{"id":472907,"date":"2026-02-11T13:28:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/472907\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T13:28:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:28:35","slug":"mlb-spring-training-2026-one-player-to-watch-on-every-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/472907\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB spring training 2026: One player to watch on every team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816499_64_gonzalez_alden.png&#038;h=80&#038;w=80&#038;scale=crop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Alden GonzalezFeb 11, 2026, 11:00 PM<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a>ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple Authors<\/p>\n<p>There is no shortage of stats and metrics these days that attempt to predict how baseball teams will fare in an upcoming season. But there is one area lacking in all of it: human will, and how certain players can push themselves to be better than even the best analytical models could have foreseen.<\/p>\n<p>Editor&#8217;s Picks<\/p>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<p>The foundation is laid over the winter, when pitches are learned and swing mechanics are tweaked and bodies are molded. And after asking coaches, managers, executives and scouts for all 30 major league teams to identify the players they&#8217;re most excited to see in spring training, the prospect of sizable, year-to-year growth became the overriding theme.<\/p>\n<p>With camps starting this week in Florida and Arizona, we identified one player to watch for every team this spring. The vast majority of them are players who sources told us they believe have what it takes to make a bigger jump than some might expect &#8212; and can push their teams beyond what the prediction models tell us.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752936309_868_greyline.png\" width=\"100%\"\/>American League<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816500_314_ath.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/ath\/athletics\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Athletics<\/a>: SP Gage Jump<\/p>\n<p>The Athletics&#8217; pitching might be lagging way behind their hitting at the major league level, but the team has built some really intriguing starting-pitching depth in their minor league system. Jump headlines that group, and people within the organization have identified him as the most likely to force their hand and trigger an earlier-than-expected callup this season.<\/p>\n<p>In his first exposure to pro baseball after being drafted No. 73 in 2024, Jump, a 22-year-old left-hander, posted a 3.28 ERA and struck out 28.4% of hitters between High-A and Double-A. His fastball velocity jumped a couple of ticks in the process. And at some point this season, he could help front the Athletics&#8217; very needy rotation.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816501_491_bal.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"9ca473b8-e73e-a33d-8ea0-b4d160be4be7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/bal\/baltimore-orioles\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Baltimore Orioles<\/a>: SS <a data-player-guid=\"ec24d6f9-f841-3686-b7b4-a5b8ace0294c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/42507\/gunnar-henderson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gunnar Henderson<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps no team improved more this offseason than the Orioles, who added two impact bats (<a data-player-guid=\"33ba43fd-9a28-0e56-1012-5c9e5881a570\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/37498\/pete-alonso\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pete Alonso<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"1861d16f-6475-3dd2-3017-47fe8c416506\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34923\/taylor-ward\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Taylor Ward<\/a>), two back-end relievers (<a data-player-guid=\"bc5eecf7-de95-a55a-a7a2-fe0a978f3654\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/39909\/ryan-helsley\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Helsley<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"4b73909a-2b0d-119d-ef3c-86c88700ba86\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35872\/andrew-kittredge\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Andrew Kittredge<\/a>) and one midrotation starter (<a data-player-guid=\"f8e374bd-6292-ad17-87d2-b80650a25588\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/39639\/shane-baz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shane Baz<\/a>) &#8212; with perhaps another still to come. But Henderson remains their best player.<\/p>\n<p>After a monster 2024 season that saw him finish fourth in AL MVP voting, Henderson, still just 24 years old, took a step back in 2025 while dealing with a nagging shoulder injury. He was still really good (.274\/.349\/.438 slash line, 17 homers, 30 steals, 4.8 fWAR). But whether he&#8217;s closer to the 2024 version or the 2025 version is a source of intrigue in the organization.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816501_697_bos.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c6df06f6-785d-3900-4935-5fd13742e2ee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/bos\/boston-red-sox\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Red Sox<\/a>: 3B <a data-player-guid=\"0355c8cb-47f0-3606-adb0-219939582115\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4872648\/marcelo-mayer\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Marcelo Mayer<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A team source described it succinctly: &#8220;If he&#8217;s healthy, it could be the difference between us being good and very good.&#8221; And in a jam-packed, hypercompetitive AL East, that could be the difference between making the playoffs and staying home.<\/p>\n<p>Mayer, 23, struggled through a .228\/.272\/.402 slash line in 136 plate appearances as a rookie last year, then underwent season-ending wrist surgery. But the Red Sox remain bullish on his potential and will count on him to at least start against right-handers while playing either second or third base (depending on where they slot new infield acquisition Caleb Durbin). <a data-player-guid=\"9a29840a-6ec6-8b17-995a-f01bc7567f2d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33859\/rafael-devers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rafael Devers<\/a> is gone. <a data-player-guid=\"b28542aa-30be-6851-75c4-501226976e1c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34886\/alex-bregman\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Bregman<\/a> is, too. <a data-player-guid=\"7883628b-bd4f-c62e-015d-78c4c73ac3de\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32512\/ketel-marte\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ketel Marte<\/a> never arrived. It&#8217;s Mayer&#8217;s turn.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816501_225_chw.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"8f4800c6-3c05-b3d5-8186-9750cd72a3c2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/chw\/chicago-white-sox\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago White Sox<\/a>: UT <a data-player-guid=\"e98732ca-f76f-3831-8f7f-fdb3a8603001\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/42453\/miguel-vargas\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Miguel Vargas<\/a><\/p>\n<p>One member of the White Sox&#8217;s front office singled out Vargas as having &#8220;a chance to be a breakout player in 2026,&#8221; a sign the organization still believes in the potential of his bat. At this time three years ago, Vargas was a consensus top-100 prospect. The Dodgers then made him their Opening Day second baseman. But Vargas struggled mightily and wasn&#8217;t any better during the 2024 season, when the White Sox acquired him at the trade deadline in a three-team, seven-player deal.<\/p>\n<p>At his best, Vargas displays elite plate discipline and gap-to-gap power. There were times last year when that really showed up, mostly in May and August. As he enters his age-26 season, he needs to finally display that consistently.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816502_853_cle.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"6ad8fa03-36bc-baab-c76a-345b6544424d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/cle\/cleveland-guardians\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cleveland Guardians<\/a>: OF <a data-player-guid=\"ca0a6d4c-55e4-37a4-b29b-e59d86fb915c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4619649\/chase-delauter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chase DeLauter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Top MLB prospects for 2026<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mlb_kiley_mcdaniel_top_100_prospects_cr_16x9_608x342.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Where do stars of tomorrow land as we rank baseball&#8217;s best young players?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47684202\/top-100-mlb-prospects-2026-kiley-mcdaniel-konnor-griffin-kevin-mcgonigle-jesus-made\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Top 100 prospects \u00bb<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47684209\/top-100-mlb-prospects-2026-kiley-mcdaniel-101-200-rankings-superlatives\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">101-200 \u00bb<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47684217\/2026-mlb-prospect-rankings-farm-systems-kiley-mcdaniel-brewers-guardians-pirates-dodgers-mets\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ranking all 30 MLB farm systems \u00bb<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47684227\/2026-top-10-prospect-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-kiley-mcdaniel\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Top 10 prospect lists for all 30 teams \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>DeLauter made his major league debut in last year&#8217;s postseason, starting in center field in Game 2 of Cleveland&#8217;s wild-card series against the Tigers, with the Guardians on the verge of elimination. It was an indication of his potential, and that his lengthy injury history hasn&#8217;t necessarily clouded it.<\/p>\n<p>DeLauter, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47684202\/top-100-mlb-prospects-2026-kiley-mcdaniel-konnor-griffin-kevin-mcgonigle-jesus-made\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the 43rd-ranked prospect by ESPN&#8217;s Kiley McDaniel<\/a>, can hit for average and power, with 30-homer potential. He showed that in the minor leagues, slashing .302\/.384\/.504 with 20 homers, 70 walks and 80 strikeouts in 138 games. But only 81 of those games have come in the past two seasons. Now, the runway is there for DeLauter to be an everyday player. He just needs to stay on the field.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816503_311_det.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"b27c64bf-4f18-f713-ba06-db1bce2394e7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/det\/detroit-tigers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Tigers<\/a>: SS Kevin McGonigle<\/p>\n<p>As part of his end-of-season news conference, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said: &#8220;I expect the players that posted dominant years in Double-A to factor into our big league team next year.&#8221; Nobody fits that description better than McGonigle, who ranks No. 2 on McDaniel&#8217;s prospect list.<\/p>\n<p>The Tigers took McGonigle out of high school at No. 37 in 2023 and have seen him handle every level since, including Double-A, where he had an OPS of .919 at age 20. In McGonigle, Max Clark, Bryce Rainer and Josue Brice\u00f1o, the Tigers have a really intriguing crop of position-player prospects. Three of them &#8212; all but Rainer, who&#8217;s still only 20 years old &#8212; will be in camp. And McGonigle has the best shot among them to lock down a major league job this season.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816503_121_hou.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"00a3015f-09ec-1b03-52af-656f5e0a18d5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/hou\/houston-astros\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston Astros<\/a>: 3B <a data-player-guid=\"62868d49-9586-ee9d-19b4-66fb91f26733\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32653\/carlos-correa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Correa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>No player has ever won a Gold Glove at both shortstop and third base. Correa has told some members of the Astros he&#8217;s motivated to become the first. He has also done some swing work over the winter, hoping to rebound from a 2025 season in which he finished with an OPS+ of just 103. Correa left Houston as one of the game&#8217;s best players in 2021, a year that saw him finish fifth in MVP voting. His next 3\u00bd years with the Twins brought pretty dramatic highs and lows.<\/p>\n<p>But Correa was highly productive after rejoining the Astros last summer, posting a .785 OPS over the last two months. He is still only 31 years old. A full offseason to work on third base, while back with a franchise and in a city where he is comfortable, has the Astros believing in a return to form.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816504_665_kc.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"11a5df00-0945-35a5-66fe-a3a107975558\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/kc\/kansas-city-royals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Royals<\/a>: RF <a data-player-guid=\"3fc95bff-3509-37f1-ae44-45eaeb035f6a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4926296\/jac-caglianone\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jac Caglianone<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Caglianone struggled in his first taste of the majors last year, slashing .157\/.237\/.295 in 232 plate appearances. It was also a lot to ask of him. The 2025 season represented Caglianone&#8217;s first full season of pro ball, which saw him advance through Double-A and Triple-A, land in the majors and sit out extended time because of a hamstring strain, all while learning right field.<\/p>\n<p>Now that he has had a chance to breathe, the Royals are expecting big things from their 23-year-old former first-round pick. They need it. The Royals are trying to win the AL Central and will have no chance of doing so if they repeat a year that saw them score the fifth-fewest runs in the majors. Their offseason moves were subtle, and so their biggest chance of improving offensively will come down to whether Caglianone can translate his elite power to the highest level.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816504_115_laa.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"053868c7-8bff-5edb-3cb6-f5490f33ef99\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/laa\/los-angeles-angels\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Angels<\/a>: SP Tyler Bremner<\/p>\n<p>The Angels surprised a lot of people by selecting Bremner with the No. 2 pick in last year&#8217;s draft, passing on LSU&#8217;s Kade Anderson, who went third to the Mariners. Clearly the Angels, who have struggled mightily to develop starting pitching for more than a decade, think highly of Bremner&#8217;s upside.<\/p>\n<p>He possesses an elite changeup, a mid- to high-90s fastball and plus control, making him the type of high-floor prospect the organization often targets. If he puts that on display in the minor leagues this season &#8212; while ideally refining a breaking ball &#8212; don&#8217;t be surprised if he joins the major league rotation late in the year. The Angels love early promotions.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816504_633_min.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a6e97b3f-4244-98be-79a2-f4b33f3365e6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/min\/minnesota-twins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Twins<\/a>: RF <a data-player-guid=\"c105eaf9-fd19-3489-a86b-3f180cab09b4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/42427\/matt-wallner\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Wallner<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Twins&#8217; recent subtraction has left few established, foundational pieces, but the organization maintains hope that Wallner can still be one. The 28-year-old former first-round pick has elite bat speed and elite power potential, and he maintained a walk rate in the 84th percentile last year. But he still swings and misses way too often. Among 401 qualified hitters from 2023 to 2025, Wallner had the 16th-highest strikeout percentage. He still managed an .838 OPS, 101 points above the league average.<\/p>\n<p>He has a chance to be a building block of whatever this next Twins iteration becomes, along with <a data-player-guid=\"615b99eb-8129-09f0-e7f9-8841982a341a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32655\/byron-buxton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Byron Buxton<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"b23a4f52-089c-c550-16e6-bcd98e02db3d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/40635\/royce-lewis\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Royce Lewis<\/a>. But he needs to put it together now.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816505_190_nyy.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"2b9cedf3-ce60-0bcf-fafe-8cd055255685\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/nyy\/new-york-yankees\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Yankees<\/a>: OF <a data-player-guid=\"fcb82fd0-f91e-3d28-8107-1483fff937d8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4867424\/spencer-jones\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Spencer Jones<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The return of <a data-player-guid=\"33de8a2e-6a24-ed47-a5ea-e31b6a1d03df\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33912\/cody-bellinger\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cody Bellinger<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"c5c5bb27-7dbf-baac-e243-797a845d2d8f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34995\/trent-grisham\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trent Grisham<\/a> &#8212; not to mention the presence of <a data-player-guid=\"0e565341-2749-31fe-b0dd-f03cf1ea67a4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/42401\/jasson-dominguez\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jasson Dominguez<\/a> &#8212; means the Yankees don&#8217;t have an immediate opening for Jones, but team officials are fascinated to see how close the 6-foot-7 outfielder is to having an impact at the major league level. That should happen at some point this season.<\/p>\n<p>Jones has struck out a whopping 534 times in 357 minor league games over the past three years, but he moves well, hits the ball incredibly hard and possesses a plus arm. One Yankees source described him as having &#8220;a wide variance to his game,&#8221; which is a polite way of saying he needs to cut down his strikeouts so that his power can truly emerge. This is a crucial year for him.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816505_373_sea.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"56d60582-088f-6848-5180-1fb04440cf87\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/sea\/seattle-mariners\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Mariners<\/a>: OF Jonny Farmelo<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s top 5 breakout teams for 2026<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/r1604691_608x342_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Which teams are about to get a whole lot better? We break down five potential breakouts.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47706497\/mlb-top-5-breakout-teams-2026-braves-cubs-orioles-white-sox-pirates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bradford Doolittle \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"b4376163-318a-7510-fe79-bbb7ee9acf0d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41044\/julio-rodriguez\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Julio Rodriguez<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"ff4e0d11-a441-34db-29d8-8567b71547b7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/36488\/randy-arozarena\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Randy Arozarena<\/a> will spend most of spring training playing in the World Baseball Classic, which means the Mariners will get a long look at Farmelo, a 21-year-old outfielder drafted  out of high school at No. 29 in 2023. They&#8217;re excited to see him. Former center fielder and current special assignment coach Mike Cameron calls him &#8220;Ferrari&#8221; because of his speed and strength. His tools, a team source said, &#8220;are huge,&#8221; though he has yet to put them on display for a prolonged stretch.<\/p>\n<p>Farmelo tore an ACL in 2024 and spent most of 2025 sidelined by a rib injury. But he&#8217;s healthy now and expected to make big strides through their system in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816506_72_tb.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f8a579c6-08b9-7584-141d-317d0645763b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/tb\/tampa-bay-rays\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>: OF <a data-player-guid=\"8d16f250-8981-3a36-af0f-d73311925be0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4635337\/jacob-melton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jacob Melton<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Rays acquired Melton from Houston as part of the three-team deal that saw them part ways with <a data-player-guid=\"36ba7646-f393-0990-5461-ed9b7d078e79\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/39961\/brandon-lowe\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon Lowe<\/a>, who ended up in Pittsburgh. Now, despite their crowded outfield mix, they&#8217;ll give him a legitimate chance to be their everyday center fielder. They know Melton can run, play defense and hit for power &#8212; the question is whether he&#8217;ll make enough contact.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There will probably be some growing pains with the bat,&#8221; a team source said, &#8220;and he&#8217;ll hit some 440-foot bombs along the way.&#8221; If he can just cut down on strikeouts a bit, the rest of the tools should keep him as a major league regular.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816506_625_tex.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4fa2cf46-09fc-255f-74a1-2a8857b0e671\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/tex\/texas-rangers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas Rangers<\/a>: OF <a data-player-guid=\"c7db2129-df5a-38f3-b798-603e2307060c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4719324\/wyatt-langford\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wyatt Langford<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Langford, who just turned 24 in November, has already played 268 major league games, in which he has stolen 41 bases, hit 38 home runs, posted a .758 OPS and compiled 7.2 fWAR. Heading into 2026, some within the Rangers believe he not only has a chance to be a first-time All-Star but potentially an MVP candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Since claiming the franchise&#8217;s first World Series title in 2023, the Rangers have been hindered by a stunning level of offensive regression &#8212; so much so that the likes of <a data-player-guid=\"7e94f7f5-8502-7d28-e783-61e674f58107\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32146\/marcus-semien\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Marcus Semien<\/a>, <a data-player-guid=\"36716788-f41e-30b6-0816-45ff0e6a3e89\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35537\/adolis-garcia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Adolis Garcia<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"99a30eda-ce85-d29c-05e2-4cac360f11c3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33842\/jonah-heim\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jonah Heim<\/a> have since been replaced. But Langford&#8217;s arrow is clearly pointing up.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816507_746_tor.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"0151aed9-9f11-ceae-195d-180ca603b64a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/tor\/toronto-blue-jays\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Toronto Blue Jays<\/a>: 3B Kazuma Okamoto<\/p>\n<p>Heading into the offseason, many saw Okamoto &#8212; like fellow free agent and countryman Munetaka Murakami &#8212; as an eventual first baseman. But that obviously won&#8217;t be the case in Toronto. After signing a four-year, $60 million deal, Okamoto will come in as the Blue Jays&#8217; everyday third baseman, looking to prove he can stay at the hot corner.<\/p>\n<p>What about his bat? Okamoto put up a .355 on-base percentage in his 11 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball and also reached the 30-homer threshold six of the past eight years. How much of that on-base and slugging ability translates against the higher velocities in the majors, though, is an open question. And for a Blue Jays team that did not make another meaningful offensive addition this winter, it&#8217;s a crucial one.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752936309_868_greyline.png\" width=\"100%\"\/>National League<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816507_212_ari.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"43e14a76-ff66-49ed-24fc-2835932f99dd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/ari\/arizona-diamondbacks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a>: UT <a data-player-guid=\"fd8a4435-3699-3025-80d2-56e0f924a247\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4872649\/jordan-lawlar\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordan Lawlar<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lawlar cracked this list last year, then went on to play in only 28 major league games while producing a .545 OPS. But he very much remains a player to watch. Lawlar has struggled to produce and stay healthy but is still only 23 years old and is once again trying out a new position. Lawlar, mostly a shortstop since being drafted sixth overall out of high school in 2021, spent the offseason learning center field in winter ball.<\/p>\n<p>With <a data-player-guid=\"7883628b-bd4f-c62e-015d-78c4c73ac3de\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32512\/ketel-marte\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ketel Marte<\/a> staying put, <a data-player-guid=\"d8bea5dd-fa69-4b41-60d2-41da57161fd5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41355\/geraldo-perdomo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Geraldo Perdomo<\/a> locked up long term and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/31261\/nolan-arenado\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nolan Arenado<\/a> added to the mix, the outfield is now his only path to real playing time. But if he can prove himself capable, he would solve the club&#8217;s massive need for a capable right-handed-hitting outfielder. Lawler will get his chance, now more than ever.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816507_28_atl.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"122673a3-bf06-4432-6950-b8a32e52ac2e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/atl\/atlanta-braves\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Braves<\/a>: SP <a data-player-guid=\"fe783a66-6c4d-3706-afae-cc30e5651f97\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4307825\/spencer-strider\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Spencer Strider<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Strider didn&#8217;t quite look like himself in his return from elbow surgery last season. His strikeout rate was 24.3%, compared to 36.8% when he finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2023. His fastball was down a couple of ticks and often lacked late life. His ERA stood at 4.45. But Strider was highly effective in the stretch run, maintaining a 2.50 ERA over his last six starts. And one would expect the quality of his stuff to return now that he&#8217;s another year removed from surgery.<\/p>\n<p>The Braves are currently deep in pitching prospects, with three players making up Kiley McDaniels&#8217; top 100. But Strider is still the one who can put them over the top in a highly competitive division.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816508_403_chc.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"5cda5067-7075-66b1-4b94-2333ab8d9807\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/chc\/chicago-cubs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago Cubs<\/a>: 3B <a data-player-guid=\"b28542aa-30be-6851-75c4-501226976e1c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34886\/alex-bregman\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Bregman<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Behind the scenes at Driveline<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/r1607485_1296x729_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>How the lab that famously gave pitchers an edge is helping hitters, too. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47754884\/mlb-2026-driveline-baseball-hitting-lab-analytics-edgar-quero-chicago-white-sox\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alden Gonzalez \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A member of the Cubs&#8217; front office called Bregman &#8220;a transformative presence&#8221; whose impact &#8220;is impossibly widespread.&#8221; One offseason after losing out on him in free agency, the Cubs landed Bregman with a five-year, $175 million deal. Bregman put up 3.5 fWAR despite playing in only 114 games last season and ranked 19th among position players in that metric from 2022 to 2025.<\/p>\n<p>His presence greatly lengthens their lineup, pushing <a data-player-guid=\"13a9edb7-04d4-3c62-85d7-8fcc41b9104b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4867667\/matt-shaw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Matt Shaw<\/a> into a utility role in which he should thrive, but it&#8217;s his influence on their culture that has Cubs officials so excited &#8212; and many of those with the Red Sox so distraught about losing him. As one Cubs source put it: &#8220;The talent doesn&#8217;t even scratch the surface of what he brings.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816509_631_cin.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"04b65a0b-3cca-d795-0e21-23606470418a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/cin\/cincinnati-reds\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cincinnati Reds<\/a>: 1B <a data-player-guid=\"0784deac-211b-3475-896c-00bb70b18918\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/5080771\/sal-stewart\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sal Stewart<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Terry Francona played in the big leagues for 10 years and is entering his 25th season as a manager. Dating to spring training last year, he has continually called Stewart one of the most advanced young hitters he has ever seen. Stewart proved that during the stretch run of the Reds&#8217; 2025 season, when he was called up in September, popped five home runs and earned his way onto their postseason roster.<\/p>\n<p>Now, at 22 years old, he&#8217;ll seemingly start the season as the everyday first baseman and look to jolt a Reds offense that underperformed last year. He is among the favorites for the NL Rookie of the Year Award, as he should be.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816509_134_col.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f3f1ba71-05f1-a49a-0363-3b1d8e0db4cf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/col\/colorado-rockies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Colorado Rockies<\/a>: SP <a data-player-guid=\"fe4669a0-1858-366c-a256-c5170a0683c4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4719068\/chase-dollander\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chase Dollander<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dollander is the pick here for the second straight year, which indicates two important things: 1. When trying to identify young talent one can dream on in this organization, the pickings are slim. 2. Dollander has been highly thought of by two different front office groups in Colorado.<\/p>\n<p>As a rookie last year, Dollander made 21 starts in a rotation that put up the highest starters&#8217; ERA in baseball history. He struggled at mile-high altitude, as most tend to, but he was solid on the road, putting up a 3.46 ERA in 52 innings. A new baseball operations department led by Paul DePodesta believes he can take a big step forward this season. The Rockies need him to.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816510_97_lad.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"fb7cf413-5156-9fc2-abe0-2273b89f70db\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/lad\/los-angeles-dodgers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>: SP <a data-player-guid=\"0f269d97-4c4f-3b54-b5a7-0e6d16a2396c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/5007605\/river-ryan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">River Ryan<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dodgers camp is a treasure trove of storylines, from the arrivals of <a data-player-guid=\"b963b85d-6db2-f0e5-b763-88d4a41c0d73\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34967\/kyle-tucker\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyle Tucker<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"1483dd31-f9d6-ba75-5ca9-05210ae1cf00\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35394\/edwin-diaz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Edwin Diaz<\/a> to <a data-player-guid=\"04a76996-4a5c-456d-8022-a9d45e3ff933\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/39832\/shohei-ohtani\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a> returning to full-time two-way duties to <a data-player-guid=\"771b4210-4007-3491-9298-c4d92f15beb4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/5134638\/roki-sasaki\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Roki Sasaki<\/a> looking to establish himself as a starting pitcher. Ryan easily gets lost in that shuffle. But Dodgers officials are excited to see how he looks now that he has completed a successful rehab from Tommy John surgery and added a significant amount of muscle in the process.<\/p>\n<p>The last time we saw Ryan, he posted a 1.33 ERA in his first four major league starts as a 25-year-old near the stretch run of the 2024 season. Now, he&#8217;ll compete with Sasaki and <a data-player-guid=\"afaf9de8-070a-3985-9fa3-cd4d530aaa89\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4417806\/emmet-sheehan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Emmet Sheehan<\/a> for a rotation spot. &#8220;It&#8217;s been long enough since he last pitched in a game that I think we can all forget how much of a freak this guy is,&#8221; a team source said.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816510_293_mia.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"74909d10-eacb-1376-ef1e-d0f37d7c67ca\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/mia\/miami-marlins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Miami Marlins<\/a>: SS <a data-player-guid=\"be3c98cf-aa48-1aba-31de-3df05b205eb5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41917\/otto-lopez\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Otto L\u00f3pez<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bold MLB predictions for 2026<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/r1594731_608x342_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The world champion Orioles? A Skubal trade? Here&#8217;s how the year ahead could play out.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47445503\/mlb-2026-predictions-bold-picks-orioles-mariners-world-series-wbc-tucker-skubal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bold MLB predictions for 2026 \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In two full seasons in the big leagues, L\u00f3pez has been 12 percentage points below average offensively based on OPS+. But his defense and his baserunning have prompted him to compile 4.8 fWAR nonetheless. The Marlins say they believe there is more upside with the bat as L\u00f3pez enters his age-27 season, some of which he started to display while amassing 18 homers last year.<\/p>\n<p>The Marlins have compiled a plethora of higher-ceiling prospects under Peter Bendix, who has spent the past two offseasons extracting as much young talent as possible from the team&#8217;s more established players. But it&#8217;s L\u00f3pez, an unheralded utility infielder originally plucked off waivers, who has a chance to really stick.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816511_92_mil.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4750d73d-d92e-b390-758c-2c7b44a810db\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/mil\/milwaukee-brewers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>: UT Jett Williams<\/p>\n<p>Williams was the headliner in the trade that sent ace <a data-player-guid=\"aa1cac72-2915-387f-9e32-4b2f84f52b1d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/39825\/freddy-peralta\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Freddy Peralta<\/a> to the Mets last month and, well let&#8217;s just be real here: Has there ever been a more quintessential Brewers player? Williams packs elite speed, power potential and excellent swing decisions into a 5-foot-7, 175-pound frame, and he can play anywhere in the middle of the field. The Brewers love guys like him.<\/p>\n<p>Williams, picked out of high school at No. 14 in 2022, spent 130 games in the Mets&#8217; Double-A and Triple-A affiliates last season, slashing .261\/.363\/.465 with 17 homers and 34 steals. Brewers officials don&#8217;t know where he&#8217;ll play this season, but they&#8217;ll be keeping a close eye on him in camp.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816512_891_nym.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"d08426cc-bf13-5d7b-5217-6d4662019bc6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/nym\/new-york-mets\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Mets<\/a>: OF Carson Benge<\/p>\n<p>Prominent members of the Mets are really high on Benge, which is probably unsurprising for a consensus top-20 prospect. But they view him as the complete package &#8212; someone who has already polished his defense and his baserunning enough to combine with his plus arm and promising offensive profile, giving him a chance to be a true five-tool player in the major leagues.<\/p>\n<p>Benge became David Stearns&#8217; first draft pick as head of baseball operations, selected No. 19 in 2024. In his first full season of pro ball, he breezed through High-A (.897 OPS) and Double-A (.978) before hitting a bit of a road block in Triple-A (.583). Now, he&#8217;ll enter camp with a legitimate chance to lock down the starting job in right field.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816512_903_phi.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"ff1e263a-f6a6-93c3-1373-418623652ff0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/phi\/philadelphia-phillies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>: RF <a data-player-guid=\"36716788-f41e-30b6-0816-45ff0e6a3e89\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35537\/adolis-garcia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Adolis Garc\u00eda<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stat that will define 2026 for every MLB team<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/r1593807_608x342_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Here are the numbers that could make &#8212; or break &#8212; your favorite squad in the new year.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47336049\/mlb-2026-predictions-stats-national-league-dodgers-padres-braves-mets-phillies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">National League \u00bb<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/47336183\/mlb-2026-predictions-american-league-yankees-red-sox-blue-jays-tigers-mariners\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">American League \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This Phillies era has resulted in four consecutive postseason appearances and zero championships. The last two autumns ended in the NL Division Series. And in those years, their aging offense has produced only a slash line of .199\/.297\/.331 in October. A reset of sorts was warranted this offseason. But for the most part, that didn&#8217;t happen. The Phillies brought back <a data-player-guid=\"657f83eb-5046-ab51-fc42-003dd9c43710\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33712\/kyle-schwarber\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyle Schwarber<\/a> and, after missing out on <a data-player-guid=\"bd16899c-bd8d-ad25-94e9-c1d9731ccd0d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/38904\/bo-bichette\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bo Bichette<\/a>, re-signed veteran catcher <a data-player-guid=\"41ae4f9e-14bf-805b-eccc-d36833f67e13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32177\/jt-realmuto\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">J.T. Realmuto<\/a>. The only new addition was Garc\u00eda, who will replace <a data-player-guid=\"f65dbc02-38f4-96cd-638c-e11a0d44777e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/31187\/nick-castellanos\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nick Castellanos<\/a> in right field.<\/p>\n<p>The Phillies know they&#8217;ll get better defense from Garc\u00eda. The question is whether they&#8217;ll get much better offense. Three years ago, Garc\u00eda was a dynamo for a Rangers team that won the World Series. Since then, he has been a below-league-average hitter, producing a .675 OPS. The Phillies hope a new setting &#8212; specifically one that is a lot more favorable to hitters &#8212; will help Garc\u00eda get back on track in his age-33 season.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816513_628_pit.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"5b8fc9be-4020-52c6-aa28-9a0f2d4383e0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/pit\/pittsburgh-pirates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a>: CF <a data-player-guid=\"e0d49500-51d0-6ee2-b871-09e72e982176\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/39712\/oneil-cruz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oneil Cruz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Cruz&#8217;s second season removed from a fractured fibula was nowhere near as productive as the Pirates might have anticipated. From 2024 to 2025, his OPS dropped from .773 to .676 and his expected batting average dropped from .259 to .218. But he still hits the ball incredibly hard, swings the bat incredibly fast, displays game-changing speed and arm strength to boot, and he did draw more walks last season. He&#8217;s also only 26 years old, coming off his first full season in center field.<\/p>\n<p>Cruz had a productive offseason, and the Pirates are hoping there&#8217;s still a superstar in there somewhere.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816513_427_sd.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4dec648c-3eb9-055c-aebc-2711f30975a0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/sd\/san-diego-padres\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Diego Padres<\/a>: SP <a data-player-guid=\"ca1dd6b7-d603-9be4-c953-d2ca68ff62d8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34848\/joe-musgrove\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joe Musgrove<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Musgrove is widely considered the heart and soul of the Padres&#8217; pitching staff, and San Diego needs him to be something more this year: a true, legitimate ace. It might be a lot to ask for a 33-year-old coming off Tommy John surgery. But Musgrove has proved capable before, never more so than when he made 61 starts and posted a 3.06 ERA from 2021 to 2022.<\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"7251fc52-37d7-5cf4-1266-8308b6bcf656\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32055\/yu-darvish\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yu Darvish<\/a> won&#8217;t pitch in 2026 (and perhaps not beyond that, either), <a data-player-guid=\"a612c014-c389-3057-849d-d820a0d7c361\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4730225\/mason-miller\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mason Miller<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"104758fd-ec7c-6053-5c76-0d1938b6bdb9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/40917\/adrian-morejon\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Adrian Morejon<\/a> will remain in the bullpen, and aside from keeping <a data-player-guid=\"83c3dc73-d5c3-4be0-d9df-93f264e72220\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/36071\/nick-pivetta\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nick Pivetta<\/a> (for now, at least) and bringing back <a data-player-guid=\"43721e8f-3763-2de8-f89e-71843060e6e4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/40429\/michael-king\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michael King<\/a>, the Padres haven&#8217;t done anything else to address a very needy rotation.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816514_221_sf.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"e072b79c-4fa1-3a55-bdcd-4d7d9734d79b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/sf\/san-francisco-giants\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Francisco Giants<\/a>: UT Parks Harber<\/p>\n<p>ESPN is now the home of MLB.TV<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/mlbtv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/r1613162_1296x729_16-9.jpg\" width=\"95%\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>All MLB out-of-market games. Live or On Demand. All in one place. <a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/mlbtv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Get access<\/a><\/p>\n<p>You won&#8217;t see this name pop up on many prospect lists, but some within the Giants really pushed to acquire Harber from the Yankees in last summer&#8217;s <a data-player-guid=\"aa3f6355-b128-1b0d-0635-0879bfc37aee\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41337\/camilo-doval\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Camilo Doval<\/a> trade, then watched him slash .333\/.454\/.644 in High-A for what remained of that season.<\/p>\n<p>Harber, originally an undrafted free agent out of the University of North Carolina, played at 23 years old, so he was mature for the level. But a lot of people in the Giants&#8217; player-development staff are excited about his makeup and potential, and this spring will mark the first time their most important decision-makers will see him in person. Harber, now 24, is primarily a corner infielder but also has some experience in the outfield.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816515_176_stl.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c781e7c6-2c5b-beaf-55b8-999c76f76661\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/stl\/st-louis-cardinals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">St. Louis Cardinals<\/a>: CF <a data-player-guid=\"2cdb33ba-3cf7-339d-b27a-43f6a316f54f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4807220\/victor-scott-ii\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Victor Scott II<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Scott was a fifth-round pick out of West Virginia in 2022. Within 20 months, he was in the big leagues. And though some prospects can rise that quickly, others need more seasoning &#8212; which some within the Cardinals believe describes Scott. They think that, as he enters his age-25 season, there&#8217;s still a lot more upside with the bat.<\/p>\n<p>On defense and baserunning alone, Scott is an extremely valuable asset. But he has slashed just .206\/.283\/.293 in 618 major league plate appearances. Developing into a league-average hitter could make Scott a cornerstone player at a time when the Cardinals are searching for some. They&#8217;d love for it to happen now.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770816515_791_was.png&#038;h=60&#038;w=60.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a73e1046-e9aa-ef6b-4e0d-2a7c808cb284\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/wsh\/washington-nationals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Nationals<\/a>: C <a data-player-guid=\"e828aa4b-8894-3bb6-959d-4f6f1bb407c6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4872682\/harry-ford\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Harry Ford<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ford was drafted out of high school at No. 12 by the Mariners in 2021, and then he got stuck. He debuted in 2025 and wound up playing in only eight games, riding the bench behind <a data-player-guid=\"6c27dcb5-a741-d526-b5ac-f3988e288a70\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41292\/cal-raleigh\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cal Raleigh<\/a>, the sport&#8217;s best catcher. Ford then represented the biggest move from the Nationals&#8217; new, exceedingly young front office, coming over in the December trade that sent left-handed reliever <a data-player-guid=\"2926a4db-672a-30bd-8d84-aeb38c74dad3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/5119607\/jose-ferrer\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jose A. Ferrer<\/a> to Seattle.<\/p>\n<p>Ford is a 23-year-old with 20-homer potential who has steadily improved defensively and is also a plus runner. In D.C., he&#8217;s going to get a legitimate shot to compete for an everyday role with <a data-player-guid=\"52c74cdc-08c9-c34e-b2fa-470ade9b5ad0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/38827\/keibert-ruiz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keibert Ruiz<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alden GonzalezFeb 11, 2026, 11:00 PM CloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":472908,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[64,63,591,85],"class_list":["post-472907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}