Baseball is back in full swing! Saturday marked the first full day of Spring Training games, with all 30 teams taking the field on the same day for the first time since September.
Here’s a recap of the highlights from an eventful day of action across Arizona and Florida, from pitch-perfect team debuts to prospect power displays.
Mets 6, Astros 2
Soto, Holmes impress in Mets debuts
After signing a record-setting 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets in free agency, Juan Soto wasted no time endearing himself to his new fan base, homering in his first spring at-bat with the club. The Mets also got a strong performance from one of their other offseason additions: Clay Holmes, who is transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation. Holmes tossed three perfect innings on 34 pitches (26 strikes) in his start against the Astros. More >
Reds 6, Guardians 3
Elly in midseason form
Elly De La Cruz homered from each side of the plate, including a 450-foot shot to right-center field off Cleveland righty Triston McKenzie in his first at-bat of the spring. For his second long ball, the Reds star crushed one to the opposite field off lefty Logan Allen. Cincinnati later got a three-run go-ahead homer from catcher Will Banfield. More >
Blue Jays 6, Yankees 4
Jones cashes in after Yanks win challenge
Prospect Spencer Jones and the Yankees made good use of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, being tested at the Major League level for the first time this spring. After designated hitter Everson Pereira successfully challenged a called third strike in the sixth, parlaying an inning-ending strikeout into a two-out walk, Jones hit his first home run of the spring, a long opposite-field shot to put New York on the board. More >
Twins 3, Braves 1
Sale dominant in first spring start
Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale breezed through his first spring start, throwing 21 pitches (14 strikes) over two perfect innings against Minnesota. “It’s good to get the first one out of the way,” Sale said. “I always get nervous before starts. So, I was pacing [in the clubhouse] and even in between innings -- it felt like forever. So, to get off on the right foot was a good feeling.” More >
Nationals 6, Astros 3
Hassell’s clutch knock
One of the players acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade during the summer of 2022, Nationals prospect Robert Hassell III is entering a make-or-break season. The outfielder has posted a sub-.650 OPS in each of the past two Minor League campaigns, though he did have a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League last year (four homers, .877 OPS). Hassell got his spring started off on the right foot Saturday, breaking a 3-3 tie with a bases-clearing double in the top of the ninth inning as Washington topped Houston.
Pirates 10, Orioles 5
Gorski is grand
Outfielder Matt Gorski hit two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs for the Pirates. Gorski, 27, a non-roster invitee, hit 23 homers last season with an .841 OPS in Triple-A Indianapolis. Pittsburgh also got two hits and three RBIs from outfielder DJ Stewart. Meanwhile, the Orioles got a homer from Emmanuel Rivera. Gorski is one of a number of Pittsburgh’s non-roster invitees looking to earn their way onto the big league roster with an impressive spring. More >
Red Sox 6, Rays 4
Sox get homers, but Simpson steals the show
Cedanne Rafaela hit his first homer of the spring for Boston, and the Sox got a homer and two RBIs from right-fielder Trayce Thompson, but the play of the game was undoubtedly a spectacular diving catch from Rays center fielder Chandler Simpson, who robbed Boston’s Marcelo Mayer of extra bases in the seventh inning. Simpson broke to his right and sprinted toward the left-center gap before leaving his feet at full speed to snare the sinking liner. More >
Royals 11, Dodgers 10
Dodgers’ bats ignite, but Royals win slugfest
The Dodgers got three hits, including a homer, and five RBIs from catcher Hunter Feduccia while Max Muncy hit a game-tying three-run homer for his first RBIs of the spring, but the Royals got three RBIs from Maikel Garcia and RBIs from six other players as they pounded out 11 hits en route to a comeback win. Kansas City trailed 9-5 entering the sixth inning before scoring six runs over the final four frames, including two runs in the top of the ninth to finally take the lead.
Giants 6, Rangers 1
Eldridge follows through in spring debut
Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge, reporting to big league camp for the first time in his career, spoke earlier in the week about making a good impression on his parent club. Mission accomplished -- facing the Rangers' Matt Festa in the top of the ninth on Saturday, he hit a 110.4-mph, 450-foot home run to dead center. More >
Rockies 9, D-backs 3
"He's a beauty"
With his manager on the call, Rockies prospect Zac Veen hit his first home run of the spring -- a 433-footer off D-backs righty Billy Corcoran -- and (unintentionally) made an especially early case for best bat flip of 2025. More >
Padres 10, Athletics 3
Arraez at it again
Picking up where he left off last season, when he became the first player to win a batting title with three teams, Luis Arraez singled in his first two at-bats of the spring and also picked up his first RBI. San Diego also got a hit and two RBIs from center fielder Jackson Merrill. Meanwhile, the A’s got a homer and a double from right fielder Lawrence Butler. More >