The Braves saw their seven-year playoff streak come to an end last year as a number of their players underperformed. The likes of Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar, who was just suspended for all of this season after missing half of last season, all ended up as Fantasy baseball busts, whether due to injury, suspension, ineffectiveness or a combination. As anyone entering 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts knows, composing a winning squad will be as much about hitting on your top Fantasy baseball picks as it will be about avoiding selecting Fantasy baseball busts 2026.
Others like Mookie Betts, J.T. Realmuto, Zac Gallen and Devin Williams are also coming off down years and failing to live up to their Fantasy baseball ADP. Thus, you’re faced with a decision as to if last year was the start of a trend of if they’ll bounce back and are worth taking in 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts. Before finalizing your 2026 Fantasy baseball draft prep, be sure to see the 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last season, SportsLine’s Projection Model identified several top Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts, including Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider.
Strider led MLB in both wins (20) and strikeouts (281) in 2023 before missing most of 2024 due to injury. He returned last year but the model predicted he would struggle to regain his pre-injury form and wouldn’t live up to his lofty Fantasy baseball ADP (97.81). Strider was the SP30 by average draft position, but SportsLine had him barely cracking the top 75 starting pitchers in its rankings.
The result: Strider posted a 7-14 record, with a 4.45 ERA and not even half as many strikeouts (131) as his dominant 2023 season. He also missed over a month of action due to another injury and ended up barely making the top 100 starting pitchers in Fantasy points, much closer to SportsLine’s projection of SP74 rather than his ADP of SP30. Anybody who followed the model’s advice and avoided Strider in their Fantasy baseball drafts avoided a major headache in their Fantasy baseball lineups.
The SportsLine model is engineered by the same people who powered projections for all three major Fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing its 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets over at SportsLine, helping you find Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts long before your competition. Their cheat sheets, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day.
Any time more MLB news comes out about MLB free agency signings or Fantasy baseball injuries, the team at SportsLine updates its projections. Go to SportsLine now to see these proven Fantasy baseball cheat sheets.
Top 2026 Fantasy baseball busts
One of the Fantasy baseball busts 2026 the model is fading: Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski. A June call-up last year, the rookie became the first pitcher in over 60 years to record 11 no-hit innings to start his career and then made MLB history by becoming an All-Star after just five starts. He had the majors’ fifth-highest average fastball velocity (99.3 m.p.h.) across his 66 regular season innings and then posted a microscopic 1.50 ERA across 12 postseason innings.
However, in between the All-Star Game and the playoffs, Misiorowski looked every bit like a novice on the mound. He had a 6.03 ERA over his last eight starts as batters adjusted to seeing his arsenal, while Misiorowski failed to make adjustments to hitters. Many Fantasy owners are being overly influenced by his hot start as his No. 15 Fantasy baseball ADP puts him amongst the top 30 starters. However, SportsLine’s model has him barely cracking the top 100 starting pitchers, making Misiorowski one to avoid in Fantasy baseball drafts 2026.
Another of the 2026 Fantasy baseball busts the model projects won’t live up to their ADP: Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso. After seven years in Queens, Alonso left the Mets for Baltimore in the offseason, on the heels of a season with 38 homers, 126 RBI and an .871 OPS. He’s going in the fourth round, on average, in 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts with a mean draft position of 32.
However, Alonso’s metrics from last year should be a bit concerning. His batting average on balls in play (BAbip) was a career-best of .305, indicating he was a bit lucky and could regress to the mean. Additionally, his home run rate (5.4%) was the second-lowest of his career, while his walk rate (8.6%) was the lowest of his seven seasons. Alonso’s greatest strength is his home run power, but the two lowest HR rates of his career have come in the last two seasons as the 31-year-old could be on the decline. The model has Alonso on par with Michael Busch in its Fantasy baseball 2026 rankings, but Alonso is being drafted seven rounds earlier on average. See more busts at SportsLine.
How to find proven 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings
SportsLine’s model is also fading a surprising ace who is coming off the board in the sixth round on average in early 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts. The model is predicting this All-Star fails to live up to his lofty daft status finishes outside the top 30 at his position. Avoiding him until later on could be the difference between winning your league or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.

The Reds announced Hunter Greene will be undergoing a procedure this week to remove bone spurs from his pitching elbow.
He is expected to be out until at least July. However, MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds in encouraged by the news and thinks it could have been a lot worse.

Facing perhaps the best lineup of his life, Luis De León looked like he belonged.
The Orioles’ pitching prospect found himself in a small pickle in the first inning Saturday with a runner on third, one out and the heart of the Atlanta Braves’ big league lineup due up. De León, a 22-year-old lefty who has faced only 68 batters above High-A, was suddenly facing Matt Olson and Austin Riley, a pair of mashers with five All-Star appearances between them.
De León didn’t flinch.
He threw a first-pitch slider to Olson to induce a weak groundout to first base. He then started Riley off with a slider and ended the eight-pitch at-bat with a 3-2 slider that spun beneath the slugger’s bat to end the inning.

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The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is known for its rivalries, but a viral moment between MLB teammates got even spicier after Team USA and Mexico faced off in pool play on Monday night in Houston.
Mexico’s Randy Arozarena stepped up to the plate to face USA star pitcher Paul Skenes, but not before extending his hand to acknowledge his Seattle Mariners teammate, Cal Raleigh, catching behind home plate.
That was until Raleigh looked up at Arozarena and refused to shake his hand.
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Raleigh appeared in the viral video to say something to his teammate, who bent down to listen. But, whether it’s a competitive thing or not for Raleigh, Arozarena seemed serious about the situation in his post-game comments.
After the U.S. defeated Mexico, 5-3, to remain undefeated in the WBC, Raleigh had no comment on what happened with Arozarena at the dish. But Arozarena had plenty to say about the situation.
Arozarena was asked in Spanish how he would respond to Raleigh’s handshake snub. His answer was translated, and while some on social media dismissed it as potentially sarcastic, the majority believes he was quite serious.
AARON JUDGE, PAUL SKENES POWER TEAM USA OVER MEXICO, CLOSES IN ON SPOT IN WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL

The Houston Astros could make a splash by acquiring Wilyer Abreu from the Boston Red Sox, adding a dynamic bat and versatile outfielder to their lineup.
Abreu, who hit .247 with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs in 2025, brings both power and speed, along with the ability to play multiple outfield positions.
His on-base skills and run-producing potential would give the Astros a significant boost in the middle of their lineup, making him an immediate impact player for a contending team. With his combination of youth, talent, and versatility, Abreu fits perfectly into Houston’s mix of controllable, high-upside players.
Here’s what it would take for the Astros to acquire him.
Houston Astros -Boston Red Sox MLB Mock Trade Details & Fantasy Baseball Impact
Astros Acquire
OF Wilyer Abreu
Red Sox Acquire
3B Isaac Paredes
P Miguel Ullola
Abreu becomes a high-upside fantasy asset in Houston. In 2025, he hit .247 with 22 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases over 115 games, showing a mix of power and speed.
Moving to the Astros, he would likely play every day in a potent lineup with strong on-base teammates, increasing his runs and RBI opportunities.
He’s a middle-of-the-order bat with multi-category value, particularly in standard 5×5 leagues, providing power, decent speed, and solid run production. Fantasy managers would see an upgrade in run scoring and RBI potential due to the Astros’ lineup strength.
Paredes offers solid but less explosive fantasy value. In 2025, he hit .254 with 20 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .352 OBP across 102 games. He can provide moderate power and OBP contributions while offering infield versatility.
Fantasy impact is mostly limited to standard 5×5 leagues, as he lacks elite power or speed. However, he’s a reliable, everyday contributor who can help fill the gaps left by Abreu’s departure.
Ullola has no immediate MLB fantasy impact as he remains a Triple-A pitching prospect. His 2025 stats included 3.88 ERA, 131 strikeouts in 113.2 IP, and a 1.35 WHIP, showing strong strikeout ability and potential for MLB innings.
His fantasy relevance is strictly in dynasty or keeper leagues, where he could become a high-upside starting pitcher once called up. Until then, he offers long-term potential rather than immediate production.
Why The Red Sox Make This Trade
The Boston Red Sox would have several reasons for trading Wilyer Abreu to the Astros for Isaac Paredes and Miguel Ullola.
Abreu is an established everyday outfielder, and moving him opens a roster spot while allowing the Red Sox to add depth in other areas. Paredes provides infield versatility, capable of playing multiple positions, which strengthens the roster and gives Boston more lineup flexibility.
While Abreu offers power, Paredes brings moderate power and a strong on-base approach at an earlier, controllable stage of his career, and Ullola adds a high-upside pitching prospect, giving Boston a chance to develop talent internally and bolster their farm system.
The trade also aligns with the team’s long-term planning, mixing immediate MLB contributors with prospects they can control for multiple seasons. Additionally, moving Abreu frees up payroll, which Boston can allocate toward other roster needs or player development.
Why The Astros Make This Trade
The Houston Astros would make a trade for Wilyer Abreu to immediately upgrade their outfield and add a dynamic bat to their lineup.
Abreu brings power, speed, and on-base skills, evidenced by his 2025 season with 22 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a .247 batting average over 115 games. His versatility allows him to play multiple outfield positions, giving the Astros flexibility while strengthening a lineup that already features elite run producers.
For a contending team like Houston, acquiring a young, high-upside everyday outfielder fits their model of pairing controllable talent with championship-level performance, even at the cost of giving up MLB-ready infielder Isaac Paredes and pitching prospect Miguel Ullola.
This trade allows the Astros to maximize immediate competitiveness while maintaining depth elsewhere in their roster.
More Fantasy Sports On SI News

Things for Nolan McLean since the calendar turned 2025 have been very good. He not only made his debut for the New York Mets but also became a major part of their pitching rotation. And now he is an important part of the USA rotation in the WBC.
Who is Nolan McLean?
Nolan James McLean was born July 24, 2001, in Willow Spring, North Carolina, United States. McLean grew up there before eventually becoming a professional pitcher in Major League Baseball. He currently plays as a right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets in MLB. McLean made his MLB debut with the Mets on August 16, 2025, beginning his rookie season. During that debut season, he recorded a 5-1 record with 57 strikeouts in 48 innings.
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Those numbers quickly built his reputation as a promising young pitcher within the Mets organization. Across 8 starts in 2025, he finished with a strong 2.06 ERA for New York. One example came against Texas on September 14, when he threw 6 scoreless innings. As a result, McLean remains an active rookie pitcher on the Mets roster entering 2026. At 24 years old, he continues developing as part of New York’s pitching future.
Who Is Nolan McLean’s Wife?
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Nolan McLean married longtime partner Avery Frechette during a winter ceremony on January 16, 2026. The couple had dated for years before marriage and shared moments publicly during McLean’s rise.
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Reports also note the wedding featured their cavapoo Waffles, adding a personal family touch. Public information does not confirm Avery Frechette’s profession, and no children are reported together. Their relationship continues quietly while McLean balances family life with his growing responsibilities in baseball.
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Who are Nolan McLean’s Parents & Siblings?
Nolan McLean was born to parents John McLean and Erin McLean in Willow Spring, North Carolina. Public profiles list John and Erin McLean as the primary family support behind Nolan’s upbringing. Reports about his upbringing describe a close family environment in Willow Spring during his childhood years.
McLean has spoken about his father’s strong work ethic shaping his discipline and daily routines. He recalled watching his father work long hours to support the family financially. That example stayed with him while growing up and helped shape his approach toward responsibility. Verified public biographies do not list any brothers or sisters connected to Nolan McLean.
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Because of that, available records suggest he may be the only child of John and Erin. Even today, family stories about discipline and support remain part of how fans understand McLean’s background.
What is Nolan McLean’s Ethnicity & Nationality?
Nolan McLean was born July 24, 2001, in Willow Spring, North Carolina, United States. His birthplace and citizenship confirm his nationality as American, representing the United States internationally. Public biographies list him as a white American athlete raised in North Carolina communities.
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Growing up in Willow Spring connected McLean to American culture rooted in North Carolina family life. His identity as an American athlete reflects both birthplace records and United States citizenship documentation. For many fans, those simple facts shape the background story behind Nolan McLean.
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What is Nolan McLean’s Net Worth?
Public contract records show Nolan McLean has earned about $927,385 during early professional seasons. Those reported earnings form the base of his estimated net worth near $1 million. Financial sites like Spotrac track these totals using verified contract data from New York.
Most of McLean’s wealth currently comes from baseball contracts recorded in official league payroll databases. Public records show no confirmed endorsement deals tied to Nolan McLean as of 2026. That leaves contract earnings as the clear foundation behind his early professional financial picture.
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What is Nolan McLean’s MLB Contract & Salary?
Public contract records show Nolan McLean signed a 1 year agreement with the New York Mets for 2026. Verified payroll databases report his 2025 season earnings were recorded at $760,000 under pre-arbitration contract rules. Financial tracking site Spotrac reports McLean’s total career earnings reached $927,385 entering the 2026 season.
Those numbers become clearer when viewed through yearly records compiled from verified MLB payroll reports. Available data shows his 2023 earnings recorded at $747,600, while 2025 reached $760,000. The following verified payroll table presents year-by-year earnings reported through league salary tracking databases.
What Are Nolan McLean’s MLB Career Highlights?
Nolan McLean reached Major League Baseball when the New York Mets called him up on August 16, 2025. During that rookie season, he started 8 games and pitched a total of 48 innings. Across those outings, McLean allowed only 11 runs, finishing the year with a 2.06 ERA. He also recorded 57 strikeouts during those 48 innings, showing clear swing-and-miss ability early.
That first stretch also produced a strong 5-1 record across his 8 appearances for New York. One example came during September 2025 when he threw 6 scoreless innings against Texas. Performances like that helped place his ERA among the top 15 starters with 48 innings. Fans quickly noticed how calm he looked while handling pressure moments during those early starts.
Those early numbers also built momentum behind McLean’s reputation as one promising young pitcher. Prospect rankings from MLB Pipeline placed him sixth among all prospects entering the 2026 season. His strong rookie numbers of 57 strikeouts and 2.06 ERA supported that rising league-wide reputation. With only 48 career innings recorded so far, those early results still shape expectations around him today.

NEW YORK — Often when Major League Baseball hosts college students at its headquarters, the room is filled with bright-eyed young people pursuing a career in sports. Last Friday’s event, however, had a broader goal.
As part of the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars program’s annual Mentoring and Leadership Conference, MLB hosted a sponsor luncheon for a group of scholars who are majoring in a wide variety of fields and not necessarily seeking to work in sports directly.
But, as senior vice president of corporate social responsibility April Brown noted, there are many “traditional” business departments like law and finance at MLB, just like any other company. One of the league’s key CSR pillars is to invest in young people regardless of any affiliation to baseball or sports in general. That mission, combined with MLB’s strong connection to Jackie Robinson, makes it a perfect fit to sponsor the scholars.
“Each and every year, we carry out his legacy in all of the work that we do within communities,” Brown said. “But this really speaks to the legacy of the Robinson family, setting up young people for success, ensuring they have the resources that they need while they’re in their college journey, and being able to pour into them as they continue that.”
The JRF Scholars program is a four-year college scholarship that supports college students who demonstrate financial need, academic excellence and interest in community leadership. MLB has been a program sponsor since 2012, and the 33 scholars it hosted on Friday represented the 30 MLB clubs and the league office.
These scholars hail from schools nationwide, from Ivy League institutions like Brown University to HBCUs like Spelman College and Howard University. Most of Friday’s attendees were sophomores in their second of four years in the program. They represented over 25 different majors, including public health, professional pilot/aviation management and even viola performance.
Throughout the day, both Brown and the scholars spoke about how an important part of Robinson’s legacy was his multifaceted work after his playing career. From becoming a VP of Chock Full O’Nuts to working as a civil rights activist and political advisor, Robinson’s post-baseball life had many layers of impact.
“He was one of the early trailblazers, not only in terms of being a Black athlete, but showing that we can do it all,” said Johnathan Dye, a JRF Scholar from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Friday’s festivities began with remarks from Brown and MLB director of community affairs Kevin Moss. Scholars then helped themselves to a hearty lunch of pasta, meatballs and salad before enjoying a keynote presentation from Edward Acuna, director of social sponsorships at MLB.
He gave the scholars an inside look at MLB’s social media strategy, how his group approaches celebrity partners and how MLB’s social accounts strive to celebrate baseball as part of broader culture. The presentation was lively and interactive, including a “Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar” poll that ignited some energetic debate. (Kendrick was the clear winner.)
Acuna made room for many thoughtful questions from the scholars, as nearly all of them use social media — even if they aren’t pursuing it as a career. Those questions ranged from inquiries about how MLB uses data to inform content decisions to how the league’s social channels promote up-and-coming players alongside superstars. One overarching message throughout the presentation was about the importance of showcasing the players authentically and staying true to their genuine personalities and interests.
With the conference theme of “Building on the Past, Designing Our Future” in mind, the scholars took away valuable lessons about creating social media content in a business setting and how to build their personal brand moving forward.
“Social media is not my field,” said Camille Owen, a JRF Scholar studying at San Diego State. “But as a consumer of the media that he is producing, I think that it was incredible to hear his answer to my question about the inclusivity of the players that maybe aren’t in the spotlight, and how he touched on how important that was.”
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Owen also spoke fondly about the networking opportunities and connections that the scholarship has given her, a sentiment echoed by other scholars. With the pressure of paying for college alleviated by the scholarship, she has been able to fully dedicate herself to her kinesiology major. While sports medicine isn’t necessarily a field found at the league office, as a lifelong Padres fan, getting a behind-the-scenes look at MLB HQ was a dream come true.
“I bet you no one in my school can say that they’ve been to MLB headquarters,” Owen said with a smile. “My dad is also super interested, so I’m gonna go call him after this.”
Perhaps the biggest cheer of the day came when, right before a scheduled office tour, Moss announced that all the scholars would receive $100 vouchers courtesy of MLB to shop in the flagship store. That shopping spree closed out the afternoon, as the scholars sifted through merchandise of their favorite teams and players, and took selfies while trying on hats.
It was a spirited event all around. As Dye put it, at the conference, the scholars learn not only from Jackie Robinson and the sponsors, but also from each other. Seeing “the power behind everyone’s mind” can be quite invigorating for a motivated student among like-minded peers.

The Toronto Blue Jays, like all other 39 MLB teams, are gearing up their organization for a long 162-game season, which starts in less than three weeks.
On Monday, the Blue Jays made a notable roster addition by signing right-handed pitcher Caleb Freeman to a minor league contract, according to MLB.com’s transaction log. He’s since been assigned to Double-A New Hampshire, but will likely be a part of the Blue Jays’ spring camp for the next few weeks.
More MLB on Heavy: Phillies Extend Jesus Luzardo to Five-Year, $135 Million Contract
Blue Jays Bring in Caleb Freeman
Caleb Freeman is. 28-year-old reliever who has spent his entire career in the Chicago White Sox system. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 2019 MLB draft out of Texas Tech.
After several years going through the minors, Freeman made his MLB debut in 2025.
He appeared in five games with the White Sox and pitched 3.2 innings, while giving up five hits and two earned runs. Also in 2025, he pitched to the tune of a 4.91 ERA over 33 innings with Triple-A Charlotte.
MLBTradeRumors.com was quick to the news and gave insight into Freeman’s journey as a professional baseball player:
“In 2024, he dialed things in, relatively speaking. His 13.6% walk rate was still high but an improvement. He also struck out a strong 29.3% of opponents, helping him post a 3.92 ERA in Double-A that year. In 2025, he got out to a blazing start. In his first 13 1/3 innings, he had a 1.35 ERA, 33.3% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate. The White Sox tried to ride the hot hand and added him to their big league roster.”
More MLB on Heavy: Red Sox Trade Idea Offloads Wilyer Abreu for Astros’ All-Star Infielder
What Chance Does Caleb Freeman Have to Pitch for Blue Jays?
This is a good organizational depth piece, but if the Blue Jays have to turn to Caleb Freeman at any point this season, the pitching staff might be drowning with injuries.
It’s not a knock to Freeman, but Toronto has a crowded pitching staff, and if he was only able to see 3.2 with the lowly White Sox big-league club, it’s unlikely the Jays will need him for any innings.
Some of Toronto’s “starters” may even have to be pushed into a bullpen role for the time being to start the season, and there are certainly a handful of more productive, younger arms than Freeman that could fill in for spot innings.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A watered-down version of the Yankees bussed from Tampa to Clearwater, then after a quick stop into the visiting clubhouse, everyone headed out to the field for some pre-game prepping.
First baseman Ben Rice was the only regular on the trip. Left fielder Jasson Dominguez and George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect, were there, too, as was one of their starting pitchers, Luis Gil.
Also in manager Aaron Boone’s lineup for this Tuesday game against the Phillies was a touted prospect who seems to get as much flake for his strikeouts as he does for being a left-handed slugger who hits a lot of home runs, steals a bunch of bases and plays a very good center field.
As usual, Spencer Jones stood out jogging back and forth with teammates in front of the first-base dugout because the 24-year-old is a baseball giant at 6-foot-7, 240 pounds.
During one of his short runs, Jones looked up into the stands when a middle-school aged boy in a Yankees pinstripes jersey called out his name. Just a few feet away, the boy proudly held up a large handmade sign that read:
“My hero. Next Great Yankee. Spencer Jones. Let’s go.”
Jones smiled and waved at his young fan.
After Jones took batting practice, the boy got an autograph … and then another great memory.
Jones continued his hot hitting in the second inning by blasting a long home run, a 416 footer to center that made it four for the spring. No one for any team has more.
All of this occurred the morning after the Yankees officially dropped Jones from their spring training roster.
Entering camp, Jones had to know his quest to become a first-time big leaguer by Opening Day 2026 was a long shot. After all, the Yankees’ two biggest offseason moves were re-signing center fielder Trent Grisham and left fielder Cody Bellinger.
Jones had to know he probably needed at least one injury to a Yankees outfielder to make the team, maybe even two with second-year left fielder Jasson Dominguez also a real possibility to start the season in Triple-A after spending all of 2025 in the majors.
So far this spring, the Yankees’ list of healthy outfielders actually has grown by one, counting the late February signing of Randal Grichuk.
Jones handled his demotion with extreme professionalism, but he was disappointed. He hit 35 homers, stole 29 bases and played excellent defense last year for Double-A Somerset and then Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Also, he addressed his very high strikeout rate by changing his batting stance and swing early into the offseason to somewhat mimic Shohei Ohtani’s. Then he worked and worked on it before spring training. And then he tried it out in Grapefruit Leagues.
It’s working. Counting his 1-for-3 with a walk and strikeout in Tuesday’s 4-2 Yankees win, Jones is hitting .333 with four homers and eight RBIs in 10 games. He’s struck out seven times in 25 plate appearances, but this 28 percent K rate is a 20 percent drop from last season’s 35.6, which all were against minor-league pitching.
Jones likes his new Ohtani look.
“I feel very still,” he said. “I feel very stable. It’s just about being on time and swinging at the right pitches.
“I think it’s all been positive. I think there’s still more to come with it and it’s only going to get better and better as we keep moving forward.”
With the regular season starting up in two weeks, the Yankees want more at-bats for veterans who will be on their club, so young talent like Jones is being weeded out. That’s why he’s already has been optioned.
“You never want to hear it, but it is what it is,” Jones said. “I’ve got a lot of good work to do, and then obviously I’ve got a whole long season ahead of us. Opportunities are available and it’s just about taking advantage of them.”
That’s what Jones was told on Monday after he was called into Aaron Boone’s office to get the demotion news. This means he’ll be reporting to the Yankees’ minor-league camp for the remainder of spring training, unless he’s called back for Grapefruit League cameos like he was on Tuesday.
Jones often has flashed his bat skills in spring games since he first appeared in them in 2023, as he owns a .325 average with eight homers and 20 RBIs in 47 games. The difference now, Jones believes, is that he feels ready for the big leagues.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve gotten out of this year is a feeling of I belong and that I can compete,” Jones said.
Feeling the same is a major league scout who was down on Jones last season.
“If you’d stick Jones in the majors for someone this year and let him play 150 games, I think he’d hit only .210 but around 35 homers and 85 RBIs,” the scout told NJ.com after watching Tuesday’s game. “He’d also steal some bags and play a good center field.
“A lot of teams would take that from a rookie.”
The Yankees thought Jones would become a star when they drafted him 25th overall in 2022 out of Vanderbilt and they still feel that way. They’ve seen progress at the plate this spring. They know he’ll probably always strike out a lot because all sluggers do nowadays, even Aaron Judge, but Jones’ swing changes are leading to more hard contact with less swing-and-miss.
“It’s spring training, so I don’t want to over or under-react to anything, but I do feel like day in and day out he’s been putting up solid at-bats,” Boone said. “That’s encouraging, especially when you consider the talent he has and the ceiling that he has. He continues to get better.”
No one knows what’s in store for Jones beyond where he starts this season. He could get a first shot with the Yankees at some point this year if someone gets hurt, or perhaps next season if Grisham walks as a free agent. He also could be used as trade bait this summer or next winter.
“I don’t really think about what could be,” Jones said. “It’s more about what do we’ve got right now. Just focus on the day to day and showing up to work and getting the job done.”
The Yankees don’t have to worry about that.
“One of the things I’ve told him is there’s things that are out of your control,” Boone said. “As best you can, you’ve got to focus because there’s still improvements that he needs to make in his game. The good thing is, he’s done that. He’s shown that.
“He had a really good platform here at the upper levels last year. I feel like he’s continued to make adjustments this winter. I feel like he’s had a really good spring. There’s always things to continue to work on to continue to get better at.
“The reality is he’s pushing through right now. He is knocking on that door. All you can do is handle your business and take care of your end of the bargain and force us into a situation.”

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa did not fully understand the tiebreaker rules in this year’s World Baseball Classic.
DeRosa appeared on MLB Network on Tuesday, hours before Team USA took on Italy in the Americans’ final game of pool play at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. Team USA’s skipper spoke about wanting to win the contest despite it being inconsequential for his squad, which he claimed had already clinched a quarterfinals berth.
“Ton of respect for Italy,” DeRosa said. “It’s weird. We want to win this game even though our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals because Mexico plays Italy actually tomorrow. The way the schedule lines up, it’s an important game for us.”
Team USA had not, in fact, punched its ticket to the quarterfinals just yet. DeRosa’s quote spread like wildfire after the Americans lost to the Italians 8-6 in a stunning upset, leaving Team USA in jeopardy of getting eliminated.
If Mexico beats Italy on Wednesday, all three teams would be tied atop the Pool B standings at 3-1 with only two advancing. The tiebreaker is based on a runs-allowed quotient calculated as follows: fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.
In simpler terms, Team USA would need either Italy to score at least 5 runs or Mexico to score at least 6 runs when the latter two teams face off on Wednesday, assuming Mexico wins.
DeRosa spoke to reporters after the game and admitted that he “misspoke” and that he “completely misread the calculations” while preparing for Tuesday’s game.
It’s all moot if Italy wins to sweep Pool B, allowing Team USA to advance without any complications. But it wouldn’t erase the fact that DeRosa made a serious error heading into a critical WBC game. He could have made some key decisions in the contest under the assumption that he had free rein to experiment rather than go for a win. Team USA’s hopes rest on another team’s hands.

Braves left-hander Joey Wentz has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the entire 2026 season. Mark Bowman of MLB.com was among those to relay the news. Wentz will be transferred to the 60-day injured list whenever the club needs a roster spot, though their 40-man count is currently at 39 due to outfielder Jurickson Profar landing on the restricted list for a PED suspension.
Wentz, 28, was covering first base on a bunt attempt in yesterday’s game when he appeared to injure his right leg. Though he was carted off the field, initial tests seemed to suggest he may have avoided serious injury. It seems that further testing contradicted the first reports.
The lefty was claimed off waivers in July of last year and was effectively in the rotation from that point on. He made 13 starts and one relief appearance for Atlanta, allowing 4.92 earned runs per nine. His 23% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate were both close to league average. He qualified for arbitration as a Super Two player and the club felt good enough about that performance to tender him a contract. The two sides avoided arbitration in November by agreeing to a $900K salary for 2026.
As of a few weeks ago, Wentz was a bit buried in the depth chart but the Atlanta rotation has been hit hard since camp has opened. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep each required surgery a few weeks ago, as both pitchers had loose bodies in their elbows that needed removing. Their specific timelines aren’t clear but each is slated to miss months.
After those two surgeries, Atlanta projected to have a rotation with four spots going to Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López and Grant Holmes. That left Wentz, Bryce Elder and José Suarez battling for the final spot. Since all three are out of options, one of them was probably going to break camp in a long relief role.
Even before this recent spate of injuries, there was an argument for Atlanta to add more rotation depth, as even the guys who aren’t currently hurt have question marks. Sale has been injury prone in recent years, making more than 2o starts just once in the past six years. Strider returned from internal brace surgery last year but posted a lackluster 4.45 ERA. López only made one start last year due to shoulder surgery. Holmes was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament last year and is currently trying to pitch in 2026 without surgery. Elder had a 5.30 ERA last year. Suarez is a fringe roster guy who rode the DFA carousel this winter.
Despite all of that uncertainty, the front office hasn’t shown much urgency in adding more arms. It was reported in mid-February, as the Schwellenbach and Waldrep injuries were coming to light, that Atlanta didn’t have much interest in Chris Bassitt before he signed with the Orioles and had not been involved with free agent Lucas Giolito. Up until yesterday, Zack Littell was still out there but he now has an agreement in place with the Nationals.
It’s possible that recent events make the club more likely to make an addition. If the budget was the problem, the Profar suspension helped them out, as he won’t be paid his $15MM salary this year. Atlanta saved about $18MM in total when factoring in tax savings. With the freed-up cash and now yet another injury, perhaps president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos does turn to free agency. In addition to Giolito, guys like Tyler Anderson and Patrick Corbin are still unsigned. More arms could shake loose as Opening Day approaches and other teams make cuts.
For now, the top depth options include Didier Fuentes, JR Ritchie, Martín Pérez, Carlos Carrasco and Elieser Hernández. Fuentes was hastily promoted last year at the age of 20 and was lit up in his first four big league starts. Ritchie is one of the club’s best pitching prospects but he has no major league experience and just 11 Triple-A starts under his belt. The other three are veterans who haven’t had much big league success in recent years.
As for Wentz, it’s a frustrating setback as he had a real chance to earn a rotation gig. Instead, he’ll spend the season on the shelf. If there’s one small silver lining, he’ll earn a full year of service time while on the IL, but he’ll be a non-tender candidate going into 2027.

PHOENIX –– After Joe Ryan was scratched from Team USA’s roster for the group stage of the World Baseball Classic last week, one Dodgers player glanced toward Tyler Glasnow’s locker at Camelback Ranch and wondered aloud:
Why wasn’t the Dodgers’ All-Star right-hander picked to be a replacement?
The answer: He had other priorities this spring.
Late last season, Glasnow found a comfort level that had eluded him for much of his first two years in the Dodgers organization, when injuries and inconsistent performance marred his acclimation to the team.
For starters, he was healthy, returning from an early-season shoulder issue (as well as the elbow problem that ended his 2024 campaign early) to pitch the second half of the year without any significant disruptions.
But more importantly, he was convinced in his mechanics; embracing delivery tweaks that pitching coaches Mark Prior and Connor McGuiness suggested ahead of the postseason, en route to what became a dominant October performance.
In six playoff outings, Glasnow did it all for the Dodgers, posting a 1.69 ERA that (among teammates with more than five postseason innings) was bested only by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
The team went 3-0 in his three starts, highlighted by his scoreless six-inning gem in their National League Division Series clincher against the Philadelphia Phillies. Three other times, he pitched in relief, including a first-career save in Game 6 of the World Series and 2 ⅓ crucial innings in Game 7 the following night.
By the end of the team’s title run, the 32-year-old was described by manager Dave Roberts as the player who “grew as much as anyone” over the course of the season.
And going into the winter, Glasnow felt he’d finally formed a stable foundation –– one he saw a chance to build upon entering 2026.
“I’ve been in such a good spot since last year,” he said this spring. “It feels natural to me now, to where I’m not thinking about it. I’m just pitching.”
Thus, as he told the California Post recently, Glasnow expressed to Team USA officials early in the WBC selection process that his preference this spring was to stay in Dodgers camp.
He wanted to build on the progress he made at the end of last year. And he wanted to lean into the trust he had built with the team.
“I have so much trust in them, to where I don’t feel like I have to do everything on my own,” Glasnow said. “Now, it’s just like, ‘What do you guys got?’ And then I go out and just do whatever they tell me. It’s not as much tinkering. I can rely on them.”
Tinkering, of course, has long been one of Glasnow’s biggest internal impediments.
The 10-year veteran is a notorious “overthinker” and self-described “perfectionist.” His lanky 6-foot-8 frame gives his delivery many moving pieces. And a long history of injuries has often forced him to seek health-conscious adjustments.
That meant, when Glasnow first arrived on his $136.5 million contract three offseasons ago, he and the Dodgers’ coaches needed time to acquaint themselves.
“I think it’s taken us a couple years to kind of understand the nuances of his delivery, and really matching his feel versus the output (of what he’s doing),” Prior said. “With a lot of guys, we’re trying to get things narrowed down to one or two things that we can really hit somebody between the eyes with. But I joke with him, like, ‘Hey man, you got 50.’”
That’s why, near the end of last year, Prior and McGuiness tried to hone in on a few specific tweaks. They adjusted the alignment of Glasnow’s feet and hips. They crafted a mental cue with how his glove arm leads his body through his throwing motion. They tried to simplify the sequence of his release to the plate.
Now, Glasnow said his throw feels more consistent than it has at any point in the previous four years.
“It has just allowed me to go out and pitch and be athletic,” he said. “It’s not like you’re thinking of something and trying to limit where my body’s going or this or that.”
It helps, Glasnow noted, that this is the first time he has pitched under a long-term contract, with his Dodgers deal still containing two years (plus a team option for another).
“Having a contract and knowing you’ll be somewhere for quite a while, maybe allows you to trust a bit more,” he said.
But mainly, his faith comes from recognizing that he is surrounded by “really good staff members.”
“I will run whatever they tell me through the gauntlet of a lot of questions,” he said. “And when you get to understand everyone is telling you something for a reason, and it’s really thought through and not just words, it really means something. It’s easier for me to decide, ‘Alright, I trust you.’”
Prior gave much of that credit back to Glasnow, noting how he has learned to give himself more grace as he goes through starts.
“Those guys don’t want to face him,” Prior said. “So he’s got room for error, where a lot of pitchers don’t, even when he’s not dialed in.”
This spring, however, Glasnow has looked dialed in more often than not.
His changes from last year have been further cemented. His confidence from the playoffs has given him a new edge. When things do feel off, he waits for a bullpen session, when Prior or McGuiness can identify a fix. And after a long acclimation period with the Dodgers, he seemed primed for maybe his best season yet.
“I think now, for the first time, I’m allowing everyone else to just be like, ‘What do you got?’” Glasnow said. “Everything is so buttoned up here. It’s nice to know a bunch of people have your back.”

Jesús Luzardo was fantastic in year one with the Philadelphia Phillies, and the club didn’t want to see him head to free agency on schedule.
Before what was scheduled to be his walk year, the Phillies made sure Luzardo would become part of their long-term rotation core. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Phillies and Luzardo agreed to a five-year, $135 million extension that will keep him under contract through the 2031 season.
With the impending threat of a lockout after this season, there’s definitely an incentive for pitchers scheduled for free agency to find similar deals, if they exist. Those sorts of deals won’t be offered to most pitchers in the class, of course, but there may be a few on the table.
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Freddy Peralta, New York Mets
The easiest name to speculate about is New York Mets starter Freddy Peralta. Having recently told the New York Post that he’s looking for a seven- or eight-year extension, Peralta effectively laid down the gauntlet for the Mets to keep him around after acquiring him in a blockbuster from the Milwaukee Brewers.
The only issue? The Mets haven’t handed out any starting pitching contracts of more than three years since David Stearns took over as president of baseball operations. Will the team’s rotation inconsistencies and the spectre of a lockout change that calculus?
Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Rogers has a much more inconsistent track record than Peralta and even slightly less than Luzardo. But he was so good last season, and the Orioles’ starting pitching has been so iffy over the last few seasons, that there might be a world where a pre-free agency extension makes sense.
Is Rogers so convinced that he can come close to replicating his 1.81-ERA, 5.5-WAR season from last year that he wouldn’t think about locking in a deal before the lockout?
Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins
Technically, Ryan is a year farther away from free agency than anyone else here. But in this case, it’s the team that might have incentive to get a deal done rather than risking Ryan’s value, both on the mound or in possible trades, dropping due to the lockout affecting his walk year.
The Twins’ also seem the least likely of any team discussed here to hand out a $100 million-plus starting pitching deal, but there’s always hope that a team will step up to keep a homegrown All-Star.

Six days after the Tigers’ top prospect – and MLB’s No. 2 prospect overall – started off the Tigers’ visit to the Dominican Republic by turning on Luis Severino’s 98 mph fastball for a Statcast-projected 461-foot leadoff home run, he slugged his first homer of Grapefruit League play in somewhat similar fashion. It was the seventh inning, not the first, but when Rays reliever Jake Woodford started the inning with a 90.2 mph heater, McGonigle crushed it a projected 391 feet to right field.
It turned out to be the tying run in the Tigers’ latest draw Monday, this one a 4-4 deadlock to bring Detroit’s record to 3-8-4.
Though McGonigle’s latest home run began the inning, it ended his day. He began the game at third base and was one of the last members of the starting lineup still playing, batting eighth. The Rays had kept him hitless at that point with a steady dose of offspeed and breaking pitches.
Rays starter Shane McClanahan threw McGonigle one fastball in a six-pitch at-bat his first time up, and the heater was well out of the zone. McClanahan recovered from a 3-1 count with back-to-back changeups – one that McGonigle fouled off at the bottom of the zone, the other that McGonigle chased below the zone for the strikeout.
McGonigle was much more patient in his second at-bat against veteran reliever Bryan Baker, working the count full without swinging the bat. Again, the only fastball McGonigle saw was well out of the zone. Baker challenged McGonigle on the 3-2 pitch with a changeup over the plate. McGonigle made hard contact but got under it for a flyout to center.
Manager A.J. Hinch stuck with McGonigle and second baseman John Peck after others had left in hopes of getting them a third at-bat.
The first-pitch fastball was that good fortune. But so was the short memory that McGonigle continues to show, declining to carry a bad result into his next time up.
“Every at-bat for him is a singular event against a pitcher with a plan,” Hinch said. “That’s the maturity that I know we have seen in the Minor Leagues. We’re seeing it in big league camp. It’s one of the reasons he’s beloved.”
McGonigle has already seen a wide mix of pitches (eight), even with opposing pitchers still working into their regular-season form. Four of his seven hits in Grapefruit League play have come off four-seam fastballs, off which he’s batting .800 according to Statcast. He entered Monday with a 12.5 percent whiff rate on four-seamers and an average exit velocity of 98.3 mph.

The Milwaukee Brewers are steadily constructing a captivating prospect pipeline, and this spring provided a sneak peek at what the organization envisions as its future franchise cornerstone. As noted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Curt Hogg, top prospect Jesús Made made a significant impact during his initial stint in big-league camp, demonstrating impressive physical growth and keen baseball instincts at just 19 years old.
Made’s tenure with the major-league team concluded today when the Brewers sent him back to minor-league camp. However, his brief experience with the big-league squad could be seen as one of the most promising highlights of Milwaukee’s spring season.
Brewers Prospect Impresses During Initial MLB Camp
Manager Pat Murphy was quick to share his thoughts on the promising young infielder.
“He’s a specimen,” Murphy told Hogg, a statement that swiftly drew the focus of scouts observing Made during the Cactus League games.
That label holds true without any embellishment. Made has now reached a height of 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 221 pounds, having packed on approximately 27 pounds of muscle over the last year. Upon his arrival in the U.S. in 2024, he was recorded at 194 pounds on the Class A Carolina roster. The enhanced strength was evident right away in camp, especially when combined with the bat speed and raw power that have already established him as one of the most thrilling young talents in the game.
The outcomes confirmed the excitement. In 10 spring games, Made recorded 8 hits in 25 at-bats, resulting in a .320 batting average and a .770 OPS, while also driving in six runs. He displayed moments of athletic prowess that highlight his potential as a formidable offensive player, swiping two bases and continually applying pressure on rival defenses.
For a player still shy of his 20th birthday, this performance further solidifies why scouts throughout the league are eyeing Made as a potential future standout.
His minor-league track record clearly showcases that potential. In his first two years as a pro, Made has posted a .298 batting average and an impressive .854 OPS, amassing 187 hits over 166 games. In 2025, he showcased his speed on the bases by swiping 47 bags while advancing through three tiers of the Brewers’ organization, capping off the season with a short stint at Double-A Biloxi.
Progress Continues to Take Center Stage
Even with a standout performance this spring, the Brewers are prioritizing Made’s long-term growth over a hasty promotion to the big leagues.
The promising infielder will open the season playing multiple infield positions, primarily shortstop, while also seeing time at second and third base to showcase his versatility.
His defensive skills are clear, yet the Brewers see potential for growth as he accumulates more experience.
Equally important, Made said his most valuable takeaway from major-league camp had less to do with the statistics he produced.
The experience revealed the significant rise in intensity that comes with competing at the pinnacle of the sport.
Drills intensify, strategies sharpen, and the room for mistakes diminishes. For a teenager navigating the complexities of professional baseball, the opportunity to be in the presence of seasoned major leaguers offered an invaluable lesson in the game.
The maturity displayed has consistently been a standout trait for Milwaukee’s coaching staff. Despite being one of the youngest players in camp, Made showcased a level of professionalism that solidified the organization’s confidence in his potential.
The timeline for that future in Milwaukee, whether it unfolds in 2026 or beyond, is still up in the air. However, if his initial experience at big-league camp demonstrated anything, it’s that the Brewers’ leading prospect could be on the verge of his long-awaited debut.

The New York Yankees have made an important decision on top prospect Spencer Jones. On Monday, the team announced before its spring training game that they have optioned OF Spencer Jones and RHP Elmer Rodríguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and reassigned them to minor league camp.
Spencer Jones was already considered a long shot to break camp with the big-league club, but this deal pretty much seals his fate as having to be a mid-season call-up. The moves signal that the Yankees believe in both players’ futures, but the start of 2026 isn’t going to be the time for their big-league debuts.
More MLB on Heavy: Phillies Make $135 Million Decision on Southpaw Jesus Luzardo
Spencer Jones Likely to Not Open 2026 Season with the Yankees
Unless the New York Yankees deal with some catastrophic injuries in the next two and a half weeks, Spencer Jones will start the 2026 season in the minor leagues.
While this decision likely hurts Spencer Jones, he still has to rid his game of too many swings and misses, which he will look to figure out with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
EmpireSportsMedia.com has covered this Spencer Jones situation closely and has intel on why he’s not going to be on the Opening Day roster:
“Jones came into spring training with a clear mission: force his way onto the Opening Day roster as the fourth outfielder. What he showed in nine Grapefruit League games was both tantalizing and terrifying.”
“Jones came into spring training with a clear mission: force his way onto the Opening Day roster as the fourth outfielder. What he showed in nine Grapefruit League games was both tantalizing and terrifying.”
Over 67 games in Triple-A last season, Jones hit 19 home runs, but still struck out at a high clip.
More MLB on Heavy: Tarik Skubal Announces Team USA Pitching Decision
Yankees’ 2026 Outfield Outlook
There’s a chance that Spencer Jones gets a mid-season call-up, but two things will have to happen: Jones will have to continue hitting well in Triple-A, while improving his contact rate, and a current Yankees outfielder will have to fall out of the fold.
The ladder of those two things is where things get tricky for Jones, because most would consider Jasson Dominguez to be ahead of him as well. And New York has Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Trent Grisham as everyday guys in the outfield.
Maybe the Yankees find another spot for Jones, but for now, he will have to work out his issues in the minor leagues before getting a MLB chance.

Altafiber announced March 9 it is actively negotiating with Major League Baseball to broadcast the Cincinnati Reds’ games for the upcoming 2026 season.
MLB announced in February that it would produce and distribute Reds’ game broadcasts in 2026. At the time, Reds’ officials said fans will be able to access Reds games via cable and satellite providers, or stream digitally on Reds.TV with no blackouts.
In 2025, Altafiber announced it reached an agreement with Main Street Sports Group (owner of FanDuel Sports Network, the Reds’ former broadcast carrier) to carry FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.
Main Street Sports Group reportedly was on the verge of bankruptcy for several years.

Two days after a shoulder impingement derailed him from making one final appearance at the World Baseball Classic, Julio Teheran called it quits on a brilliant professional baseball career.
After Team Colombia defeated Team Panama in its final game of the WBC to finish 1-3, Teheran announced his retirement from professional baseball, concluding a 13-year Major League Baseball career that included two National League All-Star selections.

Major League Baseball might be finding out that it has created a monster – a glorious, wonderful monster – that has outgrown its tidy enclosure.
Every three years, MLB and the Major league Baseball Players Association host the World Baseball Classic, baseball’s answer to the FIFA World Cup. While it remains a relatively youthful tournament, having only started in 2006, it is growing up fast. But if the experience of Tarik Skubal at this year’s tournament is any indication, baseball is facing a new reality: a wildly entertaining exhibition has become actually important.
Skubal, the ace pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, went into this year‘s tournament expecting to pitch one game for Team USA before he would leave and head back to spring training to get ready for the regular season. After just a few innings of pitching for Team USA against Great Britain on Saturday, Skubal appeared to be moved. When asked by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal if he plan to make another start, Skubal couldn’t quite bring himself to say no. It’s suddenly seemed like deviating from the plan in the name of competing for the Stars and Stripes was a real possibility.
It is such a sea change moment in the history of the WBC, that it is sort of hard to explain.
First, you have to know why the WBC is a complicated endeavor for teams and players as it is.
Players participating in the tournament must leave their Major League clubs during spring training to compete for their national teams. It’s a sacrifice some franchises are willing to make to boost baseball’s international popularity and satisfy their own players happy.
However, it also takes away from crucial time that they would otherwise be spending jelling with the teammates who they will rely on for the next six months. It also takes them away from the trainers and team doctors who monitor their health and preparation as they ramp up for the grueling regular season.
For many American players – especially pitchers – the tournament has long viewed as too high a risk. Pitchers are especially injury prone when they throw too hard and too much early in the spring. As a result, the game’s top American arms usually stay in spring training, leaving Team USA to fill its rotation wuth and some of the baseball’s lesser lights toeing the rubber for the American team.
This has rarely been the case for the rest of the nations in the tournament, who put out their best nine players in every game that they can. For years, this has meant that the American team was made up of some big stars and some average players, because a sizable contingent of the best American players were more concerned about protecting their regular season for the big league club. After all, that’s who pays the bills.
This lack of consistency has largely led to Team USA underperforming relative to expectations. The Americans have won it once, in 2017, and made the finals in 2023. Otherwise, it’s a series of second round and semifinal knockouts for the country that actually invented the game.
But, this year‘s team was different from the start.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge was the first player to agree to play for Team USA, and he helped recruit a sort of baseball Dream Team as the Americans look to avenge their loss in the final three years ago to Team Japan. That included bringing two of the games best pitchers, Paul Skenes and Skubal, who would come and participate in some form. It was expected that Skubal would throw three innings against Great Britain and then head back to Lakeland, Florida, where the rest of his Tigers teammates are getting ready for the season.
But, there seemed to be a moment of realization for Skubal about exactly what it means to play for one’s country. The pure agony on his face as he contemplated whether to stick with his plan or suit up again for the American team was obvious. And he wasn’t going to make the decision quickly, instead waiting until the emotion of the moment wore off to make a final call.
That Skubal would even consider playing again with the Americans with all he has to lose is testament to the growing importance of this tournament. The Tigers ace is set to be a free agent after this season and could be in line to get one of the biggest contracts in MLB history. His team is attempting to win a World Series after a disappointing end to the 2025 campaign. He has won the Cy Young award as the American League’s best pitcher for the last two years, and is easily the betting favorite to do it a third time.
An injury sustained while pitching for Team USA would be catastrophic for Skubal’s bottom line and the Tigers’ World Series aspirations. But on Saturday, Skubal discovered what so many other players from other nations had already learned: There is simply no substitute for representing your country.
Scenes from across the tournament have illustrated exactly what this competition means to players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Japan, Taiwan, and so many others. Tears have been shed, throats have been screamed hoarse. The global passion for this tournament is only growing, and it appears the game’s elite American stars are fully on board.
So, why would this be a problem?
The timing of the tournament means that the WBC will always run into the preparation period for the coming season. Pitchers are not allowed, by the rules of the tournament, to fully extend themselves in search of victory. Instead, they are limited to a certain amount of innings per game, so they do not injure themselves and hurt their professional employers.
This creates a frustrating half-in, half-out dynamic. It’s hard to imagine the FIFA World Cup being played when the some of the biggest players in the world can only play 30 minutes at a time. And for competitors like Skubal, the desire to treat a WBC game like a playoff game is obvious.
Now that stars like Skubal are facing the realization that they might be willing to risk hundreds of millions of dollars to compete for their country, Major League Baseball might find itself needing to reassess how the WBC is scheduled and played. Putting it in spring training was always a neat solution, but don’t the game’s best players deserve to give their all in a competition that will bring glory and pride to their home nations?
Some have suggested moving the two-week tournament to the middle of the summer to replace the All-Star break. Others have suggested splitting it up and having pool play in spring training and the knockout rounds later on in the summer.
Regardless, the tournament can no longer be dismissed as a mere exhibition designed to market the sport abroad. While the WBC was initial conceived as a way to spread the sport abroad, make no mistake, other nations are not showing up to the WBC for exhibitions. The passion on display makes it clear that they are playing to win and they are approaching these games with a fervor that rivals, and perhaps surpasses, a playoff game and maybe even a World Series game.
That intensity is a direct challenge to the Americans. It’s as if the rest of the baseball world is asking, “We’re all in. Are you?”

Análisis por Kyle Feldscher, CNN
Puede que la Major League Baseball esté descubriendo que ha creado un monstruo —un monstruo glorioso y maravilloso— que ha superado los límites de su ordenado recinto.
Cada tres años, la MLB y la Asociación de Jugadores de las Grandes Ligas organizan el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol, la respuesta del béisbol a la Copa Mundial de la FIFA. Si bien sigue siendo un torneo relativamente joven —habiendo comenzado apenas en 2006—, está madurando a pasos agigantados. Pero si la experiencia de Tarik Skubal en el torneo de este año sirve de indicio, el béisbol se enfrenta a una nueva realidad: lo que solía ser una exhibición sumamente entretenida se ha vuelto, en la práctica, algo verdaderamente importante.
Skubal, el principal lanzador de los Detroit Tigers, llegó al torneo de este año con la expectativa de lanzar un solo partido para la selección de Estados Unidos antes de marcharse y regresar a los entrenamientos de primavera para prepararse de cara a la temporada regular de las Grandes Ligas. Tras lanzar apenas unas pocas entradas para el equipo estadounidense contra Gran Bretaña el sábado, Skubal pareció profundamente conmovido. Cuando Ken Rosenthal, de Fox Sports, le preguntó si tenía planes de abrir otro partido, Skubal no fue capaz de decir que no. De repente, pareció que desviarse del plan original —en aras de competir bajo la bandera de las barras y las estrellas— era una posibilidad real.
Se trata de un momento de cambio tan trascendental en la historia del Clásico Mundial de Béisbol (WBC) que resulta, en cierto modo, difícil de explicar.
En primer lugar, es necesario comprender por qué el WBC constituye, de por sí, una empresa tan compleja tanto para los equipos como para los jugadores.
Los beisbolistas que participan en el torneo deben abandonar sus clubes de las Grandes Ligas durante los entrenamientos de primavera para competir con sus respectivas selecciones nacionales. Es un sacrificio que algunas franquicias están dispuestas a hacer con el fin de impulsar la popularidad internacional del béisbol y mantener contentos a sus propios jugadores.
Sin embargo, esta participación también les resta un tiempo crucial que, de otro modo, dedicarían a afianzar la química con los compañeros de equipo en quienes deberán confiar durante los siguientes seis meses. Asimismo, los aleja de los preparadores físicos y los médicos del equipo, quienes se encargan de monitorear su salud y su preparación a medida que intensifican su puesta a punto para la extenuante temporada regular.
Para muchos jugadores estadounidenses —especialmente para los lanzadores—, este torneo ha sido considerado durante mucho tiempo como un riesgo excesivo. Los lanzadores son particularmente propensos a sufrir lesiones cuando lanzan con demasiada potencia y frecuencia en las etapas iniciales de la primavera. Como resultado, los mejores lanzadores estadounidenses del deporte suelen quedarse en los entrenamientos de primavera, lo que obliga al seleccionado de EE.UU. a completar su rotación con algunas de las figuras menos destacadas del béisbol, quienes terminan subiéndose al montículo para el equipo nacional.
Rara vez ha sucedido esto con el resto de las naciones participantes en el torneo, las cuales alinean a sus nueve mejores jugadores en cada partido que pueden. Durante años, esto ha significado que el equipo estadounidense estuviera compuesto por una mezcla de grandes estrellas y jugadores promedio, dado que un contingente considerable de los mejores peloteros de EE.UU. estaba más preocupado por salvaguardar su temporada regular con sus respectivos clubes de las Grandes Ligas. Al fin y al cabo, son ellos quienes pagan las facturas.
Esta falta de consistencia ha provocado, en gran medida, que EE.UU. rinda por debajo de las expectativas. Los estadounidenses han ganado el título en una sola ocasión —en 2017— y llegaron a la final en 2023. Aparte de eso, su historial se reduce a una serie de eliminaciones en la segunda ronda o en las semifinales para el país que, irónicamente, inventó este deporte.
Sin embargo, el equipo de este año fue diferente desde el principio.
La estrella de los New York Yankees Aaron Judge fue el primer jugador en aceptar jugar para EE.UU., y contribuyó a reclutar una especie de “Dream Team” del béisbol, con el objetivo de que los estadounidenses pudieran vengar la derrota sufrida en la final de hace tres años ante Japón. Esto incluyó la incorporación de dos de los mejores lanzadores del momento: Paul Skenes y Skubal, quienes se unieron al equipo para participar de alguna manera. Se esperaba que Skubal lanzara tres entradas contra Gran Bretaña y luego regresara a Lakeland, Florida, donde el resto de sus compañeros de los Tigers se preparan para el inicio de la temporada.
No obstante, pareció haber un momento de revelación para Skubal respecto a lo que significa, exactamente, jugar para su propio país. La pura angustia reflejada en su rostro —mientras sopesaba si apegarse a su plan original o volver a enfundarse el uniforme del equipo estadounidense— resultaba evidente. Y no iba a tomar la decisión a la ligera; optó, en cambio, por esperar a que la intensidad emocional del momento amainara antes de emitir su veredicto final.
El mero hecho de que Skubal se planteara siquiera volver a jugar con el equipo estadounidense —a pesar de todo lo que tiene en juego— constituye un testimonio de la creciente importancia que ha adquirido este torneo. El as de los Tigers se convertirá en agente libre al finalizar la presente temporada y podría estar en posición de firmar uno de los contratos más lucrativos en la historia de las Grandes Ligas. Su equipo aspira a ganar una Serie Mundial tras un decepcionante final de la temporada 2025. Ha ganado el premio Cy Young como el mejor lanzador de la Liga Americana durante los últimos dos años y es, con gran diferencia, el favorito en las apuestas para conseguirlo por tercera vez.
Una lesión sufrida mientras lanza para la selección de Estados Unidos sería catastrófica tanto para la situación económica de Skubal como para las aspiraciones de los Tigers de ganar la Serie Mundial. Pero, el sábado, Skubal descubrió lo que tantos otros jugadores de otras naciones ya habían aprendido: simplemente no existe nada como representar a tu país.
Las escenas vividas a lo largo del torneo han ilustrado con exactitud lo que esta competición significa para los jugadores de República Dominicana, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Japón, Taiwán y tantos otros lugares. Se han derramado lágrimas y se han desgastado las gargantas a fuerza de gritar. La pasión global por este torneo no hace más que crecer, y parece que las estrellas estadounidenses de élite de este deporte se han sumado a la causa con total entusiasmo.
Entonces, ¿por qué podría esto suponer un problema?
El momento en que se celebra el torneo implica que el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol (WBC, por sus siglas en inglés) coincidirá siempre con el periodo de preparación para la temporada venidera. Las reglas del torneo impiden a los lanzadores exigirse al máximo en su afán por conseguir la victoria. En su lugar, se ven limitados a un número determinado de entradas por partido, con el fin de evitar lesiones que pudieran perjudicar a sus equipos profesionales.
Esto genera una dinámica frustrante, a medio camino entre la participación plena y la contención. Resulta difícil imaginar que la Copa Mundial de la FIFA se disputara en un contexto en el que algunas de las mayores estrellas del fútbol mundial solo pudieran jugar 30 minutos por encuentro. Y para competidores como Skubal, resulta evidente el deseo de afrontar un partido del WBC con la misma intensidad que si se tratara de un encuentro de playoffs.
Ahora que estrellas como Skubal se enfrentan a la realidad de que podrían estar dispuestos a arriesgar cientos de millones de dólares con tal de competir por su país, la Major League Baseball (MLB) podría verse en la necesidad de replantearse la forma en que se programa y se disputa el WBC. Ubicarlo durante los entrenamientos de primavera siempre pareció una solución práctica; sin embargo, ¿acaso los mejores jugadores de este deporte no merecen entregarse por completo en una competición destinada a brindar gloria y orgullo a sus naciones de origen?
Algunos han sugerido trasladar este torneo de dos semanas de duración a pleno verano, para que ocupe el espacio que actualmente corresponde a la pausa del Juego de Estrellas. Otros han propuesto dividir su estructura: celebrar la fase de grupos durante los entrenamientos de primavera y reservar las rondas eliminatorias para una fecha posterior, ya entrado el verano.
Sea como fuere, el torneo ya no puede ser desestimado como una mera exhibición diseñada para promocionar el deporte en el extranjero. Si bien el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol (WBC) fue concebido inicialmente como una forma de difundir el deporte más allá de sus fronteras, no nos equivoquemos: las otras naciones no acuden al WBC simplemente para participar en exhibiciones. La pasión que se manifiesta deja claro que juegan para ganar y que afrontan estos partidos con un fervor que rivaliza —y tal vez incluso supera— al de un partido de postemporada, e incluso al de un encuentro de la Serie Mundial.
Esa intensidad constituye un desafío directo para los estadounidenses. Es como si el resto del mundo del béisbol les estuviera preguntando: “Nosotros vamos con todo. ¿Y ustedes?”.
Quizás la difícil decisión de Skubal —quien finalmente optó por ceñirse al plan y abandonará la selección de EE.UU. para regresar a Detroit tras el partido de este lunes contra México— sea una señal de que los jugadores estadounidenses están, por fin, listos para poner todas sus fichas sobre la mesa. Y, ante la inminencia de las negociaciones laborales entre la MLB y la MLBPA tras la temporada de 2026, pueden apostar a que algunos de los jugadores más destacados del WBC exigirán a la Major League Baseball que les facilite la tarea de entregar hasta la última gota de energía a este torneo en pleno auge.

Thursday’s 6-2 Red Sox loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. included an early double ABS system whammy. Thanks to catcher JT Realmuto’s successful challenges on two balls that were, in fact, strikes, Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo ended the top of the first with back-to-back strikeouts to strand leadoff man Braiden Ward on third.
While the Phillies went 3 for 3 in challenges, the Red Sox went 0 for 2 to use up their nine-inning allotment. Red Sox catcher Matt Thaiss lost a challenge on a Kyle Keller Ball 4 to Adolis García in the bottom of the fifth, which loaded the bases for the Phillies. Replacement catcher Mickey Gasper unsuccessfully challenged a Ball 2 on Jacob Webb’s four-pitch leadoff walk to Austin Murr in the eighth.
With the majority of their big-league starting lineup competing in the World Baseball Classic, the offense is sputtering big-time. The Red Sox were out-hit 10-5, drew three walks and struck out 14 times. They were 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base. They’ve been outscored 10-2 over their last two games, though Thursday’s road lineup was almost exclusively minor leaguers and non-roster invitees (and, of course, the games don’t count). Of the starters, only Nick Sogard, who batted second and played shortstop, and Connor Wong, who bat cleanup and served as the designated hitter, appeared in games for the 2025 Red Sox.
Starter T.J. Sikkema took the loss after yielding three earned runs on five hits and striking out two in his 2 1/3 innings. Michael Sansone, Ryan Watson, Keller, Wyatt Olds, Webb and P.J. Labriola pitched the rest of the way for Boston.
High heat in DC
Former Red Sox top pitching prospect Luis Perales made his Washington Nationals debut in Thursday’s 7-4 victory over the New York Mets, and showed off his blazing four-seam fastball in his scoreless, hitless inning of work.
The righty threw the eight hardest pitches of the game, all four-seamers at 98.4 mph or faster and four that cleared 100 mph. Perales topped out at 100.5; the hardest pitch by anyone else in the game was Gus Varland’s 97.3 mph four-seamer in the ninth.
Boston dealt Perales to DC, where the front office is now run by former Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni, in December to acquire lefty Jake Bennett. The swap, of two pitching prospects coming off Tommy John surgeries, added command to Boston’s pitching ranks and velocity to Washington’s.
Perales pitched 2 1/3 innings over three games for Red Sox Double-A (once) and Triple-A last season, and allowed two earned runs on zero hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Bennett, whom the Nationals drafted twice, in the 39th round in 2019 and in the second round three years later, earned two promotions last season to rise from Single-A to Double-A. He pitched to a combined 2.27 ERA over 19 games (18 starts) with 64 strikeouts and 19 walks in 75 1/3 innings.
World Baseball Classic news
While Pools A, B and D of the World Baseball Classic begin their legs of the tournament Friday, Pool C got things started Thursday in Tokyo with a 3-0 Australia win over Chinese Taipei and an 11-4 Korea victory over Czechia.
Japan (and Red Sox DH Masataka Yoshida) play Chinese Taipei Friday, March 5 at 5 a.m. ET. 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball for the defending WBC champions.
Astros star Jeremy Peña suffered a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger during Team Dominican Republic’s exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The shortstop will miss the World Baseball Classic and is questionable for Opening Day. The Red Sox open the regular season with a six-game road trip to Cincinnati and Houston.
Judgement Week
Aaron Judge is among the best at blasting baseballs 400-plus feet out of any given ballpark, but his brief speech to Team USA teammates on Tuesday fell flat in the court of public opinion.
A 20-second clip of the New York Yankees captain’s impromptu remarks went viral on Major League Baseball’s X account (formerly Twitter) for a perceived lack of fire.
“I’m so fired up from that I could write a LinkedIn post,” one X user replied.
“This made me want to lightly jog through the softest wall I can possible find,” someone commented.
Judge also drew criticism for describing the team’s journey and goals as “sacrificing for your country, and you’re sacrificing for the brothers in the trenches with you every single day.”
“Does he know he’s going to play baseball not go into a war?” Asked another.
Public speaking may not be Judge’s forte, but he’s widely respected around the league, including by Team USA teammate Roman Anthony and Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
And Judge certainly knows how to bounce back. The day after his speech, he hit a 453-foot home run in Team USA’s exhibition victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Around the league
Longtime MLB outfielder and DH Andrew McCutchen has a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. … According to ESPN, which now runs MLB.TV, the Atlanta Braves’ March 2 win over the Tigers was the most-watched spring training game in the last 10 years, and a 54% increase over last year’s top views-getter between Boston and Baltimore. … Speaking of ESPN, the Red Sox have six players in their latest MLB Top 100 rankings, tied with the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs for third-most in the majors (behind the Phillies’ seven and Dodgers’ eight): Garrett Crochet (No. 8), Roman Anthony (No. 33), Jarren Duran (No. 67), Ranger Suárez (No. 85), Ceddanne Rafaela (No. 88) and Aroldis Chapman (No. 93).

The Miami Marlins have several potential MLB contributors in their roster pool for the spring breakout game later this month.
MLB announced the player pools for all 30 teams and Miami’s pool is filled with Top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline. For Miami, 25 of the franchise’s Top 30 prospects are part of the pool, though not all of them will play in the game.
Miami Marlins prospects will face Houston Astros prospects on March 19 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. eastern.
Starting next year, the Spring Breakout is moving to a single-elimination tournament that will crown a Grapefruit League and a Cactus League champion. Those tournaments are expected to take four days during spring training, with the 2027 event set for March 19-22.
Miami Marlins in Spring Breakout
Foremost among the prospects is outfielder Owen Caisse, who is playing for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic and was acquired by the Marlins in a trade in January with the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Edward Cabrera.
Caissie’s minor league numbers were terrific. In 505 games he slashed .280/.384/.487 with 81 home runs and 301 RBI. He has a career OPS of .871. Before his MLB call-up with the Cubs in August, he slashed .286/.386/.551 with a .937 OPS with 22 home runs and 55 RBI.
Left-handed pitcher Robby Snelling is also part of the player pool. The No. 2 prospect in the organization is in Major League camp and competing for one of the final roster spots. He has pitched in three spring training games and has given up six hits and four earned runs in 5.1 innings. He has struck out eight and walked three.
Another left-hander, Thomas White, is on the roster but is unlikely to pitch after he suffered an oblique strain and was re-assigned to minor league camp. Last season was a breakthrough for him as he went 4-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 21 games, all starts. He allowed just 25 runs (23 earned) in 89.2 innings. He struck out 145 and walked 51 and allowed batters to hit a career-best .174 against him.
Catcher Joe Mack, who is competing for an opening day job, is also in the pool. He slashed .257/.338/.475 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI in the minor leagues. The absences of Agustin Ramirez and Liam Hicks for the WBC is creating more playing time for him.

The Brewers have ascended to the top spot in the MLB Pipeline farm system rankings. The last time the organization sat atop such a list was the 2016 midseason version, when it claimed eight Top 100 prospects. That number now sits at five — including two picked up in an offseason trade — but the impressive depth at multiple positions pushed the perennial NL Central contenders to the mountaintop.
The Dodgers slide back one spot but still hold onto a top-two position, thanks to their great player development track record. Notably, the Brewers haven’t had a top-10 pick since 2017 and the Dodgers since 2006, so this isn’t a case in which either team could just draft its way to the top. The Pirates — the No. 3 system here — have a different story with two recent top-10 picks leading their charge in Konnor Griffin (2024) and Seth Hernandez (2026). But the Bucs certainly deserve credit for making good picks in those spots and especially getting Griffin to the No. 1 overall spot on Top 100s across the industry.
Looking back on last year’s preseason list, the Cardinals have climbed the most, moving up 16 places from 20 to 4. The Blue Jays (+12), Pirates (+11), Giants (+9) and Brewers (+6) round out the highest climbers, while the Cubs (-15), Red Sox (-11) and White Sox (-10) are among the clubs to take the biggest drops.
The Brewers were already trending up with the full-season debuts of Made and Peña and the former’s push into the upper echelon of the game’s best young talents. Then, the organization added two Top 100 prospects in Williams and Sproat as part of this offseason’s Freddy Peralta deal, giving it two upper-level players that could contribute quickly in Milwaukee, and that about sealed the Crew’s place at No. 1. It has elite talent. The pipeline has depth, aided by nice breakouts from Marco Dinges and Josh Adamczewski in 2025. It’s well-balanced with all positions represented in the Top 30. Entering 2026, it’s the top farm system in baseball.
The Dodgers have won three of the last six World Series and made 13 consecutive playoff appearances, including 12 National League West titles. They also excel at acquiring and developing prospects, with industry executives ranking them as doing the best job of developing both hitters and pitchers and rating them second-best at gathering talent via the international market and trades. No system features better outfielders, and while Los Angeles has a fairly hitter-heavy Top 30, River Ryan and Jackson Ferris could contribute to the big league pitching staff this year.
Sure, Konnor Griffin is generating all sorts of buzz, and for good reason, but there’s a lot more here than just the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. For starters, the Pirates also boast the best pitching prospect duo in Bubba Chandler and Seth Hernandez. Beyond the five in the Top 100 — three of whom could help the Pirates turn things around in the big leagues this year — talent is amassing at every level and at pretty much every position.
The Cardinals have two recent top seven overall Draft picks (Wetherholt, Doyle), two 2025 breakout prospects (Rodriguez, Baez), a former switch-pitcher who could take off now that he’s fully righty (Cijntje) and a Minor League Gold Glove catcher (Bernal). And that’s just the Top 100 group. As part of its rebuild, St. Louis has gone into talent acquisition mode on the farm, bringing in the likes of Cijntje, Brandon Clarke, Yhoiker Fajardo and Tai Peete this offseason to add bulk to an already-exciting system. Turning this into the Cards’ next homegrown contender is the next step.
This is a top-heavy system, sure, and it’s almost exclusively focused on the bats. But have you seen the bats? McGonigle is arguably the best hitting prospect this decade and has the look of a future batting title winner. Clark is a five-tool star in the making. Rainer, the 2024 11th overall pick, looked really promising before a shoulder injury ended his first full season early last June. Briceño is a left-handed masher with an Arizona Fall League Triple Crown on his resume. Max Anderson, Hao-Yu Lee and Thayron Liranzo could all factor into future Motor City lineups, and Cris Rodriguez could crack future Top 100s if his plus-plus raw power translates stateside.
The Guardians have won three of the past four American League Central titles while leaning heavily on their farm system, and they still have more talent coming. Their total of six Top 100 prospects matches the Cardinals and Mariners for the most in the game, and Bazzana, DeLauter, Messick and Ingle all could help in Cleveland this season. All four of them and eight of the Guardians’ 10 best prospects arrived via the top four rounds of the last four Drafts.
The Mets have arguably the best pitching development group in baseball, and they also have the top pitching prospect to show for it. Tong, Jack Wenninger, Jonathan Santucci and Will Watson are also upper-level arms with strong results and the stuff to match, and that depth helped make Brandon Sproat movable this offseason in the Freddy Peralta blockbuster. There’s a nice mix of hitters closing in on the Majors (Carson Benge, Ryan Clifford, Jacob Reimer) and those just getting going (Mitch Voit, Elian Peña, Wandy Asigen) outside the Top 100 group. It’s that layering of talent that could make the Mets’ jump into the top 10 sustainable beyond these last two Farm System Rankings.
Even with the trades that sent Harry Ford to the Nationals and Jurrangelo Cijntje to the Cardinals, the Mariners have six Top 100 guys, tied for the most in baseball. There have been different waves in this organization, with pitching back when Logan Gilbert, George Kirby et al came up, then with hitters like Cole Young and current No. 1 prospect Colt Emerson. And now there are more arms coming behind that, with both Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan potentially moving up quickly to help in Seattle.
The Twins were in sell mode last Trade Deadline and have restocked the system a bit, with five new members of the Top 30 coming from recent trades. Eduardo Tait is the headliner as the Top 100 guy from that list, but Kendry Rojas and Hendry Mendez are two more from the top half who give this system more depth. If Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez can finally stay healthy for a spell, both should hit their way to the big leagues and help the Twins start to turn things around in the AL Central.
The Rays always pride themselves on having one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, and when it seemed like its prospect talent level was about to take a hit after a down 2025, the organization addressed it by acquiring six Top 30 prospects in offseason trades and adding a pair more at the start of the international signing window. Among them, Jacob Melton could land an Opening Day spot in the Majors, Anderson Brito has some of the sharpest stuff in the system and Michael Forret has one of its deepest arsenals. Tampa Bay has multiple options that could join its current big three in the Top 100 quickly in ‘26.
No team has five higher-ranked players on the Top 100 than the Marlins, whose assemblage is headlined by the best combination of lefty pitching prospects in White and Snelling. Nevertheless, Miami has as many hitters (21) on its Top 30 as any club, an interesting proposition for a franchise that has struggled to develop bats. Of those 21 position players, 13 have been acquired since the start of 2025, including Caissie and No. 7 overall pick Arquette.
The top of this list is packed with hitters, with bats making up seven of the top eight. It’s led by Sal Stewart, who, if he gets big league at-bats, has the chance to be a sneaky good NL Rookie of the Year Award candidate. There’s some fun up-the-middle talent here with Alfredo Duno behind the plate and potential shortstops aplenty in Steele Hall (their first-rounder from last year’s Draft), Tyson Lewis and Edwin Arroyo all in the top 10.
With their ascension to playoff contention status, this system thinned out with graduations — some of those guys are still establishing themselves as part of the young lineup core in Baltimore — and trades. But there are still some fun hitters at the top of the list, with newcomer Nate George ready to take the banner as top bat once Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers graduate. In the past, there haven’t been too many pitchers making their way up, but that’s starting to change with two in the top five (Luis De León and Trey Gibson) and a total of 10 arms in the top 20.
The Red Sox experienced the second-biggest drop (11 spots) in our rankings from 12 months ago, the result of graduating three elite prospects (Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer) and dealing off several other farmhands. But they still have a decent system and more pitching prospect depth than they’ve enjoyed in years, with Tolle and Early taking big leaps forward in 2025 and finishing the season on the big league playoff roster. Boston also features more international signees (15) on its Top 30 than any other system, highlighted by shortstops Franklin Arias and Dorian Soto, right-hander Juan Valera and outfielder Justin Gonzales.
Having a World Series-tested right-hander leading your Top 30 will certainly give a team some sort of bounce up the Farm System Rankings. That said, Yesavage isn’t doing all the heavy lifting. Up arrows for Johnny King, Gage Stanifer and Juan Sanchez (now a Top 10 third-base prospect before coming stateside) gave the American League pennant winners additional boosts, and the addition of Parker — a potential plus hitter at shortstop with power to come — with the eighth overall pick was another boon. After 2025 was so focused on rejuvenating the pitchers on the farm, the bats could receive a similar emphasis this summer.
After promoting three Top 100 prospects (Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero) to Rate Field in 2025, the White Sox could do so again this year with Braden Montgomery, Schultz and Smith. They have shortstops coming behind them, including Single-A Carolina League MVP Caleb Bonemer and future Gold Glover Billy Carlson — not to mention whomever they select with the No. 1 overall pick in a shortstop-heavy Draft. Many of their best prospects played for their Area Code Games team in high school: Schultz, Bonemer, outfielder Jason Fauske and George Wolkow, left-handers Christian Oppor and Blake Larson.
Talk about a whole new look. Sixteen members of Washington’s Top 30 prospects list have joined the organization since last July as Draft picks or trade acquisitions, including No. 1 overall selection Willits, former Mariners Major Leaguer Ford and all five players from the MacKenzie Gore swap with the Rangers. That aside, the two best arms in Sykora (Tommy John) and Susana (lat) are coming off season-ending surgeries. Overall, there is a lot of raw talent here with upside, and the new Nationals front office will be focused on drawing out that potential and boosting the system’s standing with the players it now has.
Could the A’s have another Nick Kurtz situation on their hands, getting a new draftee to the big leagues in a hurry? There isn’t a hitter that fits, but Jamie Arnold, the left-handed pitcher who was their first-rounder in 2025, should move quickly. It shouldn’t shock anyone if he contributes in some fashion this year. The A’s are excited to have Leo De Vries for an entire season after he hit very well and reached Double-A following his trade from the Padres in the Mason Miller deal. He’s still only 19, but he could also reach the big leagues this year.
The Giants made the fourth-biggest jump from our pre-2025 rankings, moving up nine spots, and they’re poised for another leap this season. They have the game’s best power prospect in Eldridge and the top international amateur from each of the past two classes in Gonzalez and fellow shortstop Luis Hernández. Their group of potential Top 100 shortstops also extends to Jhonny Level and Gavin Kilen, and they have several other candidates to join the list in the near future, including outfielders Dakota Jordan and Bo Davidson and left-hander Jacob Bresnahan.
It’s a good thing when your top three prospects — all Top 100 guys — will have the chance to contribute to the big league roster this year. Two of them, Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford, should make the Opening Day roster. Just beyond the Top 100 prospects, there’s excitement brewing with 2025 first-rounder Gage Wood and 2026 international signee Francisco Renteria, who is already creating buzz in the organization.
Jensen’s ascent to become a bona fide Rookie of the Year Award candidate holds a good amount of weight in Kansas City’s modest climb, and the organization is flush with quality catching prospects in Mitchell and No. 8 Ramon Ramirez also slotting in high on the Top 30. There is plenty of intrigue across the industry surrounding teenage arms Kendry Chourio and David Shields, and both could jump into the Top 100 with repeats of their 2025 performances at higher levels over larger samples. But for now, it’s just the two backstops in that realm.
Organizations with only one Top 100 prospect typically don’t slot very highly in Farm System Rankings, but there’s a lot more depth for Arizona behind Waldschmidt, who has caught plenty of attention as a dark-horse candidate to win an MLB job out of his second Spring Training. The D-backs are deepest on the infield (specifically the second-base position) and have built up their Minor League pitching corps with much-needed additions through trades and the Draft.
After ranking eighth in March 2025, in large part because they tied the Mariners for the most Top 100 Prospects (seven) at that time, the Cubs have fallen further than any other system, down 15 spots. Ballesteros stands out most in a bat-heavy Top 30, with Wiggins the only arm who ranks among the organization’s dozen best prospects. Chicago has high hopes for its 2025 Draft, especially three outfielders: Ethan Conrad could emerge as the system’s top prospect a year from now, Kane Kepley could be its best pure hitter and Josiah Hartshorn could be its best power hitter.
The Braves have three pitchers atop their Top 30, and two of them will have the chance to help the big league club get back to competing in the NL East this year. JR Ritchie had a huge year, starting the Futures Game in Atlanta and reaching Triple-A. No. 3 prospect Didier Fuentes was rushed up last season, and if it hadn’t been for his uneven year, more people would be talking about him as well. It’s a pitching-heavy list with 17 of the 30 making their living on the mound, but they did pick up two potential middle infielders to kick off last year’s Draft in high school product Tate Southisene and college product Alex Lodise.
The Rangers are building their system back up after graduating four top 10 overall Draft picks to Arlington in the past three years, dealing with injuries to several of their best pitching prospects last season and surrendering eight farmhands in deals for Merrill Kelly and MacKenzie Gore. They took another hit when Walcott had internal brace surgery in February, though that shouldn’t affect forecasts of future stardom. On the positive side, they’re well stocked with right-handers after Caden Scarborough and David Davalillo had strong 2025 seasons, A.J. Russell arrived via the second round of the Draft and Jose Corniell, Winston Santos and Izack Tiger returned to full health.
The good news: The Yankees have a strong quartet of Top 100 prospects, with potential 25/25 shortstop Lombard, nearly ready righties Lagrange and Rodríguez and precocious Kilby, a supplemental first-rounder last July. The bad news: Beyond that group, righty Ben Hess and outfielder Spencer Jones, the depth falls off dramatically, the result of New York trading an industry-high players who appeared on Top 30s since the start of 2025. The Yankees also rank first with 21 pitchers on their current Top 30.
If things click with some of the bats in this system, the Rockies will take a big jump forward. Everyone is excited to see what the latest Holliday can do and hopeful that the real Charlie Condon, free of injuries, is the one raking so far in Spring Training. The first six on the top 30 are all hitters with upside and question marks about them getting to that ceiling. The pitching depth can also improve if some of the guys further removed from Tommy John surgery (particularly Gabriel Hughes and Jackson Cox) get back their former selves.
This is a high-risk, high-reward system. The Angels have rolled the dice on several high-ceiling high school pitchers over the past couple of Drafts. If that group performs well, this system will shoot up the rankings faster than their upper-90s heaters. But we all know the inherent risk of the demographic. There are also some interesting hitters from the international market who made some noise last year, even while being rushed up levels. That will further buoy the organization if they keep swinging the bat well.
The Astros haven’t placed higher than 27th in our rankings since we started doing them biannually in 2020, and they’re without a Top 100 prospect for the third time in our last five preseason lists. They do keep winning, even if their eight-year playoff streak ended on a tiebreaker, and they signed three players in 2025 who could crack the Top 100 in the near future: outfielders Kevin Alvarez and Ethan Frey and shortstop Xavier Neyens. Houston continues to excel at finding bargain pitchers, and its three best mound prospects are 16th-rounder Bryce Mayer, sixth-rounder Ethan Pecko and seventh-rounder A.J. Blubaugh.
The Padres have been the most aggressive buyers on the trade market, and that’s cost them significant prospect losses, both in terms of top talent and overall depth. The shining example was De Vries, who went to the A’s at last year’s Deadline for all-world reliever Mason Miller. In reality, that is part of a farm system’s job — to supply the organization with talent it can turn into Major Leaguers, either on their own or packaged together in deals. In that vein, San Diego has helped get breakouts out of prospects like Miguel Mendez (2025) and Bradgley Rodriguez (2024), two arms now on the 40-man roster. The organization could do something similar in ‘26 with currently undervalued talents. As it stands, Schoolcraft is the only Top 100 prospect in the group ahead of his first full season, and catcher Ethan Salas has the best chance to join him, but only if he can stay healthy and productive for the first time since 2023.

The Texas Rangers are expected to bring their A-list of player prospects for the third-annual MLB Spring Breakout game later this month.
The player pools for the third annual showcase were released on Thursday. Not every prospect will play, but the Rangers’ prospect pool included 27 of their Top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline. At least one is certain not to play. Shortstop Sebastian Walcott recently had UCL surgery on his elbow and is not expected to take at-bats until at least August. Walcott is the Rangers’ No. 1 prospect.
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Texas prospects will face Kansas City prospects on March 20 at Billy Parker Stadium in Surprise, Ariz., with first-pitch set for 1:05 p.m. mountain and 3:05 p.m. central. The game is expected to be broadcast on Rangers Sports Network.
Starting next year, the Spring Breakout is moving to a single-elimination tournament that will crown a Grapefruit League and a Cactus League champion. Those tournaments are expected to take four days during spring training, with the 2027 event set for March 19-22.
Rangers Spring Breakout Prospects to Watch
Among those in the player pool is infielder Cameron Cauley, who is the Rangers’ No. 13 overall prospect per Pipeline and his having a terrific Major League spring training.
In nine Major League spring training games he’s slashed .333/.360/.625 with one home run and three RBI. He hit a home run in Texas’ exhibition game win over Team Brazil, but those numbers don’t count toward spring training stats. Even though he hasn’t taken an at-bat above Double-A Frisco, Cauley is wedging himself into the conversation for one of the three remaining bench spots on the team.
Right-handed pitching prospect Caden Scarborough, who is No. 2 in the organization per Pipeline, leads the pitching prospects. He is not in MLB camp, but he played his way onto the organization’s radar last season with a tremendous 2025. With Class-A Hickory and High-A Hub City, his overall record was 2-5 but the numbers that mattered were stellar. He finished with a 2.45 ERA in 22 games (21 starts), with 114 strikeouts and 21 walks in 88 innings. Batters hit just .181 against him. He also had a 0.88 WHIP.
Last year he was Texas’ No. 28 overall prospect. He could start this season at Frisco with an eye on trying to land a promotion at Triple-A Round Rock.
Recent draft picks that Rangers fans haven’t seen much of are also in the player pool, including A.J. Russell (2025 second round), Josh Owens (2025 third round), Malcolm Moore (2024 first round), Dylan Dreiling (2024 second round) and Jack Wheeler (2025 sixth round).

The Houston Astros have opted for a patient approach with last year’s first round pick, Xavier Neyens. Patience will take a backseat when the Astros play their spring breakout game later this month in Florida.
Major League Baseball announced the player pools for all 30 teams who are preparing their prospects for the third annual showcase of future talent in both the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.
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Houston Astros prospects will face Miami Marlins prospects on March 19 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. eastern.
Starting next year, the Spring Breakout is moving to a single-elimination tournament that will crown a Grapefruit League and a Cactus League champion. Those tournaments are expected to take four days during spring training, with the 2027 event set for March 19-22.
Houston Astros in Spring Breakout
While not all the players in the pool will play, 28 of Houston’s Top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, are part of the roster pool. That includes Neyens, along with the franchise’s No. 1 overall prospect, outfielder Kevin Alvarez.
Neyens played his prep baseball at Mount Vernon High School, about an hour away from Seattle. He committed to Oregon State but passed on college after he signed a slot bonus offer of more than $4 million with Houston. The Astros opted to send him to their complex in West Palm Beach instead of dropping him into their minor league system.
The 6-foot-4 left-handed infielder has a 65 grade on his power on the 20-80 scouting scale. Already 210 pounds, he projects as a power hitter in the Majors, which is why many scouts see him moving to third base.
Alvarez, an outfielder, was signed by the Astros during last year’s international signing period for $2 million. The Cuba native worked out in the Dominican Republic in anticipation of signing a deal. He was terrific in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, as he slashed .301/.419/.455 with a .874 OPS, including two home runs and 33 RBI. He’s expected to begin 2026 with either the Florida Complex League Astros or Class-A Fayetteville.
Several other notable Astros prospects are part of the player pool, including starter Miguel Ullola, who was in Major League camp until he was optioned back to minor league camp earlier this week. Former first-round pick and catcher Walker Janek is part of the roster, along with another former first-round pick, infielder Brice Matthews, who made his Major League debut last season.

One of the best things about the spring breakout games is it gives fans an opportunity to see every franchise’s future up close and personal. The Colorado Rockies will be no exception. The stars will clearly be out.
When Major League Baseball released the player pools for the spring bracket breakout games on Thursday, the Rockies found 29 of their top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline, on the list. That included recent first-round picks like Ethan Holliday and players that could make the Major League opening day roster like Zac Veen.
Colorado Rockies prospects will face Arizona Diamondbacks prospects on March 21 at their shared facility at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. mountain.
Starting next year, the Spring Breakout is moving to a single-elimination tournament that will crown a Grapefruit League and a Cactus League champion. Those tournaments are expected to take four days during spring training, with the 2027 event set for March 19-22.
Colorado Rockies in Spring Breakout
The game could be Rockies fans’ first chance to see Holliday up close. The No. 4 overall pick last season is the son of former Rockies star Matt Holliday. Expectations are massive for him after he signed a $9 million bonus. In his pro debut at Fresno, Holliday slashed .239/.357/.380 with two home runs and six RBI.
Colorado’s first-round pick in 2024, Charlie Condon, is also part of the player pool. He has been on fire at Major League spring training, where he’s making a play for an opening day job either at first base or as a back-up outfielder. Last season in the minor leagues he slashed .268/.376/.444 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI. he also shined in the Arizona Fall League, where he slashed .337/.439/.434 with one home run and 13 RBI in 22 games.
Veen became “clean and sober” in the offseason, reshaped his body and the narrative of his career. He made his MLB debut last year but still qualifies to be a prospect. In spring training, he has slashed .286/.412/.714 with two home runs and four RBI. He’s making a play for one of the final outfield spots on the opening day roster.
Also part of the player pool is Rockies minor league player of the year and pitcher Roldy Brito, along with rising star outfielder Robert Calaz and infielder Roc Riggio, who was acquired from the New York Yankees last year in the Ryan McMahon deal. All three are unlikely to play in the Majors this season but are trying to set themselves up for a shot in 2027.

During the celebratory evening at the White House honoring Inter Miami for winning last year’s Major League Soccer Cup, MLB unexpectedly grabbed some of the spotlight as Alex Rodriguez showed up as one of the night’s main attractions.
While POTUS Donald Trump is usually only occasionally vocal about what’s happening in MLB, he showed on Thursday that he follows the game more closely than people might think. Reportedly, along with the Inter Miami squad, the former Yankees star and current Timberwolves co-owner Rodriguez was in the East Room for the event, and Trump used the moment to playfully address his long-running beef with A-Rod.
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“Trump shouted out his ‘friend’ Alex Rodriguez, who was in attendance at the event,” USA Sports reported.
While Donald Trump reminiscing about his fanboy moment with Alex Rodriguez might not seem unusual now, it does feel a bit strange if you remember how critical he used to be of A-Rod during his playing days.
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Reportedly, Trump talks about being friendly with Rodriguez, as he even hosted him in the Oval Office on Thursday, but that wasn’t always the case. Before entering politics, Trump regularly blasted the former Yankee star. He once called Rodriguez a “druggie,: argued that the Yankees should cancel his contract, and even claimed that “it was only d—s” that made him such a great player.
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So even though the president posed for photos with A-Rod in the Oval Office ahead of the ceremony and later gave him a shout-out during his remarks in the East Room, saying he was a “big fan,” their relationship clearly hasn’t always been this friendly.
And wait, because Trump’s criticism didn’t stop there. He also aimed at MLB as a whole, suggesting the league isn’t doing things the way it used to. But what exactly is wrong? He didn’t really spell it out. But echoing comments he’s made before, when he criticized the league for being woke, Trump said baseball simply isn’t “as hot: right now as it once was.
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So while A-Rod may have finally earned a clean chit from the president after all these years, it seems MLB still has a few things to fix in Trump’s eyes.
This is a developing story…

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The celebration revolved around a soccer team, but President Donald Trump was talking baseball at the White House on Thursday afternoon.
More specifically, his displeasure with the current MLB product.
Trump was hosting Inter Miami CF, the 2025 MLS Cup champions featuring world soccer legend Lionel Messi, when he decided to interject a bit of baseball into the conversation.
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Dominican pitcher Gregory Soto has emerged as one of Major League Baseball’s most dynamic left-handed relievers in recent years. Known for his electric fastball and competitive edge, Soto has built a reputation as a high-leverage bullpen arm. From humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic to becoming a two-time MLB All-Star, his journey is one of persistence and determination.
Who is Gregory Soto? Everything to know
Gregory Soto was born on February 11, 1995, and is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher. He grew up in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic, before signing as an international free agent at the age of 17. Moving to the United States to pursue his dreams brought challenges, including adapting to a new language and culture.
However, through consistent hard work and perseverance, he has gone on to become a two-time MLB All-Star. Let’s take a closer look at his journey and how he rose to prominence in Major League Baseball.
Who are Gregory Soto’s parents? All you need to know
Gregory Soto’s mother is Georgina Soto, while his father’s name is Gregorio Soto. They have definitely instilled the Dominican passion and pride in their son, which is often seen by fans on the baseball field.
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Gregory Soto also has a brother named Jose Soto Barrea. The baseball star is not really public about his family, but often features his father in his social media posts. In fact, he also shared an adorable picture with his mother back in 2021 on X.
He often posts pictures not only with his parents, but also with his wife and children. There are several posts on social media where he is proudly standing with his whole family, reflecting the strong bond he shares with the people he loves.
Who is his wife? Meet Weather and Traffic Anchor Raengel Solis
Gregory’s wife is Raengel Solis, a well-known TV anchor and presenter. She mainly oversees the Traffic and Weather departments. Throughout her career, she has received four Emmy Awards, a testament to her remarkable work and contributions to the industry.
She currently works at Telemundo 47 in New York City, a position she has held since 2018. Before joining Telemundo 47, she worked for Telemundo 49 in Tampa, Florida. Raengel has consistently demonstrated her expertise and professionalism throughout her career in journalism. Her commitment to delivering accurate and reliable news to viewers is reflected in her experience, which dates back to 2011.
In fact, back in 2009, she also showcased her versatility and talent by finishing as the fifth runner-up in the prestigious Miss Dominican Republic beauty pageant.
The couple has been married since 2020. Two years later, on February 15, 2022, they welcomed a new addition to their family—a baby boy named Grencell Soto.
Understanding Gregory Soto’s MLB contract: salary, net worth, and more
Gregory Soto signed a 1-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2026 season. As a 31-year-old left-handed reliever and two-time All-Star, he brings high-stakes experience to the roster after splitting the 2025 season between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets.
Soto signed a 1-year, $7,750,000 contract with the Pirates, including $7,750,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,750,000. In 2026, Soto will earn a base salary of $7,750,000 while carrying a total salary of $7,750,000.
Over the course of his MLB career, Soto has earned several multi-million-dollar contracts through arbitration and free agency. Because of his consistent role as a late-inning reliever and All-Star selections, his estimated net worth is believed to be in the range of $5–10 million, although exact figures are not publicly disclosed.
More on his professional career, stats, records, and more
As of the end of the 2025 MLB season, Gregory Soto has appeared in 391 games over seven seasons, posting a career 4.26 ERA with 56 saves. A two-time All-Star (2021, 2022), he has built a reputation as a power left-handed reliever with a high strikeout ability.
He began his MLB journey with the Detroit Tigers before later playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets. Known for his triple-digit fastball and aggressive pitching style, Soto has often been trusted in late-inning, high-pressure situations throughout his career.
MLB Career Summary (2019–2025)
What do you think about his career trajectory? Tell us in the comments below.

TAMPA — With just under nine months to go until the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire, both MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association have been battening down the hatches for what appears to be increasingly likely next winter: a lockout.
While the two sides are set to begin bargaining some time next month, the looming battle is expected to center on the possibility of a salary cap — with owners pushing for it and the union staunchly against it.
“We’ve been preparing for this fight for years,” MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said Thursday morning at Steinbrenner Field, where the union made a stop on its annual spring tour of all 30 teams.
“We’re coming off a season of incredible momentum and great fan interest, as evidenced by attendance, ratings, anything you want to look at. If the league is saying they’re looking to shut that down, that doesn’t make a lot of sense for a lot of reasons. But we’ll be prepared for that and everything else that may be coming.”
Gerrit Cole, who has previously served on the executive subcommittee, described the meeting with the PA as “very informative, very thorough.”
It came in the wake of Meyer replacing Tony Clark as the head of the union last month, after Clark resigned in the wake of an internal investigation that found he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who was hired by the MLBPA in 2023.
While Cole said he is trying to keep an “optimistic” view in the face of concerns of a lockout, he acknowledged that a salary cap is not the “answer to the questions that we’re trying to answer.”
“The sport is growing, the viewership is younger, the gate is up, the players’ pay is up, club appreciations are up,” Cole said. “Obviously there is a whole list of concerns. … I’m optimistic that through good conversations, through a lot of deliberation and some tense moments, ultimately the best will come out.”
Meyer said that the union has never thought that salary caps were in the best interest of players.
“We see no reason to change that view,” he said.
Meyer also added that salary caps “don’t really guarantee competitive balance,” indicating that baseball has the best competitive balance as opposed to the other major sports, which all have salary caps.
“The problem we have in baseball is not with the teams that are trying to win games and trying to spend money,” Meyer said. “It’s with teams that maybe aren’t trying as hard as they can. That’s the problem with competition in baseball.”
Oswaldo Cabrera will make his spring debut on Friday night, starting at shortstop against the Rays in his first game action since breaking his ankle and suffering ligament damage last May.
“Excited for him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously it’s been a pretty long road for him. It’s been exciting to see some of the improvement he’s made over the last few weeks.”
Cody Bellinger returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time in a week after dealing with a stiff back.
He played four innings in right field and went 0-for-1 with a walk in a rain-shortened 15-0 loss to the Twins at Steinbrenner Field.
“Felt really good,” said Bellinger, who is scheduled to play left field Friday. “Felt 100 percent.”
The Yankees made a round of cuts Thursday, optioning RHP Chase Hampton to Double-A Somerset and reassigning him, RHP Travis MacGregor and RHP Drake Fellows to minor league camp.