SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 6: Andrew McCutchen #4 of the Texas Rangers stands on the field prior to a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners at Surprise Stadium on March 6, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland has a few observation from a Cactus League win for the Texas Rangers over the San Diego Padres yesterday.
Kennedi Landry writes about Andrew McCutchen making his spring debut with Texas where the former NL MVP smacked an RBI double.
Kevin Sherrington checks out what impact the new ABS challenge system can make on the Rangers as it goes into full effect for the first time this season.
Grant notes that Schumaker intends to allow Josh Smith and Evan Carter more leeway to bat against left-handed pitching rather than viewing them strictly as platoon options.
TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 29: Luis De León #11 of the Peoria Javelinas pitches during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s no secret that the Orioles have a problem developing pitching under the Mike Elias regime. When Brandon Young debuted for the O’s last April, he became the first undrafted free agent to debut for the Baltimore since 2019. A month later, Kade Strowd became the first pitcher drafted by Elias to debut for the Orioles. There has yet to be a second.
That track record may start to turn around in 2026, however, and the biggest name to watch is soon-to-be 23-year-old Luis De León. I’ll be the first to admit that seeing De León rise to the status of Baltimore’s No.1 pitching prospect when MLB.com released the Orioles updated Top 30 prospect list last week. After all, Trey Gibson is the Orioles’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year and many prospect prognosticators spent ample time in 2025 hyping up 19-year-old right-hander Esteban Mejia.
However, after seeing the latest clips of De León to come out of Sarasota, it’s clear why the lanky lefty from the Dominican Republic has distinguished himself from all other Orioles pitching prospects. He’s only faced 10 batters so far this Spring, giving up one hit and striking out two. However, what’s popped off the screen in those ten plate appearances is the outrageous repertoire the young lefty possesses.
De León’s two go-to pitches are his sinker and slider. The sinker has become the primary weapon of choice for many top lefties across the league. Phillies All-Star hurler Cristopher Sánchez led all of baseball last year with 19 Run Value of his sinker, on his way to an 8.0 WAR season and a second-place finish in NL Cy Young voting. Orioles’ failed free agency target Framber Valdez also leaned heavily on his sinker during a strong 2025, while AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet uses his sinker as his go-to pitch in left-on-left matchups.
What distinguishes De León’s sinking fastball from the game’s top lefties is its sheer velocity. Sánchez and Valdez both sat around 94-95mph with their sinkers. Crochet’s sinker had a little more heat, sitting around 96mph and approaching triple digits on occasion. The Orioles’ young lefty can run his sinker up into the high 90s, putting him in elite company with some of the MLB’s top southpaws.
Orioles LHP prospect Luis De León averaged 97.1 mph on his fastball Saturday.
Here is the complete list of MLB left-handed starting pitchers in 2025 to average over 97 mph on their fastball:
The Orioles’ top pitching prospect pairs that high-velocity sinker with a wipe-out slider that he’s comfortable throwing to both righties and lefties. Against the Braves on Saturday, 14 of his 29 pitches were sliders, with six to RHBs and eight to LHBs. Chris Sale is the gold standard for lefty sliders, and while De León has a slightly smaller frame than Sale, he has a similar low arm slot that helps create whip on his breaking ball.
— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) November 10, 2025
The lefty rounds out a five-pitch mix with a four-seamer that also reaches the upper 90s, a mid 80’s changeup with some run that mirrors his sinker and a splitter in the low 80’s. The off-speed offerings are still playing catch-up with the fastballs and slider, but MLB.com’s write-up on De León notes that “all [five] can be plus pitches because De León throws everything with good arm speed and angle when his mechanics are clicking.”
A good changeup can give De León a strong plan of attack against right-handed batters. Reigning, two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal led baseball last year with 25 Run Value on changeups. It was also his primary pitch against RHBs, throwing 34% changes against righties.
De León uses his sinker to churn out ground balls, producing nearly two groundball outs for every flyout. The changeup then becomes a great out pitch he can tunnel off the sinker, keeping hitters off balance thanks to the 10+ mph difference between the two pitches. The shape of the pitches should give him a similar sinker/changeup combo to what we’d seen previously from Yennier Cano—but with a bigger speed difference that should make De Leon’s changeup more effective.
If he can hone his splitter as well, it’d give him an arsenal you just don’t see in left-handed starters. Of all lefty starters last year, only the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga prominently featured a splitter as part of his arsenal. And while Imanaga’s splitter also sits in the low 80’s, the Japanese southpaw’s average fastball velocity barely tops 90mph. A refined splitter would give the lefty a natural complement to his four-seamer, allowing him to attack the top of the zone with the heater before making hitters look foolish on a low splitter. Otherwise known as the Félix Bautista approach.
That’s not to say the soon-to-be 23-year-old doesn’t have flaws as a prospect. His control is still a work in progress, as is often the case with young pitchers with plus stuff and high strikeout numbers. The young lefty posted an 11 K/9 rate across three levels last season, including racking 24 Ks in 16 innings to end the season at Double-A. However, he also put up 4.2 BB/9, a number that would’ve been second-worst among qualified MLB starters last year. Those control concerns popped up again during his stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he struck out 22 batters in 16.1 innings but also walked 12.
Many, including De León himself, expect the lefty to reach the majors sometime this year. Given the number of major league-proven starters the front office brought in this offseason, it seems unlikely that the young Dominican will crack the rotation upon his arrival in Baltimore.
However, he has a chance to make a big impact in a multi-inning relief role—similar to what we’ve seen from other top left-handed prospects to begin their career. Both Sale and Crochet were relievers for their first two seasons with the White Sox before transitioning to starters in their third full season. Former Cy Young winner David Price debuted in the bullpen for the Rays, even closing some playoff games in their run to the 2008 World Series. If the Orioles find themselves in contention down the stretch, De León could be the secret weapon they need to get Baltimore back to October.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 08: Masataka Yoshida #34 of Team Japan poses for photos after the 4-3 win during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Australia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Red Sox signed Masataka Yoshida on December 15, 2022 it was to mixed reactions. Xander Bogaerts had signed with the San Diego Padres a few days earlier, lost to free agency sorta-kinda because of the addition of Trevor Story. Kyle Schwarber the year before had been deemed “too expensive” when he signed with the Dave Dombrowski’s Philadelphia Phillies. And yet there were the Red Sox giving a five-year deal, $90 million contact to Yoshida, in addition to a posting fee. But there was also excitement. Yoshida was coming to the Red Sox from the Orix Buffaloes where he excelled.
In the 2022 season the outfielder hit .335/.447/.561 with 21 home runs. He drew 80 walks against just 41 strikeouts. Obviously, no one expected him to duplicate the line entirely. Maybe not hit for as much power. Maybe not quite the same strikeouts and walks – though his batting skill was main draw for Yoshida so possibly not as much change.
As the calendar would have it, spring 2023 was both his first Spring Training in the US and a WBC year. Almost before he’d joined the Sox, Yoshida was back playing with a Japanese team. And if you were excited about his potential — as Chaim Bloom surely was — Yoshida would exceed all rational thought. Through the tournament he hit an insane .409/.531/.727 with two home runs and a double. He walked four times against a single strikeout. He won the MVP as Japan took the crown.
Over three years in Boston Yoshida has not been an MVP but he’s definitely had his moments. In 2023, Yoshida played in 140 games and hit .289/.338/.445 with 15 home runs and 81 strikeouts compared to just 34 walks. That’s a solid year to build off.
He battled injuries in 2024 but despite playing in only 108 games he was still worth 1.4 bWAR. Was he adjusting? Maybe. Slashing .280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs and 52 strikeouts compared to 27 walks showed some of that. Alex Cora kept him out of the outfield, proffering DH duty, but if he wasn’t needed in the outfield why use a fielder you’re not sure is your best option?
“I don’t know why people are so surprised that he’s hitting. When he was healthy in ‘23 the first half of the season, he was one of the best hitters in the big leagues. He got banged up. We kind of covered it for a while there, and he had injections [for his right shoulder]. – Alex Cora
In 2025, Yoshida would miss the first half of the season recovering from shoulder surgery. The hope being that with a patched up arm maybe he’d be a better outfield option. Although it was never really clear if that was the plan.
All said and done this was a disappointing season for Masataka Yoshida at first glance. Slashing just .266/.307/.388. Though he did hit 4 home runs, steal 3 bases, and put up a 24: 10 K:BB. While it’s a small sample, his September, as the rest of the ream struggled to hit, was perhaps a sign that after injury and a long layoff, he was feeling better. Yoshida would hit .333/.351/.486 with 2 of his 4 homers. His K:BB was 5:3. That’s only 18 games but potentially his first truly healthy play since sometime in 2024. He’d roll straight into the Yankees series hitting .571/.571/.571. Fours hits in 7 plate appearances. He even drove in 2 critical runs. He struck out just once.
And he rolled into the World Baseball Classic in Spring 2026, healthy.
Through four games – all of which Japan won – Masa is 6 for 12 with two home runs. He’s playing with fun. He’s playing with style.
That’s a bat drop worthy of Roman Anthony.
What’s the future for Yoshida when he returns to Boston? He’s got the inside track as the DH. Unlike Triston Casas, he can’t easily be sent to the minors. He’s hitting for power again, which, yes, adjust this for competition, but he needed to show he’d found his power swing again. Did Craig Breslow and Alex Cora already know this? I don’t know, probably? They have tremendously more information than we do. But We’re all seeing it now.
This looks like 2023 Yoshida shining on the international stage, ready to take that experience back to Boston. Only this time he isn’t an American rookie – he’s a veteran. He’s the Macho Man. He’s Masa.
On this day 43 years ago, George Kell became one of the least deserving Hall-of-Famers ever. | (Photo by Hy Peskin/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X2762)
1914 The White Sox their World Tour vs. the New York Giants to final rest with a banquet in the Gold Room of the Congress Hotel. Pitcher Joe Benz had to skip the celebration — he was getting married that day! Manager Nixey Callahan also had to book out west right after the celebration — White Sox spring training had started out in Paso Robles, Calif., on February 26.
Jim Margalus provided South Side Sox coverage of this night, and the entire tour, back in 2014.
1959 Months after exercising his right to purchase a 54% (controlling) interest in the White Sox from Dorothy Comiskey, the courts cleared the sale and officially awarded the keys to Bill Veeck. Dorothy’s brother, Chuck, had held up the sale, taking his sister and Veeck to court over his supposed right of first refusal to purchase Dorothy’s shares. Chuck — who would eventually opt to remain on the payroll as an awkward “co-GM” with Greenberg — was said to have sped off in his Cadillac as Veeck arrived at the park for the first time, on this day, after purchase.
1963 Pete Rose made his career Spring Training debut in a game vs. the White Sox at Al Lopez Field in Tampa. Rose went 2-for-2 with a double in Cincinnati’s 1-0, 14-inning (!!) win. The second baseman entered the game in the ninth inning, doubled twice, and scored the only run of the game. He would end up the NL Rookie of the Year that season.
1983 George Kell, briefly a White Sox third baseman, was elected to the Hall of Fame via the Special Veterans Committee.
Kell had failed to reach even 37% in any of his 15 previous ballots for the Hall, and for good reason: He is one of the weaker players by WAR (37.6) in the Hall (50.0 is just about the basement for even the biggest of Big Hall fans).
By the time Kell was dealt to the White Sox during the 1954 season, his best days were past. In fact, Kell was essentially a replacement player (0.3) during that first season in Chicago, with his batting average falling short of .300 for the first time in eight seasons. A big part of his loss in value was the fact that the White Sox moved the ace third baseman to first base for half of his games that summer. However with a return to third base, Kell bounced back with a strong 1955, hitting .312 and putting up a 2.7 WAR. During the 1956 season, almost exactly two years to the date he was acquired, the White Sox shipped Kell to Baltimore, where he ended his career in 1957.
Longtime Dodgers manager Walter Alston was elected along with Kell.
1995 After two stints at White Sox Spring Training and a full season in Birmingham, Michael Jordan announced he was giving up baseball.
Part of the reason came as a result of his struggles with re-learning the game in his 30s. But the other, larger part (as he explained to author Bob Greene in the book Rebound, The Odyssey of Michael Jordan)was because he was being pressured by GM Ron Schueler to cross the MLBPA picket line.
With replacement games set to start during the lockout of major-leaguers, Jordan was told that if he didn’t cross the line, he’d be banished from the main clubhouse. Jordan was furious, saying that he was promised by owner Jerry Reinsdorf he wouldn’t be forced to do that.
Jordan explained that under no circumstances would he ever cross a labor picket line regardless of sport.
“I told them from the beginning that I didn’t want them to use me to make money in the Spring Training games,” Jordan told Greene. “We had an understanding. It was never supposed to even come up. I was disgusted that the promise wasn’t going to be honored.”
Jordan would return to the Bulls at the end of the 1994-95 season, and went on to win three more NBA championships (1996-98).
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of the Venezuela steals third during the first inning against Nicaragua at loanDepot park on March 09, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Wentz was a depth piece and may not have even made the team to start the season, a starting staff that already was dealing with multiple signficant injuries really did not need another. As good as the offense has looked, the Braves lack of injury luck in their starting rotation is once again the biggest storyline of the Spring. And at some point, moves need to be made to insure pitching injuries do not once again put the season in doubt, and this time perhaps before it even starts.
His name is no longer just Will Klein. It will now forever be linked with the moniker World Series Hero Will Klein.
In the marathon game that was Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, it was Klein that kept the Dodgers tied with the Toronto Blue Jays. He gave everything he had, going four innings and 72 pitches. It was the longest outing of his professional career, and Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning garnered Klein the win.
Now, Klein is in a battle to join the Dodgers bullpen this season. The relief pitcher has been with four organizations in the last two years, and would very much like to continue calling L.A. his home. From Sonja Chen of MLB.com:
“I think the Dodgers just really allow you to be who you are,” Klein said. “A lot of other teams are maybe like cookie-cutter in their programs or know what they want from guys, but here … you see a lot of different kinds of pitchers, and they let you do what you’re exceptional at.”
So far this spring, he has appeared in five games, going 5.0 innings, with seven strikeouts and a 1.80 era. But per usual, the Dodgers bullpen is full of guys who can make the Opening Day roster, and Klein just hopes he is one.
One guy who is new to the team but knows he has a spot is Kyle Tucker. He isn’t just new to the Dodgers, he’s new to parenthood. Kyle and his wife welcomed a baby boy last week.
Now Tucker is back in Dodgers camp and looking to work on his swing to be ready for the start of the season.
Unlike Freddie Freeman, Tucker does not have a set number of at bats he’d like to have to feel comfortable at the plate. Tucker had one hit in Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics but was out of the lineup on Monday. He is expected to be back in the lineup in Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“From what I’ve gathered of talking to him and his coaches before, he doesn’t need a lot to get ready,” Roberts said, per Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register. “It was good to see him get a hit (Sunday). … I still think we have plenty of time to get him ready to go.”
In addition to spring training, the baseball world is enjoying the World Baseball Classic. And while two of his fellow starting pitchers went to play for their country, Glasnow decided early in the offseason that he would stay in Dodgers camp to continue to progress on the strides he made last season, per Jack Harris of The California Post.
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior remarked that it took the coaching staff a little while to understand all there was to Glasnow’s delivery, and how best to make it work for him. From Harris:
“I think it’s taken us a couple years to kind of understand the nuances of his delivery, and really matching his feel versus the output (of what he’s doing),” Prior said. “With a lot of guys, we’re trying to get things narrowed down to one or two things that we can really hit somebody between the eyes with. But I joke with him, like, ‘Hey man, you got 50.’”
They have homed in on a few specific tweaks, and Glasnow showed out in the playoffs, both starting and coming in in relief, allowing only a 1.69 era through the playoffs. Glasnow is now looking to carry that into the 2026 season. He starts Tuesday against the Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch.
Jalen Smith, 30, of Charlotte, was the first of 26 defendants to admit criminal wrongdoing, entering his plea on Monday, March 9, at a hearing in Philadelphia.
Smith was a "fixer" who recruited players "to underperform and help ensure their team failed to cover the spread in games during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NCAA men’s basketball seasons," federal prosecutors said in a statement.
Smith was one of the primary figures in the operation, responsible for "recruiting, managing, and paying players for their roles," according to the statement.
The fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years. The bribery charges have a maximum sentence of five years. Smith also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm.
MINNEAPOLIS - JULY 29: Denard Span of the Minnesota Twins bats against the Chicago White Sox at the Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 29, 2008. The Twins defeated the White Sox 6-5. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Unless or until the Minnesota Twins win another World Series—one I’m not a toddler or a kindergartener for—it is possible that September 25, 2008, will remain my Twins fandom zenith. Timing and circumstance matters a lot, and in late ‘08 I had just graduated college and reveling in the “summer after being done” (not quite realizing what the Great Recession was going to do to my immediate-future employment prospects). No, at the time all I cared about was the Twins beating the White Sox at the Metrodome—and Denard Span delivered…
The newbie: Sano-ing in Cleveland!
Jacque Jones jolts contraction outta here (2002)
The 2001 offseason was undoubtedly the worst in Twins franchise history. After MLB Commissioner Bud Selig floated the contraction idea and Twins owner Carl Pohlad was more than willing to take the payout, it took a county judge to restore order. Jacque Jones restored between-the-white-lines order by homering in the first PA of the 2002 season! I wasn’t able to locate the audio, but Dick Bremer’s “And I hope it lands in Milwaukee!” call remains iconic.
Francisco Liriano out-duels Roger Clemens (2006)
Francisco Liriano’s 2006 run was perhaps the greatest pitching stretch in franchise history. His signature moment that season was out-dueling Roger Clemens in Houston on June 22, 2006. With The Rocket (5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) in the midst of his home-state comeback, Liriano (8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) outclassed the veteran in his own back yard. While by no means Frankie’s best single-game performance of ‘06, beating Kody’s Dad put him on the national stage.
No Way, Jose! (2024)
On July 3, 2024, Jose Miranda singled in the eighth inning of a blowout loss to the Tigers. Ho hum. But then, something inexplicable happened: Miranda reached base the next twelve consecutive at-bats—13 if you count a HBP mixed in! In a sport where 0-fer slumps can sometimes last weeks, Jose managed to find his way on base—without the benefit of a BB—a baker’s dozen worth of times in a row.
Chili for 3 (1991)
In the late-80s and early-90s, the Oakland Athletics controlled the AL West. The Twins looked to change that on August 16, 1991. Only a few games up on the A’s, MN found themselves down 4-2 in B9 against dominant closer Dennis Eckersley. Chili Davis led off and smacked a ball to RF, where chaos ensued: Jose Canseco played the sphere like a malfunctioning pinball machine, a fan hurled a roll of toilet paper onto the field, and Chili chugged into third base. A few batters later, the Twins tied the game, won it in extra innings, and never were less than 4 GA of the Bash Brothers the rest of the way to the pennant.
Sano Slams the Division Door (2019)
The 2019 season was a magical one for the Twins. But somewhat forgotten in the 100+ wins & Bomba Squad of it all was Cleveland being a persistent pest all summer long. On September 14, Miguel Sano swatted them away on their own grounds. After taking the first game of a rain-induced doubleheader, the Twins & Guardians found themselves tied 5-5 in the 8th inning of game two. That is, until—with the bases juiced—Sano launched a sphere so far that not even the high walls of Progressive Field could contain it! My Mom and I were present on the shores of Lake Erie to see the Twins finally commandeer the Central crown.
With the playoffs in Yahoo! default leagues beginning next week, Week 20 is huge for many fantasy managers. Some silly season standouts have already emerged, and there's room for more to join the party in the coming days. On the flip side, there are some starters whose values have decreased at the worst possible time.
It's been known for quite some time that the Jazz were headed back to the draft lottery, and given the depth of the projected 2026 draft class, the silly season has been in full swing for quite some time in Utah. Add in the lack of interior depth due to injuries, and there has been plenty of room for Filipowski to flourish. And he's taken advantage recently.
Over the past week, the 7-footer has averaged 14.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. And in Utah's March 9 win over the Warriors, Filipowski produced the fourth stat line of his career that included at least 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Precious Achiuwa
Like the Jazz, Sacramento's frontcourt depth has been sapped due to injuries. Achiuwa and rookie Maxime Raynaud have been logging heavy minutes, with the former averaging nearly 35 minutes per appearance over the past two weeks. During this run, Achiuwa has averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 75 percent from the foul line. Not signed to a deal until early November, Achiuwa is now a player who must be rostered in 12-team leagues heading into the final month of the regular season.
Jaylin Williams
The Thunder center has benefited from Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein missing games recently, providing consistent value as a spot starter. Over the past week, JayWill has averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.8 three-pointers while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 75 percent from the foul line. Williams' fantasy value clearly depends on the availability of Holmgren and Hartenstein, but he's worth rostering until those two are available to play.
STOCK DOWN
Alperen Şengün
The Rockets' center's problem recently: turnovers. Over the past two weeks, he has averaged 4.6 per game, and that includes Şengün racking up eight in a March 2 win over the Wizards. Over the past two weeks, he has averaged 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 56 percent from the field and 68.6 percent from the foul line. For fantasy managers either punting turnovers or competing in leagues that don't include that category, the free-throw percentage is a more significant issue. Either way, Şengün needs to be more efficient as a playmaker than he's been recently.
Mikal Bridges
Bridges' availability gives his fantasy value a boost, and for most of this season, his production has been very good. Unfortunately, the Knicks' wing has taken a step back recently. Over the past week, he's made 37 percent of his field-goal attempts while averaging 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game. While Bridges' playing 25 minutes in the first game of the Knicks' five-game road trip was understandable, as New York blew out the Nuggets, he played 27 and 26 minutes in losses to the Lakers and Clippers.
Myles Turner
After being a key supplementary option for the Pacers during their run to the NBA Finals last season, Turner made the move to Milwaukee in free agency. Unfortunately for him and the Bucks, the returns have not been great, and things have gotten even worse recently. Over the past two weeks, the Bucks center has averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from the foul line.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, having two separate extended absences due to calf strains, hasn't helped matter, but the Bucks need more from Turner, especially as a rebounder. That deficiency may be the biggest reason why his playing time has decreased.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Tyler O'Neill #9 of the Baltimore Orioles runs to second base on a passed ball in the seventh inning during a game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tyler O’Neill’s debut season in Baltimore was a disaster. The 30-year-old was placed on the IL three times for three different ailments. He had neck inflammation in April, a left shoulder impingement in May, and right wrist inflammation in August. That limited him to just 54 games and a .684 OPS. One season into his three-year, $49.5 million deal, it’s was looking like a bad investment by the Orioles front office.
But the team won’t be ready to move on after one poor campaign. O’Neill is back and expected to play a major role on a team looking for an offensive rebound. He has the potential to be a significant factor in whether or not that happens. The reason the Orioles were willing to pay him so much going into 2025 was his impressive showing with the Red Sox, where he had an .847 OPS with 31 home runs in just 113 games during the 2024 season.
Here’s the Orioles’ current outfield picture: Taylor Ward was brought in to start everyday in left field and provide reliable pop. Colton Cowser is penciled in as the center fielder day in and day out. O’Neill is expected to share right field with Dylan Beavers and likely get some at-bats as the team’s DH as well. Leody Taveras is looking like the “fourth outfielder” that can backup everywhere, but particularly in center. Heston Kjerstad is lurking in the background, likely bound for Norfolk to begin the year, where he can prove if he is past the health struggles he dealt with last summer.
O’Neill’s path to “everyday” at-bats is a bit muddier than it was a year ago, when he came in as the highly-paid key addition. There’s pressure on this team to win a lot of games and make a playoff run. If that includes O’Neill as the right fielder most days, then that is where he will be. If it means taking him out of the lineup more frequently to keep him fresh, then so be it.
Here is what two prominent projection systems expect for O’Neill in 2026:
The two projections are nearly identical. The 350-ish plate appearances they expect is particularly noteworthy. That would peg O’Neill at playing in 90 or so games. Looking at his career numbers, that feels like a fair estimate, basically baking in an IL stint or two.
More importantly, they do expect O’Neill to bounceback at the plate and produce right around his career average numbers (.242/.320/.463). That would be an acceptable outcome from the Orioles’ perspective. Getting around 20 home runs and a .770 OPS from a part-time outfielder probably means the offensive overall has taken a nice step forward.
And although the sample size for 2025 is small, there is evidence that O’Neill played better than his topline numbers suggest. According to Baseball Savant, his expected slugging percentage was .523, and his expected wOBA was .360. Both numbers would have been in the top 20% of MLB if he qualified. So maybe we aren’t too far away from an O’Neill breakout in Baltimore.
What do you think of these projections? Do you think O’Neill will stay healthy enough to make an impact in 2026? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: A general view of the stadium during the spring training game between the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 23, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
I’m back from a few days off for my birthday, so let’s take a look at what the San Francisco Giants have on deck for this week.
Tuesday
The Giants will head to Goodyear Ballpark to take on the Cleveland Guardians at 1:05 p.m. PDT. Audio coverage will be available through the MLB Gameday app.
Wednesday
The Giants will head to Surprise, AZ to take on the Kansas City Royals at 1:05 p.m. PDT. Audio coverage will be available through the MLB Gameday app.
Thursday
The Giants will return to Scottsdale to take on the Chicago White Sox at 6:05 p.m. PDT. Mark this one on your calendars, as the game will have a television broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Friday
Friday will be a split squad day against the Cincinnati Reds.
The road team will head back to Goodyear Ballpark to take on the Reds’ home team at 6:05 p.m. PDT. As of right now, there is no listing for radio or television coverage.
The home team will take on the Reds’ travel squad at 4:05 p.m. PDT. There are no listings for this game either. I would presume one of them, at least, will be on KNBR.
Saturday
The Giants will host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 1:05 p.m. PDT. This game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area, as well as MLB Network for out-of-market fans. Radio coverage will be available on KNBR.
Sunday
The Giants will wrap up the week with a home game against the Milwaukee Brewers at 1:05 p.m. PDT. Radio coverage will be available on KNBR.
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Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): ABS will force Seiya Suzuki into a new set of adjustments. “Patient hitters will be disproportionately affected by the switch to the ABS challenge system in Major League Baseball this season.”
Food For Thought:
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PERTH, Australia (AP) — Japan kept its perfect defensive record intact to reach the quarterfinals of the Women's Asian Cup without conceding a goal as Taiwan and the Philippines also qualified Tuesday.
On a day when the action on the field was overshadowed by five players from the Iranian team being granted asylum by host nation Australia, Japan's 4-0 win over Vietnam ensured a spot for the Philippines on goal difference.
Collisions between players marred Taiwan's 3-1 win over India. Both teams' goalkeepers were taken off after blows to the head.
Japan keeps perfect record
Japan heads into its quarterfinal matchup against the Philippines with three wins from three games and a tournament-leading 17 goals. Japan is the only team yet to concede at the Asian Cup.
Vietnam started against Japan knowing that a three-goal loss would end its chances of qualifying as one of the best third-place teams if Taiwan avoided defeat to India.
Vietnamese goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang made a series of impressive saves to limit Japan to a 1-0 halftime lead but was constantly under pressure from an opponent which had scored 11 goals against India.
Riko Ueki headed Japan's opening goal, her fourth of the tournament, before Maika Hamano, Aoba Fujino and Kiko Seike all scored against a tiring Vietnamese defense. Japan will meet the Philippines in the quarterfinals.
Vietnam’s Duong Thi Van was taken off late in the game after a clash of heads with Japan’s Mina Tanaka.
Injuries for Taiwan and India
Taiwan heads to a quarterfinal meeting with China after a win over India which ended with concerns over the welfare of key players on both teams.
Su Yu-hsuan gave Taiwan the lead before Manisha Kalyan's free kick off the crossbar brought India back into the contest. Taiwan restored its lead when a penalty bounced off the post and in off Indian goalkeeper Elangbam Panthoi Chanu for an own goal.
Taiwan was leading 2-1 when its goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting was taken off following a head injury assessment. The immediate cause wasn't obvious but Wang had previously played on after an earlier collision when Sanfida Nongrum's shoulder made contact with her head.
Chen Yu-chin made sure of the win with Taiwan's third goal on the break but two Indian players ended up stretchered off after they collided while trying to stop her.
Goalkeeper Panthoi charged out toward Chen and was leaping to attempt a save when defender and captain Sweety Devi's knee struck her in the face. Panthoi was taken off on a stretcher with severe swelling on her face and Devi was briefly motionless on the ground before being taken off the field.
It was the second time Panthoi had treatment after being struck on the head. In the first half she was hit by a shot which caused her to fall back and her head hit the ground.
Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff works during a spring training game at Diablo Stadium on March 7, 2026. | Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We’re back with another Brewers Reacts Survey with Opening Day now right around the corner! After asking about the last position player to make the roster last week, we’re discussing an Opening Day starter today.
With Freddy Peralta now with the New York Mets, the Brewers will have a new Opening Day arm for the first time since 2023, when Corbin Burnes got the start. Brandon Woodruff seems like the obvious choice, but his status is currently “up in the air” as he ramps up in his first healthy spring since that 2023 season.
So if Woodruff can’t go, who will it be? There are plenty of options.
Quinn Priester would be a contender, but he’s expected to miss the start of the season with right wrist discomfort. Logan Henderson, who missed a chunk of last season with a flexor strain, is also reportedly battling elbow soreness. That all but eliminates those two.
Jacob Misiorowski seems like the other “obvious choice,” as he has ace-type stuff when he’s on. But after a hot start that netted him an All-Star selection, he struggled a bit down the stretch, finishing with a 4.36 ERA and 3.62 FIP despite 87 strikeouts in just 66 innings.
Chad Patrick is another sophomore coming off a decent rookie season, as he joined the rotation early in the year after a myriad of injuries plagued Milwaukee’s pitching staff. He finished the year with 27 appearances (23 starts), totaling 119 2/3 innings with a 3.53 ERA, 3.53 FIP, and 127 strikeouts. He was also a solid relief piece in the postseason, totaling nine innings with two runs allowed and 11 strikeouts.
Other potential options include Aaron Ashby (who has been stretched a bit this spring), Robert Gasser, DL Hall, and Kyle Harrison. There are a few other young options beyond them that are unlikely to start, but I’ll still throw some more names out there — Shane Drohan, Carlos Rodriguez, and Brandon Sproat.
Who do you think will be the Brewers’ Opening Day starter? Will Woodruff be ready? Or will it be somebody else? Weigh in on our poll below, and stay tuned for results later in the week!
The Philadelphia Flyers only had him for a few months, but one of their recent trade acquisitions is quietly torching the AHL for another organization.
Remember when the Flyers shipped Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee off to the Calgary Flames for a second-round pick, seventh-round pick, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Jakob Pelletier?
They actually got a decent young prospect back in Pelletier, only to give him the smallest of chances in the lineup and ultimately let him walk as a free agent in the offseason.
Pelletier, 25, signed a three-year, $2.23 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an unqualified restricted free agent, accepting an unprecedented multi-year deal for the veteran minimum.
That was especially surprising, given that the 5-foot-9 sparkplug played a career-high 49 NHL games last season, scoring seven goals, 12 assists, and 19 points between the Flyers and Flames.
The Lightning, of course, are loaded and a Stanley Cup contender, so Pelletier has spent all but two games with the AHL Syracuse Crunch this season.
The result? Pelletier leads the entire league in scoring, amassing an astounding 22 goals, 39 assists, and 61 points in just 50 games with the Crunch.
The ex-Flyers forward has been at or near a point-per-game throughout his entire AHL career dating back to the 2021-22 season, so his production isn't overly surprising, but he's also clearly found another gear while playing for his third organization in two seasons.
As for the Flyers' AHL affiliates? The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have just two forwards with 30 or more points this season: journeymen Lane Pederson and Anthony Richard.
Even if the Flyers kept Pelletier just for NHL depth, he would have provided a massive boost for a struggling Phantoms team that has lost Alex Bump and Denver Barkey to NHL call-ups and Samu Tuomaala and Alexis Gendron to trades.
Instead, the Flyers have had to rely on the likes of Carl Grundstrom for that role, but after scoring seven times in December, including in four straight contests, the Swede's luck in front of goal has run out.
Grundstrom has just one goal and one assist in his last 22 games, and Pelletier continues to rip apart the AHL.
