Worldwide Sports News

Previous Winner

Aidan Smith, OF
21 | R/R | 6’2” | 190
A+ | .237/.331/.388 (114 wRC+) 459 PA, 14 HR, 41 SB, 11.5% BB, 31.2% K

Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.

Smith surged from only late consideration in the voting to surpassing a player he tied with last week — stopping his free fall before Bush Jr. could rise further in the rankings. Farther in the rankings? Not sure. Adding Gill Hill!

Candidates

Fabricio Blanco, SS
17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161

A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.

Homer Bush Jr., OF
24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215
AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K

Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.

Cooper Flemming, SS
19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190

One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).

Gary Gill Hill, RHP
21 | 6’2” | 160
A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB

A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, but got off to a rocky start in 2025, which muddies the water on his statline. On the whole, GGH has the body and the look to be a major league starter, particularly thanks to a plus fastball in the upper 90’s and plus control, but needs to find a longterm solution for opposite handed hitting as he climbs the ladder. Accordingly, he projects as a reliever until his arsenal finds a plus third pitch.

Brailer Guerrero, OF
20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215
A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K
AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA

Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.

Dom Keegan, C
25 | R/R | 6’0” | 210
AAA | .241/.306/.429 (89 wRC+) 297 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, 8.1% BB, 30.6% K

Keegan is at an inflection point in his minor league career, having joined the 40-man roster as the third catcher, and overall the jury is still out. Trusted more at first base than backstop at Vanderbilt, the Rays have kept him behind the dish but reports still have his defense below average, and 2025 was a wash after an elbow injury in the Spring sank his season, in particular his bat speed. While the lack of progress on the edges of his game has some evaluators calling into question his once-sure major league projection, he’ll get a long look in Spring Training, where his ability to punish mistakes in the zone may flourish.

Victor Mesa Jr., OF
24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195
AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K
MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA

This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.

Austin Overn, OF
23 | L/R | 6’0” | 175
A+ (BAL) | .242/.367/.386 (127 wRC+) 341 PA, 8 HR, 43 SB, 15.5% BB, 28.2% K
AA (BAL) | .266/.326/.427 (112 wRC+) 136 PA, 5 HR, 21 SB, 6.6% BB, 25.0% K

Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.

Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B
24 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
AA | .173/.289/.286 (77 wRC+) 437 PA, 8 HR, 17 SB, 14% BB, 27.7% K
AFL | .264/.400/.472 (.384 wOBA) 65 PA, 1 HR, 5 SB, 12 BB, 19 K

Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.

Victor Valdez, SS
17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186

A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.

The St. Louis Cardinals continue their Spring Training schedule as they take on the New York Mets. According to MLB.com, Richard Fitts will start the game for St. Louis. This will be his first appearance in a game since he came to the Cardinals in the Sonny Gray trade early in the offseason.

Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Time/Place: 1:05 p.m., Joker Marchant Stadium – Lakeland, FL
SB Nation Site: Bluebird Banner
Media: Tigers Radio Network

Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Time/Place: 1:05 p.m., BayCare Ballpark – Clearwater, FL
SB Nation Site: The Good Phight
Media: MLB.TV

MESA, Arizona — Wednesday notes…

• FORMER CUBS IN ROCKIES CAMP: José Quintana, Keegan Thompson, Willi Castro, Nicky Lopez and former Cubs prospect Vimael Machin. Kris Bryant is on the 60-day injured list and it’s not known when, or if, he will play this year.
• A REMINDER: Here are all the Cubs heading to the World Baseball Classic: Miguel Amaya (Panama), Javier Assad (Mexico), Christian Bethancourt (Panama), Matthew Boyd (United States), Alex Bregman (United States), Pete Crow-Armstrong (United States), Jonathon Long (Chinese Taipei), BJ Murray (Great Britain), Daniel Palencia (Venezuela), Yacksel Ríos (Puerto Rico), Erian Rodriguez (Panama), Seiya Suzuki (Japan), Jameson Taillon (Canada).

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Rockies lineup:

Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Cade Horton, Caleb Thielbar, Phil
Maton, Hunter Harvey, Luke Little and Jack Neely. It will be the first spring outing for Horton, Maton and Harvey.

Old friend José Quintana will start for the Rockies. Other Rockies pitchers scheduled today: Antonio Senzatela, Jaden Hill, Carson Palmquist and RJ Petit.

No TV or radio today.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Rockies site Purple Row. If you do go there to interact with Rockies fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.

These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

After a three-day hiatus from our television screens, the Orioles are back on the air this afternoon with a MASN broadcast against the Rays. Trevor Rogers becomes the first O’s starter to make an encore appearance this spring after opening with two scoreless innings against the Yankees last Friday.

He’ll take on another AL East opponent today, though this Rays travel lineup bears little resemblance to the one they’ll use in the regular season. There are nearly no recognizable names in Tampa Bay’s order. The bottom of their lineup includes players like Tre’ Morgan, Raynel Delgado, Bradford Dill, and Tatem Levins. Those guys are so anonymous that I just made up one of those names and you don’t know which one!

The O’s, by contrast, have a lineup full of guys who will be on the Opening Day roster (aside from #9 hitter Weston Wilson, who is a long shot). Dylan Beavers will be making his first start in center field, something he’s done 70 times in his minor league career but never in the majors. Beavers isn’t considered a great defender in center, but if he can hold his own at the position, that would give the O’s some added flexibility in the outfield and allow Colton Cowser to get more rest. Today the Orioles are facing Brody Hopkins, one of the Rays’ top prospects.

Orioles lineup:

SS Gunnar Henderson
LF Taylor Ward
1B Pete Alonso
RF Tyler O’Neill
C Adley Rutschman
DH Ryan Mountcastle
2B Blaze Alexander
CF Dylan Beavers
3B Weston Wilson

LHP Trevor Rogers

First Pitch (CT):12:05
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN/Audacy App
Know Yo’ Foe: Over the Monster

Lineups

Offense, offense, and more offense — that’s been the name of the game for the South Siders this spring. The White Sox rolled into Wednesday’s action having smacked the most hits of any MLB team, sitting first in runs, doubles, and RBIs. So far, the Good Guys have prioritized contact over patience. While that aggression has kept the walk total at a modest 21, it’s also keeping the strikeouts down. At just 38 punchouts, they’re sitting in the bottom half of the league in K’s, ensuring they put the ball in play more often than not. It’s all added up to a team that currently sits atop the league in batting average, OPS, and slugging.

Leading that charge is catcher Edgar Quero, who’s slashing .667/.714/.833 and tops the squad with five RBIs. Quero, an offensive-first backstop, told CHSN’s Chuck Garfien last week that he spent his winter working on framing and defense, but we saw a bit of a lapse yesterday when he blew a rundown at third and threw it over Lenyn Sosa’s head. It’s exactly the kind of fundamental breakdown that has plagued this team for the last several years, and while Spring Training is for working out kinks, that’s the specific stuff that needs cleaning up.

Then there’s Swiss Army Knife Brooks Baldwin, who’s basically forcing his way onto the plane to Chicago at this point. Sporting a massive 1.143 SLG, he isn’t just making contact; he’s making noise. With that kind of production, Skipper Will Venable is going to have a hard time finding a reason not to pencil him into the 26-man roster come March.

As far as prospects are concerned, keep your eyes on William Bergolla. He’s 4-for-6 with two doubles and a bag. He doesn’t strike out, he plays solid middle infield and he’s got wheels. The 21-year-old came over in the Tanner Banks trade at the 2024 deadline. He’s the type of “high floor” contact hitter this lineup has desperately missed.

On the mound, it’s not all doom and gloom, though the contrast is noticeable. While the 3.43 ERA is solid enough for a top-five spot, the 1.52 WHIP shows the pitchers still shaking off some rust. However, the hurlers are at least missing bats, tied near the top of the pack with the Cubs at 49 strikeouts.

Today, we get the first Cactus League start for Davis Martin, the “glue guy” who is now the longest-tenured player on the team following the Luis Robert Jr. trade. Martin is coming off his first full year as a starter, having tossed 142 2/3 innings in 2025 with a 4.10 ERA. This season, we’re looking for his six-pitch mix to generate a few more “red” circles on the Statcast chart.

The Sox will face off against Nick Lodolo, who makes his spring debut for the Reds. Lodolo hasn’t quite hit those 7th-overall-pick expectations yet, but he’s coming off a strong 3.33 ERA season and features a heavy four-pitch arsenal. He has a pretty good curve and sinker that can really tie up hitters.

Here’s how the managers line up their teams this afternoon.

For your Chicago White Sox:

And for old friend Terry Francona’s Cincinnati Reds:

Now for the bad news: it’s a lean day for media coverage. The only way to follow the live action is through an MLB.TV or MLB+ subscription. If you’ve got one, you can tune into the Reds’ radio broadcast at 2:05 p.m. CST to see if the Sox bats can keep the heater going.

Today’s Jays’ game is not on TV, one of the few that aren’t on TV. The game is at Lakeland, Florida in the Tigers’ spring park, Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium which has to be up there on the list of longest ballpark names, as well as getting two sponsor names into it. It isn’t on MLB TV either. If you are really interested Sportsnet will carry a radio broadcast on their site (two minutes of thinking of subtle insults for anyone who would listen to a spring game on radio and I settle on interested. I have no imagination this morning). It has a 1:00 Eastern start time.

The Jay are sending a bunch of regulars to Lakeland. Google maps tells me that it is an hour and a quarter drive from Dunedin to Lakeland, which likely means it will be a 2 to 3 hour drive on the way back.

Today’s lineups:

It is too bad that we aren’t going get to watch it, I want every chance I can to see Kazuma Okamoto play third. I also like any chance to watch Jonatan Clase play center field.

We are going to get to see a lot of the prospects and the guys on the edge of making the Jays roster, later in spring training, because there are seven Jays going to the World Baseball Classic, as well as five minor leaguers. The Jays players will be spread across 11 WBC teams.

The players:

• Andres Gimenez (Venezuela)
• Leo Jimenez (Panama)
• Ernie Clement (United States)
• Alejandro Kirk (Mexico)
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic)
• Kazuma Okamoto (Japan)
• Yariel Rodriguez (Cuba)

Minor leaguers (well, Yariel is a minor leaguer too:

• Adam Macko (Canada)
• RJ Schreck (Isreal)
• C.J. Stubbs (Israel)
• Will Cresswell (Great Britain)
• Ismael Munguia (Nicaragua)

The WBC starts on March 5th and runs til the 17th.

The Jays are bringing Trey Yesavage along slowly this spring. He won’t pitch in a spring game until next week. Trey threw a lot more innings last year than he had before and, not surprisingly, they want to be careful with him. Or at least as careful as you can be, while asking someone to throw a rock as hard as he possibly can, while making it spin as much has he possibly can.

I do often wonder how so many of them can make it through a season without injury.

As well, Ricky Tiedemann ‘experienced’ elbow soreness last year and will take a week off from throwing. MRI didn’t show any damage. A pitcher coming back from Tommy John will have some soreness, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. But it does show why there the team tries to grab up as many potential MLB pitchers as possible.

We weren’t expecting Tiedemann to break camp with the team or anything like that, even if there were to be a rash of injuries to our starting pitchers. I won’t worry unless they shut him down during the season.

Before spring training, I would have said said that Eloy Jiménez had almost no chance of making the Jays out of spring training. But, he’s looked terrific (in two games), he’s a right-handed bat and our outfield is fairly lefty heavy.

If he could play center, I’d say he had a good chance, because I’d rather have his bat than Myles Straw’s. But since he can’t, he’d have to beat out Davis Schneider and that would be tough. Schneider does have options left.

But would you rather have Eloy than Nathan Lukes? Lukes has an option year left. And we have Jesus Sanchez in front of him on the left-handed hitting corner outfielder depth chart. But then, Lukes can play center.

Jiménez can also play first base and will get some time there while Vlad is at the WBC.

Anyway, I’d have guessed Jiménez had about a 1% chance of making the team, before the start of spring, he must have a 30% chance now. Of course, he would have to make it through spring training without an injury and injuries have been his downfall.

After being shown Bo Bichette video of him booting some balls, early in spring training, I liked seeing this great play:

Texas Rangers lineup for February 25, 2026 against the Cleveland Guardians.

We have another spring training game. Woo hoo!!!

The lineup:

Haggerty — 2B

Jansen — C

Helman — CF

Duran — SS

Wade — RF

Canha — LF

Bride — 1B

MacIver — DH

Martin — 3B

Nathan Eovaldi is the starter today.