PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: The sneakers worn by Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 24, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Joel Armia, Drew Doughty, Adrian Kempe, and Darcy Kuemper have all returned to the Kings organization as they get set to host the Vegas Golden Knights. Joel Armia returned with a Bronze medal, and Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper returned with a Silver Medal. Before the Olympic break, the Kings traded for Artemi Panarin, but because of the timing of the trade, he did not play any games for the Kings before the break. For the first time, we will see him today.
Kings Projected Lines
Here are the projected lines for the Kings tonight:
Quinton Byfield - Anze Kopitar - Trevor Moore
Artemi Panarin - Alex Laferriere - Adrian Kempe
Warren Foegele - Alex Turcotte - Andrei Kuzmenko
Joel Armia - Samuel Helenius - Corey Perry
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci
Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper
Golden Knights projected Lines
Here are the projected lines for the Golden Knights tonight:
Ivan Barbashev - Tomas Hertl - Keegan Kolesar
Reilly Smith - Tanner Laczynski - Pavel Dorofeyev
Brandon Saad - Colton Sissons - Alexander Holtz
Cole Reinhardt - Kai Uchacz - Braeden Bowman
Jeremy Lauzon - Rasmus Andersson
Brayden McNabb - Dylan Coghlan
Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak
Adin Hill
Akira Schmid
Injuries and Line Changes
With the Kings having all their players who went to the Olympics return to the lineup, they have the advantage because Vegas is missing 5 of its best players. Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Shea Theodore, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner are all scratched for tonight's game. The Kings have scratched Jeff Malott, Jacob Moverare, Taylor Ward and will be without Kevin Fiala after he was injured in the Olympics.
Key Factors
With the Golden Knights missing 5 of their top players, the Kings need to take advantage and get a game closer to a playoff spot. The Kings are currently 3 points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the final wildcard spot. With a win tonight, they would be within 1 point of a playoff spot. The Kings' second line will be the one to watch, as they could have a potential dynamic duo in Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin.
Overall, this game is incredibly important for the Kings, as they can come out of the break strong with a massive win over a divisional opponent. Artemi Panarin makes his debut tonight as well, and Kings and Hockey fans are looking to see what impact he makes in his first game.
Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) looks to pass beside Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a packed portion of their schedule, playing their fifth game in seven nights on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. There’s a good chance we see them strategically rest a few players tonight. Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell have already been ruled out (Mobley with the calf, Mitchell with a groin strain).
James Harden is also listed as questionable after suffering a fracture in his right thumb last night versus the New York Knicks. It’s impossible to know with this stuff — but it appears Harden’s injury was a best-case scenario and he shouldn’t miss much time. Of course, take that with a grain of salt.
Cleveland is getting a slight relief in their opponent tonight. After facing the Knicks yesterday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks should seem easier. That’s partly why the Cavs are resting a few of their key players. They might not even need them tonight.
With that said, it’s important to never overlook an opponent. The Bucks may be without Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they still have NBA players on their roster who can burn you.
Former Cavalier Kevin Porter Jr. is playing quality basketball recently, scoring 32 points in his last game against the Miami Heat. Bobby Portis is a bucket, as well. He’ll be someone to watch for in this matchup.
Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), Donovan Mitchell – OUT (groin), James Harden – QUESTIONABLE (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruma – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League), Darius Brown – OUT (G League)
Bucks injury report: Giannis Antetounmpo – OUT (calf), Taurean Prince – OUT (neck), Alex Antetokunmpo – OUT (G League)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: Dennis Schroder, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson Jarrett Allen
Bucks expected starting lineup: Kevin Porter Jr, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner
Nov 30, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) gets out of the way as center Evan Mobley (4) grabs a rebound during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers had one of their best wins of the season as they held the New York Knicks to under 100 points on Tuesday. Many of the players who contributed to that win won’t be available for their game the following evening against the Milwaukee Bucks.
In total, Cleveland will be without at least two starters from yesterday’s win and could be down three. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley will both be held out of Wednesday’s game.
Mitchell is listed as being out with a right groin strain. Mobley is out due to maintenance from the left calf injury that kept him out for several weeks starting at the end of January.
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The Cavs might also be without the services of James Harden. The team announced that he suffered a broken right thumb during the win over the Knicks, but might not miss any time. He’s officially listed as questionable for the game.
Additionally, the Cavs will also be without Max Strus (foot), who’s yet to play this season. Their three two-way players — Darius Brown, Tristan Enaruna, and Riley Minix — are also unavailable.
If Harden isn’t able to go, the Cavs could be left with a projected starting lineup of Dennis Schroder, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, and Jarrett Allen.
The Bucks will still be without the services of Giannis Antetokounmpo who will be missing this game with a calf strain. Taurean Prince (neck surgery) and Alex Antetokounmpo (G League) will also be held out of this game.
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves runs out a single during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at CoolToday Park on March 11, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Braves and Pirates tangled in Grapefruit League action on Wednesday afternoon, and the Braves came away victorious by a 3-1 score, taking advantage of rusty-ish Paul Skenes in the process.
Let’s get the key performances out of the way first.
Bryce Elder was, well, Bryce Elder. Especially the kind of Bryce Elder he appears to be when successful. He struck out three in two innings, walked none, and kept the ball on the lower side of the launch angle spectrum. As a result, the Pirates scratched across a run as a result of a couple of hard-hit singles sandwiching a steal, but there wasn’t much else going on.
Austin Riley unloaded his first Spring Training homer, a gargantuan 419-foot shot off the batters’ eye in center. Earlier in the same plate appearance, he had obliterated another high fastball, but pulled that one just foul. He kept this one (way more) fair.
Riley’s homer actually capped the scoring, as Drake Baldwin led off that frame with a weird triple on a less-routine-than-it-should-have-been fly ball to center, and scored on a Jurickson Profar soft liner down the right-field line. Riley drove Profar in with his moonshot.
Beyond that, the Braves had some fun making Paul Skenes, making his Spring Training 2026 debut, somewhat uncomfortable. They drew four walks against Skenes, who completed 2 1/3 innings — while successfully challenging four of Skenes’ called strikes. (In this game, the Braves went 6-for-6 in successful challenges, while the Pirates whiffed on both of theirs.) They didn’t get more than three runs, though, despite the early walks because Skenes carved up Riley in the first with two on and two out, while Mauricio Dubon and Ronald Acuña Jr. couldn’t get a key hit with two on in the second. (Dubon actually had a hard grounder, but Acuña just popped out. Acuña also later hit into a double play ball by hitting a grounder right at an infielder.)
Other than that, very little happened. The Braves used seven different pitchers in relief of Elder:
Tyler Kinley: 1/1 K/BB
Dylan Lee, 1/1 K/BB
Dylan Dodd, 2/1 K/BB in 1 2/3 IP
Tyler LaPorte, who struck out the only batter he faced
Hayden Harris, 2/0 K/BB
James Karinchak, 2/1 K/BB
Javy Guerra, on a redemptive note from his prior horrid outing, 1/0 K/BB
Basically, it was a breezy day at the park. The Braves had a collective 9/6 K/BB ratio offensively, while the Pirates were eaten up to the tune of 13/4 by Braves pitching. The Pirates got a runner on in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but a routine flyout ended the game.
Marcell Ozuna went 0-for-2 with a walk (against Dylan Dodd) in his first uniformed game against his erstwhile mates.
The Braves will now head to Tampa to play the Yankees tomorrow afternoon.
PEORIA, Ariz. — Cal Raleigh has already gone deep this spring, yet the switch-hitting Seattle Mariners catcher isn’t focused on trying to hit 60 home runs again this season.
Raleigh, who had an MLB-leading 60 homers last year, hit a 427-foot homer against the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game Tuesday. His first spring homer came in his third game.
“I think the elephant in the room is 60 home runs. That’s not something I’m setting out to do,” Raleigh told Seattle Sports this week. “To me, I’m just trying to be as consistent as possible, trying to do what I did last year.”
His 60 homers last season were the most for a player who was primarily a catcher, having started 119 games behind the plate and another 38 at designated hitter. The 29-year-old Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” also had a career-high 125 RBIs and finished second in the American League MVP voting behind New York Yankees slugger and third-time winner Aaron Judge.
Judge and Raleigh are both set to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which begins pool play next week. Judge set the AL record with 62 home runs in 2022.
There are among only seven players with a 60-homer season, and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are the only ones to do so in consecutive seasons (1998 and 1999). McGwire and Sosa are the only players with multiple 60-homer seasons, and Sosa had a third in 2001.
NORTH PORT, Fla. — National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start.
Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls.
The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one for Skenes before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic. He allowed one hit and one run while facing 12 batters. He is going into his third season with the Pirates.
Skenes threw 27 pitches for strikes, along with four other pitches initially called strikes by home plate umpire Chris Segal that Braves hitters challenged through the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.
Three of those challenges came on consecutive batters in the first inning.
Matt Olson challenged an 82.3 mph curveball that was called a strike, and had a smile on his face when replay showed indeed that the 1-1 pitch was just off the plate. He went on to draw a walk.
Jurickson Profar then challenged a 98.3 mph fastball for a strike on the first pitch he faced, and it was overturned to a 1-0 count before he also walked. Austin Riley sought a replay when a 99 mph pitch on an 0-2 count was called a strike, but was above the zone, though on the next pitch he struck out swinging on a 98.5 mph fastball just below that.
In the Braves second, Ronald Acuña asked for a review and got a ball on a 97.6 mph fastball off the plate that had been called a strike.
While the overturned strike thrown to Riley was the fastest of the day by Skenes, he was consistently in the upper-90s throughout his outing.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 11: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 11, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The injury bug that has chewed through the Phoenix Suns can wear you down if you let it. This team has been a pleasant surprise, but then February showed up swinging. The team entered the month 30-19, but following their loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, they are now 3-7 in the month.
You glance at the calendar and realize March is staring back at you. Which means we have lived through nearly a full month, All-Star break and all, of some truly ugly basketball. But of course, context matters. Guys are playing roles they were never meant to live in, carrying usage they were not built for, and trying to hold things together with duct tape and effort. Still, averaging 79 points over the last two games is not exactly a comfort blanket.
You need some warm n’ fuzzies? Okay. I got you.
As I’ve stated plenty of times recently, injuries create opportunity, and that door is finally open. The rookies are getting real minutes and actual run. It’s not the end-of-bench cardio that shows up in a blowout. They are on the floor when the game still has a pulse. The results have not been perfect, but they have been encouraging. There is something there. Enough to squint, nod, and believe that this stretch, as messy as it feels, might actually be giving the Suns information that matters.
One thing worth celebrating in the middle of all this chaos is that Mark Williams has stayed healthy. In a season where the injury bug has been relentless, Williams has logged more games than he ever has in an NBA season. It deserves recognition. It also deserves context. He is in unfamiliar territory, pushing deeper into a season than his body is used to, and that kind of fatigue shows up in new ways. Some nights, you can see it. The legs look heavy. The tank feels closer to empty.
Okay, that might not be warm. Nor fuzzy. But…
That combination, injuries around him, and a visibly tired Mark Williams, has cracked the door open for Khaman Maluach. The Suns’ tenth overall pick in the 2025 draft, and potentially the last lottery swing they get for a long time, has stepped into real minutes. And honestly, I have liked what I have seen. The moment has not swallowed him. There is poise there. There is purpose. In the middle of a month that has felt like survival basketball, Maluach has quietly given the Suns something to lean into and something to watch closely as this season keeps unfolding.
There has been a steady hum of concern around him all season, mostly because the minutes have been sparse. Before the All-Star break, he appeared in 23 of the Suns’ 55 games and averaged 4.6 minutes a night. When you stack his raw numbers next to the top 10 picks from his rookie class, he trails them across the board. He has logged 137 total minutes. The next lowest among that group is Dylan Harper, the second overall pick in San Antonio, sitting at 1,000 minutes. On paper, it looks alarming.
That lack of playing time has nothing to do with a lack of talent. Anyone tossing around the word “bust” at this stage, especially with a 19-year-old big man, needs to slow their role and stop being a jabroni. Big men take time. They always have. The game asks more of them mentally and physically. And in Khaman’s case, he is still early in his basketball life, having picked up the sport only a few years ago.
The Suns have been deliberate with him. Purposeful. They have given him opportunities without rushing the process, choosing development over exposure. He has been grinding in practices, bouncing to the G League, learning the system, and adjusting to the speed of the NBA game. That patience deserves credit, and it is beginning to show.
In a stretch of the season short on bright spots, Maluach has quietly become one. The minutes are still modest, but the impact is there, and when he is on the floor, he looks like he belongs.
Since February 11, Khaman has appeared in four games and logged 42 total minutes. In that small window, he has put up 22 points and 21 rebounds, shooting 61.5% from the field and 40% from deep on 2-of-5. It is an extremely small sample, but the per 36 numbers jump off the page. 18.8 points. 18 rebounds. Warm! Fuzzy!
It is a reminder that development is never a straight line. There are peaks, valleys, and everything in between, and all of it shapes how a player is perceived. Maluach has had rough nights in the G League, especially against the Rip City Remix and fellow first-rounder Yang Hansen, where he got moved off his spots, turned it over, and raised eyebrows. That happened. He absorbed it. He kept working.
Now, with the door opening after the Nick Richards trade to Chicago, he is landing exactly where you want him. Earning minutes. Feeling resistance. Responding to it.
The Suns have lived through the other version too many times. Lottery picks handed roles before they were ready, development rushed, confidence crushed, careers shortened. This path feels different. Slower. More intentional and methodical. And right now, watching Maluach stack good habits on top of hard lessons, it feels like the right one.
The hope is that Khaman does not become another familiar Suns story, and the deliberate way the organization has handled his development suggests they are aware of that history. In the games he has played in February, he has looked long, physical, and more than anything, tenacious. He wants the rebound. He wants to contest shots. He wants to fit into a system built on disruption and effort, and that matters.
That is the takeaway right now in his young career. You cannot teach height. You cannot teach length. You can scream about effort until you are hoarse, but you cannot teach give-a-shit either. Maluach plays like he cares. The three-ball has looked clean, and that alone opens doors. A big who can stretch the floor changes lineups, spacing, and possibilities, especially alongside someone like Oso Ighodaro.
There is something quietly interesting forming with this young group. The scoreboard might feel heavy during this stretch, but underneath it, long-term pieces are being shaped. Maluach sits right at the center of that, and he is the reason I find myself feeling a little warm and fuzzy watching all of this unfold.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Carlos Lagrange #84 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees’ farm system is deeper than you’d expect from an organization that traded away more than a dozen prospects at the 2025 Trade Deadline. They replenished some talent via the MLB Draft—including Dax Kilby, who has all the makings of a top prospect and looks like an absolute steal with the 29th pick—but the story of the season was the ascension of a trio of pitching prospects who look ready to make their big-league debuts in 2026. Although the Bombers have more than a few exciting players on the verge of the Bronx, there are prospects to be excited about all throughout the system.
Today, we’ll discuss a wide batch of Baby Bombers who I’ll be watching heading into the 2026 campaign. I’ve chosen to step away from Pinstripe Alley, and since this will be my last article, there’s no time like the present to run through ’em. Thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed my work since I came aboard!
Knocking at the door: Spencer Jones, Elmer Rodríguez, Carlos Lagrange, Ben Hess, Cade Winquest
The aforementioned trio of ascending pitchers are all listed here, as Elmer Rodríguez, Carlos Lagrange, and Ben Hess all have the makings of successful starting pitchers at the big league level. Following a December 2024 trade from the Red Sox system in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, Rodríguez established himself as a Top 100 prospect with New York in wake of a breakout 2025 which began in High-A Hudson Valley and ended with the 22-year-old making his Triple-A debut. Rodríguez recorded a 2.26 ERA in 83 innings in High-A with a 29-percent strikeout rate, and was just as good in Double-A with a 2.64 ERA in 61 innings. He’s made significant progress since the Yankees acquired him from the Red Sox last offseason, and he made his spring training debut this week in the opener against Baltimore.
Speaking of spring buzz, Lagrange put his jaw-dropping stuff on display in the second game just days after making waves by striking out Aaron Judge in practice while hitting 102 MPH on the radar gun. Lagrange struggled mightily with control at the start of his career, and despite a breakout 2025, this was still the obvious flaw in his profile. A 7.1-percent walk rate in High-A ballooned to 14.9 percent in Double-A. However, a 33.4-percent strikeout rate across the two levels was enough to offset the walks. There is bullpen risk for Lagrange, but the team should do everything they can to get him into the starting rotation. Just ask Judge, who said “He’s got the potential to be a frontline starter for the New York Yankees.”
Hess was selected out of Alabama in the first round of the 2024 draft, and his first professional season went a long way towards proving the Yankees right about his upside. Hess anchors his arsenal with a lively fastball that sits in the mid-to-high 90s and plays up due to his IVB (induced vertical break), delivery, and extension. He complements it with a curveball, slider, and changeup. The curveball looked especially dominant in his spring debut this week, in which he notched five strikeouts against the Pirates.
There is no prospect more polarizing in the Yankees system or perhaps all of professional baseball than Spencer Jones. Jones started last season repeating Double-A after a disappointing 2024 halted his progress and looked ominous for his career. 2025 was a different story. Jones clobbered 16 home runs with Somerset, just one below last year’s season total in 336 trips to the plate. His walk rate jumped from 9.9 percent to 15.4 percent, his ISO went from .193 to .320, and his wRC+ ballooned to 184. In his first 114 PA after a promotion to Triple-A, Jones was hitting .375/.439/.844 with 13 home runs, 10 steals, a 219 wRC+, and just a 24-percent strikeout rate, before regressing in the season’s final weeks (possibly due to a lingering back injury). His spring thus far has been indicative of his all-or-nothing profile: in six plate appearances he has four strikeouts, a walk, and a home run that looked like it traveled 600 feet. If Jones manages to get to even a mildly subpar contact rate, he could be dangerous.
Cade Winquest was the Yankees’ first Rule 5 draft pick in many years, and it’s highly possible that he starts the 2026 regular season in the big-league bullpen. He flashed big time velocity and a devastating changeup in his spring debut. He could quietly be a pivotal addition during an offseason in which it seemed like the Yankees didn’t do much to improve their relief corps.
Stud shortstops: George Lombard Jr. and Dax Kilby
The consensus top prospect in the organization is George Lombard Jr., and while we need to see a larger sample size from Dax Kilby, it’s well within the range of possibility that he challenges Lombard for the crown by the end of 2026 (some outlets, like Baseball Prospectus, already have Kilby ahead). There are tons of similarities here, as Kilby seems to be following Lombard’s trajectory closely. Lombard was the team’s first-round draft pick in 2023 with the 26th pick, and Kilby went 39th last season due to the Yankees’ pick dropping 10 spots for luxury tax purposes. These appear to be the two best picks the team has made in recent years.
Lombard has proved himself at every level thus far and projects as a starting big-league shortstop. He started last season in High-A and made mincemeat of the level, posting a 194 wRC+ in 24 games before earning a promotion. Lombard struggled against Double-A pitching to start, but acclimated to the new environment over time and finished with respectable numbers, including 8 home runs, 24 steals, a 13.6-percent walk rate, and a 111 wRC+. Scouts still want to see a little more with the bat, but the still-20-year-old Lombard is right on schedule and could earn the starting shortstop job in the Bronx as early as 2027 if Anthony Volpe continues to squander his chances.
Kilby was sent directly to Low-A to start his career, and in his first 81 plate appearances he slashed .353/.457/.441 with 13 walks, 11 strikeouts, two doubles, two triples, and a 159 wRC+. Kilby posting these numbers just after he was drafted is an incredibly exciting development for the Yankees., and several front offices reportedly had near-instant regret for not taking the teenager more seriously as a draft prospect. If Kilby can access his raw power and drive some balls out of the park, he could prove himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the Yankees organization and all around baseball.
Post-injury bouncebacks?: Bryce Cunningham, Chase Hampton, Thatcher Hurd, Henry Lalane
These pitchers’ stocks suffered due to injury, but are seeking redemption with a healthy 2026. Bryce Cunningham started last season (his first full year as a pro) as part of a well-regarded quartet with the ascending Rodriguez, Lagrange, and Hess, but missed two months of the year, struggled upon return, and experienced the nadir of his young career in the Arizona Fall League with a 10.38 ERA in 13 painful innings. Even if he was working on some specific pitches, that’s not a number you want to read.
Once the most highly-regarded pitcher in the Yankees’ farm system, Chase Hampton underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2025 campaign. Hampton possesses the arsenal and command of a big-league starter and will look to bounce back in 2026. His stuff was at its peak in 2023 which is now in the distant past, though New York still felt good enough about him to protect him on the 40-man roster in November. Next season will be a crucial plot point in Hampton’s career. The same goes for Thatcher Hurd, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft but has yet to make his professional debut due to undergoing a Tommy John surgery of his own before the 2025 season.
Henry Lalane is an interesting case, as far more hype has been driven by the frame and upside the 6-foot-7 lefty brings to the table than by his actual performance. Lalane entered last season with excitement building around his name after posting a 34.1 K-BB% in a small sample at the Complex in 2023, but then pitched just 12 innings all 2024. Last year, he made six starts with Low-A Tampa with 16.1 IP, 1.65 ERA (5.01 FIP), 27.4 K%, 17.8 BB%, .179 BAA, 1.41 WHIP. For those who did glimpse him, the stuff wasn’t crackling quite the same.
One of the best seasonal stat lines within the organization belonged to the left-hander Kyle Carr. He doesn’t possess the overwhelming stuff or K-BB% numbers typically found in top pitching prospects, but 2025 provided a large enough sample to prove that what Carr is doing is working to his advantage. He dominated High-A with a 1.96 ERA in 22 starts, but ended the season with three starts in Double-A in which he posted an 8.56 ERA.
Cade Smith’s performance down the stretch for High-A Hudson Valley and in the Arizona Fall League should catch the organization’s eye. Smith has a strong ability to miss bats but struggles at times with walks. In 32.2 innings with the Renegades, he struck out 26 percent of the batters he faced but also walked 12 percent of them and recorded a 2.76 ERA. He controlled his pitches more effectively in Arizona, where he pitched 12.2 innings and struck out 14 batters while only walking two on his way to an AFL Fall Stars Game appearance. Smith has momentum and the talent to capitalize on it in 2026.
Brock Selvidge and Xavier Rivas are two southpaws looking to make a name for themselves in 2026. Selvidge was unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, but remained with the Yankees and struck out four in his spring training debut this week. He flashed a horizontal left-handed arsenal with a cutter, a slider, and a four-seamer that hit up to 97 MPH. The 23-year-old Rivas started last season in the Complex League and finished at High-A, with astronomical strikeout and walk rates on the season (31.3/13.9 K/BB%). It was a year of non-linear development for Rivas, who struggled mightily in Low-A with a 5.80 ERA in 40 innings in between posting ERAs of 1.15 in the Complex league and 1.23 in Low-A.
Other 2025 draftees: Kaeden Kent, Pico Kohn, Core Jackson
Kaeden Kent, the Yankees’ third-round pick, has a smooth swing from the left side, strong barrel control, and a patient approach at the plate. The now-Hall of Fame progeny slashed .279/.398/.544 during his season in the SEC, tallying 56 games with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, and more walks than strikeouts. He struggled mightily in his first professional sample, with a putrid .186/.217/.265 slash line and 45 wRC+ in 25 games at High-A. Core Jackson, the team’s fifth-round pick, was similarly bad at High-A with a .183 batting average and 76 wRC+. Jackson is a Canadian shortstop who hit above .360 in each of his last two seasons at Utah. He added some power in 2025, hitting 12 homers while stealing 20 bases, but did not leave the yard once in Hudson Valley.
Pico Kohn is a 6-foot-4 southpaw with an arsenal consisting of a fastball, slider, and changeup. The slider is widely considered his best pitch, but his mid-90s fastball plays up against hitters due to a low arm slot and vertical approach angle. Much like Hess and Cunningham, the Yankees are prioritizing upside with Kohn over previous results. He had a 4.73 ERA in his final season at Mississippi State, though he did fan 32.6 percent of the hitters he faced. He did not make his professional debut in 2025.
Ones to watch for: Richard Matic, Mani Cedeno
To cap off the list, we have two teenage prospects who haven’t yet made their stateside debuts but could find themselves climbing up the organizational ranks in the next couple seasons. Richard Matic was far and away the best player for either of the Yankees Dominican Summer League affiliates in 2025. He slashed .336/.487/.566 with five home runs and 11 steals, and displayed an advanced plate approach with a 20.9-percent walk rate. He’s a third baseman with huge raw power, and saw his contact rate skyrocket from 55 percent in 2024 to 69.6 percent in 2025. He’s the most exciting player in Rookie ball for the Yankees right now, and will likely begin the 2026 season in the Complex league.
Mani Cedeno was considered one of the most advanced hitters in the international free agent class last offseason, and signed with the Yankees for $2.5 million in January. He profiles as a well-rounded shortstop with a natural ability in the field and on the base paths, and the key to his development will be on offense. Cedeno’s status as an honorable mention is based on the upside in his profile rather than the results he’s posted in his minor league career thus far. The 17-year-old has a smooth, right-handed swing and a tendency to be patient at the plate, so if Cedeno can make more contact moving forward he can develop into an exciting young player.
Other players who didn’t quite make the list here but are still worthy of a mention are Brendan Beck, the 2021 second-rounder on the verge of the big leagues in Triple-A and pitching for Great Britain in the upcoming World Baseball Classic; Allen Facundo, the 23-year-old lefty who posted a 2.14 ERA in 33 innings at Low-A; Jace Avina, the powerful right-handed outfielder who dominated High-A pitching in 2025 but hit a bit of a wall in Double-A; and Roderick Arias, the former top international signing who’s looking to bounce back after an immensely-disappointing 2025. With a front office as perpetually active on the trade market as the New York Yankees’, the farm system is ever-changing and guys are constantly shifting between levels, but fans should feel pretty good about where the system is at entering 2026.
Editor’s note: Thank you to Nolan for his diligent and insightful prospect analysis over the past year! We’ll miss him and wish him all the best.
Tony Bennett speaks during the Atlantic Coast Conference's media day in 2024, his last season as coach of Virginia. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)
Former Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who led the Cavaliers to the 2019 national title, has been hired by the Lakers as an NBA draft advisor to Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager. Bennett’s record was 364-136 from 2009-24.
“As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource," Pelinka said in a statement. "Tony’s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited."
Virginia honored Bennett in a ceremony before Saturday's 86-83 win over Miami, naming the court at John Paul Jones Arena after him.
Bennett was the AP national coach of the year in 2007 and 2018. He led Virginia to six ACC regular-season championships. He previously coached at Washington State from 2006-09.
“When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,” Bennett said in a statement. “The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.”
Bennett played under his father, Dick Bennett, at Wisconsin-Green Bay before playing four years in the NBA, including three for Charlotte from 1992-95.
Each season, the NBA’s Most Improved Player award signals the arrival of a rising star – a player who has taken a meaningful leap forward from contributor to franchise cornerstone.
Recent winners such as Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant and Tyrese Maxey have combined for over 25 All-Star appearances. Antetokounmpo, of course, went on to win multiple MVP awards and lead the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA Championship – a reminder that this honor often precedes true superstardom.
This year’s race appears similarly compelling. The top three contenders all rank inside the league’s top 33 in Value Over Replacement Player, indicating that their improvement on the court has translated into tangible on-court value, not just inflated counting stats.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s break down this year’s NBA Most Improved Player candidates and determine whose leap has been the most impressive as the regular season enters its stretch run.
Defining the Award
According to NBA.com, the Most Improved Player award is intended to recognize an ascending player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons – often one whose growth has directly contributed to his team’s success.
Since the 2011-2012 lockout-shortened campaign, only one player has won the award while playing on a team that finished with fewer than 37 wins, reinforcing the importance of team context in the voting process.
Last year’s winner, Dyson Daniels, was a relative outlier. He joined Pascal Siakam as the only players in the past decade to capture the award while averaging fewer than 20 points per game. Daniels’ candidacy was bolstered by elite defensive production, highlighted by his 3.1 steals per game.
Overall, Daniels improved his per-game averages by 8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals – a statistical jump that helped the Hawks improve their record by four wins from the year prior.
Using the above historical framework as context, we turn to NBA StatsHub to evaluate this season’s leading contenders.
Jalen Johnson (+110, DraftKings)
FGOE: +2.1% PTOE: +0.7 Team Record: 29-31
Jalen Johnson has emerged as one of the league’s breakout stars this season, posting career-highs across the board with 23.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. He and Nikola Jokić are the only players averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists this season, putting Johnson in rare elite company.
The advanced metrics reinforce that production. Johnson owns a +2.1% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation, indicating that his scoring efficiency exceeds league-average expectations based on shot quality. He ranks eighth in the league in the NBA in Value Over Replacement Player, a strong signal of all-around impact. Among Hawks players with at least 600 minutes logged, only Dyson Daniels (+7.3) has a better Net Rating than Johnson (+4.3).
Johnson’s improvement isn’t confined to one area – he has scaled his role while maintaining efficiency, contributing as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. Entering the stretch run, he has positioned himself as the clear frontrunner for this award.
Jalen Duren (+360, DraftKings)
FGOE: +4.6% PTOE: +1.0 Team Record: 42-14
The primary case for Jalen Duren centers on his role as the No. 2 option on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Team success has historically carried weight in Most Improved Player voting, and Duren’s scoring jump has coincided with Detroit’s rise to the top of the Eastern Conference.
However, players of Duren’s archetype have rarely captured this award. The last traditional center to win Most Improved Player was Jermaine O’Neal in 2002. Unlike perimeter creators, interior finishers are often more dependent on playmaking around them to generate efficient scoring opportunities. Cade Cunningham’s emergence as an elite facilitator has undoubtedly played a role in Duren’s scoring increase from 11.8 points per game last season to 18.0 this year.
It’s also worth noting that Duren averaged 11.6 rebounds during the 2023-2024 campaign, compared to 10.5 rebounds this season. While his efficiency metrics are strong – +4.6% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation – the overall statistical leap is less comprehensive than some of his peers. Based on historical precedent, he would be an outlier if he were to win this award in 2026.
Deni Avdija (+450, DraftKings)
FGOE: +0.1% PTOE: 0.0 Team Record: 28-31
Like the other candidates in this year’s Most Improved Player race, Deni Avdija is enjoying a career-best campaign. He has increased his scoring by 7.5 points per game compared to last season while nearly doubling his previous career-high in assists.
However, much of that statistical growth appears to be volume-driven rather than efficiency-driven. Avdija ranks 151st out of 273 qualified players in Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and 147th in Points Over Expectation, indicating that his scoring has largely aligned with expectation rather than exceeding it.
Defensively, Avidja has struggled, too. Portland’s defensive rating is 7.2 points better with him off of the floor this season, and he is tied for the second-lowest defensive rating on the Trail Blazers in FTN’s Player Ratings.
Health is another complicating factor. Avidja has played meaningful minutes in only one game since the All-Star break and appears likely to miss additional time while managing a bothersome back injury, which could limit his ability to build momentum in the race.
The Takeaway
NBA StatsHub illustrates that Johnson has improved across the board while maintaining strong efficiency metrics as a scorer, rebounder and a facilitator.
Duren’s role on a top-seeded team strengthens his candidacy, but historically, voters have leaned towards players who create offense independently rather than those whose production is heavily tied to surrounding playmaking.
Avdija’s statistical jump is notable, yet his efficiency profile and recent back injury make his path to the award more complicated.
The NBA’s Most Improved Player award has historically rewarded meaningful, measurable leaps in production – not merely expanded opportunity. When evaluating this year’s top contenders using recent precedent, Jalen Johnson is a clear standout among his peers.
Real Madrid didn’t impress, but they still had too much quality for Benfica, while Atalanta, PSG and Galatasaray all advanced in dramatic style
85 min: Krstović one-twos with Zalewski down the middle … and he’s clear! But Kobel reads the danger and comes racing out of his box to blooter clear. The keeper takes a whack for his trouble, but Krstović was within his rights to compete for the ball with so much on the line. Great play all round.
82 min: Atalanta counter, and Samardžić dances his way in from the right, before lashing a low diagonal drive inches wide of the left-hand post. Kobel wasn’t getting to that.
When Lon Rosen was in his role as executive president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he "only dreamed" of having the reach that the Los Angeles Lakers have.
Fourteen years and three World Series championships later, Rosen is returning to the Lakers -- the same organization where he started his three-decade career as an intern -- as their new president of business operations. The first piece of new owner Mark Walter's front office overhaul is officially in place.
"Let's face it," he told reporters. "I'm very fortunate to be involved with two very iconic global brands."
Rosen spoke with a small handful of beat reporters on Tuesday night in a wide-ranging, 20-minute conversation. These are the biggest takeaways:
At the forefront of that overhaul will be the president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, who has previously told reporters that he and Governor Jeanie Buss will lead the team's front office expansion this summer. Among those at his side will be Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi in advisory roles.
“I just run the business side, Rob’s empowered to do what he does,” Rosen said. “He’s talked about it and I can talk about it. Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, they have involvement helping Rob a bit. It gives you a deeper bench, and I think Rob appreciates that. And it is unique. But they have a skill set that they can transfer some of it here. And that’s really how we look at it.
"Look, I have a really good relationship with Rob. I’ve known Rob Pelinka from when he was representing Kobe (Bryant). I met him many, many years ago.”
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday morning that the Lakers are hiring former Virginia head coach Tony Bennett as an NBA draft advisor under Pelinka.
Magic Johnson's involvement
Aside from Rosen's ties to Walter, he's also a longtime business partner of Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson. When Rosen left the Lakers in 1987 to start his sports marketing company, Johnson was his first client. Before Rosen joined the Dodgers front office after Guggenheim Baseball Management -- led by Walter and with Johnson as a minority partner -- bought the team for $2.15 billion in 2012, Rosen worked for Magic Johnson Enterprises.
Johnson was the Lakers' president of basketball operations from 2017-19. He was the emcee at Pat Riley's statue unveiling on Sunday, but he won't, however, be with the franchise in an official role.
"Earvin is one of the most unique individuals I've known in my life, and he's one of my closest friends," Rosen said. "Earvin’s involved with all types of things. He owns football teams, baseball teams, soccer teams, insurance companies, a lot of things. He’s always gonna have some type of involvement with all the teams, but he is not gonna have a day-to-day involvement. It’s gonna be no different since he left the Lakers.
"Obviously he’s a huge fan of the Lakers, but he’s not gonna be, ‘Hey Rob go sign this player. Do that.’ He’ll always be involved with all the teams that he’s involved in, but no, he’s not gonna have day-to-day involvement at all.”
Ticket prices increasing
One hot-button issue that has been at the forefront of Lakers fans' minds is the upcoming spike in ticket prices for next season. NBA Twitter personality Rob Perez posted last Friday that his season tickets were increasing by 14% in his section, not including a 3% admin fee for season ticket holders who don't pay in full upfront.
Just got my Lakers season ticket invoice. They are not only raising prices next season 14% (for my section), but are also adding a 3% "Admin Fee" if you don't pay in full.
5-month and 9-month payment plans were available for recent previous season, without a % penalty. pic.twitter.com/e9dlf0xPL7
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that one longtime Lakers season ticket holder's seats in the 300 level were spiking from $6,192 to $9,035, a 45% jump.
"Well, we hope they renew," Rosen told reporters. "And obviously it reflects on what the market is now and the demand for tickets. You can look at how tickets sell and what the prices are. You look at primary and secondary market and you can see where their demand is.”
The Lakers' future at Crypto.com Arena
Rosen was also asked about the state of Crypto.com Arena, now in its 27th year after first opening in 1999. There were previously rumors of the Lakers exploring the possibility of leaving the arena and returning to the Forum back in 2019, but that was before the Clippers built Intuit Dome across the street.
Rosen reaffirmed Tuesday that the Lakers aren't going anywhere.
"I think it's a great building," he said. "It's very functional. I guess the fans like it, because they come here and they sell it out, and they enjoy the environment, they eat the food, they park their cars. So, it's a very efficient building."
Expanding the Lakers' global brand
It's safe to say that the Dodgers reached Rosen's dream of having the global footprint of the Lakers during his run there. Now, he has a chance to take it even further in his return to the franchise that he started with as an intern.
It's something he told reporters the team will put "quite a bit of focus on."
"With the Dodgers, we signed Shohei Ohtani, and the world sort of flipped on itself on a business model," Rosen said. "I think there's a huge growth potential for the Lakers internationally, and it's something that they've started to do. ... Having Luka Doncic doesn't hurt at all. I mean, he's one of the most popular players in the world and we want to jump on his shoulders and see what we can reach out there."
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ defensive presence is among the hot topics of the NFL scouting combine, with several prospects drawing serious attention from scouts and coaches. What makes this year unique is not just the usual slate of first-round hopefuls — it’s the quantity and versatility of OSU defenders that has everyone buzzing.
In an episode of the “Football 301” podcast, Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Matt Harmon, who are in Indianapolis this week at the combine, took a look at those star Buckeyes.
According to Tice, this year’s draft is “basically one quarterback, one running back, and a lot of defenders and some tackles.” And there’s no school more central to this defensive bonanza than Ohio State.
What makes this Buckeye class special is its fit for today’s NFL. As Tice points out, “the league needs [off-ball linebackers] and they’re so important now.” With defenses constantly in flux, players who can shift from linebacker to edge and even out to the slot are at a premium, and Ohio State’s blue-chip prospects all check those boxes.
As Harmon summed up, “when you go back and watch [Ohio State’s defense], it’s just not like, ‘Oh, yeah, they’re pretty good players.’ It’s like, no, they’re the best players of this draft.”
Sonny Styles: modern linebacker prototype
Harmon called Styles “one of those guys” who blends elite athleticism (a legit 6-foot-5, 240+ pounds), rare movement skills and the ability to do everything required in the modern NFL: “He can play off-ball linebacker but can also line up on the edge and play and drop from there, play the run, take on tight ends.”
Tice’s assessment: “What's cool about Styles is he can do all the modern asks because that's what he was asked to do at Ohio State under Matt Patricia. Line up on, on the ball on the edge, much like how Zack Baun is used sometimes for the Eagles.”
Both Tice and Harmon expect Styles to be a top-15 pick, and potentially even higher given the way defenses are evolving.
Ohio State's Arvell Reese (right) could be one of the top defenders drafted this year due to his versatility and skills. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Luke Hales via Getty Images
Arvell Reese: the next hybrid force
Reese is being pegged as possibly “the first non-quarterback selected after Fernando Mendoza.” Like Styles, Reese brings versatility. He can play off-ball, line up on the edge, and has a “developing game sense as far as coverage,” according to Tice. His blend of pass rush and coverage skills fits perfectly with what today’s defensive coordinators are seeking.
Kayden McDonald: Anchor on the interior
Not to be outdone, McDonald has cemented his stock as a premier run-stuffing defensive tackle. He may not have the flashiest pass rush yet, but his ability “to line up across the interior, eat blocks and keep his balance” is drawing attention for teams looking for a dependable presence in the trenches.
Caleb Downs: Swiss Army Knife in the secondary
On the back end, Downs, a safety, is a prospect everyone is watching. Tice described him as more of a Budda Baker or Antoine Winfield Jr. type — "a guy that just gives a boost effect on everybody else because he’s so, so smart.” Downs’ workout numbers will be scrutinized, but his tape already gives him a very high floor.
The unsung hero: Caden Curry
He’s a likely Day 2 pick with real flash and the kind of tools that get coaches excited. He’s the type of prospect who rises over the course of combine week.
Projected overall draft Impact
With Styles and Reese project as sure-fire first-rounders — and with McDonald and Downs also likely to see their names called early — it’s not an exaggeration to say that four or five Ohio State defenders could go in the first 15 picks. Other teams will likely soon mirror their approach, blending size, movement, and versatility as the new defensive standard.
Port St. Lucie, Fla.: New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong throws in spring training workout, held at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
The New York Mets (2-2-1) dropped a listless game to the St. LouisCardinals (3-2), 6-0 at Clover Park in St. Lucie. The Mets scattered eight hits, but couldn’t bring any across in their fifth game of spring.
Jonah Tong started for the Mets and, after looking strong in the first two innings, faded in the third and gave up a three-run home run to Nolan Gorman to put the Cardinals up by a trey.
The Mets threatened in the fourth, when a trio of 26th man candidates reached base via single: Christian Arroyo, Vidal Bruján, and Cristian Pache all reached base with two outs before a fourth player in the same category, Grae Kessinger, popped straight up to the catcher to end the inning.
Top outfield prospect Carson Benge went 3-3 with three singles.
Scoreless outings from Luis García, Adbert Alzolay, and Douglas Orellana kept the game within three until Nick Burdi took over in the sixth. Nelson Velázquez doubled to lead off the frame and a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases. A Chase Davis single to the right side plated two more, and St. Louis was up 5-0.
Joe Jacques didn’t fare much better in the seventh, giving up a run on three hits.
Of note to Cardinals fans was switch-pitcher (yes, you read that right) Jurrangelo Cijntje tossing two scoreless innings from the right side.
A.J. Ewing doubled to lead off the eighth in his second at-bat of the game, but was stranded by Cijntje.
Matt Turner and Aaron Rozek finished the game for the Mets, each tossing a scoreless frame.
The Mets take on the Astros in West Palm Beach tomorrow at 1:05pm. Nolan McLean will make his spring debut against Houston.
