A first-time champ, a massive trade and more bold predictions for '26
Everywhere I go, people stop me on the street and say: “Big AC [that’s what they call me on the street], how can you be so wrong so often and still keep making baseball predictions?” What can I say? Consistency and durability are essential in the grueling world of MLB,
Spring Breakout results and what to watch on Day 2
Spring Breakout returns for its third installment after receiving a great deal of fanfare over the past two years. The weekend got going with six must-see matchups on Thursday and continues through Sunday evening. As in previous years, all 30 Major League clubs will field teams of their best prospects
Ranking the best hitters entering the 2026 season -- with one tie!
Many of the best hitters on Earth have already taken their cuts this year in games that matter, thanks to the World Baseball Classic. You had Aaron Judge going deep for Team USA, Shohei Ohtani launching a grand slam at Tokyo Dome for Japan, Juan Soto crushing a run rule
101 mph (from an 18-year-old!) blows away MLB's No. 5 prospect -- and his helmet
JUPITER, Fla. -- There was a breeze at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, but it was generated by the speed of 18-year-old Miguel Sime Jr.’s 100.8 mph fastball that blew the helmet off No. 5 overall prospect JJ Wetherholt. In the Nationals' 9-8 loss to the Cardinals in their
Fan holding a baby snares a foul ball -- and the baby sleeps right through it!
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres welcomed back two Gold Glovers on Thursday, with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado returning to the lineup after their trip to the World Baseball Classic. But the best play made by a Padre on Thursday night? That came in section 110 at the Peoria
These teams are projected for the biggest internal improvement
In the winter leading into the Blue Jays' incredible 2025 turnaround, which came up an inch shy of a World Series title, the Jays tried to get better externally. The club added Anthony Santander to address its slumping run production. They traded for Andrés Giménez's glove but also hoped his
Fantasy mock draft lessons to remember when you draft for real
We’re less than a week away from 2026 Opening Day and the vast majority of fantasy baseball drafts are going to take place either this weekend or early next week. One of the most common forms of preparation for any fantasy season is mock drafting. You can consume as much
Netflix wants you to be a part of Opening Night ... here's how
If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of Opening Day festivities, Netflix has the perfect opportunity for you.
You know about Skubal, but another AL Central lefty is a Cy candidate, too
Can you call it “a breakout” if the player in question already finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting just two seasons ago? No, probably not. Can you call it “a comeback” if every advanced metric said that the same pitcher, last season, was then even better –
From rare disease to Spring Breakout, Dinges' comeback fight continues
PHOENIX -- At his low point, Marco Dinges lay curled up in the fetal position in a Florida hospital bed. He had endured more than a month of sleep-deprived nights and 104-degree fevers with a disease the doctors couldn’t crack. His father remembers standing by with tears in his eyes
Yesavage to open season on IL with shoulder impingement
DUNEDIN -- The hits just keep on coming to the Blue Jays’ rotation. Trey Yesavage, the breakout star of 2025 and an early favorite for the ‘26 AL Rookie of the Year Award, will begin the season on the IL. Yesavage is dealing with a right shoulder impingement, manager John
B.A.T. sets fifth consecutive fundraising record with $5.3 million raised
The Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) has raised a record $5,391,310 in commitments from 1,639 players, coaches and front office personnel across MLB’s 30 Clubs during the 2026 Spring Training Fundraising Tour. This marks the fifth consecutive year that B.A.T. has broken its overall fundraising record, exceeding 2025 by almost $1
Senga continues strong spring, making case for spot in Mets' Opening Day rotation
When a 21-35 finish to the 2025 season knocked the Mets out of the playoffs, the club's starting pitching was one culprit. The team's rotation ranked 18th in the Majors in ERA (4.13), including 27th after the All-Star break (5.31). They’ve made moves to help remedy that in 2026, such
Chourio, Contreras and Zerpa bring their pride back from the Classic
PHOENIX – There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a clubhouse stops being a workplace and starts feeling like a neighborhood. For Jackson Chourio, William Contreras and Angel Zerpa, that magic followed them from the roar of the World Baseball Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami to
Mariners' top pitching prospects developing fast friendship this spring
This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer’s Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Here are all 30 Spring Breakout rosters
The third annual edition of Spring Breakout, which takes place Thursday through Sunday, features hundreds of the top prospects from around the game. The rosters are stacked, highlighted by 54 players on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list and more than 500 of the 900 players on organizational Top 30
Wetherholt makes Opening Day case with strong Spring Breakout performance
JUPITER, Fla. -- JJ Wetherholt is the Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect and No. 5 overall per MLB Pipeline, and he's lived up to the billing during the exhibition season. In fact, if things continue to go well, don’t be surprised if Wetherholt is named the Opening Day second baseman against
Yankees make 'difficult decision' to send Lagrange to Minor League camp
TAMPA, Fla. -- No one turned more heads in Yankees camp than Carlos Lagrange, a flame-throwing right-hander whose triple-digit fastball and knee-buckling secondary pitches drew attention from even the club’s most experienced veterans. Lagrange’s performance sparked internal debate, too, as officials wrestled with having the club’s top pitching prospect break
2026 final was most-watched Classic telecast ever
Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic title game was the most-watched WBC telecast of all time, FOX Sports PR announced on Thursday. An audience of 10.784 million viewers tuned in to watch Venezuela capture its first WBC title with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Team USA. Viewership peaked from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET,
Here's 5 things to watch in Tigers' Spring Breakout game
This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Did you expect someone else? Skenes to get Opening Day nod
SARASOTA, Fla. — Paul Skenes returned from the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday. A day later, Pirates manager Don Kelly informed the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner what pretty much everyone has expected: Yes, Skenes will start on Opening Day.
Fried's final spring tuneup wasn't perfect, and that was perfect for him
TAMPA, Fla. -- There was no ceremonial reveal when Max Fried learned he would be making his first Opening Day start as a member of the Yankees -- just a pitcher and his manager in a windowless office, huddled over a calendar. “It was just going through my schedule, like,
After close call with Team USA, Harper ready to finish the job with Phillies
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryce Harper is as hungry as ever. He spent the past couple of weeks playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He had a blast, he said. He capped the tournament by crushing a dramatic game-tying two-run home run with two outs in the eighth