Here's everything you need to know for Year 3 of Spring Breakout
Spring Breakout is back for its third year, putting a preseason spotlight on baseball’s best prospect talents. The two previous iterations have already given us several memorable moments, like Paul Skenes’ strikeout of Jackson Holliday in a matchup of former No. 1 overall picks and Roman Anthony’s home run deep
Clark impresses manager with growth, work ethic in valuable camp experience
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Max Clark’s first Major League camp is over. But the Tigers’ No. 2 prospect showed plenty with Detroit in Spring Training to reassure that it won’t be his last. With just a couple weeks left in Spring Training and the Tigers ramping up playing time for their
This prospect is turning heads in spring while managing challenges of diabetes
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- It was his sophomore year at Sam Houston State when catcher Walker Janek began to rapidly lose weight. He dropped about 25 pounds in a month and knew immediately something wasn’t right with his body. So what does any college student with a problem do?
With Soto at Classic, Ewing seizing moment in Mets camp
This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. Bill Ladson wrote this edition. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Agnos impressing in Rockies camp with new pitches, mindset
This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
De Vries hits first homer with A's – then tops it with a grand slam
MESA, Ariz. – It might be the first time Leo De Vries slugged a home run rocking the kelly green and gold, but it certainly won't be the last. These are just Cactus League games after all, and De Vries throttled not one but two homers in an 11-7 win
Kurtz ... Trout ... Ethan Murray? Brewers Minor Leaguer blasts MASSIVE homer
PHOENIX -- Infielder Ethan Murray is not usually mentioned among the Brewers’ prospects with light tower power. But maybe he should be. Murray, a 25-year-old who split last season between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville, crushed a go-ahead three-run home run in Sunday’s 6-3 Brewers win over the Mariners that
Next generation of Royals catchers learning from one of the best
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Blake Mitchell, the Royals’ No. 2 prospect, arrives at Surprise Recreation Campus for Spring Training at 6:30 a.m., ready to lift weights. By the time he arrives, veteran catcher Salvador Perez is already halfway through his session. For Perez, whose mornings often start an hour or two
No. 5 prospect's defensive strides impressing Tigers
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Max Anderson has always been a glasses guy on the baseball field. “Always worn them,” the Tigers’ No. 5 prospect said of his signature look with specs. “I struggled to get [comfortable putting in] contacts and then wore glasses and just never went back. I wear glasses
Two Deadline acquisitions stand strong among crowded Dodgers outfield
GLENDALE, Ariz. – No prospect expects to be traded. Not Zach Ehrhard, who was living out a childhood dream by playing alongside his brother, Drew, at Double-A in the Red Sox organization. And certainly not James Tibbs III, who, by last July, had already been dealt once in the Rafael
Omelets, grilling tips, shopping advice and life as roommate to baseball’s top prospect
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Derek Berg didn’t have to think long about Konnor Griffin’s wedding gift. Months earlier, during their time as Minor League roommates, Berg had taught Griffin how to cook steaks. It was one of many life lessons he imparted on the teenager during Griffin’s first stretch away from
How Phils prospect met Mattingly -- now his bench coach -- in 2012 thanks to MLB trade
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Justin Crawford's face lit up when asked about his first encounter with new Phillies bench coach Don Mattingly. It wasn't an introductory meeting that happened within the past month in Clearwater, Fla., or some chance run-in at some point throughout their respective careers in professional baseball.
Cherington on the Griffin question, the rotation and the outfield
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Ben Cherington knew it was coming. Both in Spring Training and again Sunday morning. It’s the wildly popular and much-discussed Konnor Griffin question: How to handle the best prospect in baseball and whether or not he makes the Opening Day roster. The Pirates general manager did not
How the ‘24 Draft class could shape the ‘26 season
The 2024 Draft class is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. Following a 2023 class that featured some of the best top-end prospect talent of any Draft -- with names like Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford and Max Clark going in the top five
Espino optioned, but Guardians hope to see him in Majors in '26
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Daniel Espino has been one of the Guardians’ best stories of Spring Training this year. At some point this summer, he could become one of the best stories of their entire season. The Guardians optioned Espino (who's ranked as their No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline) to
Top Phils prospect Miller sees team doc about lingering back issue
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies insist there is zero concern about top prospect Aidan Miller's back issue. However, there is also no timeline for his return to action. Miller, MLB Pipeline's No. 23 overall prospect, was sent to Philadelphia on Friday to see a team doctor about the recurring back
'Thought I had me a little single': Latest Griffin-McGonigle clash features robbery
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The ball jumped off Konnor Griffin’s bat looking like another hard-hit line drive for baseball’s top prospect. “I thought I had me a little single,” the Pirates phenom said afterward. On the other side of the drive, Kevin McGonigle -- baseball’s No. 2 prospect -- had a
Caissie homers directly into Canadian flag
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- According to MLB Pipeline, Owen Caissie is the No. 42 prospect in all of baseball. That means the red-headed Marlins outfielder is good. Really good.
Painter trades zeros with offseason mentor in long-awaited pitchers' duel
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It was more than three years ago that Max Scherzer wrapped up his offseason training with a simple parting message to a then-19-year-old Andrew Painter. "I remember talking about it in 2022, going into '23 [after he had] signed in New York," Painter said. "He was telling
Taste of espresso growing on Nori after 2-HR game for Italy
Everyone’s favorite dugout espresso machine is back in business. And business is booming. Italy created a stir at the 2023 World Baseball Classic when it housed a Nespresso machine in the dugout. With a little caffeine in their system, the Italians played inspired baseball, advancing out of group play for
Angels reassign No. 3 prospect Rada to Minor League camp
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Despite being just 20 years old, center field prospect Nelson Rada turned heads at Angels camp with his on-base ability, baserunning prowess and plus defense before he was reassigned to Minor League camp on Saturday. Rada, ranked as the club’s No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, looks
Pirates prospect Barco added THREE new pitches to arsenal
BRADENTON, Fla. -- When Hunter Barco left Pittsburgh and flew south for the winter, an encouraging MLB debut and strong Minor League season in the books, the young left-hander was hardly satisfied. Wanting to take the next step in his career, the 2022 second-round pick and current MLB Pipeline Top
Italy shuts out Brazil, with Verona native Aldegheri leading the charge
HOUSTON -- Entering the World Baseball Classic, Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said his goal was to "put Italy on the map" as a baseball country. So for his team's first game against Brazil on Saturday at Daikin Park, he handed the ball to Sam Aldegheri -- one of the
A's prospect Jump gets off to hot start in first Vegas appearance
LAS VEGAS -- Like several Athletics players on the trip for this weekend’s two-game exhibition series against the Angels, Gage Jump is expected to be a key figure on the team that opens up its new ballpark in construction down the road on the Las Vegas Strip for a 2028
Marlins reassign trio of prospects to Minors camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Marlins reassigned a trio of Top 30 prospects to Minor League camp on Saturday morning. Right-hander Karson Milbrandt (Marlins No. 10 prospect) and outfielders Dillon Lewis (No. 11) and Fenwick Trimble (No. 20) as well as first baseman Nathan Martorella were part of the