We kick off this year’s preview of the Atlanta Braves positional groups with possibly the strongest collection of catchers on a National League roster in the 2026, with one large question mark – health.

Atlanta’s catching group features the reigning 2025 National League Rookie of the Year, a two different backstops who have an All-Star appearance and Gold Glove award on their resume as well as a deeper-down-the-depth-chart 13-year big league veteran and six-year veteran – both of whom are well-respected within the Braves organization.

Drake Baldwin

This time last year, Drake Baldwin appeared set to make his the Opening Day roster and his big league debut after a rib injury knocked presumed starting catcher Sean Murphy off the active roster.

Murphy’s injury opened the door for Baldwin to prove he belonged in big leagues. Despite a slow offensive start that was buoyed by positive underlying metrics, Baldwin more than held his own behind the plate while bringing an outstanding offensive profile to the Braves lineup.

Not only did Baldwin win the 2025 NL ROY award, but his inclusion on the roster and qualifying roster-time equirements allowed the Braves to gain an extra first round draft choice in the 2026 amateur draft.

For the season, Baldwin posted a 125 wRC+ at the place behind a .274/.341/.469 slash line that included 19 home runs and 80 RBI in 124 games. He struck out in only 15.2-percent of his plate appearances while walking 8.5-percent of the time.

Offensively, he excelled, with most of his batted-ball metrics placing him in the top 18-percent of the league. His Baseball Savant page in littered with bright red – a good thing, for those unfamiliar – with his bat speed, average exit velocity and hard hit-percentages amongst his best overall offensive traits.

Defensively, he caught 85 games – including 79 starts – logging 759.2 inning behind the plate. He excelled in blocking pitches but was middle of the road in framing and pop time. Although he allowed a league-high 88 stolen bases, that is as indicative of his pitchers inability to hold base runners as it was his inability to throw them out.

His ZIPs projection for 2026 sees him repeating his 2025 season – and if he does – that Braves will benefit from having one of the best young catchers in the game.

Given the 162-game suspension handed down to outfielder/designated hitter Jurickson Profar for his second failed PED test earlier this month, Baldwin is likely to factor in at designated hitter even more than he was penciled in to prior to Profar’s suspension.

If Murphy is able to successfully return from his hip injury by early May, Baldwin could log more time at DH than behind the plate by season’s end, with Murphy acting as the de facto starting catcher with Baldwin splitting time between DH and catcher. That would be no means be a slight to Baldwin, as Murphy is the superior defensive player, but Baldwin would still likley catch at least 75 games this season. If Murphy is delayed in his return, Baldwin could easily catch 100 games in 2026.

Baldwin, who will turn 25 the day after the Braves open their regular season, may slide into the second spot in the Braves’ lineup, hitting behind outfielder Ronald Acuńa, Jr. and ahead of first baseman Matt Olson. If he does, expect him to see action in at least 140 games, while being in consideration for an All-Star appearance if he is able to replicate his 2025 offensive success.

Jonah Heim

With Sean Murphy’s regular season likely to be delayed for at least six weeks due to his continued recovery from the hip surgery that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign, Atlanta signed former Texas Rangers starting catcher and 2023 American League All-Star and Gold Glove winner Jonah Heim to a one-year, $1.5M deal to be Baldwin’s back-up.

Heim, who is a switch hitter, struggled offensively and defensively in 2025 but did see action in 124 games. It was the second-consecutive year of declining production after back-to-back strong performances in 2022 and 2023.

Now 31, Heim is reunited with Braves hitting coach Tim Hyers – who served in the same roll with the Rangers prior to joining Atlanta in 2025. If Hyers can unlock Heim’s offensive he will be a perfectly acceptable back-up who had hit double-digit home runs each season going back to 2021. He was a 4.0 fWAR player in 2023 and posted 2.7 fWAR in 2022, providing some optimism that a he could have a bit of a bounce-back in 2026.

If Heim struggles in 2026 – he’s been a negative fWAR player the past two years – he could be jettisoned from the roster when Murphy returns, but if he proves a capable back-up, Atlanta could potentially keep three catchers on the 26-man roster due to the likelihood that one of Atlanta’s backstops is likely to see significant time at designated hitter. That would allow Heim to effectively serve as the team’s alternate back-up catcher.

Sean Murphy

When news broke late last season that Sean Murphy was having surgery for a hip issue that he’d been dealing with for quite a while, it was the latest in a checkered injury history the former Oakland Athletics catcher has had since the trade that brought him to Atlanta.

When he’s been on the field, Murphy’s been a quality starting catcher – even elite at times – but he’s only played in more than 100 games once since joining the Braves in 2023 due to various health issues.

In 2025, despite playing in only 94 games, Murphy slugged 16 home runs and produced 2.0 fWAR, but he did so while seeing his batting average dip below .200 for the second consecutive year. He struggled with making contract with pitches outside the strike zone, doing so a career-worst 37-percent of the time after averaging around 50-percent in every other season of his career. That led to a career-worst 31.4-percent strikeout percentage.

Despite the dip in production, he still had a 97 wRC+ in 2025 thanks to continuing to walk more than 10-percent of the time and a .409 slugging percentage.

Even while battling his hip issues, he was still among the best defensive catchers in the game – ranging from above average to elite in all metrics. An ace at blocking, framing and controlling the run game, a healthy Murphy would be a boon for the 2026 Braves for his defensive value alone.

If his offensive returns to pre-2024 levels, Murphy and Baldwin could see a lot of games with both of their names in the starting line-up, as both the right-handed hitting Murphy and left-handed swinging Baldwin don’t suffer from significant platoon splits.

Chadwick Tromp

Chadwick Tromp came into the 2025 season as the presumed back-up to Murphy but ended-up playing caddie to Baldwin until Murphy’s returned forced the out-of-options Tromp off the Braves roster.

Tromp, who’d seen limited action with Atlanta in each season going back to 2022, bounced around the league for the remainder of the 2025 season but returned to the Braves organization on a minor league deal this off-season. He’ll likely head to Gwinnett to provide organizational depth while likely to be the Stripers starting catcher.

Tromp, who will turn 31 before the start of the regular season, is a quintessential third-catcher and could see time in Atlanta should an injury occur.

Sandy León

Sandy León, who will turn 37 later this week, returns to the Braves organization for his third season. He saw his first big league action since 2023 last season, but the 13-year veteran has played a pivotal role him Baldwin’s development and will be leaned on to help the organization’s pitchers at Triple-A while serving as a back-up.

Like Tromp, he returned on a minor league contract this off-season and could be an option to see time in Atlanta should an injury occur.

Jair Camargo

Atlanta added Jair Camargo – who got five games of big league experience with the Minnesota Twins in 2024 – as another minor league catching option who is likely get regular playing time in the upper minors. Camargo has been in the big league camp, but is merely organizational depth at this point.

Kyle Farmer

Kyle Farmer, the nine-year big league veteran who signed a minor league contract with Atlanta prior to the beginning of Spring Training, is battling for the last spot on Atlanta’s big league roster as a back-up infielder who has more than 300 games of experience at shortstop.

Why is Farmer listed here? Because in 2019, Farmer started nine games at catcher for the Cincinnati Reds and appeared behind the plate 15 times. He also caught three games with the Dodgers across the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Although he hasn’t appeared behind the plate since 2019, should Farmer make Atlanta’s roster, he could be a factor as the team’s third catcher should Heim struggle and lose his roster spot when Murphy returns.

Farmer, 35, wouldn’t be any more than an emergency catching option, but the fact that he does have big league experience at the position is an asset as he tries to make the team in Spring Training.

One additional note is that early in Spring Training, Atlanta had infielder Nacho Alvarez, Jr. working with catchers. Alvarez, Jr. has already been optioned to Triple-A, but it will be worth keeping an eye on reports from Triple-A to see if the Braves have him work with León to learn the position.

Alvarez, Jr. won’t turn 23 until later this year, and adding the versatility of being a viable emergency catcher would be a huge asset in the profile of a player who could have a long-term role as a big league utility player.

Where were you when Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball drifted toward Aaron Boone, almost like a butterfly dancing in the wind?

Every Yankees fan remembers that October night in 2003. The stage was set after New York completed its comeback to force extra innings. Wakefield’s pitch floated the way only his knuckleball could. The crack of the bat was followed by a moment of silence, a split second of hope, immediately followed by the chaos only pure joy can produce. When the ball sailed off Boone’s bat and into the left-field seats, Yankee Stadium erupted. A player who had only been a Yankee for a few months became part of franchise history and the sport’s greatest rivalry forever. Fast-forward 23 years later, and the now-manager of the team celebrates his birthday today.

Aaron John Boone
Born: March 9, 1973 (La Mesa, CA)
Yankees Tenure: 2003 (player); 2018–present (manager)

The stitches of a baseball might actually be the strands that hold Boone’s DNA together. His grandfather Ray Boone was a two-time All-Star infielder. His father, Bob Boone, was a four-time All-Star catcher who played 19 seasons in the major leagues and later managed six seasons with the Royals and Reds. His brother Bret Boone became a three-time All-Star second baseman. The Boone family is one of the rare multi-generation baseball lineages in the sport, and Aaron entered the major leagues with expectations that came with the name.

Aaron Boone’s place in Yankees history as a player comes almost entirely from one moment. But what a moment it was.

When the Yankees acquired Boone from the Cincinnati Reds at the 2003 trade deadline for left-handed pitcher Brandon Claussen and Charlie Manning, the move looked more like a practical roster adjustment than a franchise-altering decision. New York needed help at third base after injuries and inconsistency at the position spelled the end of Robin Ventura’s tenure at the position, and Boone arrived as a solid defender who was enjoying one of his better seasons at the plate.

No one could have predicted how quickly his name would become permanent in Yankees history.

That October, the Yankees met the Boston Red Sox in the 2003 American League Championship Series, one of the most intense rivalries the sport has ever seen. After six exhausting games, the series reached a decisive Game 7 in the Bronx. The game stretched deep into extra innings. In the bottom of the 11th, Boone stepped to the plate to lead off the inning against Wakefield. He hadn’t even started the game, as he was mired in a miserable 5-for-31 slump that postseason and manager Joe Torre instead elected to go with Game 7 starter Pedro Martinez’s nemesis, Enrique Wilson. But Boone entered as a pinch-runner late and now he had his chance.

The first-pitch knuckleball floated toward the plate. Boone swung.

The ball carried into the left-field seats, ending the game instantly and sending the Yankees to the World Series. Few postseason home runs in baseball history have produced a louder reaction. The Yankees’ bench flooded the field as Boone rounded the bases, and the moment immediately joined the short list of iconic plays in franchise history.

Many fans hoped Boone’s home run would become the defining image of that era of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry. Instead, it became a dramatic chapter in the rivalry’s larger story. The Yankees fell to the Marlins in that year’s World Series, and the following season Boston completed the comeback from a 3–0 deficit to win the 2004 ALCS and then went on to end of the Curse of the Bambino.

Wildly enough, Boone’s Yankees playing career ended almost as quickly as it began. During the following offseason, he suffered a knee injury while playing basketball, which violated the terms of his contract and allowed the Yankees to release him before the 2004 season began.

Boone’s injury triggered one of the most consequential roster moves in Yankees history. Suddenly without a starting third baseman, New York pivoted and acquired Alex Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers in February 2004. Rodriguez moved from shortstop to third base to accommodate Derek Jeter, and the deal reshaped the Yankees roster for the next decade. In a strange twist of baseball history, Boone’s brief Yankees career indirectly opened the door for one of the most famous trades the franchise ever made.

At the time, it seemed like Boone’s place in Yankees history would be limited to that single October swing, a fun memory of days gone by. Years later, his story with the organization took a second chapter.

In December 2017, the Yankees hired Boone out of the ESPN broadcast booth as manager, replacing longtime skipper Joe Girardi. Despite having no previous managerial experience, the former postseason hero suddenly found himself responsible for guiding the next generation of Yankees baseball.

Under Boone over the last eight seasons, the Yankees have posted a 697–497 regular season record and a 25–27 postseason record. The stat Yankees fans care most about, though, is the one with a zero beside it: World Series titles. Entering 2026, Boone is still searching for his first championship in pinstripes as either a player or manager after coming up short in his first nine. They’ve only made it to the Fall Classic once, in 2024, and thanks to Freddie Freeman, Boone’s decision to use a rusty and somewhat-limited Nestor Cortes in extra innings of the opener will linger in fans’ minds for quite some time.

Boone’s tenure has been defined by both success and scrutiny, as managing in the Bronx always brings expectations. However, since it is his birthday, we will allow Boone’s connection to Yankees history for today to rest solely on that swing in October 2003. In a franchise built on moments, legends, and championships, very few players manage to create the moment every kid dreams about in the backyard. Aaron Boone did it.

Happy birthday, Aaron “Bleepin” Boone.

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Today we are looking at starting pitcher Patrick Corbin.

The Texas Rangers looked around in the middle of spring training, 2025, and said, we need a cheap replacement level starting pitcher who will take the ball every fifth day and not get knocked out early. So they went out and signed Patrick Corbin, or more or less accomplished that.

I am pretty sure I described the Corbin signing, at the time, as weird. I got it, though. The Rangers didn’t want to cycle guys who weren’t ready through the rotation, didn’t want to have to deal with a spot in the rotation that regularly recorded just 8 outs and messed up the bullpen for the next few days. They wanted someone with a certain baseline level of replacement level competence.

And for what they wanted, Patrick Corbin fit the bill. He had been bad the previous four seasons with Washington, though there was a very mild improvement in 2023-24, when he put up a 5.41 ERA and 77 ERA+, compared to a 6.05 ERA and 66 ERA+ from 2021-22. But he had taken the ball every time out — he was one of just three pitchers to start at least 200 games from 2018 through 2024 — and that reliability had value for the Rangers, given the state of their rotation. And Texas would be putting a quality defense behind Corbin, and he added a cutter in the second half of 2024 that, it was thought, could result in an improvement in 2025.

The Rangers wanted a pitcher who would make 30 starts and avoid disaster outings, and paid Patrick Corbin $1 million plus incentives with that in mind.

Viewed through that lens, the Patrick Corbin signing was more or less a success. Corbin made 30 starts and a relief appearance. He threw 155.1 innings. He generally avoided disaster outings, at least until August, where he had a stretch of four starts where he allowed 17 runs and made it into the fifth just once.

Corbin’s K rate of 19.8% was the highest it had been since 2020. His walk rate was more or less in line with what it has always been. His home run rate was the lowest it had been since 2019. And yes, the Shed and its pitcher-friendly ways in 2025 contributed significantly to that — Corbin allowed 15 home runs in 80 innings on the road, compared to 6 homers in 75 innings at home. His home/road ERA splits — 3.36 ERA at home, 5.38 ERA on the road — can largely be explained by that.

Was Patrick Corbin good in 2025? I guess it depends on your point of view and what you look at.

Corbin was definitely better than he was the previous four years. His 4.40 ERA and 4.75 xERA were both the best he had put up since 2019 — his last empirically good season, and a very good season 2019 was for Corbin — and his 4.25 FIP was only beat out since 2019 by his 4.17 FIP in 2020. His ERA+ of 83 and ERA- of 109 were his best marks since 2020.

Notably, Corbin stopped being rocked quite so bad when hitters made contact off of him. Corbin has always been susceptible to loud contact — even in his two really good seasons, 2018 and 2019, he allowed an xwOBA on contact of .386, almost 20 points higher than what the league allows as a whole on contact. That got much worse beginning in 2020, when he began a stretch of five straight seasons where he allowed at least a .400 xwOBA on contact, which is very bad.

That loud contact resulted in a divergence between his ERA and FIP. From 2021-24, Corbin had a 5.71 ERA but a 4.99 FIP. While the theory behind FIP being more reliable than ERA is that pitchers have minimal control over what happens to balls in play, and whether they are hits or outs, as we discussed with Caleb Boushley, that’s not necessarily the case. With Patrick Corbin, his xERA over that span ran from 5.47 to 6.29, which would seem to indicate that it wasn’t bad defense causing all those runs to score.

From 2020 through 2024, Corbin was generally in the bottom 15% in hard hit rate in baseball, which is what I think one would expect, given the discussion above. In 2024 he was in the 3rd percentile, with a hard hit rate of 46.7%. In 2025 that dropped to 40.4%, putting him right in the middle of the pack in hard hit rate. Corbin hadn’t allowed a slugging percentage of less than .481 in the previous four seasons. The combination of the lower hard hit rate, the Shed, and the strong Rangers defense resulted in Corbin allowing a slugging percentage of .430 in 2025.

So Patrick Corbin was better in 2025 than in prior years. That doesn’t mean he was good, though. fWAR would disagree — it reflects a 1.9 fWAR in 2025, as well as a 1.7 fWAR in 2024. B-R has Corbin at below replacement level each of those years. I think B-R is probably closer to correct.

With the 30 starts he logged in 2025, Corbin now has 233 starts since the start of the 2018 season, one behind Jose Berrios, five more than Luis Castillo, eight more than Aaron Nola, ten more than Charlie Morton. Kyle Gibson is still 12th on the list, with 201 starts over that stretch, despite making just four starts in 2025.

At this point, though, Corbin may be stuck on 233 for a while. He is currently unsigned, and with Opening Day just a few weeks away, it would seem like he may not have a job in 2026. On the other hand, the Rangers didn’t sign him in 2025 until March 18, so he could still get a call from a team with a hole in their rotation who needs someone who take the ball every fifth day and not blow up.

Previously:

Gerson Garabito

Tyler Mahle

Kyle Higashioka

Adolis Garcia

Luis Curvelo

Alejandro Osuna

Blaine Crim

Jake Burger

Jacob Webb

Nick Ahmed

Jon Gray

Carl Edwards Jr.

Josh Jung

Leody Taveras

Dustin Harris

Marc Church

Luke Jackson

Danny Coulombe

Wyatt Langford

Dylan Moore

Michael Helman

Evan Carter

Cole Winn

Rowdy Tellez

Dane Dunning

Marcus Semien

Billy McKinney

Jose Corniell

Jonah Heim

Cody Freeman

Sam Haggerty

Jacob deGrom

Merrill Kelly

Caleb Boushley

Justin Foscue

Nathan Eovaldi

Chris Martin

The Cincinnati Reds made another wave of cuts from spring camp on Monday morning, and in doing so got the number of players still in camp down to 42.

Both infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand and right-hander Chase Petty were optioned to AAA Louisville, while catcher Michael Trautwein – in camp as a non-roster invitee – was reassigned to minor league camp. The Reds announced the moves on Twitter.

The #Reds today announced the following transactions: pic.twitter.com/a934Gslyy8

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) March 9, 2026

Both CES and Petty have gotten their feet wet at the big league level, and at times both have risen to be perhaps the top prospects in the entire organization at what they do. That said, each’s production (or lack thereof) during the 2025 season slid precipitously, and both have clearly been passed on the organizational pecking order for the time being.

CES swatted 6 homers at the big league level in 2025 but posted just a .208/.234/.377 line in 137 PA, and he was optioned back to AAA in July. While he turned it around to an extent while with AAA Louisville, he didn’t play at the big league level after July 8th. The Reds subsequently acquired 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes from Pittsburgh and watched as Sal Stewart emerged as one of the game’s top prospect and then signed old friend Eugenio Suárez in free agency, pushing CES out of a job at the big league level for the time being, at least.

As for Petty, his initial foray into big league baseball could not have gone much worse. He was shelled for 14 runs (13 earned) in just 6.0 IP across a trio of appearances with the Reds, and after being optioned back to AAA Louisville in late June his season continued to spiral. His final two appearances of the season saw him fire just 4.1 IP and allow 14 ER, and on the whole he posted an ugly 6.39 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 112.2 IP at the AAA level in 2025. Still just 22 years old, though, Petty is very much still viewed as a player with big league stuff (when he can harness it), but he’s clearly fallen behind Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson for the time being.

The Nationals bolstered their rotation in a big way yesterday when they signed Zack Littell. Once Littell is built up, he should slot in as the Nats number two starter behind Cade Cavalli. This is an exciting addition, and one of the best free agents the Nats have signed in the past few years, but it does leave questions about how the rotation will look.

A rotation that looked like it would be a major question mark is now pretty crowded after adding Littell and Miles Mikolas. While the unit does not have a very high ceiling outside of Cade Cavalli, I actually think the floor is relatively high. I thought the pitching would be a disaster this year, but as I am watching this spring and seeing the late moves, I’m warming up to the staff.

Littell is actually an interesting story. From 2018 until the middle of 2023, he was an average middle reliever who was inconsistent. However, after the Rays rubbed some of their pixie dust on him, Littell became a solid middle of the rotation starter who went deep into games. He did that by becoming a command specialist who relies on his secondary pitches.

Zack Littell, 30, agrees to a deal with the Nats

Landing in TB in 2024 was a turning point. They increased his Splitter usage, while decreasing his FF usage. The mix change increased the effectiveness of his FF, allowing him to more easily finish batters with the FF (Highest%… pic.twitter.com/5V0p5gduLN

— Baseball Unstitched (@BaseUnstitched) March 8, 2026

It may take him some time to ramp up, but when he is ready, Zack Littell is a lock to be in the Nats rotation. Cade Cavalli and Foster Griffin have also locked down rotation spots, and I would be surprised if Miles Mikolas does not have a spot as well, at least to start the season. That leaves one spot for Jake Irvin, Josiah Gray, Mitchell Parker, Andrew Alvarez and Brad Lord.

Mitchell Parker has been the least impressive this spring, so I would not be surprised if he starts the year in AAA. Given his versatility, Brad Lord seems likely to be moved to the bullpen. It would be an easy move to make, and Lord is better in the bullpen.

That leaves Jake Irvin, Josiah Gray and Andrew Alvarez fighting for one spot in the rotation. I think Irvin is the slight favorite right now due to his ability to eat innings. Gray will be in the rotation at some point, but I think he could benefit from a few starts in AAA as he ramps up after missing the past two seasons due to injury. His breaking stuff looks sharp, but the velocity is not all the way back yet for the 28 year old.

Josiah Gray is making his second spring training start tonight.

He just got a punch out with a CB. Threw 7 breaking balls and just 4 FBs in a clean first. Topped out at 92. pic.twitter.com/uDf5oFvK49

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) March 7, 2026

If Irvin struggles to start the season, he would be an easy candidate to move out of the rotation for Gray once he is ready. I still think Gray has a slightly higher ceiling than Irvin because his breaking balls are sharper. However, Irvin has been a workhorse for the Nats the past couple seasons despite declining results.

The wild card in all of this is Andrew Alvarez. He dominated in his start yesterday, showing his deep pitch mix and strong command. The crafty lefty dominated a solid Astros lineup, leaning heavily on his curveball. I am not quite sure what the plans are for Alvarez, but he has been impressive this spring.

Andrew Alvarez (WSH) struck out five over four scoreless innings against the Astros pic.twitter.com/8ujRYG7iwC

— Pitcher List Stats (@PitcherListPLV) March 8, 2026

Alvarez can nibble at times, which leads to high pitch counts. He also does not go deep into games. This could make him a natural candidate to be a swing man, but the Nats already have Brad Lord. Given his performances in September and now this spring, it would be tough to demote Alvarez, but that may be what ends up happening.

With all this pitching depth, the 4 and 5 starters in this rotation will be under pressure to perform. If Jake Irvin and Miles Mikolas do not hit the ground running, there will be plenty of arms nipping at their heels. 

Trevor Williams and DJ Herz will also join the fold at some point this season, once they are healthy. Riley Cornelio and Luis Perales are also power arms in the AAA rotation waiting for their opportunity. There may not be a ton of high end talent, but the Nats rotation has plenty of options. That is not something you could say very often the past few years.

As I wrote yesterday, this pitching staff could be surprisingly decent. There are no proven stars, but there are a lot of intriguing pieces and a new focus on development. A few of these guys are bound to break out, it is just tough to figure out which ones.

With Zack Littell in the fold, there could be a surprising level of competence in this Nats rotation. There is also a healthy level of competition that will force these guys to be on their A game. I am excited to see what this pitching staff has got, and after last season, it would be tough for them to be worse.

Sunday, as you know, the Cubs made their first Spring Training roster cuts. There are now 53 players remaining in camp, and that number’s likely to remain fairly large until the World Baseball Classic ends. There are still eight members of the Cubs’ 40-man roster off at the WBC, as well as several minor leaguers.

With the Cubs not playing Monday, one of two scheduled off days this spring, I thought it would be another good time to take a look at who will line up on the third-base line March 26 at Wrigley Field before the Cubs open the 2026 season against the Washington Nationals.

Catchers (2)

Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly

There aren’t really any questions here.

Designated hitter (1)

Moisés Ballesteros

I’m listing Ballesteros as a DH because, well, that’s what he’s going to be most of the time. I would expect him to DH against all right-handed pitchers, some left-handers, and maybe catch once in a great while. He’s getting valuable time catching while Amaya is playing for Panama in the WBC, and as has been noted a couple of times, he’s pretty good at ABS challenges.

He can also hit. In a small sample size he’s batting .357/.400/.429 this spring, 5-for-14, with a double, a walk and six RBI.

Infielders (5)

Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw

I’m listing Shaw as an infielder here even though he’s played mostly outfield this spring. The Cubs are trying to turn him into a super-sub, and it might just work.

Otherwise this infield could be one of the best defensive infields the Cubs have ever had.

Outfielders (5)

Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto

Last week I asked you who you thought would make the team out of the three non-roster outfielders, Carlson, Conforto and Chas McCormick. A plurality said Carlson and Conforto and this is how I see it as well. Carlson is batting .400/.571/.500 (8-for-20) this spring with two doubles and six walks. The Cubs do need someone who can play center field occasionally to give PCA a rest and Carlson appears to be a guy who could do that. If he can recover even some of his rookie-year promise, this could be a great signing.

Same for Conforto, who was once a very good MLB hitter. There are plenty of guys who can go on the 60-day injured list to make room for those two NRIs.

Starting pitchers (5)

Cade Horton, Shōta Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon

With the addition of Cabrera, this is a very good rotation, especially if the Cubs can get the 2024 version of Imanaga back.

Craig Counsell hasn’t announced an Opening Day starter yet, but I suspect it will be Horton. I’ve listed these five in the order I think Counsell will put them, though of course that could change.

Relief pitchers (8)

Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, Colin Rea, Hunter Harvey, Gavin Hollowell

It was reported Sunday by Meghan Montemurro in the Tribune that Porter Hodge and Jordan Wicks would start the year on the injured list. Hodge, in particular, had a rough spring and hasn’t pitched since Feb. 27:

Hodge will start the season on the injured list because of a flexor tendon strain. He is shut down from throwing for a couple of weeks, is scheduled to be reevaluated in two weeks and then start plyos at the end of March.

Hodge has talent and I think could still become a good MLB reliever.

This opens a spot, and opportunity, for Hollowell, who’s looked really good this spring: Four innings, two hits, no walks, one run, has struck out eight of the 14 batters he’s faced. Yes, small sample size and some are minor-league hitters. Still, Jed Hoyer has had good luck getting good relievers off the scrap heap and Hollowell could be another one of those.

Ben Brown likely heads to Triple-A Iowa. Whether that’s to start or relieve is an open question. Javier Assad also likely starts at Iowa, stretched out to start. The Cubs have several other relievers on the 40-man roster with options: Ethan Roberts, Jack Neely, Luke Little, Ryan Rolison and Riley Martin. All of them are likely to see time in Chicago this year.

Rea is the swingman in the bullpen, as he was last year. He can go multiple innings in relief, or start when needed. He and Thielbar are the only ones of those eight who were in last year’s Opening Day bullpen, and of the eight, four were not even in the Cubs organization last year.

That’s how I see it with 17 days until the season opener. What do you think?

Team news

[Arizona Sports] Brandon Pfaadt: Staying aggressive on defense is ‘the ultimate game plan’ for 2026 season – “One of the interesting things (Torey Lovullo) told us was when we’re on defense, we’re on offense,” Pfaadt said on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke. “I think that kind of stood out to me, and spring training is a perfect time to work on those things. More the pitcher than anybody else, especially in that situation, is knowing that you’re on the offensive side of the ball and knowing that you’re going to be aggressive towards the hitter and give him everything you got. I think it’s the ultimate game plan.”

[Dbacks.com] Kelly gets back into groove with 1st live BP bullpen session – “All good,” Kelly said after the outing. “100 percent. So, full steam ahead. Another rung on the ladder, another box checked, so we keep moving forward.” Both general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo watched the session. “It looked like everything was coming out OK,” Lovullo said. “He was able to get on the mound. No setbacks or limitations between pitches, so I feel like things went well. I asked the people in back of me what his velo was and it was 90 mph, up to 93 mph, so that’s pretty normal. The stuff looked sharp. Everything seems to be OK. Post-outing, he seemed to be feeling just fine. So that’s really, really good news.

[AZ Central] Merrill Kelly, Corbin Carroll health updates; top prospect sent down – Carroll took at-bats for the second time in the past three days against live pitching, facing Kelly in the morning at Salt River Fields. He could be nearing a return to a more structured game setting, though Lovullo said he did not believe that would happen on Monday, March 9. Lovullo said he would expect that Carroll’s first game action would come in a backfields game rather than in the Cactus League. “That’d be my thought,” Lovullo said. “More live at-bats. Running, sliding, throwing, all that type of stuff needs to take place, as well. Probably a backfield game would be a pretty safe bet. … When that happens, I’m not sure.”

[SI] Diamondbacks Make Massive 15-player Roster Move – Waldschmidt may be the most disappointing name for D-backs fans to see on this list, as the No. 1 prospect and exciting outfielder had garnered plenty of attention thus far in the Cactus League, with a possibility — however improbable — of cracking the major league roster. While Waldschmidt did collect four extra-base hits this spring (including a homer), was hitting the ball extremely hard, and was playing solid defense, he also displayed more swing-and-miss than usual. Waldschmidt’s 34.6% strikeout percentage was an uncharacteristic number for a player who walked nearly as many times as he struck out in the minor leagues.

And, elsewhere…

Pool play in the World Baseball Classic continued on Sunday. Mexico blitzed Brazil 16-0, to set up a clash of undefeated countries with America tonight (5pm Arizona time, on Fox). Alek Thomas went 3-for-3 with a home-run (above), driving in three. In other games, Japan were pushed hard by Australia in a 4-3 win, and the Dominican Republic run-ruled the Netherlands 12-1. Great Britain lost another first-inning lead, in a 7-4 defeat to Italy, and will now face Brazil (10 am on Tubi) to determine which country has to qualify for the next iteration of the WBC, in 2029. At end of play Sunday, seven spots in the next round were still up for grabs, with all but five teams still alive.

[Houston Chronicle] MLB players eye the Olympics in 2028 as they revel in World Baseball Classic – Baseball will be back in the Olympics in Los Angeles in just over two years. The question still remains, however, will MLB players participate? Bruce Meyer, the head of the baseball players’ union, confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday that discussions have begun, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said at last month’s owners meetings that “we’re a lot closer” and was confident of an agreement. “As players and owners we have to come to an agreement that works for everybody,” Bryce Harper said. “Understanding that you can get hurt playing during the regular season, you can get hurt playing during the Olympics.”

[WKRC] Creating new mascots for all MLB teams based on city history – The phoenix is the most powerful and literal symbol of the city itself—rising from the desert and reborn from fire. The name ties directly to Phoenix’s identity, intense heat, and dramatic desert sunsets, while “Sunwings” reinforces Arizona’s year-round sunshine and blazing summer climate. Visually, a phoenix provides dynamic motion, bold flame shapes, and high-impact orange and gold tones that stand out on merchandise and branding. The concept captures resilience, energy, and rebirth—qualities that align with both the city’s growth story and the competitive spirit you want in an MLB franchise.

A surprise pitcher of the spring so far hasn’t been any of the known starters, or even a member of the Padres dominant bullpen. Left-handed starter Jackson Wolf, who pitched for El Paso and San Antonio in 2025 with a combined ERA of 5.04, has appeared in five games and seven innings pitched with a 2.57 ERA and four strikeouts. The 26-year-old had a cameo appearance with the Padres in 2023 with five innings pitched in his start. He was traded that season to Pittsburgh and was DFA’d in March of the 2024 season. The Padres traded for Wolf in April of 2024, and he has been in the minor league system, between Double-A and Triple-A.

As one of the NRI this spring, Wolf has not started but has been a reliever for all his appearances and has shown that a funky delivery with a fastball that tops out in the low 90s, with a non-traditional changeup and a slider, can be effective and could be a surprise arm during the season.

Logan Gillaspie

Coming into camp, manager Craig Stammen detailed the role of NRI Logan Gillaspie. He would be stretched out and used as the ‘jack-of-all-trades pitcher for the Friars. The birth of his child interrupted his spring the second week of camp, but he is back to developing in his role. Starter Nick Pivetta has some arm fatigue and is working in the bullpen so his start will be skipped and Gillaspie made the start in his place. In his two games and 3.2 innings before his start, Gillaspie had no runs and one hit allowed.

In his Sunday start, Gillaspie pitched four innings with two hits and no runs, keeping his ERA at 0.00 over 7.2 IP with eight strikeouts. His fastball velocity sat mid-90s with a sinker, slider, sweeper, changeup, curveball and cutter mixed in.

A spot for Gillaspie could be in the mix for a starter if things don’t work out with the options currently competing or if Bryan Hoeing has a significant injury. The reported elbow soreness that he has experienced has motivated him to go outside the organization for more opinions. That is never a good sign and surgery could be an option. If Hoeing is on the IL to start the season, someone else will get a shot at the spot-starter/long-man role. Most likely that would be Gillaspie, Kyle Hart or Ron Marinaccio.

Matt Waldron

Knuckleball pitcher Matt Waldron had a great start to his camp with a back field appearance that showed increased velocity per reports. He appeared in one Cactus League game with a two-inning start on Feb. 21 against the Kansas City Royals. Waldron allowed one hit, one walk and had two strikeouts. Then, after his live BP, manager Craig Stammen reported an “infection in his back side” which was later explained to be surgical treatment for infected hemorrhoids.

Waldron threw a bullpen last week and will be built back up slowly, most likely starting the season on the IL for a second consecutive season. He is out of options so will have to be put on the roster when ready to return or pass through waivers.

Song-Mun Song

Pulled from the 27-6 wind-aided blowout on March 5, Song felt soreness in his previously injured right oblique that slowed his start to learning new positions as well as his adjustment to MLB pitching. Listed day-to-day by the Padres, Song will be slow-played in his return to practice and game action. That might open the door for a player like Ty France or Jose Miranda to make the team, at least until Song is completely able to return.

In past seasons, Mason McCoy would have the best chance to be the infielder off the bench for the Padres but it seems they are entertaining a different option this year. Searching for improved offensive production from the bench seems to be the theme for 2026 and McCoy might not be able to fill that role.

Giving Song a roster spot as well as signing Miranda and France shows that the bat might be just as, or more important for this team.

Yuki Matsui

Another victim of injury, Matsui had to withdraw from the WBC after straining his adductor. Groin strains are notoriously unpredictable and he might start the season on the IL, which could open an opportunity for another reliever to break in with the Friars dominant arms in the ‘pen.

Bradgley Rodriquez, Ron Marinaccio, Alek Jacob and Kyle Hart could be the pitchers on the borderline for the bullpen. Marinaccio has no minor options for 2026.

Jake Cronenworth

AJ Cassavell highlighted this past week the changes that Cronenworth has made during the offseason and during this spring. The opposite field home run he hit in the blowout on March 4 was his first one in his career. Although he drives the ball all over the field, his power has always been on the pull-side.

New hitting coach Steven Souza Jr. sees a road to changing that and we have seen Cronenworth hit with authority this spring. In his 21 at-bats he is hitting .381 with a home run, a double, a triple, two walks and three RBI for a 1.102 OPS.

Griffin Canning

It has become obvious that Canning is being slow-played and will not be available until after the start of the season. He has been seen doing drills in the outfield with coaches and is throwing bullpens on a regular schedule. He will not be doing active fielding drills until cleared by the medical staff. The current thinking will be a return in late April or May, depending on how his achilles responds when he starts working on movement and agility.

Jason Adam

Adam, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated he wants to be available for Opening Day. His manager has been much more coy, refusing to commit to any goal other than to make sure Adam is healthy and strong when he pitches.

To the goal of playing from day one, Adam took part in pitcher-fielding drills this weekend. He had already done all his backfield agility and running work before his PFP was okayed by the staff. This seems to point, with two-and-half-weeks until the season opens, to Adam being a part of the bullpen on March 26.

Owner update

After the report from local sports media that corrected the error made regarding the duo of Joe Kudla and Drew Brees submitting a bid for the Padres, there has been no further information coming out about the ownership change. The bids from the five bidders were in more than a week ago and there could be a second round after some eliminations are made. It still remains possible for the team to be sold by April or May. There was a hypothesis that the rumor regarding Kudla and Brees was due to them expressing an interest in joining one of the other bids for the team.

The Seidler family has shown to be adverse to information being leaked out and we might not know anything else until the deal is done. All Friar Faithful continue to hope that Chairman John Seidler spoke the truth and the Padres will be sold to the party best suited to keep the team competitive and invested in San Diego.

Alex Verdugo

Former Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo was signed by the Padres to a minor league deal after spring camp began. He did not receive an invite to big league camp and is working on the backfields with Padres coaching staff. In 2025, Verdugo played 56 games for the Braves with 197 at-bats and a .239 average and .585 OPS. He will not be 30 until May and still has a lot of baseball left after being DFA’d by Atlanta in July last year. He has not played in any MLB or MiLB lineup since July of last season.

Minor League camp

Minor league camp officially started on March 3 after multiple mini-camps were held over January and February. After camp opened, many of the NRI’s with the Padres were optioned to minor league camp, as well as several Padres prospects.

Padres prospects LHP Jagger Haynes, RHP Ryan Och, RHP Manuel Castro, 1B Romeo Sanabria and RHP Miguel Mendez were also optioned to minor camp. There remain 67 players in Padres camp. Many of the players now seen in later innings of Padres games are minor league players invited to join the team as later inning subs.

By the technical definition of a “rookie”, as outlined by Major League Baseball’s eligibility requirements, Nolan McLean enters 2026 as a rookie, in so far as he’s thrown fewer than 50 major league innings in his career (48 innings, to be exact). By way of his performance, composure, and talent level, McLean is anything but a rookie.

McLean’s rise from top prospect to top of the 2025 rotation was something to behold. The right-hander entered last season ranked No. 5 on the Amazin’ Avenue top prospects list (No. 6 on MLB Pipeline’s list), but he was ranked behind both Brandon Sproat (the consensus top pick on both lists) and Jonah Tong (No. 4 on Amazin’ Avenue, No. 5 on MLB Pipeline). A combination of injuries and poor performance ravaged the Mets’ rotation and became the clear weak spot on a collapsing club, making starting pitching an obvious area in need of a fix. While the team was clearly desperate for an injection of new talent and some hope, no one could have predicted that McLean would be the first man up at the start of the season.

McLean dominated from the jump, tearing through Double-A Binghamton with a 1.37 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings pitched. He was promoted to Triple-A in early May and didn’t skip a beat. In 87 1/3 innings for Syracuse, including 13 starts and three relief outings, he posted a 2.78 ERA with 97 strikeouts. As the season progressed, the calls grew louder for the Mets to bring him up to the majors, including from this site. McLean finally got promoted to make his big league debut in August, taking Frankie Montas’ spot in the rotation—Montas, remember him?

From there, the 24-year-old gave the Mets arguably their most electric start to a career from a starting pitcher this side of Jacob deGrom. For a rotation in need of stabilization, McLean became a force and captivated fans and analysts across the sport. He put forth a terrific debut performance against the Mariners, limiting Seattle to two hits while striking out eight over 5 1/3 frames. He picked up a win in his first four starts, something not even Tom Seaver or Dwight Gooden did with the franchise, and put up numbers few, if any, had put up, and he enjoyed a scintillating 1.37 ERA with 28 strikeouts across his first four starts.. He struck out seven over seven innings of two-run ball against Atlanta, and then followed that up with his most eye-popping start of his young career, hurling eight shutout frames at Citi Field against the Phillies in the middle of the team’s four-game sweep of their bitter rivals—perhaps the last time people would be forgiven for thinking the Mets could make the postseason.

Through six starts, he posted a 1.19 ERA and ended his eight-start run with an 11-strikeout performance in a win against the Cubs. He concluded his not-quite-rookie campaign a 2.06 ERA and a 2.97 FIP, with 57 strikeouts and 16 walks in 48 innings. His ERA was the fourth-best among starting pitchers from his August debut onward, behind Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (how’s that for some good company?) His 30.3% K% was the ninth-best among starters during that stretch, his FIP was 11th best, and his 0.75 HR/9 was 12th best.

Across the board, he went toe-to-toe with the best in the sport and quickly took the mantle as the de facto ace. His numbers across his first eight starts compare quite favorably to Skenes, who put up a 2.14 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 46 1/3 innings. If you want to compare him to Matt Harvey’s terrific 10 starts in 2012, Harvey had McLean beat on strikeouts (70 to 57), but McLean bested him in ERA (2.06 to 2.73), ERA+ (196 to 140), K% (30.3 to 28.6), BB% (8.5 to 10.6) and bWAR (1.8 to 1.6). In his season review for McLean, Michael Drago called attention to his sweeper and his curveball, the latter of which generated a 50% whiff rate, along with his sinker as the right-hander’s most lethal weapons, and his overall pitch mix led to him making major league batters look quite foolish.

While McLean, Sproat (who was eventually traded for now-ace Freddy Peralta) and Jonah Tong all enjoyed some action in the majors, McLean was the one who was definitively viewed as a lock for the Mets’ 2026 rotation. His poise on the mound and his fearlessness should help him slot comfortably behind Peralta in the rotation. To add another feather in his cap at a young age, he was selected to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and he is slated to make the start against Team Italy in the final game of pool play on Tuesday. Because he remains a rookie, he enters the year as the consensus top prospect on the Amazin’ Avenue and MLB Pipeline list, and he is listed as the sixth-best prospect in all of baseball.

Probably because of his youth and his anticipated growing pains (which he never quite experienced last year), as well as teams having a more detailed scouting report on him following his breakout, the projection models are a bit reserved on his season outlook. ZiPS has the righty posting a 3.94 ERA and a 3.95 FIP in 144 innings pitched, with a 22.9% K% and a 9.2 K% in his 26 starts. His projected 1.9 fWAR ranks fourth among Mets’ starters, behind Peralta, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes. PECOTA similarly sees McLean throwing just 150 innings and posting a 100 DRA- with less than a 2 WARP. Baseball Reference, meanwhile, has McLean posting a 3.34 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 84 innings.

Projections aside, the Mets have high hopes for McLean in 2026 and beyond, and there’s every chance he could become the natural successor for the homegrown ace that was vacated with deGrom bolted for Texas back in 2022. Because he retained his rookie status, and because he’s already shown glimpses of greatness in the majors, there’s every possibility McLean could win NL Rookie of the Year and get Cy Young votes. At the very least, he could get votes for both awards, which would be a rare and exciting feat to behold.

There’s every reason to believe last year’s performance was far from an aberration. While it’s not entirely fair to expect that level of performance across a full 162-game schedule, McLean should figure to give the team a strong performance as he acclimates to the majors, and he should help stabilize a rotation that really struggled for large portions of the previous season. For a team with postseason, and even World Series aspirations, McLean remains one of the most exciting players to watch.

Bullpens are funny things. 

They can be invisible when everything is working and painfully obvious when they’re not. Over the course of a long season, though, they quietly shape the outcome of dozens of games. 

And for a rebuilding team like the Colorado Rockies, they matter more than ever. 

The Rockies’ bullpen in 2025 was… not great. 

Colorado finished 29th in MLB in reliever ERA, and if you’re wondering who finished 30th, yes — somehow the Washington Nationals were worse. The group pitched a heavy workload and struggled in several key areas that tend to matter a lot at Coors Field. Rockies relievers ranked 28th in strikeouts per nine innings (7.86); walked the fifth-most batters in baseball; and allowed the most home runs of any bullpen in the league. 

That combination is difficult to survive anywhere. At Coors Field, it is especially unforgiving. Walks create traffic. Traffic plus home runs create crooked numbers. Without a strong strikeout rate, escaping those jams becomes even harder. 

But here’s the thing: The bullpen might actually be one of the more interesting areas of the roster right now. 

There’s real talent here. Several arms can touch the upper-90s. There are intriguing young pitchers trying to establish themselves. And perhaps most importantly, the organization appears to be rethinking what a successful bullpen at Coors Field should actually look like. 

Does high velocity play at altitude? Can a swing-and-miss monster survive at Coors? Or does the ideal Rockies reliever look more like Jimmy Herget — command, deception, and controlled contact? 

Those questions may start getting answers this season. 

A lot of turnover

The bullpen looks very different as we head into the 2026 season. 

Five of the top ten relievers by innings pitched in 2025 are no longer on the roster: 

• Jake Bird 

• Angel Chivilli 

• Tyler Kinley 

• Ryan Rolison 

• Anthony Molina 

Bird and Kinley were traded at the deadline, while Chivilli was moved over the winter in a trade for first baseman T.J. Rumfield. Molina and Rolison were both designated for assignment this offseason and subsequently landed with other teams. 

That’s 234 innings of work walking out the door. 

Turnover like that creates opportunity. A bullpen in transition is uncomfortable, but it also gives the organization a chance to reshape its identity. 

Currently on the roster

Jimmy Herget was the clear standout last season. His funky delivery creates deception, but more importantly, he throws strikes and limits self-inflicted traffic. That profile actually fits Coors Field surprisingly well. He might not light up the radar gun, but he consistently drives results. In 2025, Herget logged 83.1 innings with a sterling 2.48 ERA, striking out 81 batters while maintaining a solid, if unspectacular, 2.81 BB/9.

For a Rockies reliever working that many innings, a combination of durability, strike-throwing, and run prevention was quietly one of the most valuable performances in the bullpen last season. Given the turnover and uncertainty elsewhere in the relief corps, the Rockies will likely look to Herget to shoulder a similar workload again in 2026, serving as both a stabilizing presence and a reliable bridge in the middle and late innings.

The Human Glitch, K'ing the side. pic.twitter.com/vhroo7tKGh

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 21, 2025

Victor Vodnik, Juan Mejia, and Seth Halvorsen represent the power side of the bullpen. The velocity is there — upper-90s fastballs and the kind of raw stuff that can miss bats in high-leverage situations. 

Vodnik in particular showed flashes of becoming a late-inning option in 2025. He finished the season with 10 saves, a 3.02 ERA, and 50 innings pitched, though his fastball was occasionally hit hard and his walk rate remains something to watch. His changeup, however, has proven effective at generating ground balls and limiting damage. 

Halvorsen might possess the loudest raw stuff in the bullpen. His fastball velocity ranks near the top of the league, touching triple digits, but like Vodnik, the command has been inconsistent. Despite that, he still finished an uneven season with 11 saves, showing the kind of late-inning upside that power arms can provide. 

And that’s part of the current evaluation process: The Rockies still appear to be sorting out who ultimately handles the highest-leverage innings. Vodnik and Halvorsen both saw time closing games last year, and neither has definitively locked down the role yet. 

Mejia has primarily leaned on a two-pitch combination — a fastball and slider — which allows him to attack hitters aggressively without overcomplicating pitch sequences. That approach helped him carve out a role last season, but he’s working to expand his arsenal heading into 2026. Mejia has been developing a changeup, a pitch he admitted he didn’t have much confidence throwing last year but is now beginning to trust more as he continues refining it this spring. If that third pitch becomes a reliable option alongside his power fastball and slider, Mejia could take another step forward and emerge as one of the bullpen’s more dependable high-leverage arms.

Brennan Bernardino was brought in via trade to anchor the left-handed side of the bullpen. Bernardino isn’t a strikeout-heavy reliever, but he features a diverse pitch mix and excelled last year at generating weak contact on the ground. Behind him, the left-handed depth is thin, making that side of the roster one of the more interesting battles to watch this spring. 

R.J. Petit (No. 23 PuRP), a Rule 5 selection, will need to remain on the roster, works with a mid-90s fastball and a gyro-spin slider — a pitch type that tends to play well at Coors Field due to its movement profile. However, some recent forearm tightness calls his near-term future into question.

Keegan Thompson was claimed off waivers to provide depth and potential bulk innings, and Antonio Senzatela could also see time in multiple roles as he continues expanding his pitch mix. 

Zach Agnos, Jaden Hill, and Luis Peralta are all vying for innings. The stuff flashes with all three, but consistency remains the question. 

Non-Roster Invitees 

The Rockies also have several non-roster arms competing for bullpen opportunities worth monitoring. 

John Brebbia brings the most big-league experience of the group. He has had an up-and-down major league career, but he has looked sharp this spring and could provide veteran stability if the Rockies want an experienced option in the middle innings. 

Parker Mushinski is an intriguing left-handed candidate. He features a deeper pitch arsenal than many relievers and tends to generate weaker contact rather than relying purely on strikeouts. His spring has been uneven — including a rough outing against Texas — but he has also flashed swing-and-miss ability.

Evan Justice, a left-hander drafted by Colorado in the fifth round in 2021, offers a fastball-slider combination and familiarity with the organization. His 2025 performance was largely uninspiring, but as a left-handed arm he could still factor into the depth picture. 

The prospect angle

Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) is one of the more fascinating arms in the system. The left-hander dominated in the Arizona Fall League and has real bat-missing ability. In 46.1 innings at Double-A, he posted a 13.6 K/9 with a 3.50 ERA. 

The strikeout ability is real. The walks and fly-ball tendencies will be something to monitor in a Coors Field context, but if a left-handed prospect forces his way into the picture quickly, Herrera has the type of stuff that could do it. 

Carson Palmquist (No. 19 PuRP) is another intriguing variable. He has developed primarily as a starter, but his path to impact in Denver could ultimately run through relief. In shorter outings, a modest velocity bump and a simplified arsenal could change the profile of his fastball and breaking pitches. A left-handed arm capable of throwing strikes and navigating multiple innings could be extremely valuable in this environment. 

Both were optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, but could still potentially make it to Coors Field in the not-too-distant future.

Velocity, command, the the “Coors Equation”

The Rockies bullpen does not lack velocity. 

Several arms — including Vodnik and Halvorsen — can reach the upper-90s, and that kind of power arsenal should theoretically translate into strikeouts and late-inning dominance. But velocity alone does not solve the Coors Field equation. 

Poorly located velocity combined with walks is a dangerous formula anywhere, and at altitude it becomes even more volatile. Walks create traffic, and traffic paired with a misplaced fastball often turns into multi-run innings. 

That dynamic defined much of the Rockies’ bullpen struggles in 2025. 

Rather than chasing velocity alone, the organization appears to be placing greater emphasis on command and inducing weaker contact. That approach matters even more at Coors Field, where the expansive outfield and elevated batting averages on balls in play can quickly turn hard contact into extra bases. 

A successful Rockies bullpen may ultimately look less like a group of pure strikeout specialists and more like a balanced mix of power arms, command-focused pitchers, and relievers capable of generating ground balls. 

Another useful way to evaluate bullpen stability is inherited runners scored. In 2025, Rockies relievers allowed roughly 37 percent of inherited runners to score, placing them near the bottom third of MLB. League average typically sits closer to 30-31 percent. 

That gap may sound small, but over a full season it represents dozens of additional runs allowed — many of them in high-leverage moments. 

One way to see how much bullpen stability matters is through win probability. When a team enters the seventh inning with a lead, the game is largely in the hands of the bullpen. Across MLB, teams win roughly 85-90 percent of games when leading after seven innings. When that lead disappears, it is often because the bullpen allows traffic through walks, poorly timed hits, or inherited runners scoring. 

For the Rockies, improvement doesn’t require perfection. It simply requires finishing games more consistently. 

Even modest improvements in walk rate and strand rate could turn a handful of late losses into wins over the course of a season. 

The big picture

This bullpen is not without talent. 

Rather, it’s a group still defining itself. 

Herget provides a command-forward template. Vodnik, Halvorsen, and Mejia bring velocity and strikeout potential. Hill, Agnos, and Peralta represent the next wave of development. 

The late-inning roles — including who ultimately claims the closer’s job — are still being evaluated, and that competition may be one of the more interesting storylines of the season. 

If the walk rate drops and a couple of the power arms harness their command, the bullpen could stabilize faster than expected. 

And in a rebuild, stabilization matters. 

But it also raises an interesting question for Rockies fans:  What should a successful Rockies bullpen actually look like at Coors Field? 

Should Colorado lean into velocity and strikeouts? Should it prioritize command and weak contact? Or is the answer somewhere in the middle? 

The next season or two may provide that answer — and the comment section will probably have a few ideas in the meantime. 

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