SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 20: A general view of Salt River Fields prior to the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The big news in today’s line-up sits right at the top, where Corbin Carroll is back in the line-up. It’s an amazingly quick return, just one month and a day after he suffered the injury on a swing during live batting practice on February 10. Given that when we looked at previous hamate-afflicted players, the average amount of time missed was almost twice as much, at 61 days, this is remarkably quick. In fact, it’s quicker than any of the players in our (admittedly fairly small) sample from the past five years. It being spring training may be a factor: this could be the equivalent of a rehab assignment. It’s good to see him, regardless; let’s just hope he is not being rushed back.
Ryne Nelson gets the start, and after him we can expect to see RHP Thomas Hatch, RHP Kevin Ginkel, RHP Ryan Thompson and LHP Philip Abner. It will be Nelson’s third start of spring: the other two lasted for a total of 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, with an impressive 6:0 K:BB ratio so far. With the news that Zac Gallen is going to be the Opening Day starter (I’ll be writing that up next), the next question is where Nelson is going to slot into the rotation. My instinct is it’ll be just behind Gallen, but we’ll see. Out of the bullpen, Ginkel and Thompson are the names to watch, as they look to establish dominance among our relief corps.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 05: A detail view of a Cleveland Guardians batting helmet during a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 05, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite fielding one of the worst offenses in baseball last season, the Cleveland Guardians still finished atop the American League Central when the dust settled. How an organization that was almost anemic offensively managed to win its division can be puzzling at first glance.
The ballclub by the lake does one thing as well as anyone in baseball. They manufacture the one thing every team needs and no team ever has enough of: pitching. For more than a decade, Cleveland has been one of baseball’s most reliable pitching development pipelines, consistently turning highly ranked prospects, mid-round draft picks, and overlooked arms into major league contributors. That model has kept the Guardians competitive despite operating with a payroll far smaller than many American League rivals.
Last season that formula paid off again. Cleveland stormed back late to claim its second straight AL Central title. Whether it holds again in 2026 will depend on two familiar questions: whether the pitching machine keeps humming and whether the offense around José Ramírez can provide enough support.
2025 record: 88-74 (1st, AL Central) 2026 FanGraphs projection: 76–86 (4th, AL Central)
Cleveland’s identity begins on the mound. Even as recognizable names cycle off the roster, the Guardians continue to produce quality pitchers at a rate few organizations can match. Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams represent the latest examples of Cleveland turning young arms into frontline starters.
The numbers explain why the organization is viewed as one of baseball’s most effective pitching development systems. Over the past three seasons, Guardians pitchers have ranked near the top of the American League in run prevention metrics. Cleveland finished 2025 among league leaders in ERA, fourth overall with a 3.70 team ERA while also ranking near the top in strikeout-to-walk ratio. The staff’s ability to limit free passes has been particularly impressive, as Cleveland routinely posts one of the lowest walk rates in baseball.
Underlying pitch metrics tell the same story. Statcast and FanGraphs data regularly show Cleveland pitchers near the top of the league in chase rate and weak contact allowed, two indicators strongly tied to sustainable run prevention. Pitching coach Carl Willis has emphasized pitch design, mechanical adjustments, and a clear organizational philosophy that helps the Guardians extract value from arms throughout their system.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake spent time in Cleveland’s organization earlier in his career, and since his arrival in New York it’s easy to see similarities between the two teams’ pitching philosophies. Both organizations emphasize data-driven adjustments and maximizing the strengths of each arm.
While Cleveland’s identity remains tied to the mound, the offense revolves around one of the most quietly dominant players of this generation. José Ramírez remains the centerpiece of the lineup and one of baseball’s most complete players, combining power, plate discipline, baserunning, and good defensive. Last season J-Ram posted 5.8 WAR with 30 home runs and 44 stolen bases, good for an .863 OPS and a third-place finish in the MVP race behind the first loser Cal Raleigh and, of course, The Captain himself, Aaron Judge.
He must also really believe Cleveland rocks. Ramírez signed a seven-year, $175 million extension that will keep him with the Guardians through his age-39 season, a rare commitment between a star player and a small-market franchise.
Alongside Ramírez, Steven Kwan provides a completely different but valuable offensive profile. His contact ability and disciplined approach make him one of the hardest hitters in the league to strike out and a natural table-setter at the top of the lineup. Cleveland needs that skill set, because offense has often been hard to come by. The Guardians scored more runs than only the Pirates and Rockies in all of baseball last season.
Beyond those two anchors, Cleveland once again hopes several young hitters can take the next step. Bo Naylor and Kyle Manzardo represent the next wave of offensive hope, while top prospects Chase DeLauter and George Valera should also factor into the lineup this season.
That reliance on internal development reflects Cleveland’s long-standing roster philosophy. This offseason, their most notable addition was first baseman/designated hitter Rhys Hoskins on a minor league deal. Hoskins is expected to make the big league club and projects as a regular splitting time between first base and designated hitter with Manzardo. Even after losing their star closer and a starting pitcher to betting allegations last July, the Guardians made no real additions to reinforce the bullpen or the rotation.
Rather than chasing free agents, Cleveland continues trusting its development pipeline to supply the next wave of contributors. In some seasons that approach works beautifully. In others, it leaves the lineup searching for consistent production behind Ramírez. That volatility is why Cleveland remains one of the harder teams in baseball to project. Their pitching depth keeps them competitive most seasons, but the offense often determines whether they hover around .500 or push toward the top of the division.
A team built on development rarely views its roster as static. If Cleveland struggles early this summer, the front office could again explore selling pieces for additional young talent.
That flexibility is part of why the Guardians feel like a team that simply refuses to go away. Some seasons they’re the belle of the trade deadline ball, making just enough moves to stay competitive without committing to a full rebuild. Then later that same year, they’re a team you see in October with grown men dancing to the SpongeBob theme song.
For the Yankees, Cleveland remains one of the more intriguing matchups on the schedule. The Guardians may not always feature the most intimidating lineup, but their pitching development consistently produces staffs capable of neutralizing even elite offenses. Games between these two clubs often turn into battles of pitching depth, discipline at the plate, and occasionally get a little chippy.
As long as Cleveland continues producing pitchers the way it has for the last decade — and as long as José Ramírez stays healthy — the Guardians will remain one of baseball’s quietest but most persistent threats.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a Grapefruit League spring training game at CoolToday Park on March 23, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the top line, Spencer Strider looked really good on Wednesday afternoon: four innings, one walk, five strikeouts. When you consider that it was a visiting Rays team, maybe that’s more akin to something expected, but… I thought that this was a nice outing for him.
When Strider returned from injury last year, my amateur take on his struggles early was that he was struggling to stay mechanically consistent after taking a break between innings. Then, when things fell apart for him later in the year after his really nice run of starts, it was the slider mechanics (and resulting command) that did him in. So, I wasn’t surprised at all to see that in his first two Spring Training outings, the things he was struggling with were these same two: getting feel back after “going up and down” and having any semblance of consistency on his slider release.
So, the good news, if you care at all about my divinations into a guy’s mechanics in Spring Training, is that Strider looked much better for big chunks of this outing. There seemed to be a concerted effort to “slow down,” which I saw both in that he was “pulling” his four-seamer a lot (later release) and that everything was definitely not max effort.
The end result seemed to work out fairly well, especially towards the latter half of the outing. Strider worked the fastball early and didn’t get creamed for it (again, a quarter-strength Rays lineup at best here) and then really started carving up the set of Spring Training randos in his latter two frames. When he struck out the side in the third, it was very vintage Strider — Logan Davidson went down on a 1-2 well-located slider below the zone, Chandler Simpson swung through a zone curveball, and Gavin Lux got eaten alive on an above-the-zone fastball. Again, not the stiffest of competition, but still. Strider did issue his only walk in the fourth, but ended his outing with a nice (and Drake Baldwin/ABS-assisted) strikeout where he got Ben Williamson to look daft on two waste-type sliders.
Oh, and there was a game separate from Strider’s outing, too. Who knew. Matt Olson popped his third Spring Training 2026 homer, and the Braves drew some walks against Nick Martinez, but this was a low-scoring game for a while. Martinez actually struck out the side in the third before walking Austin Riley to start the fourth and departing. The Braves had a bit of a rally against Bryan Baker in the fifth: Brett Wisely homered to start the half-inning, Mauricio Dubon was robbed by a diving catch on a 100 mph screamer in center, Baldwin struck out (again), and then Olson, Riley, and Mike Yastrzemski proceeded to dunk balls onto grass to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead. There was a late tack-on run, too, with Luis Guanipa bouncing one up the middle to score a runner from second.
On the pitching end, Raisel Iglesias came in after Strider and had a few scary fly balls, but survived. Martin Perez worked the rest of the slate — all four innings — and was kind of mean to the random Rays’ hangers-on and minor leaguers, given his arsenal. Williamson did pop him for a three-run homer after a barely-there roller and a walk put two on with two out, but the rest was easy pickin’ for the veteran, as he struck out six of the 17 batters he faced.
The Braves will play a night game tomorrow as they head to Bradenton to hang with the Pirates. Will they return with Charlie Morton? Who knows. (Probably not.) Stay tuned.
Anthony Kay takes his turn on the bump as the White Sox battle the Angels under the Arizona sun. | (Mike Christy/Getty Images)
The White Sox are back at Camelback Ranch, hoping to recover from yesterday’s beatdown by the A’s. The good news is the bats have been alive, and today’s another shot to keep the offense rolling against the Angels. First pitch at 3:05 p.m. CST.
Anthony Kay gets the ball for Chicago, who’s looking to make the most of his spring. Once a first-round pick, Kay still flashes the stuff that got him drafted — a fastball with some life and a slider that sometimes actually misses bats when it’s working. The southpaw has performed well so far this spring, going 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 7 2/3 frames across three starts, but that 1.57 WHIP is a mess. Welcome to Cactus League, where everyone’s just shaking off the rust and trying to remember how to pitch.
The Angels counter with Alek Manoah, who once looked like a future ace before injuries and wildness sent him spinning. If he’s got it working, Manoah can still blow hitters away with a mid-90s fastball and a slider that actually bites. The Angels are crossing their fingers that he can get back to form, but spring hasn’t been kind so far to the righthander in his three starts, with a 6.14 ERA and 2.05 WHIP over 7 1/3 innings.
Today’s Sox lineup features a handful of bats who’ve been making noise lately. Austin Hays continues to square everything up and looks locked in at the dish, while Colson Montgomery has been flashing some pop after leaving the yard on Sunday. Add in the veteran Andrew Benintendi, who has put together a solid spring, and the versatility of LaMonte Wade Jr., and Chicago once again rolls out a lineup that can create some chaos on the bases and do damage in a hurry. Who would have thought?
Unfortunately, there’s no TV for this one. If you’re desperate for some Good Guys baseball, fire up MLB.TV or MLB+ and settle for the Angels radio call at 3:05 p.m. CST.
This afternoon, the Athletics will look to make it five Cactus League wins in a row as they play the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second time this spring. A week ago, the Diamondbacks defeated the A’s 3-1.
Since then, the A’s offense has woken up in full force, seemingly scoring runs at will during this winning streak. Yesterday, the A’s pounded White Sox pitching, scoring 11 runs on 16 hits. First baseman Nick Kurtz, catcher Shea Langeliers and designated hitter Brent Rooker all hit home runs, with Kurtz and Langeliers going back-to-back in the fourth inning. On the other hand, the team’s pitching continues to be a concern, as A’s starter Jeffrey Springs gave up six runs over only 2 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Luis Morales will start on the mound for the A’s today, looking to improve from his last outing against the Los Angeles Angels, in which he gave up two runs over 3 2/3 innings. That performance was much improved from his previous spring outing, a sign Morales is becoming prepared to positively contribute to the A’s success this season.
In his first 10 MLB appearances last August and September, Morales went 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA, recording 43 strikeouts over 48 innings pitched. Morales could help reverse the A’s recent trend of top international signings failing to pan out. The Cuban pitcher has the talent to pitch at the front of a rotation and could play an important role in helping the team allow fewer runs this season.
With the start of the regular season just a couple of weeks away, starters are beginning to play more as teams send lower-level minor leaguers and non-roster invitees unlikely to make the roster to minor league camp.
The A’s lineup this afternoon is very close to what it will presumably look like come the regular season. The first five names are the team’s five best hitters. Max Muncy has received the most playing time at third base this spring and will presumably start there on Opening Day. Utility infielder Andy Ibanez is playing second base, a position he will likely see time at this year in addition to third.
Henry Bolte is in the lineup again. The team’s top outfield prospect is batting .414 with a home run and three RBIs in 29 Cactus League at-bats. If Bolte carries his spring success into the start of the Triple-A season, he could be rewarded with his MLB debut sometime this year.
Here’s how the Diamondbacks line up this afternoon behind starting pitcher Ryne Nelson:
Diamondbacks superstar outfielder Corbin Carroll will make his spring debut a month after breaking his right hamate bone. Additionally, first baseman Pavin Smith is off to a good start this spring, hitting .308 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Outside of those two regulars, the rest of Arizona’s starting lineup is made up of prospects and backups, which could give Morales a favorable matchup this afternoon as he continues vying for a spot in the A’s Opening Day rotation.
Should be a fun one in the desert. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Let’s go A’s!
TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 12: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners walks to the dugout after pitching the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 12, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller, who hasn’t pitched in a game since the start of spring training with an abdomen/oblique injury, was scheduled to pitch a 25-pitch standard bullpen today as part of his rehab process. Instead, Miller’s bullpen was cut short after just a few warmup tosses, as Miller reported feeling tightness in the area while ramping up to his bullpen. The Mariners immediately opted to shut him down for the day, though not from throwing in general.
“This is rehab. This is part of that,” said Mariners GM Justin Hollander. “We told Bryce specifically…if you feel anything at all, don’t push through it. That’s not where you’re at in this process.”
Miller got through the on-ramp to his bullpen—stretching, touch-and-feel tosses, throwing around a football and warming up—fine, but felt tightness once he got on the mound and started throwing with more intent. As instructed, he immediately reported the feeling to a trainer, and the Mariners opted to cut the session short.
“We’re not going to push through this and risk actually having to take a step backwards,” said Hollander.
Miller won’t be shut down from throwing; he’ll still play catch, and in another three to four days they’ll try again with the touch and feel bullpen, similar to the one he threw a few days ago. If Miller progresses through all of that without issue, he can move to trying the standard bullpen again, about a week from today. Hollander says that’s just what the rehab process looks like.
“Some days, you feel a little tightness, and we back it down. Sometimes you feel great, and we feel like you’re ready to take the next step. He wasn’t ready to take the next step today, and smartly said, I’m not ready to take the next step today, so we’ll try again in a couple of days.”
The bullpen step is the hardest one to clear, moving from playing catch to throwing with intent and intensity, but it does delay Miller’s timeline by about a week. Hollander wouldn’t decisively rule out Miller, whose last game appearance was February 26th, for Opening Day, but the math isn’t in Miller’s favor with the regular season starting up in just two weeks. All Hollander would commit to acknowledging was that Miller is behind schedule, and that the team will make decisions as necessary.
The Mariners have built depth this spring with both minor-league signings and internal improvements. They’ve brought back Tacoma stalwarts Jhonathan Díaz and Casey Lawrence, both of whom have filled in at the big-league level. Emerson Hancock, who filled in last spring for various rotation members battling injury, has been especially impressive this spring, showcasing consistent improved velocity and an improved sweeper. Off-season acquisition Cooper Criswell has also been working as a starter this spring, and could either start himself, piggyback with Hancock, or serve as longman out of the ‘pen, all roles the Swiss army knife pitcher says he’s comfortable with. And beyond that, the Mariners could even tap into young but polished Kade Anderson, although that seems like a distant third option ahead of their longer-tenured options or Criswell, who lacks options and was looking like a lock to make the roster even before this. Who is your preferred option to fill in for Miller as he works back from his oblique injury? Let us know in the comments.
Mar 6, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander (32) throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Hohokam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The talk of the baseball world today is Italy’s stunning upset of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The 8-6 win is the biggest for Italy in international play, and was led by Colorado Rockies’ RHP Michael Lorenzen pitching 4.2 scoreless innings and giving up only two hits to some of the best batters in the world. The result forces quite a bit of drama for the U.S. heading into the final day of group play.
Back in the Cactus League, the Rockies will look to rebound after a pair of rough blowouts to start the week, losing to the Chicago White Sox 12-3 on Monday and to the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 on Tuesday. The bats have cooled down in recent days, with a number of top contributors going “o-fer” at the plate. Taking on the Seattle Mariners, Chase Dollander gets his fourth start of the spring, going 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, five strikeouts, and three walks so far.
On Seattle’s end, Luis Castillo takes the mound, looking to break a troublesome start to camp. In two games, Castillo is 0-2 has an abysmal 27.00 ERA across 2.2 innings pitched, after giving up six hits, six runs, and a homer to the San Diego Padres, and four hits, three runs, and a homer to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies’ bats could turn the team’s week around with a juicy matchup if they can take advantage of Castillo’s NL West woes.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners take on the Rockies and their ace Chase Dollander today. Luis Castillo will take the ball for the Mariners.
Also scheduled to pitch for the Mariners: Casey Lawrence, José Ferrer, Matt Brash, Carlos Vargas, Yosver Zulueta
Injury news:
Bryce Miller will throw a 25-pitch bullpen today as he continues to work his way back from oblique soreness. The Mariners won’t say whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season but it doesn’t feel likely at this point; Cooper Criswell seems like a lock to make the roster at this point, and maybe both him and Emerson Hancock.
Roster moves:
Yesterday the Mariners re-assigned RHP Nick Davila to minor league camp; today they made several more cuts, optioning Blas Castaño and Domingo Gonzalez to Triple-A Tacoma and re-assigning OF Lazaro Montes, RHP Tyler Cleveland, RHP Michael Morales, OF Spencer Packard and C Nick Raposo to minor-league camp.
Game information:
Game time: 1:10 PT
TV: no
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, Seattle Sports app, Gameday, Mariners.com
MONTGOMERY, AL - JULY 03: Lucas Braun #12 of the Columbus Clingstones pitches during the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Montgomery Biscuits at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The life of a baseball prospect is defined primarily in small moments. Over the course of long seasons across multiple years it’s rare to feel that any stand out, or that any stretch of play is particularly pivotal in a player’s progression. However, every year there are some you can point to and see as interesting and immediate headliners for the season.
Stretches of bad play, injuries, or competition from the system around them can put the future of certain players in more immediate question. Others may simply be in a position to have a true breakthrough and put their name in the organizations headlines.
Today, we look at five players who have the most to define this season. Whether it be their roles, their projections, or their national profile, these prospects will be among the most-watched in the Atlanta Braves system this upcoming season and their stories will help shape the way the Braves approach the future.
Isaiah Drake
After a dreadful season in 2024 the sentiment towards Isaiah Drake swung rapidly red, and even following an impressive 2025 his national reputation is still trying to recover. Drake was awful in 2024, but with the combination of his age and the injuries that riddled that season it was not a huge surprise that he bounced back in 2025. He cut down his strikeout rate by nearly a third while hitting for more power throughout the middle of the season, and although he didn’t bring much pop when promoted to High-A his swing and batted ball profile still improved drastically. Drake is heading into this upcoming season at age 20 and has all of the time in the world to tap into his explosive athleticism. While the upcoming players on this list are in more of a time crunch to improve, Drake really just needs to prove that 2025 wasn’t a fluke and to earn respect similar to other players in the system that he performed on-par with or better than last season. Drake’s biggest hole is still his ability to tap into his raw power, but he’s no longer the slappy player that struggled to produce extra base hits in 2024. His ceiling on top prospect lists will be limited until he can grow into at least double-digit home run power, but the 2026 season will be Drake’s opportunity to prove wrong the people who bailed on him a year ago.
Luis Guanipa
Guanipa built up a boatload of hype in the rookie leagues, but since his full-season debut late in 2024 he has looked overmatched against Single-A pitching. That is, when he is even able to play. Guanipa has battled injuries throughout his young career, and in 2025 that limited him to just 29 games with Augusta and another 6 rehabbing down in the complex league. Guanipa made some improvements from 2024 to 2025, most notably with his contact rates, but the questions around his approach and his ability to produce have popped up consistently. Guanipa produces plus bat speed and is strong for someone with his frame, but that simply is not translating to in-game pop at this moment in time. Guanipa struggles to lift the ball with any authority and produced well-below average power numbers last season, and though he has cut down on his strikeouts he hasn’t shown much discipline at the plate. He can get his bat to the ball throughout the zone, but without a major turnaround and a healthy season he may not be seen as a top prospect after this season. It’s not totally dire, as Guanipa is only 20 and the physical traits are still largely there, but without major improvement in 2026 in a third go at A-ball it’s going to be hard to project Guanipa to the upper levels.
Herick Hernandez
Hernandez was impossible in two starts following the draft in 2024, and a large reaction followed with some seeing him as a potential draft steal from the fourth round. Hernandez never really repeated the highs of those two starts in 2025, though he did still flash the potential with his plus slider. The improvement Hernandez showed with his splitter has salvaged his ability to project to a starting role in the future, but that outcome seems to grow narrower with each passing start as his consistency and command did not take any steps forward in 2025. He struggled to locate any of his four pitches, and while he will likely get another shot to start in the upcoming season the Braves are not exactly a patient team when it comes to pitchers. He needs to show significant improvement with his command and quickly in order to remain as a starter, with the likely outcome being a fairly swift move to the bullpen. Hernandez has plenty of room to grow into a major league arm even if that came to pass, but it would not be a surprise if 2026 is his last chance to prove himself even given how little professional experience has.
Lucas Braun
Lucas Braun is coming off of a great season, but he’s now reached the trap that so many pitchers before him did. He’s going to get his first full crack of Triple-A and may even get the chance to pitch in Atlanta this season, but this is the level that the starting room suddenly starts to get crowded. The Braves have a constant rotation of pitchers competing for those spots, and even if it was only a three-game sample Braun didn’t do a whole lot to separate himself in his brief Triple-A stint. His command of all of his pitches and the depth of his arsenal were still on display, but he struggled to miss bats and relied on weak contact to get through his starts. Braun diversifying his arsenal, especially using a sinker more often, helps him in this regard, but we’ve seen multiple guys with his below-average velocity profile hit a wall at Triple-A. Opportunities come and go quickly in baseball, and Braun needs to seize his chance this season and force himself into the conversations when rotation spots open up. Otherwise, more pitchers are going to keep getting healthy and advancing through the system and the window might shut surprisingly quickly.
Hayden Harris
Hayden Harris has performed well in spring training, which is the first step for him actually locking down a major league role this season. His first taste of Triple-A in 2024 proved that even his elite fastball wouldn’t be enough to survive high-level hitters, and he and the Braves made their necessary fixes headed into 2025. With a new sweeper and fledgling splitter Harris made mincemeat of minor league hitters last season, with an absurd 0.52 ERA and 2.07 FIP. His major league debut wasn’t all that impressive, however, and showed the next step in his progression. Harris needs to prove once and for all that his command, which fluctuates between solid and below average, can stay consistently around average or better. He especially needs to make sure he’s keeping his fastball above the hands of hitters, as the only time he really struggles is when his fastball leaks down in the zone. 2026 is his big chance to lock down a major league role and put a stamp on one of the best paths to the bigs in recent memory.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 02: Reiver Sanmartin #22 of Team Colombia poses for a photo during the Team Colombia photo day at Pirate City on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Harrison Barden/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last season, the San Francisco Giants defied conventional bullpen wisdom by deciding that left-handed relievers weren’t important. They went most of the season with just one lefty specialist in the bullpen, first Erik Miller and then Joey Lucchesi. Lucchesi finished 13th on the team with 38.1 innings and Miller was 15th with 30 innings in an injury-shortened season. Scott Eyre, Javy Lopez, and Alan Embree watched the 2025 Giants with tears in their eyes and when he learned about it, bullpen innovator Tony La Russa was rolling over in his car.
This season, the Giants may have no choice but to go short on left-handed short relievers. Wednesday, the club announced that bullpen hopeful Reiver Sanmartin will miss three months after his MRI revealed a severe hip flexor strain.
Giants say Reiver Sanmartin (hip strain) will miss three months. They’re very short from left side of bullpen, although Erik Miller is close to returning.
Sanmartin spent most of the last two seasons pitching for the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, after having Tommy John surgery in 2023. The Giants claimed him off waivers in November. The 29-year-old has been quite good in the minor leagues but struggled to stick in a regular role with the Reds, putting up a 5.66 ERA and a 4.45 FIP while logging 62 career appearances.
He does have a minor-league option remaining, which may have been part of his appeal in the first place, and Sanmartin won’t take up a 40-man roster space while he’s on the extended injured list.
This leaves 33-year-old Matt Gage as the lone healthy left-handed short reliever in the Giants bullpen, though Miller is scheduled to return from his back injury Friday. The Giants resigned Lucchesi to a minor-league deal on Monday, perhaps anticipating the bad news about Sanmartin. There’s also Sam Hentges, who signed a one-year deal for $1.4M but has had serious surgeries on his shoulder and knee in the last 18 months and won’t be available when the season starts.
Is this an issue? Sort of! The Giants are following what’s been a league-wide trend where left-handed relievers have become more scarce. Thanks to the new rule, implemented in 2020, that relievers had to face at least three batters, the “LOOGY” (left-handed one-out guy) has disappeared. Frankly, Barry Bonds was supporting a whole division’s worth of LOOGIES for years — Chuck McElroy and Mike Myers were able to put their kids through college purely due to facing Bonds and then leaving the game before Jeff Kent hit.
Still, in a division where the Giants have to face elite left-handed hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy on the Dodgers alone, not to mention Corbin Carroll, Jackson Merrill and other lefties whose names don’t rhyme, having southpaws in the bullpen does seem important!
Maybe the signing of Lucchesi, who was fine-to-good last season, and Miller’s return to health will solve this issue. Maybe Gage will settle down and Hentges will come back refreshed.
But right now, the bullpen is short on left-handed relief help, and if it continues like this, Buster Posey is going to make Aaron Fultz and Jack Taschner cry.
Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brayden Taylor (80) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
26
Brayden Taylor
2B/3B
6
25
24%
2
Brayden Taylor fell from on high but not off the list entirely, with his slide ending at No. 26. An off-season Fall Star, Taylor had a regular season to forget and will be looking to right the ship in 2026. Adding Dean Moss.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Dean Moss, OF 19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: A shot of a baseball on the mound in the bullpen before a spring training game between the Athletics and the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have impressive depth in the starting rotation, and that’s by design. J.J. Picollo has talked before about the need to have eight, nine, or even ten starting pitchers to get through a season, recognizing the high attrition rate among pitchers. The Royals have three recent All-Stars in Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Kris Bubic, as well as veteran (and former All-Star Michael Wacha).
Noah Cameron finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, which you would think would lock up a rotation spot for him. But pitcher Ryan Bergert has been so impressive you have to wonder if there is a rotation spot up for grabs. Or perhaps both make the rotation and Bubic moves back to the bullpen? And oh, by the way, Stephen Kolek isn’t too shabby either. And Bailey Falter has had a solid season as a starter before, and is out of options. And Matt Quatraro thinks Luinder Avila has the chance to become a frontline starter. Perhaps the Royals even go to a six-man rotation?
It really is an embarrassment of riches, but who would you have in the rotation to start the year?
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Michael Lorenzen #24 of Italy walks off the field in the fifth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Italy and the United States at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The group stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic has reached it’s final day. Just three games remain in pool play before the knockout stage begins on Wednesday. How fitting it is that this final day of the group stage might also be one of the most impactful of the tournament.
Game No. 1: Canada at Cuba (República de Cuba)
Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Team Canada (2-1) faces off against Team Cuba (2-1) in a win-or-go-home match to close out San Juan’s Pool A. With Puerto Rico having already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, the winner of this afternoon’s game will advance to the knockout round.
On the bump for Canada is former Rockies righty Cal Quantrill. Quantrill is the son of former Canadian big league pitcher—and current Team Canada pitching coach—Paul Quantrill and will be making his first appearance of the tournament in today’s start. Rockies prospect lefty and 2025 draft pick Antoine Jean will also look to get into today’s game. At the plate, Rockies infielder Edouard Julien looks to get hot after notching his first hit of the tournament against Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
Left-handed pitcher Livan Moinelo will make his second start of the Classic for Team Cuba. The 30-year-old—who pitches for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks during the regular season—worked a scoreless 3 2/3 innings his last time out with four strikeouts, two walks, and two hits given up.
First Pitch: 1:00 PM MDT
TV: FS2
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
RHP Cal Quantrill vs LHP Livan Moinelo
Game No. 2: Italy (Repubblica Italiana) at Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos)
Venue: Daikin Park — Houston, Texas, USA
After Italy’s stunning upset of Team USA on Tuesday, the fate of three teams now hangs on this one game.
If the Italians (3-0) win this evening and complete the group stage with an undefeated record, they will advance along with the United States (3-1) and Mexico (2-1) will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins while scoring six or more runs, they will advance along with the United States and Italy will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins and scores five or fewer runs, they will advance along with Italy and the United States will be eliminated.
If Mexico wins and scores exactly five runs, they will advance and the final spot in Houston’s Pool B will depend on other tiebreaker scenarios.
Philadelphia Phillies right-handed starter Austin Nola will take the mound for Team Italy, making his first appearance of the tournament. Benji Gil and Vinny Castilla’s Team Mexico has yet to announce their starter.
First Pitch: 5:00 PM MDT
TV: FS1
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
RHP Austin Nola vs TBD
Game No. 3: Dominican Republic (República Dominicana) at Venezuela (Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela)
Venue: loanDepot Park — Miami, Florida, USA
Both participants in the final game of Miami’s Pool D have already clinched their places in the knockout stage with 3-0 records, meaning tonight’s group stage finale is for the pool’s top seed and for pride.
Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara will get the start for the Dominican Republic in his home ballpark, backed up by a lineup jam-packed with talent like Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Meanwhile, Rockies reliever Juan Mejia—who has already pitched a scoreless inning this tournament—and former Rockies reliever Carlos Estévez are primed to make appearances from the bullpen.
Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodríguez will take the mound for Venezuela with his own murderer’s row behind him. Luis Arráez already has multiple extra-base hits—including two home runs—while Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr is 4-for-10 with a home run of his own. The pair are joined by Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who is 3-for-3 with a double and a walk so far this tournament. Rockies right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela may have the chance to come out of the bullpen for his first appearance of the Classic as well.
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 02: Jhancarlos Lara #92 of the Glendale Desert Dogs pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Glendale Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch - Glendale on Sunday, November 2, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Now that we are just over two weeks away from Opening Day for the 2026 MLB season, it is time to start picturing what the Atlanta Braves roster could look like. That also includes factoring in which of the Braves prospects have a real chance to reach Atlanta this year, as things stand today, and what we may be able to expect out of them this season.
Players listed in this article are guys who still have remaining prospect eligibility, so no Nacho Alvarez or Hurston Waldrep, and have at least a 50% chance of seeing the big leagues this season – which means guys who would need everything to break right, like a Luke Sinnard, will not be included. Some of these guys, namely Didier Fuentes and Hayden Harris, have already spent some time in the big leagues, but since this is about projecting what we can expect out of them in 2026, they will be included.
Lucas Braun, RHP
Braun has 37 appearances in Double-A and three starts in Triple-A on his resume heading into 2026, which when combined with the injuries to the Braves pitching staff and health questions surrounding the remaining options, makes him a candidate to see Atlanta at some point this year. Braun is likely a bit down the options to earn a big league start, but a 24-year-old with good command and pitchability will potentially be able to handle a few spot starts without hurting the team much. It’s hard to picture him having a bigger role in Atlanta this season, but the Braves would likely be happy with him getting a few decent starts from him as they get him ready for more next year.
Blake Burkhalter, RHP
As a 25-year-old with 31 innings of experience at the Triple-A level, Burkhalter is an excellent candidate to see Atlanta at some point this year. He has moved to the bullpen full time, but he would be a guy capable of either pitching in middle relief or giving some multi-inning outings this year. He is a guy who could potentially be up for good at some point this year.
Didier Fuentes, RHP
If we are being honest, Fuentes’ time in Atlanta last year didn’t go well. The good news there is that is mostly because he was promoted before he was truly ready for it because of injuries to other arms. A year later and the now 20-year-old has looked great in limited spring training action. Through two innings of big league spring training work, he has four strikeouts with no hits or walks. The Braves may want to be extra careful with him to not end up rushing him again, but he could be ready for a backend of the rotation job by the end of this season.
Hayden Harris, LHP
Harris appeared in three games last year for the Braves, and has been excellent this spring. In his first five innings he has a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 12 strikeouts to just two walks. Harris is competing for a big league job out of camp, and even if he doesn’t get one he could be ready soon after the start of the season. Harris could factor in as a solid lefty out of the pen earning middle relief innings quickly this season.
Jim Jarvis, INF
Jim Jarvis may not be a big prospect, but he’s an upper level minor leaguer who brings plenty of versatility and experience. He is a guy who could get a chance to be promoted and help off the bench in short stints, especially seeing how the Braves have sent him to the Arizona Fall League and have given him 14 big league at bats so far this spring.
Jhancarlos Lara, RHP
Lara spent 51 innings in Gwinnett last year, and the now 23-year-old reliever went and had a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League after the season. Although he was already sent down, he will get a chance to earn his way to Atlanta this season as a power armed reliever. He may not be ready for a late-inning role this year, but I fully expect to see him get a taste of the big leagues this year in some capacity.
David McCabe, 1B
After McCabe saw 28 games in Triple-A last year and considering he turns 26 later this month, he will be a candidate to be promoted at some point this year. It’s hard to see him getting a major role in the big leagues based on his inconsistent power production in the minors, but with his on base ability he could be a candidate for some spot starts at first base or DH if the need arises.
JR Ritchie, RHP
Ritchie reached Triple-A last year and is off to a very strong start to his spring. With his 11 starts at Gwinnett last year, followed by his stuff looking even sharper this spring en route to a 3.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and eight strikeouts in eight innings, he is trying to compete for a spot in the initial rotation ahead of Opening Day. While the odds aren’t fully in his favor, the injuries have stacked up and he has done everything he could to show he is close to ready. It’s fair to expect Ritchie to spend a good chunk of his season in Atlanta, being a solid back of the rotation option for the Braves.
Brett Sears, RHP
After a meteoric rise across four levels in 2025, Sears got himself to the doorstep of the big leagues. He doesn’t have a ton of Triple-A or upper level minor league experience yet, but he is a guy with 84 innings between Columbus and Gwinnett and already set to turn 26 in May. Sears will have a chance to earn some spot starts, or even some relief outings this year as an older, advanced pitchability arm. I wouldn’t expect him to have a huge role in the big leagues this year, but can really picture him helping in some manner.
