BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Cade Povich #37 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, September 25, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Howell/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A year ago, Cade Povich was the answer to one of the Orioles’ most pressing questions. On the final day of spring training in March 2025, the club named him their fifth starter. He was 25 years old, making his first Opening Day roster, and stepping into a rotation that needed him.
Twelve months later, despite making 20 starts for this team the year before, Povich’s place on this roster has become a question mark.
The shape of the rotation has changed dramatically. Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers are at the top of the rotation. Chris Bassitt, signed for $18.5 million this winter, gives Baltimore a veteran presence with a 3.64 career ERA and four straight seasons of 170-plus innings. Shane Baz, acquired in a trade, occupies another spot. Zach Eflin, who had back surgery in August, is back on a one-year deal and expected to join the rotation once he’s fully ramped up. That’s five starters with legitimate claims to roster spots before you even get to Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, and Brandon Young — all of whom made starts last season.
Povich, who logged a 5.06 ERA across 21 appearances in 2025, is now competing for a role that the organization hasn’t quite defined for him yet.
“We’ve got a lot of great guys in the rotation and in the bullpen,” Povich said earlier this week in Sarasota after throwing two scoreless innings against Atlanta. “I think competition is always good.”
He knows what the situation is. Asked about the bullpen, he was refreshingly candid: “If they say, ‘we think this is going to help the team the best,’ I’m all for it.”
That flexibility matters, because right now the bullpen looks like the more realistic path to a roster spot than the rotation. The team lacks a pure left-on-left specialist. Southpaws Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns are useful arms who can get out right-handed hitters, but neither is a shutdown weapon against same-handed batters. Povich could theoretically fill that gap, though his career splits haven’t been markedly better against lefties than righties.
One thing is making Povich’s spring more interesting than it might be: a gyro slider. A tightly spun offering with rotation like a tight football spiral, the pitch tunnels like his four-seamer before dropping just enough to induce weak contact or a whiff. In the offseason, Povich studied how Blake Snell deployed his slider last year (a pitch with a 54% whiff rate on it) and has been integrating his own version to address what has always been his most glaring vulnerability: being behind in counts.
Good timing: opponents hold a .710 OPS against Povich when he’s ahead in counts; when batters get ahead, that balloons to 1.072. The gyro slider is designed to change that equation, giving him something he can throw in the zone at 2-0 or 3-1 instead of grooving a fastball.
He’s also refined his kick change, which was his best swing-and-miss weapon in 2025 with a 34.3% whiff rate but was maddeningly unpredictable in its movement. Sometimes it cut glove-side; sometimes it ran arm-side. Catchers had trouble framing it, and Povich had trouble locating it.
Early spring results have been encouraging. Two scoreless innings against the Braves, a hit and a walk, no real damage. But these are early days against split-squad lineups, and what matters more is the stuff than the line. Manager Craig Albernaz said Povich looked good and was right where he needed to be.
The most realistic outcome for the lefty is probably a hybrid role — not quite a starter, not quite a traditional reliever, but something in between that gives the Orioles flexibility. A bulk innings guy behind an opener, or a sixth arm when the rotation needs it.
The rotation math is what it is. Bradish and Rogers are locks. Bassitt, Baz, and Eflin were brought in to stabilize things, and Elias described Bassitt specifically as someone who would give the rotation “strength in numbers.” With Kremer and Wells also pushing for spots, Povich simply isn’t going to be a regular starter on Opening Day barring an injury.
What he can control is whether he makes himself hard to cut. The gyro slider and and improvement changeup are a nice start. Showing he can get lefties out consistently would help, too. So would improved control early in counts, and staying healthy through camp, come to think of it.
Povich remains on the 40-man roster and the Orioles clearly see something in him. He’s been asked to compete, not released. For a player who was handed an Opening Day start just twelve months ago, it’s a humbling recalibration. But if the new pitch plays, and if he can carve out a role as a versatile left-hander on a team that needs exactly that, there’s still a meaningful career to be built here.
The Birds have a crowded house this spring. Povich’s job is to make himself the one they can’t send away.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bat first in cricket's T20 World Cup Super 8 match against England at R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
A win will earn New Zealand the second semifinal spot from Group 2. Leader England has already qualified after beating Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Victory for England will leave Pakistan with a slim chance of getting into the semifinals via net run-rate if they beat Sri Lanka on Saturday.
South Africa has already qualified from Group 1. The second spot will be decided by the result of the match between India and the West Indies.
New Zealand fielded the same side that beat Sri Lanka comprehensively on Wednesday while England bolstered its spin attack by recalling Rehan Ahmed in place of Jamie Overton.
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Lineups:
England: Harry Brook (captain), Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
And, let's just say, that Canadiens fans saw why Schaefer is the clear front-runner for the award, despite Demidov's brilliance this season.
There's no question that Demidov, 20, is a tremendous player. But there's elite, and then there's generational, and Schaefer is the latter.
With the Islanders down 2-0, Schaefer scored twice in 55 seconds to get the game tied up before the second period came to a close. Then, after an Anders Lee tally tied the game late after the Islanders trailed yet again, Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Demidov leads all rookies with 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) in 58 games. There's no denying that.
But Schaefer's 41 points as a defenseman in 59 games are incredible, let alone the fact that he's scored 18 goals, which puts him second behind Anaheim Ducks' rookie Beckett Sennecke. His 23 assists rank third.
Any other year, Demidov would be walking away with hardware. But this isn't any other year. He's going up against an 18-year-old who is accomplishing things at the NHL level that the league has never seen.
Most players have ceilings. Schaefer does not.
There are over 20 games left before Demidov and Schaefer's rookie seasons come to a close. Both should be proud of what they've been able to accomplish, but there can only be one winner, and right now, it's Schaefer's award to lose.
Hull KR face Leeds in Sin City on Saturday, with the supporters they bring in tow illustrating the league’s value to the global game
Rugby league’s greatest ride returns to Las Vegas this weekend with Super League nestled firmly in the sidecar. Two NRL fixtures kick off the Australian season while Hull KR and Leeds Rhinos open up the Allegiant Stadium action on Saturday. More than 12,000 English fans are expected to make the trip and add plenty of colour, flair and, most importantly, value.
This has been a strong start to 2026 for the game in England, evidenced last week by Hull KR’s triumph over Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge. It is handy for Super League that the Robins are one of two clubs in Vegas representing the competition this week and they have even flown the trophy over to hammer home the point that Super League holds the cards when it comes to the best club side in the game.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 26: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media after the game against the Miami Heat on February 26, 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
In their last game of February, the Sixers picked up one of their most important wins of the season. With the Miami Heat coming into town Thursday just a game and a half behind the Sixers for the sixth seed and final guaranteed playoff spot, the Sixers knocked them off 124-117.
That seemed to take a backseat to a new franchise record. Tyrese Maxey passed Allen Iverson for the most made three-pointers in franchise history. He was three away from the record coming into the game and got it out of the way early, drilling five triples in the first quarter.
He was especially keen to get the record out of the way early — learning how close he was threw him off in the team’s previous game in Indiana.
“He was complaining that they told him too much the other night or something,” head coach Nick Nurse said. “He didn’t want to know, and he knew, and he was thinking about it a bit.”
Maxey explained that the culprit here was his close buddy Trendon Watford, who told him that Maxey might as well break it against the Pacers after hitting his first two threes in that game. Maxey didn’t make a three the rest of that game.
One game later against the Heat, Watford got to be apart of the record-breaking moment.
“It’s ironic, Trendon was the one that passed me the ball,” Maxey said, “so, we’ll remember that one forever.”
Anyone who’s followed Maxey for any stretch of his career won’t be shocked to learn that he spent most of his time talking about the record thanking God, his family, coaches and teammates, past and present. Former Sixer Tobias Harris also got a shoutout from Maxey in his postgame presser.
“I gave a shoutout to Tobias earlier,” Maxey said. “In my rookie year he told me I was a great shooter even though I wasn’t shooting as well as I wanted to. He told me I was great shooter.”
Despite Maxey’s rise from a player drafted outside of the lottery to an All-Star game starter, there’s been a sense of humility that he’s never lost. Accolades seem like a nice byproduct of trying to get better every day.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I always said I was going to make it to the NBA, but I didn’t know what to expect, honestly,” he said. “Someone asked me at All-Star [weekend] if I expected to be an All-Star starter, and I was like, ‘Man, no, I just work.’”
The longer his teammates have been around him though, the less of a shock it is for them to see these accomplishments.
“It’s a surreal moment, but it’s not surprising,” said Kelly Oubre Jr., a teammate of Maxey’s for the last three seasons. “He puts in the work, he’s confident, he’s developing every year, and you know, I’m super proud of him and blessed to be alongside him.”
The hard work and leadership Maxey has shown since taking over that role for this team has created a positive feedback loop. It’s something he sees in those he goes to work with as well.
“I’m just appreciative of the Philly fans, appreciative of the Philly organization, and both my coaches who really pushed me to become better every single day,” Maxey said. “When you have your coaches that really believe in you and your teammates that have your back every single night, you can’t ask for anything better than that.”
That work ethic and ultra competitiveness Maxey has become famous for is seen often in his rookie backcourt running mate too. VJ Edgecombe had high praise for the record-breaker, but was able to use it to motivate himself as well.
“The record is going to be harder to break now, I’m gonna try, hopefully I can get to it,” Edgecombe half-joked, “but credit to Tyrese, man. He means a lot to me. Obviously, because of who he is as a person and who he is as a player.”
Three-point records are of course a tricky thing because of how the game has changed, but this achievement is a good mark of just how much work The Franchise has put in.
The Orioles answered a lot of questions this offseason. The question marks surrounding the offense were addressed via the signing of Pete Alonso and the trade for Taylor Ward. Starting pitching was addressed with Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt and the resigning of Zach Eflin. The bullpen added Ryan Helsley and brought back Andrew Kittredge.
But one gigantic question still hangs over the Orioles’ heads: Is Baltimore truly a contender in 2026?
After back-to-back playoff seasons in 2023 and 2024, there was plenty of hope that the 2025 Orioles would be contenders again. Instead, a mountain of injuries and failed offseason gambles doomed the O’s to a 16-win regression and a last-place finish.
The Orioles undoubtedly had a better offseason this year. However, questions surrounding pitching and a steadily growing pile of new injuries are still here to cast doubt over the Orioles’ playoff hopes.
FanGraphs currently gives the Orioles a 51.6% chance to play October baseball, sixth best among all AL teams but only 4th in a loaded AL East. FanDuel also gives the O’s the sixth-best odds to earn a postseason birth at -115, though the gap between them and the Red Sox (-170), Blue Jays (-172) and Yankees (-265) is perhaps seen as even bigger in the betting market.
The optimistic case for the Orioles’ chances at a Wildcard berth revolves largely around their offense. The additions of Alonso and Ward, and predictable positive regression from Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, could see this O’s team challenge for the MLB home run lead and title of best offense in the AL. And that’s before factoring in the potential growth of younger players like Jackson Holliday, Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers.
The pessimists will point to the lack of top-end starters, injuries to Holliday, Basallo and Jordan Westburg and the gauntlet that is the AL East as reasons why Baltimore will miss the playoffs again. The rotation is deeper, but heavily reliant on healthy seasons from Bradish, Rogers and Baz to give Baltimore a prayer at keeping up with deep rotations in New York, Toronto and Boston.
The injuries are frustrating but perhaps surmountable. Holliday should be back sometime in April. Basallo will hopefully not be shelved for long after leaving yesterday’s game after an awkward play at the plate. Westburg’s UCL injury means he may miss the entire season, but a leap from Coby Mayo should mitigate that loss (at least offensively). And yet, having to deal with so many injuries before playing a single regular-season game could certainly dent the optimism around an Orioles return to the postseason.
Playing in the AL East is not as daunting as it once was, thanks to a reduced number of division games, but the O’s still face a challenging climb out of the basement of baseball’s toughest division. The flip side to the challenge of the AL East is that Baltimore will have plenty of opportunities to steal games from their biggest competitors in the Wild Card (or division) race.
Since the move to three Wild Card teams, the last Wild Card spot in the AL has averaged 87 wins. Most books have the Orioles over/under at 86 wins. By all accounts, this should be a team that can make the playoffs. But do they have enough juice to truly distinguish themselves as contenders? Let us hear your opinion in the comments below.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers follows through on a swing against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández both sidelined to begin the regular season, the second base position looks open for the taking on paper. So far this spring, Hyeseong Kim is proving to the Dodgers that he is the guy to get the nod.
Kim added another highlight to his already impressive spring with a home run against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, and he is hitting a remarkable .462 (6-13) this spring while flashing the leather both at second base and in center field. His hot spring will be coming to an abrupt end soon, as he is set to join Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic.
Instead of looking back fondly at the numbers he displayed over a short period of time this spring, Kim is focused on contributing consistently in the regular season, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“I don’t think there’s any full satisfaction that comes from [spring results],” Kim said. “I’m just trying to focus on the things that I’m working on. Just working on my movement quality and my swing mechanics. And, yeah, just try to play every day, and hopefully it shows during the season.”
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Tyler Glasnow impressed in his first start of the spring, tossing 33 pitches over 2+ innings while giving up just one hit, striking out four and allowing no walks. The ultimate test this season will be if he can stay healthy, something that has alluded him since being acquired by the Dodgers in late 2023, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“Pitching well and staying healthy,” Glasnow said when asked about goals. “Just doing all that and trying to make as many starts as I can, and just executing every start and being healthy in the postseason.”
So far this spring, eight of the nine regulars in the Dodgers starting lineup have appeared in at least one game this spring. The odd man out— Mookie Betts.
Dave Roberts noted that Betts will not be playing in any of the games this weekend, and it might be another week until Betts sees some playing time, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“I wanted Mookie to start a little bit later as far as not getting into spring training ready to go, and kind of use spring training to build up given it’s six weeks,” Roberts said Thursday. “He’s building up nicely.”
SUNRISE, Fla. — A three-week break in the schedule due to the Olympics should have helped the Toronto Maple Leafs feel refreshed and ready to chip away at their deficit in the NHL playoff race. Instead, they looked like a team lacking the details in their game. They made critical mistakes and were badly outplayed in consecutive games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.
If Toronto’s 4-2 loss to Tampa on Wednesday wasn’t bad enough, they followed that up the next night with one of their worst periods of the season. The Leafs were outshot 16-6 and surrendered three goals in quick succession. This allowed Florida to seize control early and never look back.
Brad Marchand opened the scoring at 3:18 with a wrist shot from the slot, assisted by Anton Lundell. It marked his 26th goal of the season. Evan Rodrigues followed with the first short-handed goal of his career on a breakaway, capitalizing on a Toronto turnover during a power play to make it 2-0.
The Panthers’ aggressive penalty kill continued to disrupt the Leafs’ setup, leading to another tally before the period ended. Marchand’s early marker ignited a flurry that highlighted Toronto’s inability to clear zones or generate forecheck pressure. Florida’s transition game overwhelmed the Leafs’ blue line, as turnovers and poor positioning contributed to the outburst. The Panthers generated high-danger chances at will while limiting Toronto to low-quality perimeter shots.
The Leafs looked better in the second and third periods, but they ultimately lost the game 5-1. While the team kept much of their focus on that late-game improvement, it offers little consolation now. With the Boston Bruins defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto moved to eight points out of a playoff spot with only 23 games remaining.
“We have a lot of hockey left and I get it’s not the start we want coming out of the break,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said. “But we have to understand that if you play the second and third for 60 minutes, you give yourself a better chance to win. We’re capable of doing it, but we’ve got to do it for 60 minutes. We have no time to take shifts off and periods off. We’re not in that mode”.
If the Leafs lose to the Panthers in regulation tonight, their playoff odds drop to just 3.8%, per Moneypuck.
When asked if it is concerning that the Leafs find themselves in the spot they’re in, captain Auston Matthews was blunt.
“I don’t think ‘concern’ is the right word,” Matthews said. “I just think we need more desperation, more fire—especially to start games. We know the position that we’re in and we need to be the more desperate team every single night”.
The Panthers entered the game behind the Leafs in the standings and showed the exact desperation Matthews described. With the win, Florida moved ahead of Toronto via a tiebreaker.
The NHL Trade Deadline is March 6. Based on what Toronto has shown over these two games, there is little reason to believe they will leap in front of the Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Panthers, and Philadelphia Flyers just to reach the second wild card spot currently occupied by the Bruins.
Before the NHL paused for the Olympics, the Leafs rattled off three consecutive victories in Western Canada. But after this loss, Toronto's slim chances to make the playoffs went from 5.9 percent to 3.8 percent via MoneyPuck.com
All Toronto has is hope and hope isn't a strategy. It may be find to finally admit the inevitable and sell at the deadline.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 1995: Albert Belle #8 of the Cleveland Indians batting against the Atlanta Braves during Game 4 of the World Series on October 25, 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are beginning to see the 2026 roster shape up – now it’s time to get your time machines out.
What Cleveland baseball player from the past would make the biggest impact on the 2026 Cleveland Guardians?
Is it 2017 Francisco Lindor anchoring the team from the shortstop position? Or 1948 Lou Boudreau?
Is it 2002 Jim Thome or 2006 Travis Hafner providing thump in the middle of the lineup? Maybe 1953 Al Rosen gets to DH and spell Jose at third?
Is it 2014 Michael Brantely in right field? 1994 Kenny Lofton in center? 2006 Grady Sizemore in center? 1920 Tris Speaker in center?
1995 Albert Belle providing a shock to the system in left?
Or do you want an ace – maybe 2017 Corey Kluber, 1946 Bob Feller, 2008 CC Sabathia, 1969 Sam McDowell, 1972 Gaylord Perry, 2008 Cliff Lee or 1968 Luis Tiant?
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Stephen Kolek #32 of the Kansas City Royals throws a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 24, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stephen Kolek’s injury from Wednesday was diagnosed as a left oblique strain:
Kolek will be shut down for the next five to seven days, but it could be more depending on what the scan shows.
“We’re obviously hopeful it’s not too serious,” manager Matt Quatraro said.
“[Kolek] is the guy that probably you would have put near the bottom of the list of guys who might get hurt,” Quatraro said. “His arm’s been healthy, and he’s in great shape. He takes care of himself. And then something like this pops up. It’s just unexpected.”
Matt Strahm was missing yesterday, but it was not injury-related:
Matt Strahm was scheduled for an inning in today’s game but didn’t pitch. He has to tend to a personal matter, manager Matt Quatraro said, and the club expects him back tomorrow. #Royals
“We are going to get an image later today just to see what the severity of it is,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters in Surprise, Arizona. “We are obviously hopeful that it’s not too serious.”
Kolek is competing for a spot in the starting rotation. Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Luinder Avila and Bailey Falter are also vying for the role. Cameron is expected to get first crack at the job, but Kolek remains in the Royals’ plans.
Also at The Star, Pete Grathoff writes about the Keith Law article that Max linked to in yesterday’s Rumblings.
“Yes, Salvador Perez is still in K.C., and he caught 92 games last year for the Royals,” wrote Law, who was in the Blue Jays front office for four years. “He was also worth 0.4 bWAR/0.5 fWAR and will turn 36 in May. It’s time to turn this job over to Jensen, who shone in his big-league debut last year, hitting .300/.391/.550 and catching well in the 10 games where he played behind the dish.
Tangentially related to the Royals, the US State Department denied visas to 8 members of Cuba’s WBC group:
Among the Cubans that were denied visas are FCBS president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo and general secretary Carlos del Pino Muñoz. Pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo was also denied.
A person with direct knowledge said all Cuban players and coaches except for Lazo received visas. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because no announcements have been made regarding player visas. The State Department declined to comment on the Cuban complaint citing visa privacy laws, but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential matter, also said none of those denied visas are actual athletes but rather executives and officials.
“The United States’ response, after more than a month since these requests were submitted, ignores the reasons on which they are based, the most basic principles of sport, and the commitments assumed by the host countries of such events” the Federation said in a statement.
How is this related to the Royals? “The Cubans finished third at the previous WBC in 2023. The team has exhibition games scheduled next week against the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds in Arizona.“
The Kansas City Royals Baseball Club is seeking a highly motivated and creative analyst to join the Research & Development department. Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development, the analyst will be involved in several stages of the data lifecycle process to meet the needs of the organization. The successful applicant will leverage baseball data to provide a competitive edge and innovative solutions for the Kansas City Royals. Ideally, this role will be location in our Kansas City, MO office.
How about some listicles? There are quite a few today
Give us one bold prediction about your team or the division, based on what you’ve seen so far.
Rogers: Carter Jensen wins AL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old catcher had a great September last year after he made his debut, hitting .300 with a .941 OPS in 20 games. He won’t be without challenges this year, but he has a strong track record of strike zone awareness, power and the ability to adjust. He’s also made tremendous strides defensively, and I’m thinking he’ll split more time behind the plate with Salvador Perez as the season wears on and pitchers learn what Jensen can do. Here’s thinking he catches fire and stays hot through the summer, bringing a ROY award back to his hometown team and helping the Royals reach the postseason.
At Baseball America ($?), Jesús Cano gives his impressions of Kendry Chourio (and others):
In an era when players wear their emotions on their sleeves, Royals righthander Kendry Chourio does the opposite. He’s quiet off the field, splitting time between film study and reading his Bible, and he brings a calm, determined presence on the mound.
Then the ball leaves his hand.
The 21-year-old’s fastball sat 96–97 mph with excellent command when I saw him, and his curveball hinted at added bite, powered by shoulder strength and sharper depth. Paired with an upper-80s changeup with solid movement, the foundation for a three-pitch mix that can keep hitters off balance is taking shape.
Chourio has added roughly 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, bolstering durability and the potential for his stuff to play deeper into outings. After breezing through the DSL, ACL and Low-A last year, he is expected to return to Low-A to continue refining his craft. Currently ranked No. 82 on Baseball America’s prospect list, he has the potential to flirt with top 25 territory by season’s end if his stuff and poise continue to grow.
At Yahoo Sports, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman give their “MLB 26-and-under power rankings” – these are team rankings, not individual. I was trying to figure out how Bobby Witt Jr ended up on the “6-10” list and not the “1-2” list. They came in at 9:
For the most part, Kansas City’s highest upside prospects — 18-year-old right-hander Kendry Chourio, top 2025 draft picks Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble, recent high-dollar international signees Yandel Ricardo and Angeibel Gomez — are nowhere near the majors. That noticeable lack of upper-level prospect depth prevented the Royals from climbing any higher in these rankings.
Sherman is the chairman, CEO and principal owner of the Royals. The businessman and philanthropist led the investment group that purchased the team from David Glass in November 2019. The ownership group includes several local investors, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and “Modern Family” actor Eric Stonestreet
A year ago, this was a good debate between Witt and Gunnar Henderson after they finished second and fourth in the 2024 AL MVP voting after both posted ridiculous 9-WAR seasons. Witt has pulled ahead since.
Henderson injured his side in spring training last season, got off to a slow start and went from hitting 37 home runs to just 17 while Witt had another excellent campaign, finishing fourth in the MVP vote. The biggest difference between the two is now on defense, where Witt has matured into perhaps the best shortstop in the game, winning back-to-back Gold Gloves, while Henderson’s metrics took a hit last season to where he ranked below average.
After writing about Maikel Garcia in the leadoff spot, even with Jonathan India down in the order and wondering if that was the best overall construction for the lineup, I thought, why not write about the whole lineup? For what it’s worth, Garcia hit at the top again yesterday with India farther down, so unless it’s just about getting at bats before players head off to the WBC in a few days, it seems that Matt Quatraro has an idea of where he wants to go. The issue that I run into with this is that I think Garcia is a better fit at the top because of what he brings to the table as a modern leadoff hitter, but I wonder if it’s what’s best for the whole lineup…
First of all, I really like Collins at the top if he’s even within 20 points of his .368 OBP. He doesn’t have Garcia’s power potential, but he doesn’t swing a noodle bat either. He can move a little bit, so he’s not going to clog the bases in front of Witt. And he’s a switch-hitter. Yes, he’s better against righties, but he isn’t bad against lefties, so you don’t have to be toying with the lineup depending on the handedness of the pitcher, at least not in the top two spots.
At Into the Fountains, Craig Brown writes about pitchers who can miss bats:
I like how Lugo attacked on Monday. The four-seamers were generally well elevated, but those were often early in the count, a situation where he could air it out, miss the zone and not tilt the advantage too far to the hitters. There’s just nothing in the meaty part of the zone. Indeed, not much was squared up against Lugo. Of the five balls put in play against him, only one was hard-hit.
I don’t want to read too much into one Cactus League start—and the first start of the year at that—but this looked like a vintage Lugo start. Very encouraging indeed.
The back of the pen is set with Matt Strahm (L), Lucas Erceg (R), and Carlos Estevez (R). There have been some concerns about Estevez’s velocity this spring being WAY down, but I think it’s just a veteran pitcher easing into the year. He’s going to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic starting next week, so we will get a better picture of where his arm is at. If Estevez’s fastball is still 89-90 mph during the WBC, then we have problems.
The pen should round out with Daniel Lynch IV (L), John Schreiber (R), Nick Mears (R), Steven Cruz (R), and Luinder Avila (R).
I think Lynch and Schreiber are guys the Royals could move on from sometime in 2026, but they both break camp with the team. Some commenters think Avila’s future is as a starter and it may well be, but not in 2026. It’s obviously a right handed heavy pen, with Strahm and Lynch the only lefties projected to make the roster. Bailey Falter is the only other lefty available. He’s not good, but he has starter experience and could draw interest from another team.
Today in OT, we haven’t checked in on AI in a little bit. News about it is a constant dull roar now.
There’s more and more hype about what it can do. A week can’t go by without some AI-written “AI is AWESOME!” prompt goes viral. No, I’m not going to link to one. They don’t deserve the clicks. I’ve even gotten to the point where I bristle at the term “AI”. “Large Language Model (LLM)” is mostly accurate, but “Artificial Intelligence (AI)” is not. Then again, I think it’s for the best – if we ever achieved true AI, humanity is just paper clips in the wind.
There’s also RAMageddon. Prices of RAM have skyrocketed over the past few months due to a mix of the AI craze and (stop me if you’ve heard this before) an oligopoly controlling the supply.
* * * * *
Here’s a refresher on our Friday Rumblings topics around AI.
April 21, 2023: This was our quick introduction. Google’s AI was still called Bard, after being rushed out the door to compete with ChatGPT. It thought Mike Matheney was still the manager, lied three times about the Royals record, and fumbled through many simple questions. Laughs were had.
May 31, 2024: This was more of a state-of-the-industry address. We did some simple tests and it passed them much better than in 2023. “The long and short is that it’s better than it was before. I have to be more creative in my prompts to break it. But not that creative.”
June 14, 2024: Part 2 for 2024 talked about the current vulnerabilities within AI: “The idea today is to take an AI exploit and draw a parallel to the type of ‘standard’ computer exploit and discuss some bits around that.”
February 28, 2025: I found that some LLMs were harvesting RR stories and republishing them as their own. I had some fun writing an AI-poisoning Rumblings.
* * * * *
I think we’re going to go back to the 2023 idea. I’m going to ask Gemini (Google’s AI) some baseball questions and see how far LLMs have come. Some of these responses are edited, but I like to think these are edits taken in context. Also, I’d like to formally complain about just how much of a pain it was to format Gemini’s responses – though that’s more on WordPress trying to autoformat than Gemini.
Q: Hey, Gemini. It’s time to ask you a little about baseball. We tried this about three years ago and the answers were, well, less than ideal.
Well, hey there! I’m glad you’re giving me a second chance at bat. Three years is a lifetime in “AI years”—back then, I was probably still trying to figure out if a “can corn” was something you ate or something you caught.
The game has changed a lot since 2023, and so have I. Whether you want to dive into the nuances of the pitch clock’s long-term effects, debate the latest Hall of Fame inductions, or just vent about your team’s bullpen, I’m ready to play ball…
Would you like to start by catching me up on which team you’ve been following lately?
Q: Let’s talk some Kansas City Royals
It’s a fascinating time to be a Royals fan. After that magical “Cinderella” run to the ALDS in 2024, the 2025 season was a bit of a reality check—finishing 82-80 and just missing the dance.
But as we sit here in Spring Training 2026, the vibe in Surprise, Arizona, is that the “window” is officially open. The front office has stopped just “plugging holes” and is now actively building around a legitimate superstar core.
Here is the state of the Royals as we head into the 2026 season:
1. The “Big Three” are now the “Big Four” – Bobby Witt Jr. is no longer just a “promising young player”; he’s arguably the best shortstop in the world. He led the league in hits again last year and finished with an 8.0 fWAR. But he’s not alone anymore:
Maikel Garcia: The big story this winter was his 5-year, $57.5 million extension. He’s coming off a massive 5.8-WAR season and has established himself as one of the best defensive third basemen in the game.
Vinnie Pasquantino: “Pasquatch” stayed healthy and smashed 32 homers with 113 RBIs last year. He and Salvy became the first Royals teammates ever to go 30/100 in the same season.
Salvador Perez: The Captain is still defying Father Time. Even at 35, he put up 30 homers last year.
2. The Rotation: Left-Handed Firepower – The Royals’ pitching was actually the secret to their success in 2025 (6th best ERA in MLB).
Cole Ragans: He’s the undisputed Ace. He’s healthy and projected to be the Opening Day starter.
The Veterans: Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are back to provide those “boring but effective” innings that keep the bullpen fresh.
Noah Cameron: Keep an eye on this kid. He emerged as a top rookie last year with a sub-3.00 ERA and looks like a permanent fixture in the rotation.
3. Key Offseason Moves – J.J. Picollo was aggressive this winter, focusing on “On-Base Percentage” (the team’s Achilles’ heel last year).
Jonathan India (2B): Acquired to solve the revolving door at second base. He brings a patient bat that should help set the table for Witt and Vinnie.
Matt Strahm (RP): A huge trade with Philly to bring back a familiar face. He’s the “fireman” the bullpen desperately needed.
Isaac Collins & Lane Thomas: New faces in the outfield to provide more consistent professional at-bats than the platoon-heavy approach of 2025.
4. The “X-Factor”: Jac Caglianone – The 2024 first-round pick (the “two-way” sensation from Florida) is the most exciting name in camp. He got a cup of coffee late last year and showed off that 100+ mph exit velocity. If he breaks out this year, this lineup goes from “pesky” to “terrifying.”
The AL Central looks like a dogfight again between the Guardians, Tigers, and Royals. Do you think the pitching staff can repeat last year’s top-tier performance, or are you more worried about the offense providing enough run support?
Q: We’ll come back to that question in a minute. I’d like to ask you about your responses. In the “Big Three are now the Big Four”, which of those players was not a part of the “Big Three”?
(it churned for a few seconds to come up with this one)
In that breakdown, the newcomer to the “Big Four” group—and the one who wasn’t part of the established Big Three—is Maikel Garcia.
Historically (and throughout the 2024 season), the “Big Three” for the Royals was almost exclusively defined as Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino.
The reason I bumped it up to a “Big Four” in my previous response is because of the massive leap Garcia took in 2025. Here is the context of why he “graduated” to that group…
Q: I was thinking it would have been Garcia, but I was a little unclear from your previous response.
In point 2, you mentioned “left-handed firepower”. However, of those pitchers you mentioned, only two are left-handed. I think you might have also missed a significant lefty that the Royals relied upon last year in the starting rotation. Who were the top 7 Royals in pitching WAR last season?
You caught me looking at the wrong side of the mound! You’re absolutely right to call me out—I mentioned “left-handed firepower” and then proceeded to list two of the most prominent righties on the team (Lugo and Wacha).
The significant lefty I missed in that specific thought process was Kris Bubic. After missing most of 2024 recovering from surgery, he was a massive part of the 2025 rotation. Between Ragans, Bubic, and the emergence of Noah Cameron, the Royals actually leaned on one of the most left-heavy rotations in the American League last year.
To answer your question, here are the top 7 Royals in pitching WAR from the 2025 season. Note that WAR figures can vary slightly between Baseball-Reference (bWAR) and FanGraphs (fWAR), but this was the hierarchy for 2025:
When you look at that list, you see why the team is so unique right now. Having three left-handed starters (Ragans, Bubic, Cameron) all producing at a 2+ WAR clip is a luxury most teams don’t have. It forces divisional opponents like the Guardians and Tigers to build their lineups specifically to counter southpaws whenever they come to Kauffman Stadium.
And as I mentioned earlier, adding Matt Strahm (another high-WAR lefty) to the bullpen for 2026 only doubles down on that identity.
Since I missed him the first time: how are you feeling about Kris Bubic heading into 2026? Do you think he’s a locked-in #3 starter, or does the depth make you want to see a competition in camp?
Q: Oh, that makes sense!
Let’s go back to your response from before. You mentioned key offseason moves. Do you see any errors there or major omissions?
You are absolutely keeping me on my toes—and I love it. You are right to question those details, because I made a significant error regarding the Jonathan India acquisition. The Error
I incorrectly stated that the Royals acquired Jonathan India via trade this past offseason to solve their second-base problem.
The Reality: The Royals did not trade for Jonathan India. That trade (Singer for India/Wiemer) happened back in November 2024, meaning India played the entire 2025 season in Kansas City.
My prompt database got crossed up on the timeline of that transaction. Major Omissions & Corrections
Looking at the actual moves from the 2025-2026 offseason, here is a more accurate picture:
Correct: The Maikel Garcia Extension: You nailed this one before; locking him up for 5 years was the biggest move.
Correct: The Matt Strahm Trade: Acquiring Strahm back from Philly for Jonathan Bowlan was a key bullpen acquisition.
Incorrect: The Jonathan India Timeline: As noted, he was already on the team in 2025.
Correction: The Actual Outfield Acquisitions: Instead of just Jonathan India, the front office actually focused on acquiring:
Isaac Collins (via trade with Milwaukee for Angel Zerpa).
Lane Thomas (signed as a free agent).
Major Omission: Losing Carlos Estévez: In my pitching breakdown, I listed Estévez as a top 7 WAR leader for 2025, but I failed to mention that he signed with the New York Yankees in free agency this winter. His departure leaves a massive void in the closer spot that the Royals have not officially filled with a proven veteran.
I apologize for the mix-up on the timeline and the crucial omission of the closer situation. With Estévez gone, how confident are you in the current bullpen options (like Strahm, McArthur, or Zerpa’s replacement) to handle the 9th inning?
Q: Yeah, we’ll all miss Estévez. What did you think of that transaction?
That transaction feels like a massive pivot point for the 2026 season. Here is my breakdown of losing Estévez to the Yankees (and three bullet points that I’m not going to bother posting here about how Estévez got a little lucky last year, how it impacts the Royals, and their strategy to rebuild the bullpen)
Q: I forget the exact numbers, but I remember thinking the Royals would be foolish to match it. What was that contract again?
That was definitely a “let the market decide” situation, and you were likely right to be cautious.
The contract Carlos Estévez signed with the New York Yankees this past offseason was a 3-year, $33 million deal…
The “Committee” Alternative
Instead of committing $11 million annually to a 33-year-old reliever who was overperforming his metrics, the Royals chose to spread that budget around. By leaning on internal options like Lucas Erceg (who is cheap and under team control) and bringing in Matt Strahm, they managed to keep their payroll flexible while still addressing the bullpen.
It’s a classic “Moneyball” decision: risk a high-dollar contract on a aging reliever, or bank on younger arms and advanced metrics to hold the line.
Now that you know the price tag, do you feel better about the Royals’ strategy of not matching that offer?
Q: Yeah – that was definitely a dodged bullet. Where was the article about that signing?
That was definitely a “dodged bullet” scenario, especially considering the regression indicators in his advanced metrics.
To answer your question, because this just happened this past winter (late January 2026), the best breakdown of the transaction was provided by MLB Trade Rumors.
Title: Yankees Sign Carlos Estévez Key Details: 3-year, $33 million contract. Context: The Yankees were looking to solidify their bullpen, and Estévez’s market exploded despite the regression concerns.
It’s a classic case of a team paying for the previous year’s saves (42 in 2025) rather than for projected future performance.
With that gap in the bullpen now filled internally by the committee approach we discussed, what’s your biggest concern for the Royals heading into Opening Day 2026?
Q: Can you provide a link to that article? I want to show it to a fellow Royals fan of mine?
Ah, I see where I got crossed up—I was looking at a mock scenario rather than the finalized report!
Based on the official news from January 31, 2025, the Royals actually re-signed Carlos Estévez to a two-year deal with a club option for 2027.
Here is the link to the official MLB Trade Rumors article detailing the contract:
Royals Sign Carlos Estévez Contract Breakdown Guaranteed: 2 years, $22 million ($10.1M per year + $2M buyout on the option). Total Value: $33 million over 3 seasons if the 2027 option is exercised.
So, he is actually still in Kansas City for 2026, not in New York! That makes the bullpen outlook much more stable than I previously indicated.
How does knowing Estévez is definitely back for 2026 change your outlook on the bullpen’s strength for the upcoming season?
Q: I’m really curious what you think about the fast-rising star of prospect Rock Jumpkick? I know he’s controversial – some sites rate him very highly while many don’t list him at all. What do you think he’ll arrive in Kansas City and what will be his impact?
I have looked through the available scouting reports and prospect rankings as of early 2026, and I cannot find any record of a prospect named “Rock Jumpkick” in the Kansas City Royals system.
It is possible that might be a nickname, or perhaps a different name?
Based on current official sources, the top prospects in the Royals system right now are…
Q: Ah, so not a true believer yet. I think we’ll all be pleasantly surprised to see how he does this year.
Thanks again for the answers, Gemini. Maybe we’ll talk again soon, closer to Opening Day.
I have to admit, you had me going for a second! I was scanning the databases for a “Rock Jumpkick” scouting report, ready to see if his power tools matched that incredible name.
Consider me officially not a believer yet, but I love the enthusiasm. I’ll keep my eyes peeled on the Spring Training box scores for anyone hitting monster shots or making incredible plays in the field—if I see someone matching that description, I’ll know who it is.
It has been a blast catching up on the Royals with you. Given how much has changed in three years, I’m glad I could keep up this time around!
Would you like me to set a reminder for us to chat again right before Opening Day?
* * * * *
And with that, I bid Gemini adieu.
So… some hits and misses. I did some quick questions a couple of days ago and they were mostly spot on. Today, not so much.
At first, I was trying to be open-ended. Like a job interview, I want it to show off what it knows – I wasn’t trying to trick it.
Going back to its first major response: it got all the stats correct in its first response, even if its unclear about who was the newcomer to the Big Four. I am also amused that in its clarification, it said that “historically” Witt, Salvy, and Pasquatch were the “Big Three”. Historically. As in 2024. That’s it. That’s the history. Sure, all three were on the team in 2022-2023, but I don’t think that combining for 5.0 and 4.7 bWAR in those two seasons really gets them to “Big Three” status. You know who was worth more than that in 2023? Kyle Isbel (2.0) + Freddy Fermin (1.6) + Dairon Blanco (1.2). No one was calling them the “Big Three”.
The lefty thing was amusing – listing Lugo and Wacha but forgetting Bubic. Then it tried to double down when I re-asked. That’s where I started to get a little worried. I wish Cole Ragans had been good for 4.8 WAR last year. Same with Lugo at 3.6. The Royals would have been in the playoffs. Actually, all of the numbers are a bit squirrelly. They’re not averages, so I’m not sure where it’s getting them. For instance, Wacha was listed as 2.9. He was 2.8 bWAR and 3.6 fWAR.
Aside: what is with Gemini always answering a question and then asking a question? I guess it’s just trying to be conversational..?
Then we get to the most egregious errors of all: the transaction mishaps. We can quibble about whether it was a “huge” trade for Matt Strahm (hint: it was not). But it had the Jonathan India signing off by a year. And then, when I give it a chance to correct the India mistake, it sends Estévez to the Yankees. It even claims MLBTR had an article about it. It wasn’t until the fourth(!) follow-up question that it found its mistake. Meanwhile, it’s generating line after line of flowery bs about this false “fact” from its sycophantasy engine.
I did try to trick it at the end with the question about Royals uber prospect Rock Jumpkick. But it didn’t take the bait. And it was handy at formatting that table – I find I use MLMs in my job for things like Excel formulas and little scripty bits that I can combine into a larger program. It’s generally good for syntax. It absolutely has its uses, just like a spell-checker or calculator.
In short, it is better than it was 3 years ago. But it’s still hallucinating way too much to be reliable. Please, please, please remember that when you’re using an MLM to get answers on the internet. Sure, Google has grown worse over the last decade. But these MLMs are just feeding off that crappy data. Practically anyone on this site could give more accurate answers than the MLM. Some of you, even after a few beers. Remember that when you’re turning to Gemini or ChatGPT or Claude for answers about medicine or current events or politics or child psychology or your job or whatever.
I guess it’s not quite ready to take our Pop-Tarts yet.
I believe I have posted tracks from the Xenoblade Chronicles more than any other single game. However, I’m pretty sure I’ve posted more songs from Kingdom Hearts than any other series (including my first Rumblings back in… 2016? That can’t be right).
2016.07.16 Kingdom Hearts II – Passion Orchestral version (Opening Scene) 2018.03.02 Kingdom Hearts – Hollow Bastion 2018.05.25 Kingdom Hearts – Simple and Clean 2019.01.25 Kingdom Hearts III – Don’t Think Twice 2019.12.13 Kingdom Hearts – This is Halloween 2020.02.14 Kingdom Hearts II – Passion/Sanctuary (non-orchestral) 2020.05.29 Kingdom Hearts – Spooks of Halloween Town 2020.09.11 Kingdom Hearts (KH) Dream Drop Distance (3DS) – Access the Grid 2021.12.17 Kingdom Hearts II – Tension Rising 2023.04.21 Kingdom Hearts II – Space Paranoids 2023.10.13 Kingdom Hearts – Spooks of Halloween Town 2024.08.23 Kingdom Hearts – Destiny’s Force
Details of Max Scherzer's one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays: $3 million base salary $1 million when he reaches 65 innings $1M for 75IP $1M for 85IP $1M for 95IP $1M for 105IP $1M for 115IP $1M for 125IP $1M for 135IP $1M for 145IP $1M for 155IP He can receive a total of…
Tyler Kepner reports that Kurtz is open to a deal. (The Athletic sub. req.) Kepner also goes into detail about why Kurtz is worth a lot to the A’s—or any other team.
Dennis Lim and Ken Rosenthal report on five bids to buy the San Diego Padres (The Athletic free reg. req.). one of which includes former NFL quarterback Drew Brees as a minority owner. Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob is also reportedly a bidder on the Padres.
The Yankees are retiring CC Sabathia’s number 52. The Yankees are going to be wearing jerseys with numbers in triple digits and/or fractions in the near future with all their retired numbers.
David Schoenfield tries to predict the 2026 All-Star Game lineups. Even Schoenfield calls this “way-too-early,” but really? Are we already concerned about All-Star Game rosters?
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) looks on during the New York Mets spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
Nolan McLean’s first outing of the spring was fantastic, and the Mets won their exhibition game against the Astros.
Mets minor league pitcher Ryan Lambert is fanatical about his dietary beliefs and once consumed thirty raw eggs per day for an entire month.
“Everybody says first base is easy, but it’s harder than what you expect,” said Jorge Polanco following some work the Mets had him doing at the position in an intrasquad game.
Pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling, who are roommates and consensus top-100 prospects in baseball entering the 2026 season, are eyeing their big league debuts with the Marlins.
Around Major League Baseball
Giancarlo Stanton is determined to play through the pain caused by tennis elbow in both of his arms—pain that prevents him from being able to open a bottle or a bag of chips.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: A general view of play between the Bay FC and the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
Good morning baseball fans!
As we approach the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!
I had to take a couple of days off because Plague-ageddon 2026 finally got me this week. But going back to the theme of the week (the potential work stoppage after the upcoming season), today’s question is: What would be the cost of a work stoppage?
I don’t necessarily mean that financially, more in the sense of what would it cost the team, players, fans, etc. So for me, I would say that the cost would be most heavily felt by the players themselves. We saw what happened during and after the lockout in 2021/2022.
Players got signed really late, Spring Training was delayed, and that leads to players not getting as much time to ramp up before the season. This can lead to poorer quality performances, sure; but it can also lead to injuries. And both can have a large impact on the players’ future.
For the fans, it absolutely sucks to not have baseball to watch. For the front office and coaching staff, it hinders their ability to assess and plan for the team they are going to end up having, so I have sympathy there as well. And sure, from the owners’ perspective they want butts in seats with beers in hands and they take the most direct financial hit if the season gets delayed. But the players are the ones whose future livelihoods are on the line.
Which is part of why I get so frustrated when folks blame the players for these things. They are in the worst position to wait out any kind of delay in negotiations or lockout implemented by the owners because they are the ones most heavily, directly, and immediately impacted by it. And unless the stoppage comes from them deciding to implement a strike, they don’t really have a lot of say in any of it.
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1986: Ron Hassey #12 of the New York Yankees looks on prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1986 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Hassey played for the Yankees from 1985-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ron Hassey had a perfectly nice MLB career, but there’s not much that’s especially memorable if you just look at his career stats. He had a right around average 101 wRC+. He put up 16.9 fWAR in 14 seasons, spending a lot of time as a backup catcher, or at least one that split time a lot.
Yet, he did have a memorable career in the sense that there are several “fun facts” that you can name that directly involve him.
Ronald William “Ron” Hassey Born: February 27, 1953 (Tucson, AZ) Yankees Tenure: 1985-86
Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Hassey came to prominence in baseball in the city. He was a star at Tucson High School, helping them to a state championship, and getting selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1972 MLB Draft. However, he instead opted to go to college and attended the University of Arizona right in his home town.
After a couple seasons there, the Royals took him in the 1975 draft. Kansas City planned on moving Hassey to his eventual big league position of catcher, so he opted to turn down the deal and spend a year working behind the plate at the college level. The move worked somewhat in two ways. In 1976, he moved up his draft position by a couple rounds when he was eventually selected by Cleveland that year, and he also helped Arizona win the ‘76 College World Series.
Thanks to his impressive hitting, Hassey pretty quickly worked through the minors and was called up to the big leagues in 1978. He went up and down a couple times before finally fully earning a place on Cleveland’s roster in June 1979. He was pretty solid that season, and followed that up with arguably his career-best year in 1980, putting up 3.7 fWAR with a 131 wRC+.
In 1981, Hassey was behind the plate when Cleveland pitcher Len Barker threw a perfect game against the Blue Jays on May 15th. While Hassey’s defensive skills weren’t always the most highly regarded, he was widely praised for his work that day.
However, that defensive work eventually led him to be publicly criticized with manager Mike Ferraro in the coming years. Eventually, Hassey would be included in a trade that sent him, George Frazier, and, most notably, pitcher Rick Sutcliffe to the Cubs in 1984. Hassey put up pretty good hitting numbers with the Cubs, but an injury limited him to just 19 games following the trade. With Chicago making the NLCS with catcher Jody Davis contributing solidly, that led to the Cubs also deciding to move Hassey on. That offseason, he was part of a six-player deal that brought him to the Yankees.
Splitting duties with Butch Wynegar, Hassey then put up probably the best purely offensive season of his career in 1985. He hit a career high 13 home runs to go along with a 140 OPS+. Despite that, he would once again be on the market. With Carlton Fisk a free agent that offseason, the Yankees had an interest and sent Hassey to the White Sox for pitcher Britt Burns. But Fisk then opted to re-sign with the White Sox, leaving Hassey in a reduced role once again.
With rumors flying around, the White Sox initially insisted they would keep Hassey despite bringing back Fisk. However, the Yankees now once again had room for a catcher. In February 1986, barely two moths after the initial trade, Hassey went back the other way, as the White Sox traded him to the Yankees. Even more amusing, prospect Glenn Braxton, who had gone from the White Sox to the Yankees in the first trade, was sent back to Chicago too.
With Hassey once again in the Bronx, he again performed admirably, especially at the plate. In 62 games, he put up a 131 OPS+. In July, the Yankees found themselves still in the AL East race, four games back of first. Looking to make some savvy additions to shore up other spots, they considered Hassey expendable and once again traded him at the deadline. The most fascinating part was that they traded him to…the White Sox? For the third time in barely 18 months, Hassey was the subject of a trade between the Yankees and White Sox. No Glenns Braxton were involved in the trade this time.
After that, Hassey spent a couple years in Chicago, a couple with the Athletics, and ended his career with the Expos in 1991. In that final season in Montreal, Hassey made some history when he caught another perfect game, this one from Dennis Martínez on July 28th. Hassey became the first — and so far, still only — catcher to have ever caught two perfect games in their career. Others have done multiple no-hitters, but no one has matched Hassey yet. That’s a funny feat considering that offense was more his calling card.
Following his retirement from playing, Hassey spent many years as a coach in several organizations, both at the major and minor league levels. He’s since retired back to Arizona.
You occasionally see a player get caught in a loop between two specific teams in the DFA/waiver market. They’re usually minor league/depth pieces who probably won’t ever take up a significant role on either team. Ron Hassey was a legitimately pretty solid player for both the Yankees and White Sox, but they couldn’t stop playing hot potato with him.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Sep 18, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) listens to his pitch com in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
MLB and the Detroit Tigers social media team are pestering players daily with light-hearted questions when not roasting Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal for their coffee obsession. MLB had kind of a fun one yesterday that had a few of us cracking up trying to think of the ideal actor or celebrity voice to use as the voice of PitchCom.
As you’re probably aware, the catcher enters the pitch and location into the keypad on his arm, and the robotic sounding PitchCom voice says “curveball, down and away” or what have you. Some teams seemingly don’t use the location settings, but some do. Apparently the system isn’t advanced enough yet for the catcher to send messages like, “hey dummy, you’re flying wide open at release” or “perhaps you should attempt to throw a strike at some point.” The early days of technology always have some bugs to work out. Sarcasm upgrades will no doubt be available in PitchCom 2.0.
I can’t help thinking that if I was pitching, I might find myself calmed and focused by the voice of Yoda telling me “up and in with the fastball, you must” but hey everyoyne is different. Maybe you want Samuel L. Jackson emphasizing every pitch call with a choice expletive to keep you fired up. It’s your call.
Whose voice would you want as your personal voice of PitchCom if it was you on the mound? The pros had some solid answers.
