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  • Kevin Defrank SP | MIA

    Marlins' Kevin Defrank: Wowing in camp this spring

    Defrank has regularly hit 100 mph with his fastball this spring while showing a potentially plus changeup and the makings of a quality slider or sweeper, Sam Dykstra of MLB.com reports.

    Still only 17 years old, Defrank has also impressed Marlins brass with his makeup and maturity. "I would say what excites me the most is how much he grew last year and how much I think we're going to see him grow again this year because of his discipline, his work ethic, and just the physicality that he gained," director of player development Rachel Balkovec said. "I think he's exploded onto the map." Given DeFrank's age, Miami will treat the right-hander with kid gloves in 2026 after he threw 31 innings in the Dominican Summer League last year, but he'll climb prospect lists quickly if he stays healthy and continues to refine his control and his arsenal.

  • Cade Winquest SP | NYY

    Yankees' Cade Winquest: Makes Yankees' roster

    Winquest has made the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

    The Rule 5 pick had an uneven Grapefruit League performance, finishing with a 6.48 ERA and 7:3 K:BB over 8.1 innings. However, the Yankees are intrigued enough with Winquest's upside to carry him on the Opening Day roster in a low-leverage role. In order for the Yankees to maintain Winquest's rights, the righty must remain on the major-league roster or injured list the entire season, with at least 90 days spent on the active roster and not the injured list.

  • Angel Bastardo SP | TOR

    Blue Jays' Angel Bastardo: Falls short of roster spot

    Bastardo won't be on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

    It's not clear yet what the organization plans to do with the right-hander, who was a Rule 5 pick ahead of the 2025 season but spent all of last year on the IL while he completed his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Bastardo struggled to find the plate this spring, posting a 5:7 K:BB over 7.2 Grapefruit League innings.

  • Luis Morales SP | ATH

    Athletics' Luis Morales: Struggles with control

    Morales allowed three runs on a hit and four walks across 2.2 innings in Monday's Cactus League win over the White Sox. He struck out two.

    Morales struggled with his control out of the gate, loading the bases via free passes before being burned by a bases-clearing double from Lenyn Sosa that gave the White Sox an early lead in the first inning and led to Morales being lifted with one out remaining. Upon re-entering to open the second inning, the right-hander settled in and didn't allow a run over his next two frames. Despite an uneven spring in which he compiled a 7.58 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 19 innings, Morales will slot into the Athletics' starting rotation and make his first regular-season start Sunday against the Blue Jays.

  • Royals' Michael Wacha: Tosses five frames in exhibition

    Wacha allowed two runs on four hits and three walks across five innings in Monday's exhibition loss to the Rangers. He struck out five.

    In his final outing before the start of the regular season, Wacha turned in his longest appearance of the spring, tossing five serviceable frames, with the primary blemish coming on a Brandon Nimmo two-run homer in the third inning. It wasn't a stellar spring for the right-hander, who posted a 6.89 ERA and 1.72 WHIP with a 21:10 K:BB across 15.2 innings, though there shouldn't be too much stock put into the preseason performances of an established veteran. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he registered a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 31 starts and 172.2 innings -- his fourth consecutive season with an ERA below 4.00 -- Wacha will aim to remain a steady presence in the Royals' rotation entering 2026.

  • Joe Boyle SP | TB

    Rays' Joe Boyle: Set to start game No. 2

    The Rays recalled Boyle from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and will have him start the second game of the season Saturday against the Cardinals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

    The right-hander was competing for a roster spot before being sent to minor-league camp last week, but he'll end up being a late addition to the Opening Day rotation with Ryan Pepiot (hip) headed to the injured list Nick Martinez (knee) banged up. Boyle started in nine of his 13 appearances for Tampa Bay last season and had a 4.67 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 58:28 K:BB across 52 innings.

  • Johan Oviedo SP | BOS

    Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Opening season in bullpen

    Oviedo will open the season in Boston's bullpen, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

    The Red Sox are going with Connelly Early as their fifth starter, with Oviedo occupying a piggyback/long-relief role. Early is expected to receive at least a couple turns in the rotation before the club reassesses its options. Oviedo came into spring training as the favorite to round out Boston's rotation, but his Grapefruit League showing ended on a sour note Monday versus the Twins when he showed diminished velocity and yielded six runs over 3.1 frames.

  • Connelly Early SP | BOS

    Red Sox's Connelly Early: Wins spot in Boston rotation

    Early will open the season in the Boston rotation, garnering his first start Sunday in Cincinnati, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

    Johan Oviedo also made the Opening Day roster but will open the season in the bullpen as a possible piggyback option. The Red Sox plan to give Early at least a couple turns in the rotation before reassessing their options. Early was stellar in Grapefruit League play, posting a 1.59 ERA and 16:5 K:BB over 17 innings, which came after he held a 2.33 ERA and 29:4 K:BB across 19.1 regular-season frames down the stretch last year. He will have to pitch well to retain a rotation spot over the long haul, but the news is a big boost to Early's fantasy prospects.

  • Brady Singer SP | CIN

    Reds' Brady Singer: Blister free in final spring start

    Singer allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out three over four innings in Monday's spring start against the Brewers.

    After retiring the side in order the first, Singer got knocked around by the Brew Crew, who scored three times in the second inning, once in the third and another two in the fourth. Other than that, it was a successful outing for Singer, who upped his pitch count to 78 and was blister-free, after he was removed from his previous Cactus League outing when a blister developed on his right index finger. He's scheduled to start the third game of the regular season on Sunday at home against the Red Sox.

  • Slade Cecconi SP | CLE

    Guardians' Slade Cecconi: Ready for regular season

    Cecconi allowed one hit and two walks while striking out two over four scoreless innings in Monday's spring start against the Diamondbacks.

    Cecconi looks like he's ready to make a leap in 2026 after pitching to a 1.62 ERA over 16.2 innings in the Cactus League. Monday's scoreless effort extended his spring streak to nine consecutive scoreless innings. The right-hander is penciled in to start the third game of the regular season Saturday on the road against Seattle.

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