed and kept using it.

The Hall has one which Mazeroski used at various times.

"This was one of the good ones," he said on the pre-induction tour, slipping on the mitt and pounding it. "When a ball hit in there, it just closed."

But the gloves also helped him get the ball out of his hands quickly on double plays. Balls bounced off the heel of his glove into his throwing hand. No second baseman turned as many double plays in a career (1,706) or a season (161 in 1966).

That skill didn't get him into the Hall in 15 years of eligibility on voting by baseball writers. He was elected by the Veterans Committee.

"I never thought that I hit enough to get in the Hall of Fame," Mazeroski said.

"I didn't think they would put defense in. I'm glad they did. … I don't know everybody's (batting) average in the Hall of Fame. In fact, I don't know anybody's, really. I don't know if there's anybody worse than .260. Is .260 the lowest?"

No. Turn-of-the-century catcher Ray Schalk hit .253. Shortstop Rabbit Maranville hit .258. Harmon Killebrew, a home run slugger, hit .256.

"But defense wins as many games as offense wins or anything else," Mazeroski said. "You turn a double play, that's like hitting a grand slam sometimes."

As a Pirate, Mazeroski played two exhibition games in Cooperstown. The Hall has a score sheet from a 1959 game in which he homered twice.

"I didn't even remember that," he said. "I do remember we had a home run contest before the game, and I beat Ted Kluszewski."

His 1960 World Series homer triggered a massive celebration in Pittsburgh. At the Hall's archives, his wife spotted a photo of that day in Pittsburgh, its streets piled with paper.

"Bill, look at this picture," said his wife, a former Pirates secretary. "These cars are old. These buildings are old. Are we this old?" she asked with a laugh.

Mazeroski grew up in a one-room home in southeastern Ohio coal country in the community of Rush Run. Hall of Famers from nearby include baseball's Phil Niekro, basketball's John Havlicek and football's Lou Groza.

In retirement in the Pittsburgh area, Mazeroski enjoyed fishing and golf: "If I'm hitting the ball bad in golf, I go fishing. If I'm not catching any fish, I go golfing."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Mazeroski dies at 89: Pirates Hall of Famer won 1960 World Series

The wait is finally over, and the Atlanta Braves kick off play in the Grapefruit League this afternoon.  Right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been named today’s starter against the Tampa Bay Rays. After just a few games with Atlanta last season, Carrasco looks to make an impression in his spring debut.

Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli White and Jorge Mateo will also be getting in on the action and making an appearance in today’s matchup. First pitch is slated for 1:05 ET.

More Braves News:

The television broadcast saga continues, and FanDuel Sports Network has officially announced the closure of its Atlanta office. The Braves have yet to announce their broadcast plan for the 2026 season.

Pitcher Jared Gridlinger has reclassified for the 2026 draft, and here’s what that means for the Braves.

MLB News:

Minnesota Twins ace Pablo Lopez will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and miss the entire season. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly moved into more serious talks with Max Scherzer.

Josue De Paula is the highest-ranked Dodgers prospect on average and a consensus top-25 prospect in the sport heading into 2026. After playing the last week of last season with Double-A Tulsa, De Paula is one step closer to the majors and won’t turn 21 until May.

Dylan Hernández for The California Post talked with De Paula, who is in his second straight spring camp as a non-roster invitee, about the challenges ahead:

“Like really stressing the importance of defense,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “Really, it’s one thing to stress it, it’s another to have deliberate work and being consistent with it.”

Friedman believes his time in major-league camp will be instructive.

“I think he’s seeing that (consistency) with some of our guys, and you really don’t know what that means until you see it and experience it. So we’ve challenged him with that.”

Links

Andrew Friedman was a guest on Foul Territory on Friday and talked about newcomer Kyle Tucker.

Andrew Friedman feels the concerns surrounding Kyle Tucker's passion for the game were unfairly voiced.

"Some guys will talk trash about it [his approach] if it doesn't line up with what they do instead of appreciating the individualized aspect." pic.twitter.com/finSg36RXP

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 20, 2026

Corner outfielder and first baseman Ryan Ward and left-handed pitcher Ronan Kopp were both added to the 40-man roster in November. Sonja Chen talked to the new Dodgers for MLB.com.

Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register talked to Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart, and Brusdar Graterol, three relievers working their way back from surgery who will start the season on the injured list.

If you are new to MLB.tv, there are explainers at both ESPN and at MLB.com about the costs and details of a subscription, and how to access.

Good morning baseball fans!

As we approach the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!

Today’s question: Who do you think the fanbase tends to overrate?

Personally, I have no business answering this question. That would be extremely hypocritical. Although the favorite players of my youth tended to be franchise icons (Barry Bonds and Tim Lincecum for examples) I also tend to root for underdogs (or perceived underdogs) so I am absolutely guilty of overrating players that I like.

I’m also aware that I am guilty of letting nostalgia color my opinion of players long after their prime and I hate to see them leave. So I’m pretty sure I am the one being judged by this question. And I’m okay with that.

Who do you think the fanbase tends to overrate?

Good morning Birdland,

After a long, chilly winter (that is still going on), the Orioles got back on the diamond down in Sarasota to play an actual game. It didn’t count for anything other than vibes, but we will take the vibes in late February with snow on the way.

If you are like me and your work or school day got filled up, you probably didn’t see the game, which got started in the early afternoon. But fear not, because you didn’t actually miss too much.

The Orioles collected eight hits on offense, but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Midseason form, baby! But the headline will undoubtedly be Pete Alonso’s debut home run. The new first baseman slugged a sixth-inning home run to score himself and Jeremiah Jackson, who had singled earlier in the inning.

Meanwhile, the Orioles pitching was dynamite. Six hurlers combined to toss a nine-inning shutout. Trevor Rogers struck out three over two innings. Trey Gibson went three innings to close out the game and earn the save. And the four potential bullpen arms in between (Keegan Akin, Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, and José Espada) all threw one hitless frame each.

They were not facing the Yankees “A squad” here. There was no Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton, but some notable names were sprinkled in. And you can only face who is right in front of you.

Tough to give the team anything but full marks for their first actual game of the Grapefruit League season! They won. No one else got hurt. 10/10

They will be right back on the field today. Dean Kremer is on the bump (for an inning or two, anyway) to face the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. It sounds like Chayce McDermott will also appear. The game will be on MASN, and we will have a game thread for you on this very site right at first pitch.

Links

Orioles Claim Bryan Ramos | MLB Trade Rumors
He’s back! This is the second time this month that the Orioles have claimed Ramos. This time they get him from the Cardinals. For the time being, he is on the 40-man roster, the room for which was made when Félix Bautista was transitioned to the 60-day IL. Will he stick around this time? Maybe. They might actually need him now that Jordan Westburg is on the shelf through April.

Without Jordan Westburg, Orioles lean on infield depth and believe in Coby Mayo | The Baltimore Banner
Speaking of which…it’s a good thing that Coby Mayo wasn’t traded this offseason. Who knows if he will pan out, but the upside of Mayo is a better option than several other avenues they could have taken instead. His presence at third base at least gives the O’s a shot of fielding an above-average player at the position.

Some morning notes following yesterday’s Orioles exhibition opener | Roch Kubatko
Roch has some notes on the games this weekend, and quotes from a whole bunch of guys, particularly McDermott. He’s a guy that the Orioles could be counting on to pop this summer and solidify the bullpen.

Adam Jones on 2026 Orioles: ‘The vibes are great’ | Baltimore Baseball
Jones is in camp as a guest instructor this week. Those “honors” are really starting to make me feel old. Each year it’s another guy that was good for the Orioles when I was in high school and college. That’s not how this is supposed to me! They should be significantly older than me!

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Tom Shopay turns 81 today. He spent parts of five seasons with the Orioles from 1971-72 and then again from ‘75-77.

This day in O’s history

It’s been a slow day in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. Here are a few happenings from beyond Birdland:

1925 – The New Yorker publishes its first issue.

1947 – The “instate camera,” the Polaroid Land Camera, is demonstrated by Edwin Land for the first time at a meeting of the Optical Society of America.

1948 – NASCAR is incorporated

1995 – Steve Fossett becomes the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a baloon.