Suddenly, we find ourselves just two weeks from Opening Day and overdue for a 2026 King of Spring Training update. This year’s contest looks a little different than recent years because many players are playing in the World Baseball Classic, including a couple of KoST candidates. We’ve also unfortunately had a KoST campaign-ending injury since our last update. But on the flip side, we have one new addition to the field since last week. The race is pretty wide open at this point. It’s anybody’s game.

Cristian Pache – .474/.524/.737 in 19 ABs

Pache sprinted ahead of the field to start our KoST contest, but his production at the plate has fallen off since. However, he’s still making highlight reels with his outfield defense. Pache’s nine hits still lead the team, alongside Carson Benge. He remains a favorite with a week and a half to go.

KoST Points: 3
Total KoST Points: 8

MJ Melendez – .364/.364/1.000 in 11 ABs

Melendez has not logged any at-bats since our last update because he is representing Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Puerto Rico will face Italy in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

KoST Points: 0
Total KoST Points: 4

Austin Barnes – .286/.375/.500 in 14 ABs

Barnes is unfortunately hitless since our first update last week, so his KoST stock has fallen.

KoST Points: 0
Total KoST Points: 3

Mike Tauchman – .267/.450/.667 in 15 ABs

Carson Benge has been red hot this spring, so it seems unlikely at this point that an outfield roster spot is going to be ripped from him, but Mike Tauchman is doing his best. His batting average has fallen slightly since our last update, but he is still getting his knocks. The Mets are certainly giving him an extended look this spring. Unfortunately for him, Tyrone Taylor is having a strong spring as well, so Tauchman is likely to find himself on the outside looking in for the outfield battle, and possibly in the KoST race as well.

KoST Points: 2
Total KoST Points: 5

Vidal Bruján – .333/.524/.333 in 15 ABs

Bruján is the only new name on the KoST candidate list for this week. He had a slow start to spring and an injury sustained while trying to steal second base that sidelined him for a few days, but he has performed well since then, racking up five hits, six walks, and three stolen bases. Those six walks lead the team this spring.

KoST Points: 4
Total KoST Points: 4

Tobias Myers – 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 7 Ks in 5 1/3 IP

Myers hasn’t appeared in any more games since our last update, but he did pitch in the game that is ongoing as I write this on Thursday afternoon. That outing and any others will be reflected in next week’s update.

KoST Points: 0
Total KoST Points: 4

Robert Stock – 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 6 Ks in 3 IP

RIP to Robert Stock’s KoST candidacy and his chances of being an unexpected addition to the 2026 Mets bullpen.

KoST Points: 0
Total KoST Points: 3

Austin Warren – 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2 Ks in 4 IP

Warren has made just one appearance since our last update and lost his clean sheet, being scored upon for the first time this spring. Still, he has done enough in camp to demonstrate why he remains a solid depth piece for the Mets this year.

KoST Points: 1
Total KoST Points: 3

Matt Turner – 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6 Ks in 5 IP

Matt Turner is arguably the fastest riser in this year’s KoST contest simply by virtue of the fact that he made two additional appearances since our last update and maintained his 0 ERA. He was reassigned to minor league camp on March 1. With two weeks left till Opening Day, he’s this year’s KoST dark horse.

KoST Points: 4
Total KoST Points: 6

It appears that Carlos Beltrán’s number 15 will soon be joining the other retired numbers up above the promenade in left field at Citi Field. According to Mike Puma, the organization is planning a ceremony to honor the former Mets’ center fielder and retire his number later this season. Originally, Beltran was going to be inducted into the tam Hall of Fame alongside Lee Mazzilli and Bobby Valentine, but he is no longer part of that ceremony, which has been scheduled for May 30 at Citi Field.

Earlier this year, Beltrán was officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his fourth year on the ballot, receiving 84.2% of the vote. A few weeks later, it was officially announced that he would go in wearing a Mets cap on his plaque, making him only the third player to enter Cooperstown with a Mets cap. He joins franchise legends Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza, who were, for a long time prior to Steve Cohen purchasing the club, the only two Mets players to have their number retired. Under the Wilpons’ ownership, it always seemed that entering the Hall of Fame with a Mets hat was a requirement to get your number retired, though Cohen in recent years has done wonders to celebrate the organization’s greats by retiring more numbers.

Beltrán is one of the best all-around players in franchise history, excelling with both his bat and his glove while in Queens. After signing a seven-year, $119 million deal prior to the 2005 season, he slugged 149 home runs, scored 551 runs, and drove in 559 runs while slashing .280/.369/.500 with a 127 wRC+ and a 29.3 fWAR in 848 games in New York. He experienced a rough first year in Flushing in 2005 and responded with a tremendous 2006 campaign, posting a 7.2 fWAR while slashing .275/.388/.594 with 41 homers, 127 runs scored, 116 runs batted in, and a 148 wRC+ in 140 games. He finished fourth in NL MVP voting and won his first of three straight Gold Glove awards and two consecutive Silver Sluggers. He also earned one of his five All-Star nods as a member of the Mets. However, he very unfairly became remembered by some fans for one particular at-bat, going down on three pitches against Adam Wainwright to conclude a Game 7 loss to the Cardinals. That would be Beltrán’s final postseason moment as a Met, though he hit three home runs during that NLCS.

Among position players all-time, he ranks third in WAR (31.2), fourth in OP (.869), sixth in OBP (.369), sixth in SLG (.500), seventh in home runs (149), seventh in doubles (208), seventh in RBI (559), tenth in walks (449), and tenth in runs scored (551). By all accounts, he remains one of the best offensive players in franchise history while playing terrific defense at a premium position. Like with David Wright, it seems the club will pair together his Hall of Fame induction and number retirement in one ceremony.

Beltrán’s number retirement will be the fourth in three years, and the seventh since Cohen took ownership of the club, joining Jerry Koosman’s 36 (2021), Keith Hernandez’s 17 (2022), Willie Mays’ 24 (2002 – done during Old Timer’s Day), Dwight Gooden’s 16 (2024), Darryl Strawberry’s 18 (2024), and David Wright’s 5 (2025).

The Colorado Rockies continue to push towards Opening Day with just two weeks left until the glorious words “play ball” are uttered.

The Rockies are still working on their Opening Day 26-man roster, especially with many of their expected contributors still away while participating in the World Baseball Classic. However, pitchers Brennan Bernardino, Victor Vodnik, and Jose Quintana will be returning to Rockies camp in the near future with their teams eliminated from the tournament. Rockies special assistant Vinny Castilla will return with them.

This afternoon the Rockies will face off yet again against their roommates at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick: the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks are 8-11 in Cactus League play and are 1-1 against the Rockies. This will be the third and final matchup between the two until the Spring Breakout game later this March.

Starting for the Rockies is tricky lefty and top prospect Sean Sullivan (no. 8 PuRPs). While his four-seam fastball’s low velocity is still a concern, Sullivan has impressed with his arsenal of deception and breaking pitches so far this spring. In four outings and 6 2/3 innings of work he has given up two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Although it’s unlikely Sullivan breaks camp on the big league roster, a wide-open competition for the fifth rotation spot and continued opportunities to show off his skills this spring make it less than impossible.

Starting for the Diamondbacks in a bit of a reunion is right-handed reliever Taylor Clarke. After starting his career with the Diamondbacks, Clarke spent the last three seasons with the Kansas City Royals before returning to the desert this off-season in free agency. Clarke has yet to give up an earned run this spring training with two strikeouts over four innings of work. Clarke operates with a four pitch mix and excels at avoiding walks. His primary offering is a mid-to-high 80s slider with strong glove side break.

First Pitch: 2:10 p.m. MDT

TV: None

Radio: None

Lineups

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Spring Training continues this afternoon in Surprise, Arizona as the Athletics take on the Texas Rangers. The A’s enter today with a 9-10 record, versus the Rangers at 10-8. The A’s have won five straight and scored 51 runs in those victories.

J.T. Ginn gets the start again today for the A’s. This spring the 26-year-old righty is 1-1 over three starts. He’s got a 4.50 ERA and struck out eight in his eight innings of work.  He’ll go up against 25-year-old righty Jack Leiter. He’s also 1-1 in three spring starts with a 5.14 ERA.

Leiter will face off against this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s Athletics at Surprise Stadium:

Ginn will go up against this lineup for the Rangers:

Follow the Game
Listen:
Athletics – A’s Cast, Talk 650 KSTE

We’re in an era of sports hot takes. Want to yell about sports on TV (or for you younger folks, on social media), have a hot take!

But some hot takes have the benefit of being true. We’re still a few weeks from the Royals season opener against the Braves. Do you have a different take than the conventional wisdom on this team? Thoughts on the lineup? Young hitters Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen? Superstar Bobby Witt Jr.? The pitching depth? Or maybe a hot take on J.J. Picollo or Matt Quatraro? Maybe you even have a hot take on owner John Sherman or the stadium saga, or the TV deal.

Here are a few hot takes I’ve been saving:

• The Royals should not trade any starting pitching, they’ll probably need it (there is high injury risk in this rotation!) and they can reevaluate the outfield situation this summer.
• Lucas Erceg concerns me way more than Carlos Estévez.
• Bobby Witt Jr. should be hitting leadoff.
• Matt Quatraro is actually a good manager.
• Kyle Isbel is way underrated.
• You can squint and see the Royals as serious contenders for a pennant.

What is your hot take on the 2026 Royals? I can take the heat, make those takes spicy.