Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jesus Made sits in the dugout against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Now in its third year, MLB’s Spring Breakout games are set to take place this weekend across spring training locations. The Milwaukee Brewers will participate in two Breakout games with one scheduled for later today against the Mariners, and another set for Sunday against the A’s. Here’s a quick guide for fans heading into the Breakout slate.
What is Spring Breakout?
MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future in 16 exhibition games played across Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums. In 2027, the showcase will be expanded into a single-elimination tournament format, with champions crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus League.
When do the Brewers play?
The Brewers are scheduled to host the Seattle Mariners prospects at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Friday at 4:10 p.m. CT. They’ll then travel to Hohokam Stadium to take on the A’s on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. CT in what could be a matchup of two of the top shortstops in minor league baseball — Jesús Made of the Brewers and Leo De Vries of the A’s.
How can I watch/listen?
Both games will be broadcast blackout-free on MLB.com, MLB TV, and the MLB app, as well as out-of-market on MLB Network and available to follow on MLB Gameday. To view the Gameday for each game, click here for Friday’s matchup and here for Sunday’s matchup.
Who is participating?
The Brewers’ Spring Breakout roster features 15 of the team’s top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline. That includes each of the top four prospects, all of whom are shortstops — Jesús Made (team No. 1/MLB No. 3), Luis Peña (team No. 2/MLB No. 26), Jett Williams (team No. 3/MLB No. 51), and Cooper Pratt (team No. 4/MLB No. 64). The Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick and No. 6 prospect, Andrew Fischer, will also participate after a solid showing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
On the pitching side, only two pitchers on the roster are ranked in the team’s top 30, with Bishop Letson coming in at No. 9 and Bryce Meccage coming in at No. 21.
The full rosters are included below:
PITCHERS (11) Ryan Birchard, RHP, NR Jesús Broca, LHP, NR Will Childers, RHP, NR Jaron DeBerry, RHP, NR Brian Fitzpatrick, LHP, NR Michael Fowler, RHP, NR Blake Holub, RHP, NR Tate Kuehner, LHP, NR Bishop Letson, RHP, No. 9 Mark Manfredi, LHP, NR Bryce Meccage, RHP, No. 21
CATCHERS (3) Marco Dinges, C, No. 10 Jeferson Quero, C, No. 8 Matt Wood, C, NR
Happy Friday everyone! We’ve moved on from the World Baseball Classic to some extent (though we do have some reactions to it below), and we’re now entering the final week of Spring Training (where has the time gone??). With less than a week left before we have regular season baseball, we do still have some fun things going on, with Spring Breakdown.
And as the regular season gets closer, all eyes will be on healing players to see how they are faring (we’re watching you, Shohei Ohtani).
There’s a lot of fun stuff in today’s links, including two of the most insane ballpark desserts I’ve ever seen, and a potentially risking pitching decision for the Dodgers. So let’s get right into it.
A legendary game calls for a legendary viewership number as 10,784,000 viewers watched the #WorldBaseballClassic final on FOX and FOX Deportes – the most-watched #WBC telecast ever 🏆
The 2026 WBC averaged 1,294,000 viewers across FOX, FS1 and FS2, making it the most-watched… pic.twitter.com/vfva4lFDRN
Mar 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
The start of March Madness is always exciting, not only because it signals the season of bracket busting, but because it also means the NBA Playoffs are almost here.
With the Milwaukee Bucks fizzling out, we now know with almost absolute certainty the 20 teams that will be participating in the play-in/playoffs this year. Still, there is a lot in flux as far as seeding goes. So, there is still plenty to keep an eye on as we enter the final stretch of the regular season.
I’m here to try and make sense of where every team ranks in the league hierarchy with four weeks remaining.
The Tankers
30. Indiana Pacers
29. Washington Wizards
28. Brooklyn Nets
27. Sacramento Kings
26. Utah Jazz
25. Chicago Bulls
24. Memphis Grizzlies
23. Dallas Mavericks
22. Milwaukee Bucks
Listen, when it comes to the bond between the reader and the writer, honesty is paramount. For you to truly believe what I’m putting on paper, you have to feel like I’m keeping it a buck with you. With this said, you can take this portion of the rankings with a grain of salt. Think the Utah Jazz are a tougher out than the Chicago Bulls? Or that the Sacramento Kings are the worst team in the NBA? That’s fine. I won’t argue with you there. The point is that all of these teams are not in the business of winning games and are basically a free win for whoever they are playing – that is, unless they are playing each other.
The Spunkiest Team In Basketball
21. New Orleans Pelicans
Unlike the other nine teams that are out of the play-in/playoff mix, the New Orleans Pelicans don’t own their first round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. So, they have no incentive to tank. The Pelicans have used this opportunity to start building a winning culture – hence their place in their own special tier. Since January 22, the Pelicans are 14-10 with the 10th best offense and 14th best net rating. A lot of this is them taking advantage of The Tankers, but the Pelicans have also mustered impressive wins over the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Toronto Raptors. Their front office is still as aimless and dysfunctional as they come, but you have to admit that they are playing some respectable ball of late.
A Playoff Berth Is A Win
20. Portland Trail Blazers
19. Philadelphia 76ers
18. Golden State Warriors
17. Charlotte Hornets
16. Phoenix Suns
15. Toronto Raptors
14. Los Angeles Clippers
Unfortunately, with only 16 playoff spots, four of these seven teams are going to go home disappointed. But for all these groups, even getting a chance to compete in the game’s second season should be a win for them. Injuries have made the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors obvious members of this group (I personally trust Stephen Curry to be healthy during the playoffs more than Joel Embiid). The Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns have been two of the best stories in the league this year, but both of them have started to lose steam in recent weeks (plus, the Hornets are going to need to win two play-in games to even make the postseason). The Toronto Raptors are the only team in this group who isn’t currently slated to appear in a play-in game. However, their below average offense (18th in offensive rating) and good, but not great, defense (seventh) isn’t exactly a recipe for postseason success. After failing to make the postseason in each of the last three seasons, Toronto should consider a playoff berth a step in the right direction. And while the Los Angeles Clippers have been spiraling (losers of their last three contests), they still have the most high-end firepower of any team in this group. Since their infamous 6-21 start, the Clippers have been 28-14 with the fourth best offense and eighth best net rating. They also have the best player of any team in this group (Kawhi Leonard, 5th in the NBA in Estimated Plus-Minus).
Solid Playoff Teams Without Real Title Equity
13. Houston Rockets
12. Miami Heat
11. Orlando Magic
10. Atlanta Hawks
This group is filled with teams that should be playing in a first round series, but don’t have the juice to do anything more than maybe win a playoff series. The Houston Rockets may have the most wins of any team in this group, but they play in the tougher conference and just have not been the same since Steven Adams went down with a season-ending ankle injury. The Miami Heat continue to win games in Heat ways (running more zone than any team in the league!). However, they don’t have enough offense or size/physicality to be a true threat, as we saw in their recent loss to the Orlando Magic. What will surprise a lot of people is the decision to put the Atlanta Hawks over the Orlando Magic in our power rankings, despite the latter being higher than the former in the standings. The Hawks are winners of eleven straight games (!!). That is tied for the third-longest streak of the year (all the other teams ahead of them are still yet to be listed on these power rankings). Most of these wins are against The Tankers, but they did just put the hurting on the Magic in a key home victory. What makes them so dangerous is how good their starting lineup is. When CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu share the floor together (456 non-garbage time possessions), the Hawks are outscoring teams by 31.1 points per 100 possessions. That is the highest mark of any five-man combination that has played at least 300 possessions this season (per Cleaning the Glass).
Puncher’s Chance At The Championship
9. Los Angeles Lakers
8. New York Knicks
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
6. Detroit Pistons
5. Denver Nuggets
These teams all have flaws, but they also have enough strengths to make a deep playoff run if everything breaks their way. Recently, I did a deep dive on the history of five-man lineups. Long story short, to win an NBA Championship, you need a regular season lineup featuring most/all of your best players that have played at least 300 possessions together and posted a +9 per 100. As of writing this, none of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, or Minnesota Timberwolves have a lineup that fits this description. That’s why they are in the back half of this tier. But they still need to be in this group because Luka Doncic (LAL), Jalen Brunson (NYK), and Anthony Edwards (MIN) have all shown the ability to take over a series on their lonesome, and all of them have been to the conference finals as recently as the past two seasons. The Detroit Pistons have been faltering of late (5-5 in their last ten), but they still have a distinct identity, homecourt advantage through the first three rounds, and a five-man lineup they can count on (Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren are a +12.8 per 100).* The Denver Nuggets cannot seem to find a groove. Just yesterday, they dropped an unnecessary game to one of The Tankers (the Memphis Grizzlies). Still, they have the best player on the planet (Nikola Jokic), and when you have that, you always have the chance.
*The recent injury news regarding Cunningham has the chance to seriously derail the Pistons’ season. But until we know whether he will be missing any postseason basketball, we are going to keep them in this tier for now.
True Championship Contenders
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. San Antonio Spurs
2. Boston Celtics
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Finally, the cream of the crop. Ricky O’Donnell has framed this season as “the Thunder vs. the field.” It’s still that way, but like he said during his midseason edition, the field is definitely catching up. The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t really done anything to deserve their place in this tier, but they do have the second-most talented/well-balanced roster of any team in the East. Plus, they haven’t been able to have their core four healthy for very long. According to PBP Stats, when James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen share the floor (35 minutes), Cleveland has +35.2 net rating. Pretty darn promising. Also, since they are in the weaker conference, their chances of making it to the NBA Finals are just inherently higher than teams like Denver and Minnesota. The San Antonio Spurs have incredible indicators, especially when their prodigious big man is on the floor. The only thing keeping them from being higher is the relative unknown with how their young core will perform in the playoffs (typical cop out, I know). The Boston Celtics have completely re-invented themselves, and now, they are doing a fantastic job of integrating Jayson Tatum back into the mix. They are 5-1 with Tatum in the lineup, and man, does he look way better than any human ten months removed from a torn Achilles ever should. The Thunder will remain the top dog until proven otherwise.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Garrett Whitlock #59 of Team United States leaves the field after being removed from the game against Team Venezuela during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox should be deemed the unofficial champions of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Garrett Whitlock absolutely stood out as a star from his time on the mound in March, though his run ended with heartbreak and fair concerns for the upcoming season. Prior to taking the ball in the ninth inning of the WBC Final against Venezuela, Whitlock looked like arguably the best setup man in baseball, which he was in the second half of 2025. The Red Sox right-hander did not surrender a run in his first three appearances, including a scoreless inning with two strikeouts to lift the United States over the loaded Dominican Republic lineup in the semifinals.
His mission against Venezuela ended differently. Whitlock got the call for the ninth inning moments after Bryce Harper’s dramatic game-tying, two-run home run. Unlike Padres closer Mason Miller and Yankees reliever David Bednar, Whitlock had the backing of his manager in Alex Cora to log more innings with a world title on the line. A third outing in five days is strenuous on an arm gearing up for the season in March. So a dip in velocity and execution as a result could’ve been expected.
Venezuela broke through when Eugenio Suarez shot a 3-2 changeup to the left-center gap to plate Javier Sanoja for the go-ahead (and eventual decisive) run.
The loanDepot Park crowd erupted and the United States eventually fell by the same score in the same stakes as three years ago when Japan hoisted the 2023 crown. There had to be some feelings of deja vu for the United States. Whitlock had to feel his own chapter of that as well.
For the second time in six months, an overlooked Whitlock made one mistake that overshadowed an extended stretch of previous dominance. Cora and the Red Sox certainly leaned on Whitlock in prior years as a multi-inning reliever (where he should have been all along!) In 2025, he locked into one-inning stints and dominated. That shift helped him post a microscopic 0.34 ERA after the All-Star break.
Boston met the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card series and won the opener 3-1 behind 7 ⅔ brilliant frames from ace Garrett Crochet. Whitlock entered in the seventh inning of Game 2 with the score tied at three. His stuff looked good, but Boston pushed him deeper into multiple innings. Whitlock’s pitch count rose and he began to falter.
On his 39th pitch of the night, Austin Wells laced a single down the right field line that scored Jazz Chisholm Jr. all the way from first base. Whitlock hadn’t thrown that many pitches in one outing in over three months.
That run decided the game in favor of the Yankees, who shut out the Red Sox the following night to eliminate their rivals and advance to the ALDS. And after two soul-crushing outings for Whitlock, the Red Sox now really need to protect him early in the season.
A rare flaw of the otherwise phenomenal WBC is the volume of high-stress pitches demanded of elite relievers prior to their normal build-up windows to start the regular season. Beyond the results of Whitlock’s recent bumps, his velocity showed fatigue and that’s not a trend the Red Sox can afford, never mind the obvious concerns of injury. Whitlock already lost most of 2022-2024 during the brutal starting pitching experiment. The Red Sox have to operate in the best interests of their dependable set-up man.
The back of Boston’s bullpen runs through the exceptional tandem of Whitlock and rejuvenated All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. Cora, pitching coach Andrew Bailey and the Red Sox staff might need to defer to alternative options the first month or so to keep Whitlock fresh. Their success in 2026 depends on it.
Alabama basketball will be without starting guard Aden Holloway for the Crimson Tide's March 20 game vs. No. 13 seed Hofstra after he was arrested on two felonies on Monday, March 16, for possession 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.
He's slated to miss the entire first weekend and potentially more, should Alabama advance to the Sweet 16.
The 6-foot-1 junior is the Tide's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points with 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season as a first-year starter after coming off the bench last season. He was a starter at Auburn in 2023-24 as a true freshman.
It's a massive blow to the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide, which boasts one of the top backcourts in college basketball alongside sophomore Labaron Philon Jr. They take on No. 13 seed Hofstra in the first round on Friday, March 20.
Alabama will likely turn to Houston Mallette in Holloway's absence. The fifth-year senior guard is averaging 6.6 points per game mostly in a bench role this season, averaging 23.3 minutes per game.
Here's what to know of Holloway's absence and why he was arrested before the NCAA Tournament:
Why was Aden Holloway arrested?
Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 16 and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp after the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his residence.
He was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and was set with a $5,000 bond, according to The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The University of Alabama later released a statement and said he was removed from campus and won't return to the team until the university's office of student conduct finishes its investigation.
What Nate Oats said of Aden Holloway's absence
Alabama coach Nate Oats said he has talked to Holloway since his arrest, and said he'll continue supporting the junior guard. He also declined to speculate whether Holloway has any chance of returning to the Crimson Tide should they advance to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
"I've met with him in person, talked to him on the phone multiple times," Oats said March 19. "Look, I'm an adult. I've made mistakes. We all have things we'd like to do differently. Now is not the time to ignore a kid that you've built a real relationship with. Now is the time he needs more love from the adults in his life than at any point. ... you get into it to help impact young men's lives. Well, if you disappear when they make a mistake, I'm not so sure that's a genuine relationship you've built.
"I've got three daughters. They've made mistakes. You don't disappear on them when they need your help. I won't be disappearing on him. I talked to him yesterday morning on the phone. I talked to him the night before that. I've talked to him every day so far."
"We're just focusing on the task at hand. Biz (Holloway) is our brother," Sherrell said. "We're here for him, but we're focused on the game and focused on making a long run in March."
Aden Holloway stats
Here are Holloway's per game averages during his three-year college career:
2023-24 (Auburn): 7.3 points with 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on 31.8% shooting
2024-25 (Alabama): 11.4 points with 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 46.5% shooting
2025-26 (Alabama): 16.8 points with 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 48.1% shooting
PHILADELPHIA — The Speedos have invaded March Madness.
The Miami (Ohio) men's swim team has been one of the most unusual sites in their bid to support the men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament run, as demonstrated in the RedHawks' First Four game vs. SMU in Dayton, Ohio.
As SMU's Corey Washington lined up for a free throw, the swimming team ambled down the stairs of UD Arena and, dressed as if they were about to compete, arguably caused the Mustangs to miss a game-tying free throw:
It remains to be seen whether the Speedos will make a return visit for the RedHawks' first-round game against 6-seeded Tennessee on Friday, March 20 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. If they do, it will be the second consecutive March Madness game that the men's swim team has attended.
RedHawks coach Travis Steele said an appearance was still up in the air when the Mid-American Conference regular season champions met with media at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19.
But the swim's team has been a presence at RedHawks basketball home games at Millett Hall all season.
"Number one, in the game, you're really locked in. Then all of a sudden, you see a group of young men in Speedos coming down the stairwell right there in the end zone, and the place just absolutely erupted when it happened," Steele said.
"I know if I was distracted, I know the young man at the line was distracted. Obviously, it worked. He missed a free throw, but it's been just super cool across the board, the support we've gotten, like from where we were in my year one, we were getting 200, 300 people at a game. This past season, we're at 10,640 selling out. All of sudden, tickets are going for $200 or $300 on StubHub or SeatGeek to see the crowd we had last night. I'm happy that our guys were able to get that experience as well."
Both of Miami (Ohio)'s Brant Byer and Eian Elmer told reporters in Philadelphia on March 19 they don't specifically know members of the swim team, but, like Steele, they appreciate the support this season.
"They got a missed free throw out of SMU yesterday, so we'll definitely take it," Byer said. "The support they have given us all season has been pretty special."
Added Elmer: "They're a great group of guys. That's pretty awesome how they support us all the time. Also, they're very effective. We'll make sure we return the favor and show up to some swim meets."
The RedHawks are making their 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, and their first since the 2006-07 season. They are the first team in MAC history to earn an at-large bid since 1999. They are 32-1 after a perfect 31-0 regular season.
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Ronny Mauricio | (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Mets made another round of major league spring training roster cuts, optioning infielder Ronny Mauricio and right-handed pitcher Joey Gerber to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigning right-handed pitcher Mike Baumann and left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell to minor league camp. None of those names are particularly surprising, as Francisco Lindor’s return to the field has put him on track to be the Mets’ Opening Day shortstop.
Mauricio made 184 plate appearances at the major league level last year, but he hit just .226/.293/.369 with an 88 wRC+ and was worth 0.7 fWAR in that time. He began last season in St. Lucie as he returned from a knee injury that cost him the entire 2024 season and quickly worked his way up to Binghamton and Syracuse during his rehab process. In his very brief stop in Triple-A, he tore the cover off the ball, hitting .515/.564/.818 in 39 plate appearances.
That earned Mauricio a spot with the Mets, but he didn’t thrive with inconsistent playing time over the remainder of the season. It seems best for both the player and the organization that he’ll get to play every day to begin the 2026 campaign.
Gerber spent the 2025 season with the Rays, and the vast majority of his innings came in Triple-A. The 28-year-old had a 6.09 ERA and a 4.94 FIP at that level, though he fared better in a very small sample of major league innings.
Baumann is attempting to return to the big leagues after pitching for five different major league teams in 2024 and throwing 15.0 innings last year in Japan. He has a career 4.95 ERA and a 4.59 FIP in 167.1 MLB innings.
And last but not least, Waddell made eleven appearances for the Mets last year and fared better in his time in the big leagues than in the majority of his season in Syracuse. The 31-year-old had a 3.45 ERA and a 4.54 FIP in 31.1 innings with the Mets last year as he returned from a three-year stint pitching in Korea.
Feb 27, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar (17) bats in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
As expected, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after his PED suspension was upheld following an appeal. The ban covers 162 games and also renders him ineligible for the postseason.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after his appeal of a positive PED test was resolved. He will serve a 162-game suspension for testing positive a second time and will be ineligible for postseason play.
Major League Baseball announced earlier this month that Profar tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. This marks his second violation, as he previously served an 80-game suspension for a similar offense in 2025.
The Major League Baseball Players Association filed an appeal on Profar’s behalf, but the decision ultimately stood. With the suspension now finalized, the Braves have some added financial flexibility, clearing several million dollars from the payroll.
Profar was expected to be in the Braves’ outfield mix this season, so his absence leaves the club with additional questions as they finalize roster decisions heading into Opening Day.
More Braves News:
All eyes are on Didier Fuentes after his performance this spring, but does he have a shot at the Opening Day roster?
The end of spring training is filled with various forms of lists. Which teams have the best lineup/pitching staff/bullpen/roster? Who are the best veterans who failed to crack the Opening Day roster and found themselves on waivers or as free agents? Who looks primed for a breakout season? And conversely, who struggled the most, and is now a cause for concern?
Among these many lists are, of course, preseason prospect rankings. Over the last few years, the Yankees have not exactly fared well in this category — this year, for example, ESPN ranks them 23rd in baseball, while FanGraphs states that the Yankees farm “resides among the bottom handful in baseball.” The thing about prospects, though, is that ranking them while they’re still prospects only tells part of the story; to get the full picture, you need to return years later, and analyze them once more, this time with the benefit of hindsight.
In that regard, let’s turn the clock back five years, and take a look at the Yankees’ top prospects at the start of the 2021 campaign, using MLB.com’s Top 30 list as a starting point. Of the players on this list, almost two-thirds have cracked an MLB roster at some point, including 9 of the top 10, and 13 of the top 15. But what is more interesting, in my opinion, than just where they ended up, is how the Yankees opted to employ them. To that end, rather than list the players according to their rankings, I’ve opted to organize them according to, well, how their careers have gone.
Players Allowed to Develop
Players in this category: Jasson Domínguez (1), Clarke Schmidt (2), Deivi García (3), Oswald Peraza (4), Luis Gil (5), Austin Wells (6), Yoendrys Gómez (8), Estevan Florial (10), Anthony Volpe (11), Alexander Vargas (13), Antonio Gomez (21), Anthony Seigler (22), Ryder Green (25), Matt Sauer (26), Jake Sanford (29)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Yankees attempted to develop the majority of their top prospects into big league contributors, with mixed results. Clarke Schmidt has arguably been the most successful of the bunch, as he has flashed No. 2 starter potential in his five years in pinstripes. Across his last 30 starts, in fact, he has a 3.07 ERA and has been worth 3.7 rWAR; unfortunately, that spans two seasons (2024 and 2025), and due to elbow surgery, he will not return to the mound until this summer at the earliest. Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe, meanwhile, established themselves as strong defenders and put together strong stretches at the plate in 2024, but their 2025 performance raised more questions than they answered (though Wells remained a stalwart with the glove behind the plate). Injuries and inconsistency have similarly marred Luis Gil’s career to date despite a 2024 AL Rookie of the Year win.
While these players’ futures may have questions, they were undeniably key components of the Yankees’ most successful season since the 2009 World Series: the 2024 American League pennant winners. That’s more than can be said for, well, pretty much everybody else on the list.
Oswald Peraza flashed in a cameo at the end of 2022, lost the starting shortstop job to Volpe in spring training in 2023, and pretty much bottomed out afterward; in 106 games between the Yankees and Angels last season, he posted an OPS+ of 33. Following a strong stint with the Yankees during the later parts of the shortened 2020 campaign, Deivi García posted an ERA of almost seven in Scranton in 2021 and 2022, was demoted to Double-A Somerset, turned into a reliever, and eventually designated for assignment; he was claimed by the White Sox, continued to struggle, and is now out of organized baseball. Yoendrys Gómez made all of 12 appearances for the Yankees as a reliever, was designated for assignment by the Yankees and Dodgers last season, and then traded by the White Sox to the Rays this past winter (coincidentally, for another former Yankees farmhand). The toolsy Estevan Florial never resolved his contact issues and has since been dealt to Cleveland, traveled to the KBO, and, most recently, signed on in the Mexican League.
Then you have Jasson Domínguez. The much-hyped prospect, still just 23 years old, made a splash when he made his debut at the end of 2023, missed most of 2024 due to injuries, and had mixed results as a part-time player in 2025. He appears ticketed to Triple-A Scranton to start this season, which would be alarming for a prospect who has been around as long as he has been, except for the fact that he is still just 23. Five years after he was the organization’s top prospect, the Martian’s story has hardly been written.
The 2021 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Alexander Vizcaíno (9), Kevin Alcántara (12), Josh Smith (14), Ezequiel Duran (15), Trevor Hauver (23), Glenn Otto (28)
Despite having just a 46-43 record at the All-Star Break, the 2021 Yankees opted to be buyers at the trade deadline, sending Josh Smith, Ezequiel Durán, Glenn Otto, and Trevor Hauver to the Rangers for Joey Gallo and Joely Rodríguez, Alexander Vizcaíno and Kevin Alcántara to the Cubs for Anthony Rizzo, and some low-level prospects for Andrew Heaney and Clay Holmes.
Mathematically, these deals turned out to be disasters for the Yankees (save for Holmes), even if they were generally praised at the time — including by yours truly. Gallo lost the ability to hit when he came to the Yankees, accrued just 0.5 rWAR between his acquisition at the 2021 deadline and his trade to the Dodgers at the 2022 one, and has now tried to make a comeback as a relief pitcher. Rizzo was much better, spending parts of four seasons in the Bronx after re-signing and becoming a leader in the clubhouse beside Aaron Judge; and if he had not played through a 2023 concussion he didn’t know he had for months, he likely would have put together more value than the 3.7 rWAR he did in pinstripes.
Of the players traded, there are really only two the organization truly misses: Smith and Alcántara. Smith has been a solid starter for the Rangers the past two seaesons, putting together a .254/.336/.380 slash line while playing adequate defense throughout the infield; for an organization which has been cobbling together the hot corner for a few years now, that would have been a welcome improvement. Vizcaíno only pitched six games for the Cubs before a 2022 spring training dispute led to him leaving MLB, but Alcántara has become one of Chicago’s top prospects, and is currently ranked 60th on the FanGraphs prospect list. Duran was good in a versatile role for the Rangers’ 2023 World Series champions, but has since regressed to replacement-level.
The 2022 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Luis Medina (7), T.J. Sikkema (16), Albert Abreu (18), Beck Way (24), Ken Waldichuk (27), Hayden Wesneski (30)
At the time, the Yankees’ Trade Deadline in 2022 looked like a masterclass, as the Yankees added a top-of-the-rotation starter under contract in 2023 in Frankie Montas, a former closer in Lou Trivino, a dominant reliever with years of team control in Scott Effross, and the lefty outfielder they needed in Andrew Benintendi to a squad that was 64-28 and already running away with the AL East at the All-Star break. Montas, however, turned out to be damaged goods and only made nine appearances in pinstripes, Benintendi and Effross both got injured and were unavailable come playoff time, and though he was fine down the stretch, Trivino joined the walking wounded as well at the start of 2023 and never pitched again for the big-league club. Effross’ years of control were for naught by the way, as he was a shadow of his former self upon returning from injury and threw just 14 total innings for them from 2023-25 before being nontendered.
Of the prospects traded away, well, most of them were pitching prospects, and that means most of them have also spent extensive time on the shelf: Medina, Waldichuk, and Wesneski have all undergone Tommy John surgery, for example. Rather ironically, the biggest contribution any of these players has made to this point may belong to Wesneski, who was one of the pieces the Cubs sent to the Astros to acquire Kyle Tucker … thus opening the door to the Yankees’ acquisition of Cody Bellinger.
Special shoutout here to Albert Abreu, who netted the Yankees Jose Trevino right before the season, then returned to the squad later that June.
The 2024 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Brandon Lockridge (20)
The Yankees used a number of prospects at the Trade Deadline in 2024 to reel in Jazz Chisholm Jr., Mark Leiter, and Enyel De Los Santos. However, the only prospect traded who had been among the top prospects in 2021 was Brandon Lockridge, who was sent to the Padres for De Los Santos in what was a lose/lose trade. Lockdrige made his debut with San Diego later that season, had just two hits in 12 games, and was traded to the Brewers at the 2025 deadline for Nestor Cortes, who then made six starts for San Diego before requiring surgery on his throwing arm.
And somehow, that was the better end of the deal. De Los Santos was an absolute disaster for the Yankees and was designated for assignment in less than two weeks.
The 2025 Trade Chips
Players in this category: Everson Pereira (17)
For the second consecutive season, the Yankees made a number of moves at the deadline to fill holes, trading away a small army of prospects in order to acquire Ryan McMahon, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Jake Bird, and José Caballero. Once again, only one of those prospects had been highly-regarded in the organization since 2021: Pereira, who was flipped to Tampa Bay for Cabby.
To date, Pereira has been the quintessential Quadruple-A player, capable of mashing Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .271/.362/.519 career slash line, while being unable to hit big league pitching. After just half a season, the Rays have seemingly given up on him, sending him to the South Side of Chicago in a deal to acquire aforementioned fellow former Yankees farmhand Yoendrys Gómez.
All in all, looking back at this list, we can maybe begin to push back against the idea that the Yankees’ farm has failed them in recent years. While it would be nice for the farm to develop a top-of-the-rotation starter or another big bat to slot in front of or behind Judge (fingers crossed that Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice continue on their trajectory to do just that), the Yankees have been able to build their MLB roster by developing and trading away prospects for big-league talent. Has every trade worked out? Absolutely not! But just the fact that the farm has been able to develop players desired by other teams is, at the end of the day, a sign that the farm is doing what it needs to do.
Teenager files application to prevent fake products
Littler defies boos to fight back and defeat Gerwyn Price
Luke Littler has made an application with the Intellectual Property Office to trademark his face. It is understood the application will prevent fake products powered by AI using his picture without permission and breaking copyright laws.
The teenager, who has won back-to-back World Darts Championship titles, is highly marketable and his face appears on a wide variety of branded products, from his own dart board to video games and bags of nuts. Littler has already trademarked his “the Nuke” nickname in the US.
Mar 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the game winning shot over Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
If Jared Weiss from The Athletic is right, this will be the game we remember for years to come, because it is the night Victor Wembanyama took his next step toward greatness.
With 11 ticks left in the game, the ball went into Wemby’s hands, a for a brief moment it felt like time stood still.
There were no unsure moves, there was not even a hint of unassuredness on the court. There was a calmness in the arena considering what a truly nail-biting situation it was.
But Victor Wembanyama put 18,000 people at ease. And as soon as the ball hit the hoop, the collective of devout fans simultaneously screamed.
For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, the San Antonio Spurs are going to the playoffs.
There was more fandom on the court after the final buzzer. The team mobbed Wemby while he was roaring along with the crowd. The drum was immediately brought out and Victor launched into the Jackal-designed call-and-response-celebration that has become a new tradition at the Frost Bank Center. And then Keldon took the mic and got the crowd shouting “MVP” chants for Wembanyama. Finally, Wembanyama took the mic and lead everyone in night-ending “Go Spurs Go!”
In the postgame press conference, Victor broke down the shot:
“We ran the play and De’Aaron reacted well. I anticipated what the defense would do, so that told me what to do. In these situations, the key is not to overcomplicate…we hadn’t had this type of situation for a while and it was good test, and we passed it. It doesn’t mean that our game is perfect, far from that…
He broke down how the he looked at the eleven seconds as far as when to time his release allowing for optimum opportunity for a quick rebound or tip in if the shot was missed, and not to give the opponent enough time to get a shot off, which is exactly what happened.
“It’s a shot I’ve worked on. Our game plan is not inventing things, some things we’ve been working on. This shot especially is a shot I’ve been woking on with (Spurs Assistant/Player Development Coach) Tim Martin, five or six years ago, so it’s not something new.”
He admitted his only fear moving forward.
“I’m scared to become complacent.”
Mitch Johnson also addressed how he was facing the new reality of a playoff berth by stating “the North Star is just keep getting better,” allowing the moment to dictate the need. That statement comes from building trust with the team.
That trust was echoed by Keldon Johnson, the longest tenured member of the Spurs, who game shouts out to everyone in the Spurs organization from the front office to the coaching staff, teammates. equipment managers, videographers, through everyone who dedicated themselves to the picture. His passion was reflected in his relationship with Devin Vassell, who Johnson referred to as his “brother,” the guy who he calls after the game to discuss.
They have been partners in crime since 2020 when Vassell was drafted by the Spurs and KJ was kicking off his second season.
Now, after six years together, they will experience the postseason with the team that drafted them, the only NBA home they’ve known.
Johnson honed in on how what they have built is taking shape, and the hopes and dreams that were seeded as he entered into the league are now budding.
Keldon can feel it.
And if Keldon can feel it, then everyone can feel it.
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Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. Opening Day is now just six days away!
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
A few quick ideas for conversation this week: Dealing with traffic around the ballpark, best parking spots, best tailgate menu.
1918 – Although the major leagues optimistically keep the schedules at 154 games, the owners agree to halve the spring training time in an attempt to save money with the United States now engaged in World War I, as the St. Louis Cardinals open their camp at Hot Springs, Arkansas. In fact, the season’s last month will never be played, with the World Series starting at the beginning of September.
1934 – Mildred Didrikson* (also known as Babe Zaharias), the renowned all-around female athlete, pitches the 1st inning for the Philadelphia Athletics in a spring trainingexhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. She gives up one walk but no hits. Two days later she pitches again, this time one inning for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox. Didrickson is less successful the second time, giving up four hits and three runs. Bill Hallahan relieves her, as she does not have an at bat in either game. She will also play several games for the House of David this season. Didrickson is the second female to play exhibitions with a major league team. Previously, first baseman Lizzie Murphy played for an American LeagueAll-Star team on August 14, 1922.
1953 – U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson offers a bill to give clubs the sole right to ban radio-TV broadcasts of major league games in their own territory. The antitrust division of the Justice Department outlawed this practice in 1949. Johnson believes that it started the decline of baseball in small towns and cities throughout the country. His bill aims to restore the equity between large communities and the small areas.
1976 – Leo Durocher, hired to manage the Yokohama Taiyo Whales (Japanese League), is sick with hepatitis and asks for a five-week delay in reporting. The Lip receives a telegram from the Whales stating: “Since the championship starts in twenty days, it’s better if you stay home and take care of yourself for the remainder of the season.“
2019 – The Major League season opens at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, with the A’s hosting the Mariners in the first game of a two-game series. While most of the early attention is directed at 45-year-old Ichiro Suzuki, who starts in right field for Seattle, it’s the sluggers who define the game as the Mariners prevail, 9-7. Stephen Piscotty, Khris Davis and Matt Chapman all homer for Oakland, but the M’s reply with long balls by Domingo Santana — a grand slam — and Tim Beckham. Marco Gonzales pitches six innings for the win.
1345 – Conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, thought by scholars at the University of Paris to be the “cause of the plague epidemic” known as the Black Death. Actual cause was the bacterium yersinia pestis spread by fleas, rats and other animals.
1616 – Walter Raleigh released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana.
1703 – Akō incident: 46 of the 47 surviving Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master’s death in Edo.
1800 – Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery in a letter to Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society of London.
1815 – Napoleon enters Paris after escape from Elba, begins 100-day rule.
1854 – Anti-slavery activists within the US Whig political party opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act form a new Republican Party; notable politicians who switched allegiance include Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison.
1942 – General Douglas MacArthur vows “I came through and I shall return” after escaping Japanese-occupied Philippines.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 17: Kyle Brnovich (19) of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a minor league spring training game against the Detroit Tigers on March 17, 2026 at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Less than one week remains until Phillies baseball is back. Nuf Ced.
The Phillies have announced the new concessions items for fans to enjoy in 2026. This includes eight new ice cream helmets, for anyone who likes those (which has to be everyone, right? is there a soul on planet earth that doesn’t smile at the thought of an ice cream helmet?)
