Worldwide Sports News

The Spring Breakout games have arrived.

For those unaware, the Spring Breakout is when MLB host a series of games from each teams with rosters consisting of that organization’s top prospects.

This year, the Rays will have two of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects on their roster,

Starting in 2027, the Spring Breakout will be turned into a single-elimination tourament with champions being crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. However, 2026 will just be a exhibition game.

This year, the Rays prospects will take on a team of prospects from the New York Mets system at Clover Park in St. Lucie with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET which can be seen on MLB.tv, Amazon, MLB.com, and MLB Network.

Among the Rays prospects making up the roster are outfielder Theo Gillen, who was the Rays first round selection in 2024 and most recently ranked as the 64th best prospect in the game by Baseball America (2nd in the Rays system). Recently acquired Jacob Melton will also be there as well as 2025 first round pick Daniel Pierce.

Sluggling first baseman Xavier Isaac put on a show during the first Spring Breakout games in 2024 and will be making another appearances for the Rays tonight. The former first rounded had a lost 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor last July, however, he appears fully healthy now and has been crushing the ball in Spring Training.

Carson Williams was slated to participate, he homered during last year’s games, but an injury to Taylor Walls may have opened a spot on the Rays active roster. So, Williams has rejoined the Rays big league camp and may just be the team’s Opening Day starting shortstop.

Some notable pitchers taking the mound will be Anderson Brito and Michael Forret, both of whom were acquired by the Rays in separate trades made just hours apart from each other.

Here is the complete Rays roster:

PITCHERS (8)
Ryan Andrade, RHP, NR
Anderson Brito, RHP, No. 6
Alex Cook, RHP, NR
Derrick Edington, RHP, NR
Michael Forret, RHP, No. 8
Mason Nichols, RHP, NR
Hayden Snelsire, RHP, NR
Jose Urbina, RHP, No. 17

CATCHERS (2)
Caden Bodine, C, No. 13
Nathan Flewelling, C, No. 11

INFIELDERS (10)
Gregory Barrios, SS, NR
Cooper Flemming, SS, No. 28
Taitn Gray, 1B, No. 30
Xavier Isaac, 1B, No. 14
Tre’ Morgan, 1B/OF, No. 19
Daniel Pierce, SS, No. 5
Emilien Pitre, 2B/SS, NR
Adrian Santana, SS, NR
Will Simpson, 1B, NR
Brayden Taylor, INF, NR

OUTFIELDERS (7)
Theo Gillen, OF, No. 2/MLB No. 76
Brailer Guerrero, OF, No. 24
Mac Horvath, OF, NR
Jacob Melton, OF, No. 4
Dean Moss, OF, No. 29
Austin Overn, OF, No. 26
Brendan Summerhill, OF, No. 21

The newly rebuilt Ingram Little League Ballpark, decimated by the devastating July 4, 2025 flooding will officially be debuted with a grand opening event set for Saturday, March 21 at 9 a.m. CT.

The Astros Foundation, together with the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country, Major League Baseball, the Texas Rangers, a number of other MLB teams, as well as Texas-based baseball programs and foundations supported the efforts to rebuild and transform this key fixture of the local community in Central Texas.

The new ballpark includes three primary fields, two practice fields, newly imagined batting cages and other amenities agreed to by the Ingram Little League Board of Directors.

The grand opening event will include a ribbon cutting, remarks from special officials, a ceremonial first pitch and exhibition games between Ingram Little League teams and the Astros Youth Academy teams.

Timeline of events for Saturday, March 21

9:00 AM – Program Begins – Welcome, Prayer, National Anthem

9:15 AM – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Ingram Little League Ballpark Complex

9:25 AM – Special Speaker Remarks

9: 35 AM – Ceremonial First Pitch

9:37 AM – Play Ball announcement and closing remarks

10:00 AM – Games begin between Ingram Little Leaguers and Astros Youth Academy 12U boys’ baseball and 12U softball.

The Good Guys will be up late in the desert tonight as they use two split-squad teams in Arizona for a Cactus League doubleheader. The opener is against the Diamondbacks at 8: 05 p.m. CST and will be followed by the Padres game at 8:10 p.m. CST. Remember…double your pleasure, double the fun!

Davis Martin’s got the ball against Arizona, and the spotlight, for whatever that’s worth, in March. The righthander has been solid this spring, going 2-1, with a 3.00 ERA, and 10 Ks. Last time out on March 13, he spun four scoreless, gave up a single hit, and punched out four. Efficient, clean, no drama. If he can whisk that into the regular season, that would be terrific now that he has his position in the starting rotation locked down.

Across the diamond, it’s old friend Michael Soroka. How has he done this spring? Well, he’s been a mess with a 9.82 ERA and 2.73 WHIP through four innings. Sure, it’s a small sample size, but the wild command is what’s plagued his entire big league career. Maybe he finds it tonight, or maybe the Sox bats make him sweat. He did play for Team Canada in the WBC and was a bit less of a disaster, going 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA over 5 2/3 frames.

This South Side lineup is a grab bag with your regulars, prospects, and a few wild cards. Andrew Benintendi and Colson Montgomery top the card with Austin Hays and his hot bat in the three-hole. Munetaka Murakami brings some mystery to the middle, batting cleanup followed by Chase Meidroth, Lenyn Sosa, Jarred Kelenic, and Luisangel Acuña.

Here’s how the D-Backs will go up against Martin:

There will not be any TV for this one. If you want in, it’s radio or bust. Old-school. Tune in to ESPN 1000 to hear Len and DJ on the call.

Five minutes later, because preseason is weird like that, the second squad takes on San Diego.

Jonathan Cannon starts this one, even though he was optioned to Charlotte on March 17. Spring Training rules: more suggestions than law. Mike Vasil’s injury cracks the door open, so Cannon’s outings suddenly matter a little more. A good night here, and he’s back in the conversation.

The Padres counter with Michael King, who’s been roughed up this spring to the tune of a 0-2 record, 9.95 ERA, and 1.74 WHIP in four starts. Don’t be fooled, though. When he’s right, King can deal. Last year, he was 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 15 starts. The stuff is there. The question is whether he can stay on the mound and keep it together as the 30-year-old battled through several injuries in 2025.

Chicago’s lineup in this one is very much a “prove it or pack it” group. Outside of Korey Lee, Miguel Vargas, and probably Curtis Mead, there aren’t many locks, or even near-locks, for the 26-man roster here. That leaves a whole lot of guys playing for one of two things: a last-minute bench job or a strong impression heading into Charlotte. It’s the kind of lineup where every at-bat matters a little more, whether it’s someone trying to force their way north or just making sure they’re first in line when the inevitable injuries hit.

Friars’ skipper Craig Stammen trots out his offense looking for their 14th win:

Tonight’s bonus for you is that MLB.TV is giving this one away, so you can actually watch without selling your soul or finding a sketchy stream.

This afternoon, the Colorado Rockies continued to make their spring training transactions as they refine the roster heading into the start of the 2026 season.

The following players were assigned to Minor League camp:

• Infielder/outfielder Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP)
• Infielder/outfielder Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP)
• Infielder/outfielder Vimael Machín

The decision to reassign Carrigg and Machín does not come as a surprise. Condon, however, was a contender for the first base starting position. In 39 at-bats, Condon slashed .385/.457/.713 with a 1.175 OPS. He also hit three home runs.

At this point, all signs point to T.J. Rumfield as the Rockies Opening Day first baseman.

Colorado has 40 active players remaining in Major League camp, including seven non-roster invitees.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Hayden Birdsong didn’t get the second opinion he was seeking after visiting Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas this week, and now the Giants‘ young starter will miss the 2026 season.

Meister will surgically repair the ulnar collateral ligament in Birdsong’s right elbow, otherwise known as Tommy John surgery, ruling out the 24-year-old right-hander until at least early next season.

The operation typically comes with a timetable of about 12-16 months for a full recovery.

The Giants announced Birdsong’s decision Thursday and said he will undergo the procedure next week.

“It’s hard to [say] you’re happy for him, based on the circumstances, but it is nice that after a few days of muddy waters to have some clarity,” manager Tony Vitello said.

Birdsong said he felt a “pop” and a “snap” in his elbow after throwing a curveball on the second-to-last pitch of what turned out to be his final outing of the spring last Tuesday. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain of his UCL and a strain in his forearm, indicating there was structural damage.

Vitello said Birdsong was “convicted” in his decision, even while considering nonsurgical options. The second opinion from Meister, one of the leading specialists in pitchers’ elbow repairs, sealed the deal.

“He would just like to move on and make sure there aren’t any creeping thoughts in the back of his head, like, ‘Am I healthy?’ or this or that,” Vitello said. “Just push forward with what he and others think the best thing is.”

Meister also performed Robbie Ray’s elbow reconstruction in 2022 and Giants minor-leaguer Cole Waites’ operation in 2023. Ray, like Birdsong, had issues in his forearm and elbow.

“Meister did mine; he’s been great,” said Ray, who didn’t try to influence Birdsong one way or the other. “Just trying to be encouraging. Let him know that whatever happens he’s in good hands. Our training staff here is excellent.”

The decision probably doesn’t impact the Giants’ plans for their Opening Day roster — Birdsong had fallen behind Landen Roupp and Trevor McDonald among their young pitchers — but losing him for the year is a blow to their pitching depth in the upper minors.

Birdsong likely would have been among the first pitchers called up from Triple-A when a need arose in the Giants’ rotation or bullpen. He has performed both roles and had appeared to make strides in his last time on the mound before, as he described it, a “freak” pitch put an end to his season.

“He was really sharp his last time out, but you can’t undo the past,” Vitello said. “I think the big thing for him is to take that baton … and carry it. Because you can still watch the game, have conversations, learn. You’d like to think the best-case scenario, like a lot of guys in the past, you can come back stronger.”

The loss makes the Giants more likely to call on Carson Whisenhunt, who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday. Carson Seymour, Blade Tidwell and Tristan Beck are all still in camp and should also be candidates to contribute at some point.

SF Giants injury report

Infielder Parks Harber will miss 4-6 weeks after straining his hamstring in a Cactus League game last week. Harber, 24, had been one of the Giants’ spring standouts with a .357 batting average and .996 OPS in 33 plate appearances. He was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline last summer in the deal for Camilo Doval.

A pair of prospects were ruled out from the Giants’ spring showcase game Thursday night, including highly touted shortstop Josuar Gonzalez. The 18-year-old top prospect suffered a mild hamstring strain in minor-league action at Papago Park earlier this week. Johnny Level, another infield prospect, also missed the game with low back tightness.

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