3/25-3/26 MLB Updates

American League

East 

• Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman did not disappoint in his spring debut on Monday. He struck out seven through three innings of work.
  

• Orioles: Tony Kemp signed a 1yr, $1M deal and should likely get a spot on the Opening Day roster. Wouldn’t it be sweet if the O’s had a great infield prospect they could promote to the majors instead? 🤔 
  

• Rays: The Trop has a new look and feel, as the team made some changes to the turf this offseason.
  

• Red Sox: After throwing a scoreless inning each Tuesday, Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin should be ready for Opening Day.
  

• Yankees: DJ LeMahieu will open the season on the IL with a bruised right foot. Oswaldo Cabrera will likely be used in the interim.

Central

• Guardians: This was a fun read as the team discussed their ‘Uber identities,’ which varied from car mechanics to real estate agents.
  

• Royals: After leaving Sunday’s game early, x-rays came back negative on Michael Wacha’s finger, and he’ll be good to go for his start to open the team’s second series of the year.
  

• Tigers: Miguel Díaz was informed that he didn’t make the roster and will likely be designated for assignment, which will likely finalize the Opening Day roster.
  

• Twins: Despite batting .108 entering yesterday’s game, the Twins feel good about the direction Matt Wallner is heading as he has two homers in the last week. 📈 

• White Sox: Max Stassi finds himself on the IL to start the year with hip inflammation.

West

• Angels: After not playing baseball last year, Miguel Sanó was excited to learn he made the roster and plans to work to prove he belongs.
  

• Astros: How Justin Verlander feels today after throwing two simulated innings yesterday will determine his next steps in the rehab process.
  

• Athletics: Darell Hernaiz is the youngest player to make this Opening Day roster since Brett Anderson in 2010.
  

• Mariners: Bryan Woo will open the season on the IL with elbow inflammation, and Emerson Hancock will slide into the fifth rotation spot.
  

• Rangers: Only two other position players have made an Opening Day roster with less experience in the Minors than Wyatt Langford since 1965. While Langford gets all the shine, Evan Carter had the lowest chase rate out of 255 eligible players from his call-up date last year. 🤩 

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National League 

East

• Braves: Offseason acquisition Jarred Kelenic finally hits his first homer of the spring on the last day of games.
  

• Marlins: A former top 20 overall prospect, Max Meyer, earns the fifth rotation spot and will be set to make his big league return for the first time since August ‘22.
  

• Mets: Here’s an interesting perspective on the thought process of J.D. Martinez's decision to play in Citi Field over Oracle Park. 💭 
  

• Nationals: In the team's first Futures Game, Dylan Crews, the second overall pick from last year’s draft, got his first base hit in his future home.
  

• Phillies: Taijuan Walker will open the season on the IL after being diagnosed with a shoulder impingement, which sounds like he just needs rest and can start throwing again in a few days.

Central

• Brewers: The Firemen, a YouTube docuseries that debuted last night, focuses on ‘The Life & Death’ of pitching as a reliever. 👨‍🚒 
  

• Cardinals: After we just talked about Dylan Carlson winning the Opening Day centerfield job, he went down with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, putting an electric prospect in centerfield, Victor Scott II.
  

• Cubs: MLB’s 51st-ranked prospect, Michael Busch, made the Opening Day roster and looks set to start at first base.
  

• Pirates: Jared Jones, the club's third-ranked prospect, earned his spot in the starting rotation for Opening Day after giving up zero runs on 16.1 IP while striking out 15.
  

• Reds: Matt McClain had surgery yesterday, and the team hasn’t provided a timetable for his return.

West

• Diamondbacks: A Chase Field first, Monday’s exhibition game was called due to rain, despite having a retractable roof. Jordan Montgomery signed a 1yr, $25M with a player option for the second year. It’s so awesome to see smaller market teams spend cash.

• Dodgers: A few questions remain unanswered after Shohei’s statement on Monday, but I think we watched him discover he was being scammed in real time.
  

• Giants: Pablo Sandoval saw 13 pitches last night, swung at 11 of them, and got a single in what could be his last at bat in a Giants uniform.
  

• Padres: Look no further than this play if you want to know why Fernando Tatis won Platinum Glove last year. 🤩 
  

• Rockies: Michael Toglia gets the call he’s made the Opening Day roster while at a family dinner, and Bud Black has him put the phone on speaker to tell him the news. These are the stories that make spring training great.

🥔 Today’s Tater

Austin Riley sends a solo shot out of the ballpark, literally.

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