The 2025 season could have been a big year for Jasson Domínguez. The long-heralded next big thing in the Yankees outfield was well-positioned to earn a starting role following Juan Soto’s crosstown departure, and had finally recovered from the litany of injuries which plagued his previous two seasons. But while the 22-year old had his moments here and there, he was clearly the team’s fourth-best outfielder; merely adequate at the plate and unreliable in the field.
This offseason, in a concerted effort to run it back, the Yankees have welcomed Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger back to the Bronx, meaning Domínguez is once again looking at a reserve role in 2026. But the dream of a dominant Martian is not yet dead. If he can find his power stroke more consistently, flatten out his stark platoon splits, and take a step forward on defense, Domínguez could finally escape the clouds and reach his galactic potential.
I’ve wanted to discuss Jasson for a while, since he represents one of the bigger wild cards on a team loaded with veterans and known commodities. He is a flawed player, no doubt. For one thing, the prodigious power he has always possessed was in short supply last year—just 10 homers for a guy like him came as a big surprise to me. The main culprit seems to be an inability to generate lift against fastballs. A hitter like Domínguez, possessed with freakish bat speed, should be able to drive heaters a long way, but a mere .399 slugging percentage (and .364 xSLG) against the harder stuff limited his thump.
The switch-hitter was also woeful from the right side, managing a pithy .569 OPS against left-handed pitchers. This made him effectively a platoon bat for most of the year, as the Yankees had too little margin for error in the postseason race to let Domínguez figure it out down the stretch. Since his lefty production was not spectacular either—Bellinger and Grisham simply outhit Jasson from that side of the plate—his opportunities became fewer and fewer as the season progressed.
Then came the outfield lowlights. Domínguez just couldn’t seem to figure out the right angles in left field, where he played the majority of the time. His -9 Outs Above Average ranked in the third percentile among qualified outfielders. Jasson is not lacking for speed, but he takes a shockingly long time to track the baseball and make up lost ground. Of course, Yankee Stadium is not the friendliest ballpark to a left fielder, but an OAA figure that low does not suggest his troubles are limited to his home turf.
Those are three big black clouds surrounding the longtime top prospect, but of course, time and youth are still on Domínguez’s side. Having just turned 23 a few days back, it’s far too early to write him off as a Joc Pederson-lite; though I may have grumbled something to that effect a time or two in the middle of last year. And ultimately, Domínguez was still statistically above-average at the plate with all those factors weighing against him. Posting a 103 wRC+ while not playing every day is hard to do; just recall how Trent Grisham scuffled without regular playing time in 2024.
The first issue we discussed—subpar power production—feels like by far the easiest fix. It may just take one tweak to attack angle or a stance alteration to get Domínguez firing on all cylinders in the power department once again. I also think it’s not out of the question that he improves a bunch on defense—maybe not to the point of being above-average, but competence should be the goal. If he does, he’ll get more opportunities to try his hand in the other two outfield spots, which would only increase the amount of options Aaron Boone has at his disposal.
The platoon splits are going to be a tougher challenge; since the Yankees will be jockeying for position with the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and the potentially resurgent Orioles for divisional superiority, there will, like last year, be little wiggle room for Domínguez to get the live reps he might need to start to improve as a right-handed hitter. The solace is that he would be taking the majority of his PAs from the left side anyway, but it limits his ability to settle into a full starting role in the future—and was likely a driving factor behind the Yankees’ decision to bring back Bellinger and Grisham this winter.
The ultimate X-factor for Domínguez is injuries: both for himself and for his stablemates in the outfield. Jasson is the next man up if any of their starting triumvirate—who all played at least 140 games last year—hits the shelf for an extended period. The inevitable Giancarlo Stanton injury absence would create an opportunity at DH as well. The Yankees have often started seasons with little depth beyond their starters, leaving them exposed if anybody got hurt. As Michael detailed earlier today, they’ve consciously adopted a different strategy in 2026, and Jasson is a big part of that depth. Of course, if he himself gets injured, it would just be another treacherous bend in what just a few years ago seemed to be an open road to stardom.
FanGraphs’ Depth Charts projections has a very pessimistic outlook on Domínguez’s overall playing time share in 2026—supposedly because of the possibility he starts the season in Triple-A. I’ll believe that when I see it. The ZiPS projections agree, penciling Domínguez in for a more believable 471 plate appearances; while the .246/.323/.399 triple slash it prescribes would be disappointing, it’s important to remember these systems are conservative by nature. There’s not yet a precedent for Domínguez slugging higher than .400 in a full MLB season, but we humans understand that a SLG of at least .450 can be a reasonable goal for him.
With the majority of the players on this Yankees team, you know more or less what you’re going to get. But the concrete has not yet settled on this young man. As far as 2026, the Yankees just need him to be a reliable extra option in their outfield; anything extra is gravy. But if the opportunity presents itself, Domínguez has the talent to enter the stratosphere. It’s true that he has been part of the future for going on six years now, but that possibility should still excite us.
PHOENIX - OCTOBER 2: Amare Stoudemire #32, Stephon Marbury #3, and Shawn Marion #31 of the Phoenix Suns pose for a portrait during NBA Media Day at the America West Arena on October 2, 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s January 2, and I’m sitting in front of my computer with a Salad And Go coffee in hand. Yeah, I like their cold brew. I’m a price-for-value paid guy, and they win that race every time.
An idea has hit me that is ambitious. It is messy. It is absolutely going to take time. Probably the type of thing that belongs in the Suns’ offseason or tucked neatly into the All-Star break when the calendar finally exhales. So that’s the plan. Start it now. Let it breathe. Revisit it through the first few weeks of 2026. Poke at it. Argue with myself. Change my mind. Repeat.
The subject is the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid.
So what is the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid? Think Bill Simmons and the Book of Basketball. Think his Hall of Fame logic. Now drop that framework into the 58-year history of the Phoenix Suns. This is about identifying the 21 best players to ever wear a Phoenix uniform out of the 453 who have donned the purple and orange and arranging them into a six-level pyramid.
Why a pyramid? Because it forces clarity and allows movement. Players are not locked into a rigid ranking. They live in tiers. And if you know anything about SunsRank, you already know how I feel about tiers. And it makes for a nice-looking graphic.
Let’s start with the levels.
The Face of the Franchise
MVP Royalty
Franchise Pillars
Era-Defining Stars
All-Star Impact
Core Contributors
I think these work. As I’ve gone through my list over the past month and a half, building tiers and defining what it takes to be in each one, this is where I’ve landed. You might have a different version with different differentiators and different criteria. I look forward to hearing how you would have navigated this process. This is how I’ve navigated mine.
As I started digging into who the 21 best players actually were, I already knew I was going to run headfirst into some baseline rules. Think of them less as hard laws and more as gatekeepers. Each tier has its own bouncer. Some rules help you qualify. Others quietly escort you out the door.
It is not mandatory to have a clean statistical cutoff for every tier, but thresholds matter. Sometimes, they are the difference between getting in and being left out. Take Tier 3 of the Suns Pyramid, the ‘Franchise Pillars’. Every player in that tier lives in the Ring of Honor. More importantly, every one of them spent over a decade in Phoenix. 10+ years is the line if you want to make it into tier three. If you do not cross it, you do not get through.
But it’s not necessarily exclusive, because a player in my top two tiers (I bet you can guess who that is) wasn’t in Phoenix for 10+ years. So the tiers themselves might be gatekeepers, but it isn’t that clean. There can be exceptions to the rule if the braintrust determines it to be so. And since I am the braintrust, I’m granting a special exemption.
Another rule has to be crystal clear from the jump. This is not a lifetime achievement award for famous names passing through town. This is about impact in a Suns uniform. It’s about what you did here and how much you moved the needle while wearing purple and orange.
Gale Goodrich is a quality example. He was a five-time All-Star, NBA champion, and Hall of Famer. Quite the impressive resume for Mr. Goodrich. He also played just two seasons in Phoenix from 1968 to 1970. He made an All-Star team here, but his real imprint on the league was stamped in Los Angeles. Same conversation with Shaq. Fifteen-time All-Star. Four championships. Two scoring titles. Fourteen-time All-NBA. A walking monument to dominance. He also spent two seasons in Phoenix. One All-Star appearance. A memorable stretch, sure, but not a defining one.
And that is the point. This pyramid is not grading careers. It is grading Suns chapters. Time spent matters. Impact matters. The totality of what you did elsewhere does not.
So no, Gale Goodrich is not making the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid. Neither is Shaq. Not because they were not great. Because this is about Phoenix. And only Phoenix.
To be in Tier 5 or above, you need to be an All-Star, and a multi-time All-Star at that. There have been some fun role players in Phoenix, and there’s plenty of room for them in Tier 6, but to be considered one of the greatest ever, you need to have represented Phoenix in an All-Star Game, thus serving as an ambassador of the city abroad.
You want another rule? Fine. Let’s make it a petty one. Kevin Durant played 145 games in a Suns uniform. So here it is, officially, unscientifically, and with a straight face. The KD Rule. To be eligible for the Suns Pyramid, you must have appeared in 146 or more games with the franchise. Why 146? Because that is one more than Kevin Durant. That is the line. That is the bar. Cross it and we can talk. Fall one game short and you are a footnote. Shaq played in 103 games, so he fell victim to the KD Rule as well.
Is it petty? Absolutely. Is it arbitrary? Without question. Is it also perfectly on brand for a project like this? 100%.
It’s harder than it sounds. I am not even sure why I landed on 21 players instead of 15, which would be clean and orderly and way easier to explain. But once you factor in that there are already 12 players sitting in the Ring of Honor, 15 does not leave much oxygen in the room. And honestly, I want oxygen. I want friction.
That is the point of this whole thing. I want debate. I want the back and forth. I want this to be a community exercise where people can argue tiers, move guys up or down, and make the case for who belongs or who got snubbed entirely. I know my biases are going to show. I’m not a big Deandre Ayton guy. I love Stephon Marbury. Will they make the pyramid? You’ll have to read to find out.
This is subjective by design. It is also fluid, for these things evolve. Maybe one day a player like Collin Gillespie works his way up the list. That sounds wild now, and maybe it stays that way. Time is the real author here. All I am doing is putting the framework on the page.
So that is the plan. That is the goal. With the All-Star break as the runway, we have the time to let this breathe. To roll it out slowly, one layer at a time. No need to rush it, no dumping it all in one day.
I will start by laying out the six levels of the Phoenix Suns All-Time Pyramid. From there, you can probably guess where I am headed with certain players. That part is unavoidable. But there is real debate to be had, especially in the bottom three levels.
Starting tomorrow, we will begin unveiling each level. Let this journey begin.
A familiar face is returning to the Astros as the Astros dealt outfielder Jesus Sanchez to the Toronto Blue Jays for Joey Loperfido. Loperfido will be a familiar face as he was an Astros farmhand and had a cup of coffee with the 2024 team before he was dealt at the deadline as a part of a package that netted them Yusei Kikuchi. While the Astros are denying it, a part of the motivation seems to be add some payroll flexibility. Dana Brown himself said that the team was not necessarily done dealing.
Trade news: The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Jesus Sanchez from the Houston Astros for outfielder Joey Loperfido, whom they had traded to Toronto in the Yusei Kikuchi deal at the 2024 deadline.
There are a couple of points of note about this particular trade. The first is that Loperfido has five years of club control remaining and he has an option remaining. That means he could conceivably start the season in Sugar Land if there is not enough room for him at the big league level. However, Loperfido showed an ability to play all three outfield positions and first base, so he could offer the team more roster flexibility if he is able to stick out of Spring Training.
While he is a left-handed hitting outfielder, it remains to be seen whether this will open up the possibility of Isaac Paredes also being moved for another lefty hitting outfielder. We have seen rumors tying them to the Red Sox and Pirates earlier in the offseason. The Padres have also been floated in some circles as a potential trading partner.
⚾ Isaac Paredes is emerging in Astros trade rumors.
Houston Astros trade rumors have centered on infielder Isaac Paredes as the team faces a crowded infield with multiple starting-caliber players ahead of the season. The Astros have explored trade options, nearly moving Paredes… pic.twitter.com/iGz9WANAX1
One potential name has emerged from the Pirates. It has been reported that the Astros were interested in catcher Joey Bart. Bart would certainly offer more offensive punch than either of the catchers set to back up Yainer Diaz in camp. A Bart for Paredes swap seems light, so we would imagine something else would be included there from the Pirates end. Of course, that is just speculation on our part. What do you think of the trade today?
It seems it isn’t just dynasty managers who have their sights set on the 2026 draft. By my count, eight teams are about to make a dramatic push for the best lottery odds they can possibly have for this draft. That could mean some of the most egregious tanking that league has ever seen.
One look at the top of this class makes it easy to see why. Headlined by Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa, this is shaping up to be one of the best draft classes ever. Beyond the top three, there are other elite prospects, such as Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler, among others. Frankly, not tanking this season would be borderline malpractice. This class is that good. That shouldn't be news if you're a dedicated dynasty diva, but that doesn't mean it's too late to start prioritizing picks. It's that time of year where managers are more willing to part with picks to make a run at a championship. Swoop in and acquire extra picks to give you flexibility to move up in the draft or just get bonus lottery odds.
Of course, tanking in the NBA is different than it is in fantasy basketball. In your dynasty league, you can just set the worst lineup you possibly can that fits your league requirements. In the NBA, a multi-year tank will take a toll on the players, fans, coaching staff and ownership, though potentially for different reasons. Still, a savvy GM can accelerate a rebuild and sell everyone in the organization on hope for the future. Of course, it takes a little luck, just like in your dynasty leagues.
We can vent frustrations about our players being unavailable for the fantasy playoffs. We can bump our playoffs earlier and earlier every season. We can avoid drafting players on teams we expect to rebuild. At the end of the day, we simply need to be deliberate in the areas we can control and let the chips fall where they may.
Hitting on draft picks is advantageous, and winning trades gives managers an edge. Understanding what is happening over the final two months of the season is crucial to succeeding in both departments. There will be wild stats and crazy rotations after the All-Star break, and they’ll only get worse as the season progresses.
Keeping up with every game becomes more and more of a grind, but the payout is worth it. One player I’ll be watching is Jarace Walker. The No. 8 pick in 2023, Walker struggled to be part of the Pacers’ rotation over the last two seasons. Losing Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) for the season was devastating, but taking a season to figure out what some of these guys look like in a larger role will benefit them in the long run. Walker struggled to start this season, but he has looked better as of late. He’ll continue to play big minutes, especially since the Pacers’ first-round pick is now top-four protected after they acquired Ivica Zubac. They’ll start resting their veteran players more and more to ensure they don't part with the lottery pick they were hoping to be rewarded with after a long season.
The Clippers are hoping the Pacers’ pick lands in the 5-9 range since it will go to them in that scenario. Bennedict Mathurin wasn’t enough for them to part with Zubac; they’re hoping for some luck. There isn’t too much excitement for dynasty managers when it comes to the Clippers, though deciding what to do about Kawhi Leonard is an interesting case study. It’s easy to simply say “he’s healthy, until he isn’t.” Unfortunately, there isn’t too much else to really analyze. He’s been mostly healthy this season. He’s even been playing in back-to-backs. He’s also been one of the best players in fantasy basketball, and they still intend to compete despite trading away Zubac and James Harden, so Kawhi’s usage will remain out of this world. If he does get hurt, any and everyone will tell you that “they knew it would happen eventually.” If your team is ready to win a championship, making a deal for Leonard makes sense. Of course, if your team is on the opposite end of the standings, it is best to sell high. Leonard is 34 years old, and with his injury history, there isn’t much of a reason to be optimistic about his long-term value.
The swap of Harden and Darius Garland has been seen as a win for the Cavaliers early on, but the Clippers have to be happy with this return. In his last season before the Cavs traded for Donovan Mitchell, Garland averaged 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game, both being career highs. This is the first time in four years that Garland will be the primary ball handler when he gets healthy. He has slowly fallen down dynasty rankings in recent years, but this move will give him the chance to redeem his value. He should be seen as a buy-low candidate.
Cleveland may feel optimistic right now with Honeymoon Harden, and the move should make them a more competitive team since Garland has been dealing with a toe injury all season. But I’m more interested in the other pieces they have. Jarrett Allen has been awesome with Harden, but we haven’t seen Evan Mobley with him yet. That should raise his ceiling. Jaylon Tyson has enjoyed a breakout second season, but he isn’t the only dynasty stash on their roster. Craig Porter Jr. should still be stashed, and they acquired Keon Ellis at the trade deadline. Both guards haven’t gotten much of an opportunity in their careers, but when they get the chance, they stuff the stat sheet. Ellis was wasting away on the bench in Sacramento, and in a better environment, he may finally become that consistent source of steals that we’ve seen him be in the past.
Speaking of Sacramento, things couldn’t be much worse there. In the year 2026, 11.3% of their points scored this season have come on mid-range shots. That’s the most in the league, with the Rockets in second at 8.9%. Only 28.2% of the Kings’ points this season have come from beyond the arc, which is last in the league. Still, there are players to keep an eye on there, especially if the Kings opt to keep their veterans’ legs fresh in the hopes of trading them this offseason. The players I’m keeping an eye on are Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Devin Carter and Nique Clifford. Who is going to be part of the team’s future? It could be all of them, and they all have fantasy-friendly statsets. Factoring in Keegan Murray and a top pick, there is a budding young core growing beneath the surface of an aging veteran group that can’t buy a win. The sooner Sacramento cuts the chord, the better, even if they don’t end up getting many assets back.
The Nets made five first-round selections last summer, and while all of them have shown their upside at times, the recent success story has been Nolan Traore. Over his final four games entering the All-Star break, he averaged 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.8 triples per game. I’m intrigued by what Brooklyn’s building, and I want to see how Traore looks down the stretch.
Is everyone going to be mad at me if I say I like what Chicago is doing? They’re not close to competing, but they haven’t been for a few years. Any semblance of a contending team to start the year was fraudulent, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They bought low on a bunch of players at the trade deadline, and we should take notes as dynasty managers. Can Rob Dillingham or Jaden Ivey prove that their old teams were wrong to give up on them? Either the Bulls find a diamond in the rough, or they just move on. This team doesn’t have its franchise player yet, and while that will probably come through the draft, there’s nothing wrong with a few dart throws at the trade deadline.
Will he vault his value away from Golden State, or is the fit in Atlanta too clunky?
Tidjane Salaun, Charlotte Hornets
He had some solid games earlier this season. Did that mean anything?
GG Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies
He’ll get the chance to play big minutes. Will the production be legitimate or just inflated stats on a lottery team?
Ousmane Dieng, Milwaukee Bucks
Had 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assist, one steal, four blocks and three triples in a revenge game against the Thunder on Thursday after hitting a career-high five triples on Wednesday. Did the Bucks strike gold?
Nikola Topic, Oklahoma City Thunder
Amazing to see him back in the lineup. Now how does he fit in this incredibly deep backcourt?
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
83.3% shooting at the rim through four games. That’s not sustainable, but has he finally made the leap as a finisher?
Cody Williams, Utah Jazz
He was written off as a bust after his rookie season, but Williams came into the league as a raw prospect. He’s had some solid games recently, but will that be enough to prove he belongs in the rotation next year when they’re ready to compete?
Will Riley, Washington Wizards
He’s had some fantastic games over the past few weeks, but is he good enough to be in the rotation when this team is healthy?
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) talks with pitcher Dylan Lee (52), pitcher Tyler Kinley (45) and coach J.P. Martinez (87) works out during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
As of right now, the Atlanta Braves rotation in its current form is healthy enough with four starters who are doing fine here in the infancy of camp. It’s gotten to the point where Braves President of Baseball Operations/General Manager Alex Anthopoulos has gone ahead and claimed that four of the five rotation spots are already spoken for. According to Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Chad Bishop (welcome to the neighborhood!), AA has declared that the fifth spot will be open for competition during spring training.
Alex Anthopoulos says today Sale, Strider, Lopez, Holmes are four of the five team’s starters. Competition is open for the fifth starting spot which was expected to be Spencer Schwellenbach.
As Bishop mentions above, things likely would’ve been set had Spencer Schwellenbach’s elbow not started acting up on him in a severe manner. Instead, the Braves are now going to explore their options in camp and give some of their in-house hurlers a shot at getting into the rotation. That means guys like Joey Wentz, Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep and José Suarez are likely going to be the ones to keep an eye on as spring training progresses. The Braves have plenty of starters in camp at the moment but I’d imagine that those are the ones who are most likely to end up competing for that final spot in the rotation.
With that being said, there’s always the possibility that this could be GM-speak on the part of the GM since there’s always a possibility that the Braves could potentially dip their toes into the free agency market once again in order to pick up a starter from outside of the organization. As I mentioned in my post from Thursday, Lucas Giolito is still available and he was linked to the Braves during the offseason. Zac Gallen is also still a free agent, but the qualifying offer may dissuade the Braves from going down that particular avenue since they’d have to part with the No. 26 overall pick in this year’s upcoming draft.
Whether you choose to take AA at his word or not, the fact of the matter is that the Braves are publicly saying that they’re going to stick with their in-house options for the time being. We’ll see how that pans out but for now, it looks like we’re going to have a good ol’ fashioned position battle on our hands for one of the most important positions on the diamond in any given ballgame. We’ll see what happens!
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) works out during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves will televise 15 live spring training games in February and March, with free over-the-air broadcasts through local Gray TV stations in 26 markets throughout the southeast.
Fans with MLBTV will also be able to stream the games, per MLB’s Mark Bowman.
Here are the spring training games the Braves will televise. It’s worth noting that if you are out of market, other games may also be streamed and/or televised by the opposing team, giving you additional options to watch the Braves this spring.
February 22 vs. Twins, 1:00pm February 24 vs. Tigers, 1:00pm February 25 vs. Pirates, 1:00pm February 26 @ Yankees, 1:00pm February 27 vs. Red Sox, 1:00pm March 1 vs. Rays, 1:00pm March 4 vs. Colombia, 1:00pm March 5 vs. Blue Jays, 1:00pm March 7 vs. Orioles, 1:00pm March 12 @ Pirates, 6:00pm March 13 vs. Yankees, 1:00pm March 14 vs. Red Sox, 6:00pm March 17 @ Red Sox, 1:00pm March 21 @ Red Sox and @ Yankees, 1:00 and 6:30pm
The full announcement and schedule can be found here.
For broadcast times, channel information and additional details, fans are encouraged to visit bravesongray.com and check local Gray Media station listings in their markets.
The Astros and Blue Jays exchanged outfielders on Friday, with Houston acquiring Joey Loperfido from Toronto for Jesús Sánchez.
This is a return to Houston for Loperfido, who was a seventh-round pick by the Astros in the 2021 MLB Draft. He hit .333 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and an .879 OPS in 41 regular-season games for Toronto in 2025.
In 91 games at Triple-A Buffalo, Loperfido batted .264 with seven homers and 44 RBIs.
The 26-year-old was traded from Houston to Toronto in July 2024, along with pitcher Jake Bloss and infielder Will Wagner, for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. Before the trade he appeared in 38 games with the Astros in 2024, his first season in the major leagues, batting .236 with two home runs and 16 RBIs.
Sánchez, 28, appeared in 134 games between the Miami Marlins and the Astros in 2025, combining to slash .237/.304/.395 with 14 home runs, 48 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
Sánchez is a career .239 hitter with 73 home runs and 238 RBIs in 580 career games.
MESA, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 01: Tommy White #47 of the Mesa Solar Sox rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam during an Arizona Fall League game against the Glendale Desert Dogs at Sloan Park on November 1, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*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.
Another close round of voting for the 12th spot in our CPL, but Tommy White came out on top this time around. The former second-round pick is a bat-first third baseman that many thought would eventually move to first base as he rose the minor league ladder. His bat has so far been everything the A’s had hoped for when they drafted him, and he’s shown enough at the hot corner that the A’s are going to continue to let him work at the position and see if he continues his growth on defense. That would be a tremendous boost to his value for the A’s moving forward.
Joining the nominee list is right-hander Zane Taylor. A fifth-round draft pick last year, Taylor only made it into one pro game in the A’s system before the minor league season ended, pitching two scoreless innings in Triple-A for the Aviators. While he may not start the season quite that high up the minor league ladder, the four-year college starter looks like one of those prospects that could move quickly through the system. He doesn’t have elite “stuff” but he could find himself as a quality back-end type of starter down the line thanks to his command of the strike zone.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Who will be voted as the 12th-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.
Taylor’s fastball jumped 3 mph this spring, as he worked at 92-95 mph and touched 98 while maintaining his velocity deep into games and throughout the season. His fastball lacks life but he commands it well and it’s difficult to hit when he locates it up in the zone. He does a fine job of killing spin on his low-80s changeup, which fades and sinks and grades as a solid pitch.
While neither Taylor’s mid-80s slider nor his low-80s curveball stand out with their spin or shape, they generate a high level of chases and empty swings. He overcomes his lack of size with a drop-and-drive delivery that produces a low release height, flat approach angle and plenty of extension, which combine to make his pitches more difficult for hitters to pick up. He’s 23 and pretty much a finished product, but he has a long history of throwing strikes and a high floor as at least a back-of-the-rotation starter.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander has gained velocity steadily in his years as a pro and has touched as high as 99 mph this season. He typically sits around 94 mph, working north-south with the pitch while getting most of his whiffs up and to the armside. He played off that with a 76-79 mph curveball that could have more slurvish tendencies, but at its best, it snapped downward to fool batters sitting on the high heat and it had produced a 47 percent miss rate at the time of the trade. He also utilizes an 83-86 mph split-change to miss bats, but it stands out more for its separation than movement profile.
Baez took a major jump in workload but didn’t let his control improvements suffer. That certainly helps his starting chances, as does his 50.1 percent ground-ball rate from 2024. He’s still only 22, but with his place on the roster now set, the A’s (never afraid to move guys quickly) could try to see what it looks like in the big leagues in a relief role to ease him in.
Though Hoglund may never get back the electric stuff he possessed earlier in his career, the A’s were encouraged to see his fastball velocity tick back up to the low-90s. He has also experimented with adding a two-seamer and cutter. His low-80s slider now features more sweeping action and works as his main secondary pitch. He has also improved his low-80s changeup, creating a solid three-pitch mix that is enhanced by a strong ability to consistently throw strikes.
Now three years removed from Tommy John, the A’s are hopeful that Hoglund can develop into a solid back-end rotation piece, especially if he can successfully develop a fourth pitch. The Florida native was regularly going deep into starts in his big league cameo (6.40 ERA with 23 strikeouts to 11 walks across 32 1/3 innings) before going down with the injury and is expected to make a full recovery before the 2026 season.
The A’s were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller prior to his injury. His electric fastball ticked up to 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and was showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed some potential as an average third pitch.
There was real excitement within the organization for Miller’s professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame give off the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The A’s also loved the competitiveness they saw from him on the mound while scouting him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first opportunity to make an impression this summer.
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Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your vote!
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Snowboarder Scotty James of Australia is nearing his chance to fill in the only missing piece over a spectacular career of halfpipe riding — the Olympic gold medal.
He'll have more than enough competition.
James, defending champion Ayumu Hirano and his Japanese teammates, including Yuto Totsuka, will be on the Olympic halfpipe Friday for what is widely hailed as the premier event in snowboarding.
Hirano won four years ago in Shaun White's going-away party in China (White finished fourth). But the Japanese champion is coming off a broken nose and other injuries after a scary fall in Switzerland last month. He says he's only at about 50%.
That could open a path for James, who finished second to Hirano at the 2022 Beijing Games and third to White and Hirano in their tense showdown four years before that at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
The two keys to this contest:
— Triple corks. This was the trick that put Hirano over the top at Secret Garden four years ago. But in a sign of how quickly things progress in this sport, it is now viewed as the price of admission for the podium.
Anyone who lands more than one — New Zealand's Cam Melville Ives and 17-year-old American Alessandro Barbieri have done that — will be at the top of the conversation.
Also, can anyone add another half rotation and throw a triple-cork 1620? The snowboard world went crazy when South Korea's Chaeun Lee did that at a training session in 2024, but can someone bring it to a contest?
— Style. This is what James is known for and, potentially, what's been holding him back. He can execute insanely difficult jumps involving riding backward, spinning a bunch, and often starting the spin looking up the halfpipe, which takes his landing spot out of his vision.
It's as hard as it sounds, and his throwing of back-to-back backside 1440s at the X Games last month was a first-of-its-kind combination. But if he doesn't have triples to go with it, the judges might give him another consolation prize.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game Weekend is upon us starting today as fans around the country will converge on Los Angeles for the festivities and conclude at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
This year’s format for the NBA All-Star Game is new, with three separate teams broken up into USA Stars, USA Stripes and Team World, all facing off in a round-robin tournament as each one will comprise of a minimum of eight players on every squad. In all, 24 players were selected to the game, with Los Angeles Clippers’ forward Kawhi Leonard added by NBA commissioner Adam Silver to balance out the rosters.
Before these players take the court, where did each of them play hoops at in their prep/high school days in the United States and from around the world?
Rivals went through the rosters for all three teams, giving to you where each of the players starred on the prep hardwood before Sunday night’s 2026 NBA All-Star Game tips off in Inglewood.
How to Follow National High School Boys Basketball
For high school boys basketball fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the high school hops action throughout the season. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the boys basketball excitement across the country.
Baseball fans enter Kauffman Stadium at the right field entrance before Game 2 of baseball's World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Last week I asked fans to chime in with the Royals Review fan survey, asking them what they thought about the Royals, downtown baseball, and the state of baseball.
We had nearly 400 responses to our fan survey this year. This isn’t a scientific poll, just a fun internet poll. And it’s certainly not binding (unless Prop 304 passes, and we all pray that it does) But I thought it might lend a glimpse into how Royals fans are feeling before the season.
How would you grade the job John Sherman and the ownership group are doing?
A – 6.2%
B – 53.1%
C – 32.9%
D – 5.7%
F – 2.1%
Sherman’s numbers look better than the last time we did this survey back in 2023, despite the thwarted ballpark efforts. Making the playoffs helps!
How would you grade the job J.J. Picollo and management are doing?
A – 23.5%
B – 55.8%
C – 17.3%
D – 2.1%
F – 1.3%
Even better numbers for J.J., who only received an “A” from 4% of fans in 2023, his first year on the job. Fans may be upset he hasn’t done more to upgrade the outfield, but they generally seem fine with his overall leadership for the club.
How would you grade the job Matt Quatraro has done?
A – 32.9%
B – 51%
C – 13.2%
D – 2.1%
F – 0.8%
Quatraro is a star student! Over eight in ten fans polled would give him an “A” or “B”. When he was hired in 2023, 96 percent of fans approved of the hiring, and while there has been some criticism, fans seem largely good with the skipper.
How would you grade the offseason for the Royals so far?
A – 2.1%
B – 44.4%
C – 44.4%
D – 7.8%
F – 1.3%
“Incomplete” is probably the grade most fans would give after the Royals added Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas, and Matt Strahm this winter. All fine moves, but the team has yet to make the big move to put them over the top, or even answer what Detroit has done this offseason
What is the biggest area of concern going into this season?
Offense – 97%
Bullpen – 1.3%
Starting pitching – 1.0%
“Duh.” Probably shouldn’t have had this as a question.
Which of these young players are you most excited about?
Carter Jensen 58.4%
Jac Caglianone 33.8%
Noah Cameron 7.8%
This would have looked very different a year ago, but a disappointing performance by Caglianone upon a promotion, and a hot month from Carter Jensen in September have fans more excited about the local kid.
What Royals minor leaguer are you most excited about?
Kendry Chourio 38.5%
Blake Mitchell 13.4%
David Shields 13.1%
Luinder Avila 10.2%
Ben Kudrna 7.0%
Gavin Cross 7.0%
Also votes for Drew Beam, Sean Gamble, Josh Hammond, Michael Lombardi, Chazz Martinez, Frank Mozzicato, Ramon Ramirez, Carson Roccaforte, and Jhonayker Ugarte
Who would you most like to see get a long-term deal right now with the Royals?
Vinnie Pasquantino 38.8%
No players 19%
Carter Jensen 15.6 %
Cole Ragans 15.3%
Noah Cameron 8.2%
Jac Caglianone 3.2%
Pay that man his money! Fans want to see the Royals keep Vinnie in Kansas City long time. They’re not as high on giving Carter Jensen or Jac Caliganone a deal quite yet. Guess that’s why they call it the “Show-Me State.”
How many games do you predict the Royals will win in 2026?
90+ win – 5.7%
85-89 wins – 56.8%
80-84 wins – 32.0%
75-79 wins – 5.5%
70-74 wins – 0.0%
Less than 70 wins – 0.0%
Over sixty percent of Royals fans think the team will win more than 85 games. What happened to our critical spirits?
Do you support a new stadium for the Royals?
Yes – 54.8%
No – 25.4%
Not sure – 19.8%
Well, that is a better result than the 2024 ballot initiative that flopped. I suppose the devil is in the details.
If you said no, what is your primary reason for objecting to a new stadium?
Love of Kauffman Stadium – 50.5%
Cost of public financing – 24.2%
Parking/traffic concerns – 13.1%
Other – 12.1%
Safety concerns – 0.0%
Some of the other reasons mentioned include distance from home, a lesser fan experience, higher costs, exorbitant player salaries, and dislike for the owner.
If you said yes, what ballpark site do you most prefer?
Washington Square Park – 39.6%
18th and Paseo (near 18th and Vine) – 16.5%
North Kansas City – 13.7%
East Village (11th and Locust) – 12.6%
Aspiria Campus (119th and Nall in Johnson County) – 4.2%
Other sites mentioned include the Truman Sports Complex, the original Crossroads location that was voted on in 2024, and the West Bottoms.
Will there be a work stoppage in 2027 that results in games being cancelled?
Yes – 77.2%
No – 22.8%
Everyone in baseball seems to be bracing for a work stoppage when the current labor deal expires at the end of the year, with owners reportedly hunkering down for a long fight over a salary cap. Hopefully, wiser minds prevail.
Do you support a salary cap in baseball?
Yes – 85%
No – 15%
No surprise a salary cap in baseball is popular in a small market like Kansas City.
Do you support players reaching free agency earlier than they currently do?
Yes – 43.8%
No – 56.2%
A potential bargaining chip for owners to get a cap could be offering earlier free agency, but fans seem pretty split on allowing players to become free agents before the current six years of service time.
Would you like to see divisional realignment in baseball where AL and NL teams are mixed up together?
Yes, depending on how its done – 32.8%
No, keep it the same – 67.2%
Baseball has flirted with radical regional alignment, but has mostly tinkered with the divisions, keeping the AL/NL alignments largely intact. But the blur between the leagues is fading and we could see some teams moved in the future.
Should baseball expand?
Yes – 43.9%
No – 56.1%
It has been nearly 30 years since baseball last added teams, the longest stretch without expansion since the league first expanded in 1961. There are still some teams that have ballpark situations to resolve, but once that is finalized, they could look to adding teams.
If baseball were to expand, what two cities would you most likely like to see get new teams? (select two)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 24: Jonah Heim #28 of the Texas Rangers looks on during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field on September 24, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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 catcher Jonah Heim.
Man…I don’t even know what to say about Jonah Heim. What the hell happened here? How did a guy who looked like he would be a nice first division catcher for the team suddenly become terrible?
The reflexive reaction is that, well, Heim had a career year in 2023 like seemingly everyone else did for the Rangers that year, and then went back to being who he was. But that’s not true! I mean, yes, Jonah Heim had a career year in 2023 — was terrific defensively, and was slashing .280/.337/.479 when he landed on the injured list in late July — but he was good in 2022 as well. Heim had a 2.7 fWAR and 2.4 bWAR in 2022, as he hit fine for a catcher and was good defensively.
In 2024, Heim cratered offensively, slashing .220/.267/.336. He also went from being great at throwing out runners in 2023 to bad at that in 2024, but his framing — his strongest measurable trait defensively throughout his career — was still very good.
In 2025, Heim once again hit poorly, with a .213/.271/.332 slash line, but also wasn’t good at blocking pitches (38th percentile per Statcast) and, perhaps most alarmingly, he was only in the 33rd percentile in framing. This, after being in the 98th percentile in framing in 2021 and 2022, in the 95th percentile in 2023, and the 74th percentile in 2024.
How does that happen? How does a catcher suddenly go from being an elite framer to a really good framer to a below average framer in a two year span?
I wish I knew the answer.
Offensively, Jonah had much the same problem in 2025 as he did in 2024 — he got eaten up by fastballs and he stopped pulling the ball in the air. Last offseason I noted that the biggest discrepancies for Heim between 2023 and 2024 was his walk rate dropping and his hitting fewer balls in the air, particularly to the pull side. After having over 25% of his balls in play being pulled in the air in 2022 and 2023, that dropped to 17.3% in 2024. If Heim was going to go back to being the hitter he was in 2022 and 2023, that trend would have to reverse.
And early on in 2025, it looked like it was. Heim homered twice in the second game of the season — Kyle Higashioka got the start on Opening Day — and at the end of April was slashing .273/.325/.455. It looked like, offensively anyway, Heim was back.
But no. From May 1 through the end of the season, Heim slashed .198/.258/.302. And while his walk rate improved — he walked 7.4% of the time, still below his 2022 and 2023 rate of 8.5%, but better than his 5.3% walk rate in 2024 — he actually got worse in regards to his fly ball/ground ball tendencies.
In 2022 and 2023, Heim hit the ball in the air 61.1% and 63.7% of the time, respectively, compared to a major league average of 55.8%. That dropped to 58.2% in 2024 and 58.7% in 2025.
Heim pulled the ball 50% and 45% of the time in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, it was 38.3%, and in 2025, it was 40.7%.
And when he did pull the ball, more and more often, it was on the ground — 24% of the balls Jonah Heim put into play in 2025 were pulled ground balls. Only 16.7% of balls in play from Heim in 2025 were pulled in the air — even worse than his disappointing 2024 number.
The inclination is to put some of it on the much-discussed issue of the Shed killing fly ball hitters in 2025 — Heim had a slash line of .204/.266/.282 at home last year, compared to .220/.275/.374 on the road — but his xwOBA, which shouldn’t be impacted by that, was still .276, the worst of his career, and a mark that put him in the 4th percentile in MLB, per Statcast. So we can’t really place the blame on the Shed for Heim’s offensive struggles.
Fun fact — after hitting two home runs at the Shed on Opening Day, Heim only hit one more homer at home the rest of the season.
No, you’re right, that’s not really a fun fact.
Heim has also shouldered a very heavy workload the past several years. Since the start of 2022, Heim has appeared in 513 games — the second most of any player who has made at least 80% of his appearances at catcher, behind only Cal Raleigh, who has appeared in 576 games.
Early in spring training, there was a story about how the team “had some stern conversations,” as then catching coach Bobby Wilson put it, in the 2024 exit interviews about the improvements Heim needed to make in his offseason conditioning:
Getting Heim back to his 2023 form started at that exit interview.
What would his offseason look like? What would the strength and conditioning schedule be? How does the training staff keep Heim healthy?
Whatever it was that they were doing, it doesn’t appear to have worked.
Heim has gone from an All Star in 2023 to, in 2026, someone who settled for a $1.25 million deal with the Atlanta Braves on the eve of camps opening, and who might not have a major league job once the Braves’ starting catcher, Sean Murphy, returns from hip surgery.
It has been a precipitous fall for someone who, at one point, appeared to have made the Rangers’ catching position a strength for years to come.
CLEARWATER, MEXICO - MARCH 14: Jean Cabrera #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We are officially in the “eh, sure” stage of ranking the Phillies’ prospects. They have a shallow farm system once you get past the top five in the group, so if you lump enough of them together, maybe one or two will stick.
It’s a bit of a sad state of affairs.
Jean Cabrera – 72 Mavis Graves – 69 Zach McCambley – 32 Yoniel Curet – 10 Keaton Anthony – 8 Carson DeMartini – 7 Griffin Burkholder – 7 Alex McFarlane – 5 Cody Bowker – 3 Seth Johnson – 2
Cabrera is starting give off whiffs of Adonis Medina: guy who has the prospect pedigree of being a solid mid- to backend starting pitcher, yet the team never really gives him a chance to even make a spot start. As the probable 7th or 8th option in the team’s pecking order this season, he might finally make his debut, if not next year at least. We’re getting close to needing to see what he’s got, else he might just wither on the prospect vine.
Cabrera still does the things one looks for in a steady, back-of-the-rotation starter. He’s limber and athletic, he repeats his delivery well and with little violence, he has demonstrated that he has season-long big league starter stamina (he worked 137 innings last season), and he has the toolkit to thwart both left- and right-handed hitters. Issues with his fastball’s shape and playability forced Cabrera to lean more heavily on his slider as a strike-getting pitch in 2025, and subsequently use his changeup (which played like a plus pitch for the second consecutive year) more as a finisher.
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!
In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco are joined by Royals beat reporter Anne Rogers for an inside look at Kansas City’s spring training and the direction of the franchise heading into the new season. The conversation covers everything from the optimism surrounding camp to the buzz building for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, offering listeners both on-the-ground insight and big-picture perspective.
Anne shares observations on the revamped coaching staff and how communication and player development are shaping the clubhouse culture. The group breaks down recent trades aimed at improving pitching depth, the organization’s push for more strikeouts out of the bullpen, and how new additions are integrating into the team’s chemistry. They also explore leadoff hitter options, provide injury updates, and discuss why this spring feels different for the Royals.
Whether you’re tracking roster construction, prospect development, or simply looking for a thoughtful preview of what lies ahead, this episode delivers informed analysis and first-hand reporting on the Kansas City Royals as they prepare for the season.
Radio: All Nebraska games on Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
It’s here, it’s here! Baseball season is here!! And for the second year in a row, the Huskers head down to Arizona to begin their season at the MLB Desert Invitational. In last years version, the Huskers started off on the back foot, as a UC Irvine team that would go on to win 43 games won 10-5, scoring all their runs on Mason McConnaughey and Drew Christo. Nebraska rebounded the next day with a huge win over preseason #7 Vanderbilt. Gabe Swansen pumped in all 6 RBIs for the 6-4 win, but that game will most be remembered for Tucker Timmerman taking a comebacker to the face. Nebraska finished off the Invite by dismantling an overmatched San Diego State team 13-0
The results of the Invite combined with a quick stop over at Grand Canyon University for a 3-1 loss, left to a very mixed feeling of how the season was going to turnout for the fan base and team. They could obviously play with anyone, but there was something a little off. What followed was one of the strangest seasons in Nebraska baseball history. In an interview prior to the 2026 season, pitcher Ty Horn stated that a player that joined the team last season was a cancer and wrecked the chemistry the 2024 team had so much of. Despite their rocky season, the Huskers ended the 2025 season just like 2024, as Big Ten Tournament Champions. Horn states this years team has clicked almost immediately reminding him of the 2024 roster, and thinks the season will work out similarly.
This years Desert Invitational features games against 4 teams that have had a lot of success on the diamond over the past decade. Stanford is obviously the biggest name of the bunch, but despite being in smaller leagues the other teams have put together some impressive numbers and piled up wins. So lets get to it!
It’s almost a whole new look starting rotation. The one holdover is Ty Horn. Horn always had the stuff to battle some of the best pitchers in the conference. The first half of the season, he seemed to make a mistake 4-5 innings in and it would just snowball into 3-4 runs in a hurry before the coaches could even get someone warm. After about mid-April, he seemed to gain a new confidence to pair with his already good 4 pitches. From then on, Nebraska lost only 1 game in which he started, and that was a game against Purdue in which he only allowed 1 earned run. If we get the second half Horn, including the one that took down a powerful UCLA offense for the Big Ten title, it will go a long way to starting the weekends off right.
The best fastball on the team last season was Carson Jasa. Per Coach Bolt, that pitch has done nothing but improve over the offseason, going from an avg of 95-96 to 98 mph. Ty Horn joked that last season Jasa released the ball, having no idea where it was going to end up, but pitching coach Rob Childress, who according to Horn “can teach a chicken to throw strikes”, has built Jasa up into the teams best pro prospect. They’ve worked on refining his slider/cutter, and are trying to get him a reliable 3rd pitch between a splitter/forkball and a curve. If that happens, the sky is the limit.
Coach Bolt likes to have a more experienced Sunday starter than Saturday, because he puts so much importance on “Championship Sundays”. Enter 2025 MAC Pitcher of the Year Cooper Katskee to take that slot. The All-American spent his first two seasons in college baseball coming out of the Indiana bullpen before transferring to Miami (OH) and becoming one of the more effective starters in the country. He was not a big strikeout guy, but held batters to a .196 avg last season. Bolt compares his mound presence to McConnaughey and thinks he can provide that type of performance to either get the series victory or close out a sweep.
To close out the weekend, Bolt choose not to go with who he considers their 4th best pitcher, Tucker Timmerman, because he felt he would be more effective giving his all in potentially multiple appearances out of the bullpen. So to keep with the players he expects to start mid-week and allow everyone to stay in their normal roles, Gavin Blachowicz will make his first start of his career. He made 17 appearances out of the pen last season, being a reliable option, going 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA. He’s got a live mid-90s fastball that has a lot of late movement on it, and Bolt thinks he is ready to take a big leap this year.
Friday Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers (33-29 in 2025) vs UConn Huskies (38-21 in 2025)
Location: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ
Date/Time: February 13th, @ 7 pm CT
Head Coach(s): Will Bolt (7th season, 170-126-1) & Jim Penders (23rd season, 773-496-5)
Probable Pitchers: RHP Ty Horn (4-4, 4.94 ERA in 2025) vs. LHP Charlie West (6-0, 2.58 ERA in 2025)
UConn has been one of the most consistently good teams of the non-power conferences over the last decade. They missed out on the NCAA tournament last year for only the second time since 2016. They still tied for first in the Big East Conference, the first time they didn’t win the conference outright since joining in 2021. They edged out Creighton for the preseason Big East favorite, and had 3 players make preseason All-Conference.
Scouting Report
The Huskies returned only 3 starters from last season’s team, so they hit the portal hard. For the first time in Pender’s 23 seasons, the have more newcomers than returners. What they do return is pretty special. Tyler Minick played corner infield mostly last season, but will move to the outfield this season. He batted .350 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and added 15 stolen bases. Despite somehow only being 2nd team All-Conference last year, multiple outlets have him as the preseason Big East Player of the Year.
Tyler Minick had one of the most complete offensive seasons in the country last spring.
He hit .350/.433/.729 with 22 home runs, 11 doubles and 15 stolen bases.
First baseman Maddix Dalena was the Preseason Conference Player of the Year for last season, before a wrist injury knocked him out a couple weeks in. He had 13 home runs and 43 RBIs 2 seasons ago. Of all the new transfers, one will be particularly noticeable. Sophomore 1B/DH Jackson Marshall arrived from New Hampshire, where he was the conference rookie of the year. He stands 6’8” and 275 lbs, and throws all that frame into every swing, with power to all fields. Watch out if he gets ahold of one.
As for the strength of the team, starting pitching, UConn trots out 3 lefty starters. Nebraska is set to duel against Charlie West. He worked his way from the bullpen last year into the back end of the starting lineup and was statistically their most effective pitcher. He swapped places with last years ace, and will begin the season as the Huskies Friday night starter. After moving to the starting lineup, he went 6-0 with a 1.85 ERA, mostly with just fastball/change-up. He’s been working on a slider this offseason, so it will be in the mix.
The Huskies have a good bullpen overall, headlined by one of the top relievers in the mid-majors. Sean Finn went 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 22 appearances, 4 being starts. He’s also struck out a staggering 49 batters in 33 innings. They lost their star closer from last season, so its unknown if Finn will move back to that role or continue in his high-leverage role mid game.
Series History
UConn leads the all time series 2-1 vs Nebraska. This will be the first meeting outside of postseason play. The teams last met in the 2019 Oklahoma City regional. Nebraska won the opening game, but after a heartbreaking loss against Oklahoma State the night before, Nebraska fell to the Huskies in what would be Darin Erstad’s last game as head coach.
Saturday Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers (33-29 in 2025) vs Northeastern Huskies (49-11 in 2025)
Location: Sloan Park, Mesa, AZ
Date/Time: February 14th, @ 7:30 pm CT
Head Coach(s): Will Bolt (7th season, 170-126-1) & Mike Glavin (12th season, 357-222-1)
Probable Pitchers: RHP Carson Jasa (2-2, 8.68 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Andrew Wertz (4-1, 1.33 ERA in 2025)
Northeastern was the little 4 seed that almost could in the 2021 Fayetteville Regional, pushing the top two seeds to the brink before finally falling short. Since then they have averaged 40 wins and secured back to back conference titles, of which last years culminated the end of a 27 game winning streak. This led to them being a 2 seed in the Tallahassee Regional, being knocked out by 3 seed Mississippi State 3-2. They are afraid of no one anymore, and have to be taken seriously.
Scouting Report
The best player in the field this weekend may very well have “Northeastern” written across his chest. 1st Team All-American outfielder Harrison Feinberg. Feinberg exploded onto the scene last season. After 3 home runs and 17 RBIs in 28 games as a sophomore, he won conference Player of the Year last year, batting .365, with 18 home runs, and 67 RBIs. Oh, and a program record 37 stolen bases. He has garnered nearly every pre-season accolade possible, and is one of the top OF prospects in the 2026 MLB draft.
BASED OFF W.A.R
The top ten returning college outfielders college!!
Fellow senior Carmelo Musacchia will be making the switch from second base to short stop. He hit .302 with 23 extra base hits last year to go with 28 stolen bases. If Nebraska goes as expected with freshman Jeter Worthley behind the plate, you can expect the Northeastern offense to test him constantly with their running game.
The Huskies have their work cut out for them on the mound. They led the nation in ERA last season, but lost 89% of their innings pitched. Grad transfer Andrew Wertz was a Division III closer who was expected to be a back end of the bullpen guy for Northeastern, but has impressed so much that they are trying him out in the huge void that is the Huskies starting rotation. He throws 95-97 and does have a big sweeping breaking ball behind it. Last season he gave up 1 run in his first game pitched, 3 in his last game pitched, and zero earned runs in the 22 games in between. Sheesh…
Honestly, with all the new faces and guys that haven’t thrown a meaningful pitch in a Husky uniform, it’s hard to speculate as to who will be pitching in any specific situation in the pen. Theyve given us a 3 man rotation, but beyond that is anyone’s guess. Sophomore Andrew Basel is one of the more experienced returners that has a good low to mid 90s fastball, and a couple hit or miss off speed pitches he has worked on over the summer and fall to improve.
Series History
Nebraska has played Northeastern once before. They met in game 5 of the 2021 Fayetteville Regional. Nebraska won 8-6 to get to the regional final against #1 Arkansas, which they would push to a game 7 before losing in the late innings.
Sunday Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers (33-29 in 2025) vs Grand Canyon Antelopes (31-27 in 2025)
Location: Sloan Park, Mesa, AZ
Date/Time: February 15th, @ 6 pm CT
Head Coach(s): Will Bolt (7th season, 170-126-1) & Gregg Wallis (4th season, 104-73)
Probable Pitchers: RHP Cooper Katzkee (11-2, 3.08 ERA in 2025) vs. TBD
You know them. You love to hate them. The Lopes are back on the Huskers schedule for a third year in a row. After the contentious 4 game series in 2024, that had multiple late game comebacks by NU and a couple instances where a brawl seemed imminent, the teams met again last season and GCU upset the ranked Huskers. Grand Canyon joins the Mountain West this season after dominating the WAC since becoming a D1 program in 2014.
Scouting Report
Gone are so many of the names we’ve become familiar with the past couple years. Josh Wakefield was drafted, Eddy Pelc graduated, and Zach Yorke transferred to LSU. The top returner is Yorke’s replacement at first base, Cannon Perry. Perry batted .317 a year ago with 16 doubles. He only had 3 home runs, but has shown a lot more power coming into this season, so look for that number to go way up. Dominic Chacon is another returner who should be in the DH role until healthy enough to man an outfield spot. Still recovering from an injury, the coaches think he will eventually be the clubs top offensive producer.
GCUs top incoming transfer is former Tarleton State catcher Milo Perez. He is a catcher that is good enough to be a top of the lineup hitter, may even lead off for the Lopes. He is a great all around athlete, with a great arm to control the running game. He will work the count a lot too, but does not strike out, having only 11 for 2025.
The Antelopes lost quite a bit of their pitching from last years team, and had 2 arms battling for the starting rotation go down with season ending injuries already, including one of the more talented freshman they were planning on relying heavily on. They’ve named their Friday and Saturday starters, but have yet to decide on who will take the ball beyond that. I would not be surprised to see Elijah Higginbotham toe the rubber against the Huskers. His first game in a GCU uniform was against NU last season, in which he threw 5 innings of shutout ball, starting an offensive slump that Nebraska couldn’t pull out of for over a month.
Should the staff decide Higginbotham is too valuable as a high leverage reliever, look for Fresno State transfer JT Guerrero to be next in line to start. Guerrero was the top arm out of the bullpen for Fresno last season, but GCU wants to give him a chance to start, even if it means having him only go 3 to 4 innings while he builds up his stamina.
Series History
Nebraska has a 3-2 record against the Lopes, with all games coming in the past 2 seasons. Nebraska took a 3-1 fiery series win in 2024, while GCU upset the #23 ranked Huskers 3-1 last season.
Monday Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers (33-29 in 2025) vs Stanford Cardinal (27-25 in 2025)
Location: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ
Date/Time: February 16th, @ 2 pm CT
Head Coach(s): Will Bolt (7th season, 170-126-1) & David Esquer (9th season, 800-617-3)
Probable Pitchers: RHP Gavin Blachowicz (3-0, 3.80 ERA in 2025) vs. TBD
The first coach Nebraska will see for the first time is Stanford’s David Esquer. Esquer took over 9 years ago for the legendary Mark Marquess, who brought numerous Stanford teams to Omaha in his 41 years, winning 2 CWS championships. Esquer made the treasonous move from Cal to Stanford and had them rolling in the PAC-12. Stanford made 3 straight CWS trips from 2021-23, but now has to battle through the ACC.
Scouting Report
Second Team All-American infielder, and senior Jimmy Nati will man second base and is the top offensive player for the Cardinal. He hit .300 with 9 doubles, 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. All while playing defense at a high enough rate to be a Gold Glove finalist for second base. 2025 Freshman All American outfielder Tatum Marsh led the team last season with a .377 batting average and .459 on base %.
Stanford also is loaded with young talent and boasts two of the better freshmen to make it to campus after the draft. LHP/OF Brock Ketelsen will see playing time on both the mound and in the outfield. He played summer ball in a collegiate league and struck out 19 in just 9 innings and also hit .328 and had 28 steals. Outfielder Brock Sell was a high school All-American, and projected 2nd round pick going into last years draft.
Ready for Year ☝️
A trio of Cardinal enter the season on @PGCollegeBall's Top 100 freshmen list‼️
While they return a ton of offensive experience, the pitching staff is lacking in proven arms. They have named their starters for the first 2 games in Arizona, but are waiting to see how their bullpen looks on Sunday and Monday before naming a starter. It could be time to see what one of their talented freshmen such as Ketelsen above, or Philip Cheong, another 2-way player ranked in the top 100 freshman to make it to campus, can do.
Ryan Speshyock is one of the top relievers in the country. He struck out 38 batters in 27 innings last year. He could be looking at moving into the closer role, or even potentially getting a look at the back end of the rotation.
Series History
Stanford leads the all time series 6-2. The teams last battled in the 2008 season opening series. The teams split a Friday double header in the Sunken Diamond, before Stanford took the series Saturday 4-2.
Kurt Helin
