DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 21: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21of the Colorado Rockies throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning at Coors Field on September 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, facing off against Nick Pivetta and what may well have been a preview of the Padres Opening Day lineup, the Rockies managed a convincing 9-3 victory. Combining 14 hits across ten different batters, the offensive outburst was a team effort. Similarly, on the pitching side, six different pitchers combined to only allow four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Today, the Rockies take on the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium in a duel between both teams Opening Day starters.
For the Royals, that means Cole Ragans will be on the mound. After a fourth place finish in the AL Cy Young race in 2024, shoulder problems limited Ragans to 61.2 innings last year.
So far this spring Ragans has struggled to keep runs off the board and enters todays contest with an 8.44 ERA. That can largely be attributed to his second start of the spring in which he allowed six runs in fewer than two innings.
Opposing him will be Kyle Freeland in his final tune up before his franchise record fifth Opening Day start. Between his two other spring training starts and his exhibition game against team USA, Freeland has looked sharp (two runs/seven strikeouts) in limited innings (six).
He has yet to exceed a pitch count of 43 this spring, so how high he’s able to push that number in this final outing will inform how long Warren Schaeffer will be able to use him on Opening Day.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 04, 2023: Gabriel Arias #13 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on August 4, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Guardians fans will see Gabriel Arias as the team’s starting shortstop to begin 2026. How long will he stay there?
Readers of this blog may recall that I have been staunchly of the opinion that the Guardians should start Brayan Rocchio at short and let Travis Bazzana or Juan Brito try their hand at second base to begin 2026, allowing Arias and Daniel Schneemann to compete for the utility role. In over 1,000 major league plate appearances, Arias has a 76 wRC+. His defense at short – especially his bazooka of an arm – has been good. But Arias is 342nd in wRC+ out of 360 MLB hitters with 1,000 plate appearances or more since 2021. That is simply not good enough to hold a place in a major league lineup.
However, Arias is about to get one more shot at proving a Guardians’ front office that apparently loves him like I love Matt Festa a chance to show their unreasonable faith is justified. Partially this is because Juan Brito did not do anything to win the second base job this Spring, and partially it is because Bazzana has not quite been busting down the door to make his ML debut. But, I genuinely think the Guardians still have a sliver of hope for Arias to become a valuable major league. Let’s look at what reasons for hope they may have:
–Arias is only 26 years old.
This is, reasonably, the last year an Arias defender can point to his youth. 27 is generally acknowledged as the peak age for the average major league player and by 1,200 plate appearances, the conclusions to be drawn about the average major league hitter are pretty sticky. There are always exceptions and late breakouts. But, within the general bounds of logic, the team shouldn’t have any doubts about what kind of player Arias is by the end of May, if he is given regular plate appearances and doesn’t show marked improvement. Arias will be handed the full-time shortstop job and all the runway needed to keep it. So, he will have no excuse of having to fight for playing time.
–Arias has shown an improved ability to avoid chasing.
It is hard to know what to make of Spring Training stats, but Arias has always had three primary flaws as a hitter: 1. He chases bad pitches, 2. He hits too many groundballs, and 3. He whiffs too much in the zone. Numbers 2 and 3 on this list have remained true in Spring Training so far, but Arias has cut his chase rate 15% from his career average and his overall whiff rate by 3%, while hitting the ball as hard as he ever has (his only skill as a hitter). Can he sustain this? Very probably not. But if he can make a significant cut in chase and a minor cut in whiff, he would give himself a chance at a 90 wRC+, which would make him a roughly 3-win player with his fielding skills at short.
–Arias was an incredibly clutch hitter last season.
It is useless to read much into one season’s worth of situational data. With that said, Arias had a 182 wRC+ in high leverage situations last season. For a player whose attention has often seemed to wander, he showed the ability to lock in at crucial moments last year. It’s not repeatable but it can give players a sense of confidence and calm at the plate that can carry over. Arias has tried to move his hand position and stand closer to the plate this spring. Perhaps the adjustments and confidence can provide some intangibles to give him slight improvements to inch his offensive output up.
–Arias’s glove at short has the potential to be GOLD.
When Arias is focused, he is a great defender at short. When he isn’t focused, his arm is still strong enough to cover over a multitude of sins. Arias and Rocchio provided great defense for the Guardians down the stretch in 2025 and they will get a chance to do the same to begin 2026. Perhaps that familiarity and trust will enable Arias to grow into the potential we have all seen in him since day one.
I believe by June, we will see Brayan Rocchio at short and Travis Bazzana at second base. But, I’ll be rooting for Arias to prove me wrong and make the team look like geniuses for sticking with him this long. Either way, we are about to find out the answer to “how do you solve a problem like Gabriel?” very soon.
One of the players expected to play a role in the current rebuild for the Vancouver Canucks is defenceman Victor Mancini. The 23-year-old was acquired from the New York Rangers last season and recently signed a two-year extension. Listed at 6'3", 229 lbs, Mancini has a golden opportunity over the final few weeks of the campaign to show why he deserves a permanent spot on the blue line next year.
Mancini has spent the year split between the NHL and AHL. The right-shot defender has played 18 games for Vancouver compared to 33 for the Abbotsford Canucks. When asked about some of the messaging he received from the coaching staff before being sent down to the AHL earlier this year, Mancini explained that the organization wanted him to keep his game consistent at both levels.
"I don't have to do anything special at the American Hockey League level," said Mancini. "I don't have to do everything myself. Play the way I would at the NHL level. Little things like my skating, my transitions, my reads in the D zone, breakouts, little things like that are going to make a big difference."
At this stage of Mancini's career, improved development is key. He has played fewer than 200 professional games and is still learning how the NHL works. That being said, Mancini is ready to embrace any challenges that come his way as he works on taking his game to the next level.
"Just knowing that in Abby, I wanted to play the same way there that I would at the NHL level. So then, with being called up, just not trying to force anything. Let the game come to me, and just be confident in myself. Be confident in my skating, my puck handling, and making plays, keeping my head up. I feel like the past few games, I've felt a lot more comfortable on the ice, and that confidence has finally shown through."
As an organization, the Canucks have gone through significant changes this year. While he hasn't been at the NHL level all season, Mancini has received a few call-ups, which means he has seen the locker room transform over the past few months. He has also noticed a change in vibe around the group, which has been a significant topic of conversation in the market since the trade deadline passed.
"A little bit. Yeah. I feel like, going through what we're going through, and then the trade deadline, like there's a lot of unease in the locker room with certain guys. You know, you never know what's gonna happen. But I think after the trade deadline and seeing, like, okay, this is the group that we got now. You can kind of put that stuff out of your mind and just focus on the next game."
With the 2025-26 season coming to a close, the next month will be key for Mancini. He won't have the opportunity to play in the playoffs, as both Vancouver and Abbotsford are projected to miss the post-season, meaning that these final games will be it for the campaign. For Mancini, he remains focused on impressing the coaching staff and proving that he belongs full-time in the NHL.
"I think just prove that I belong and prove that I can play at this level and keep up with the speed. I feel like these past few games and the next, like, 15 or so, it's a bit of a tryout period for me. I'm not trying to read into things too much. I don't want to psych myself out. But, you know, when it comes down to it, the bottom line is just go out and play."
Mar 17, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Victor Mancini (90) puts his helmet back on after a scrum against the Florida Panthers in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
How the Canucks manage Mancini over the next month will be worth keeping an eye on. He has played over 16 minutes in each of his last three games and is looking more comfortable the longer he stays in the lineup. If Mancini can continue to develop his game, he has the potential to become a key part of the blue line next season.
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‘Buildup and coverage of the game left a lot to be desired’
Swansea’s chief executive has said the club will raise concerns over television coverage of their game against Wrexham with the English Football League (EFL), with Tom Gorringe saying the team owned by Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds “were given priority at every opportunity”.
Wrexham won the Championship match 2-0 on a night when Mac and Reynolds provided alternative commentary alongside the Sky presenter David Prutton, marketed as “Live from Wrexham with Rob & Ryan”. Sky Sports trailed the live commentary – which ran on one of its channels with the usual match coverage on its main platform – as “part of a first-of-its kind broadcast”.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Alex Freeland #76 talks with Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers between innings of a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Getaway day for the Dodgers on Saturday morning in Arizona. Emmet Sheehan is on the mound, Will Klein is also scheduled to pitch, and the starting lineup has four players who will be on the opening day roster.
The Royals are making noise on the global stage — and baseball itself may be on the verge of change.
In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco break down a dramatic World Baseball Classic run, highlighted by Venezuela’s upset over Team USA and standout performances from Kansas City Royals players. The hosts dive into Salvador Perez’s leadership and clutch moments, as well as Maikel Garcia’s breakout tournament, cementing his status as a rising star after an MVP-caliber showing.
Back in Arizona, the focus shifts to the future of the organization as Royals prospects shine in Spring Breakout action, including standout performances from recent draft picks and emerging arms pushing their way into the conversation. The episode provides a detailed look at Kansas City’s developing pipeline and what it could mean for the team’s long-term competitiveness.
Beyond player performance, Jacob and Jeremy explore the future of baseball itself, breaking down experimental rule changes in the minors — including second base positioning adjustments, pitch clock tweaks, and potential challenge systems for check swings and pitch communication issues. The discussion examines what changes could realistically make their way to MLB and how they might impact the game’s pace, fairness, and fan experience.
From international dominance to organizational depth and the evolution of the sport, this episode delivers a complete snapshot of where the Royals — and baseball — are headed.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors have officially listed center Kristaps Porzingis as out for Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with lower back tightness. So Porzingis will not face the team that traded him just over a month ago. Jonathan Kuminga, on the other hand, will play after sitting out the Hawks game on Friday.
Porzingis left the Dubs 115-101 loss to the Pistons on Friday night in the second quarter after visibly reaching for his back. He told reporters after the game that it was a mild back spasm and he did not expect it to be a major issue. However, he was skeptical that he would play the second half of the Warriors back-to-back. Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Quinten Post all remain questionable to play.
The timing of Porzingis’ injury is particularly frustrating for the Warriors. Porzingis’ struggles with chronic illness held him out of 10 of Golden State’s first 11 games after he was acquired via trade in February. However, he had appeared in six of the Warriors last eight games as of yesterday. As the Dubs try to build some momentum leading into the play-in tournament, Porzingis finding a rhythm remains critical for the Warriors to have any puncher’s chance. Not that Dub Nation has high expectations left for the team this season.
Porzingis has appeared in just 24 games this season, 17 with the Hawks and seven with the Warriors. He is averaging 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game on 44.6%/33.9%/82.8% shooting. He will hope to return to the Dubs rotation on Monday when the Warriors face the Mavericks.
It’s fair to wonder if the Cleveland Cavaliers will ever be healthy enough to build playoff momentum, and tonight they’ve got to deal with an in-form New Orleans Pelicans team.
New Orleans’ rough season is trending up, with a 5-1 mark in the past six games, and my Cavaliers vs. Pelicans predictions expect Dejounte Murray to trouble the Cleveland backcourt here.
Check out my NBA picks for a March 21 matchup with plenty of storylines to monitor, including the status of Donovan Mitchell, who’s listed as questionable.
Cavaliers vs Pelicans prediction
Cavaliers vs Pelicans best bet: Dejounte Murray Over 16.5 points (-125)
The New Orleans Pelicans would surely be much closer to the play-in spots if Dejounte Murray had been available all year. They’re 5-4 in his nine outings since returning from an Achilles injury, and he’s averaging 20.7 ppg this month.
Murray sat out Thursday’s win over the Clippers, but he’s gone past this points prop number in four straight games, headlined by 35 points against the Rockets last week.
Though there are other mouths to feed in the New Orleans offense, look for Murray to be in attack mode here against the Cleveland Cavaliers’ shaky perimeter defense.
Cavaliers vs Pelicans same-game parlay
The last three meetings between these teams have nailed the Over, and Murray and James Harden are two playmakers who can get us there again tonight.
Murray has jacked up 50 shots across his past three outings, while Harden is averaging 8.0 apg this year and dished nine dimes against the Bulls on Thursday.
Cavaliers vs Pelicans SGP
Dejounte Murray Over 16.5 points
James Harden Over 7.5 assists
Over 236.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Evan Almighty
Whether or not Donovan Mitchell suits up tonight, the Cavs will rely on Evan Mobley to deliver his best, particularly with Jarrett Allen out.
He’s quietly had a great month, with 21.3 ppg and 10.4 rpg, and he’s racked up 15 assists across his last three contests.
Cavaliers vs Pelicans SGP
Evan Mobley Over 20.5 points
Evan Mobley Over 10.5 rebounds
Evan Mobley Over 2.5 assists
James Harden Over 7.5 assists
Cavaliers vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Cleveland -4.5 (-110) | New Orleans +4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Cleveland -190 | New Orleans +160
Over/Under: Over 236.5 (-110) | Under 236.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Over is 21-14 for the Cavs on the road this year. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-OH, GCSEN
Cavaliers vs Pelicans latest injuries
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WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros at bat during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 10, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s our mini primer on the A.L. West with longtime National MLB writer, Kyle Glaser.
We start of course with the Astros, who are looking to reclaim the division.
Has the Astros window for titles closed?
Has the window closed for Houston?
I wouldn’t say the Astros are completely out of the running, but there is no question they’ve lost a lot of talent in recent years and are no longer the dominant team they once were. Their success this year will depend heavily on if Yordan Alvarez can stay healthy and if Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows fortify the rotation as hoped. If that happens, they’ll be fine. If not, it could be a long season.
It’s still such an enjoyment to watch the daily enthusiasm that Jose Altuve approaches the game with. Do you think if he continues to be productive, we’ll see him as a first ballot member at Cooperstown?
First ballot will be tough unless Altuve reaches 3,000 hits, and even then I expect some voters won’t vote for him because of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. That said, with a strong finish to his career, I think it’s very likely he will be elected to the Hall of Fame, even if it isn’t on the first ballot.
If the Astros get off to a slow start, could Joe Espada be on the hot seat?
Espada will be on the hot seat this season even though he doesn’t deserve to be. Let’s not forget he’s led two flawed, injury-riddled teams to 88 and 87 wins, respectively, in his first two seasons as a manager. But Astros owner Jim Crane is notoriously demanding, and it would not shock me if he fires Espada if things don’t go according to plan this season. It would be a mistake for him to do so, but there’s no question it’s a very real possibility.
Is the most exciting player in the division Julio Rodriguez? Is he the one guy you’d personally pay to see?
Julio Rodriguez is the most exciting player in the division and one of the 5-10 most exciting players in all of baseball. Cal Raleigh is coming off a historic season, Nick Kurtz is an unbelievable offensive talent and let’s not forget Mike Trout is still around, but no one else can impact a game offensively, defensively and on the basepaths like Rodriguez. I expect him to come out extra motivated after how close the Mariners came to reaching their first World Series last year and deliver an MVP-caliber season.
Doesn’t it “feel” like it’s been much longer than Fall of 2023 since the Rangers won the World Series?
There’s no question the Rangers’ last two seasons have been a disappointment and they’re in a very different place as an organization. They really need their young players like Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung, Evan Carter, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker to deliver strong, consistent, healthy seasons. Otherwise, it’s hard to see things meaningfully changing for them this year, even with the additions of MacKenzie Gore and Brandon Nimmo.
Does A.L. West place multiple teams into the post season or just the division winner?
I think it will be close, just as it was last season when the Astros missed out on a wild card spot because of a tiebreaker. I expect the Mariners to run away with the division and assert themselves as arguably the best team in the American League. I can see the Astros contending for the final AL wild card spot, and don’t rule out the Athletics if you’re looking for a sleeper team. Their offense will be one of the best and most exciting to watch in baseball, and even with a lot of question marks on their pitching staff, they’re going to win some slugfests.
The Michigan State basketball coach has led the Spartans to 28 straight NCAA tournament appearances, with an overall record of 60-26 in March Madness games.
On Saturday, he'll have a chance at his 17th Sweet 16.
The No. 3 seed Spartans will have to get through No. 6 Louisville first in Saturday's East Region second round game in Buffalo.
The Cardinals will once again be without star freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. A back injury kept him out of Louisville's first round win over South Florida and will keep him sidelined through the tournament's first weekend.
Louisville led comfortably for most of its win over USF until some late, nervy moments. Isaac McKneeley led the Cardinals with 23 points, which included going 7-of-10 from behind the arc. As a whole, Louisville shot 52% from behind the arc. The Cardinals will need that type of hot shooting to knock off the usually rugged Spartans.
Here's what you need to know for today's second round showdown:
Coen Carr had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead four Michigan State players in double figures, and Jeremy Fears added 12 points and a school NCAA tournament record 16 assists as the Spartans advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 77-69 win over Louisville.
The Spartans, the East Region’s No. 3 seed, used hot shooting beyond the arc in the first half and used spurts of 8-0 and 7-0 to take an early 10-point lead.
Louisville, who played without Mikel Brown, Jr., out with a back injury, hung around as Michigan State was sloppy with the ball, as the Spartans, who averaged 11.5 turnovers a game, turned it over 12 times in the first half, and took a 36-31 lead into the break.
The Cardinals (24-10) relied on the three-point ball all season long but were betrayed by the rim, hitting only 13-36 from downtown and shooting 41% for the game.
Michigan State used a 13-3 run in the second half, capped by Jaxon Kohler’s 3-pointer, which gave the Spartans their biggest lead at 63-50. Trey Fort had 12 points and Kohler had 10 for Michigan State, who had 21 assists on 25 made field goals.
Fears recorded his second straight game with 10 assists in this year's NCAA Tournament, setting a Big Ten record.
Ryan Conwell scored 21 points, and Adrian Wooley added 17 points for Louisville. Isaac McKneely, who hit seven three-pointers and scored 23 points in the Cardinals’ first-round victory against South Florida, had only nine points.
Michigan State (27-7) advances to the East Regional in Washington, D.C. and will play the winner of UConn and UCLA on Friday.
Louisville won't go away as every time Michigan State pushes the lead near double figures, the Cardinals improved shooting gets them back in the game. Aly Khalifa hit a three point to cut the lead to three, but Trey Fort answered with a three of his own on the Spartans next possession.
Michigan State carelessness with ball keeping Louisville in game
Michigan State center Coen Carr started the second half with his own dunk fest, taking an alley-oop for one basket and a highlight breakaway slam to push the lead to 42-33. Carr has 11 points and has added seven rebounds. The Spartans average 11.5 turnovers a game, and they have already coughed the ball up 12 times with more than 15 minutes left in regulation.
In the first half of runs, Michigan State used spurts of 9-0 and 8-0 to take a 36-31 lead at halftime over Louisville in the second round of the East Region.
The Cardinals fell behind by 10, but despite missing at one point 10 of 11 shots, they used a 7-0 run of their own to get back in the game.
The up-and-down pace is expected as Louisville used 10 players and Michigan State played nine in the first half.
Adrian Wooley had nine points, and Ryan Conwell added nine points and four rebounds for Louisville, who shot 36% and went 4-18 from 3-point land. Coen Carr led the Spartans’ balanced scoring attack with seven points and seven rebounds as they went more than four minutes without a point before Trey Fort’s four-point play to push the lead back up to eight with 3:46 left.
Michigan State shot 46 percent in the first half and had 12 assists on its 13 made field goals.
Moneyline: Michigan State (-210); Louisville (+170)
Spread: Michigan State (-4.5)
Over/under total: 151.5
Mikel Brown Jr. injury update: Will Louisville star play today vs Michigan State?
Prior to the Cardinals' first round game against South Florida, Louisville announced Brown wouldn't play in the opener and would also miss the second round game, should they advance.
Brown, who's projected to be an NBA lottery pick later this year, has been sidelined for the Cardinals' past five games (and 13 total this season). Pat Kelsey said Brown re-aggravated a back injury, which surfaced in mid-December, by taking some hard falls during a Feb. 23 loss at then-No. 19 North Carolina.
NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond has been fined $25,000 for what the league described as an objectionable gesture while on the court.
NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones announced the penalty Saturday.
The incident occurred with eight seconds left in the third quarter of the 76ers’ 139-118 victory at Sacramento on Thursday.
After knocking down a 3-pointer, Drummond appeared to make a shooting motion toward the Kings’ bench, according to a published report.
Drummond finished the game with 13 points, including going 3 for 3 from behind the arc, and 11 rebounds.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros smiles during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Astros manager Joe Espada made the declaration before today’s spring training game vs. the Mets.
Today, Houston Astros manager Joe Espada declared the team would open the season with a 5-man rotation, a reversal from earlier statements about using a 6-man rotation this season.
Astros manager Joe Espada said the club will open the season with a five-man rotation.
While the Astros can still employ a 6-man rotation at various points this season, it does perhaps signal a lean towards more traditional relievers on the team to start the season, before swapping arms and moving to a 6-man rotation later on.
The Astros signed Tatsuya Imai from Japan this offseason, and he is used to only pitching once per week on the NPB schedule. It is one of the biggest reasons the Astros will likely use a 6-man rotation this season, to keep things as close to “normal” for Imai in his first season in MLB.
Most likely projection for the Astros initial 5-man rotation would be Hunter Brown, Mike Burrows, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr.
It will be worth watching to see if pitchers like Spencer Arrighetti, A.J. Blubaugh, and Ryan Weiss pitch out of the pen to start the season, or go to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out. All three would be unlikely to be in the bullpen at the same time, as at least one of them would be the proposed sixth starter, and would need to be stretched out to go 5 or more innings.
The Mets continue the winnowing of their major league camp, optioning catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets currently have 38 players in big league camp.
Senger, who made headlines last winter for his tale of working at Whole Foods in the offseason, appeared in 33 games for the Mets in 2025, filling in for Francisco Alvarez when he was both injured and in Triple-A, working on his swing. He batted .181/.221/.194 with four home runs in 78 plate appearances.
This roster move is good news for Mets fans, as it means that the club is not worried about Francisco Alvarez, who was pulled from Thursday night’s game with back tightness. Alvarez is in the lineup today for the Mets’ home game against the Astros at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie.
This spring, the Mets had a number of catchers in camp alongside Senger, Alvarez, and Luis Torrens, including veterans Austin Barnes and Ben Rortvedt, as well as prospects Kevin Parada, Jose Aular, and Chris Suero.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Codi Heuer #54 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 19, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/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 pitcher Codi Heuer.
Codi Heuer made one appearance for the Texas Rangers in 2025. The Rangers purchased his contract on June 1, when they needed a fresh arm in the pen when Nathan Eovaldi went to the i.l., and designated Tucker Barnhart for assignment to make room for him on the 40 man roster. He recorded the final four outs in a game in Tampa on June 3, striking out one and allowing a homer, and was optioned to AAA the next day. On July 31, needing to clear a 40 man roster spot, the Rangers traded Heuer to Detroit for cash.
Not much there at first glance. Nonetheless, Heuer’s appearance with the Rangers is notable, as a study in perseverence.
Codi Heuer was originally a sixth round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2018 out of Wichita State (go Shockers!). Never a highly regarded prospect, he nonetheless ended up being part of the ChiSox bullpen in 2020, putting up a 1.52 ERA in 21 games and pitching in two of Chicago’s Wild Card Series games against Oakland.
In 2021, he wasn’t as successful, putting up a 5.12 ERA in 40 games for the White Sox before being traded, along with Nick Madrigal, to the Chicago Cubs for Craig Kimbrel. Heuer put up a 3.14 ERA in 25 games for the Cubs post-trade, picking up a save against the Pirates in his final appearance in 2021.
Little could Heuer have guessed it would be the last major league game he would appear in for over three years.
In spring training of 2022, Heuer was diagnosed with a damaged UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. After missing all of 2022, he started a rehab assignment in early May, 2023.
Heuer made 15 appearances for the Iowa Cubs, and seemed to be close to being activated from the injured list when he went out for rehab appearance #15. In that game, though, he faced two batters before being pulled. It turned out he had re-injured his elbow — this time, suffering a fracture. 14 months of rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, followed by six weeks of game appearances at AAA, and just when it seemed like he was going to be back in the majors, he ended up instead back where he started — needing to rehab for another year-plus from an elbow injury.
Heuer became a free agent in November, 2023, and signed a two year minor league contract with the Rangers in April, 2024. He spent the season rehabbing, the second time in three years where he didn’t throw a competitive pitch.
Spring training, 2025, Heuer was a non-roster invitee to the major league camp. He was assigned to Round Rock to start the year and did solid work out of the pen before being summoned back to the major leagues.
That outing on June 3, in Tampa, was a pretty big deal. Heuer had to have wondered, time and again, if he’d ever make it back to the big leagues. He had to have thought, particularly after the second injury, if another grueling year of rehab was worth it. He wasn’t a star, someone who would be sure of making big money upon his return. No, he was a fringe player, someone whose reward, if he was able to make it back, was likely to be the life of a AAA veteran, toiling away and hoping for an opportunity to reclaim a role as a major leaguer.
But he persevered. He stuck with it. And he made it back to the top of the mountain. He deserves a tip of the cap for that.
Heuer made a pair of major league appearances for Detroit after the trade, but spent most of his time at Toledo, the Tigers’ AAA affiliate. He was released in September, and was signed to a minor league deal by the Cleveland Guardians. He most likely will be with Columbus, the Guardians’ AAA affiliate, to start the year.
I’ll be rooting for him to be called up at some point in the 2026 season.
