HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 14: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of Italy looks on from the dugout in the fourth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game against Puerto Rico at Daikin Park on March 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re just one game away from the finale of what’s been an unforgettable World Baseball Classic. Team USA punched their ticket to the Championship Game last night with a pitching masterclass to silence the potent Dominican Republic lineup, clinging on to a narrow 2-1 victory. Relative tournament upstarts Venezuela and Italy face off tonight for the right to play the US on Tuesday in Miami and hoist the WBC trophy for the first time.
Venezuela eliminated tournament favorites, defending champions, and three-time winners Japan on Saturday, Shohei Ohtani popping out to end the game. Italy meanwhile have been the story of the tournament — surprise winners of a Pool B that include the US — and undefeated thanks to espresso-fueled slugfests and led by captain Vinnie Pasquantino and his three-homer game against Mexico.
The question tonight is whether Aaron Nola will be able to hold down the star-studded Venezuela lineup. The former Phillies ace was brilliant in his lone start of the tournament — five scoreless innings allowing four hits and a walk with five strikeouts against Mexico in the final pool play game.
However, Venezuela is another story entirely, led by former NL MVP and leadoff hitter Ronald Acuña Jr. There are All-Stars up and down the batting order — the Royals’ Maikel Garcia at third, the Giants’ Luis Arraez at first, former and current Red Eugenio Suárez at DH, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, former Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, Boston’s Wilyer Abreu in left, and the pair of Milwaukee stars William Contreras behind the plate and Jackson Chourio in center. If Nola can keep them in check, he’ll hand the ball over to an Italy bullpen featuring several former Yankees including Adam Ottavino, Greg Weissert, and Ron Marinaccio.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Ryne Nelson #19 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of the spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 11-12-1. Change on 2025: -2. 5-inning Record: 7-15-2.
It isn’t typically a good day when every pitcher bar your ninth inning guy gets tagged for one or more earned runs, but today had its positives for the D-backs. The first would be a good start from Ryne Nelson, who went four innings, and gave up just a solo home-run. There were four hits in total, plus a walk, but six strikeouts. Kevin Ginkel, however, lasted just seven pitches, allowing a two-run homer, and I have to wonder if something was up with that. Philip Abner, Ryan Thompson and Taylor Clarke each allowed one run – Abner’s outing lasted 1.2 innings – before Kade Stroud finally became our only pitcher to escape undamaged, with a scoreless ninth.
This one was 10-1 to Arizona by the end of the fourth, and that was also good to see. We got a five-run third, highlighted by James McCann’s first spring homer, a two-run shot. The Diamondbacks followed that up with a four-run fourth, LuJames Groover also going deep for the first time, this one plating three runs. Jacob Amaya had three of Arizona’s fourteen hits, with McCann and Grover each adding a knock in addition to their home-runs. Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar each notched a hit and a walk, while Manuel Pena drew two walks. The team was also active on the base-paths, Amaya swiping a pair of bags, and Lawlar getting his first SB.
The D-backs will stay at Salt River Fields for tomorrow’s game, which sees the Cubs come to visit. First pitch will be at 1:10 pm, with your scheduled starter Merrill Kelly, as he continues making his way back.
MADRID (AP) — Pathé Ciss' controversial goal in stoppage time gave Rayo Vallecano a 1-1 draw and shattered visiting Levante’s hopes on Monday of a rare win that would boost its chances of avoiding relegation from La Liga.
Levante started the night second from bottom in the table and went ahead when 20-year-old Carlos Espí headed the opener — his fourth goal in three games — four minutes before halftime.
However, in the fourth minute of second half added time, Ciss stole in at the back post to control a cross and stroke the ball past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. Although Levante claimed he handled the ball before shooting, Ciss swore there was no touch.
“It wasn’t our day but we can’t always get what we want,” the Senegal midfielder said. “We suffered with a man less and maybe this point will be crucial at the season’s end.”
The man less was Nobel Mendy, who was shown a second yellow eight minutes after halftime.
The red card forced the home side into a reshuffle and it was more dangerous with 10 men than with 11 as Ciss’ last-gasp equalizer proved.
The result extended Rayo’s unbeaten run to six league games and the point lifted it two places into 13th.
Levante remained in the cellar. Although it has seven points from a possible nine in recent weeks, it was three points behind third-from-bottom Elche and five behind Alaves.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 08: Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter at Target Center on December 08, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns Date: March 17th, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
For a few beautiful, deeply misleading moments in the third quarter against Oklahoma City, the Timberwolves had all of us believing again.
They were swarming defensively. They were forcing the Thunder into ugly, uncomfortable possessions. The reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had been held to just four first-half points, blanketed by Anthony Edwards on the perimeter and rejected at the rim by Rudy Gobert. Ayo Dosunmu had caught absolute fire in the second quarter, piling up 15 first-half points and drilling threes with confidence. Julius Randle, who had looked like he’d been sleepwalking through parts of the post-All-Star schedule, suddenly seemed awake again, scoring efficiently around the basket and actually looking like the bruising, playoff-useful version of himself.
And despite all the usual self-inflicted nonsense, the turnovers, the loose rebounds they failed to secure, and the extra possessions they gifted away, the Wolves had built an nine-point lead. It wasn’t pristine, but it was gritty, it was competitive, and it felt like Minnesota had a real chance to walk into Oklahoma City, punch the champs in the mouth for the third time in four meetings, and announce to the Western Conference that the rumors of their collapse had been exaggerated.
Then the floor gave way.
Suddenly the defense lost its edge. Rotations were a beat late. Closeouts weren’t quite there. Those Thunder possessions that had looked so difficult in the first half started turning into open threes and comfortable rhythm looks. The Wolves’ offense, which had been hanging together through effort and timely contributions, started to grind and seize up. Ayo cooled off. Julius lost his edge. Edwards was trapped, crowded, doubled, and no one else could consistently rise up and punish Oklahoma City for overcommitting to him. The turnovers kept coming. The offensive rebounds kept coming. The second- and third-chance points kept piling up. And with every careless possession and every missed box-out, you could feel the game slipping.
By the end of it, the Wolves hadn’t just lost. They had been reminded, again, what the difference is between a team that plays like a champion and a team that keeps insisting it can just flip a switch whenever it feels like it. Oklahoma City looked like a team that knows exactly who it is. Minnesota looked like a team still arguing with itself in the mirror.
Now, if you’re feeling generous, and at this point I’m not sure how many Wolves fans still are, you can look at the glass half full and say Minnesota was right there. If they take better care of the ball, if they rebound with more force, if they stop tossing away possessions, maybe we’re talking about a statement win. Maybe we’re talking about a team that weathered a brutal week and still came out looking dangerous. Maybe we’re talking about momentum.
Instead, we’re talking about another demoralizing loss and another example of the gap between a team with championship maturity and one that is still trying to fake it until it makes it.
And now, because the Western Conference is the basketball equivalent of a highway pileup in freezing rain, the Wolves are sitting firmly in the six seed, just a game and a half ahead of the Phoenix Suns and the Play-In. Which means the next game on the schedule, a game that a month ago might have felt like just another meaningful late-season test, is now blaring red lights and sounding sirens.
Because this one is not just important.
This is a full-on HAVE TO WIN game.
Phoenix has already beaten Minnesota twice. One of those losses was the season’s biggest collapse. Holding a sizeable late-game lead on the road in the desert, the Wolves hemorrhaged turnovers and free throws and somehow managed to bleed out in the final minute, snatching defeat from the jaws of what should have been a routine win. The Suns are sitting directly beneath them in the standings, holding the tie-breakers, with a chance to gain serious ground and shove Minnesota even closer to the trapdoor. And with Detroit looming twice, Houston twice, and games against Boston and others still ahead, this is not the time for the Wolves to make their margin for error any thinner than it already is.
This is where the season starts asking serious questions. Can they finally stop playing with their food? Can they take an inferior, injured team seriously on their home floor? Can they act like a group that wants one of those top six spots, or are they going to keep wandering through March like they’re entitled to a playoff berth because of what happened last spring?
The Keys to the Game:
#1 – Take care of the basketball.
The turnovers lately have not just been bad, they’ve been insulting. Against the Clippers and Thunder, Minnesota repeatedly sabotaged itself before the offense even had a chance to function. Against Oklahoma City, the Wolves meaningfully outshot the Thunder, and it didn’t matter because they kept ending possessions before they ever got a real look. You simply cannot beat good teams, or even beat decent teams cleanly, when you’re casually throwing away twenty possessions a game. Against Phoenix, that nonsense has to stop. No gifts. No shortcuts. No helping the opponent do its job.
#2 – Dominate the paint and the glass.
This is where the Wolves catch a real break. Mark Williams, whose last feisty battle with Gobert ended with Rudy’s flagrant two, will not be playing. That matters. A lot. Phoenix’s frontcourt is thinner now, and that means Gobert should walk into this game with the expectation that the paint belongs to him. Sunday in Oklahoma City was a pedestrian game for Rudy by his standards. Fine. Flush it. This is the bounce-back spot. He needs to inhale rebounds, protect the rim, and turn the paint into a miserable experience for anybody wearing a Suns jersey.
Randle also has to build on the good things he showed against OKC. There were real signs of life there. He found his shot. He was physical. It was in Phoenix last year that he started to really wake up late in the season and carry that into a strong postseason. This would be an awfully good time to start writing that script again.
#3 – Win the little hustle battles.
Phoenix is not overwhelming anybody with talent. They’re not steamrolling teams because they have more stars. They’re surviving and climbing because they play hard, they stay connected, and they do all the boring little things that add up to wins. They scrap for rebounds. They stay in possessions. They don’t beat themselves quite as often. That’s the exact mentality Minnesota has to mirror. No getting outworked. No giving up second-chance points. No mental nonsense at the free-throw line. Every small play in this game matters because the standings say it does.
#4 – Anthony Edwards has to look like Anthony Edwards.
Oklahoma City made life miserable for him and deserves credit for it. They loaded up, they doubled, they forced the ball out of his hands, and to Ant’s credit he largely stayed composed and used that attention to open things up for Ayo and others. But this is not the same kind of challenge. Dylan Brooks, one of the guys who tends to turn games against Ant into full-on personal vendettas, will not be there. Without him, Phoenix does not have the same kind of defensive shell. This should be an Ant game. A 40-piece kind of night where he bends the game to his will and makes a statement that Phoenix is not grabbing his team’s spot on his home floor.
That doesn’t mean hero ball. It doesn’t mean dribbling the air out of the ball and firing late-clock nonsense. It means smart aggression, rim pressure, and using his gravity to open everything else up.
#5 – Play intense, connected defense – especially on the perimeter.
The Wolves cannot let Devin Booker get loose. He cannot be allowed to stroll into the paint, find comfort, and start building one of those silky 34-point nights. He needs to be put in a straightjacket. This has to be a high-energy, high-effort, highly communicative defensive performance. The Wolves have the size advantage. They have the home crowd. They should have the desperation edge.
Phoenix, in a lot of ways, is playing with house money. They weren’t supposed to be here. To be fair, Minnesota wasn’t supposed to be here fighting to stay out of the play-in either. The difference is the Wolves put themselves here with all the avoidable nonsense, including the previous two losses to this same team.
That’s why the heat has been turned all the way up now. No more moral victories. This is one of those nights where the Wolves need to act like a team that understands what’s at stake. The talent edge is theirs. The size edge is theirs. The urgency edge had better be theirs. If they can’t get up for this game, if they can’t beat an inferior and injured Suns team that is openly trying to take their playoff spot, then at some point you have to stop doing the hopeful fan thing and come to the difficult conclusion: Maybe they don’t deserve one of those six spots after all.
But that’s the beauty and cruelty of the NBA in March. You don’t have to answer the question in theory. You answer it on the floor.
Tuesday night at Target Center, the Wolves have a chance to do exactly that.
TAMPA, FL – Detroit Tigers prospect Jordan Yost hit a grand slam in his first plate appearance of MLB spring training. His family members celebrated from the stands in front of the press box, repeating the same phrase after the ball landed in the right-field bleachers.
I can't believe it.
I can't believe it.
I can't believe it.
"I didn't hear many people running around the bases," Yost said. "I knew what was going on – just overjoyed, excited running the bases. I wouldn't say I blacked out, but it was a good moment."
The Tigers called up Yost as an extra player from minor-league camp for Sunday's 12-1 win over the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, planning to get him a plate appearance as the designated hitter in the later innings of the game.
The 19-year-old – a left-handed hitting shortstop – is the Tigers' No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, but he is still awaiting his professional debut in the minor leagues after the Tigers selected him No. 24 overall in the 2025 draft out of high school.
In Sunday's game, the Tigers gave him an early taste of life in the big leagues – pinch-hitting for Kerry Carpenter with no outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Yankees.
"It was exciting," said Yost, who learned Saturday afternoon from assistant general manager Ryan Garko and minor-league field coordinator Travis Chapman that he would travel for Sunday's game. "Fun to be out there and get an opportunity. Made the most of it, I guess."
It was a hometown moment in a familiar ballpark.
The Tigers drafted Yost out of Sickles High School in Tampa, just 10 miles away from George M. Steinbrenner Field, home of the Yankees in spring training, where he played high school tournaments.
"It's always nice for these guys to come over and get a look at what big leaguers look like and who they aspire to be," manager A.J. Hinch said. "I try to get these guys in the game as best I can."
Before the game, Yost took ground balls at shortstop with Javier Báez.
He finally entered the game after two rain delays.
Hinch joked that the only fans left in the stands would be Yost's family and friends. He had his parents, grandparents, friends and high school coach in attendance.
"I'm glad they waited," Hinch said.
It was a two-pitch plate appearance: Yost watched a fastball sail above the strike zone for a ball, then turned on an up-and-in 95 mph fastball from right-handed reliever Zach Messinger for a grand slam. He pulled the pitch 379 feet to right field with a 102.1 mph exit velocity.
He wasn't trying to hit a grand slam.
The result was a product of his approach.
"Just do my job," Yost said. "I know it's bases loaded, no outs. If anything, get the ball to the outfield, put together a good at-bat. ... I was ready for the heater, and I was able to put a good swing on it."
Did he know it was going to be a home run when he made contact?
Beyond the home run, Yost – known for his contact and plate disciple, but not power – showcased a different body than he had when the Tigers drafted him in July 2025.
A lot has changed in eight months.
"I gained about 13 pounds," Yost said. "That was the main priority, especially coming into the spring. My offseason goal was just to get bigger, stronger, and I think that's helped in all areas. I've actually gotten faster, too. The strength coaches are great. They're working with me every single day to try to get me bigger and stronger, and I think it's paying off."
He also added a toe tap to his swing mechanics.
The toe tap is a timing mechanism that helps hitters be ready for high-velocity fastballs – just like the one he crushed for a grand slam in Sunday's 12-1 win over the Yankees in MLB spring training.
"It's produced some good results so far," Yost said.
SEIYA SUZUKI UPDATE: He’s having an MRI today on the knee he injured in the WBC and more information should be available tomorrow.
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: For those interested, there will be a WBC semifinal game thread posting at 6:15 p.m. CT for the Venezuela vs. Italy game that begins at 7 p.m. CT.
Please visit our SB Nation Guardians site Covering The Corner. If you do go there to interact with Guardians fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 8 p.m. CT and 9:35 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Ezequiel Tovar #14 of Team Venezuela scores during the eighth inning against Team Japan during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Venue: loanDepot Park — Miami, Florida, USA
The stage is almost set for the grand finale of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. As Team USA defeated the team from the Dominican Republic last night in a close, hard-fought pitcher’s duel—that was not without controversy—tonight’s semifinals match-up will determine their opponent.
Regardless of the result, Team USA will face off against a team making the final round for the first time in the tournament’s history.
After knocking Japan out of the tournament in Saturday’s upset victory, Venezuela now has their eyes on the prize with the goal of defeating Italy tonight and the United States on Tuesday. The Venezuelan team presents a very well-balanced front. Their solid, top-ten offense has hit .276/.354/.482 with 11 doubles and eight home runs while demonstrating speed on the bases with eight steals. Their pitching staff has posted a 3.20 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 48 strikeouts so far, but they’ve also given up the fourth-most home runs.
Taking the mound tonight will be Detroit Tigers righty Keider Montero, who is making his first start of the tournament. Montero previously pitched three scoreless innings of relief against Nicaragua, giving up three hits and striking out two batters.
Should he be in the lineup tonight, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar could continue to be a spark plug for Venezuela. Tovar is shining in the international spotlight. Against Japan he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base, and solid defensive play.
Venezuela will be facing the surprise top seed and only remaining undefeated team in this year’s tournament: Italia.
Italy has never made it to the final four in the history of the World Baseball Classic, let alone gone undefeated while facing baseball powerhouse opponents like Mexico and the United States. Italy defeated both in convincing fashion with both exuberance and flair. Their designer jacket, espresso machine home run celebration, and of course il bacio from their captain Vinnie Pasquantino draw your attention while their strong play on the field keeps it.
Italy’s potent lineup packed with talent like Kansas City Royals stars Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone have hit a combined .287/.401/.581 with 12 home runs—the second-most in the tournament to this point. They’re also a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases.
Their pitching staff—while not as flashy as other delegations—has quietly turned in repeated strong performances. Their 3.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP have gotten the job done, and their 54 strikeouts are the fourth-most of any team. Italy’s pitching has also kept bats quiet when it comes to home runs, giving up just four.
Italy originally planned to send Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen to the mound tonight, but will instead have Philadelphia Phillies ace Austin Nola make the start instead. Nola worked five shutout innings against Mexico his last time out, striking out five batters while giving up four hits and a walk.
Depending on how tonight’s game goes for Nola, Lorenzen may appear out of the bullpen. If he does not—and Italy wins—Lorenzen is the likely starter for the championship game.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 22: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on December 22, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (23-45) head to Louisiana to face of against an old friend/foe in the New Orleans Pelicans (22-46). Dallas took the Cavaliers to the woodshed on Sunday afternoon and have had a full day to recover and get ready for tonight’s game. The Pelicans, meanwhile, just keep winning. They have no incentive to lose, seeing as they don’t own this year’s draft pick, but it’s been fascinating watching them from afar (yes I know they lose to the Rockets in maddening fashion on Friday).
Here are the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Pelicans
WHAT: Heading to Louisiana for a Southwest Division game
WHERE: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
WHEN: 7:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The Mavericks injury report is worth taking a gander at before tipoff. The two-way guys are all questionable, so the coaching staff is still deciding if they should play or not. Daniel Gafford is going to miss this game, as is Klay Thompson (each is doubtful as of this writing). Caleb Martin is questionable. Everyone else should be playing unless I cannot read (entirely possible).
The New Orleans side of the report is clean, with Dejounte Murray listed as questionable with an illness. deThe line is a whopping 8.5 favoring the Pelicans. That reads weird to me but Dallas is on their fourth game in five nights and New Orleans has been off for a few days. Still, that’s a massive line for one bad team to be favored over the other. We’ll see shortly I suppose!
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 14: Ben Saraf #77 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 14, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Inhale. Exhale. Michael Porter Jr, Day’Ron Sharpe, Noah Clowney, Egor Demin, and Terance Mann are all out for Brooklyn. That’s great news for those getting ready for the big dance.
In the meantime, Brooklyn hoops. 15 games remain including tonight.
🏀 KEY INFO
Who: Portland Trail Blazers (32-36) at Brooklyn Nets (17-50) When: 7:30 PM ET Watch: YES Network
✍️ Game Preview
“Amazingly, this is the first meeting between the two teams this season. This is the second night of a back-to-back and game two of a six game road trip for the Blazers. Former Nets assistant coach Tiago Splitter is coaching the Blazers these days. And it feels like a lifetime ago, but Splitter got the job because the feds got Chauncey Billups in a sweep. If he can get them into the playoffs, there’s a chance he’ll be there permanently.” | Brian Fleurantin
💬 DISCUSSION
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
INJURY REPORT 3/16 @ BKN:
OUT Damian Lillard (L Achilles Tendon) Caleb Love (Two-Way) Shaedon Sharpe (L Fibula Stress Reaction) Yang Hansen (G League) Chris Youngblood (Two-Way)
DOUBTFUL Vit Krejci (L Calf Contusion)
QUESTIONABLE Robert Williams III (L Knee Inj Mgmt)
ABERDEEN, MARYLAND - JUNE 22, 2025: Austin Overn #31 of the Aberdeen IronBirds bats during a South Atlantic League game against the Brooklyn Cyclones at Ripken Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Aberdeen, Maryland. (Photo by Rodger Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
NA
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
NA
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
NA
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
NR
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
NA
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
NA
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
NA
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
NA
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
NA
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
NR
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
26
Brayden Taylor
2B/3B
6
25
24%
2
27
Adrian Santana
SS
6
26
23%
NR
28
Austin Overn
OF
7
21
33%
NA
Voting is tapering, but that’s natural at this stage, and Overn was the clear winner regardless. We add Joe Rock!
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Tampa Bay’s top signee from the 2025 international class, Coret reported tall and young with a lot of projection. His future depends mostly on his hit tool, with prospect evaluators divided on a player that has a long way to go, but the exit velocity (111 mph) and foot speed are plus for his age. Promisingly, after he had a hot start to his professional career, Coret saw his strikeouts elevate in July, but he got them back under control in the final month. A move to the complex league in 2026 would be aggressive.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Dean Moss, OF 19 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss’s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss’s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Joe Rock, LHP 25 | 6’6” | 220 AAA | 5.21 ERA, 5.13 FIP, 96.2 IP (32 G, 15 GS), 21.1% K, 9.3% BB MLB | 2 ER, 7 H (1 HR), 7.2 IP (3 G), 11 K, 2 BB
Rock got the call for the first time last season, riding the Durham shuttle in June and again in September after being acquired from the Rockies for former first rounder Greg Jones in an org roster shuffle ahead of the 2024 season. Rock’s calling card is a borderline double-plus slider that’s complimented by league average stuff from his sinker and change, although he’ll pop a high four-seam to keep ‘em honest. His arm action starts with a high back elbow and ends in a lower release point, and the look elevates his profile through deception. He’s most likely in a relief role.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres walks out of the bullpen before a World Baseball Classic scrimmage against Great Britain at Peoria Stadium on March 4, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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The San Diego Padres entered Spring Training with questions about their starting pitching rotation. There were rumors in the offseason about Mason Miller being converted back to a starter – he will not be. There was also talk about David Morgan and/or Brian Hoeing being stretched out to become starters because the Padres knew they would not have much of their 2025 rotation returning. Morgan remains in the bullpen and Hoeing will be lost for the season after needing elbow surgery.
Dylan Cease reached free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Michael King also reached free agency, but after time on the market he re-signed and returned to San Diego. Nick Pivetta was still on the team, but rumors about a possible trade involving Pivetta percolated in many of the early offseason conversations – he remains on the roster. It was announced that Yu Darvish would miss the entire 2026 season after offseason surgery on his elbow and Joe Musgrove was returning from his own surgery and what he could provide over 162-game season was unknown.
San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller turned to the free agent market, but after re-signing King, he seemed reluctant to add a free agent pitcher on much more than a minor league deal. He did add German Marquez and Griffin Canning on major league deals, but Marquez received a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027 for $1.75 million and Canning got a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027 for $2.5 million. Other than Marquez and Canning, Walker Buehler, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie were all added on minor league deals. JP Sears and Matt Waldron were already on the San Diego roster and were starting rotation options heading into Spring Training.
Padres manager Craig Stammen announced Monday that Musgrove would likely not be on the Opening Day roster after having difficulty bouncing back from his last throwing session and a start against Great Britain, who was preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Pivetta recently missed time with arm fatigue and recently returned, but there was a moment of concern for Padres fans.
The current San Diego rotation is:
Michael King
Nick Pivetta
Randy Vasquez
TBA
TBA
The expectation is that Buehler and Marquez will occupy those positions because Canning will be out until sometime in May after recovering from his own injury that occurred last season. Gonzales was hammered his last time out against the Texas Rangers and McKenzie has had trouble with control throughout spring, but his velocity has been impressive. Sears has continued to allow home runs and Waldron is trying to work back to the mound after having surgery to address a hemorrhoid issue.
It would appear the San Diego rotation is in shambles with only King and Pivetta as front of the rotation pitchers. Vasquez will move up out of necessity, but that means the back of the rotation will be filled by some combination of Marquez, Buehler, Sears, Waldron, McKenzie and Gonzales at least until Canning is cleared to return. The typical disclaimer applies; this is assuming Preller does not make a trade to address the starting rotation like he did when he added Cease prior to the plane taking off for Korea to open the 2024 season.
Gaslamp Ball would like to know what your level of concern is regarding the Padres’ rotation with Opening Day just 10 days away. Results from the Padres Reacts Survey poll question will be announced later this week.
For the first time in its 64-year history, Dodger Stadium is attaching itself to a corporate sponsorship.
Katie Woo of The Athletic first reported Sunday that the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a deal with Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo to be the official field presenting partner of the historic ballpark. Uniqlo does not have the naming rights to Dodger Stadium itself, as the team reportedly made it a priority to keep the only name the ballpark has ever had intact.
Rather, the sponsorship is for the playing field alone and will likely be something along the lines of Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
It's a similar setup to another historic LA venue — the playing field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the home of the USC Trojans football team, has been known as United Airlines Field since 2019 while keeping the stadium's name.
Uniqlo began as a fast-fashion brand based in Japan in 2017 and has since grown to over 1,000 stores worldwide. As part of the deal, it will have a prominent presence throughout the ballpark, including a new sign in the center field plaza. Per The Athletic, Uniqlo will also hold exclusive marketing and promotional opportunities as the organization’s top sponsor.
It adds yet another major Japanese-based sponsor since the arrival of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani prior to the 2024 season. That year alone, the Dodgers added roughly 12 new Japanese sponsors and generated roughly $70 million in sponsorship revenue, according to Forbes.
The Dodgers previously explored selling the naming rights to the field as far back as 2017, but their search picked back up in 2022 when they hired marketing agency Sportfive to help find a partner for the field rights and a jersey sponsor. The team announced a self-sponsorship with ownership group Guggenheim Baseball Management for their jersey patch in 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Igor Thiago celebrated his first call-up to the Brazil squad by scoring Brentford’s second goal in a 2-2 thriller against Wolves in the Premier League on Monday.
Nearing halftime, the striker tapped into the empty net for his 19th league goal of the season.
A few minutes earlier, Michael Kayode's glancing header put Brentford 1-0 up. It was his first goal in his 41st league appearance for the Bees.
Adam Armstrong pulled a goal back for Wolves a minute before halftime to round off a thrilling half.
Wolves, the league's bottom side, equalized with 13 minutes left when Tolu Arokodare headed home at the back post.
The result extended Wolves' unbeaten league run to three games but it remained bottom of the table, 12 points from safety.
“We know where we are in the league, it hasn’t been good enough," Armstrong said, "but since I’ve come in it’s been very positive. The results have been changing. To get my first goal is nice but the main thing is to get the three points. We didn’t quite get that today but we’ll take the positives.”
Brentford stayed in seventh place, two points ahead of Everton but three behind Chelsea.
"We’re disappointed to have let the game slip," Bees captain Jordan Henderson said.
Just hours before kickoff, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti named Thiago in the squad for friendlies against France in Boston on March 26 and Croatia in Orlando four days later.
The former Cruzeiro, Ludogorets and Brugge striker was one of nine forwards included in a 26-man list that featured Endrick of Lyon, Rayan of Bournemouth, and João Pedro of Chelsea but no Neymar, who has underperformed recently at Santos.
He has excelled for Brentford this season and could have scored one or two more against Wolves. His 19-goal tally is the highest ever by a Brentford player in one Premier League season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jan 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket as Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) attempted to defend during the first quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks (36-31) welcome the Orlando Magic (38-28) to the city for a night battle of the hottest teams in the NBA.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
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