All articles tagged with #spring training
Justin Verlander, 43, returns to the Detroit Tigers as the elder statesman of a young clubhouse, blending relentless work ethic and curiosity with a lighthearted coffee-loving persona. He’s mentoring young arms, trading bullpen feedback, and embracing a full-circle moment as he eyes pitching into his mid-40s and chasing 300 wins, while teammates like Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize adapt to his seasoned approach during spring training.
In a spring-game showcase, Dodgers newcomers shined: Edwin Díaz earned his first save for L.A. as Kyle Tucker delivered an RBI single in the eighth to spark a late surge, sealing the win over the Arizona Diamondbacks with Díaz closing in the ninth and a trumpet-welcome moment adding flair to the debut.
Roman Anthony is being viewed as a clubhouse leader for the Red Sox as he starts his first full MLB season, with teammates like Garrett Whitlock praising his leadership and manager Alex Cora noting a youth-forward clubhouse dynamic that could define the team's culture this year.
In an MLB spring-training-style game, Los Angeles rolled to an 8-2 win over Arizona. The Diamondbacks plated two in the fourth on Perdomo's homer, but the Dodgers answered with a four-run fifth inning capped by A. Pages' three-run shot and a subsequent RBI single from Will Smith. Los Angeles then added four more in the seventh, highlighted by Tucker's double, Betts' RBI, and Smith's homer, while Arizona was held scoreless after that as the Dodgers pulled away.
Gerrit Cole said he’s feeling 'really strong' in his final spring start, throwing 26 pitches over 1⅓ innings (averaging 96.3 mph, up to 98) as he continues Tommy John rehab; the Yankees are targeting a mid‑May return on a 14–18 month timeline, with a light workload ahead before Tampa, the April 3 home opener, and a possible rehab assignment afterward.
Rookie left-hander Connelly Early will open Boston’s 2026 season in the rotation as the No. 3 starter after a standout spring (1.59 ERA) and solid late-2025 big‑league showing. The Sox plan to pair him with Johan Oviedo in the early rotation, with Oviedo serving as a multi‑inning reliever and possible piggyback option behind Ranger Suarez as he builds up. Payton Tolle was optioned to the minors, while Jovani Morán and Danny Coulombe join the bullpen alongside established late‑inning arms Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, as the club maps out its bullpen and rotation for April.
Roki Sasaki’s spring struggles—low strike rate, high ERA and multiple walks in short outings—have the Dodgers rethinking his development, with a likely path back through the minor leagues and a multi-year process to regain his dominant form, though manager Dave Roberts says he still believes in him.
The Texas Rangers will carry Rule 5 right-hander Carter Baumler on their Opening Day roster, with manager Skip Schumaker delivering the news via a mid-game mound visit that his client had made the team. Baumler, 24, has battled injuries (Tommy John and shoulder surgery) but impressed this spring, posting 9 1/3 shutout innings with strong strikeout and ground-ball rates. If he remains on the major-league roster all season, Texas gains five years of control plus three minor option years; if he’s sent to the minors at any point, he would clear waivers and the Orioles could reclaim him for a nominal sum. Baumler’s workload history and spring performance give him a real chance to stick in the Texas bullpen for now.
Boston finalized its position-player roster by keeping Andruw Monasterio as a versatile reserve and Connor Wong as the backup catcher, while optioning Nate Eaton and Mickey Gasper and reassigning Matt Thaiss. The team also assembled a five-man outfield (Yoshida, Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Anthony) to enable late-inning pinch hitting, and trimmed several pitchers (Kelly, Uberstine, Samaniego, Tolle, Kahnle) to minor league camp as spring training winds down. Ryan Watson earned a spot as a multi-inning reliever, with rotation spots still up for grabs between Johan Oviedo and Connelly Early, as Coulombe remains in the mix.}
Mets rookie Carson Benge earned the Opening Day right-field job after a standout Grapefruit League showing (.366/.435/.439) and strong defensive jumps, setting up a regular role as the club overhauls its outfield.
The Rays used Tropicana Field to reacclimate ahead of its April 6 reopening, testing the new fiberglass roof and replacement turf as they head on a nine-game road trip. Players noted brighter light and normal ball behavior off the turf, with manager Kevin Cash calling the venue in good shape and “totally normal.” Meanwhile, Nick Martinez struggled in spring, going 0-4 with a 14.49 ERA as Tampa Bay prepares for the season after hurricane damage to the ballpark.
The Cubs pared down their spring roster three times this weekend, sending players like Collin Snider, Corbin Martin, Jonathon Long, Jefferson Rojas, Ethan Roberts and others to the minors as they shape the bullpen and bench ahead of Opening Day. Jeff Brigham and Gavin Hollowell could factor later, while Rojas remains a top in-house prospect and will begin the season at Double-A Knoxville. More roster tweaks are expected as the Cubs finalize their early-season plans.
Veteran Mets outfielder Mike Tauchman will undergo surgery to repair a meniscus tear, delaying his contribution for the team as a return timeline remains unclear. Despite posting a strong spring (.241/.371/.448 in 13 games) and contending for a roster spot, the injury clouds his outlook for the season, forcing the Mets to consider other options such as Vidal Brujan or prospect Carson Benge for the final bench/outfield spots.
With Seiya Suzuki out due to a right knee ligament strain and Opening Day looming, the Cubs are proceeding cautiously while Michael Conforto appears set to make the roster. Spring Breakout games highlighted prospects like Owen Ayers, Ariel Armas, Kade Snell, and Carter Trice, and Dylan Carlson contributed a homer, signaling a likely 26-man roster presence alongside Conforto as the team trims and finalizes its 2026 lineup.
Kyle Stowers left Friday's Grapefruit League game with right hamstring tightness and Esteury Ruiz exited with a left oblique strain; imaging results have not yet been released. Stowers has a history of a minor hamstring issue and has mostly been limited to live batting practice, while Ruiz’s oblique could sideline him for weeks if not minor. If Stowers opens the season on the 10-day injured list, internal options like Javier Sanoja, Heriberto Hernandez, Christopher Morel, or Connor Norby could fill in in left field, and Miami may seek further outfield depth via trades or free agents depending on camp outcomes. Manager Clayton McCullough provided no new updates on imaging.