SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Pitcher Jimmy Herget starts game three of the 2026 Colorado Rockies spring training at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona on February 22, 2026. The Colorado Rockies took on the Texas Rangers. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Looking to snap a two-game losing streak in spring training, the Rockies (6-4) will host the Dodgers (7-3) today.
The 2025 standout reliever who’s now making a play for the starting rotation, Jimmy Herget (0-0, 0.00 ERA), will be in action for the third time this spring (one start and one relief appearance) for the Rockies. Herget has thrown two scoreless, hitless innings with no walks and two strikeouts so far in Cactus League play.
The Dodgers will send Ryder Ryan (0-1, 3.00 ERA) to the mound for the game. The 30-year-old RHP was drafted in 2016 and made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2023. He signed a Minor League deal with the Pirates prior to the 2024 seasonwent back and forth from the Pirates roster and farm system. He spent all of 2025 in Triple-A before signing another Minor League deal with the Dodgers in January.
The Rockies lost 8-3 to Cleveland on Sunday and 16-3 to Kansas City on Saturday with Colorado pitchers combining to walk 19 batters and give up 23 hits in the two games.
The Rockies began making roster moves on Monday, announcing that catchers Bryant Betancourt and Cole Messina, right-handed pitcher Brayan Castillo and outfielder Jared Thomas have been reassigned to Minor League camp. Colorado has 56 active players remaining in Major League camp, including 16 non-roster invitees.
In other news, the Rockies also handed named their 2025 Minor League award winners on Monday.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Marco Gonzales #32 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 24, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Marco Gonzales - Getty Images
Athletics at San Diego Padres, March 2, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST
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Davis Martin is all smiles knowing exactly what you’re thinking about his .274 BABIP. | (Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images)
The South Side swagger is alive and well, rolling into Camelback Ranch with a vengeance. Yesterday’s 5-1 beatdown of the Cubs was just what Sox fans needed with four bombs, a little catharsis, and a reminder that the Good Guys can still mash when the mood strikes. Now, Chicago gets to take their swings against San Francisco, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. CST.
Davis Martin gets the ball for start number two this spring, looking to solidify his spot in the 2026 rotation. Last year, he proved he could handle the workload, tossing 142 2/3 frames with a 4.10 ERA. How did he do in his first Cactus League go-round? One hit, one run, and nothing wild over two frames. Today is all about sharpening the command and continuing to shake off the rust.
On the other side, it’s Landen Roupp for the Giants — a 27-year-old righty trying to forget 2025 ever happened after a comebacker to the knee cut his season short. Before that, he was steady if unspectacular with 22 starts and a 3.80 ERA. Roupp isn’t blowing doors off with velocity, but his curveball spins like a top, and his sinker turns grounders into an art form. He punched out two in his only spring inning so far, so the Sox hitters better keep their wits and not go digging for junk in the dirt.
As for the bats, Edgar Quero finally gets a breather as he’s been putting up PlayStation numbers, slashing .529/.556/.824 after another two hits yesterday. With Quero on ice and Kyle Teel headed off for Team Italy, it’s Korey Lee time. The backstop’s hitting .273/.500/.273 with a .773 OPS in 16 plate appearances so far this spring.
However, the hottest bat in the lineup today belongs to Miguel Vargas. He’s still waiting for his first Cactus League dinger, but the guy’s been locked in with a .429 average, 1.038 OPS, and two doubles in five games. That will play, Miggy.
Here’s how the offense will back up Martin: Meidroth at second and leading off, Luisangel Acuña in center, Vargas at third. LaMonte Wade Jr. gets first base, and Lenyn Sosa, fresh off yesterday’s bomb, slides in at DH. The rest: Tanner Murray at short, Jarred Kelenic in left, Derek Hill in right, and Lee at the dish.
Unfotunately there’s no TV broadcast today, but if you’re not lucky enough to be baking in the Glendale sun, you can tune in to WMVP 1000 AM or stream the audio on MLB+ at 2:05 p.m. CST.
Feb 22, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) warms up before game against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Bucks got the news they’ve been waiting for, as per Shams Charania, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the court from a right calf strain tonight against the Celtics. Giannis has been out since January 23, after sustaining the injury late in the fourth quarter against the Nuggets. This calf injury took much longer for Giannis to recover from, with a five-week absence, compared to his December calf injury, which kept him out for approximately three-and-a-half weeks.
His return couldn’t have come at a better time. Despite playing their best ball this season, winning eight of 10 games at one point, they’ve stumbled in their last two. After a blowout loss to the Knicks last Friday, Milwaukee blew a 16-point lead to the Bulls yesterday, losing 120-97. The Bucks went 8-7 in this stretch without Giannis, but on the season, they are 11-18 when he doesn’t suit up. Milwaukee is also trying to chase the 10th seed in the East, and with 23 games to go, they sit three games back of the Charlotte Hornets.
It’s been an injury-riddled season for Giannis, who’s missed 29 games due to these two calf injuries and a groin strain back in mid-November. Doc Rivers had been playing it close to the vest when it came to updates on Giannis, saying he was progressing from three-on-threes to four-on-fours without any setbacks, yet never gave a definitive date for his return. Even prior to the Bulls game, Doc trotted out the same line: that Giannis was close, but didn’t know when he would be back.
When Giannis has played, he’s been his normal MVP-level self, averaging 28.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, and shooting 64.5% from the field. We’ll likely see him on a minutes restriction tonight, as he’s been on a limit in the other times he’s come back. Whatever the rest of the season holds for the Bucks, I’m sure they’re happy no. 34 is back in the lineup.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Brown is dealing with an illness, while Queta is getting a rest night, per the team’s official injury report.
For the Bucks, meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his return from a calf injury that’s sidelined him for five weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Jaylen Brown (illness) and Neemias Queta (rest) are both out tonight for Celtics-Bucks after playing last night.
Jayson Tatum also remains out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is expected to make his return from a calf injury.
Brown has routinely been avoiding back-to-back games this season, so it’s no surprise he’s out Monday after logging 38 minutes in Sunday’s 114-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Queta is coming off one of the best games of the season on Sunday; he erupted for 27 points and 17 rebounds in the victory. Both Celtics players had offseason knee surgery, so it’s no surprise the Celtics are more cautiously managing their minutes.
Last month, Ron Harper Jr. started in place of Brown both times he was sidelined, so he may once again get the nod. It’s also possible that Jordan Walsh, who started 20 straight games earlier this season, could get the nod.
With Queta out, one of either Nikola Vucevic or Luka Garza will slot into the starting lineup, with Vucevic appearing to be a more likely candidate. Garza, who has mostly fallen out of the rotation since the trade deadline, should see the floor more with Queta out.
It’s also notable that Baylor Scheierman, who is playing through a fractured left thumb, is off the injury report. Scheierman had a productive game on Sunday despite playing through the hand injury that he was initially listed as questionable for.
“I got some shots in this morning, this afternoon, and I feel ready to go,” Scheierman said ahead of Sunday’s game. “We’re just kind of evaluating it as it goes, but I feel good enough to be out there, and that’s how it’s going to be. I’m not going to sit out.”
Both the Celtics and Bucks are on the second night of a back-to-back
The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-98 on Sunday night, while the Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls 120-97.
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have been led by Kevin Porter Jr (17.8 points, 7.5 assists per game), Ryan Rollins (17 points, 5.4 assists), and, more recently, Cam Thomas (14.1 points per game since being acquired at the trade deadline). Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and AJ Green all also average double-figures.
The Celtics, meanwhile, have been led by Jaylen Brown (29 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5 assists), Derrick White (17.1 points, 5.7 assists), and Payton Pritchard (17 points, 5.4 assists).
Neemias Queta (10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds) has anchored the frontcourt as the team’s starting center, but Nikola Vucevic has also been productive since being acquired by the Celtics, averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds in 23.9 minutes off the bench.
The Celtics have the East’s second-best record at 40-20, while the Bucks have the East’s 11th-best record at 26-33. The Celtics have the second-best net rating in the NBA (+8.3), while the Bucks have the 23rd-best (-3.7).
Feb 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) blocks a shot by Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 18: The Spurs returned from the All-Star break to sweep their Austin series and keep the train rolling. Against the shorthanded Suns, they did well enough in the first half to keep them at arm’s length before getting back into their offensive groove for a second half blowout. Then, their good friend Complacency paid a visit against the lowly Kings — who were on a 15-game losing streak — until late in the third quarter, when they finally flipped the switch and turned a close game into another blowout.
In the home of the team with the best record in the league, the Spurs continued to show they can adjust and win in any situation, successfully responding to the Pistons’ physicality against Victor Wembanyama by using his gravitational pull on their defense to find open shooters and driving lanes. Combined with some impressive defense on MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, particularly by Stephon Castle, it was one of the Spurs’ most impressive wins of the season and reminded the league they are much more than just Wemby.
After three quarters in which Wemby couldn’t get anything going and the Spurs’ offense struggled with dry spells, they appeared in trouble after a big Raptors run had them down by 15 points late in the third quarter. However, the Spurs were able to take advantage of Toronto’s biggest weakness (poor fourth quarter play) by getting hot from three and turning up the defensive dial to get up by six late. The waning moments ended up being more interesting than they had to be thanks to poor free throw shooting — the Spurs were just 13-23 on the night and 2-6 in the final seconds to give the Raptors one last ditch shot that they fortunately missed — but what mattered is the Spurs escaped with the victory and their first double-digit winning streak since 2016.
Playing their third game in four nights, the Spurs looked a step slow at times but remained comfortably ahead of the rebuilding Nets, outside of a spurt from Michael Porter, Jr. that got them within six points midway through the third quarter. The win made them 11-0 in the month of February, marking only their third undefeated month in franchise history and making them the first team in NBA history to accomplish the feat while scoring 110 or more points in every game.
All good things must come to an end, and this game had all the trappings to be the perfect foil for the Spurs’ win streak. The month changed, it was a matinee game (which the Spurs never seem to win), they haven’t won in MSG since 2019, and the Knicks have strength at the one position the Spurs don’t: power forward. After a quick start to get the Spurs out to a 12-point lead, the Knicks responded with a 29-4 run to a build a lead that the Spurs could never get in a enough rhythm to overcome. Even though Wemby had his best scoring game of the week with 25 points (albeit while shooting 1-7 from three and committing 7 turnovers), the Spurs had no answers for Mikal Bridges or Mohamed Diawara and ended up suffering the first loss in over a month.
The Spurs’ 11-game winning streak came to an end in New York on Sunday afternoon, but not before they got a huge win in Detroit, keeping themselves in the mix for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs’ initial defense was good enough on Monday, when Detroit had its third-worst half-court performance of the season. And they’re still the league’s second-most-improved rebounding team from last season. But San Antonio ranks 29th in defensive rebounding percentage (64.7%) since the All-Star break, with three of their last four opponents registering more than 20 second-chance points. 2. Victor Wembanyama remains the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, but his offense remains a work in progress and he shot just 20-for-54 (37%) over the Spurs’ four games last week. Only 24 (44%) of those 54 shots came in the paint and he was 5-for-30 (17%) from the outside. The Spurs still scored more efficiently with him on the floor, and they were outscored by 17.3 points per 100 possessions in his 67 minutes on the bench over the four games. 2. San Antonio was 19-for-31 (61%) on corner 3s over its wins in Detroit and Toronto, with Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie a combined 12-for-14. The Spurs lead the league in the percentage of their 3-point attempts (33%) that have come from the corners and Harrison Barnes is tied for second among individuals with 62 made corner 3s.
Coming up: After finishing their longest road trip of the season in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Spurs will begin their longest homestand of the season (six games over 10 days), which includes big games against the Pistons, Rockets, Celtics and Nuggets. They’ve yet to face the Clippers, who they’ll play three times in the next month.
On the last day of January, the Spurs lost in Charlotte. They proceeded to sweep the February schedule, and most of the 11 wins weren’t close. But March is here, and the Spurs had their worst offensive showing of the season in New York. Every time I consider the Spurs for the top of the rankings, they have a loss like that. But it’s a big week ahead, as San Antonio will return home from the Rodeo Trip for a rematch with the Pistons, who presumably will have added muscle with the return of Isaiah Stewart. And then the Spurs have an opportunity to clinch the regular-season series against the Rockets.
The Spurs were not ready to play on Sunday against the New York Knicks. Their 25-point loss was their largest of the season, and this snapped the Spurs’ 11-game win streak, which included victories over Detroit, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City.
Still, San Antonio remains at the top of the NBA power rankings for the time being, with several important matchups in March approaching. Not only will the Spurs face the Pistons again on Thursday, but they will also see Houston, Boston, and Denver in the span of five days after Friday’s game against the LA Clippers.
This is the time for the Spurs to put their foot down and potentially take the 1-seed in the West from the Thunder.
Coming up: Tues. 3/5 at Philadelphia 76ers (33-27); Thurs. 3/5 vs. Detroit Pistons (45-14); Fri. 3/6 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (28-31); Sun. 3/8 vs. Houston Rockets (37-22)
Prediction: 3-1 — The Spurs will finish the Rodeo Road Trip against a Philly team that — surprise! — won’t have Joel Embiid (oblique strain), but after that is when things get interesting. They will then head home to for a season-high six-game homestand, but it’s a beast on paper, with the Clippers being the “easiest” team they’ll face in terms of record. That first game back after being away for so long is always a trap game, and it doesn’t help that it’s against a Pistons team that will be out for revenge. Then, anything can happen facing a healthy Kawhi Leonard (admittedly with little help) the very next night, and of course the IH-10 rivalry is always unpredictable. The Spurs have proven they have what it takes to beat all of these teams, but they will need to return to February form, and they can’t have another off week from Wemby. We’ve reached a point in the season where every single game matters.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Payton Sandfort to a two-way contract and waived guard Buddy Boeheim, the team announced Monday.
Sandfort, a 6-foot-7 forward who played his college ball at Iowa, has played in 21 games this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G-League affiliate. He has averaged 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a rookie.
During Sandfort’s senior year at Iowa, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
With the 2026 Trade Deadline just a week away, the rumour and insider reporting train has been full steam ahead with numerous teams linked to this year's big board of players who might be on the move, and the Colorado Avalanche are no different this year. A third-line center is all but the move at this point, but who are they eying, and most importantly, what is the package for these pieces going to look like?
Well reported by Eric Francis, senior columnist and analyst for Sportsnet, he reported that General Manager Chris MacFarland, Assistant General Manager Kevin McDonald, and assistant to the GM Andrew Cogliano were in attendance at last night's Calgary Flames game against the Anaheim Ducks, and Craig Conroy was in the building as well.
Well this is interesting. Three members of Colorado’s front office, including GM Chris MacFarland, asst GM Kevin McDonald, and assistant to the GM Andrew Cogliano, are all in attendance here in Anaheim for tonight’s Flames game. Craig Conroy here too, just 5 days ahead of the…
The clear connection is Nazem Kadri, whose name is among those of many centers linked to the Avalanche and other teams seeking depth at center. With other options like Mackenzie Weegar and Black Coleman, the main attraction is a reunion with Kadri, who helped with the 2022 Stanley Cup championship run.
Granted, the Avalanche do have a game tonight (March 3) against the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday in a back-to-back, but with the destinations so close on the west coast, there is no surprise management took a slight detour to do some early talks before the 3 pm March 6th deadline.
Kadri still has three more seasons on his contract, worth $7 million per season with a 13-team no-trade list. Him hearing an Avalanche reunion being in the works isn’t something I can make an issue of; it's the cap hit and the three years that follow. They have the cap space right now, but at 35 years old and with his production down tremendously, it's going to be tough to swallow that high of a cap hit with Martin Necas' extension kicking in next season and the next Cale Makar contract to follow.
Which exactly brings up why, while it would be nice to have a reunion, the price to bring him in and talk to Calgary to hold at least 25-30% of the rest of his contract is going to be steep. Which is exactly why, if they are going to find a center, it needs to be within a range they will expect or come to terms with, and a team taking on some relief to sweeten the deal.
Elliotte Friedman reported on the TNT panel about a Kadri reunion and how, if it happens, everything they do this season onward will revolve around Makar’s upcoming contract.
“Everything that Colorado does is about that Makar number. Everything that they do is about that number. Whenever it comes to a player with term and whenever I’ve asked around about what they’re up to, it’s always about protecting themselves from Makar’s number.”
This is why names like the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton and the New York Rangers' Vincent Trocheck are also connected to the Avalanche, their lower AAVs, and, if willing, the Avalanche could sweeten the deal to lower that cap hit even further. Friedman adds on top of that.
“So, unless Colorado’s going to be able to find a way to make that work or have the number not be as high, I think it’s going to be really tough…One of the centers I heard that could end up in Colorado is Scott Laughton, and he would be more of a rental.”
The Avalanche does have the cap space to make a lot of trades work, with just over $8 million available after the Brett Kulak trade. I assume the Avalanche wants to use this cap space to its fullest, not just on one deal that fills it all up.
A lot of the roster has trade protection, but Ross Colton’s name pops up frequently when it comes to moving off a player for a pick and a player to help free up some cap space. With a cap hit of $4 million this season and next, it's not a lot of money, but given the needs the Avalanche want to address at center, it could be a move, given the amount of wing depth this team already has.
It's going to be a very interesting deadline with the number of players reportedly available this deadline, especially for the Avalanche, as both the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars are linked to multiple names the Avalanche are interested in, and how their potential trade packages could be more enticing than theirs.
TEMPE, AZ - FEBRUARY 26: CJ Huntley #22 of the Valley Suns shoots a free throw during the game against the South Bay Lakers on February 26, 2026 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Signing Jamaree Bouyea to a standard contract earlier today left the Phoenix Suns with an empty two-way roster spot. Bouyea had been part of a three-man group on two-way deals that included Isaiah Livers and Koby Brea. His promotion created a vacancy that the team has officially filled.
The Suns decided to bring back a familiar face to occupy that role. They are signing CJ Huntley, the undrafted big man out of Appalachian State University. Huntley previously held a two-way spot with the organization earlier this season, and his return completes the roster once again.
The Phoenix Suns will sign PF/C CJ Huntley to a two-way contract out of their Valley Suns G League affiliate, filling their open spot after Bouyea's new deal, sources said. https://t.co/huuTOS9ELS
CJ Huntley originally signed a two-way contract last July, but the team waived him on November 17 once Jamaree Bouyea became available. He successfully cleared waivers and chose to return to the Valley Suns to continue his development.
The 6’9” forward has been grinding with the affiliate ever since, appearing in a team-high 38 games. During that stretch, he averaged 26.1 minutes, 14.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. His efficiency has been equally impressive, posting shooting splits of 62/36/65. At 24 years old, Huntley provides reliable frontcourt depth and a proven interior presence from the G League system.
With that final move, the Phoenix Suns roster is officially full. The front office has finalized the group for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Jalen Brunson #11 and Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrate during the fourth quarter of the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks just couldn’t beat good teams last year. This isn’t new information; it was highly publicized that the Knicks went 0-10 against the league’s three 60-win teams in the regular season. Did they change the narrative come playoff time when they miraculously knocked off the defending champions? Sure, but detractors pointed to that record after the team was eliminated to say they got lucky against Boston.
You look at the record beyond those teams against the best the NBA has to offer and it wasn’t pretty:
vs 60+ win teams: 0-10 vs 50+ win teams: 5-16 vs top-6 seeds: 10-20 vs above .500 teams: 19-23
They just weren’t beating much of anyone with a pulse. What they did do, however, was stomp on flat-out bad teams. They went 32-8 against below .500 teams, with four of those losses coming to either the Bulls or Hawks. In fact, in 25 games against teams who missed the play-in tournament, the Knicks went 22-3, only losing to the Hornets, Spurs, and Jazz.
So it’s fair to say that, until the playoffs, that team was a paper tiger. And if you’re in that sect of the Knicks’ fanbase, you’d probably believe it’s more of the same this year with the team’s three blowout defeats to the Pistons and the recent loss to Cleveland, but it really isn’t:
vs 60+ win pace: 0-3 (Detroit) vs 50+ win pace: 9-7* vs top-6 seeds: 15-9* vs above .500 teams: 19-17* (* This includes the NBA Cup final. Just because Adam Silver doesn’t count it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a competitive basketball game with real stakes.)
If you take out one singular team, the Knicks are 9-4 against teams on pace to win at least 50 games and 15-6 against teams currently in playoff position. The only team they currently have a losing record against in the East is the Pistons, and the Western Conference teams aren’t in playoff position (Suns 0-2, Warriors 0-1)
It’s just fascinating to see that the Knicks can get definitive wins against several contenders, but they’ve gotten absolutely obliterated by the Pistons. Last year, you could say that the team didn’t have the personnel to compete with the top three. This year? It doesn’t make sense.
Look at what we saw on Sunday afternoon, where the Knicks completely dominated the Spurs for 40 minutes. After going down 19-7 with some of the worst offense you’ve ever seen, the Knicks outscored the hottest team in the NBA by a staggering 37 points. After prevailing in the NBA Cup behind the heroics of two guards who no longer play, the Knicks have now dominated 11 out of 12 quarters against the Spurs. Excluding the final eight minutes of the New Year’s Eve disaster that kick-started the worst 11-game stretch in several years, the Knicks have outscored the Spurs by 47 points across 11 and a third quarters.
What makes them such a tough matchup for San Antonio? While the youthful Spurs have a 7’4” demigod and some tremendous guard play, they’re extremely short on viable wings. Devin Vassell is a good shooter and, as we learned on NYE, Julian Champagnie can get hotter than fish grease. Outside of them? Do Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson strike fear into your heart? They clearly don’t for Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby.
Wingstop has had its best games this season against those Spurs, thriving at being off-ball pests (and in Anunoby’s case, using his strength to make Wemby uncomfortable) and knocking down threes. Speaking of threes, no team has it more ingrained in their heads to play off of guys like Josh Hart and Mo Diawara than Mitch Johnson’s Spurs, who’ve used the strategy in consecutive games to disrupt the offense.
Diawara hits a 3, looks back at the Spurs bench….then blocks Castle.
Wemby’s impact is also muted by Mitchell Robinson, who did not play in the NYE battle in San Antonio. In the two meetings where they’ve gone head-to-head, Wembanyama has been held to one offensive rebound, limiting the Spurs’ ability to get second chances (and this is with Mitch not playing much on Sunday).
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 17, 2025
Robinson’s defensive intensity also makes it difficult for Wemby, something that is also apparent when the Knicks face another Western Conference power: the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic is one of the league’s biggest stars, and it’s impossible to stop him from putting up numbers. While you can’t silence the Joker, you can disrupt him and make him uncomfortable. Robinson more than did that in the second half and overtime against the Nuggets in the meeting earlier this year.
Denver has never quite had an answer for the Knicks, as the ‘Bockers have won six of seven since November 2022.
We don’t know what this edition of the Knicks will look like against the West’s top dog, the OKC Thunder, but there’s no guarantee that the reigning champions make it back to the NBA Finals. They’re just 1-4 against the Spurs and have had a significantly tougher time with Jokic and the Nuggets for the last few seasons.
That’s what makes this NBA season so interesting. The Knicks would feel damn good about facing the Nuggets or Spurs in a prospective NBA Finals, as well as teams like the Sixers, Raptors, and maybe even the Cavaliers (until Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen show enough physicality, I won’t buy them) in the East. Yet, a Celtics team with a healthy Tatum and the Pistons wouldn’t be the best matchup, even if the Knicks are 2-1 and beat the Celtics last May. Even a healthy Magic team could give them trouble with how nasty their defense can get.
But the Pistons aren’t an inevitability if the Knicks make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Among contenders, they’re by far the worst 3-point shooting team and, except when they’re playing the Knicks, struggle to put the ball in the net against good teams
There’s a wide range of outcomes that the Knicks could face come playoff time. There shouldn’t be anyone surprised if the Knicks don’t make the ECF or if they seriously contend for a championship. It all depends on the right matchup, but that’s something that is mostly out of their control.
Mason Barnett will get the start today for the A’s in Peoria, Arizona. | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
Spring Training enters week two as the Athletics take on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, AZ today. The A’s have started the spring with an unattractive 2-6 start, but the Friars are not much better coming into today’s matchup with a 4-6 record.
Both teams will be starting many of their regulars, a sight that will increase the further we get into spring training games and once any World Baseball Classic (WBC) players finish their national commitments. WBC games start later this week at various stadiums across the globe.
Right-hander Mason Barnett will get the start for the A’s today. He made five starts for the Athletics in 2025 logging 22+ innings. Righty Miachael King will get the nod for the Padres this afternoon. After an injury-plagued season he went 5-3 in fifteen starts for San Diego last year, finishing up with a 3.44 ERA.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora (2) pitches during the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. | Matt Bush/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We have finished the first three weeks of the 2026 college baseball season as we sit here on March 2nd and considering the Atlanta Braves have three very high picks in the 2026 MLB Draft, now is a good time to check in on the stock of some of the college players that are going to be candidates for the picks.
This isn’t meant to be a scouting report for these players, as much as it is to see where their stock is at in this current point in time. There is still plenty of time for these players to move themselves up or down, but this should give you a better idea of who may or may not be available when the Braves make their picks.
Note all stats are through Saturday, February 28th.
Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State
FSU’s slugging sophomore first baseman had a monster freshman year with 19 HR, and through the end of February is on pace to potentially eclipse that. More importantly he has been walking more and striking out less. It’s a little early to make the call until he consistently faces better competition, but he could end up making himself a candidate for the Braves second round pick.
Ballinger came into the year as a candidate to go with the #26 pick, but he hasn’t yet shown the power that made him a 16 homer guy with a 1.164 OPS. Through Saturday he is hitting just .326/.392/.395 – all down from a year ago, with three doubles as his only extra base hits, and a slightly elevated strikeout percentage.
Hawks have the lead!
An RBI double from @brady_ballinger has the Jayhawks ahead by a run.
Becker came into the season as a candidate to go Top 10, and through his first nine games he has been putting up numbers similar to what we saw from him last year. He hasn’t really moved the needle much in either direction to date.
Becker didn't waste any time getting the party🎉started at the DISH yesterday!!
Eric's leadoff Home run is the furthest hit by a Cavalier this season! (441.5ft)
— UVA Baseball Analytics, Data & Biomechanics (@UVAAnalytics) February 27, 2026
Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
Bell also came in as a potential Top 10 pick as a sophomore-eligible player, but unfortunately he injured himself in the first game of the season. He is presently out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, and while he hasn’t done anything directly to knock himself down the boards, his injury clouds his draft status a bit at the moment.
Day 1 Draft candidate Tyler Bell (‘26, Elig) flashing elite bat speed on the base knock for @UKBaseball, super athletic middle infielder primed for a big season pic.twitter.com/0WZUvrxT7Y
One of the bigger stars of the first month of the season, Brown was a candidate to go in the Top 100 picks coming into the season. However he is hitting .408/.473/.735 with four homers and just five strikeouts to open the year for the defending champs. He will need to continue producing at a high level, but he could potentially push himself into the mix for the later part of the first round.
After hitting 44 homers in his first two seasons, Burress came in as a candidate to go Top 5-10 despite being a bit undersized. He hasn’t done anything to change that opinion, as he is off to an excellent start to his season, posting a 1.263 OPS – however the most notable part of his stat line may be that he has struck out just four times through his first 56 plate appearances.
Drew Burress through his first 8 games of 2026:
34 AB .353/.463/.706 1.169 OPS 2 HR 4 2B 8 RBI 8 R 6/3 BB/K
He's helped the Yellow Jackets to an 8-0 start to the season. A T-10 prospect in this upcoming draft continues to heat up at the plate! pic.twitter.com/YKSTLzIp6d
Carlon came into the year in the mix for the top college lefty in this class – a class lacking an elite prospect, but has only helped his case through his first three starts. Carlon is currently pitching to a 2.87 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 19 strikeouts to five walks over 15.2 innings. It is worth noting that he left his most recent start early with a lower body injury, which will be something to monitor going forward. He could push his way into the conversation for the 26th pick as his four pitch mix has a fastball up to 98, a swing and miss slider, and two other solid pitches.
The best arm of the first game was Arizona State's Alex Overbay, who struck out six across three stellar frames.
FB: 94-97, carry with late tail CT: 89-92, firm shape with bite SL: 84-86, sharper depth with sweep
The #1 prospect in the draft has had an absurd start to his season and has further locked himself into that #1 spot. He came into Sunday with six homers and a 1.452 OPS, and hit a game tying seventh homer in the ninth against Mississippi State.
Curiel had a big freshman season last year slashing .345/.470/.519 with seven homers, making him a candidate to go in the Top 10 this season as a sophomore with a strong year. Unfortunately he hasn’t lived up to his 2025 campaign, as he is hitting just .318/.400/.386, as he hasn’t really shown much power this year to date. He still has time to turn things around, but right now he is looking more like a candidate for #26 than he is for #9.
Cuvet is a bit of a polarizing prospect due to questions about his defensive home and amount of swing and miss, though he is posting what would be his third straight 1.000+ OPS season for the Canes. Despite his already six homers, he hasn’t seen his stock move much, as the same questions remain. He could end up being a candidate in the second round.
DeCaro has been a strong starter for the past three years for the Heels, but seems to be enjoying a potential breakout season in 2026. Not only are his ERA and WHIP both set to be new career best’s, but his 9.5 K/9 is nearly two better than his previous high of 7.8. If DeCaro keeps missing bats in ACC play, he could lock himself into the first round, after being a borderline first rounder coming into the season.
Jason DeCaro generated 12 whiffs against Indiana on Friday, including a career-high 11 with his fastball.
Six of the @DiamondHeels righty's seven strikeouts came with the pitch, which he threw 67 times (74.4%). Hoosier hitters went 1-for-12 against it. pic.twitter.com/wthFi52HrL
Jackson Flora came into the season as a candidate to be picked ninth, but through two starts he has looked like someone who may not even be there when the Braves get on the clock. Not only have Flora’s numbers been dominant, but his stuff also looks the part of a Top 10 selection.
Flukey came in as a candidate for the #9 pick and turned in a strong first start. Unfortunately he went down with injury and is expected to be sidelined for at least the next eight weeks. The injury and layoff will cloud his present draft status a bit, and in a class as strong as this one could potentially help push him down to the mid to later part of the first round if he doesn’t quite look the same when he returns.
Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas
Gaeckle came into this season as a candidate for the #26 pick, but also as a guy needing to answer questions as he is an undersized righty who has never spent a full season as a starter. After a dominant effort in the opener he looked like he could push his way to somewhere above the Braves second selection. However he has merely looked good since then. If he can continue to hold up in his starting role, the stuff which earned comps to Spencer Strider and Gage Wood, could get him drafted around #26 – but his stock is volatile as he could move up or down quite a bit in the next couple of months.
After two quality years with Texas, Gasparino came to UCLA for this year and has been out of his mind. He is hitting .382/.512/1.265, and on Sunday he hit his 10th homer of the season – in just 11 games. While expecting anyone to keep hitting at that rate is unrealistic, he is moving himself up draft boards significantly. Gasparino came in as a guy who could go between rounds 3-5, but could push himself into the first or second rounds – depending on where he settles in after this hot streak.
AJ Gracia came into the year as a candidate for #9, that was if he was even still available at that point. Unfortunately for the Braves Gracia seems to have taken the next step after transferring to Virginia. So far he is hitting .412/.571/.941 with five homers and 11 walks to just three strikeouts over 49 plate appearances. At this point it would be fair to assume he figures to be gone before the Braves even pick.
Grahovac went into last year expecting to be a high pick this year, but his season was limited to just six games because of injury. He seems to be on track to be a first rounder again this year, as he is hitting .316/.426/.500 with one homer – though that isn’t quite the power he showed as a freshman, when he hit 23 homers. Most importantly his strikeout rate is down in a big way, dropping from 29% as a freshman to 10.6% in his first 47 plate appearances. Grahovac could be a candidate at #26, but watching his power and strikeout totals will really help determine where he ends up going.
Hacopian came into the year as a candidate to be taken #9, but he has struggled to stay on the field so far in his first year as an Aggie. A back injury kept him out for two weeks, only to flare up again this weekend in his first game back. Back injuries are injuries that give teams reason for concern, and with his lingering his status is very much in question at the moment until teams get a chance to look closer.
Kramkowski came into the year as a candidate to go somewhere between #26 and the Braves second round pick. However the disaster season that the Wildcats are having has affected Kramkowski too, and he is currently pitching to a 8.49 ERA and 2.06 WHIP through his first three starts. He will still have time to right the ship, but he doesn’t look like a guy who belongs with any of the Braves top few picks.
Catching up from Friday, @ArizonaBaseball RHP Owen Kramkowski didn't have his best outing vs. Stanford but it was easy to see the intrigue, ultra lean & lanky 6-3/173 frame, fast arm produced 92-93 fastballs, 84-87 cutter, low-80s SL + a CB and CH, here are his 2 Ks in 3.1 IP ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tIzQPSNNgA
I wrote about Tennessee sophomore Kuhns being a candidate for the #26 pick leading up to the season, and he has more than backed that up. Kuhns has a 2.45 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 18.1 innings, but also his stuff has been electric. Kuhns only threw 36 innings last year, so we will need to see how he holds up with a full season workload – but he could be pitching himself towards a spot where he wouldn’t be around for #26.
Stating off Saturday with Tegan Kuhns report from Globe Life last night. Kuhns was dominate for @Vol_Baseball running the Fastball up to 98. Averaging 20 carry from a 5.4’ release height makes his fastball truly special, grading at 112 Stuff+. Throws his off speeds really well,… pic.twitter.com/sYI1YqSyOU
Coming into the season Lackey was in the mix for the top catcher in the draft and a potential first round pick. With his performance so far (.514/.647/.892, four homers), Lackey has locked up that top catcher spot, and could be pushing himself into that Top 10, as this once glove-first catcher is starting to see the bat and power catch up to the rest of his game.
Vahn Lackey crushes another homer during a 4-RBI performance, giving him 19 RBIs in 10 games to open the year ⚡️
MLB's top-ranked catching prospect in the 2026 Draft class is slashing .529/.652/.941 for the Top 5-ranked Yellow Jackets.
Tommy LaPour came in as a candidate for the Braves second round pick, but after one solid start has been out with elbow soreness. LaPour’s stock is on hold at the moment as any pitcher with an elbow problem would be.
Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Lebron came in as a favorite to go in the Top 3 and has backed that up by hitting .325/.491/825 through Sunday with his six homers matching his six strikeouts. Similar to Cholowsky, Braves fans can forget about seeing Lebron in Atlanta in July.
Justin Lebron Draft Surge
⚾️ .326 AVG ⚾️ 7 HR ⚾️ 16 RBI ⚾️ 10.5% K
Lebron is forcing his way into the No. 2 pick convo and looks like a fast-rising fantasy gem.
Norby is the other lefty competing with Carlon for the top college lefty in the class. His overall numbers have just been decent thus far, but his stuff has looked great and he is striking out 13.5 per nine. Norby would likely be a candidate for the Braves second round pick right now.
Liam Peterson has been an interesting pitcher his entire career. He’s always had the pure stuff to be the first pitcher off the board in this draft, but the results have never quite been what you’d want to see for that type of arm. However this year the results have started to match up to the stuff a little better, as he has career best totals in ERA (3.77), WHIP (1.26), and K/9 (14.4). Peterson came in as a guy who the Braves would need to take at #9 to even have a chance at, and while that remains true for him, there seems to be a bit more room for a Flora to overtake him and actually have him available at #9.
More Liam Peterson Stuff+ anomalies. Peterson shoved on Friday for @GatorsBB , striking out 8 on the day. Peterson averaged over 21” of IVB on the Fasball at 95-99 mph, grading at 121 Stuff+, making it one of the best heaters in the country. Couple that with a slide that graded… pic.twitter.com/QBpdCqfSL2
— Developing Baseball (@developbaseball) March 2, 2026
Chris Rembert, 2B, Auburn
Rembert is another sophomore eligible player in this draft. Unfortunately injuries have limited him to just four games thus far, and a very small sample size. Right now his stock is pretty even from where it came in at – which would be a potential candidate for #26.
INF Chris Rembert (@AuburnBaseball) back this weekend & is all over the FB, ripping a laser into LF. + bat spd & coming off huge fr year. Pot 1st rounder in July. Soph./'26 elig. @PG_Draftpic.twitter.com/RtrmSCNBCM
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) March 2, 2026
Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
Ace Reese came into the year as a guy fairly locked in on the first round, but seeming to be ticketed to somewhere between the Braves two first round picks as a player who isn’t likely to stick at third base. This season though, he’s seen his stock rise with a hot start, and he could even be a candidate for #9. Right now he is hitting .444/.490/.889 with eight doubles and four homers, hitting well for both contact and average.
Sorrell has a similar story to his teammate Grahovac, a strong freshman year that had him looking like a first rounder this year, a huge chunk of his sophomore year lost due to injury, and a good start to 2026. Right now Sorrell is hitting .412/.459/.882 with five homers, though with three walks and 12 strikeouts in just 37 plate appearances. He will be a first rounder it seems like, but the elevated strikeout totals could push him down a bit. He feels a little too risky for the #9 pick because of the strikeouts, but probably not around for the #26 pick either.
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) March 2, 2026
Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Strosnider is another sophomore eligible player, though one who has some differing opinions thanks to his swing and miss. On the optimistic side he could be a candidate for #9 coming into the year, but others would see him more as a candidate for #26. So far this year his slash line is slightly better than last year, with a fairly similar strikeout rate- though he has seen his walk rate spike. After walking every 8.0% of his plate appearances last year, he is at 31.1% this year, with his 14 total walks just six behind last season’s total in just 45 plate appearances so far. With this added element to his game, the Braves could need to draft him at #9, as he doesn’t seem likely to be there for #26.
Sawyer Strosnider through his first 4 games of 2026:
16 PA .273/.500/.545 1.045 OPS 1 HR 1 RBI 6 R 5/5 BB/K .489 wOBA 133 wRC+
One of the top outfield prospects in the 2026 draft had a solid opening week, and faces a big test with top-ranked UCLA this weekend. pic.twitter.com/zJIMOZgh5e
After two years at Stanford with first round stuff but late round pick results, Volchko transferred into Georgia for this year. So far so good as he has a 3.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 18 strikeouts to five walks in his first 15 innings. The stuff remains high end and his command has improved dramatically, which is only helping his stock. SEC play will help determine where he goes, but the first round is a real possibility if he keeps this up.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Bryce Eldridge #78 of the San Francisco Giants at bat against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on September 28, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well folks, we did it. And well ahead of schedule, I might add! With the election last week of left-handed hitting infielder Jean Carlos Sio, we have once again completed the annual Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List. As a community, we came together to jointly decide on the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.
It is, in my opinion, the strongest and most exciting CPL in the six years that I’ve been at the reins. And perhaps relatedly, it’s the most turnover I can recall having year-over-year in the CPL.
So with that said, let’s take a look at the final rankings. The number in parenthesis after each prospect is where they ranked on the list a year ago. Players with a “UN” next to their name were unranked last year, while players with a “N/A” were not yet in the system.
Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.
I hopefully speak for everyone when I say that list is pretty fun to look at, and that it’s missing a few key names as well! Let’s dive a little deeper into it.
Who is off the list, and where did they go?
We came oh-so-close to having a full half of the list be new names. As it is, it’s still a huge number: 21 of the 44 prospects on the CPL weren’t on last year’s list. That’s more turnover than usual: last year it was 19, and the year before it was 17.
Those with a degree in mathematics might know that 21 new names on the list means 21 players on last year’s list are no longer on this one. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword: having 21 prospects either elevate their play or enter the system is exciting, but seeing 21 players disappear is less fun. So where did those players go?
Interestingly, only two of those 21 players left the list due to graduation. That’s a very low number, especially given how much turnover there is this year. Last year, for instance, when there were 19 new players on the CPL, they replaced a whopping 10 graduates. But it’s just a pair this year, and even that undersells it: the only player who it really feels like graduated from last year’s CPL is right-handed pitcher Carson Seymour, who was No. 21 a year ago. The other graduate is righty Mason Black (No. 7), who only made one appearance for the Giants (but that was enough to get him to the threshold) and, even if he hadn’t, wouldn’t have been eligible this year because he was designated for assignment and traded early in the offseason.
In addition to Black, seven more of the players on last year’s list have not only departed the CPL, but departed the organization entirely. The highest profile is outfielder James Tibbs III (No. 3) who, along with right-handed pitcher Jose Bello (No. 44), was traded during the season to the Boston Red Sox as part of the Rafael Devers deal (Tibbs has since been sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers). Outfielder Wade Meckler (No. 13), who had a disappointing year, was designated for assignment during the offseason, while righty Carson Ragsdale (No. 19) was DFA’d during the year (he caught on with two MLB teams, and is now playing in Japan).
Righty reliever Cole Waites (No. 32) and outfielder Hunter Bishop (No. 34) elected Minor League free agency at the end of the year. Waites has since signed with the Detroit Tigers, while Bishop remains unsigned. And finally, outfielder Jairo Pomares (No. 41) was waived during the Minor League season.
That leaves a very sizable group: a dozen prospects who simply fell off of the list for one reason or another. The good news is, most of those players occupied the back half of the 2025 CPL.
Lefty reliever Reggie Crawford (No. 10) is the third first-round pick to fall off the list (joining Tibbs and Bishop), and that was entirely due to the fact that he lost all of 2025 to a shoulder injury, then suffered a setback that required another surgery that will likely keep him out for all of 2026, too. Shortstop Aeverson Arteaga (No. 12) returned from an injury of his own and had arguably the worst offensive season in the system, while Walker Martin (No. 14) made only modest improvements to his struggling offense, while also getting moved off of shortstop (and not looking great at third base).
Outfielder Jose Ortiz (No. 22) spent most of the year injured, while third baseman Robert Hipwell (No. 25) spent his entire age-22 season in Low-A with a high strikeout rate. Outfielder Jonah Cox (No. 26) was unable to take notable strides on offense, while utility player Ryan Reckley (No. 35) did little to reverse the downward trajectory of his prospectdom. Catchers Onil Perez (No. 37) and Adrián Sugastey (No. 38) had fine but fairly nondescript seasons, while other catchers rose (and appeared) around and ahead of them. Outfielder Oliver Tejada (No. 39) and catcher Yohendry Sanchez (No. 40) had fairly mediocre offensive years, while third baseman Charlie Szykowny (No. 43) was squeezed off the list by younger players at more advanced levels.
How were the players acquired?
Buster Posey has certainly put his fingerprints on the farm system. Despite being president of baseball operations for less than a year and a half — and only overseeing one draft during that time — a full 15 of the 44 players were acquired during Posey’s tenure. That said, the two highest-ranking prospects from that pool — shortstops Josuar González (No. 2) and Luis Hernández (No. 6) — were international free agents who reached agreements with the organization before Posey took over.
Thanks to the inclusion of outfielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35) and lefty Juan Sánchez (No. 41), the prospect list spans three regimes. Those two were acquired when Bobby Evans was at the helm, with the remaining 27 prospects coming to the organization under the oversight of Farhan Zaidi.
The Giants have used all sorts of different ways to acquire talent. They have a nearly even split between drafted players and prospects who were signed in international free agency: 17 of the former and 15 of the latter. What’s perhaps most surprising — relative to recent years — is that eight of prospects on the list are players the Giants traded for. That number is even more notable when you account for the fact that just one of those eight — lefty Jacob Bresnahan (No. 11) — was on last year’s CPL. Turnover abounds!
The Giants also have two prospects on the CPL who they signed as undrafted free agents — center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4) and righty reliever Trent Harris (No. 29). A third prospect, third baseman/outfielder Parks Harber (No. 17) also went undrafted, though he was signed by the New York Yankees and sent to the Giants in the Camilo Doval trade.
And finally, the Giants have one prospect on the list who was signed in Minor League free agency, as well as one prospect who was a Rule 5 selection: righty reliever Joel Peguero (No. 27) and catcher Daniel Susac (No. 20), respectively.
Who will we see this year?
Much of the excitement in the Giants farm system comes at the lowest levels. Between Josuar González (No. 2), Jhonny Level (No. 3), Luis Hernández (No. 6), and Gavin Kilen (No. 7), you could make a very compelling case that the Giants have the strongest collection of lower-Minors shortstops in all of baseball.
But there’s excitement at the upper levels, too. And if your favorite brand of prospect watching is “watch the prospects once they make the Majors,” then there are a lot of names on our list of 44 that should excite you.
The man at the very top of the list, first baseman Bryce Eldridge, ended the 2025 season in the Majors, and is currently in camp with an opportunity to earn an Opening Day role as the everyday designated hitter. Right-handers Blade Tidwell (No. 9) and Trevor McDonald (No. 12) have been among the most impressive players in camp for the Giants, and if the season were to start today, they might both be in the bullpen, while also serving as rotational depth.
Lefty Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8) has a less straightforward path to the Opening Day roster, but he made his MLB debut last year and will certainly be a factor in the Majors this season. Righty reliever Joel Peguero (No. 27) would have pole position for a spot in the bullpen were it not for an injury setback he’s currently dealing with.
Catcher Daniel Susac (No. 20) seems the betting favorite to win the Opening Day backup catcher role, but Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16) is also on the 40-man roster and battling for that role (Rodríguez has also been playing a bit of second base in Spring Training, so he may have multiple avenues to the bigs, and we’ll surely see him this year).
As for players that aren’t on the 40-man roster, relievers Will Bednar (No. 24), Trent Harris (No. 29), and Juan Sánchez (No. 41) are all in camp as non-roster invitees, and they’ve all shown some great signs. Bednar and Harris are almost certainly ticketed to start the year in AAA, while Sánchez probably is as well (but he has a better chance of making the Opening Day roster). Either way, I’d expect that we see at least two of those three at some point this year.
Outfielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35) has been the most impressive NRI in camp, and could absolutely work his way onto the roster over the summer. Center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4), third baseman/outfielder Parks Harber (No. 17), and second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39) are also in Scottsdale as NRIs. They’re all a little further away (Davidson has played just 42 games in AA, Furman just 22, and Harber none), but each could find themselves in the big leagues late in the year if they have a very strong season.
And that’s our 2026 Community Prospect List! A huge thanks to everyone who voted, discussed, and argued, and a special shoutout to all the McCovey Chronicles writers of the past who have led this delightful time-honored tradition.
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs was spectacular over the past week.
He won both of his starts against the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights, allowing only one combined goal. He also finished the week with a .981 save percentage.
Those numbers earned him the NHL's Second Star of the Week on Monday.
Second shutout of the season, .981 save percentage, and 2-0-0 over the week? That’s our kind of Arty party 🎊
Congrats to Arturs Silovs on being named @NHL Second Star of the Week!
Silovs has been on a heater as of late, winning five of his last six starts and allowing only 10 goals in those six games. Going back even further, he's 5-2-2 in his last nine games with a .936 save percentage.
He's making a strong case to be the Game 1 starter in the playoffs, should the Penguins make it.
He'll be needed a lot this week since the Penguins have four games, three of which are against potential playoff teams. They'll play the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, and the Bruins again on Sunday.
“We really like where we are. We have a process and a plan in place, and everything is going to — like, you cannot control everything, because there’s things that are… you know…”
Jordi Fernández’s voice trails off for a moment, but I do know. We all know. Fernández, near the end of a two-minute answer, is pleading with his eyes: This is as direct as I can be. Eventually, he lands the plane: “Obviously, I want to win every single game, but playing these 25 to compete and then, this summer and how we structure this summer is the best thing. It’s the biggest summer of our lives.”
Fernández used that line last season, but it still hits home. This is, after all, the summer that the Brooklyn Nets are supposed to transition from tanking to ascending, making one high draft pick and scouring the free agent/trade market for win-now players. Now 30 games under .500 in March, there’s no question that continuing to lose games is in Brooklyn’s best long-term interest, but it won’t be for long.
That’s all Jordi Fernández is trying to say, reassuring Nets fans that the team can get blown out by 30 once a week and still be on track, particularly if you mix in some close losses and flashy performances from the rookies. But he’s probably reassuring himself too.
Kenny Atkinson can relate. He posted a 48-116 record in his first two seasons as Nets Head Coach (Fernández is currently 41-101): “You love to stay process-oriented and stick with the process. But you’re going home and you’re taking that L, after the game, it’s hard, especially when they start stacking up. Everybody says, ‘Well, don’t worry.’ Of course you worry if you’re a competitor.”
Atkinson’s first Nets teams were certainly devoid of talent, but the franchise famously didn’t own their draft picks either. There was zero upside to the losing, though it’s not like Fernández takes any immediate solace in ping-pong balls either…
But Atkinson sees the silver lining: “Once you break through, even that third year, when we broke through and made the playoffs, it was almost doubly rewarding, because you went through these real struggles and tough times. And I was like — man, I’ll never forget when we clinched the playoffs, it was like you’re winning the championship. It was crazy, because you can look back at year one, I think we lost like 27 of 29 … it was, like, insane: ‘Are we ever gonna win another game?’”
Things aren’t that bleak this time around. Players and coaches won’t (can’t) admit it, but pressure dissolves when you’re expected to lose. Consider the locker-room reaction to Danny Wolf’s poorly missed free-throw at the end of the loss to Atkinson’s Cleveland Cavaliers…
Of course, it helps when the veterans (MPJ, Claxton, Mann) feel confident in their contract situations, while the rookies and second-chance warriors are starving for a chance to simply get on the court.
Danny Wolf, despite the rough attempt at an intentionally missed free-throw, was in a jovial mood after his career-best 23/9/5 statline on Sunday afternoon. Perhaps that helped him find silver linings in the loss: “I don’t want to say we’re losing team. Obviously, our record is 15-45 but we’re the youngest team in the NBA, and there’s a lot of valuable lessons. And I hate saying you can learn from a loss, because it stinks and it sucks, and losing as a competitor is one of the worst feelings, but with such a young group, I think just the resilience, the fight when you lose to a team by four that you lost to by 40 a couple weeks ago speaks volumes to improvement.”
Now that’s a player who, in the era of player-podcasts, has heard ad nauseam and now understands that the NBA is a business. Sometimes, the business entails losing. It’s also a player in lock-step with his head coach, at least in terms of public messaging.
“Coming here and feeling that we can go up against anybody has to be very important,” said Fernández. “And if you’re up ten, you want to be up 20. If you’re down 20, you want to be down ten. And those things have to matter. We have to be competitive. And it’s not — we’re not gonna, you know, turn a switch and all of a sudden we’re gonna be there. It’s gonna be a process.”
Playing the NBA Draft Lottery probabilities remains the priority, but it’s easy to see where Fernández is coming from. The young players on this roster are expected to contribute to winning next season. When you’re 15-45, executing ATOs may not be as important as the difference between the first and fifth overall pick, but it matters a little.
For all the incessant hand-wringing over the NBA’s tanking “problem,” I quite enjoy this time of year, full of low-stress hoops where a 23-year-old on a 10-day contract like Grant Nelson can stir excitement:
That was a *seriously* impressive first half from Grant Nelson, the defensive activity more than anything.
Sinking down form the wing to block a cutter on the other side of the basket (last play) is something else: pic.twitter.com/pUmH40k592
Michael Porter Jr. explained it well: “The motivation to make the playoffs might not be there, but the motivation individually, as a player, as a person, to go out there and work on my skills, my leadership skills, and my individual things within the team, that’s still there. So you can’t just throw away a season because you’re not making the playoffs.”
The 2025-26 Nets have six weeks remaining on their schedule, six weeks where Noah Clowney’s 3-point shooting, Drake Powell’s ball-handling, and Egor Dëmin’s driving — among other individual skills — are far more important than the scoreboard. Though I contend that this isn’t as depressing as it’s often made out to be, Jordi Fernández and the Nets want you to know that it’s almost over, that the next chapter is almost here, and they can’t wait to get it started.
“It’s very exciting, and everybody should feel the excitement of the next step: a big 25 games for everybody, and a big, big, big summer.” — Jordi Fernández
