Category: Baseball

CC Sabathia’s No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O’Neill was honored with the retirement of No. 21 in 2022. Twenty-three numbers have been retired, with No. 8 set aside for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.

New York made the announcement Wednesday night.

Sabathia will join former teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte with plaques in Monument Park, beyond Yankee Stadium’s center-field fence.

Sabathia was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent.

He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees (2009-19), including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for New York.

Sabathia was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2025.

Other Yankees with retired numbers are: No. 1 (Billy Martin, 1986), No. 2 (Jeter, 2017), No. 3 (Babe Ruth, 1948), No. 4 (Lou Gehrig, 1939), No. 5 (Joe DiMaggio, 1952), No. 6 (Joe Torre, 2014), No. 7 (Mickey Mantle, 1969), No. 8 (Berra and Dickey, 1972), No. 9 (Roger Maris, 1984), No. 10 (Phil Rizzuto, 1985), No. 15 (Thurman Munson, 1979), No. 16 (Whitey Ford, 1974), No. 20 (Jorge Posada, 2015), No. 21 (O’Neill, 2022) No. 23 (Don Mattingly, 1997), No. 32 (Elston Howard, 1984), No. 37 (Casey Stengel, 1970), No. 42 (Mariano Rivera, 2013), No. 44 (Reggie Jackson, 1993), No. 46 (Pettitte, 2015), No. 49 (Ron Guidry, 2003) and No. 51 (Bernie Williams, 2015).

In addition, Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 was retired throughout the major leagues in 1997.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start.

Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls — one of them by the slimmest of margins.

The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one Skenes has for Pittsburgh before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic. He allowed one hit and one run while facing 12 batters. He is going into his third season with the Pirates.

“Winning gold is the biggest thing,” said Skenes, who was then asked if U.S. success in the just-completed Winter Olympics provides more motivation. “Yeah, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, all the other golds that we won in the Olympics. We’re America, we’ve got to assert our dominance over everybody else. That’s what we do. … It’s going to be fun.”

Skenes threw 27 pitches for strikes against the Braves, along with four other pitches initially called strikes by home plate umpire Chris Segal that Braves hitters challenged through the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.

“Today, that’s how it is. I’ve just got to adjust,’ Skenes said. “I think it will even out over the course of the season, but ask me in June.”

Three of those challenges came on consecutive batters in the first inning.

Matt Olson challenged an 82.3 mph curveball that was called a strike, and had a smile on his face as replay showed indeed that the 1-1 pitch was only about one-tenth of an inch off the plate. He went on to draw a walk.

“When the season gets rolling, that’s probably not the pitch that you’re going to be challenging, but you’ve got to feel it out a bit,” Olson said. “I figured, whatever. It was a backdoor sweeper that I felt kind of held up a little bit.”

Jurickson Profar then challenged a 98.3 mph fastball for a strike on the first pitch he faced, and it was overturned to a 1-0 count before he also walked. Austin Riley sought a replay when a 99 mph pitch on an 0-2 count was called a strike, but was above the zone, though on the next pitch he struck out swinging on a 98.5 mph fastball just below that.

In the Braves second, Ronald Acuna asked for a review and got a ball on a 97.6 mph fastball off the plate that had been called a strike.

While the overturned strike thrown to Riley was the fastest of the day by Skenes, his fastball was consistently in the upper-90s throughout his outing.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Team USA is bringing its best roster, the Dominican Republic is once again oozing with talent and Venezuela’s lineup can contend with anyone, but until proven otherwise, Japan still sits on the throne as the kings of international competition.

Japan has dominated the World Baseball Classic unlike any other country, winning the tournament in three of its five editions, and the group again looks fully capable of defending its standing. In 2023, Japan stormed back in the late innings to triumph over Mexico in a semifinal walk-off win before holding off Team USA in the finals when WBC MVP Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in an epic at-bat to take back the title. 

Ohtani won’t have the chance to do that again in 2026, as he’ll only be hitting this time around. That’s a tough blow to a Samurai Japan pitching staff that will be without four of the five pitchers who started games in the 2023 WBC, but they’ll still have Yoshinobu Yamamoto as their ace fresh off earning World Series MVP honors, plus two more MLB starters in Yusei Kikuchi and Tomoyuki Sagano and reigning Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh. 

Any questions about the rotation are mitigated by the depth of a lineup that bullied the competition while going undefeated in 2023. Ohtani will once again spearhead a Japan offense that outscored its pool-play opponents by 30 runs in the last WBC and finished the tournament with the highest OPS of any team that made it out of the knockout round. 

Now, Seiya Suzuki will be joining the group coming off a 32-homer season with the Cubs after missing the 2023 competition due to injury. He’ll be among five MLB position players on the roster, a group that includes Ohtani, Masataka Yoshida and incoming NPB standouts Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. 

Manager Hirokazu Ibata will have plenty of lineup iterations to choose from — there’s so much established NPB talent in place that it might be hard to find regular at-bats for Teruaki Sato, who hit 40 home runs last year while being named Central League MVP — but here’s one option that could maximize Japan’s offensive capabilities as it attempts to defend its crown: 

Lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani (L)
2. Seiya Suzuki (R)
3. Kensuke Kondo (L)
4. Kazuma Okamoto (R)
5. Munetaka Murakami (L)
6. Shugo Maki (R)
7. Masataka Yoshida (L)
8. Seishiro Sakamoto (R)
9. Kaito Kozono (L)

So, how would that look defensively?

Outfield:

LF: Masataka Yoshida
CF: Seiya Suzuki 
RF: Kensuke Kondo

The safer move would be putting Shota Morishito in center flanked by Yoshida in left and Suzuki in right, but there have already been rumblings leading into the competition of Japan potentially using Suzuki in center. While that carries some disaster potential defensively (especially with Yoshida in left), it would also be the most powerful offensive configuration and allow Team Japan to keep the bats of both Yoshida and Kondo in the lineup. Yoshida hit .409 with a team-high 13 RBI in the 2023 tournament, while Kondo hit .346 with a 1.115 OPS. Kondo has had an OPS over .900 in each of his last three seasons in NPB. 

Infield:

1B: Munetaka Murakami 
2B: Shugo Maki 
SS: Kaito Kozono 
3B: Kazuma Okamoto

C: Seishiro Sakamoto 
DH: Shohei Ohtani 

MLB fans have more of a reason to watch Japan with a closer eye now that Murakami will be joining the White Sox and Okamoto will be playing for the Blue Jays in 2026. Murakami famously hit 56 home runs as a 22-year-old in 2022 and averaged more than 30 home runs per season over his eight-year NPB career. Okamoto also brings power — he hit at least 30 home runs every season from 2018-23 with the Yomiuri Giants — with less of a strikeout risk, coming off a 2025 NPB campaign in which he slashed .327/.416/.598 with as many walks as strikeouts. Kozono won the Central League batting title last season, hitting .309 in a career year with the Hiroshima Carp. Maki played on the 2023 tournament team and has recorded an OPS of at least .800 in each of his five NPB seasons. At catcher, expect Yamamoto’s former Orix Buffaloes teammate Kenya Wakatsuki to be behind the plate when he starts. Otherwise, Sakamoto might get the majority of the time coming off his best offensive season in years. That’s all before getting to Ohtani, who needs little explanation coming off back-to-back 50-homer seasons with the Dodgers and a dominant showing in the last WBC.

Rotation

RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto
LHP Yusei Kikuchi
RHP Hiromi Itoh 
RHP Tomoyuki Sugano

Yamamoto struck out 12 batters in 7.1 innings in the 2023 tournament and demonstrated his ability to rise to the biggest occasions during the 2025 MLB playoffs. He threw complete games in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series, and after earning the win in Game 6 of the Fall Classic to keep the Dodgers’ season alive, he emerged in relief one day later to seal a championship in relief. Unfortunately for Japan, he can’t start every game of the WBC. Instead, he’ll be the ace of a pitching staff that isn’t quite as daunting as the 2023 group. Kikuchi was an All-Star for the Angels in 2025 and had an ERA a tick under 4.00 but surrendered more hits than any pitcher in the American League. Sugano registered a 4.64 ERA for the Orioles and surrendered an American League-leading 33 home runs. There’s still plenty of talented arms behind that trio, however, including reigning Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh, who made three scoreless relief outings in the 2023 tournament. Also worth keeping an eye on: New Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who’s coming off a career year in NPB, is not on the initial roster but is part of the designated pitcher pool and could be added in later rounds if (when) Japan advances. 

Bullpen

RHP Shoma Fujihira 
RHP Koki Kitayama
LHP Yuki Matsui 
RHP Yuki Matsumoto 
LHP Hiroya Miyagi
RHP Taisei Ota
LHP Ryuhei Sotani
LHP Chihiro Sumida
RHP Hiroto Takahashi
RHP Atsuki Taneichi

Many of Japan’s relief arms are actually standout starters in NPB and can provide length if needed. Kitayama ranked third in ERA (1.63) and Taneichi ranked fifth in strikeouts (161 in 160.2 innings) among qualified NPB pitchers last year. Takahashi, Sumida and Miyagi, a holdover from the 2023 championship team who ranked third in NPB in strikeout rate last year, all threw at least 150-plus innings with a sub-3.00 ERA last season. Ota made four scoreless relief outings for Japan in the last WBC. Matsui is the lone MLB pitcher of the group, but his status is in question as he deals with a groin injury. 

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National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start.

Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2.1 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4-for-4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls.

The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one for Skenes before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic. He allowed one hit and one run while facing 12 batters. He is going into his third season with the Pirates.

Skenes threw 27 pitches for strikes, along with four other pitches initially called strikes by home plate umpire Chris Segal that Braves hitters challenged through the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.

Three of those challenges came on consecutive batters in the first inning.

[Robot Umpires are Coming to MLB: Here’s How They Work]

Matt Olson challenged an 82.3 mph curveball that was called a strike, and had a smile on his face when replay showed indeed that the 1-1 pitch was just off the plate. He went on to draw a walk.

Jurickson Profar then challenged a 98.3 mph fastball for a strike on the first pitch he faced, and it was overturned to a 1-0 count before he also walked. Austin Riley sought a replay when a 99 mph pitch on an 0-2 count was called a strike, but was above the zone, though on the next pitch he struck out swinging on a 98.5 mph fastball just below that.

In the Braves second, Ronald Acuna asked for a review and got a ball on a 97.6 mph fastball off the plate that had been called a strike.

While the overturned strike thrown to Riley was the fastest of the day by Skenes, he was consistently in the upper-90s throughout his outing.

How does the Automated Ball-Strike System work?

Stadiums are outfitted with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. In early testing, umpires wore ear buds and would hear “ball” or “strike,” then relay that to players and fans with traditional hand signals.

The challenge system adds a wrinkle. Human umps call every pitch, but each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. Teams that burn their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big-league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season.

Only a batter, pitcher or catcher may challenge a call, signaling with the tap of a helmet or cap; and assistance from the dugout is not allowed. A challenge must be made within 2 seconds, and the graphic of the pitch and strike zone are shown on the scoreboard and broadcast feed. The umpire then announces the updated count.

MLB estimates the process averages 17 seconds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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“Bear Bets” are real wagers that Chris “The Bear” Fallica is actually making.

Don’t worry that football season is on a hiatus. There are so many other betting markets to dive into, it’ll make your head spin.

March Madness is on the horizon, we’re in the height of the Premier League season and there are some futures wagers that are worth a look.

Here are a few bets I’m making right now.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Man City to win Premier League

At the time of me writing this, City are five points back of Arsenal with a game in hand. Assuming City wins that game in hand, that moves them two back while even on games. That’s huge, as City host Arsenal on April 18. 

This much we know: If City win its final 11 matches, it will be Premier League champions. 

Given Arsenal’s form lately — dropping points to Wolves and Brentford — City might not even need to be perfect. Since adding Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo in the transfer windows, Pep Guardiola’s squad has looked to be the class of the league once again.

PICK: Man City (+150) to win Premier League

Tennessee to make Final Four 

The Vols currently sit 14 in KenPom and certainly have tested themselves in the non-conference, beating Houston and Louisville, while losing a close game to Kansas and a game to Illinois, as well. The Vols’ last two losses (both to Kentucky) have come by a combined five points in games they should have won. 

There doesn’t seem to be as much buzz about Rick Barnes’ team this year and maybe that’s a good thing. However, with Nate Ament and Ja’Kobi Glllespie, the Vols have a pair of guys who can make plays on the big stage. 

Tennessee is on that four or five line right now. And while we all agree the 1-seeds look to be on a different level this year, the Vols’ combination of those two guys — along with a typical Rick Barnes defense and battle-tested bunch — would be an uneasy Sweet 16 matchup for any of the one seeds. 

PICK: Tennessee (+1600) to make Final Four

Nick Kurtz to hit 50 home runs 

Kurtz showed last year he’s headed toward becoming one of the best hitters in baseball. The Athletics will again play home games in Sacramento at Sutter Health Park, which has little foul ground and sees the ball carry quite well. Kurtz had 36 home runs in 420 at-bats last year and it would be no surprise if he took an even bigger step forward this year. 

PICK: Nick Kurtz (+600) to hit 50 HR

Jackson Chourio to win NL MVP 

Look, betting into the AL and NL MVP markets is a buyer-beware exercise because you know that both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are massive favorites. If you’re looking to throw a dart in case something happens to Ohtani, Chourio is a pretty decent option. He’s gone .270-20-20 in each of his first two seasons and that was despite missing 30 games last year. Add in plus-defense for a team that should again contend to win the division, and you’ve got someone entering his age-22 season that could completely break out in a huge way.

PICK: Jackson Chourio (+5000) to win NL MVP

Minnesota Twins worst record 

The Rockies are rightfully and deservedly a massive favorite to again have the worst record in the sport. They do not appear to be trying to win. The pitching staff is an abomination. 

So why am I throwing a dart on the Twins at 35-1? 

Well, ace Pablo Lopez is headed for Tommy John surgery. Joe Ryan is nursing back problems. The rest of the rotation is not that encouraging. And have you seen the bullpen? Taylor Rogers is the likely closer and 3B Royce Lewis is untrustworthy to play even 100 games. The Tigers and Royals are the class of the division, the Guardians are middling and the White Sox improved. Whatever assets the Twins have could be dumped at the deadline. 

Might this end up a 55-win team? There’s certainly a non-zero chance. 

PICK: Minnesota Twins (+3500) worst record

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Shohei Ohtani captured the MVP in the 2023 World Baseball Classic after leading Japan to its third WBC title in the most spectacular fashion. 

The superstar struck out Mike Trout — his former teammate on the Angels — before being crowned the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. 

Will two-way Shohei take home the trophy again in 2026?

Here are the latest odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Feb. 24.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

WBC MVP odds

Aaron Judge (USA): +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Shohei Ohtani (JPN): +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Paul Skenes (USA): +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Bryce Harper (USA): +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Kyle Schwarber (USA): +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Gunnar Henderson (USA): +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Logan Webb (USA): +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (DOM): +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total
Bobby Witt Jr. (USA): +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Juan Soto (DOM): +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Seiya Suzuki (JPN): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Byron Buxton (USA): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (JPN): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Cal Raleigh (USA): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Munetaka Murakami (JPN): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Roman Anthony (USA): +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Ronald Acuna Jr. (VEN): +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)
Kazuma Okamoto (JPN): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Julio Rodriguez (DOM): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Fernando Tatis Jr. (DOM): +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)

Here’s what to know about the oddsboard:

The Favorites: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are currently the one-two punch on this board, with Judge getting the edge. Yankees slugger Judge is making his very first appearance in the Classic. He declined the WBC invitation back in 2023 because, at the time, he chose to focus on his status as a free agent, and he was coming off a 2022 season in which he had hit an AL-record-breaking 62 home runs. He will now make his debut and will carry the title of captain. When it comes to Ohtani, as noted above, he’s no stranger to this game, earning the honor of WBC MVP in 2023.

One to Watch: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a little further down the oddsboard, but he could still be one to watch in this tournament. Three months after he and his Blue Jays lost the World Series to the Dodgers in seven games, Guerrero has noted that he’s “turned the page” on that heartbreak. Like Judge, the five-time All-Star will make his debut in the 2026 Classic. He finished 2025 hitting .292 with 23 home runs and 84 RBIs.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Is this the Mexico team that goes all the way? 

In 2023, they were one inning away from advancing to the championship of the World Baseball Classic, leading 5-4 in the ninth inning of one of the most thrilling games of the tournament, when Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double in the semifinals sent Japan through. 

Still, Mexico’s third-place finish was its best ever showing at the tournament, and this time it will have All-Star closer Andres Munoz available to hold leads late. 

WBC Rosters: Team-By-Team Squads

The team will again be led by Randy Arozarena, who tends to rise to the occasion when the spotlight is brightest. In the last WBC, Arozarena delivered in the clutch at the plate while patrolling left field expertly with his typical swagger. He’s among a large contingent of MLB returnees from the impressive 2023 team, which exceeded expectations while going 3-1 in pool play — including an 11-5 win against Team USA — before storming past Puerto Rico with a late charge in the quarterfinals. 

WBC Power Rankings: Stacking Japan, USA and All 20 Squads

There are questions about the rotation, and it will hurt not having Isaac Paredes in the lineup this time around, but the additions of Muñoz, Alejandro Kirk, Joey Ortiz and Taj Bradley to the group add more high-end talent to the roster. Kirk is a huge upgrade behind the plate, Arozarena and Duran give Mexico two of the best corner outfielders in the tournament, and Aranda is coming off an All-Star season with the Rays. 

No matter the competition, Mexico will not be intimidated by its opponent. That will be important, considering it is in a pool with the USA yet again as well as a formidable Italy squad. If it makes it out of pool play, manager Benji Gil’s experienced group is capable of once again making a deep run. 

Here’s one look at a potential Mexico lineup: 

Lineup:

1. Randy Arozarena (R)
2. Jarren Duran (L)
3. Alejandro Kirk (R)
4. Jonathan Aranda (L)
5. Nick Gonzales (R)
6. Rowdy Tellez (L)
7. Ramón Urías (R)
8. Alek Thomas (L)
9. Joey Ortiz (R)

So, how would that look defensively?

Outfield

LF: Randy Arozarena 
CF: Alek Thomas
RF: Jarren Duran 

Arozarena led off at the last tournament, and that worked out well. He dazzled as one of the best hitters in the whole field, going 9-for-20 with seven extra-base hits. Duran only got five at-bats in the last tournament and was not yet the player he would become, accumulating 15.5 WAR over the last three years. The top half of the Mexico lineup can do a lot of damage. Thomas and Alejandro Osuna, who debuted for the Texas Rangers in 2025, bring more MLB experience to the outfield group, which also includes Julián Ornelas, the older brother of Padres prospect Tirso Ornelas. Thomas was Mexico’s starter in center in the last tournament, and he would seem the likeliest fit to retain that role. 

Infield

1B: Jonathan Aranda
2B: Nick Gonzales
SS: Joey Ortiz
3B: Ramón Urías
C: Alejandro Kirk 
DH: Rowdy Tellez 

All-Stars Aranda and Kirk should be locks at their positions. Aside from that, Gil can mix and match across the infield among a relatively light-hitting but versatile group of current and former big-leaguers that includes Ortiz, Gonzales and brothers Ramon and Luis Urias. They were well below-league-average MLB hitters last year, but an infield that includes Ortiz and Gonzales up the middle with Kirk behind the plate should make Mexico’s pitchers thrilled. Luis had a terrific 2023 WBC (.825 OPS), so it’s possible he ends up starting at second or third, but I gave Ramón the nod here coming off a 2.2-WAR season between Baltimore and Houston. Joey Meneses also was a 2023 WBC standout (.963 OPS), but Tellez has more recent success after posting a 124 OPS+ in 50 games for the Rangers last season. Gil could decide to use Tellez as the DH against righties and Meneses against lefties. Jared Serna, another versatile defensive prospect for the Marlins, rounds out the roster. 

Rotation

RHP Javier Assad 
RHP Taijuan Walker
RHP Taj Bradley 

Losing Jose Urquidy for insurance reasons is going to sting for a Mexico roster that doesn’t have a ton of starting pitching options, so it will need a lot from this trio if it wants to repeat its 2023 success. After firing 5.2 scoreless innings of relief in the last tournament, Assad might now have to be Mexico’s ace. He has spent most of the last two years as a starter with the Cubs, amassing a 3.72 ERA over that time. Walker threw four scoreless innings in the last WBC, but he has a 4.88 ERA over the last three years with the Phillies. Bradley, a former top prospect, struggled last season between Tampa Bay and Minnesota but adds a hard fastbal and vital depth to the group.

Bullpen

RHP Andrés Muñoz
RHP Victor Vodnik
LHP Robert Garcia 
LHP Brennan Bernardino
LHP Samy Natera Jr  
RHP Daniel Duarte 
LHP Alexander Armenta 
RHP Jesus Cruz 
RHP Alex Carrillo 
RHP Luis Gastelum 
RHP Roel Ramírez 
RHP Gerardo Reyes

Mexico will need a lot of innings — and potentially some bullpen games — from this group, which features a number of big-league talents as well as a KBO pitcher in Armenta.  Muñoz is the standout of the unit, coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons with the Mariners. Last year, he didn’t allow his first earned run of the season until his 25th appearance of the year. There’s some interesting depth in front of him. Vodnik is prone to hard contact, but he throws in the high-90s and managed a 3.02 ERA in Colorado last season. Garcia and Bernardino are coming off strong years in the Texas and Boston bullpens, respectively. Natera, an Angels prospect, struck out 85 batters but also walked 42 in 57 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year.  

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The future was sent over the outfield wall for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.

In the top of the second inning of Pittsburgh’s spring training matchup against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon, shortstop Konnor Griffin — the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball, according to MLB Pipeline — demolished a curveball from star left-hander Ranger Suarez over the left field wall.

Two innings later, faced with an 0-2 count, Griffin launched a home run to left-center field for his second long ball of the game. He finished the day going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Pittsburgh selected the now-19-year-old Griffin directly out of high school with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He played at three levels of minor-league ball for the Pirates in 2025, appearing in 50 games in Low-A, 51 games in High-A and 21 games in Double-A. 

In all, Griffin totaled 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases across 122 combined games in 2025, while posting a .333/.415/.527 slash line. He made 88 starts at shortstop, 15 in center field and 18 as a designated hitter.

The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season, their seventh consecutive year with a losing record and 10th consecutive year missing the playoffs. 

That said, they were active this offseason, acquiring second baseman and two-time All-Star Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays and making a five-player trade with the Red Sox that sent pitchers Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman to Boston for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-hander Jesus Travieso.

Pittsburgh also signed first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn (two years, $29 million), designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (one year, $12 million) and reliever Gregory Soto (one year, $7.8 million), among others.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances.

The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers.

“The reason I didn’t announce it (sooner) was I wanted to keep the momentum on the WBC, but I’m just making one start and then I’ll stick around for a few games,” Skubal told reporters Monday in Florida. “I haven’t determined what games I’m going to watch. If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys. But yeah, I’m just making one start and getting back on track and getting back to here.”

Skubal made his first Grapefruit League start Monday, striking out four over two scoreless innings of two-hit ball in Detroit’s 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He is expected to pitch for the Tigers again Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and then start for the U.S. late next week during WBC pool play in Houston.

After that, the rest of his outings this spring will come in a Detroit uniform, he said.

“It’s kind of the best of both worlds. That was the communication I had with those guys,” Skubal said. “There’s some risk obviously, and I’m trying to do both things, trying to pitch for Team USA, but also I understand I need to be here with these guys and get ready for the season. I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect, and I’m grateful they took me in that capacity.”

Skubal, who can become a free agent in the fall, is scheduled to start Detroit’s season opener March 26 in San Diego. The 29-year-old left-hander won his salary arbitration hearing with the Tigers this month and will be paid $32 million this season instead of the team’s $19 million offer.

The WBC runs from March 5-17 in Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be played for the second straight time.

“The whole point of me doing the WBC was to make sure that I could stay on a normal workload of a spring training regimen and be able to make a start for Team USA and then come back here and continue my normal routine to get ready for opening day,” Skubal said. “I think everything’s going to stay the same. I’m not ramping up earlier than I need to. I don’t want that narrative out there. I’m treating this as I’m going to Team USA, making a start, coming back to Lakeland and getting ready to go for opening day.”

Skubal, a two-time All-Star, has won the past two AL Cy Young Awards and ERA titles. He was 13-6 with a career-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last season, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.

Reporting by The Associated Press

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Puerto Rico enters the 2026 World Baseball Classic as perennial contenders that demand immense respect. They’ve appeared in all five previous editions of the tournament and advanced past the group stage each time. They’ve reached the championships twice, a mark of their global impact and incredible talent depth. 

This year, their sky-high expectations haven’t changed even as they carry a diluted roster devoid of its usual high-profile icons. Star infielders Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javier Baez did not qualify for the team due to various insurance reasons, but the goal remains the same: Win the title for the first time in WBC history.

WBC Rosters: Team-By-Team Squads

Led by manager and two-time World Series champion Yadier Molina, Puerto Rico will depend on a blend of major-league experience and emerging young talent to break through in a year when they’re being underestimated. It’s fair to question whether Puerto Rico has enough offensive depth with fewer on-base machines and power threats compared to their competitors. They’ll need to depend on a trio of veterans — Nolan Arenado (who previously played for Team USA), Martin Maldonado and Christian Vazquez — with clutch hitting and championship experience to spark the offense. 

Puerto Rico’s best strength is a fiery bullpen, commanded by top closer Edwin Diaz. The latest Mets-to-Dodgers transplant returns to the international stage after his fluke injury — jumping up and down on the mound in celebration of a WBC win back in 2023 — forced Diaz to miss that entire season for the Mets. His elite swing-and-miss stuff will help Puerto Rico shut down tight games in their favor. 

WBC Power Rankings: Stacking Japan, USA and All 20 Squads

The rest of the pitching staff features intriguing arms, including veteran right-hander Seth Lugo (runner-up for the 2024 American League Cy Young award), Fernando Cruz (3.56 ERA in 49 relief appearances for the Yankees last year), and Elmer Rodriguez (the Yankees’ top right-handed pitching prospect who registered a 2.58 ERA across three minor-league levels in 2025). 

Molina and his general manager, new Cooperstown inductee Carlos Beltran, and his hitting coach, Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez, will have some tough decisions to make as they deploy a lineup that will try to prove that it’s still capable of terrorizing opposing pitchers.

Here’s one take on how Puerto can optimize its offense:

Lineup

1. Heliot Ramos (R)
2. Willi Castro (S)
3. Nolan Arenado (R)
4. MJ Melendez (L)
5. Martin Maldonado (R)
6. Carlos Cortes (L)
7. Edwin Arroyo (S)
8. Emmanuel Rivera (R)
9. Eddie Rosario (L)

How would that look defensively?

Outfield

LF: Heliot Ramos
CF: Eddie Rosario
RF: MJ Melendez

Puerto Rico will carry a total of seven players capable of playing the outfield, with Matthew Lugo and Bryan Torres filling out the bench. The starting trio of Ramos, Rosario and Melendez can be flipped around defensively, but Rosario has the most experience patrolling center field among that group. Melendez’s speed could also fare well in the center of the diamond.

Infield

1B: Emmanuel Rivera
2B: Willi Casto
SS: Edwin Arroyo
3B: Nolan Arenado
C: Martin Maldonado
DH: Carlos Cortes

This is where Puerto Rico will look unrecognizable compared to previous years. Arroyo, the Cincinnati Reds No. 8 top prospect in 2025, replaced Lindor at short. Castro, who has major-league experience playing six positions, is the team’s super-utility weapon. Cortes batted .309 with an .866 OPS in 42 games for the Athletics in his rookie season last year. Maldonado will split time behind the plate with veteran catcher Christian Vazquez. Arenado switched from Team USA to Puerto Rico for the first time this year to honor his mother, Pam, who is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent. This will be the eight-time All-Star’s third time participating in the WBC.

Rotation

RHP Seth Lugo
RHP Elmer Rodriguez
LHP Eduardo Rivera

The starting staff looks different, and less solid, without ace Jose Berrios. The Blue Jays right-hander was also denied insurance coverage for the WBC due to his recent injury history. Puerto Rico will depend on Lugo to carry the three-man rotation, likely opting for a bullpen game in place of a fourth starter.

Bullpen

RHP Edwin Diaz
RHP Fernando Cruz
RHP Jorge Lopez
LHP Jovani Moran
RHP Jose Espada
RHP Luis Quiñones
RHP Ricardo Velez

The relief corps is Puerto Rico’s strength because it boasts the sport’s top closer in Diaz, who will enter after set-up man Cruz pitches the eighth inning. That’s as formidable (and strikeout heavy) of a backend bullpen as it gets across the WBC. Puerto Rico is likely to depend on innings from its veteran relievers, including Lopez (who is infamous for throwing his glove into the stands and igniting the 2024 OMG Mets) and Moran. Other than those four experienced hurlers, Espada, Quiñones, and Velez make up some young and interesting arms that lack big-league experience but could end up being surprising trailblazers on the international stage.

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