Baseball News
Should we start doing the lineup posts at this point in camp? Sure, why not…
The lineup:
Haggerty — CF
Jansen — C
Duran — 3B
Foscue — 1B
Canha — RF
Wade — SS
Cauley — 2B
Herrera — DH
Velazquez — LF
Jack Leiter is on the mound for Texas. 2:10 p.m. Central start time.
Back in the go-go dinger days of 2019, Eugenio Suárez socked nearly as many home runs (49) as he blew gum bubbles, a number he matched in a 2025 season split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.
So, if you ponder the question of who leads the 2026 Reds in dingers, it’s easy to simply point at Geno.
Is it really that simple, though?
Geno’s now 34 years old, and he’ll hit 35 in July of this year. On top of that, sandwiched in between his seasons with 49 bombs are single-season totals of 31, 31, 22, and 30, so it’s not as if he’s reached those lofty numbers each and every season.
Yes, he’s now calling Great American Ball Park home after spending far too much time in Seattle, where right-handed power hitting goes to die. Yes, he’s on a one-year ‘prove it’ contract for 2026 after nobody presumably offered him a long-term deal of enough value for him and his agent, and that may prompt him to go nuts again offensively in a contract year.
But is it really too outlandish to suggest that maybe, just maybe, someone else on this team finishes 2026 with more homers than Suárez? Someone like, say, Elly De La Cruz?
If Geno ‘slips’ back to only hitting ~30 homers in 2026, is it out of the question that a healthily-shouldered Spencer Steer could flirt with 30 after topping 20 in each of the last trio of seasons?
JJ Bleday once swatted 20 homers for the Oakland A’s! Noelvi Marte’s power has long been hyped as potentially plus…could 2026 be the year he finally puts it all together?
Lest we forget Sal Stewart, who led the 2025 Reds in homers after his call-up in September. He’s one of the most advanced hitters the Reds have seen as a rookie in a generation, and scouts have long said his raw power was ahead of his in-game power…at least until it showed up in-game at the end of last season. Might he step right in to the Cincinnati lineup on Opening Day and become the thumper this lineup has missed for years?
Who do you think leads this club in dingers in ‘26?
Some fans choose their team, and some fans are chosen by their team. Which was it for you? Today, we want to hear your story from you: How you became a fan of the Arizona Cardinals.
When did you first become a fan? Were you born into it? Was there a specific game or season that pulled you in? What’s the earliest moment you remember as a fan?
Let’s hear your story.
Sign up for a user account and get:
For me, I have told the story quite often, but my dad was born and raised in Arizona, so when they got an NFL team for the first time when I was just three, he was immediately a fan.
He hated the Cowboys even growing up here and getting the games every week, but as soon as the Cardinals were in Arizona, it was all Cardinals.
What a curse it has been, but the suffering makes you stronger as a fan.
Sorry kids, you are stuck!
Jeff Kent still hasn’t gotten over Alex Rodriguez’s cheap shot.
Kent, who was recently inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, was a guest on the KNBR broadcast during Sunday’s spring training game between the Giants and Cardinals.
One announcer brought up Rodriguez’s hard slide into second base in 1998 that caused Kent to miss a month with an injury. Kent didn’t hold back when discussing his feelings.
“He tore my knee up. He slid and rolled his fat ass past the base, the son of a bitch, and put me out for a little while. I was not happy about that,” Kent said of the play, which came when he was a member of the Giants, and Rodriguez was on the Mariners.
“He was a middle infielder, and we were beating them up pretty good. He didn’t need to be doing that.”
Kent continued, diving into his mantra as a second baseman back in his playing days.
“I would literally throw the ball between their eyes. If they came in and they weren’t ducking down, I was throwing the ball right between their eyes. They better get down,” Kent said.
At the time of his injury, Kent had started the year hot. In eight games, he was hitting .448 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
In 17 MLB seasons, mostly spent with the Giants and Mets, Kent finished with a .290/.356/.500 slash line with 377 home runs. He also made five All-Star appearances and won the MVP award in 2000 when he hit .334 with 33 homers.
He’s remembered as one of the best power-hitting second basemen of all time; Kent’s 351 homers at the position are the most in baseball history.
Kent was voted into the Hall of Fame by the contemporary era committee in December, receiving 14 of 16 votes. He’ll be inducted into Cooperstown on July 26 alongside Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones, who were chosen by the BBWAA.
Despite a Hall of Fame resume, Rodriguez received just 40 percent of the votes (well below the 75 needed) to get inducted into Cooperstown. Rodriguez was one of the faces of the PED era and was suspended for the entire 2014 season due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.
"He tore my knee up. He slid and rolled his fat ass past the base, the son of a bitch."
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 22, 2026
Jeff Kent was asked about the knee sprain he got when Alex Rodriguez slid into him in 1998 pic.twitter.com/gjmmB3VO02
After the announcement, Kent said he was overcome with emotion.
“I hugged my wife after the phone call had come in, and I told her that a lot of the game had come rushing back to me at that moment,” Kent said. “It reminds me of the ‘no crying in baseball.’ Well, I was bawling when I left the game because all that emotion just overcomes you.”
But before his official induction, Kent was in the headlines for a different reason Sunday.
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
We got an interesting player as this round’s winner. Two-way prospect Shotaro Morii gets on the list at #18. A right-handed pitcher and a shortstop, Morii is the exact definition of a work in progress as he’s just 19-year-old and only played at Rookie level this past year. While he didn’t get on the mound in his first professional season it looks like that’s going to change this coming season as the A’s determine whether or not he’s really going to be able to thrive while playing on both sides of the ball.
The next nominee is a recent addition. In exchange for former Rule 5 pick Mitch Spence, the A’s acquired right-hander A.J. Causey from the Kansas City Royals and he’s been selected as the next name on the list. Causey actually made it into yesterday’s game but things didn’t go well in his first action in the Green & Gold. Still, the righty possesses some potential as a late-game relief option down the line and displayed that in his first professional season this past year. Using a deceptive delivery to boost his arsenal of pitches, Causey has already made it and thrived at Double-A and like many other prospects on our list could be an option as soon as this season.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Click on the link here to vote!
* * *
A’s fans top prospects, ranked:
The voting continues! Who is the 18th-best prospect in the A’s system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
Nominees on the current ballot:
Expected level: Triple-A | Age: 23
2025 stats (AA/AAA): 4.38 ERA, 28 starts, 150 IP, 128 K, 48 BB, 16 HR, 4.71 FIP
MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:
Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40
Morris runs up his four-seam fastball to about 95-96 mph and also throws a sinker with good arm-side run in the 92-95 range. His mid-80s slider has developed into an above-average secondary offering. His mid-70s curveball provides a good variation of pitch speeds, though he is still working to make it a more consistent pitch, along with his improving upper-80s changeup.
Morris is athletic with his 6-foot-3 frame. His competitive drive stands out whenever he takes the mound. Discovering the right arm slot that allows for the most consistency is the next big step in his development. How that pans out as he moves through the system will likely determine his long-term role, though he profiles as a back-end starter given his overall pitch mix and solid control.
Expected level: Double-A | Age: 23
2025 stats (A+/AA): 1.72 ERA, 48 appearances, 73 1/3 IP, 75 K, 18 BB, 0 HR, 2.28 FIP
Causey thrives with a fastball that hovers around 90 mph, but that’s because he has a funky sidearm delivery that helps him get crazy movement and deception with his arsenal. Causey excelled in his first full pro season, posting a 1.72 ERA across High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He’s a fast mover with a different look that could add to the Royals’ bullpen in the coming years.
Causey began the year with a sinker, changeup and sweeper, but he added a four-seam fastball this season to help him at the top of the zone. After years of working on adding a cutter, Causey finally found something that works with the four-seamer.
Expected level: Triple-A | Age: 24
2025 stats (AA/AAA): 587 PA, .231/.348/.473, 29 doubles, 6 triples, 26 HR, 87 RBI, 87 BB, 165 K, 27 SB
Per Billy Owens, Athletics director of player personnel and assistant GM: “Perez is a live-bodied specimen with high-caliber tools. His range and athleticism stand out defensively. Offensively, he can be streaky, but he has displayed plus bat speed, patience and real power. Solid package. Development is not linear. Patience will be required to realize his significant potential.”
Expected level: Double-A | Age: 23
2025 stats (A+/AA): 549 PA, .296/.359/.372, 30 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 47 RBI, 40 BB, 49 K, 27 SB
MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
Kuroda-Grauer’s athletic size and hard-working mentality remind some in the A’s organization of a young Marcus Semien. While he may never have Semien-type power, his high-level ability to frequently make contact and rarely strike out is reminiscent of another more high-profile touted top prospect in Jacob Wilson. His advanced approach at the plate allows him to work counts and make good decisions with his simple swing. The power remains below-average, though the A’s believe he could grow into some extra pop with 15-homer potential as a ceiling.
There is a speed element to Kuroda-Grauer’s game, and while he may not be a burner, his 40 stolen bases in college show he can be a decent threat on the basepaths. Defensively, his arm is average, but his overall glovework and instincts give him the chance to stick as a shortstop with second base as a fallback. Between that and his excellent bat-to-ball skills, Kuroda-Grauer enters his first full professional season with a chance to quickly rise through the system.
Expected level: Triple-A | Age: 26
2025 stats (A+/AA/AAA): 3.29 ERA, 26 starts (30 appearances), 125 2/3 IP, 130 K, 60 BB, 7 HR, 3.79 FIP
Tur is 26 but only signed with the A’s before the 2023 season after several seasons pitching in the Serie Nacional in Cuba. He started almost all of last year, going from High A to Triple A, although I think he’s a straight reliever. He comes straight over the top, sitting 96 with some ride along with a 55 splitter and a low-90s cutter that doesn’t miss many bats. The slider is fringy and he’s very north-south because of the arm slot. He could pitch in the big-league bullpen right now.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your vote!
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
Spring is in the air... as long as you're in Florida or Arizona, anyway.
With Spring Training still ramping up, we're looking at a trio of plus-money moneyline predictions from today's schedule, including the Philadelphia Phillies in the day's closer.
Read on for my Spring Training MLB picks on Monday, February 23.
| Picks |  |
|---|---|
 Mariners moneyline | +102 |
 Athletics moneyline | +140 |
 Phillies moneyline | +120 |
+102 at DraftKings
Logan Gilbert is among baseball's top arms, and the Seattle Mariners right-hander makes his spring debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers today.
That's a tough sell, but it's why we're getting a good number on Seattle. With Landon Knack on the bump for L.A., I'll go with the better starter.
Plus, the Mariners boasted a better bullpen in 2025, and I'll take that edge if Gilbert can leave with the lead intact.
+140 at DraftKings
I generally prefer the A's lineup to the San Francisco Giants. So, getting plus money against right-hander JT Brubaker is a boon.
Obviously, it depends on the respective lineups, but if we get Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, and Shea Langeliers — even if only for an inning or two — that could be enough.
That alone makes the value at +140 worth a look.
+120 at DraftKings
The Philadelphia Phillies are going the no-name route with right-hander Alan Rangel toeing the rubber against the Washington Nationals opposite Jake Irvin.
The 28-year-old made his MLB debut in 2025 as a reliever, which explains why the Nats are favored. But Irvin was one of baseball's least effective starters last summer, boasting a 5.70 ERA across 33 starts.
While both teams will go to the pen relatively early, I won't be surprised if Philly's bats jump on the right-hander out of the gate.
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.
Michael Tucker spent 2025 with the Cubs, then signed a four-year contract including the highest average annual value in major league history with the Dodgers to replace Michael Conforto in the outfield. Now, the loop is completed, as Conforto signed a minor league contract with the Cubs, per multiple reports.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post on Sunday night was first to report the signing, and Jesse Rogers of ESPN noted it was a minor league deal.
Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers following two down yet still productive seasons with the Giants. He bottomed out with the Dodgers, hitting just .199/.305/.333 with a 83 wRC+ that ranked 191st among the 215 major leaguers with at least 400 plate appearances.
Rated as below replacement level by Baseball Reference (-0.7 WAR) and FanGraphs (-0.6 WAR) but slightly above by Baseball Prospectus (0.9 WARP), the lefty-batting Conforto still played nearly every day on the strong side of a platoon, starting 106 of the Dodgers’ 115 games against right-handed pitchers. Until suddenly once the postseason started, Conforto didn’t play at all, and was left off the Dodgers’ roster in all four of their postseason series.
Conforto, who turns 33 in March, is a career .245/.343/.442 hitter with a 115 wRC+ in his 10 major league seasons. He hit .255/.356/.468 with a 124 wRC+ for the Mets before missing the 2022 season after right shoulder surgery. In the three years since, with the Giants and Dodgers, Conforto had hit .225/.316/.390 with a 98 wRC+.
The Detroit Tigers prep leaning draft classes under Scott Harris have pointed the organization in a new direction in talent acquisition over the last three years. While his draft classes were more college heavy, former GM Al Avila had some success in the prep ranks as well, drafting Riley Greene and then hitting on Colt Keith in the fifth round of the shortened 2020 draft. That led to the 2021 draft, when the Tigers took top prep pitcher Jackson Jobe in the first round and then followed it up with a bruising teenaged infielder named Izaac Pacheco in the second round.
Pacheco arrived with standout power for his age and projected to grow into potential double-plus raw power. Those projections have proven accurate, but so have early warnings that his long levers and modest bat-to-ball skills would make him very strikeout prone. For three seasons, the third baseman’s progress was slow, if not stagnant. Not only did the strikeouts pile up, but there was a disturbing lack of hard contact despite the sometimes eye-popping exit velocities he produced when he squared up a pitch. In 2025, just as much of the industry, including yours truly, was starting to give up on him, Pacheco finally made some adjustments that led him to his best season of pro ball and finally conquered the High-A level.
That doesn’t mean he’s figured it all out, however. Pacheco hit 17 home runs and posted a monster .388 on-base percentage, walking in 17.4 percent of his at-bats. Pitchers finally had real cause to fear him, and he was able to take advantage and get on-base constantly. On the other hand, he still struck out 28.9 percent of the time, with a swinging strike rate of 14 percent. He was only 22 years old during the season, turning 23 in November, so he was the same age as a 2024 college draft pick making his full season debut. That’s a bit of a mitigating factor, but hitters who strike out that much in their first full season out of college only occasionally develop into good MLB caliber hitters, and Pacheco already had tons of experience with pitching at the High-A level.
What makes Pacheco a little different from the standard bat only slugging prospect, is the fact that he’s actually a decent third baseman who has enough defensive tools to approach MLB average there with more work. His range isn’t great, but he has better reactions and more agility than many 6’3” 225 pound corner infielders. He also has plenty of arm for the position. His hands are just okay and he’ll sometimes struggle with his transfer, but if keeps grinding at the finer points of the position, he’ll be decent there. Not ideal, but playable both there and at first base, where he started working a bit in 2025 as well.
Over the past two seasons Pacheco has worked to counter the fact that his long levers and mediocre feel for the barrel will get him into trouble. He lowered his hands and sets up with them close to his body now. He’s also worked on getting more of his power from his legs to shorten his swing without sacrificing batspeed. That finally started to pay dividends in 2025 as he upped his fly ball percentage while trimming his pop-up percentage, and continued to hit a good amount of line drives. He also really tried to lock in on his hot zones, especially down and in, and take more pitches when they weren’t in those sweet spots, resulting in the huge walk rate.
Pachecho has better than plus raw power as a left-handed hitter, a good eye for the strike zone, and is a serviceable corner infielder. The attributes are enough to put him in the 40 tier, but we still have to be reasonable here. Striking out 28.9 percent of the time in a third straight year at the High-A level isn’t good. It’s an improvement, but not enough to forecast Pacheco storming into the upper minors. He’s going to see better stuff and fewer mistakes to mash, and his path to a future big league role is going to require him becoming very selective against better stuff. He’s just not going to develop into a guy who hits .260-.270 every year. If he makes it to the majors, he’ll be walking a good amount, and doing enough damage to balance out the strikeouts.
That’s a narrow path to walk to the major leagues, but it does help that Pacheco isn’t just a 1B/DH type. A little added versatility makes him more viable as a part-time role player whose job is to hit for power against right-handed pitching. The likely outcome is probably just a second tier bench player who doesn’t have a long career. The upside, is that if Pacheco gets the most out of his tools you have an Alex Avila type three true outcomes hitter who can can handle third base on a part-time basis. Huge raw power is a great force multiplier if Pacheco can continue to refine his approach against a better class of pitchers in the upper minors.
So, Pacheco has pretty high risk of busting entirely based on a the in-zone contact rate and the strikeouts. It’s fair to be skeptical that he can really break out from here, but his 2025 season finally showed progress and momentum after spinning his wheels for two years. Now 23, he’s got a little time to establish himself in the upper minors. If he manages to make the jump and build on his progress, he’ll become a lot more interesting as a future role player or trade chip.
Spring is back — and so is Royals baseball.
In tBaseball is back — and the Royals are giving us plenty to talk about.
In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down the latest developments from Kansas City Royals Spring Training, analyzing early player performances, pitching depth, and lingering base running concerns. The hosts evaluate standout moments — including encouraging signs from Michael Massey — while also addressing defensive inconsistencies and why patience is essential this time of year.
The conversation dives into the Royals’ pitching strategy and roster construction, with injuries already influencing competition and decision-making. Jacob and Jeremy discuss how early base running struggles could impact lineup philosophy, the importance of building reliable depth before Opening Day, and how the upcoming World Baseball Classic may shape player readiness.
To round out the episode, the hosts reflect on the cultural impact of baseball films like Major League, examining how the sport’s storytelling tradition connects past and present generations of fans.
Whether you’re tracking roster battles, evaluating pitching arms, or simply excited for meaningful baseball to return, this episode delivers thoughtful analysis and grounded optimism for the season ahead.
Email Jacob directly at: jm17971047@gmail.com
Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:
BlueSky
– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social
Twitter / X
– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod
Coors Field is a wonderful place to watch a baseball game, the stretch of breweries that lead up to the stadium make for a perfect pregame, and the 2026 Colorado Rockies will in all likelihood stink the joints up to high heaven.
I’m a casual follower of the Rockies, considering them my B-team even if the rest of baseball considers them more the Z-team. After last making the playoffs in 2018, the club hasn’t posted a winning percentage better than .460, and last year suffered the third-most losses in the history of the modern era, with a frankly pathetic 43-119 record. They’re in a division with four teams that all have very real playoff aspirations, whether they’ll make it or not, and while the team has actually made a couple of additions in the winter, the Rockies will almost certainly finish at the bottom of the table again.
Those additions did include pitchers, which has not always been the case when you play on the moon. Michael Lorenzen and Jose Quintana are real MLB pitchers that boost the depth of your rotation, albeit ones that will be asked to fill in as No. 2 or 3s when they really shouldn’t be. The Rockies also inked Tomoyuki Sugano, and I’m excited to watch someone set an MLB record for the single-worst pitching season of all time.
Hunter Goodman is the standout offensive performer, a 3.5 win catcher last year with an above-average bat. Mickey Moniak took a prove-it, one year $4 million contract to help add some thump to the lineup, and while he might be the worst defensive player in the league, he should be able to up the floor of the team’s offense. And then, there’s Ezequiel Tovar.
The mercurial shortstop, still just 24, is kind of Colorado’s version of Anthony Volpe. He was a four-win player in 2024, with a bat that was effectively league average and stellar defense. He’s never hit close to league average in any of his other three seasons, and took a step back defensively in 2025. You would point to him leading off an MLB lineup based on reputation, but he’s never had a season with an OBP over .300.
Kris Bryant, meanwhile, may be the greatest tragedy in MLB. The onetime MVP has been broken down by a degenerative back condition, and he will start 2026 on the 60-day IL. More to the point, his own comments this spring have detailed how he lives his life in daily pain, and it’s fair to speculate whether he will ever play in the big leagues again. More importantly, how he is able to manage that pain is going to directly influence his overall quality of life, and I hope some kind of medical solution presents itself.
It’s hard to write about the truly, truly bad teams. I wrote back in November about these same Rockies, directly comparing them to the Yankees as a reminder of just how good we have it. Earlier today I published a post on Elston Howard, and tomorrow I’ll have a preview of Aaron Judge — the past, and the present, stories of Yankees legends. With all due respect to Larry Walker and Todd Helton, the Rockies only have so much of the former, and they have nothing of the latter. They also have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, so their future is fair to be skeptical of. Enjoy the atmosphere of Coors Field, Denver friends, and try not to look too closely at what’s happening between the lines.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews will be available here.
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at pitcher Merrill Kelly.
Sometimes things don’t work out.
Such is the case with the 2025 acquisition of Merrill Kelly.
There is a sort of…generic quality in regards to Kelly’s time with the Rangers.
Kelly is kind of a generic mid-rotation starter. Strikes out an average amount of guys, avoids walks, is a little home prone. The kind of guy who, in his walk year, teams will pursue as a rental, plugging him in the middle of their rotation knowing that they won’t have to worry about him.
I don’t know that there’s anything he did on the field for the Texas Rangers in 2025 that particularly stuck in my mind. He wasn’t memorable. He was just kind of there.
The Rangers parted with three pitching prospects for Kelly, a couple of run-of-the-mill lefties who were 40 man eligible this past offseason and a 2024 draftee coming off of elbow surgery who had barely pitched as a pro. The two lefthanders, Mitch Bratt and Kohl Drake, had some cachet, had earned some attention, but weren’t atop the Rangers’ pitching prospect pecking order. They are kind of generic lefty pitching prospects. Good chance of making the majors, not a great chance of being impact guys.
David Hagaman, the 2024 fourth rounder out of West Virginia, was seen by most of us as the third guy in the deal at the time, but he’s been getting some run and impressing folks since he got back on the mound after surgery.
None of the four were premium draft picks, so good on the Rangers’ scouting and player development staff for taking them and turning them into pieces for a deadline deal, one for a pretty solid pitcher who you’d figure would be potentially starting twice in a seven game series.
Of course, that necessitates getting to the playoffs, something the Rangers, you may recall, failed to do.
Kelly isn’t the reason the Rangers failed to make the playoffs, but he wasn’t a big help to the cause, either, putting up a 4.23 ERA and 4.18 FIP in 55 innings over 10 starts. Not what the Rangers were hoping for over the final two months of the season, but then, you could say that about a number of players who donned the Texas uniform over the final two months of the season.
I guess we can re-hash the arguments about whether the Rangers should have been buyers or not, whether they should have targeted a hitter instead of a pitcher. All those guys getting injured in like a ten day span in August really de-railed everything and made the argument moot.
So Kelly was here, and then re-signed with Arizona after the season, and we all move on. Sometimes the trade deadline deals work out. Sometimes they don’t.
Previously:
We have a prospect here in Carson DeMartini that really needs to have a good season. Does this refrain sound familiar?
Carson DeMartini – 190
Zach McCambley – 171
Mavis Graves – 79
Ramon Marquez – 37
Keaton Anthony – 25
Griffin Burkholder – 12
Seth Johnson – 8
Yoniel Curet – 8
Alex McFarlane – 7
Presumably, the Phillies are going to graduate at least two of their top three prospects this season. Which three is to be determined, but it will significantly hurt the team’s overall prospect picture in the eyes of national rankings. Without two of those talents, the talent level does drop off quite a bit. That means, in order for this system to be more positively evaluated around the game, some prospects in the system need to start showing some significant growth in their game.
DeMartini is one of those players. He was decently regarded when drafted and hasn’t performed poorly as of yet. But for someone that was taken out of college, one might think he’d be a bit further along. The adjustment is always tough for wood bats, but getting the hit tool a bit further along has to happen this year. Otherwise, he’s falling further down lists.
2025 stats (w/ Lakewood and Reading)
521 PA, .237/.340/.367, 10 HR, 52 RBI, 45 SB, 11.3 BB%, 26.7 K%, 109 wRC+
DeMartini was Philly’s 2024 fourth rounder out of Virginia Tech and slugged his way to Reading in 2025. He generates roughly average low-ball power with a high-effort swing that has left him vulnerable to strikeouts. Though the Phillies have tried DeMartini at shortstop, he’s only a third base fit right now. He needs to demonstrate proficiency at at least one other position to be rostered as a utility guy with a 30 hit/50 power mix.
With each new post, we’ll reveal who won the voting for that particular slot, then post new players for you to vote on, adding another one to the list each time until we get to our final tally of 20. Once we get to 20 top prospects, we’ll do an honorable mention post at the end. If a player gets traded to another team, we’ll just chuck him right on outta here and all the players will move up a spot. If a prospect gets acquired, we’ll ask where he should go on the list.
Probably the most important thing about this whole process – please vote. Give us a few minutes of your time, just click a button and then we can discuss other players and things in the comment section, but don’t forget – VOTE!
With the Super Bowl slipping into the rearview, fantasy managers trade the confetti and finality for backfields, bullpen sessions, and small sample Statcast extrapolations. Spring training arrives with its annual deluge of information: injuries, velocity bumps, new swings, position changes, vague quotes about adding muscle or shedding weight. It’s chaotic, intoxicating, and just convincing enough to make you rethink everything you believed in the offseason.
Earlier this month, we gathered some of the sharpest minds in the dynasty space to join Rotoworld’s staff for a startup mock draft — a room full of heavy-hitters who understand that roster construction in February is less about certainty and more about conviction.
The goal wasn’t consensus; it was pressure-testing assumptions. How early is too early for youth? When does stability outweigh ceiling? And at what point does upside stop being theoretical and start becoming actionable? What followed was equal parts philosophy, projection, and quiet overreaction — which is exactly what makes dynasty season feel alive.
⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
The Basics: 12 teams. 22 rounds. Standard 5x5 roto categories. Rosters: C (1), 1B (1), 2B (1), 3B (1), SS (1), CI (1), MI (1), OF (5), UT (1), P (9).
1. Matt Heckman — PitcherList
2. Darren Eisenhauer — Prospects Live
3. James Anderson — Rotowire
4. Nick Shlain — Rotoworld
5. George Bissell — Rotoworld
6. Greg Hoogkamp — Prospects Live
7. Eric Samulski — Rotoworld
8. Dave Shovein — Rotoworld
9. Tim Kanak — Fantasy Pros
10. Martin Sekulski — PitcherList
11. D.J. Short — Rotoworld
12. Matthew Pouliot — Rotoworld
Having a newborn means spending a surprising amount of time half-awake, watching whatever happens to be on TV at 2:17 AM, which in my case has been a steady rotation of Maine Cabin Masters. The show is basically a weekly reminder that nothing flashy matters if the foundation is shaky — you can add beams, lofts, and character later, but if the base is wrong, everything else eventually tilts. Dynasty roster construction works the same way. The first round isn’t about creativity or cleverness; it’s about setting something stable enough to build on for years. Get that pick right and the rest of the roster starts to make sense almost automatically. Miss it, and you spend the next dozen rounds compensating, reinforcing, and hoping the structure holds.
1.1 Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (Heckman)
1.2 Shohei Ohtani, UT/P, Dodgers (Eisenhauer)
1.3 Juan Soto, OF, Mets (Anderson)
1.4 Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (Shlain)
1.5 Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds (Bissell)
1.6 Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (Hoogkamp)
1.7 Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners (Samulski)
1.8 José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians (Shovein)
1.9 Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates (Kanak)
1.10 Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox (Sekulski)
1.11 Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves (Short)
1.12 Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 6 OF, 3 SS, 1 3B, 1 SP, 1 UT
It qualifies as a mild surprise that Ohtani wasn’t the first overall selection. He overtook Witt for the top spot in Rotoworld’s dynasty rankings early last season and hasn’t budged from that lofty perch. The substantial age gap makes Witt a worthy top-overall pick and that’s the internal debate fantasy managers in start-up dynasty formats will wrestle with for the next few years. As expected, Skenes was the lone pitcher taken in the opening round with perennial first-round stalwarts Judge and Ramírez representing the only non-Ohtani players over the age of 30 to come off the board.
The Long View: Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox
This pick is less about what Anthony is now and more about what we believe he’s about to become — the projection of a future that feels inevitable. He’s the ultra-rare top prospect who’s lived up to the astronomical hype, displaying virtually zero weaknesses in his offensive profile despite being just 21 entering next season. He wasted little time establishing himself as Boston’s franchise cornerstone once he arrived in the majors and likely would’ve posted even gaudier numbers had he not spent nearly three months languishing at Triple-A Worcester. His blend of moxie, elite talent and opportunity to anchor an emerging Red Sox lineup in the AL East’s hitter-friendly parks make him an easy first or second-round pick in all dynasty drafts.
Dynasty roster construction in the opening rounds of a startup draft feels a lot like dropping into the Yoshi Valley track in Mario Kart for Nintendo 64: the map is wide open, the routes are unclear, and everyone is convinced their path is the fastest even though no one can quite prove it yet. You can go aggressive, conservative, future-facing, win-now, or some strange hybrid that only makes sense if everything breaks right. Early on, the freedom is intoxicating. However, he second round is where the fog starts to lift. Choices begin to narrow, timelines quietly reveal themselves, and the roster stops being a collection of ideas and starts becoming a direction. From there, you’re no longer just driving — you’re committing to a lane, even if the finish line is still somewhere off the screen.
2.13 Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers (Pouliot)
2.14 Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (Short)
2.15 Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers (Sekulski)
2.16 Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates (Kanak)
2.17 Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox (Shovein)
2.18 Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays (Samulski)
2.19 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (Hoogkamp)
2.20 Fernado Tatis Jr., OF, Padres (Bissell)
2.21 Zach Neto, SS, Angels (Shlain)
2.22 James Wood, OF, Nationals (Anderson)
2.23 Kyle Tucker, OF, Dodgers (Eisenhauer)
2.24 Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 5 OF, 2 1B, 2 SS, 2 SP, 1 3B
Statement Pick: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
Kurtz surpassing Guerrero Jr. in dynasty conversations feels like the kind of move that usually gets filed under recency bias – the new thing glowing brighter simply because it’s new. Prospect helium has a way of distorting perspective, especially when the tools are loud and the timeline feels infinite. But sometimes recency bias isn’t bias at all; it’s just the market adjusting in real time. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is established, known, and comfortably slotted into our expectations. Kurtz, on the other hand, represents possibility — and in dynasty formats, possibility often carries more weight than precedent. The question isn’t whether the shift feels premature. It’s whether the ceiling calculus quietly justifies it.
The Long View: Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates
There’s a legitimate case to be made for taking Griffin in the first round of dynasty drafts, even if it feels early in the way all future-facing bets tend to feel early. The soon-to-be 20-year-old is one of the most tantalizing power-speed prospects to enter the fantasy conversation since Mike Trout announced himself with a 30-homer, 49-steal rookie season in 2012. A dominant showing in Grapefruit League play could fast-track him onto Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster, but even without that immediate payoff, it increasingly feels like a question of when, not if, Griffin arrives as the organization’s next franchise cornerstone — and a first-round-caliber fantasy asset once the timeline catches up to the precocious talent.
This is where things get interesting with a pair of the top prospects in the fantasy landscape — Kevin McGonigle and JJ Wetherholt — coming off the board. Meanwhile, Cal Raleigh settles in as a mid-third round selection after delivering a historic 60-homer campaign that shattered just about every offensive record for a full-time catcher. There’s some undeniable regression looming, but he projects as an elite fantasy backstop for at least a couple additional seasons. A trio of upper-echelon starting pitchers — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Logan Gilbert and Hunter Brown — came off the board while power/speed combo threats Trea Turner, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Francisco Lindor were all top 30 picks.
3.25 Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers (Heckman)
3.26 Trea Turner, SS, Phillies (Eisenhauer)
3.27 Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees (Anderson)
3.28 Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers (Shlain)
3.29 Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners (Bissell)
3.30 Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets (Hoogkamp)
3.31 Jackson Merrill, OF, Padres (Samulski)
3.32 Logan Gilbert, SP, Mariners (Shovein)
3.33 JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, Cardinals (Kanak)
3.34 Pete Alonso, 1B, Orioles (Sekulski)
3.35 Hunter Brown, SP, Astros (Short)
3.36 Yordan Alvarez, UT, Astros (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 4 SS, 3 SP, 1 1B, 1 2B, 1 C, 1 OF, 1 UT
Statement Pick: JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals
We’ve collectively endorsed the “aggressively pursue your top targets while still trying to extract as much value as possible” as a general strategic approach in dynasty formats at Rotoworld, which is why we’re giving the Wetherholt pick a standing ovation. There are some immediate risks as he acclimates to life in the majors, but the 23-year-old top prospect possesses the advanced hit tool and emerging power skillset to be a colossal difference-maker at second base.
The Long View: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers
McGonigle’s ability to generate consistent hard contact at such a young age makes it strangely difficult to imagine a future where he isn’t an impactful fantasy contributor. The hit tool is so steady, so structurally sound, that betting against it feels almost contrarian for the sake of being contrarian. It’s a bit like the enduring weirdness of no Canadian NHL team winning a Stanley Cup since 1993 — the longer it goes on, the more it feels like a statistical glitch in the matrix. Eventually, you assume gravity must reassert itself. With McGonigle, the underlying skills suggest gravity is already on his side. At some point, consistency that loud tends to convert into production that’s unavoidable.
Were last year’s leaps repeatable or extreme outliers? Pete Crow-Armstrong went full supernova in his age-23 campaign with a 31-homer, 35-steal breakthrough. Riley Greene made a jump in the power department with a career-high 36 round-trippers. Hunter Greene was limited to just 19 starts but showed flashes of elite fantasy potential with a 2.76 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 107 2/3 innings. This round also featured an assortment of proven fantasy stalwarts like Ketel Marte, Rafael Devers, Kyle Schwarber and Matt Olson in addition to dynamic top shortstop prospects Jesús Made and Leodalis De Vries.
4.37 Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs (Pouliot)
4.38 Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks (Short)
4.39 Rafael Devers, 1B, Giants (Sekulski)
4.40 Riley Greene, OF, Tigers (Kanak)
4.41 CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals (Shovein)
4.42 Jesús Made, SS, Brewers (Samulski)
4.43 Hunter Greene, SP, Reds (Hoogkamp)
4.44 Kyle Schwarber, UT, Phillies (Bissell)
4.45 Leodalis De Vries, SS, Padres (Shlain)
4.46 Cristopher Sánchez, SP, Phillies (Anderson)
4.47 Matt Olson, 1B, Braves (Eisenhauer)
4.48 Eury Pérez, SP, Marlins (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 3 SS, 3 SP, 2 OF, 2 UT, 1 1B, 1 2B
The Long View: Jesús Made, SS, Brewers
Made’s stateside debut had the feel of the X-Files pilot — the mythology wasn’t fully formed, the long-term arc still fuzzy, but the chemistry was unmistakable. You could see the components aligning in real time, the kind of underlying structure that hints at something bigger than the immediate box score. The fantasy starter kit was already on display: bat speed that feels intentional, athleticism that translates, tools that don’t need embellishment. The full narrative might take time to reveal itself, but the signal was strong enough to believe this is the beginning of something that escalates quickly. In dynasty terms, that’s usually how a meteoric rise starts — subtle at first, then impossible to ignore.
There’s a famous Seinfeld episode where George Costanza decides his entire life has been a mistake and resolves to do the exact opposite of every instinct he’s ever had. The logic is absurd, which is precisely why it works. After years of preaching patience and future-focused roster construction in startup dynasty drafts, I found myself leaning the other way in this one. Bryce Harper became my version of ordering chicken salad on untoasted rye instead of tuna on toast — not revolutionary, just deliberately contrary to my own established pattern. Dynasty drafts have a way of forcing that kind of improvisation. You enter with a blueprint, but somewhere around the fourth or fifth round you’re making decisions in real time: take the proven veteran who’s sliding because he’s approaching his mid-30’s or reach for the infinite possibility of someone like electrifying top pitching prospect Chase Burns. It’s less about philosophy at that point and more about timing – deciding on the fly whether stability and proven track records are undervalued or upside is irresistible.
5.49 Ben Rice, C/1B, Yankees (Heckman)
5.50 Maikel Garcia, 3B, Royals (Eisenhauer)
5.51 Sebastian Walcott, SS, Rangers (Anderson)
5.52 Manny Machado, 3B, Padres (Shlain)
5.53 Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies (Bissell)
5.54 Jackson Holliday, 3B, Orioles (Hoogkamp)
5.55 Bryan Woo, SP, Mariners (Samulski)
5.56 Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers (Shovein)
5.57 Tyler Soderstrom, 1B/OF, Athletics (Kanak)
5.58 Chase Burns, SP, Reds (Sekulski)
5.59 Luke Keaschall, 2B, Twins (Short)
5.60 Sal Stewart, 1B, Reds (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 3 1B, 3 2B, 2 3B, 2 SP, 1 OF, 1 SS
Statement Pick: Ben Rice, C/1B, Yankees
The central questions for dynasty managers surrounding Rice is whether he builds on last year’s 26-homer breakout and how long he’ll retain catcher eligibility. There’s a plausible path where he logs enough starts behind the plate over the next couple of seasons to preserve that highly valuable designation. However, if he truly evolves into a middle-of-the-order fixture, it would be difficult to justify exposing him to the inherent injury risk that comes with donning the tools of ignorance.
The Long View: Sebastian Walcott, SS, Rangers
We held this draft before the revelation that the Rangers top prospect was scheduled to undergo elbow surgery, which will cause him to miss a significant portion of the upcoming minor league season. The soon-to-be 20-year-old prodigy was unlikely to ascend to the big leagues this year, but the lost development time pushes back his arrival even further. His impressive plate skills and elite raw power upside keep him in the mix as one of the top handful of prospects in the fantasy landscape until further notice.
Padres strikeout artist Mason Miller became the first closer off the board while Orioles mashing backstop Samuel Basallo was the lone prospect in this range. It’s worth noting that Austin Riley likely would’ve gone a couple rounds earlier at this time last year, which makes him a strong value in this range if he bounces back from an injury-plagued age-28 season. We held this draft prior to the Spencer Schwellenbach injury development, which further highlights the volatility associated with selecting any pitcher at this early stage of a dynasty format.
6.61 George Kirby, SP, Mariners (Pouliot)
6.62 Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles (Short)
6.63 Austin Riley, 3B, Braves (Sekulski)
6.64 Bo Bichette, SS, Mets (Kanak)
6.65 Mason Miller, RP, Padres (Shovein)
6.66 Cole Ragans, SP, Royals (Samulski)
6.67 Freddy Peralta, SP, Mets (Hoogkamp)
6.68 Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers (Bissell)
6.69 Joe Ryan, SP, Twins (Shlain)
6.70 Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics (Anderson)
6.71 Nico Hoerner, 2B, Cubs (Eisenhauer)
6.72 Spencer Schwellenbach, SP, Braves (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 5 SP, 1 RP, 1 1B, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 C, 1 SS, 1 UT
Statement Pick: Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
Freeman feels like a dinosaur in the modern dynasty ecosystem — not because he’s obsolete, but because he’s so firmly rooted in a different era of roster logic. He’s reliable, boring in the way only excellence can be boring, and therefore easy to overlook when the room is chasing upside and theoretical timelines. But this is usually where dynasty markets get sloppy. Aging veterans like Freeman tend to be discounted as if decline is a certainty rather than a possibility, even though their skills erode slowly and predictably. And in the worst-case scenario — if the roster fractures or the window closes faster than expected — players like Freeman don’t vanish. They become currency. Proven production always has a home, and contenders will always trade for a dinosaur that hasn’t fossilized yet.
The Long View: Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles
There’s a strange psychological shelf life for elite prospects, and Basallo may be brushing up against it. When a player doesn’t immediately validate the hype with fireworks, the conversation subtly shifts from anticipation to impatience. Nothing catastrophic happened — the skills are still there, the power still real — but the absence of instant dominance creates a kind of narrative drift. In dynasty leagues, silence can feel louder than production. And sometimes prospect fatigue isn’t about performance at all; it’s about the market getting bored before the talent gets comfortable.
With most of the consensus elite prospects already spoken for, the draft room subtly recalibrated in this round, with Tigers speedster Max Clark being the lone non-debuted talent coming off the board. The conversation shifted from projection to production, from theoretical ceilings to track records that require less imagination. It wasn’t about abandoning upside, but about recognizing that stability has value too — especially once the obvious future stars are no longer available. It’s worth noting that Mookie Betts and Michael Harris II were top 50 picks at this time last year, which shows how their long-term value hasn’t slipped a ton despite last season’s underwhelming results. Geraldo Perdomo might be the most challenging hitter to forecast long-term since his breakthrough was so convincing and unexpected at the same time.
7.73 Max Clark, OF, Tigers (Heckman)
7.74 Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox (Eisenhauer)
7.75 Kyle Bradish, SP, Orioles (Anderson)
7.76 Andy Pages, OF, Dodgers (Shlain)
7.77 Jeremy Peña, SS, Astros (Bissell)
7.78 William Contreras, C, Brewers (Hoogkamp)
7.79 Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers (Samulski)
7.80 Josh Naylor, 1B, Mariners (Shovein)
7.81 Emmet Sheehan, SP, Dodgers (Kanak)
7.82 Cody Bellinger, OF, Yankees (Sekulski)
7.83 Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks (Short)
7.84 Michael Harris II, OF, Braves (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 5 OF, 3 SS, 2 SP, 1 1B, 1 C
Statement Pick: Josh Naylor, 1B, Mariners
Naylor is one of the more complicated players to project in dynasty formats, mostly because last season didn’t follow the script. Thirty steals isn’t something you casually add to a resume at this advanced stage of a career — it’s the kind of number that forces everyone to reconsider what they thought they knew. The question isn’t whether the power plays; it’s whether the speed spike was evolution or anomaly. Dynasty managers are left deciding if they just witnessed a new version of Naylor, or a statistical outlier that arrived without warning.
Selections like Nolan McLean, Aidan Miller, and Jacob deGrom embody three very different kinds of volatility — projection risk, developmental uncertainty, and physical fragility. McLean and Miller represent the allure of sky-high potential, while deGrom offers elite production wrapped in durability questions that never fully disappear. The upside is obvious in all three cases, but so is the variance. In dynasty formats, that’s the trade-off: chasing impact while quietly accepting that the range of outcomes is wider than anyone wants to admit.
8.85 Max Fried, SP, Yankees (Pouliot)
8.86 Nolan McLean, SP, Mets (Short)
8.87 Alex Bregman, 3B, Cubs (Sekulski)
8.88 Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies (Kanak)
8.89 Logan Webb, SP, Giants (Shovein)
8.90 Andrés Muñoz, RP, Mariners (Samulski)
8.91 Randy Arozarena, OF, Mariners (Hoogkamp)
8.92 Jacob deGrom, SP, Rangers (Bissell)
8.93 Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, Royals (Shlain)
8.94 Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics (Anderson)
8.95 Agustín Ramírez, C, Marins (Eisenhauer)
8.96 Michael Busch, 1B, Cubs (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 4 SP, 2 1B, 2 C, 1 3B, 1 OF, 1 SS, 1 RP
Jo Adell, Kyle Stowers, Ceddanne Rafaela and Noelvi Marte are coming off breakout campaigns. Will they build on it? Byron Buxton played more than 125 games last year for the first time since 2017. Drake Baldwin emerged as an upper-echelon fantasy backstop while Jac Caglianone flopped in his first shot at the highest level. Dylan Beavers is on the precipice of breaking into the big leagues as an intriguing all-around talent. There are more unknowns with this group of players than an obscure Jeopardy category.
9.97 Jo Adell, OF, Angels (Heckman)
9.98 Kyle Stowers, OF, Marlins (Eisenhauer)
9.99 Ceddanne Rafaela, 2B/OF, Red Sox (Anderson)
9.100 Jhoan Duran, RP, Phillies (Shlain)
9.101 Byron Buxton, OF, Twins (Bissell)
9.102 Jordan Westburg, 3B, Orioles (Hoogkamp)
9.103 Drake Baldwin, C, Braves (Samulski)
9.104 Jac Caglianone, OF, Royals (Shovein)
9.105 Dylan Beavers, OF, Orioles (Kanak)
9.106 Dylan Cease, SP, Blue Jays (Sekulski)
9.107 Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners (Short)
9.108 Noelvi Marte, 3B/OF, Reds (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 7 OF, 1 SP, 1 RP 1 3B, 1 C, 1 SS
Statement Pick: Jordan Westburg, 3B, Orioles
This draft took place before the news broke that Westburg has been diagnosed with a partial UCL tear in his elbow and is facing an extended absence. The 27-year-old struggled to stay healthy last year, but he felt like a strong value in this spot at the time the pick was made. The big question is how his elbow will respond to the rest-and-rehabilitation route since Tommy John surgery would necessitate a longer absence.
The Long View: Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners
Emerson is the kind of prospect who doesn’t necessarily overwhelm you at first glance — there’s no single tool screaming for attention — but the longer you watch, the more everything starts to make sense. The consistent bat-to-ball skills and developing over-the-fence pop are the biggest reasons to believe in his future. Sometimes the most convincing prospects aren’t the loudest; they’re the ones who quietly remove reasons to doubt them.
There's no shortage of intrigue in this range of a dynasty draft with fascinating pitching prospects like Bubba Chandler and Trey Yesavage coming off the board in addition to rising slugger Bryce Eldridge. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how far Corey Seager tumbled after last year’s disappointing, injury-marred season.
10.109 Oneil Cruz, OF, Pirates (Pouliot)
10.110 Chris Sale, SP, Braves (Short)
10.111 Bubba Chandler, SP, Pirates (Sekulski)
10.112 Carter Jensen, C, Royals (Kanak)
10.113 Luis Robert Jr., OF, Mets (Shovein)
10.114 Seiya Suzuki, OF, Cubs (Samulski)
10.115 Corey Seager, SS, Rangers (Hoogkamp)
10.116 Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays (Bissell)
10.117 Cade Smith, RP, Guardians (Shlain)
10.118 Edwin Díaz, RP, Dodgers (Anderson)
10.119 Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants (Eisenhauer)
10.120 Josh Hader, RP, Astros (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 3 SP, 3 RP, 2 OF, 2 UT, 1 C, 1 SS
(Editor's Note: This draft took place before news of Pablo López's Tommy John surgery)
11.121 Lawrence Butler, OF, Athletics (Heckman)
11.122 Cam Schlittler, SP, Yankees (Eisenhauer)
11.123 Jesús Luzardo, SP, Phillies (Anderson)
11.124 Addison Barger, 3B/OF, Blue Jays (Shlain)
11.125 Edward Florentino, OF, Pirates (Bissell)
11.126 Blake Snell, SP, Dodgers (Hoogkamp)
11.127 Ryan Pepiot, SP, Rays (Samulski)
11.128 Dylan Crews, OF, Nationals (Shovein)
11.129 Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Brewers (Kanak)
11.130 Pablo López, SP, Twins (Sekulski)
11.131 Isaac Paredes, 3B, Astros (Short)
11.132 Iván Herrera, UT, Cardinals (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 6 SP, 3 OF, 2 3B, 1 UT
George Springer is the kind of dynasty puzzle that exposes how uncomfortable we are with aging curves. He was one of the most productive outfielders in fantasy last season, which should simplify the conversation — except he’s entering his age-36 campaign, and might only have a couple years left in the tank. The production says one thing; the calendar says another. And somewhere between those two realities sits his true value, fluctuating based on whether you believe decline is imminent or simply inevitable but not yet scheduled.
12.133 Daylen Lile, OF, Nationals (Pouliot)
12.134 George Springer, OF, Blue Jays (Short)
12.135 Willy Adames, SS, Giants (Sekulski)
12.136 Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins (Kanak)
12.137 Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies (Shovein)
12.138 Jakob Marsee, OF, Marlins (Samulski)
12.139 Wilyer Abreu, OF, Red Sox (Hoogkamp)
12.140 Jose Altuve, 2B/OF, Astros (Bissell)
12.141 Nick Pivetta, SP, Padres (Shlain)
12.142 Eduardo Quintero, OF, Dodgers (Anderson)
12.143 Alec Burleson, 1B/OF, Cardinals (Eisenhauer)
12.144 Michael King, SP, Padres (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 6 OF, 2 SP, 1 1B, 1 2B, 1 C, 1 SS
13.145 Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles (Heckman)
13.146 Trevor Megill, RP, Brewers (Eisenhauer)
13.147 Royce Lewis, 3B, Twins (Anderson)
13.148 Framber Valdez, SP, Tigers (Shlain)
13.149 Zack Wheeler, SP, Phillies (Bissell)
13.150 Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Guardians (Hoogkamp)
13.151 Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Tigers (Samulski)
13.152 Kevin Gausman, SP, Blue Jays (Shovein)
13.153 Devin Williams, RP, Mets (Kanak)
13.154 Nick Lodolo, SP, Reds (Sekulski)
13.155 Carson Benge, OF, Mets (Short)
13.156 Sonny Gray, SP, Red Sox (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 5 SP, 2 RP, 1 1B, 1 3B, 1 C, 1 OF, 1 UT
It’s notable that both Japanese offseason imports — Munetaka Murakami and Tatsuya Imai — went with back-to-back selections just outside the top 160 overall range. Murakami arrives stateside with some serious contact concerns that threaten to extinguish his fantasy appeal, despite possessing upper-echelon raw power potential.
14.157 Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS, Marlins (Pouliot)
14.158 David Bednar, RP, Yankees (Short)
14.159 Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks (Sekulski)
14.160 Thomas White, SP, Marlins (Kanak)
14.161 Munetaka Murakami, 3B, White Sox (Shovein)
14.162 Tatsuya Imai, SP, Astros (Samulski)
14.163 MacKenzie Gore, SP, Rangers (Hoogkamp)
14.164 Gerrit Cole, SP, Yankees (Bissell)
14.165 Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (Shlain)
14.166 Justin Steele, SP, Cubs (Anderson)
14.167 Jeff Hoffman, RP, Blue Jays (Eisenhauer)
14.168 Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians (Heckman)
Positional Breakdown: 5 SP, 2 RP, 2 OF, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 SS
Matt Shaw and Spencer Strider would’ve gone off the board roughly 100 picks earlier at this time just one year ago, which provides some insight into how far their long-term appeal has slipped. There are bounce-back cases for both but it feels like a bit of wish-casting to completely overlook and dismiss their lackluster on-field performances last year. Drew Rasmussen feels like an outstanding value at this stage of the draft. Even with the workload concerns baked into the final projection, transitioning back to pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field from the veritable hitter’s paradise that was George M. Steinbrenner Field should drive considerable gains in the run-prevention department.
15.169 Ezequiel Tovar, SS, Rockies (Heckman)
15.170 Trevor Rogers, SP, Orioles (Eisenhauer)
15.171 Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs (Anderson)
15.172 Spencer Strider, SP, Braves (Shlain)
15.173 Luis Peña, 2B/SS, Brewers (Bissell)
15.174 Colton Cowser, OF, Orioles (Hoogkamp)
15.175 Joshua Baez, OF, Cardinals (Samulski)
15.176 Gavin Williams, SP, Guardians (Shovein)
15.177 Brandon Woodruff, SP, Brewers (Kanak)
15.178 Jackson Jobe, SP, Tigers (Sekulski)
15.179 Drew Rasmussen, SP, Rays (Short)
15. 180 Daniel Palencia, RP, Cubs (Pouliot)
Positional Breakdown: 6 SP, 2 OF, 2 SS, 1 3B, 1 RP
16.181 Willson Contreras, 1B, Red Sox (Pouliot)
16.182 Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets (Short)
16.183 Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers (Sekulski)
16.184 Robby Snelling, SP, Marlins (Kanak)
16.185 Roki Sasaki, SP, Dodgers (Shovein)
16.186 Brenton Doyle, OF, Rockies (Samulski)
16.187 Cade Horton, SP, Cubs (Hoogkamp)
16.188 Tyler Glasnow, SP, Dodgers (Bissell)
16.189 Will Smith, C, Dodgers (Shlain)
16.190 Heliot Ramos, OF, Giants (Anderson)
16.191 Andrew Painter, SP, Phillies (Eisenhauer)
16.192 Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians (Heckman)
17.193 Grant Taylor, RP, White Sox (Heckman)
17.194 Connelly Early, SP, Red Sox (Eisenhauer)
17.195 Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins (Anderson)
17.196 Daulton Varsho, OF, Blue Jays (Shlain)
17.197 Carlos Rodón, SP, Yankees (Bissell)
17.198 Abner Uribe, RP, Brewers (Hoogkamp)
17.199 Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves (Samulski)
17.200 Jasson Domínguez, OF, Yankees (Shovein)
17.201 Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Rays (Kanak)
17.202 Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians (Sekulski)
17.203 Owen Caissie, OF, Marlins (Short)
17.204 Ryan Helsley, RP, Orioles (Pouliot)
18.205 Christian Yelich, UT, Brewers (Pouliot)
18.206 Zebby Matthews, SP, Twins (Short)
18.207 Trevor Story, SS, Red Sox (Sekulski)
18.208 Shane McClanahan, SP, Rays (Kanak)
18.209 Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox (Shovein)
18.210 Jared Jones, SP, Pirates (Samulski)
18.211 Shane Baz, SP, Orioles (Hoogkamp)
18.212 Shane Bieber, SP, Blue Jays (Bissell)
18.213 Brandon Nimmo, OF, Rangers (Shlain)
18.214 Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Anderson)
18.215 Kristian Campbell, 2B, Red Sox (Eisenhauer)
18.216 Kazuma Okamoto, 3B, Blue Jays (Heckman)
19.217 Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners (Heckman)
19.218 Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Reds (Eisenhauer)
19.219 Masyn Winn, SS, Cardinals (Anderson)
19.220 Bryson Stott, 2B, Phillies (Shlain)
19.221 Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Rangers (Bissell)
19.222 Kerry Carpenter, OF, Tigers (Hoogkamp)
19.223 Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics (Samulski)
19.224 Taylor Ward, OF, Orioles (Shovein)
19.225 Brett Baty, 2B/3B, Mets (Kanak)
19.226 Grayson Rodriguez, SP, Angels (Sekulski)
19.227 Teoscar Hernández, OF, Dodgers (Short)
19.228 Joe Musgrove, SP, Padres (Pouliot)
20.229 Aroldis Chapman, RP, Red Sox (Pouliot)
20.230 Carlos Estévez, RP, Royals (Short)
20.231 Corbin Burnes, SP, Diamondbacks (Sekulski)
20.232 Payton Tolle, SP, Red Sox (Kanak)
20.233 Noah Cameron, SP, Royals (Shovein)
20.234 Pete Fairbanks, RP, Marlins (Samulski)
20.235 Bryce Miller, SP, Mariners (Hoogkamp)
20.236 Caleb Bonemer, SS, White Sox (Bissell)
20.237 Ian Happ, OF, Cubs (Shlain)
20.238 Yandy Díaz, 1B, Rays (Anderson)
20.239 Kris Bubic, SP, Royals (Eisenhauer)
20.240 Matt McLain, 2B, Reds (Heckman)
21.241 Edward Cabrera, SP, Cubs (Heckman)
21.242 Riley O’Brien, RP, Cardinals (Eisenhauer)
21.243 Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Cardinals (Anderson)
21.244 Robbie Ray, SP, Giants (Shlain)
21.245 Chandler Simpson, OF, Rays (Bissell)
21.246 Evan Carter, OF, Rangers (Hoogkamp)
21.247 Spencer Steer, 1B, Reds (Samulski)
21.248 Raisel Iglesias, RP, Braves (Shovein)
21.249 Griffin Jax, RP, Rays (Kanak)
21.250 Yainer Diaz, C, Astros (Sekulski)
21.251 Matt Chapman, 3B, Giants (Short)
21.252 Tanner Bibee, SP, Guardians (Pouliot)
22.253 Anthony Volpe, SS, Yankees (Pouliot)
22.254 Ranger Suárez, SP, Red Sox (Short)
22.255 AJ Smith-Shawver, SP, Braves (Sekulski)
22.256 Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, Mets (Kanak)
22.257 Jurickson Profar, OF, Braves (Shovein)
22.258 Ian Seymour, RP, Rays (Samulski)
22.259 Jeremiah Estrada, RP, Padres (Hoogkamp)
22.260 Brody Hopkins, SP, Rays (Bissell)
22.261 Troy Melton, SP, Tigers (Shlain)
22.262 Miguel Vargas, 1B/3B, White Sox (Anderson)
22.263 Ryan Weathers, SP, Yankees (Eisenhauer)
22.264 Jaxon Wiggins, SP, Cubs (Heckman)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is expected to make his 2026 game debut on Tuesday, when the Dodgers host the Cleveland Guardians.
In speaking with reporters on Thursday at Camelback Ranch, Freeman talked about his plans for 2026 and beyond, which included wanting to play 162 games again this season, something he did previously in 2014 and 2018. But part of that plan included the 36-year-old dialing things back a bit this spring, including not playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic and the Dodgers being more methodical with his Cactus League reps.
“I’m feeling good, but we are going to slow-play it a little bit,” Freeman said Thursday, as shown on SportsNet LA. “It’s kind of planned out that I’ll be around 47 plate appearances, which I kind of like.”
That last part is hilariously specific — later in the media scrum Thursday widened the range a bit to 45-50 plate appearances — but also quite fitting for Freeman, who is acutely aware of his own numbers. And who could blame him? After all, Freeman is the active major league leader in hits (2,431), doubles (547, 34th all-time), total bases (4,145), runs scored (1,379) and runs batted in (1,322).
Excluding the extremely-truncated spring training in 2022 after the MLB lockout in his first year with the Dodgers, Freeman in the last three spring trainings got 43, 51, and 40 plate appearances, the latter two years also including exhibition games in Korea and Japan in which Freeman played. In 2025, his start to Cactus League play was delayed after rehabbing from right ankle surgery the previous December.
But all of those are right in line with what Freeman feels comfortable with to get ready for the games that count, with this his 17th major league season.
Today’s question is how many plate appearances will Freddie Freeman get this spring training?
I’ve chosen a few different formats for this series now that the Cubs play all 29 other teams every year. Sorry, I’m not writing 29 of these.
This year, I’ll focus an article on each of the Cubs’ NL Central rivals, since the Cubs play them more than any other teams. That’ll make four articles. The rest of the series will cover the other 29 teams by division.
Let’s start with the Cubs’ postseason rivals from last year, the Brewers, who beat out the Cubs by five games for the NL Central title and then defeated them in a Division Series.
Before we begin, a note: This series is intended to give broad overviews of each team and start some discussion, not as a real detailed look.
Key departures: Freddy Peralta, Caleb Durbin, Erick Fedde, Rhys Hoskins, Isaac Collins, Tobias Myers, Andruw Monasterio, José Quintana
Key arrivals: Kyle Harrison, Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams, Angel Zerpa, Gary Sánchez, Reese McGuire
The Brewers were certainly busy this offseason, trading one of their top starters along with two young players (Durbin and Collins) who were key players in their 29-4 run mid-season.
They are, apparently, hoping that the two prospects (Sproat and Williams) that they got from the Mets in the Peralta deal will be useful replacements for the guys they traded. The starting rotation will be helped by Brandon Woodruff’s expected return for Opening Day. But Woodruff is now 33 and has missed much time over the last three seasons, making only 23 total starts from 2023-25.
William Contreras will now be their top offensive player, and Christian Yelich, who didn’t have a good 2025, is a year older. They are hoping for big things from Jackson Chourio, who doesn’t turn 22 until next month.
Former Cub Reese McGuire has a chance to make Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster, but they just signed Gary Sánchez to back up Contreras, so McGuire might wind up as he was with the Cubs, a “break glass in case of emergency” guy.
The Brewers always seem to find a way. They are well managed by Craig Counsell’s former bench coach, Pat Murphy. I don’t think they are a 97-win team anymore, but they have surprised people in the past.
Unlike last year, these teams will have meaningful games against each other in September.
At Wrigley Field: May 18-19-20 and Aug. 31-Sept. 1-2-3
At Milwaukee: June 26-27-28 and Sept. 7-8-9
SB Nation team site:Brew Crew Ball